|
Trade market options thinning with Guentzel and Duclair gone, now what? |
|
|
|
|
|
On Thursday, GM Chris Drury fiddled white the trade market burned up. After acquiring Alexander Wennberg, the expectation - given the views from a variety of the insiders - was that this was just the first of what was to be several moves. This may well still be the case but the market may have significantly thinned out.
In the morning Joel Edmundson, who was viewed as a possible depth option for the blueline, went from Washington to Toronto. The cost was a third and fifth rounder with Washington assuming half the cap hit.
Later in the day, Troy Stecher went from Arizona to Edmonton. The cost a fourth for Stecher and a seventh. This deal took another possible depth d-man off the market. Not that either is elite but they could have filled the need of an experienced depth blueliner.
While defensive depth was likely the third need, a top-nine and likely first line right winger is paramount. During the day, the insiders kept indicating that the Rangers were in the mix for Jake Guentzel, but it would require adding Kaapo Kakko, Brennan Othmann or Gabe Perreault with the first rounder to the deal. Perreault was.a clear no, but one of the other two seemed to possibly be under consideration.
At the end of the day, Drury decided not to part with either for a rental. Hard to blame him even if Guentzel would have been a good, maybe not great fit. Guentzel is a proven playoff scorer, but he would have been asked to move from the left to right side, which is not his strong side. Plus, coming off an injury, there was mild trepidation there. But he would have helped the offense tremendously. Emily Kaplan said during the intermission of the game on ESPN that the Rangers didn’t want to include Kakko for Guentzel. She reported later that the Rangers offer did include Othmann and a 1, but Dubas opted for the multiple pieces, including Bunting, over this deal.
Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas has a history with Michael Bunting, so his inclusion should not be a major surprise. One of the two prospects originally rumored to be coming back was d-man Scott Morrow, who would have been a solid add for the Penguins. He was not in the final, nor was Nikishin, Carolina's top prospect, or Nadeau or Jackson Black. Instead, a trio of B level prospects, headed by Ville Koivunen, and a pair of conditional picks were in the package. A very underwhelming return and one that Rangers, Canucks and Golden Knights all have to feel they could have beaten.
Kakko still has value, more so as a third line, not on the first line. Moving him, barring another deal, would have helped the offense but hurt the bottom six. If a sniper was brought back, especially one with additional term, dealing him would be an easier sell. Same with Othmann, who maybe has not developed as much as hoped this year, but is viewed as a top-six or -none winger. The problem is though he plays the left side, though he has seen time on the right in Hartford.
Even with Guentzel heading to Carolina, options existed. One Plan B option was Anthony Duclair, who broke in with the Rangers before being dealt to Arizona in the Keith Yandle trade, Duclair has not had a good year but he has picked it up lately. He would have brought speed and a shoot first mentality to the roster, which was needed. Alas, that was not to be, as Tampa Bay acquired Duclair and a seventh for a third and Jack Thompson, a pretty good price for a scoring winger.
Now what? Throughout the last few days, Pavel Buchnevich has been mentioned as possibly being available. One could argue if that was truly the case, he would not have dressed and played Thursday night. The rumored price is two first rounders. If that is the case, and consider me very skeptical it is and he is available, the Drury by all means needs to make that move.
New York already turned down a deal involving a first and Kakko for Adam Henrique and Frank Vatrano. Does Drury pivot back to Anaheim and try to obtain Vatrano alone? The cost will be the first and another piece, maybe a B level forward, like Brett Berard and Adam Sykora. The team knows what Vatrano brings and he certainly would lengthen the roster and fill an area of need.
Beyond Buch and Vatrano, Jason Zucker could be the player brought in., He is nice, not sezy, doesn't strike me as a first line right wing and lacks something New York desperately needs, speed. Zucker strikes me as more of a third liner, which is fine, but that would leave Kakko on the top line. Maybe Jordan Eberle, who is trying to work out a long term extension is the target, He certainly would fill the top line right wing spot. But if a deal is made there, then Drury would have been better served to acquire Eberle at the same time as Wennberg to lower the overall cost.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»