The trade deadline is less than a month away, and the New York Rangers are far from the finished article. They need reinforcements, and Chris Drury has been one of the most active general managers across the National Hockey League this season. With major trades with Seattle, Anaheim, and Vancouver already under his belt this year, he will continue to look for ways to invest in this core, and he'll be looking to get the New York Rangers back to Stanley Cup contender status.
Where do the Rangers need to upgrade to get back to that level? We've talked at length about the defensive inconsistencies, but with the Rangers starting to turn the corner, do you want to try and fix what is damaged but not broken? It's a dangerous task for Chris Drury, and the Rangers need to find the right balance if they want to return to the postseason.
Defense
Like it or not, the Rangers blueline needs help. Even players with Adam Fox's talent are underperforming this year. His defensive partner hasn't been giving him much support, so finding a replacement for Ryan Lindgren could be at the top of Chris Drury's list of aspirations. With all the cap space that Drury possesses, the player's contract wouldn't necessarily be an issue if it was unfavorable, but that's a bridge for a later date.
Elsewhere in the defensive unit, Urho Vaakanainen's struggles have started to emerge. This player can be serviceable, but his inconsistencies have created an environment that requires change. Vaakanainen is best suited to being a seventh defenseman who only comes in when things are going wrong, so finding a new partner for Braden Schneider on that third pairing could be something Chris Drury invests in. We'll see what happens with these two in the future, but that seems like a safe course of action.
Bottom Six Help
Adam Edstrom is out for what likely is the rest of the regular season. Without the big Swede on the fourth line, the Rangers must go hunting for a replacement. We've heard all season long that Chris Drury wants more "meat and potatoes" from his forwards, meaning more physicality and aggression, but those haven't landed in New York yet. While the coming months could change that, it's hard to find physical fourth-liners that a team doesn't want.
One name that screams Drury target is Boston Bruins forward Trent Frederic. He's a pending UFA who can play up the lineup if needed, and he sums up what Drury wants from his players. Physical, a little on the psychotic side, with no adversity to fighting and throwing punches, gives him a reputation as one of the most demanding customers in the NHL. There will be a market for him if the Boston Bruins' general manager, Don Sweeney, opts to move on from him, but that's the kind of player I can see the Rangers going for.
We'll get answers in the coming months about where this all leads, but for now, the Rangers get to sit and watch the Four Nations Faceoff ahead of the NHL's return.