As the season carries on, the Rangers trade deadline plans gradually come to the forefront of people’s minds. The New York Rangers face a very uncertain trade deadline, as their best forward, Artemi Panarin, sees the end of his long-term contract with the Rangers. Many believe the Rangers should trade Panarin, while others are not as sure. With all of the talk around Panarin, there hasn’t been much talk about the rest of the team.

While the Rangers are most likely best off doing a sort of rebuild on the fly, I am here to argue for a slightly different approach. The Rangers trade deadline plans should not have set expectations, but rather leave all but two players available and see what offers arrive and be open to what falls in their laps. 

The only two players in question are Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin. There should be no world in which either is traded, as they are elite players under long-term, affordable deals. Beyond the two of them, I fail to see why the Rangers would say no on any other players in the entire organization. 

Looking at prospects, the Rangers do not have a player who is a must-keep. Gabe Perreault is the closest to that, but projections do not have him as this elite, first-line forward. Please keep in mind my opinion is that unless a player is elite, they should always be available. Remember, available and trying to trade someone are far different things that unfortunately get used synonymously in sports. This is simply stating that in the right trade, Perreault should not be off limits for the Rangers trade deadline plans.

On the NHL roster, the only elite players are Fox and Shesterkin, assuming you consider Panarin available because of his contract. Sure, Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller are good players, but they both can be replaced and Trocheck especially could entice a team to give up a good package.

Next, we get to Alexis Lafreniere and Will Cuylle. While I have always been a Lafreniere fan, at a certain point he is worth more to acquire assets than he is to score 40-55 points a season for the Rangers. Cuylle was excellent last season, but his ceiling is most likely a 50-point, responsible winger. That’s a player that can be replaced, though salary and cap value do come into play for both.

Beyond Lafreniere and Cuylle, are the Rangers going to hang up the phone on an offer for Mika Zibanejad’s large contract? For Noah Laba and his likely 40-point ceiling? I certainly hope not. Again this doesn’t mean trade everyone. It means the Rangers trade deadline plans should be open minded and perhaps do things that make them uncomfortable if the right deal is on the table. 

Looking at the defense, I could agree to the argument that Vlad Gavrikov should be untouchable. Regardless, he isn’t being moved. However, Braden Schneider has never reached his full potential in the organization and still seems to have a lot of value to other teams. If a team wants to throw a first round pick and a prospect the Rangers way, why say no? Will Borgen has been excellent, but is replaceable as well. 

A player I believe has a lot of value but would need to agree to such a move is Jonathan Quick. Quick has been excellent for the Rangers this season, but provides more value as a trade asset than as a goalie playing 20 games a season. Given his performance and the lack of goaltending talent in the league, he could bring back a strong asset. It’s unlikely the Rangers trade deadline plans include moving Quick, but he’d bring in a decent return.

Most importantly, the Rangers trade deadline this year is not just about assets. The Rangers should be doing everything possible to make this roster better. If Braden Schneider brings back a first and a prospect, the Rangers can flip that and a prospect for a Jason Robertson type, for example. 

Chris Drury must be open and must be creative for the Rangers trade deadline to be successful. Otherwise, the Rangers are headed for a whole lot of mediocrity.

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