Ranking the trade-ability of the New York Rangers roster

For the right price

Tony DeAngelo – No Ranger fans wants to see DeAngelo go, but the fact remains that they have three top right handed defensemen on the team and Trouba and Fox are not going anywhere. They also have Joey Keane and Nils Lundkvist banging on the door.  DeAngelo’s trade-ability factor is at an all-time high and it would be foolish for the Rangers to not make him available.  He should bring a great return and could be prime trade bait at the deadline.  Add in that he is an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent and that makes him even more attractive.

Libor Hajek – The Rangers don’t want to deal their rookie defenseman, but the surplus of blueliners and the rise of Ryan Lindgren has made him a little less of a sure thing.  He was the centerpiece of the Ryan McDonagh deal so any team looking to acquire Hajek will have to pay dearly. That said, K’Andre Miller is getting close to turning pro and Yegor Rykov is playing well in Hartford. If either of them is NHL ready next season, Hajek may be the odd man out.

Ryan Lindgren – Lindgren has been the biggest surprise of all the Rangers’ rookies.  He brings something to the team that it has been lacking for a few years and that is what makes him attractive.  The Blueshirts need players like Lindgren, but so do 30 other NHL teams.  If they have to make a choice between Lindgren and Hajek and the deal is right, they could trade the Minnesota native.

Brady Skjei – Brady Skjei is the defenseman that everyone in the fan base wants to see gone.  He’s had a resurgence in his game over the last few weeks and has been playing top minutes paired with Jacob Trouba, his buddy.  Despite his faults, the Rangers made a big long term investment in Skjei and there is no indication that they have lost faith in him.  The biggest reason he could be traded is his $5.25 million annual salary.  The Rangers’ cap issues make trading Skjei a distinct possibility if the right deal comes along. The question is, does anyone think Skjei is worth $5.25 million a year for the next four years?  Face it folks, Skjei isn’t going anywhere.

Brendan Lemieux – A physical player with a scoring touch?  Does that sound like someone the Rangers would want to part with?  Not at all, unless the right offer came along.  He’s an arbitration eligible restricted free agent that won’t cost a fortune to keep, so they won’t be looking to deal him.  The refs have a target on his back and that could be an issue for anyone looking at acquiring him.

Pavel Buchnevich – The Rangers made a commitment to Buchnevich last summer, awarding him a two year bridge deal at $3.25 million annually.  While he is having a typical Buchnevich season with decent production,  he should be scoring more playing with Zibanejad and Kreider.  A lack of forward depth would make it difficult to trade the moody Russian winger, but again, if the right deal came along, the Rangers would listen.

Ryan Strome – Strome is a restricted free agent who is arbitration eligible this summer. He picked a good year to have the best campaign of his career and considering the Rangers’ cap issues, he is starting to price himself out of a Ranger uniform.  Strome may be willing to sacrifice to stay with the team since he has become a top forward riding Artemi Panarin’s coattails.  Still, if the right deal came along, Strome can be had.  The question for the Blueshirts is who are the centers after Zibanejad.  Strome is number two today, could it be Chytil and Howden at number three moving forward?

Brett Howden – Everyone expected Brett Howden to be a hardworking center who is solid defensively, can win faceoffs and is a goal scorer.  Two out of three isn’t bad, but he needs to get his offensive numbers up and playing with Kakko and Chytil, he has an opportunity to do so.  In the meantime, the Rangers will listen to offers, but they won’t give him away.  He’s too young and has too good an upside.  Plus, he’s cheap.

The Rangers have already made it clear that they are willing to deal.  There are a few who could very well be gone by the deadline.