Four things New York Rangers must address ahead of NHL trade deadline

While the hockey world remains fixated on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, NHL players have reported back to their respective clubs. The league-wide roster freeze lifts this Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET, and Chris Drury has his work cut out for him.

The Rangers have already begun their shift in direction. Carson Soucy was moved to the Islanders. The long-anticipated Artemi Panarin blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Kings materialized. But if those trades were meant to launch a new era, the returns alone did not meaningfully accelerate it.

With the March 6 trade deadline rapidly approaching, Drury has an obligation to launch the organization in its new direction.

Shut Down J.T. Miller

With Drury acquiring J.T. Miller and eventually handing him the captaincy, the expectation was clear: he would inject urgency, fire, and accountability into a roster that had grown stale.

That hasn’t happened. Some of it appears mental. A good portion of the problem is clearly physical.

Miller suffered a groin injury during preseason practice and rushed himself back for the opener. Throughout the year, he has looked labored — at times skating through visible discomfort. Add in an upper-body injury that landed him on injured reserve earlier this season, and this has become hard to ignore.

Former Ranger Brian Boyle, speaking on the Up in the Blue Seats podcast with Mollie Walker, alluded to Miller playing through injury. That observation is consistent with the eye test.

The Rangers are not competing for anything this season. Continuing to ice the 32-year-old captain who is visibly laboring every night makes no sense.

Miller is signed through 2029-30. If retooling is the actual goal, he is part of the next competitive phase, unless he waives his no-move clause. Preserving his health long-term outweighs him playing in meaningless hockey games the rest of the year.

Trade Vincent Trocheck

The center market is thin.That alone makes Vincent Trocheck one of the most valuable names available.

Trocheck is 32 years old with three years remaining after the current season. If the Rangers are being realistic about their window, it is difficult to envision them contending again before his deal expires. Holding onto him is not an option.

Reports across the league suggest there is significant interest.That demand will create leverage — something Drury hasn’t had in recent negotiations. A bidding war could finally work in New York’s favor.

Drury has also spent time in Italy alongside Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin, whose team could use stability down the middle.

Other fits include teams like the Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes. 

There are variables to work though. Trocheck has a 12-team no-trade list, and Rangers insider Vince Mercogliano has reported on The Flying V Podcast that Trocheck prefers to remain on the East Coast. That may shrink the market, but it doesn’t eliminate it entirely.

This deal potentially dictates the long-term outlook of the organization .

Listen seriously on Braden Schneider

As previously mentioned, Braden Schneider’s value around the league remains stronger than it is internally. Big-bodied, right-shot defensemen are a premium in today’s NHL.

Schneider’s development in New York has stagnated. The offensive upside has not materialized, and despite expanded opportunities, he hasn’t seized control of a larger role.

Yet, he might serve as the next most valuable piece Drury has to offer.

He is a restricted free agent this summer; the Rangers retain control. That flexibility allows Drury to explore the market now and revisit discussions closer to the draft if necessary.

If the right offer surfaces like a high-upside forward, a first-round pick, or a controllable young player — it must be considered.

Move Taylor Raddysh — have an honest conversation with Sam Carrick

Taylor Raddysh signed a two-year deal last offseason in a move that never aligned with the team’s trajectory. He hasn’t been a liability, but he hasn’t been an asset  either.

If a mid-round draft pick is available, Drury should take it.

Clearing Raddysh’s roster spot creates opportunity — and opportunity is something this organization desperately needs to give its younger players. The Rangers cannot grow while blocking NHL minutes with replaceable depth pieces.

Sam Carrick presents a different case.

Carrick has been everything you would want in a veteran fourth-line center. He’s been competitive and engaged night in and night out, even when the situation makes it easy to mentally check out. He has one year remaining after this season.

The return would likely be modest. But this is about respect for the player as much as the return. Carrick deserves to compete. If he wants a chance to chase meaningful hockey elsewhere, Drury should accommodate that.

The deadline defines the direction

If Chris Drury wants this new direction to bring success, the next couple of weeks will show whether the Rangers are truly turning the page, or remaining in limbo.