We are just past the midway point of the season and we’re about at the time where front offices start making decisions about being buyers or sellers on the March 21st. As we know from Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek, the Rangers will be big players in this years trade market. The Rangers are known to be in on Jake Debrusk and Jakob Chychrun. With any championship level team there is always room for improvement. For the Rangers, that improvement is on the third defense pairing, and adding a right winger.
I believe that when the Rangers do acquire a forward this deadline it needs to be someone with versatility, either a winger who can play center or a winger who can play center. Two options who fit that criteria are Claude Giroux and Joe Pavelski.
Availability
Claude Giroux and Joe Pavelski could be available at the deadline due to their expiring contracts, but its not guaranteed as Giroux has a full no movement clause and Pavelski’s Dallas Stars currently sit in the second wild card spot and could decide to go all in.
Recently Flyers’ GM Chuck Fletcher said that their decision to move Giroux will be up to Giroux.
Giroux's agent Pat Brisson to me via text message: ``Claude and I will be spending time together within the next few weeks exploring his best options while having discussions with Chuck.''
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 26, 2022
With full no-move, Giroux can choose to stay put. All options will be looked at obviously https://t.co/WhHuMUoo6A
I think that Giroux will waive his no trade clause and try to win a championship this season. The question then becomes whether the Flyers would do a deal with the Rangers.
In their history the Rangers and Flyers have completed eight mostly minor trades with the only major deal the Eric Lindros trade.
Joe Pavelski’s availability is more tricky. The Stars are in that weird spot where they are a borderline playoff team. John Klingberg is the only Stars player that seems guaranteed to be traded at the deadline. Recently, Saad Yousuf, who covers the Dallas Stars for The Athletic (subscripton required), said that if the Stars were to fall out of the playoff race they would look to move Pavelski. That means we may not know about his availability until very close to the March 21 deadline.
Cost
I think that both of these players could be a little expensive as both are having outstanding years. Giroux currently has 35 points in 41 games this season. The 37-year old Pavelski has 48 points in 41 games this season.
At the trade deadline the high end rentals usually command a first round pick or even more. In 2019 the Rangers got Winnipeg’s first round pick for Kevin Hayes. A year earlier the Rangers traded Rick Nash to the Bruins for first and seventh round picks, Ryan Lindgren and Ryan Spooner
Giroux has an $8 million AAV and Pavelski’s is $7 million so there are cap considerations. Because of that I think the cost for both would be a first round pick, given their talent.
Why they fit
One of the main reasons I think that the Rangers should target these players is their fit on the team. Both players are centers who have the ability to play the wing. Both players give Gerard Gallant lineup options. They could fill in as the third line center or they can play the right side with Zibanejad and Kreider or Panarin and Strome.
Joe Pavelski and Claude Giroux are both very good power play players as well. There’s not really room for them on the first unit but, maybe their presence on the second unit could see the unit get more power play time and take some of the pressure of the first unit.
Both players also bring playoff experience and leadership to this young Rangers team.
I personally believe that acquiring Claude Giroux is more possible despite his being on the Flyers. I think Giroux could fit very nicely as a top six right wing or the third line center.
There’s one reason I would prefer Giroux to Pavelski and that is faceoffs. We’re all tired of hearing about draws, but it’s an area the Rangers always struggle with. Claude Giroux on the season has a 60.8% winning percentage compared to Pavelski’s 53.7%. Both players would automatically be the Ranger’s best face-off man.
Claude Giroux and Joe Pavelski are two attractive veterans who could be on the move this trade deadline. The Rangers are going to be a team to watch out for at the deadline. With the deadline under two months away, the Rangers are going to be a team to watch. A lot can change from now until then but one thing for certain is that if the Rangers want to go deep into the playoffs, they are in need of a top nine forward. Claude Giroux and Joe Pavelski fit that need.