3 players the New York Rangers should target before the trade deadline

For the New York Rangers, being as good as they have been this season has proved to anyone that watches them consistently that their early season struggles were merely just a wobble, and the wheels are still firmly attached to this wagon. New York has already added Vladimir Tarasenko, Tyler Motte and Niko Mikkola to its ranks ahead of the deadline hoping for another deep push.

I asked the question if the Rangers’ deadline shopping should be done with just these two added to the roster, but I do think the general consensus is that there needs to be more. Currently, the Rangers sit 6th in the NHL standings via points percentage. That’s all well and good until you realize all five teams ahead of the Blueshirts are in the Eastern Conference. But c’est la vie, you have to beat the best to be the best.

It raises the question of who the Rangers should go to get in order to bolster their ranks. What do they really need? Bolstering up the fourth line has been a suggestion, a guy that can match the physicality that the playoffs demand. Others have clambered for some additional depth that could be used on the penalty kill to help the special teams out when the going is at its toughest.

Some want some additional star power, so we will see what happens but it should be a lot of fun watching the echo chamber of rumors get louder and louder as we approach the deadline. We know that the Rangers are not the finished article in all likelihood. After the addition of Tyler Motte, this lineup looks a lot more complete than it did prior to the Tarasenko trade.

There’s still likely room for one more depth addition. Someone with some size or a little more scoring could be on the agenda for the front office, depending on what their view as their major priority. There are players available that fill all of these needs, so it really does just come down to whatever management wants to get involved in. If the Rangers do move someone like Vitali Kravtsov off their roster, there will likely be room for a little more too.