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Intriguing 2023 Off-Season Trade Targets for the New York Rangers

By Matthew Mugno

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 17: Travis Konecny #11 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates with the puck against the New York Rangers at Wells Fargo Center on December 17, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 17: Travis Konecny #11 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates with the puck against the New York Rangers at Wells Fargo Center on December 17, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 06: William Nylander #88 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates after scoring a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period of their game at PNC Arena on November 06, 2022, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Toronto won 3-1. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 06: William Nylander #88 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates after scoring a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period of their game at PNC Arena on November 06, 2022, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Toronto won 3-1. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Unlikely Fantasies:

Mitch Marner (27 years old, $10.9 million AAV)

The contribution and angle I have not seen regarding a Panarin for Marner swap are that they are the same player with the same vices. The Maple Leafs don’t make the postseason without the former 4th overall pick. The same goes for Panarin and the Rangers.

They also have only advanced past the first round once in his tenure because of the lack of goal-scoring from their third highest-paid forward. In the four post-season appearances in successive years dating back to 2020, Marner has only recorded 5 goals in 30 post-season games played.

If the gripe with Panarin is putting the puck in the net in tournament play, the move would be a lateral pipedream.

William Nylander (27 years old, $ 6.9 million AAV)

Of the Leaf’s core four, Willy “Styles” might be of most interest due to the affordability of his pay raise. Nylander recorded a monster 40-goal and 87-point season followed by a solid post-season performance tallying 10 points. Again, the complication for the Rangers is they would have to mortgage and maneuver their wage cap as if they were getting a skilled winger from Chicago or a sniper from St. Louis…

Logan Cooley (Minnesota Golden Gophers, Sophomore)

The Frozen Four in Tampa built the rave around Adam Fantilli. Yet, the argument of Logan Cooley playing a superior game has legs. Minnesota’s University rising sophomore appears to be playing an “Adam Fox”, with no desire to play in Mullet Arena next season. The Rangers would have to trade a “Kid” and more to accomplish a swap, but the intrigue is in Cooley’s ceiling.

Would you take the gamble on answering the great Lafreniere question as an answer of the Hobey Baker finalist?

Pierre-Luc Dubois (24 years old, $6.0 million AAV)

The New York Rangers are reportedly in on PLD, 32 Thoughts personality Jeff Marek fueling the idea by claiming New York could be a good fit. How though? Blue Line Station’s Conor Power suggests Trochek or Chytil would have to be the center of trade.

Last summer this was a soundbite of mine from the “New York Exchange” podcast (https://www.instagram.com/reel/CfqlXXCgZqE/)

Is PLD worth moving a hefty cap for? If the Rangers wanted to clear 9 million dollars to acquire a bonafide and young number two, his 55 goals in the last two seasons could be an enticing facet to his game partnered with his command in the center dot and physique.

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