3/6/24 | The Rangers are reportedly closing in on a trade for Wennberg. (Kaplan)
3/5/24 | 1:50PM: Elliotte Friedman said that “it sounds like the Rangers are the favorites” for Wennberg.
9:20AM: Larry Brooks writes in the NY Post that the Rangers are in negotiations with Seattle over center Alex Wennberg and they are believed to be offering a second round pick and a “mid-level prospect.”
He adds that the Rangers are also interested in reacquiring Frank Vatrano, but Anaheim is “demanding a heavy price” and that Chris Drury is “balking” at using a first round pick to bring him back. (NY Post)
Brooks also says that Kaapo Kakko is “not in play” for these deals. (NY Post)
Emily Kaplan said on TSN that the Rangers are willing to move their first round pick “if the player is worth it. She said that the Rangers “are” open to moving Kakko “even if it is not their preference” and that is something that may get revisited in the offseason.
Adam Rotter (9:20AM): A second round pick and a prospect seems close to right for someone like Wennberg. If that is what other teams are also offering then it may just come down to which prospect Seattle prefers if they think that all the second round picks will be somewhat close to each other.
The Rangers traded a third round pick for Vatrano two-years ago and since then he’s continued to get better, he was an All-Star this year and has another year left on his deal and so it’s not unreasonable for Anaheim to be looking for a first round pick and maybe more for him. There is also the fact that Anaheim may be trying to squeeze the Rangers for a bit more since they know Vatrano and that he could easily fit on that top line. Anaheim doesn’t have to move Vatrano and so they can hold firm on a price.
With Kakko, it remains hard to see how the best version of the Rangers for the rest of this season and the playoffs doesn’t include Kakko unless they are able to swing a crazy deal for a true impact forward under team control for multiple seasons. So while I do think the Rangers have been asked about Kakko and he’s certainly not untouchable anymore, I think the chances of the Rangers being able to make the kind of deal where he would be involved is slim. A strong final 20 games and strong, productive playoffs could erase all questions about his future, otherwise the offseason could be like two summers ago, after he was scratched in Game 6 against Tampa, where his future seemed up in the air.