The New York Rangers are at the bottom of the barrel, and are scraping along the bottom of the National Hockey League. With the fifth-overall pick in the upcoming draft, there is a chance to at least gain a little bit of ground for next season.
There is something else that they can do to try and get ahead, and that falls on the silver tounge of General Manager and President of Hockey Operations, Chris Drury. There are three players that can be used for trade purposes, and the returns for all of them can push this team back in the right direction.
Let's go over them.
3. Alexis Lafrenière
This is a 10 percent chance of actually gaining any kind of traction. Alexis Lafrenière could be a very useful trade chip, but that is if the Rangers are completely ready to move on from the former first-overall selection.
Last season saw a step forward for No. 13, but time is running out for him to make a solid impact. He could be viable for this team once the retooling phase is over, as he is still 24-years-old. But, these next couple of years are going to have to see him take his game to a whole new level, as every first-overall pick surrounding him is coming into the NHL as bonafide superstars.
That puts him into a seperate conversation than regular players of his age.
2. Braden Schneider
Much like what happened with Darren Raddysh with the Toronto Maple Leafs, an opposition can sign-and-trade for defenseman Braden Schneider. The Rangers can take advantage of that, as the draft could find his replacement in a young and explosive prospect.
Schneider is without a contract right now, but as a restricted free agent, there is not much he can do right now. This is why a sign-and-trade might be the best option for the Rangers and for Schneider, as both parties can get something.
1. Vincent Trocheck
It would be a big surprise if Vincent Trocheck is still a Blueshirt by the start of next season. Drury is going to fight like hell to try and right his wrong that was made at the trade deadline in March, and the hope is that the initial deals that were proposed still hold up, and are not altered in a way for the Rangers to get fleeced.
Trocheck is a fantastic player, but does not fit into the next phase of Rangers hockey at all. If he was a few years younger, this would be a different story. This franchise is still a few years out of being playoff contenders, and Trocheck will either be too old to make as much of an impact, or out of his current contract by then.
The Rangers have to get the most for him now, when the reutrn is highest.
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