The New York Rangers continue to grapple with inconsistency. While Tuesday night’s 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues was encouraging, other games like the 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth have been frustrating.
That situation puts the Rangers in a position where making changes for the sake of it is senseless. The team needs players who can provide value without costing an arm and a leg. That thought brings one player to mind: Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood.
The Columbus, Ohio native has been the subject of trade rumors amid the Canucks’ struggles this season. He’s part of insider Nick Kypreos’ trade board, while his name has also landed on Chris Johnston’s list in The Athletic.
Sherwood has been good on a bad Canucks team. He’s scored 12 goals in 23 games this season. His 16 points are on pace to eclipse his career-high of 40 from last night. The 30-year-old narrowly missed the 20-goal mark, making him a reliable forward piece.
The Rangers could certainly use a player like that. Outside of the top six, the Blueshirts have struggled to find reliable scoring in the bottom six. While Sherwood isn’t necessarily a bottom-six player, he could be an interesting fit on the Rangers’ third line.
Let’s unpack that. A third line of Sherwood with Noah Laba and Conor Sheary could be something to be reckoned with. Perhaps Mike Sullivan wants to up the ante and put Sherwood on the second line with Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere.
Regardless of where Sullivan uses Sherwood, the undrafted forward gives the Rangers something crucial: Flexibility. At the moment, the loss of J.T. Miller weighs heavily on the team. That’s why bringing in additional scoring could be the boost the Rangers need to remain consistent.
Rangers would have to pay up to bring in Sherwood
So, here’s where things get interesting. Sherwood won’t come cheap. While he wouldn’t necessarily cost a top-end prospect or a first-round pick, Sherwood could end up costing a prospect like Brennan Othmann.
Since the Rangers have been rumored to be willing to part with Othmann, moving him for Sherwood could be a good start. That’s a move that could entice the Canucks to get the ball rolling. Of course, Othmann wouldn’t be the only piece the Canucks would want. A high draft pick, like a second-rounder, would likely head the other way.
There’s one other thing driving up Sherwood’s price. He carries a very palatable $1.5 million cap hit. That number makes him a highly desirable piece for just about every contender out there. As such, Sherwood wouldn’t be a drag on the Rangers’ cap structure. That’s why the Rangers wouldn’t be able to get him for nothing.
Ultimately, Kiefer Sherwood is a player Chris Drury must do his due diligence on. The Rangers have absolutely nothing to lose at this point by bringing in more scoring for the club’s middle six. Time is running out for the Blueshirts to regain their footing in the jam-packed Eastern Conference.