9 AM: Emily Kaplan says that the Rangers were offered a package a few weeks ago of Henrique and Vatrano for Kakko and a first-round pick and the Rangers turned that down. (ESPN)
7:45 AM: Arthur Staple writes that Guentzel has played only on the left side in his time in Pittsburgh and that there is “zero chance” the Rangers move Brennan Othmann or Gabe Perreault in “any deadline” deal and that Kaapo Kakko is “off-limits” as well. (The Athletic)
7 AM: After yesterday’s trade for Alex Wennberg, the Rangers have $2.9 million in cap space.
The Rangers are being linked to Pittsburgh’s Jake Guentzel. (Kaplan, Seravalli)
Larry Brooks writes that the Ducks are looking for more than the first-round pick they acquired for Adam Henrique in exchange for Frank Vatrano. (NY Post)
Adam Rotter: 7 AM: Maybe they will prove me wrong, but I don’t see Guentzel coming to the Rangers. I’m sure they are interested, I’m sure Chris Drury has talked to Kyle Dubas and he would be a nice fit, but I just don’t see it happening. Part of me thinks that the Rangers are now getting mentioned around Guentzel as a way to drive up or keep the price high. So much of the talk around wingers for the Rangers has centered on Frank Vatrano and a tiny bit around other potential reunions with Pavel Buchnevich, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Anthony Duclair. Maybe Chris Drury has really pushed his interest in Guentzel in the past day or so, but it seems pretty coincidental that they are now getting mentioned with only hours to the deadline and with Carolina also reportedly in on Guentzel. Again, maybe I’m wrong, but if the Rangers were going to pay a high price for a RW than why wouldn’t they be pushing more to bring Buchnevich back when we know he works well on the top-line?