With trade rumors swirling less than 96 hours before the deadline, the Rangers face the Eastern Division leading Panthers at MSG tonight. Florida has been rolling, bolstered by the fine play of Sergei Bobrovsky in net and Sam Reinhart up front. Add in Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk as scoring options and a back line that is now healthy and playing as a solid unit, and no surprise the Cats are rolling.
Possible lines:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafrenière
Cuylle-Goodrow-Vesey
Edström-Brodzinski-Rempe
Miller-Trouba
Lindgren-Fox
Gustafsson-Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
New York will have to be at their top of their game to notch a win. Saturday, they placed a solid game, but still had issues in their zone. Plus, they have become a one-line scoring team, as Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider are invisible 5x5. Plus the revamped third line has pretty been a non-factor offensively. Barclay Goodrow moves up to that trio, mainly to provide more defensive ballast, especially if that group is matched against the Panthers top-six.
The team’s primary trade target, Tommy Novak, re-signed with the Predators. Once Nashville won eight in a row, we knew the pipe dream of adding Novak became even less likely. A three-year extension at a $3.5 mil AAV is a reasonable price for Novak, who could become the team’s second line center. Even if he is utilized on the third trio, that’s still a very solid price.
Alexander Wennberg is a healthy scratch for Seattle tonight. In essence he is being bubble wrapped while trade talk swirls. New York and Colorado are prominently mentioned as landing spots, but don’t rule out Boston. Weinberg, despite pedestrian numbers this year, would certainly deepen the offense as the third line center. Plus, he is solid between the dots. He would not be my primary choice, as Adam Henrique to me is a better fit, but Anaheim GM Pat Verbeek looks to be asking for a king’s ransom.
Following tonight’s contest, due to another quirk in the schedule, New York is off until Saturday. That leaves us nothing to really talk about - or so we hope - other than trades for almost three days. I know the proposals will be big and heavy as will the rumors. This is what I posted in my Rangers-Leafs preview blog and adding it here again as it certainly is relevant.
A good portion of the focus is on the trade deadline. The latest flavor mentioned is Warren Foegele, who might be available if the Oilers trade for Pavel Buchnevich, yes, I know, we want him back, but that's likely a pipe dream, or a top-six winger. Foegele can play wing and center and is making $2.75 mil in the final year of his contract. Frank Vatrano is still a probable target, as is Adam Henrique. Alexander Wennberg scored last night and he too is prominent in the mix (as noted above), as is Anthony Duclair, who lit the lamp as well Tyler Johsnon is a possibility, but his $5 mil salary will require Chicago to eat hlf the cap hit. With the Predators in playoff contention, my favorite option and many of yours, Thomas Novak, is likely staying put in Smashville (update: he most certainly is). Scott Laughton would fill a spot for now and the future, but it's hard to see the Rangers and Flyers making this kind of deal.
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