NHL New York Rangers

New York Rangers Could Regret Trading Anthony Duclair

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The New York Rangers have made it clear that this season is Stanly Cup or bust by paying a hefty price to acquire defenseman Keith Yandle from the Arizona Coyotes. The idea was to bring in someone who could immediately bolster defensive depth and make a positive impact, but GM Glen Sather had to part with future assets to do it. None of those assets are more valuable than 19-year-old center Anthony Duclair, and the Rangers might regret giving him up down the road.

The Rangers also traded two future draft picks and defenseman John Moore to get Yandle, but Duclair had to be the toughest thing to give up. He had seven points in 18 games for the Rangers early in the season and showed what kind of talent he could become. He was then loaned to team Canada for the World Juniors Championship and dominated with four goals and four assists in seven games. Playing on the top line, Duclair impressed and helped Canada win the gold.

There are a few reasons that New York could regret moving Duclair. Most importantly, he’s a natural center, which is something the Rangers are going to need in the future. Besides that, Duclair is extremely young and very talented for his age, and the Rangers have traded many future draft picks over the last two seasons.

Between the Yandle trade, along with two other trades that allowed the Rangers to land Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis, New York has given up first-round draft picks from 2012 through 2016. That’s also not the only draft choices they have traded in the last couple years. It’s not that New York is particularly old as a team right now, but they will need an influx of young talent a couple of years down the road.

Duclair has a high ceiling and the potential to be a top-line NHL player sometime down the road. Even if it takes him five years to really find his game, Duclair would still only be 24 years old. It all comes back to the idea that New York believes it is now good enough to win the Cup this season.

In the event that the Rangers do make it to the top, this trade will most likely be worth it, but so much has to go right to win 16 playoff games no matter how talented or deep a team is.

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