Who could be traded at the deadline?

Analyzing the available – Phil Di Giuseppe

Phil Di Giuseppe, 27 – UFA after this season

Phil Di Giuseppe, along with Brendan Smith are the two players on the Rangers who are classic trade bait.  He is an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) after this season and could easily be swapped to a contender looking for a high energy depth forward who can contribute offensively.

What would it take?

If the Rangers could get a fourth or fifth round pick for Di Giuseppe, they should make that trade.

The impact

This would be another deal that would make David Quinn’s job easier.  It would free up space on the fourth line and give the team an opportunity to promote Morgan Barron or some of the players on the roster in Hartford for a trial run in New York.

Analyzing the available – Brendan Smith

Brendan Smith, 32 – UFA after this season

Brendan Smith would be perfect trade bait at the deadline.  He’s a physical defenseman who can play either side and also play forward.  He will drop the gloves to defend a teammate and is a 10 year veteran with playoff experience.  A free agent after the season, he is the answer if a team believes the mantra that you can never have enough defensemen in the playoffs.

The key question is how badly would a team need Brendan Smith.  As strictly a depth player, the return won’t be great. If a team is looking for a third pair starting blueliner, he could get a better return.  Last season Brenden Dillon cost the Capital a second and third round pick.  Marco Scandella cost the Blues a second round pick and a conditional fourth rounder.  Alec Martinez netted the Kings two second round picks.

No one is saying that Smith is the equivalent of those defensemen, but it does establish a value.   Gorton won’t give Smith away, but if he could get a conditional third round pick that becomes a second rounder if the destination team gets far in the playoffs, that would be a solid return.

Brendan Smith is playing regularly on the third defense pair with Libor Hajek.   His slot could be filled by Tony Bitetto or the Rangers could promote Tarmo Reunanen and give him a chance to show what he is capable of. Both Hajek and Bitetto can play the opposite side,  giving the Rangers some flexibility.  Smith is a popular player and Quinn loves him, but of all the available Rangers, he is the one player who should be traded.