The New York Rangers have a tough decision to make as the calendar is nearly turned over to March. The Trade Deadline is almost in full swing, as teams are starting to lobby their options as either buyers or sellers. The Rangers are one of the select few teams that remain on the bubble of uncertainty about what their plans will be.
In my honest opinion, looking at the landscape of the Eastern Conference, the Rangers have a tough decision to make. Currently, as they are tied with Ottawa and Columbus for 62 points and the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference, they could be buyers at the deadline. Or, they can sit still and ride it out with the squad they have.
Regardless, some contracts will be expiring at the end of this season that need to be addressed at the Deadline. If they are not going to be beneficial in the future of this organization, then it needs to be cut away and shredded. Here are three that need to be addressed.
Ryan Lindgren
There is a lot to be said about the current blue-line situation. Even with the current salary cap increase, there is not a lot of wiggle room to be made to keep everyone. Ryan Lindgren is at the top of the trade block, as he can bring in the biggest return at the trade deadline.
"The Warrior" is such an incredible hockey player, but this season has shown that the elephant is stomping around the room and destroying everything in its path. Injuries and inconsistencies plague the 26-year-old defenseman. He plays hard, but it always seems to come right back around in missed time, which scrambles the Rangers into shuffling the lines to make up the missing body.
That has been a main component of the early failures from this season when Lindgren went down in preseason and didn't make his first start as October 22. Coincidentally, his return started this roller coaster of a season. This season has been the worst of his career, and it is during the final year of his $4.5 million AAV deal.
There is no way to predict what his next deal will be, but it could be around the same amount. Is it worth spending another season handicapped by a player who cannot keep themselves healthy enough to play a whole season? Right now, Lindgren has started to heat up in the offensive department, with three assists over his last five games to bring his season point total to 17 points (2 goals and 15 assists). This might be the right time to get the most amount of return for Lindgren.
There is another contract on the blue-line that will be discussed later on down the list.
Reilly Smith
What looked like a slam dunk, wound up getting stuffed at the rim. Reilly Smith was brought over as the potential replacement for the first right-wing spot, alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. What a bummer that was in the early part of the year.
With 10 goals and 18 assists on the year for 28 points in 56 games, he has had a down year. Smith has been jumbled around the lineup, seeing time with a good chunk with each of the top-nine forwards. His $3.75 million AAV deal is also set to expire at the end of the season, but to deal him at the deadline will be a bit tricky. He has an 8-team modified no-trade clause, meaning that he has to send in the select teams he would accept a trade to.
That makes it very tricky, but some solid contending teams could use the 33-year-old winger for their playoff venture. One that jumps off the board, was highlighted in The Hockey Writers' Alex Chauvancy hit-piece about "1 Move Each Team Should Make Before the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline". Smith's former team, the Vegas Golden Knights is a solid fit to have a reunion. The Rangers could use some of their younger talent, and one that jumps off the page is the re-rejuvenated centerman, Brett Howden. Why not bring the whole band back together from the mid-to-late 2010s?
Smith is aging, and with that, he is not worth any more than half of his current deal, as his next deal.
K'Andre Miller
Remember that other D-man on the list who needs their contract tossed in the garbage, well, we just got there. Alongside Lindgren, it may be time for the Rangers to move on from K' Andre Miller. In this scenario, I believe that it is one or the other, not both.
This season has been the biggest spotlight for Miller, as he had to step in alongside Adam Fox when Lindgren was out. Additionally, the drama and departure of captain Jacob Trouba put the focus on the Rangers blue line. Miller has been singled out in that.
His current deal worth $3.872 million is set to expire at the end of the year, and he will be a Restricted Free Agent. Using the same parameters as Lindgren, it is high time to get the most back for Miller before the Rangers lose him for nothing at the end of the year.