A NY Rangers reunion with Tyler Motte may not be in the cards. Motte is being held out by Ottawa for trade reasons, but a Motte Girl Summer Part 2 is likely to be more expensive than last year’s cost, per Larry Brooks.
Update: Clearly this is now outdated, with the Rangers trading for Motte.
Rangers have been in the mix, but told that the asking price is singificantly higher than the 4th-rounder for which Drury got No. 64 from Vancouver at last year's deadline. https://t.co/KLCf67Ud4B
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) February 19, 2023
Motte helped solidify the Rangers 4th line last season for their surprising postseason run. It’s clear the Rangers need at least one fourth liner, possibly two. Jake Leschyshyn isn’t the answer at center, although Jonny Brodzinski may be, and there is likely a need for an additional winger too.
It’s unlikely the Rangers part with anything of significant value to improve the fourth line, notably Vitali Kravtsov. Rentals won’t cost Kravtsov. However to clear roster and potentially cap space, Julien Gauthier may wind up being the odd man out. As an RFA with arbitration rights and a $840,000 qualifying offer, he’s an attractive asset for some teams, especially given his ability to drive the net.
As always, Motte Girl Summer is a tag that was created by The Broadcast Pod in Vancouver. They sell some great Motte Girl Summer merch, and all proceeds go to mental health initiatives in Vancouver and Michigan (where Motte is from). If you’re looking for a great pod and supporting a great cause, they are the women to follow. You can buy some merch here.
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