Heading into the season, it seemed likely the Rangers would lose one of Brett Howden or Libor Hajek in the 2021 Expansion Draft. They were in a good position beforehand, and now the Tony DeAngelo situation puts them in an even better situation.
Defensemen to be protected
DeAngelo was one of the three defensemen the Rangers were going to protect in the expansion draft. Along with Jacob Trouba and Ryan Lindgren, it seemed like the most logical situation. Now obviously with DeAngelo off the list, the Rangers have an extra defense spot to protect.
Before this, the Rangers wouldn’t have been able to trade for a defenseman and keep him without exposing someone else. While the Rangers don’t necessarily have to trade for a defenseman, this gives them options. If they make a move for a defenseman with the cap space they’ve been accruing, they can still keep him.
If they don’t make a trade, they will need to protect someone else. I can see them protecting Libor Hajek in this situation. In that situation, the Rangers would be telling Seattle to take a forward.
Decisions at forward
Before the season started, it seemed the Rangers would need to protect two of Brendan Lemieux, Julien Gauthier, Brett Howden, and Ryan Strome. While the DeAngelo situation doesn’t change decisions up front, it gives them a little more cap flexibility to keep Strome if they so desire. Given that Strome has been their best center this season, and the depth issue they have there, I can see the Rangers protecting him now.
Of course, Colin Blackwell has entered the conversation. He’s had one hell of a start to the season. Initially signed to be expansion draft fodder, he may actually be protected now. It’ll depend on how he plays the rest of the season, of course.
The Rangers are in a great spot for the 2021 expansion draft. The DeAngelo situation just makes their situation even better.
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