With the Four Nations Face Off proving to be worth our time (happy to eat my words on this one), we are able to focus a bit more objectively on the Rangers and their needs/approach to this year’s trade deadline. It’s been a hot topic, as the Rangers definitely need help, but the approach is the debate. We know 1LD is a need, and the Rangers 1LD trade options probably won’t change too much no matter which approach Chris Drury takes.
For now, the Rangers 1LD trade options will probably take center stage. Mika Zibanejad’s role with the Rangers is still up in the air, and while it may not save his Rangers future, it may change how Drury addresses the forward needs. The defense needs won’t change, as it’s clear the Rangers need an upgrade on Ryan Lindgren, and with K’Andre Miller clicking with Will Borgen, they need someone who Adam Fox can play with.
There are a few ways the Rangers 1LD trade options can be grouped. The first is your traditional win-now move, where the Rangers acquire a 1LD to cover the short term for this season and maybe next. The next group is the medium term acquisition, one where a player has term left and is still producing at an elite level. The third is a young blockbuster type move.
Traditional win-now Rangers 1LD trade options
1. Jake Walman – San Jose (2 years, $3.4 million)
It’s tough to call Jake Walman a 1LD, but he’s good enough that he can be a steadying and consistent presence alongside Fox, something the Rangers need. Walman is a solid skater and puck mover, and is comparable to Anton Stralman before he went to Tampa. He’s quietly solid.
Walman drives offense, which aligns with Fox’s offensive zone deployment. The defensive numbers aren’t that strong, but remember he’s been with some pretty bad teams in the last three years.
Walman’s acquisition cost probably wouldn’t be too high and fits in the mold of adding without moving significant pieces. Of the short term Rangers 1LD trade options, Walman would be my preferred target.
2.Ivan Provorov (Columbus, 1 year, $4.725 million)
Off ice issues aside, Ivan Provorov has been linked to the Rangers since the offseason. There were some hoping the Rangers would acquire Provorov to replace Lindgren, and those hopes haven’t dissipated yet. The thing it, Provorov isn’t that good. He’s never been that good. The acquisition cost is probably more than Walman as well for a far inferior player.
Provorov would be an upgrade on Lindgren for this season, but that’s not saying much. There are far better Rangers 1LD trade options out there, and since Provorov is a pending UFA, this one makes little sense for the Rangers. At the very least, they should be looking at players with another year left on their contract.
(Dis)Honorable Mention: Mike Matheson (MTL), Ben Chiarot (DET)
Medium term win-now options
3. Roman Josi (Nashville, 4 years, $9.059 million)
Roman Josi is highly unlikely, but he’s a name worth keeping an eye on. At 34 years old, Josi carries another 3 years after this season on his deal before he’s likely to retire after his age-37 season. Given how bad Nashville is, you’d think they would explore trading Josi since he would fetch a haul, but they appear set on trying to win now. That may change at some point, possibly even in the offseason.
Josi is a known entity – a true 1LD that plays 25 minutes a night while putting up Norris-esque numbers. A top pair of Josi-Fox would instantly be the best in the NHL. But acquisition cost would be a concern, as is that enormous cap hit.
Josi is the biggest pipe dream of the Rangers 1LD trade options, though there is certainly a path to convince yourself Nashville would consider trading him.
4. Sam Girard (Colorado, 3 years, $5 million)
Colorado is a weird team, and there is no indication that Sam Girard would even be available. Girard is a solid defenseman. He skates well, moves the puck, and is excellent in all three zones. He checks all the boxes for ideal Rangers 1LD trade options. This wouldn’t be a rental type trade, it would be an actual hockey trade.
The Avs could use some stable scoring and a net-front presence on the wing, especially this year. The Rangers have a glut of win-now wingers that could, in theory, fetch Girard in a trade. Artemi Panarin and/or Chris Kreider probably fit the bill for Colorado, and Girard fits a huge Rangers need.
Girard is 26 years old and his contract comes with another 2 years before free agency. The medium term Rangers 1LD trade options all seem like pipe dreams, but there are logical reasons why someone like Girard may be a valuable trade chip.
Just for funsies trade proposals (feel free to tear them apart in the comments):
- Kreider (50% retained this year only) + K. Miller for Girard and Cal Ritchie
- Panarin (50% retained this year and next) for Girard and Ritchie
Girard is probably the most fascinating of the potential Rangers 1LD trade options since there’s a solid match between the Rangers and Avs in an actual hockey trade.
Honorable Mention: Noah Dobson (NYI – RFA, definitely not going to happen but would be funny)
The young blockbuster
5. Bowen Byram (Buffalo, 1 year, $3.85 million)
Bowen Byram is the young blockbuster name that keeps popping up. The oft-injured defenseman has found solid footing in Buffalo and appears to be past his injury issues, having played in 54 games this year already. The former 4th overall pick is having a career year at just 23 years old, and though Buffalo just acquired him for Casey Mittlestadt, there’s reason to believe he could be a trade chip to address other needs.
Like Colorado, Buffalo is an odd team. But unlike Colorado, a team comfortably in a playoff position, Buffalo should be better than they actually are and have fallen far behind teams like Ottawa and Detroit. Byram is a solid chip that can move them in the right direction, but finding a proper trade with the Sabres will be tough for Chris Drury. The initial Miller/Byram swap talks probably don’t make much sense anymore, if they ever did.
Honorable Mention: Thomas Chabot (OTT)
Of the Rangers 1LD trade options listed, only Walman strikes me as both a realistic option with a viable trade path, but I can talk myself into Buffalo and Colorado making Byram and Girard available, respectively. Depending on the target, we may not see something unfold until the draft.
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