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Trade Winds Blowing - Who Are the Rangers Possibly Targeting? |
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This time of year, everyone’s mind turns to one thing. No, not spring training or the fast approaching March Madness. It’s the NHL Trade Deadline, which this year is March 2. For the Rangers, the needs have been somewhat relatively static for a while; a bottom-six forward to improve the depth and a third pairing defenseman on the left side of Dan Boyle. The order and importance of each has shifted recently , as the forward has taken on less and defenseman more focus.
The play of Kevin Hayes in the middle, flanked by Carl Hagelin and recently J.T. Miller, has solidified the fourth line. Dominic Moore is ensconced as the fourth line center while Jesper Fast, when he returns from his sprained knee, should take on one of the win spots. That leaves Lee Stempniak or Tanner Glass, who has played his best games of the season the past two contests, as the odd-man out. An upgrade over either one, enabling Miller to move down or that player to slide into the fourth line would be great, but cap reasons could prevent that from occurring.
The rotation of Matt Hunwick and John Moore over the past 30 or so games has yielded little. Many of those games have seen one play and one sit, though there have been times each have suited up due to injury. Neither has distinguished themselves. Larry Brooks’ summary of each is right on point: “Hunwick is a journeyman who has done his best filling in. But he is small and not quick enough in his decision-making under pressure that increases by the week as the season heads to the stretch. Moore, on the other hand, did play a regular role last year for the team that went to the final. There is more there than Moore has shown this year.” We know what Hunwick is, that won’t change. But if the belief is that Moore has more (pardon the pun) to give, then give him the next week or so to the deadline to show it, while you explore all options.
Brooks in his column a week ago, Eric Mellin in his Cap’s blog on this site and Steven Silverman on WFAN’s website weighed in with some possible trade options. The Rangers have about $1.5 million in cap room, but when they put Henrik Lundqvist on LTIR, if they haven’t already, that should free up about another $800-900k, giving the Rangers around $2.3 in cap room to work with on the trade market.
Some of the possible targets, broken out by forward and defense are below. At the bottom, I will give who I would like to see them acquire.
Forwards:
Sean Bergenheim, Florida Panthers: C, 31, - $2.75M UFA
Bergenheim has eight goals and 18 points in 39 games with a plus-2 ice rating and 49 hits in the final year of a four-year, $11M deal. Florida is still in contention, so they may not move him, but he reportedly has asked for a deal after some recent scratches. Bergy has playoff experience and is a proven postseason performer, scored nine goals for the Lightning in the 2011 postseason.
Tyler Kennedy - San Jose Sharks: C - 27 - $2.35M UFA
Kennedy is a solid two-way guy who could add some grit to the second line. He's not the ideal scoring centerman you'd want, but he's great in his own zone and can get the puck going on the transition. Kennedy fits the role as a third or fourth line center, will SJ fighting for their playoff lifes, he might be unavailable.
Mark Letestu – Columbus Blue Jackets: C- 30 - $1.25M UFA
Letestu is not a scorer, but he did have a career-high 34 points last year, including 11 on the man-advantage. That mild scoring ability coupled with decent skills on a checking line, make him a fit on the third or fourth line. In addition, Letestu has shown the ability to win draws, which is another plus.
Antoine Vermette – Arizona Coyotes: C, 32, $3.75M UFA
Vermette has seemingly been on the block for weeks and is the major name reportedly available, though Jaromir Jagr is clearly available as well. In terms of scoring and playmaking, Vermette is at the top of the list and likely has interest from nearly every playoff contender. Vermette’s cap high may be too high for NY, plus, he would have to at best be a third liner, which is somewhat a waste of his talents. Lauri Korpikoski may be available as well, but the remaining two years after this one at $2.5 per make him an unlikely target for the Rangers.
Daniel Winnik - Toronto Maple Leafs: C - 29 - $1.8M UFA
The Leafs are in the midst of a fire sale, and chances are Winnik is close to being traded. Pittsburgh is very interested, and the Caps could be too. He's a good two-way guy, but is fit for a third line role. He hasn't had much luck in the playoffs, but he's a defensive guy who throws his body around. The trade of Mike Santorelli has upped the interest level in Winnik, so a higher than expected pick plus a prospect could be the ask. If Winnik doesn’t go, David Booth could.
Cam Atkinson - Columbus Blue Jackets: RW - 25 - $1.15M RFA
His name is in the rumor headlines, but I'm not sold on Columbus letting him go. He's an RFA at season's end however, and could make for a nice rental. Atkinson could fit nicely into the third line, but also move up if need be, which is a major plus in the post-season when injury and attrition take place. The cost likely will be high for him.
Chris Stewart - Buffalo Sabres : RW- 26 - $4.15M UFA
Stewart has the ability to score 20-30 goals if he's in the right mind-set and he can rough it up when he needs to. However, the light goes on only when he wants it to. Buffalo seems inclined to wait to the last possible minute to deal him, though it’s possible they hold on to him and try and re-sign him. The Sabres apparently want a lot for Stewart, though his market may soften or rise, depending on need and perception of him the next 10 days or so. Another possible trade acquisition from Buffalo could be Torrey Mitchell.
Jiri Tlusty – Carolina Hurricanes: LW – 27 -$2.95M UFA
Tlusty had a breakout campaign during the lockout shortened season but has regressed since then, making that year look like an outlier. That said, Tlusty still could be a nice third line addition. Carolina could like to package him with Andrej Sekera to increase their return, as Toronto did with Santorelli and Cody Franson. The Hurricanes also could look to deal Jay McClement, who would be a decent fourth line center, especially since he wins over 55% of his draws.
Defense:
Andrej Sekera – Carolina Hurricanes: D – 28-$2.75 UFA
Sekera is likely the top D target with Tyler Myers and Franson gone, unless Washington makes Mike Green available and even then, he still may be the top one on the market. He had a breakthrough offensive campaign last year but hasn’t been able to replicate that success on a weak Carolina team. Sekera has a relatively low cap hit and will be a UFA after the summer; the first of which helps his value while the second seems not to have much of an impact at all, even though he would just be a rental. He can play in all situations, making him attractive to nearly every team in contention. The current price is believed to be a first-rounder and a prospect, though NY has no first rounder until ’16, is unlikely to move one and would rather move a second rounder with the prospect, which seems to be more so what it will take to get him.
Who would I want? Target #1, which appears to be the case, has to be Sekera, as he makes too much sense and bolsters the blue line. If targeting a forward up front to add to the depth there in case of injury during the playoffs, then I would go for Bergenheim, then Winnik, the Atkinson or Letestu and then Tlusty. Each one could fill a different role but movement of salary would be needed, especially if the team is able to get Sekera.
On the site, Pete proposed Moore, McIlrath, Glass and a 2nd for Tlusty and Sekera (with Carolina retaining some salary for the remainder of the year to make it work). Bingo, our resident ‘Canes fan, responded “ I'd be happy with that. Their cap hits for you guys would be miniscule, though. They're both UFA's so their cap hits are pro-rated, and the most expensive of the two has a cap hit of $2.95 million. If it works like it's supposed to, you'd likely only see an actual cap hit of around $2 million total for the rest of the season”
If Sekera and Tlusty came, I could see Moore going, since Sekera fills the sixth d role and Hunwick the seventh. The only caveat is the depth question, since Dan Boyle has shown to be injury prone while I would rather see Moore than Hunwick on ice in the playoffs. McIlrath is the major wild card and his value is really undetermined, but as I wrote earlier in the year, if he up next year, to send him down, he would have to go through waivers, which he is unlikely to pass through. So if going to deal him, do so now to gain a piece for the playoffs.
The second rounder is not an issue, nor is Glass. Though that leaves you no physical presence in the playoffs, so I would be surprised if that happens. Glass would have to go to even out the cap hit, though Stempniak is making 900k and he would help in that regard. In terms of prospects. Anthony Duclair, Pavel Buchnevich and Brady Skjei are untouchable. Adam Tambellini might be, though he could go if it brought back Sekera, same with Ryan Haggerty. Ryan Graves, Boo Nieves and the like don’t have enough trade value, while I am not dealing Halverson, Shereshkin or Iverson.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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