The New York Rangers' pursuit of upgrades this season is no secret. As part of the Quinn Hughes trade, we’ve learned the Blueshirts weren’t just perusing, trying to see if they could get their hat in the ring. The club was serious about landing the superstar blueliner.
Missing out on Hughes shouldn’t be seen as a failure. It should be seen as a symptom of a larger trend in New York. The Rangers are looking to turn over their roster as much as possible without entering a rebuild.
That’s the sentiment the Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta conveyed in a December 19 piece. In the article, the notable insider discussed how the Rangers are “big game hunting.” While that’s hardly news to anyone following the team, the piece identified a specific type of player the Blueshirts are looking for:
“David Pagnotta reported talk across the NHL suggests the Rangers are trying to go big game hunting and would like to acquire a star player in his 20s.”
A star player in his 20s? There are a few of those, but who could be available? The Sabres' Alex Tuch may fit that list. He’s technically in his 20s at 29, but may not be quite what GM Chris Drury has in mind.
The Columbus Blue Jackets’ Yegor Chinakhov remains available, according to The Athletic's Trade Board. But Chinakhov wouldn’t exactly be the “star” player the Rangers could be looking for.
It’s tough to pinpoint precisely who the Rangers may have in mind. Not too many teams would be willing to part with a young, rising star unless they were unsure of signing him at some point. Teams poised to punt on their seasons are worth keeping an eye on. Such teams could include the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, and Seattle Kraken.
It will be challenging for the Rangers to land such a player. They don’t have a lot to offer in terms of potential trade chips. But it will be interesting to see what names emerge from this intriguing New York Rangers rumor.