New York Rangers Face Crucial Decisions Before NHL Trade Deadline

All good things must come to an end. It has been an excellent run for the New York Rangers the last few years, with three trips to the Conference Finals and one appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. So far this season, however, the Rangers have played like a team that is on the downward trend, although their win against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night might be their best, most complete win of the year. Regardless, the time might be coming for moves to be made depending on who the Rangers show themselves to be.

The NHL trade deadline is still well over a month away which gives the Rangers and new GM Jeff Gorton plenty of time to figure out who they are. Are they the team that put the Stars to shame or the one that couldn’t do anything right over a stretch of 14 games? That is what Gorton will have to figure out between now and February 29.

If the Rangers do become sellers they wouldn’t need to go crazy. There are a few players with contracts the Rangers could afford to lose that would help out contenders, especially Dan Girardi and Marc Staal. The Rangers could trade one or both of them and get a prospect or two in return to help offset the youth exodus that Glen Sather oversaw in his efforts to build a consistent contender. Even if the Rangers find themselves in contention, they should still try to shed Staal or Girardi to give them flexibility moving forward and to ensure Dylan McIlrath has regular playing time.

There are also larger trades the Rangers could consider. Rick Nash, Derick Brassard and Keith Yandle could bring in large hauls from interested teams. Yandle might be the Rangers’ best trade chip, but he’s also a player they should re-sign after the season when he becomes a free agent.

The Rangers are in a unique position where they can trade a veteran and still contend while securing some of their future. Given their salary cap situation, they won’t be able to add salary without shedding some of it. Maybe trading a veteran for a younger player or players is what they need to do at this moment. It is quickly approaching the time for Gorton to start to make his mark on this team.