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Way too early trade deadline targets for the New York Rangers

ByConor Power|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 28: General Manager Chris Drury of the New York Rangers speaks during a press conference prior to the jersey retirement ceremony for Henrik Lundqvist taking place before the game between the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2022 in New York City. Henrik Lundqvist played all 15 seasons of his NHL career with the Rangers before retiring in 2020. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 28: General Manager Chris Drury of the New York Rangers speaks during a press conference prior to the jersey retirement ceremony for Henrik Lundqvist taking place before the game between the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2022 in New York City. Henrik Lundqvist played all 15 seasons of his NHL career with the Rangers before retiring in 2020. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
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ELMONT, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 09: Tanner Jeannot #84 of the Nashville Predators skates against the New York Islanders at the UBS Arena on December 09, 2021, in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
ELMONT, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 09: Tanner Jeannot #84 of the Nashville Predators skates against the New York Islanders at the UBS Arena on December 09, 2021, in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Tanner Jeannot

With the Nashville Predators on the outside of the playoff picture looking in right now, they could be in the market for moving players out at the deadline. Tanner Jeannot is going to be a player that is highly desired if the Preds decide that they want to start selling pieces off their roster. His affordable cap hit, unique style of play, and incredible contract makes for some good factors to look at him as a good trade target.

Jeannot was one of the impressive youngsters last season but he’s been a late bloomer in his career. At 25, he’s a little older than most people think he is. Jeannot doesn’t exactly have a ton of room left to grow and he’s at an age where he’s becoming more and more of what he is. He’s not going to suddenly explode and become a point-per-game player. That doesn’t mean that he is not a useful player.

With the undrafted winger possessing the ability to play either wing making he is the ideal trade target for a team that needs to find depth options down the flanks. While Jeannot is probably an ideal third-line player, he’s proven that he can play in the top six if the need is there. Sliding him into the Rangers’ top six would probably put him in a position where he could find offensive success without the demands of persistent pressure.

As I mentioned, his contract is a sweetheart deal as he makes $800,000 against the cap this year and will be a restricted-free agent at the end of it. If you do not know what that means, the Rangers will continue to hold his rights even after this season. Yes, they have their own cap issues but if the cap is going up by the $4 million it is projected to, it could mean the rangers have the space to keep him.

Jeannot is unlikely to be dealt so it is likely that the Rangers are likely to overpay if they set their sights on this winger. A team-controlled winger being moved at the deadline makes me think the comparison here is the Brandon Hagel trade. That wasn’t exactly a good move for Tampa. Maybe the price comes down since Jeannot isn’t controlled for as long, but that isn’t exactly a certainty.

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