The New York Rangers began the All-Star Break in a strong position, leading the Metropolitan Division by two points over the second-place Carolina Hurricanes. While the All-Star Weekend was expected to be quiet as teams rested and prepared for the second half of the season, it was quite the opposite. The Calgary Flames traded Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks for a large package that included Andrei Kuzmenko. Following that, the Los Angeles Kings fired Todd McLellan as head coach, and the Montreal Canadiens traded Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets.
With three huge names off the board, the Rangers will still be hoping to make the correct moves to help them make a good run at the Stanley Cup. There are still many names available to the Rangers prior to the trade deadline, and in this article, we will look at three players who the Rangers could still acquire.
Nic Dowd, Washington Capitals
The Rangers would benefit from adding some depth up the middle, and Nic Dowd, a Washington Capitals forward, may become available. Dowd, a 33-year-old centreman from Huntsville, Alabama, is 6-foot-2 and weighs 196 pounds. He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the seventh round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, 198th overall. He is a strong two-way player who has been a key member of the Capitals’ bottom six since joining the team in the 2018-19 season.
The Capitals may try to make a run for a playoff spot in the coming weeks, but if they find themselves on the outside looking in before the trade deadline, they may consider selling some assets. Dowd will be a guy that many clubs are interested in since he adds significantly to a team’s depth chart. He is in the second season of a three-year contract at $1.3 million, making him an extremely affordable commodity, especially for teams that are trying to find cap room.
Dowd has 140 points across 474 games, with 65 goals and 75 assists, for an average of 0.30 points per game. While his offensive skill isn’t particularly impressive, any team searching for a tough defensive forward should consider him, and the Rangers should be all over him. A trade for Dowd would most likely involve the Rangers receiving Dowd in exchange for a prospect and a third-round selection, as the Capitals will likely be looking to build for the future if they decide to sell assets.
Anthony Duclair, San Jose Sharks
If the Rangers want to add some scoring to their bottom six, Anthony Duclair, a forward with the San Jose Sharks, may help. He is a 28-year-old left-handed forward from Pointe-Claire, Quebec. The Rangers selected him in the third round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, 80th overall, following a strong season with the Quebec Ramparts in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), where he scored 20 goals and added 30 assists for 50 points in 55 games.
This season, Duclair has nine goals and eight assists for 17 points in 46 games. The Sharks are projected to be one of the league’s worst two teams this season, so selling assets makes perfect sense. He is one of the players they may want to trade, and the Rangers should consider reuniting with him this season. They have struggled to get regular offensive productivity from their bottom six forwards, and he could be the remedy.
A trade for Duclair appears to involve the Rangers getting him in return for a prospect and a second-round selection. While keeping payroll to maximize return is always an option, the Sharks are unlikely to pursue it. They only have one retention spot available, so keeping them would require the Rangers to overpay, something they won’t want to do.
Jake Guentzel, Pittsburgh Penguins
The Rangers could also consider acquiring Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guenztel. He is likely to be a rental for the Rangers if they decide to inquire about him, and while it appears that contract negotiations between the Penguins and Guentzel have stalled, there is still a chance they will revive their relationship and complete an extension. He was ranked 15th on the TSN deal Bait List in January, and with players above him moved and no extension news coming out, the chances of a deal have increased.
Guenztel has been electrifying throughout his career. This season, he has 22 goals and 27 assists for 49 points in 46 games. Throughout his career, he has scored 219 goals and 244 assists for 463 points in 499 games, averaging 0.93 points per game. Guentzel is expected to be traded to the Rangers, along with an extension, in return for Barclay Goodrow, Kaapo Kakko, Matthew Robertson, a 2024 first-round selection, a 2024 fifth-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick.
The Rangers will continue to enjoy their vacation with one more day off before facing the Colorado Avalanche on Monday (Feb. 5), as they want to have a good second half of the regular season. They presently lead the Metropolitan Division and aim to remain there until the postseason, so ideally they make the correct decisions and can make a good push for the Stanley Cup.
Leave a Reply