As December and 2022 come to a close, the NY Rangers are finally starting to look like the team they expected to be. A seven game win streak will do that, but a “good” loss to the Penguins also played a role. With the club hopefully back on track, it’s time to start identifying roster needs. Depth on defense is clearly a need, and the NY Rangers trade options are going to be plentiful when it comes to filling this need.
NY Rangers trade options don’t need to be fancy
The NY Rangers trade options on defense don’t necessarily need to be stars like Jakob Chychrun. Simply someone who plays relatively low event hockey and is sound defensively will do.
It shouldn’t be hard to find one defenseman for cheap that is better than either of Libor Hajek or Ben Harpur. Hajek’s numbers have tanked recently, and while Harpur has better numbers, he has looked a lot worse than Hajek out there. Neither are good options for the 7D spot, let alone regular minutes as the 6D. Putting a body between these two and regular minutes is important.
From what we’ve been able to gather, Gerard Gallant wants his third pair to be more defensively oriented and play low-event hockey. Meaning don’t allow too many shots/chances against, but also don’t take too many risks in the offensive zone. Stick to protecting home plate and keep the opposition to the outside.
Luke Schenn / Kyle Burroughs – Vancouver Canucks
The Rangers have been seen scouting the Vancouver Canucks, and we’ve discussed Luke Schenn and Kyle Burroughs before as possible NY Rangers trade options. Schenn and Burroughs fit the mold of cheap cost, both in contract and acquisition cost, and both are pure rentals as UFAs at the end of the season.
Of the pair, and take this with a grain of salt as the Canucks aren’t on my watch list, Burroughs appears to be the better player at this stage in their careers. He’s six years younger, has better defensive metrics, and doesn’t come with the “Schenn” name brand that may increase the trade cost. That said, Burroughs has struggled to stay in lineups, with this being his first “full” season on a team.
Schenn is the name people will go for, but it’s clear he’s lost a step. He was never the fleetest of foot, and his metrics are mostly bad. Notably, his CA/60 is very bad, which means he’s surrendering quantity against, which isn’t in line with what Gallant wants from his third pair.
These two aren’t the best options. Burroughs is likely to cost a 4th or a 5th round pick. Schenn might fetch a 3rd because of the name brand.
Justin Braun – Philadelphia Flyers
There’s no problem in revisiting what worked last year, is there? Justin Braun was fine as the Rangers 6D last season, and he has already played with Braden Schneider. It worked last year, he’s still putting up decent numbers this year, so why not go for it again?
Braun is exactly what fits Gallant’s mold, again as noted by trading for him last season. He limits quality against very well, and while his quantity against is a little below average, he keeps that to the outside. He’s all defense and no offense, which again is what we expect from him and that role.
Braun cost a third round pick last year, and it’s safe to assume that’s the same cost this year.
Jake Walman / Olli Maata – Detroit Red Wings
While the Detroit Red Wings aren’t out of it yet, they are expected to be out of it by the time the trade deadline rolls along. Olli Maata is going to be the “big name” that becomes one of the many NY Rangers trade options on defense, since he has a pair of Cups and is a former first overall pick.
Maata may be the sexy name from Detroit, but Jake Walman might be the better of the NY Rangers trade options from Detroit. Sample size warning of course, and it’s worth noting Walman hasn’t stuck in a lineup as an everyday player. He’s been about a 30 game player at best, but on pace for 40+ games this season. He has great defensive metrics, and above average offensive metrics.
Given what we’ve seen from Chris Drury and the Rangers front office, a trade like this with Detroit would likely be for Maata. While certainly possible Walman intrigues them, it goes against past history of acquiring established, safe players. Maata is just that.
But the same rule of thumb from his Tampa days applies here: Do not trade with Steve Yzerman. It doesn’t go well.
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