Who’s in and who’s out in a competitive Eastern Conference playoff race may determine several sellers ahead of the February 26 trade deadline. The New York Rangers, who could stand pat or begin a partial rebuild, are currently in last place of the Metropolitan Division (55 standings points). What complicates matters is that the Rangers are still within ten standings points of the first-place Capitals (65) and three points out of both of the Eastern Conference’s wildcard spots.
Monday, TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported that the Rangers have asked 33-year-old, former 40-goalscorer Rick Nash for the teams on his no-trade list.
NYR have requested Rick Nash’s No-Trade list and Nash gave it to the club yesterday. The list is 18 teams Nash cannot be traded to (unless he were to waive his NTC). Conversely, NYR now have the green light to trade Nash to the 12 teams not on the list.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 5, 2018
I would imagine the 12 teams Nash is willing to go to are teams he believes would give him the best shot to compete for the Cup and would either have the need for a scoring (rental) winger and/or be willing to pay the price.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 5, 2018
Of course, the alternate strategy for turning a modified NTC into a virtual full NTC is to allow trades only to teams you know wouldn’t want you — non playoff teams, those not needing scoring help — or teams NYR not likely to deal with etc. That gives player more control.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 5, 2018
The Rangers can now deal Nash, who has a $7.8 million cap hit, to one of twelve teams or ask him to waive his clause altogether. The New York Post’s Larry Brooks believes the Rangers would be willing to retain half of Nash’s salary in any deal. According to Brooks, the Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, and “potentially” Pittsburgh Penguins are all likely interested.
Elliotte Friedman also suggested that the Rangers could trade Nash and Michael Grabner at the deadline, only to try and re-sign the players during the offseason.
If the Rangers do end up selling, Nash looks like he’ll be one of the first assets out the door. Interestingly though, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet this weekend floated the idea that both Nash and Michael Grabner could be traded as rentals only to return to New York in the summer as free agents.
The New York Post’s Larry Brooks also reported that New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh may be soon out the door as well. Recently, Lightning assistant GM Pat Verbeek was at the Garden and Rangers assistant GM Chris Drury scouted the Lightning’s AHL Syracuse game at Utica. The Lightning are the NHL’s best team with a 36-13-3 record.
Know this, however: there is definitely mutual interest in exploring whether a match can be made so that Ryan McDonagh might join Ryan Callahan and Dan Girardi with Tampa Bay, whose organization is brimming with young assets, but perhaps none of elite quality.
The Rangers are believed willing to assume up to 50 percent of McDonagh’s $4.7 million cap hit that runs through next year in order to get what the organization believes is a commensurate return for No. 27’s talents.
The Capitals have been rumored to have interest in landing another defenseman ahead of a potential postseason run.
There are obviously huge obstacles to clear in trying to put together a deal that would bring #McD2DC, but there's no player on (or likely to be on) the market that better fits the Caps' current needs.
— Japers' Rink (@JapersRink) February 5, 2018
Headline photo: Bruce Bennett
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