For the second time this month, the waiver wire has bitten the New York Rangers as they lose forward Dryden Hunt on waivers to the Colorado Avalanche. This creates an issue for the Rangers in terms of their established forward depth. However, this is an issue that can be addressed later in the season. As for the Rangers at this very moment, it’s a bit of a pain, but there’s no reason to think they cannot survive without Hunt.
With Hunt out the door, the Rangers find themselves only carrying the 13 forwards. Even that is a little sketchy because one of the forwards they are carrying is nursing an injury. The Rangers have 12 healthy forwards right now and no one that can come into the lineup if there is another injury before their next game. It’s not an ideal situation, but there are still good players with the Hartford Wolfpack that can come up and fill in the gaps.
For New York now, if they want to continue to hold decent forward depth, they could turn to their AHL affiliate in the Connecticut capital. This is not a problem the Rangers have to address now. In theory, if the Rangers get a little bit of luck, they can survive with what they have up right now until their injuries settle down. That is something the Rangers need to be careful of now though.
As for Hunt, if Colorado places him on waivers within the next 30 days, there’s a niche thing the Rangers can do. If the Rangers are the only team to claim him if he goes back on waivers, they can send him down to the AHL without having to waive him again. It would allow them to replenish their depth without damaging their futures stock. It’s not exactly going to decide if they win the cup, but it is worth noting.
Hunt will be going to a new city out west and he will get to play with a team that knows a thing or two about winning as the reigning Stanley Cup Champions. Colorado is going to be a competitive team again and Hunt will strengthen their bottom six. If he stays in Colorado, Hunt will be back in New York next Wednesday to play against his former team as the Avalanche will visit Madison Square Garden.