Where could Nils Lundkvist end up getting dealt to
After it was discovered that the Rangers are trying to trade defenseman Nils Lundkvist according to the New York Post, there has seemingly been a lot of attention drawn to the defenseman. Lundkvist is waiver exempt and still has two years remaining on his entry-level contract. As a very promising right-hand shooting defenseman, there is a lot of value there. It is rumored the Rangers want a single piece of equal value.
Lundkvist wants out because he’s a powerplay running offensive defenseman that needs top-four ice time. New York has one of those guys, he is a year removed from winning the Norris trophy. Lundkvist is unlikely to beat him out. The alternative is to replace the guy the Rangers just named captain, so that is unlikely too. So, Lundkvist wants to go somewhere in order to play full-time in a position he is strong in.
This is not like other trade requests. Lundkvist is happy with the Rangers, it is just the lack of powerplay time and the fact that it is perhaps a dead end for his development in New York in the current climate. So, he has asked for a trade elsewhere and has said he may not attend Rangers training camp if he is not dealt by then. Whether that is true or not, we’ll find out in a matter of weeks here.
New York is apparently trying to get this move done quickly according to the New York Post, but they will not move him for less than he is worth. What they seek for him remains one of the many mysteries of the hockey realm, but that is where the fun lies for people like me. Wherever he ends up could be one of 31 destinations, but right now, it could be all 31. So which ones make the most sense for all parties involved?
Vancouver Canucks
This might be the most obvious fit on this list. Vancouver is in desperate need of some right-shot defensemen and they have pieces that could come back the other way for Nils Lundkvist. While Lundkvist might not get the powerplay time he wants in Vancouver, he’d be working under a Swedish General Manager in a city with two of the most famous Swedes to ever play the game in that management group.
If Lundkvist slotted into the right side of that Vancouver’s defense, that means Lundkvist gets the NHL ice time he wants after he was jumped on the Rangers’ depth chart last season. It might be a little difficult for Vancouver to find him powerplay time, and they may play two defensemen on the second unit to please everyone, but it seems like a potential fit on the players’ side of things.
For New York, this sends him almost as far away as they can get him from the Eastern Conference. That minimizes the chance this has of coming back to bite the organization somewhere down the line. It also means that Lundkvist would only return to Madison Square Garden once a year. If you can get the value back from New York, it would certainly make things interesting.
For a piece of similar value from Vancouver, I’m not entirely sure what that might be. Perhaps it is someone along the lines of Linus Karlsson who is a waiver exempt and has proven himself in Europe. A center prospect is never something you can turn down, and Karlsson is younger than Lundkvist. I’m not certain about this, it may favor the Canucks, but that will probably happen anyway with the news the Rangers are looking to trade him.
Ottawa Senators
Logically, Ottawa would make a lot of sense. They’re looking for some right-handed defensive help, and there isn’t a clear powerplay quarterback on the second unit. Ottawa has taken major leaps this summer toward contending. Someone like Lundkvist to reduce their dependency on their current right-sided defensive trio might make the difference between them pushing for a playoff spot.
For the Senators, their roster gets the final piece it is missing. It’s not one of the big names they’ve been trying to land all summer long, but it does make them stronger for the foreseeable future which could result in the Senators getting closer to contending again. They’re not that far away from being one of the better teams in the East and may already be there, but this could greatly aid their cause.
For the Rangers, he remains in the Eastern Conference, but if you are competing for the division title annually like it is hoped is the fate of the team for the next little while, then you have nothing to fear. Ottawa is in the other division so it doesn’t really matter if they get stronger if you are confident of your own place atop your division. A wild card race between the two might make it more difficult.
If the Rangers could lure one of the young guns out of Ottawa for Lundkvist it could be a big win, but Pierre Dorion and the Ottawa Senators have been very wise with their summer so far. I’d expect someone that is NHL ready, waiver exempt, and the same age as Lundkvist with a similar upside. Perhaps someone like Roby Jarventie, who had a strong showing at the world juniors.
Montreal Canadiens
This is the one that everyone wants to see. Very similar to Ottawa, Montreal needs some right-hand defensemen to help them adjust to life without two of their staples on the back end. They’re a long way from competing for the playoffs again and are firmly in the hunt for Connor Bedard this season. With that said, this is still a deal that could work for everyone involved.
Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the best fit for the player. Lundkvist would be basically unopposed for a role as a powerplay quarterback. While there would be other guys ahead of him on the depth chart to start, that could very much help to shelter him at even-strength when this is a Canadiens team that is shaping up to be worse than words I can put into a family-friendly website can say.
For Montreal, they desperately need some right-handed defensemen. Their pipeline looks very scarce in this position, which is not a good sign for a rebuilding team. This is not the kind of deal that would completely fix that issue, but it gives them an oasis in a current desert. While future drafts could help that for Montreal, this season, they look like they are quite stuck with what they have.
For New York, again, this would mean keeping him in the conference but out of the division. That’s not ideal, but there are worse situations to be in than that. If the Rangers could get Jan Mysak back for Lundkvist, that would make things worth it. Another center that could help the pipeline in New York makes a lot of sense. Canadiens fans will not like this, so tell me why in the comments below!
Question for Blue Line Station readers: What would you like to see the Rangers get back for Nils Lundvkist?
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