Frank Seravalli's trade bait board is one of the most intriguing places for names ahead of the trade deadline. One exciting name has appeared on that list recently, and it is the kind of player the New York Rangers. Buffalo Sabres forward John-Jason Peterka, who is listed at 15, and it's sparked rumors regarding the availability of the German. Could the Rangers pull off a shock deal with the team from Northern New York to bring this player to Manhatten?
Well, the answer is probably not. Buffalo has been firm on their stance with Peterka. Unless you provide an offer that the Sabres cannot say no to, he's unlikely to be moved. In theory, this should kill any conversation about Peterka being moved, but there is no fun in that. The Rangers can offer a package Kevyn Adams cannot refuse, so how could the Rangers benefit from having him?
New York needs to get younger. An injection of youth can take this team a long way, and we're heading into the season's crunch time. Peterka is the kind of young player that the Rangers could greatly benefit from having because of his ability to score points. The 23-year-old has 17 goals and 30 assists for 47 points in 57 games with the Sabres. The Munich native has been one of the bright spots on the league's most hopeless franchise.
Peterka is 6'0", so he isn't the "meat and potatoes" guy we've heard Drury wants so much, but he can score regardless. That's important for a team like the Rangers, whose core forwards are getting older. The team is in flux between the group that brought them here and the new recruits set to take the torch, so adding players like Peterka, who can solidify the roster while the team transitions, would be a step in the right direction. Is it likely? No. But it is fun to think about.