{"id":408897,"date":"2026-01-12T19:58:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T19:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/408897\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T19:58:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T19:58:10","slug":"rangers-trade-tiers-with-new-york-looking-like-a-seller-who-could-be-on-the-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/408897\/","title":{"rendered":"Rangers trade tiers: With New York looking like a seller, who could be on the move?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New York Rangers\u2019 management group, led by team president and general manager Chris Drury, is still mulling how to handle the NHL\u2019s March 6 trade deadline, as The Athletic detailed last week<\/a>. But with the team failing to win seven of its last nine games and collecting only two regulation wins in its past 17, it\u2019s getting harder to justify any moves that would jeopardize the future for short-term fixes.<\/p>\n

Drury had been looking to buy in recent weeks, with a top-nine forward to boost a sputtering offense at the top of his wish list, according to a league source. The hope was that the Rangers would string together enough wins to climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff race and make it worth ponying up for reinforcements. Instead, they continue to stumble, with Saturday\u2019s 10-2 embarrassment<\/a> in Boston making any plan other than selling look foolish.<\/p>\n

There are still 11 games remaining until the Olympic break, which many GMs are viewing as a moment of truth to decide where their teams stand. But the mounting losses, combined with injuries to star players Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin, have left many around the league believing at least a partial sell-off is on the horizon in New York.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll take time in the coming weeks to examine what that might look like, as well as explore possible targets as Drury likely seeks a quick retool instead of a full teardown. His roster is flailing and his prospect pool depleted, but he is armed with a pair of first-round picks in the upcoming draft and a few veterans who would certainly draw interest if they hit the market. The preference is to add young players who can help immediately, but the Rangers could also use any assets acquired now to arm themselves for future trades.<\/p>\n

For this exercise, we\u2019ve grouped players with any level of NHL experience into one of five categories based on their contract statuses and standing with the team. Some are considered very much available if Drury hits the \u201csell\u201d button, while others are likely staying put unless something drastic happens. We\u2019ve listed them in order of likelihood while offering thoughts on each situation.<\/p>\n

Pending UFAs<\/p>\n

Artemi Panarin, wing
45 games, 16 goals, 49 points<\/p>\n

Panarin, who\u2019s led the team in scoring each of the previous six seasons, is the biggest name the Rangers could move \u2014 and perhaps the most likely. The 34-year-old got off to a slow start, which he admitted could have been affected by his uncertain future<\/a> in New York, but his production has ticked up the last couple months. Extension talks never got very far, according to a league source<\/a>, potentially a sign Drury is hesitant to give Panarin the term and money he wants. This will probably be the final large contract he\u2019s able to sign in his career, with the odds seemingly increasing he\u2019ll have to sign it elsewhere.<\/p>\n

There are a couple factors that would make a Panarin trade difficult, starting with his no-movement clause. He can veto any trade, so he\u2019ll have control over this situation. That will take away some of the Rangers\u2019 leverage, especially if there are only one or two teams for whom he\u2019d consider waiving. His $11.64 million cap hit will also be difficult for some contenders to fit onto their books, even if the Rangers retain salary in a deal.<\/p>\n

A comparable for potential Panarin return would be the one Philadelphia received for Claude Giroux in 2022. Then the Flyers captain, Giroux had a full no-movement clause and went to the Panthers at the trade deadline. Florida gave up a 2024 first-round pick, a 2023 third-round pick and Owen Tippett for Giroux, a 2024 fifth-round pick and two AHLers. Last deadline, Brad Marchand, who had a modified no-trade clause, got Boston a 2027 second-round pick that converted into a first when Florida won two playoff rounds.<\/p>\n

Given the track record of recent trades, New York will surely aim to get at least a first-round pick, but a potential return will be largely dependent on how many teams Panarin is willing to consider.<\/p>\n

\"Carson<\/p>\n

\n Carson Soucy might draw interest as a pending UFA who could slot into a third-pairing role. (Wendell Cruz \/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

Carson Soucy, defenseman
42 games, 3 goals, 6 points<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a big drop-off after Panarin among New York\u2019s pending UFAs, but Soucy is the next most valuable. He\u2019s not much of a puck-mover, but he\u2019s been solid defensively this season and could slot into a third-pair role on a contending team. The Rangers got him for San Jose\u2019s 2025 third-round pick at last year\u2019s deadline when he had a year more of term. They\u2019d probably aim to recoup a third-rounder, but may have to settle for a little less now since he\u2019s a pending UFA. Still, Soucy should net at least a mid-round pick.<\/p>\n

The 31-year-old will have some control over his situation. He has a 12-team no-trade list.<\/p>\n

Jonny Brodzinski, wing\/center
31 games, 4 goals, 9 points<\/p>\n

Brodzinski\u2019s value is surely limited, but he could potentially bring back a late-round pick if a team is looking for a depth forward capable of chipping in offense. He\u2019s been in and out of the Rangers lineup since joining the NHL roster full-time in the 2023-24 season, but the team trusted him to play postseason games in both 2022 and 2024.<\/p>\n

Some comparables from the 2025 deadline: Daniel Sprong (acquired from Seattle by the Devils for a seventh-round pick), Luke Kunin (acquired from San Jose by Columbus for a fourth-round pick) and Mark Jankowski (acquired from Nashville by Carolina for a fifth-round pick). If offers don\u2019t rise above what Seattle got for Sprong, it might be worth holding onto Brodzinski. The former captain of AHL Hartford has been a positive mentor for younger players in the dressing room, which is why Drury might consider a league-minimum extension beyond this season.<\/p>\n

Jonathan Quick, goalie
13 games, .899 save percentage<\/p>\n

Quick has a 20-team no-trade list and is as well-respected as anyone in the dressing room, which is why the Rangers will presumably let him decide his fate. He already has three Stanley Cups and contenders likely wouldn\u2019t view him as a starter at this stage, so the 39-year-old (who will turn 40 this month) might just prefer to stay put.<\/p>\n

Conor Sheary, wing
37 games, 1 goal, 9 points<\/p>\n

Sheary was on crutches at the Winter Classic and is on long-term injured reserve. It\u2019s hard to see him having much value on the trade market, though he\u2019s been more serviceable this season than some Rangers fans give him credit for.<\/p>\n

Change of scenery candidates<\/p>\n

Brennan Othmann, wing
6 games, 0 goals, 0 points<\/p>\n

This is the most obvious one, with a league source indicating the Rangers have been actively listening<\/a> on offers for the 2021 first-round pick since he was a surprisingly early cut following a disappointing training camp. The problem is, the value isn\u2019t there for a player they\u2019ve been reluctant to trust in their own lineup. They can hope for a return similar to what the Chicago Blackhawks got for Lukas Reichel in October, when they shipped the fellow first-round forward to Vancouver for a 2027 fourth-rounder. But Reichel has a stronger scoring track record at both the AHL and NHL levels, making it likely New York would have to settle for even less.<\/p>\n

Othmann\u2019s play has improved with AHL Hartford recently, earning him a call up back to the NHL club Sunday evening. Showcase time?<\/p>\n

Brett Berard, wing
12 games, 0 goals, 0 points<\/p>\n

You can lump Berard in with Othmann as a young forward who\u2019s fallen out of favor in the organization, considering his usage in recent weeks. We\u2019ve heard the Rangers are listening on all winger prospects not named Gabe Perreault, but they\u2019ll likely hold onto the depth if a worthwhile offer doesn\u2019t materialize. The same goes for Jaroslav Chmela\u0159, Adam S\u00fdkora and others, although the value might be even lower in those cases.<\/p>\n

\"Brett<\/p>\n

\n Brett Berard is one of the young forwards struggling to make his mark in New York. (Bruce Bennett \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Alexis Lafreni\u00e8re, wing
46 games, 9 goals, 24 points<\/p>\n

Trading Lafreni\u00e8re would be an organizational loss for the Rangers, who drafted him No. 1 overall in 2020, but his production has stagnated. The 24-year-old has failed to build on his 57-point season in 2023-24, which earned him a seven-year, $52.15 million extension in October 2024. His trade value is likely at the lowest of his career, making a trade hard for the Rangers to swallow.<\/p>\n

Lafreni\u00e8re doesn\u2019t have any trade protection until 2027, so Drury won\u2019t have any restrictions if he decides it\u2019s time to cut bait. New York would presumably seek another young player in return. Trading one of its only young, skilled forwards and getting older doesn\u2019t make much sense. Perhaps the Rangers could look for a trade similar to the Dylan Cozens-Josh Norris swap we saw last deadline.<\/p>\n

Braden Schneider, defenseman
46 games, 2 goals, 8 points<\/p>\n

Schneider, a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights, has averaged more ice time this season than every Rangers defenseman but Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov. He\u2019s a defense-first defenseman and a solid outcome for a No. 19 pick, but he\u2019s limited offensively with underwhelming on-ice metrics.<\/p>\n

The 24-year-old feels more like someone the Rangers would consider moving only if trying to land a high-profile player. It\u2019s a scenario they should look into given how much GMs covet big, strong, right-shot defensemen, but it would take something substantial to pry away a player who\u2019s still highly thought of internally and viewed as a high-character presence in the room.<\/p>\n

The hottest commodity<\/p>\n

Vincent Trocheck, center
32 games, 11 goals, 27 points<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear if the Rangers are willing to go to these lengths, but the 32-year-old is considered their most sought-after player among those without a no-movement clause.<\/p>\n

Centers will be the hottest commodities in a market that isn\u2019t expected to feature many proven top-six contributors, and Trocheck\u2019s contract (three years remaining with a $5.625 million average annual value) looks like a bargain in this rising-cap world. A first-round pick plus a good prospect is a feasible return, which is the equivalent of what the New York Islanders netted for Brock Nelson last season and what the San Jose Sharks received for Tom\u00e1\u0161 Hertl in 2024.<\/p>\n

There have been no indications to this point that Drury is ready to entertain offers on Trocheck, who remains a favorite of the current GM and holds a 12-team no-trade list. It would signal a larger-scale teardown if he does, which likely wouldn\u2019t sit well with captain J.T. Miller and other veterans, but it would also jump-start the process of restocking assets. The Rangers could hold him for another year or two, but his value will likely only decrease from here.<\/p>\n

Shorter-term options<\/p>\n

Sam Carrick, center
46 games, 1 goal, 7 points<\/p>\n

Carrick is a fourth-line center who plays with an edge and toughness that\u2019s made him a locker-room favorite. Drury signed him in 2024 for a contract that runs through 2026-27 at a $1 million AAV. A contender could look at the 33-year-old as a depth option \u2014 he was in and out of the Oilers\u2019 postseason lineup in their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 \u2014 but the return likely wouldn\u2019t be more than a late-round pick. New York could simply elect to keep him as the 4C going into 2026-27.<\/p>\n

Taylor Raddysh, wing
43 games, 7 goals, 11 points<\/p>\n

Drury signed Raddysh to a two-year, $1.5 million AAV deal before the season, but Sullivan has scratched him at points during his first year in New York. The rising salary cap could make Raddysh\u2019s contract easier for a team to take on, but he hasn\u2019t stood out enough to warrant much of a return.<\/p>\n

Urho Vaakanainen, defenseman
20 games, 0 goals, 3 points<\/p>\n

Vaakanainen is signed at $1.55 million through 2026-27. He likely won\u2019t have any value on the trade market considering he hasn\u2019t been able to crack a struggling Rangers lineup.<\/p>\n

\"Mika<\/p>\n

\n Mika Zibanejad is unlikely to be traded, but of the Rangers signed beyond this season with NTCs, he might be the most plausible pick. (Winslow Townson \/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

NMC guys (all long shots)<\/p>\n

Mika Zibanejad, center
45 games, 17 goals, 40 points<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a long shot for anyone among this group to get traded, but if we had to pick one, the Zibanejad scenario feels most plausible. He told The Athletic during the preseason that he hasn\u2019t been approached<\/a> about waiving his NMC, and it\u2019s fairly well-known that he loves living in New York City and doesn\u2019t want to uproot his family. But could that change if he watches another season go down the tubes?<\/p>\n

Zibanejad has watched close friends Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba get pushed out and surely understands that could be his eventual fate. If the Rangers signal they\u2019re taking another step back to get younger, perhaps the 32-year-old center \u2014 who will turn 33 in April \u2014 will decide it\u2019s time to go to a place where he has a better chance to win.<\/p>\n

Adam Fox, defenseman
30 games, 4 goals, 28 points<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a laundry list of reasons why Fox likely isn\u2019t going anywhere. He grew up a Rangers fan, which is why he maneuvered his way to New York in the first place back in 2019. He recently started a family here and surely relishes the chance to raise his daughter so close to his parents. He\u2019s only 27, making him a building block who should still be in his prime whenever the Rangers are ready to compete again. And if he continues along this path, he\u2019ll go down as one of the greatest defensemen in franchise history.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s all well-established, but what\u2019s less clear is where his relationship stands with Rangers brass after Drury and Sullivan were unable to secure him a spot with the U.S. Olympic team \u2014 or how Fox would feel about enduring any kind of temporary sell-off. The disappointment and awkwardness could dissipate over time, but there\u2019s probably still some smoothing over to be done.<\/p>\n

J.T. Miller, wing\/center
37 games, 11 goals, 24 points<\/p>\n

Most of Drury\u2019s moves last season were aimed at shedding veterans to shake up the Rangers\u2019 core, but Miller was a very notable exception. He was coveted for his ferocious play style and fiery leadership, then promptly named the franchise\u2019s 29th captain less than eight months after being acquired from Vancouver.<\/p>\n

Nearly a year later, the trade that was intended to change the Rangers\u2019 identity hasn\u2019t aged very well. There are very legitimate concerns about Miller\u2019s diminishing production over the life of a seven-year, $56 million contract that still has four years remaining after this season. But for better or worse, Drury has hitched his wagon to the 32-year-old forward, who will turn 33 in March.<\/p>\n

Vladislav Gavrikov, defenseman
46 games, 7 goals, 15 points<\/p>\n

Gavrikov showed he wanted to be in New York in free agency, taking less money than he probably could have received from other teams. He negotiated a full no-movement clause into his deal and has proceeded to be a solid fit with the Rangers.<\/p>\n

Igor Shesterkin, goaltender
34 games, .913 save percentage<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to see Shesterkin wanting to leave in the first season of an eight-year extension, and it\u2019s hard to see Drury having any interest in moving him. By giving him a record-setting goalie contract, the Rangers showed they see him as the goalie on their next good teams.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The New York Rangers\u2019 management group, led by team president and general manager Chris Drury, is still mulling…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":408898,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[556],"tags":[64,63,3617,575,85],"class_list":["post-408897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nhl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-new-york-rangers","tag-nhl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=408897"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408897\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/408898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=408897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=408897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=408897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}