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New York Rangers: Grading the Eastern Conference playoff contenders deadline trades

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 25: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers skates against the Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden on November 25, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Wild 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 25: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers skates against the Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden on November 25, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Wild 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers scores the game winning goal /

With the NHL Trade Deadline passed, here is where the New York Rangers stand and it’s time to grade their playoff rivals.

The New York Rangers made headlines when they acquired the marquee pending free agent.  Of course, we’re talking about Chris Kreider.  The Rangers took the top rental off the market when they extended their longtime power forward to a seven year deal at an annual cap hit of $6.5 million.

After the deadline closed a trade with the Hurricanes was announced. The Blueshirts swapped defenseman Brady Skjei to the Carolina Hurricanes for a first round draft pick in a move to save cap space.

In shocking news, team president John Davidson announced that Igor Shesterkin and Pavel Buchnevich were in a car accident in Brooklyn last night.  Shesterkin has broken ribs and is week to week while Buchnevich is okay and is day to day.  Both players were wearing seat belts and their air bags deployed so more serious injury was avoided.

It means that Alexandar Georgiev and Henrik Lundqvist will be the top tandem in goal while Shesterkin will be out at least two weeks, probably longer.

It also means that the Rangers are willing to  mostly stand pat with their current team and they believe that they have a decent shot at making the playoffs.  Retaining Kreider is a refreshing change from the last two years that saw key pieces subtracted and not replaced.  His departure would have left a gaping hole in the top two lines and we can look forward to an extension of the marriage between Mika Zibanejad and Kreider along with Buchnevich as their right wing.

The Skjei trade will allow the team to re-sign some of their top restricted free agents.  As with the Joey Keane trade, the Rangers depth at defense allowed them to make moves that will result in the team becoming stronger in the long run.

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