What can the Rangers move to upgrade the current roster?

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As the season progresses and the need to both get healthy and upgrade the defense intensifies, attention will go from the current roster to who can be acquired to meet these needs. But part of that process is identifying which players can be moved, be it from the current roster or within the system.

Suffice it to say, moving another first round pick should be a last resort, and certainly not for a rental who is bolting for free agency. Ditto any top prospects. But with those decisions, the Rangers aren’t left with much to move unless they decide to deduct from the current roster. Personally, I think that kind of move is coming. If not by the trade deadline, then by the expansion draft.

Kevin Klein

The value of Klein is his reputation as a reliable, stay at home defenseman. Even as the game evolves the defense position into more of a “point guard” position, players like Klein are always appealing. He’s cheap with no long-term commitment, a right-handed shot, and has prior history. Hockey is still an “old boys” game after all.

If the Rangers are serious about upgrading the defense, then it’s likely that Klein’s days as a Ranger are numbered. Even before the decline this season, Klein was always destined to either be traded in-season or exposed at the expansion draft. Klein is not necessarily a piece that demands a good return, but that doesn’t mean he has no trade value.

If the Rangers are going to make a play for someone with a big contract, someone like Klein likely needs to head the other way to offset salary. It’s a numbers game at that point. Perhaps his play thus far makes it easier to part with him.

Oscar Lindberg

Lindberg is an intriguing case, as he likely is valued more by Rangers fans than on the actual trade market. Lindberg started off hot last season, but has cooled to a point where he can’t even crack the lineup on a regular basis. Plus at 25 years old, he doesn’t have the upside that rebuilding teams are looking for. What you see is what you get with Lindberg: A solid defensive center who wins faceoffs and can chip in offensively at a solid rate.

On the downside, Lindberg needs to be protected in the expansion draft, and he’s exactly the kind of player Las Vegas would want. Youngish, relatively skilled, but reliable defensively and able to eat some fourth line minutes.

Dare I say that Klein has more value?

Rick Nash

Rick Nash is still a great hockey player. He’s still capable of putting a team on his back and carrying them to victory, as he’s done this year. His 11 goals in 26 games has him on pace for a 35 goal season, slightly better than the 15 goal campaign last year. But he comes with a $7.8 million cap hit and the treacherous no-move clause, so he needs to be protected in June as well.

Moving Nash is tricky with that salary, but it’s doable. I don’t think it happens, but he’s certainly a wild card in any trade discussion. I’m sure the Rangers would move him if they could get a solid defender in the process.

J.T. Miller

The true blue-chip trade piece that will land the Rangers what they want, Miller has been enjoying what looks to be a breakout season. The 23-year-old (24 in March) is on pace to shatter his career highs of 22-21-43, all set last year. And he’s doing all of this with minimal powerplay time.

In this league, you need to give to get, and Miller represents one of two –Kevin Hayes being the other, but I believe trading him is unlikely, as centers have more value and he was a key piece in landing Jimmy Vesey– young players on the rise that can net the Rangers a young defenseman that they desperately need.

Derek Stepan

Stepan is an interesting case. He’s a great center, but not an elite center. He puts up 55-60 points regularly, but is a little too deliberate at times. He’s young, but carries a big contract. Trading Stepan would only happen if/when Mika Zibanejad gets healthy, but he can land you a top defender who carries a hefty price tag. Someone like Dougie Hamilton.

All this said, I don’t think the Rangers make a huge splash to land a defenseman this year. The major retool of the blue line, in my humble opinion, likely comes in the offseason for one last kick at the can with Henrik Lundqvist in net.