With less than two months until the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline on March 7, the New York Rangers are likely looking to see more changes come soon.
The Rangers were 12-6-1 in November when General Manager and President Chris Drury sent his now-infamous trade note to other teams saying roster players were available. Obviously, the front office is looking to shake things up after the December trades of veterans Jacob Trouba (Anaheim Ducks) and Kaapo Kakko (Seattle Kraken).
Let’s look at six potential deadline rental candidates, plus how much the Rangers could expect in return.
1. Ryan Lindgren
Status: Pending Unrestricted Free Agent
Ryan Lindgren doesn’t appear to be part of the Rangers’ long-term plans. Drury opted not to trade him when he hit restricted free agency in the summer of 2024 but gave him pnly a mere one-year extension worth $4.5 million, leaving the door open for a deadline trade.
And while his play has been on a downward trajectory over the past two years, as a Blueshirt he still plays close to 20 minutes a game. Not to mention, he’s one of the Rangers' main penalty killers.
2. Reilly Smith
Status: Pending Unrestricted Free Agent
Head Coach Peter Laviolette made Reilly Smith a healthy scratch in December, and he’s averaging less than a point every other game. And while the winger’s performance dipped when he went from Las Vegas to the Penguins in the summer of 2023, he's still a player with Stanley Cup experience.
3. Jimmy Vesey
Status: Pending Unrestricted Free Agent
Another player whose been a healthy scratch as recent as Tuesday in Colorado, Jimmy Vesey’s ice time has dipped, as has his scoring rate.
Though, defensively he’s been solid. A playoff team could look for him as a depth option.
4. Will Borgen
Status: Pending Unrestricted Free Agent
Laviolette has paired former Kraken member Will Borgen up with K’Andre Miller and given him top-four minutes since he was aquired in the Kakko trade. But it's been rumored that he has not engaged in extension talks with the front office.
5. Zac Jones
Status: Pending Restricted Free Agent
As many Rangers fans have pointed out across social media, Zac Jones has been a healthy scratch since Dec. 23, and he wants (and likely needs) to get playing time for his development as he is only 24-years-old.
And, the Rangers gave his camp permission to speak with other teams about potential trades. But his value on the market doesn’t appear to be particularly high considering nothing has developed since.
6. Urho Vaakanainen
Status: Pending Restricted Free Agent
Urho Vaakanainen is a pending RFA, but he has arbitration rights and his qualifying offer is $1.1 million. There's a chance he could stay or go, but more likely that he'll stay.