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New York Rangers: One week to go and trade speculation builds

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 07: Carter Hutton #40 of the Buffalo Sabres makes the second period save on Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on February 07, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 07: Carter Hutton #40 of the Buffalo Sabres makes the second period save on Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on February 07, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 31: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers celebrates his second period goal against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 31: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers celebrates his second period goal against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

One week to the trade deadline and the New York Rangers are yet to make a move.  The action started on Sunday when the New Jersey Devils made a couple of deals.

With 24 games left in their season, the New  York Rangers sit seven points out of a playoff spot.  it’s not an insurmountable challenge, but with every game, the odds get smaller.

Let’s put it this way. The Philadelphia Flyers are in the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.  If the Flyers go 11-12 in their final 23 games they will finish with 93 points.  The Rangers would have to go 15-9 in their last 24 games to surpass that.  But it wouldn’t be just the Flyers who would have to play badly.   Carolina would have to go 11-12-1 as well.

With their loss to the Bruins, the Rangers odds of making the playoffs dropped from 17% to 13.2% according to Hockey Reference.com’s Playoff Probabilities Report.  The Athletic (subscription required) does a daily playoff projection and their odds of the Rangers making the post season are much worse at only 5%.

The trades effect on the Rangers

So far there have been four trades that could be called “deadline deals.”  Toronto acquired goalie Jack Stanley and Kyle Clifford from the Kings in the first deal.  Pittsburgh acquired Jason Zucker from the Minnesota Wild.   Sunday, the Devils traded Andy Greene to the Islanders and they sent Blake Coleman to Tampa.

The Pittsburgh and Tampa deals directly affect the Rangers as those were two teams looking for help at forward.  If there were eight teams in touch with the Rangers about Chris Kreider, that number is now probably six.

Since it has been reported that Kreider will not accept a trade to a team from Canada, the number of options are limited.  Two of the top possibilities remain the Boston Bruins and the St. Louis Blues.

The Bruins are loaded, but facing a challenge from Tampa they may feel the need to make a move.  The Blues do expect to get Vladimir Tarasenko back from the injured list, but Kreider would be a good fit.  The Blues own all of their draft picks and Jordan Kyrou has been mentioned as possible fodder for a deal.

In the mix are the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche.  Dallas needs help on offense, but they don’t have second or third round draft picks this June and they may be loathe to give up a top prospect.  Joe Sakic of the Avs is always a tough one to deal with , though he has the most cap space available of any contender.   More on Colorado in a bit.

Probably the team that could benefit most from a Chris Kreider would be the New York Islanders.  Would Jeff Gorton dare deal Kreider to a local rival?  if Lou Lamoriello is willing to up the ante on return in such a deal, Gorton may be willing considering it would only be a rental.

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