New York Rangers: Trade Rumors with the Calgary Flames
Johnny Gaudreau
The man known as “Johnny Hockey” seems to have hinted at a divide between him and the Calgary Flames. Pre-pandemic, Johnny Gaudreau removed the Calgary Flames name from his Twitter page and the hockey world took note. Being from Salem, New Jersey, rumors have speculated about a tri-state reunion. However, for a number of reasons, although the Gaudreau rumors remain hot, the odds of him ending up in a Ranger uniform are slim. More on that later.
At only 27 years of age, Gaudreau has plenty of quality hockey ahead of him and is only a year removed from tallying 36 goals and 99 points in 82 games played. The talented left-winger currently carries a cap-hit of $6.75 million through the 2021-22 season. With 445 points in 464 career games played, that’s more than a discount. For comparison, Kevin Hayes is making $7.14 million for the next seven years and he’s only produced 270 points in 450 career games… Yikes.
The main issue that Flames fans seem to have with Johnny Gaudreau is his “disappearance” during post-season play. In 30 playoff games, Gaudreau has only tallied 19 points and is a minus-8. His size and lack of physical presence don’t translate particularly well to playoff hockey, which ultimately makes Gaudreau the scapegoat.
What it would take:
- Vitali Kravtsov
- 2020 first round pick (from Carolina)
- Alexander Georgiev
Why the Rangers should do it:
They get better now. There may not be room for Kravtsov all said and done and the Rangers could package him in a deal that brings in a bonafide elite scorer. The fact of the matter is that the New York Rangers currently have a shorter window of success than the Flames. Artemi Panarin is New York’s window. Matthew Tkachuk is Calgary’s. Kravtsov would be given more leeway in Calgary and Gaudreau wouldn’t have to shoulder the brunt of the offensive responsibilities in New York.
Why the Rangers should not do it:
Prior to phase two of the NHL draft lottery, this trade made a lot more sense. Gaudreau is a skilled winger who wouldn’t have to be the number one scoring option in New York. However, with the expected drafting of Alexis Lafrenière, this trade seems dead in the water.
For starters, the Rangers depth at wing is already cumbersome. Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider already occupy the left wings on the first and second lines. You could switch someone from the left to the right wing, but Pavel Buchnevich and Kaapo Kakko are expected hold those slots (unless you trade Buchnevich…)
Jesper Fast might be an unrestricted free agent, but he’s a five time consecutive winner of the Players’ Player Award and will likely be brought back (if the price is right). As stated, Vitali Kravtsov is waiting in the wings. Brendan Lemieux provides sandpaper to the roster and Julien Gauthier may be young, but he brings fresh legs and a serviceable 6’4″ and 227 pound frame.
When you throw Alexis Lafrenière, yet another natural left-winger, into the fray, there seems to be very little room left for Johnny Gaudreau or his $6.75 million contract. Is it financially worth bringing Johnny Gaudreau to the New York Rangers? Just because there is an avenue for a potential trade, does it seem worth it? After two seasons at a manageable contract, Gaudreau will demand more money and another contract similar to that of Artemi Panarin could handcuff the franchise.
Listed at 5’9″ and 165 pounds (on a good day), Gaudreau serves a very specific slot. Had the Rangers not resigned Chris Kreider, this might make more sense, but the fact of the matter is that the New York Rangers aren’t in need of an additional top six winger; especially a winger not on a rookie contract.
They are however in desperate need of a center.