With Brady Tkachuk in Florida after a blockbuster trade, it’s possible the Rangers missed an opportunity by not being in the mix. It’s also possible the Rangers dodged a major bullet, or missile even. Brandon and I will be presenting both arguments, and I’ll be tackling how the Rangers missed an opportunity and, if Tkachuk was open to the Rangers, could have and should have beaten the offer from the Florida Panthers.
Aside: I am firmly on record that I wanted no part of Brady Tkachuk. Still, I think I’m objective enough to provide a case that the Rangers missed an opportunity by not landing him. To quote Elmo, “Just to be clear. Let’s not make this a thing.”
The Rangers missed an opportunity with Tkachuk
It’s not that hard to understand why the Rangers missed an opportunity with Brady Tkachuk. Tkachuk is probably the best wing available, even if he isn’t his brother. Tkachuk would bring an element to the Rangers lineup that they are sorely missing. Think JT Miller when he’s on, but younger, better, and with a much higher ceiling. Tkachuk has that Tom Wilson style of play, but with a point per game floor. It’s possible Tkachuk hits multiple 100 point seasons in the right situation, while also being that agitator that makes him a pain to play against.
The Rangers wanted that kind of player when they acquired Miller, but he simply hasn’t lived up to that billing. Tkachuk does, and he doesn’t shy away from a tough interview either. Add in that Tkachuk would instantly be the best forward on the team, and it’s clear the Rangers missed an opportunity here.
The Rangers missed an opportunity to land their next captain for the next decade. It’s that plain and simple. Tkachuk is captain material in the right situation. His blue collar play, borderline dirty play and crossing the line when needed, and scoring lines would have made him a fan favorite instantly.
There’s still room to grow
The Rangers missed an opportunity with bringing the best out of Tkachuk on the ice. His 5v5 offensive numbers are great, but his overall offense is brought down because of poor powerplay production. Park him in front of the net with the skill the Rangers have, and that changes quickly. A top powerplay of Tkachuk up front, Mika Zibanejad in his spot, Alexis Lafreniere as the bumper, Gabe Perreault on the other wing, and Adam Fox up top is potentially lethal.
Last season was Tkachuk’s worst powerplay production since 2021-2022. With him now hitting his prime and turning 27 years old in September, there’s a huge opportunity for his powerplay production to skyrocket.
And let’s not forget that, despite his 5v5 numbers being great already, there’s also room for improvement. Think of how much physical pain a line of Tkachuk, Will Cuylle, and JT Miller can inflict. Tkachuk could have been the key to unlocking Cuylle’s next level, and hopefully the key to getting more out of Miller.
Acquisition cost wouldn’t have been bad
It’s hard to say whether Ottawa would have wanted a package from the Rangers, but it’s not hard to say the Rangers could have easily matched and/or improved on Florida’s offer. The Rangers aren’t in Ottawa’s division either, so that should make things more palatable for the Sens as well.
If it’s straight draft picks, then the Rangers would have offered the 5th overall, 26th overall, and probably that 2030 2nd round pick. It’s fair to assume the difference between the 5th overall and 9th overall this year would be offset by not including that additional 2029 1st round pick.
Given Ottawa’s young talent, it’s safe to assume they would have welcomed a different type of trade, perhaps around Will Cuylle and the 5th overall, something the Rangers could have easily matched. Losing Cuylle would have been rough, but Tkachuk is a far better version of Cuylle. The Rangers missed an opportunity here by not being in the conversation.
in the end, the rich got richer and Chris Drury was left with his plate empty. A critical path to improving the team disappeared before they even know it was there. Disappointing to say the least.
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