12/8/21 Emily Kaplan writes at ESPN.com that the Rangers “seem like they’re looking to add” and that “middle-six forward seems to be the biggest need.”
11/19/21 | Arthur Staple of The Athletic confirmed that the Rangers are “potentially looking to add a forward” and possible a “veteran defenseman.”
11/18/21 | On TSN, Darren Dreger said that the Rangers are looking for a “middle-six forward.”
Dreger said “The Rangers have been in the market for a forward for quite some time and I think it has been amplified a little bit by the fact that they lost Sammy Blais for the remainder of the season earlier this week.”
He adds, “Chris Drury, the GM for the New York Rangers, is looking for a middle-six forward, which is not a term we use often in hockey, but that can be a third-line player or someone that can punch into the top-six. U.S. Thanksgiving normally nudges the trade market a little bit, so there is nothing front burner, but definitely the Rangers on the hunt.”
Adam Rotter: I think that the answer for the Rangers may be internal and that Morgan Barron is probably worth a call up. Right now Julien Gauthier is filling Sammy Blais’ spot, but Barron brings more grit and a similar style to Blais. Gauthier has looked okay the last few games and does seem to be finding his way a bit under Gerard Gallant. He can be a third liner, he goes to the net and gets chances, but he struggles to finish. I think that the Rangers could use him if they want more offensive potential in that spot, but I think Barron brings a more well rounded game and he could also be someone that gets moved around like Blais was.
As for potential trade targets, again, it depends on what they want this forward to be and what they are willing to give up. They have their first, two seconds and two fourths, the third rounder was traded for Ryan Reaves, but they can only really bring in a rental, a player on an entry level deal or someone who has term, but a low cap hit. They also have Vitali Kravtsov, but he still seems like someone that will either get a chance to return, be swapped one for one for another prospect or be used as a key piece in a much bigger deal. I don’t think the Rangers are that interested in moving any of those assets, except maybe the fourth round picks, for a rental, but we will see. It’s still pretty early to be looking for trades, but I think the Rangers will see how their internal options perform before going out to market.