With all the JT Miller drama and the Rangers’ involvement, what is getting lost in the conversation is what the Rangers trade deadline needs truly are. This, of course, assumes the Rangers are not punting the season. Given the Miller rumors, it seems that Chris Drury (or James Dolan) don’t want to punt just yet. While there is certainly a need to give the core a shakeup, the more pressing on-ice need is on defense.

The focus has been on JT Miller lately, especially with the rumored trade that fell through. For those that missed it, the trade was Filip Chytil, Ryan Lindgren, two of Adam Sykora/Jaroslav Chmelar/Bo Groulx, and a conditional 1st round pick for Miller. This is rumored to have fallen through because the teams could not reach an agreement on the conditions.

I’ve been adamant about not wanting Miller back in New York, but I’d be doing a disservice if I didn’t acknowledge he would be an upgrade and his ‘piss and vinegar’ style of play is needed on Broadway. Still, there are better, cheaper options that fit the need without an albatross contract. But that’s a story for a different day.

Rangers trade deadline needs are on the blue line

Aside from the core shakeup, which seems like something that would happen in the offseason, not in the playoff ramp up, the Rangers trade deadline needs are on the blue line. Will Borgen has been a solid add with K’Andre Miller, and the duo have looked very good in shutdown minutes. There’s a long way to go, but it seems the Rangers have found themselves a solid pair that can start in the defensive zone against tough competition and still be a net-positive on the ice.

But the elephant in the room is Ryan Lindgren. His fall from grace has been much faster than many anticipated, but it is abundantly clear he is not a 1LD anymore. In fact, his play is so bad that even Adam Fox can’t carry him around effectively anymore. The Miller-Fox pair looked infinitely better, and that was while Miller was struggling mightily to start the season. That shows how bad Lindgren has been.

We all know Lindgren isn’t going to be a Ranger next year. It was obvious when he was only given a one year contract. Even with a core shakeup, the Rangers won’t go anywhere without a true 1LD to play with Fox. The Rangers trade deadline needs are clearly on defense, but that does assume the Rangers are not punting this season.

If they are gearing up for next season instead, then the 1LD need likely shifts to the offseason. But that would require the Rangers to acknowledge a lost season and sell at the deadline. A bit contradictory to this post stating the Rangers trade deadline needs, but trying to cover all our bases here.

There is also a need to take a step back and evaluate whether Urho Vaakanainen is the right partner for Braden Schneider on the third pair.

So who would be available?

With the knowledge that the Rangers trade deadline needs are on the blue line, the next step is looking at who may become available. It’s unlikely a trade deadline deal materializes to address this need, but crazier things have happened. Plus a strong run by the Rangers into the February break might change their plans.

Jake Walman, toiling away in San Jose, would be the obvious pick. Walman is overall solid. He skates well, has an excellent first pass, and is good in his own zone. Think Anton Stralman before the Rangers picked Dan Boyle to replace him. Walman comes with another year at just $3.4 million. Walman shouldn’t cost much in a trade either.

Bowen Byram in Buffalo has been mentioned a few times, but more as a K’Andre Miller/Byram swap. With Miller’s resurgence alongside Will Borgen, that ship may have sailed. But Byram would still be an interesting add if available. His skill set and play style fit what the Rangers need, and he’s young to boot. Assuming the fan-proposed Miller/Byram swap isn’t likely to happen, is Byram a guy that the Rangers move one of their wing prospects for?

Mike Matheson from Montreal is an intriguing player, as Lane Hutson’s emergence may have made the 30 year old defenseman available in the right situation. Matheson is serviceable and not completely under water on a mediocre Canadiens team. He’s affordable, with another year at a $4.875 million cap hit. But he’s already 30, would be a short term solution, and doesn’t exactly scream 1LD. He’s more of a bottom-four player on a true contender.

Of course, the hope would be a core shaking move in landing someone like Thomas Chabot, but that’s a pipe dream. Something like that doesn’t happen at the trade deadline.

Re-tooling will take multiple trades

The Rangers trade deadline needs are clearly on the blue line, but these aren’t their only needs. The need for a core shakeup is also very clear as well. The JT Miller trade, at least the one that was nixed, didn’t address either. But it was one step in shaking up that core, with additional trades needed to truly shake things up.

We won’t be getting a one size fits all trade that does everything. There is no Matthew Tkachuk available, and Miller isn’t Tkachuk. In acquiring Miller, the Rangers would need to also move on from Mika Zibanejad. That’s one example, but there are other moves too.

We are entering uncharted waters. Drury does appear to know the Rangers need a shakeup. He managed the low hanging fruit already (Trouba, Kakko, Goodrow). Now it’s the tougher pieces to move, and tougher questions about whether this recent run by the Rangers changes the approach for this season. It shouldn’t, but it might.

We are living in the grey area right now. Until the next shoe drops, we won’t know what the plans are.

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