Here’s the latest Rangers news and buzz ahead of the March 8 NHL trade deadline…
March 7, 1:23 p.m.
With a day to go until the deadline, the Rangers remain “very in” on the sweepstakes for Pittsburgh Penguins center Jake Guentzel, reports Vincent Z. Mercogliano of USA Today.
Per Mercogliano, New York’s main competition could be the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes.
Mercogliano added that the Rangers parting with prospect Gabe Perreault in a Guentzel trade still “sounds like a hard no.”
With Perreault seemingly off the table, the Blueshirts could conceivably offer a mix of draft picks and other young assets, with Brennan Othmann among their top prospects.
The Rangers are in serious need of help at center, with Filip Chytil out for the season.
Guentzel, 29, is having another terrific season, with 22 goals and 30 assists for a Penguins team that is on the outside of the playoff picture.
He is set to be a free agent after the season, so the Rangers wouldn’t have to do any heavy lifting in order to fit him on the roster cap-wise.
March 7, 10:23 a.m.
The Rangers continue to be one of the buzziest teams as the deadline nears, but they certainly seem to be steadfast in their plans to hold on to Kaapo Kakko.
According to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, the Anaheim Ducks offered the Rangers a package of Adam Henrique and Frank Vatrano in exchange for Kakko and a first-round pick a few weeks ago.
The Rangers rejected the deal, and Henrique has since been traded to the Edmonton Oilers.
Vatrano, whom the Rangers previously acquired at the 2022 trade deadline, remains an option for the Blueshirts. The soon-to-be 30-year-old is having a career year, netting 29 goals and 20 assists.
March 4, 4:30 p.m.
Rangers trade target Alex Wennberg appears to be closing in on a new home.
The veteran forward was held out of Seattle’s morning skate and he will not be available for tonight’s game against the Flames due to “trade-related issues,” head coach Dave Hakstol said.
While the Kraken are still sorting through offers, the Rangers are believed to be among the finalists for his services, according to Vince Mercogliano of USA Today Sports.
Wennberg is a solid two-way bottom-six center who has produced nine goals and 16 assists through 60 games this season, and he should come relatively cheap since he is on an expiring deal.
If acquired, the 29-year-old would serve as an upgrade over Jonny Brodzinski, who has slotted in admirably in between Will Cuylle and Jimmy Vesey on New York’s third line.
Feb. 24, 4:00 p.m.
While the Rangers are willing to part ways with their first-round pick for this year if the right deal presents itself, New York is reportedly not looking to deal top prospects Brennan Othmann and Gabe Perreault in a potential deadline trade, according to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan.
“Other teams have told me anytime they’ve brought up the Rangers’ two top prospects in discussions, the Rangers have shut it down,” Kaplan said during ESPN’s intermission report Saturday afternoon. “In any deal that they do they don’t want to give up either of those players.”
Othmann made his NHL debut earlier this season and he’s enjoying a strong campaign with AHL-Hartford, producing 14 goals and 22 assists (36 points) across 45 games.
Perreault was selected in the first round of this year’s draft and he’s been one of the top players in college hockey, putting up 50 points over the first 19 games of his freshman campaign.
Feb. 23, 9:45 a.m.
The Rangers have inquired with the Seattle Kraken about center Yanni Gourde, according to Arthur Staple from The Athletic.
Gourde, 32, has 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) through 54 games for the Kraken this season and carries a minus-5 plus-minus. He is averaging 17:46 time on the ice per game and has won 47.6 percent of 727 faceoffs.
However, Staple noted a deal with the Rangers for Gourde would be “tough” to complete because of his salary cap number ($5.17 million) and since Seattle likes what he brings to their team.
It had previously been reported the Blueshirts had contacted the Kraken about Alexander Wennberg, which Staple said “would be a simpler move and could be a fix for the Rangers anywhere in their top nine.”
Wennberg, 29, has 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) with a plus-2 in 56 games for Seattle this season while averaging 18:40 TOI per game.
Feb. 21, 8:36 a.m.
The Rangers, dealing with multiple injuries to key players and leading the Metropolitan Division by six points, are searching for serious reinforcements ahead of the March 8 trade deadline.
And with Filip Chytil out for the season, center is a clear need for New York.
To that end, the Rangers are “targeting” Seattle Kraken center Alex Wennberg, reports Larry Brooks of The New York Post.
Wennberg, 29, is making $5 million this season ($4.5 million cap hit) and is a pending free agent.
He has eight goals and 14 assists in 55 games this season.
The Kraken, with 57 points, are on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture in the Western Conference. So they could be motivated to move players who are in their walk year.
Feb. 16, 8:59 a.m.
The Blueshirts have their eye on Philadelphia Flyers center Scott Laughton.
According to Arthur Staple of The Athletic, a recent report that the Rangers are unwilling to trade their 2024 first-round pick at the deadline is inaccurate, meaning they could potentially dangle it for Laughton or another target.
Laughton, 29, has seven goals and 17 assists this season for the Flyers and is signed through the 2025-26 campaign — with an annual cap hit of $3 million.
Feb. 5, 9:44 a.m.
The Rangers added Frank Vatrano at the deadline a few seasons ago, and there’s a chance they could turn to him again.
According to Arthur Staple and Eric Stephens of The Athletic, the Blueshirts have inquired with the Ducks about trading for Vatrano.
Vatrano, who is coming off his first All-Star appearance, has 22 goals and 14 assists in 50 games this season for Anaheim.
He is on pace to blast by his previous season-high for goals (24 in 2018-19) and points (41 in 2022-23).
Unlike the recently-traded Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm, Vatrano is not a rental player.
The 29-year-old, who is making $3.65 million this season, is under contract for the 2024-25 season at the same salary.
Feb. 2, 11:06 a.m.
Possible Rangers target Sean Monahan is being traded from the Montreal Canadiens to the Winnipeg Jets, reports Pierre LeBrun of TSN.
Per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Jets are sending a first-round pick and a conditional pick to Montreal.
With the Rangers possibly in need of two centers due to Filip Chytil being out for the season, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet said earlier this week that “one of the teams that people are looking at,” regarding Monahan was the Rangers.
“I do think a number of teams are wondering if Monahan is on the Rangers’ radar,” Friedman noted.
However, Friedman added that there is “no love lost” between the front offices of the Rangers and Canadiens, which could’ve possibly added a wrinkle to any potential deal.
Monahan, 29, is having a strong season, with 13 goals and 22 assists in 49 games.
He has scored 27 or more goals five times during his nine-year NHL career and has bounced back nicely following groin surgery that ended his 2022-23 campaign.
Monahan is earning just $1.985 million this season and will be an unrestricted free agent after the year.
Jan. 31, 9:15 p.m.
The Rangers had Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm on their list, but he will not be coming to New York.
The Flames agreed to send Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a hefty return of forward Andrei Kuzmenko, defensemen Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo, a first-round pick and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin announced.
In 49 games this season, Lindholm has nine goals and 23 assists.
Jan. 31, 9:52 a.m.
With the Rangers in serious need of help at the center position, Chris Drury and Co. have Elias Lindholm of the Calgary Flames “at the top” of their wish list, reports Larry Brooks of The New York Post.
Lindholm, 29, is making $4.85 million this season and is set for free agency after the year.
Per Brooks, the bidding for Lindholm could be fierce, possibly requiring the acquiring team to give up a first-round pick plus “at least one legitimate prospect and perhaps a young, NHL-ready player.”
The above would be an incredibly steep price for a rental.
In 49 games this season, Lindholm has nine goals and 23 assists.
He notched 22 goals and 42 assists last season following the career year he had in 2021-22 — when he had 42 goals and 40 assists.
Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m.
As the Rangers look to upgrade their team ahead of the deadline, GM Chris Drury is reportedly taking calls on former second overall pick Kaapo Kakko, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.
“Losing [Filip] Chytil for the remainder of the season is a big blow for the Rangers, but New York has cap space, and potentially the assets like Kakko, to acquire a significant piece,” Dreger said on Tuesday’s edition of Insider Trading.
With new head coach Peter Laviolette behind the bench, Kakko started the year alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider on the top line, but he was quickly demoted after producing just three points over the first 11 games.
Still just 22 years old and playing on a cheap contract, perhaps, New York will be able to net an asset back to help their Stanley Cup push.
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