Three replacements for New York Rangers Filip Chytil who is out for the season
It was announced on January 28th that New York Rangers center Filip Chytil was shutdown for the year with the Rangers needing to adjust course knowing that the Czech centerman would miss the remainder of the season with a concussion. Rightfully so, the Rangers want what is best for the player instead of the team. It's the hallmark of a classy organization, and it will make players confident that the club has their best interests at heart when it comes to the health part of the game.
However, this means that the Blueshirts will have the difficult task of trying to replace their third line centerman and that will not be easy for Rangers to find a new man for that hole. Chris Drury and the front office are going to find a way to get a replacement in for the Czech forward. Replacing someone homegrown, drafted by the organization, and who has chemistry with the players on the roster is an almost impossible task.
This center market is also exceptionally thin. With Elias Lindholm recently being moved to the Calgary Flames and Sean Monahan being moved to the Winnipeg Jets, the market is becoming even more barron than it was when the Rabgers announced their need for a new third-line center with the confirmation of Chytil being shut down the year. So, what can the Blueshirts do now to replace their beloved young forward?
It'll be a very difficult lead up to the deadline as the Rangers address the options available. Do they go for an older veteran who knows what it takes to play postseason hockey? Do they want to go a little younger for a player that may have better long term aspirations? Should this be a center that prioritizes the offensive side of the game over defense? It's got to be a good fit for the system too, which makes this a difficult conversation.
Adam Henrique
This is the one that makes the most sense, and he's probably the final true center on the market at this trade deadline. As the Rangers are looking for help down the middle, they could land another player that has delivered a dagger to the hopes and dreams of the past to come and help build up the chances of the Stanley Cup coming home to Manhatten. A decade after his infamous goal for the New Jersey Devils, Adam Henrique could be a solution.
He was shipped out of the Garden State and to Orange County for Sami Vatanen many years ago and has been growing old in the Anaheim Ducks organization. In his older age, Henrique has retained the defensive upside that has made him such a beloved player by Ducks fans. His experience has been helpful for the youngsters the Ducks have, and the Rangers have kids that are not performing the way they should be right now.
To say his defense is still among the best in the NHL shouldn't diminish the fact his offensive skills are still quite strong. The Brantford, Ontario native has recorded 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points this season and is plus-one on a Ducks team that cannot stop a beachball. He's done incredibly well as he looks to get back to a team that wants to compete for the Stanley Cup after seven years out in Orange County.
For the New York Rangers, Henrique could slide into the third line slot quite comfortably. With a cap hit of $5.825 million, there would need to be some retention, but opening the first round pick up should make the Ducks content with retaining until the end of the season on this player. They know it'll take some help for a lot of teams to land him, so the retention slot is probably a good use.
Scott Laughton
We move from Orange County, California, to the only team in the NHL to wear orange as its main color. Onto Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Laughton. Laughton has three years left on his deal at $3 million annually, and at the age of 29, there's minimal risk with him. For a long term fit, this is probably the best option if the Rangers are not sure about the status of Chytil long term.
Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere is expected to listen to offers on the Oakville, Ontario native, but he's not actively shopping the left-handed centerman. In fact, the only reason Briere is expected to be listening to offers on Laughton is because the center market is so incredibly weak, and he thinks someone might pay the astronomical asking price he can set for his asset. We'd all want Chris Drury to do the same.
Laughton has netted himself just five goals this season, but with 15 assists for a total of 20 points, these totals are not that bad for someone that has been playing in the bottom six of a team that isn't in the same ilk as the New York Rangers. Despite the Flyers being quite the surprise this season, it's not the same as playing on this blueshirts roster, and his totals would undeniably increase in New York.
In the summer, Briere wanted a first-round draft pick and more for him, so this is not going to be the most effecient use of assets, but if the Rangers want someone who might be a fit long-term, and can play almost anywhere in the lineup, this is the player they will be calling about. It'll be expensive, especially trading for him from a division rival, but it's the kind of risk that needs to be taken for a team that wants the Stanley Cup.
Tyler Johnson
The final name on this list is someone that has been linked with the Rangers recently. Former Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson is the one we come to as the now Chicago Blackhawks forward has been linked with interest from the Blueshirts. Now, I'm going to open by saying that this is not the caliber of player the Rangers should be going after as the 33-year-old Spokane, Washington native is well and truly into the decline of his career.
However, with nine goals and four assists for 13 points in 35 games, this is a player that the Rangers interest in may be justified. His issue has been staing in the lineup, but scoring at a 40 point pace is respectable for a depth piece on a team that is at the bottom of the NHL standings. Yes, Chicago is below the San Jose Sharks right now, not that you asked. Johnson's not been the reason for it though.
Like Henrique, this would require some retention because Johnson is in the final year of a deal that pays him $5 million a year. He's also currently listed on the Blackhawks injured-reserve, which sounds about right. He's not great defensively, but he's still got that scoring touch that made him so feared when he was down in Tampa Bay. He's known to be a strong player, and the Rangers could do a lot worse.
So, what do you think? Would you like to see any of these players in the iconic blue of the New York Rangers? Would you prefer to see someone else here? Let me know, and if you have a better idea, I can look at the implications here. The Rangers need an upgrade in the bottom six down the middle without Bonino and without Chytil, so who will it be as the market continues to thin out?