The Rangers are in the midst of a two week break, and won’t play again until February 15 against Boston. There may be a lull, but there are still things to talk about, like Chris Drury’s Rangers trade deadline plan. From past rumors, the Rangers have been tied to everyone, but with one common theme. They appear to be looking for a top-six forward, a bottom line forward, and a bottom pair defenseman.
Where are Kaapo and Lafreniere playing?
But that plan hinges on a few things, first and foremost being where Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere play at even strength. As of now, Lafreniere has found a home on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. That spot was Kakko’s before he went down with his injury. Will Gerard Gallant look to reunite Kakko with that line? Or stick to what has clearly been working.
The good news is that Kakko found a home with Ryan Strome and Artemiy Panarin as well, which should make this decision much easier. As long as Gallant doesn’t galaxy brain this, the answer is to put Kakko back with Strome and Panarin, and keep that top line together.
It’s not the most fearful top-six, but it is very talented and should score and drive play enough to win a few playoff games. The added benefit is both top-two picks learn what it’s like to play in the top-six, which is arguably more important as of the writing of this post.
Where will Barclay Goodrow play?
Another huge question is where Barclay Goodrow is going to play. Assuming a healthy roster, Goodrow should be nowhere near the top-six. He’s been having a good offensive season, but Goodrow in the top-six means something has gone horribly wrong with the expected top-six. I think, as of now, it’s safe to assume Goodrow will find a spot on the third line with Filip Chytil and Julien Gauthier.
But if the Rangers are going after a top-six forward, how does that shake things up? In terms of pure offensive skill, Goodrow should be the odd man out if the Rangers get another scorer. In all likelihood, though, that won’t happen. It will be Gauthier bumped to the healthy scratch role, or even gone in the deal.
How does the Rangers trade deadline plan impact the lineup?
The biggest unknown is how all of this will impact the Rangers lineup. Let’s say the Rangers do land Tomas Hertl, does he add a scoring punch to the third line? Does that move Chytil to the wing, or is he even gone in that trade? Would it be smart for the Rangers to subtract from their already thin top-nine to add a player like Hertl? Or Joe Pavelski? Or Paul Stastny? Or any player we’ve been talking about?
Therein lies the rub with Drury’s Rangers trade deadline plan. If there are roster players available in trades, then there needs to be a replacement outside of the trade as well, since the Rangers would be keeping the same thin roster. Replacing Chytil with Hertl is certainly an upgrade, but still leaves the Rangers thin on offense on the third line. Hertl would still be the only reliable offensive threat on that line.
Now Hertl and Chytil, in addition to giving us endless hours of entertainment listening to Sam go Hertl Chytil Chytil Hertl, gives the Rangers a legitimate scoring threat (Hertl) to go with Chytil’s usual ability to drive play. Goodrow can ride shotgun on that line if needed, or Gauthier can simply continue driving the net.
The moral of the story is that the Rangers trade deadline plans should be about adding without subtracting core top nine pieces.
Timing is an issue
The Rangers have, for all intents and purposes, an unlimited amount of cap space for the rest of the season. That’s not the issue. The issue is roster size, which doesn’t expand until after the trade deadline. Given the puzzling refusal to waive Libor Hajek, the Rangers are right up at that 23 man roster limitation.
Waiving Hajek, Jarred Tinordi, and Greg McKegg will open up spots. But for some reason, we think that isn’t going to happen any time soon. The overall goal of the Rangers trade deadline plans, in addition to getting more scoring depth, should be to drive this trio out of regular rotation. Neither Tinordi nor Hajek should be the 7D. At worst they should be the 8/9D, preferably even further back in the depth chart. They are not NHL caliber defensemen.
McKegg, who wins the award for “Guy Who’s There” this year, is also not a viable NHL forward anymore. Even as the 13F, the Rangers are thin. The ideal Rangers lineup has Gauthier and/or Ryan Reaves as their 13/14F. If that means a player like Hertl and a player like Ryan Carpenter, to whom the Rangers have been connected, then so be it.
But the Rangers can’t add now without waiving players. None of that three will be claimed, despite whatever Drury thinks about Hajek. Not after going full Leroy Jenkins on the puck carrier for both Florida goals. Until Drury is ready to waive this trio, the Rangers won’t make any moves until deadline day, when rosters are set to expand.
We may not The Rangers trade deadline plan in action for another few maddening weeks. That means more questions about lineup decisions, and why some guys are still in the lineup. That should be fun.
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