Following the scouting combine last week, multiple reports are indicating that the Rangers are looking to continue shaking up their roster.
Larry Brooks writes in the NY Post that Chris Drury is “determined to make substantial personnel changes, even if lateral ones, because the GM believes the chemistry in the room was not conducive to a constructive work environment”
James Mirtle wrote in The Athletic to “expect some big, unexpected swings” from the Rangers in trades and Free Agency.
Arthur Staple tweeted that Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox and Artemi Panarin “may” be the only untouchables in trade conversations.
Brooks writes that K’Andre Miller is expected to be traded with a belief that he will be a target of an offer sheet if he isn’t traded or signed by July 1.
Mirtle says that Carson Soucy could be potentially available as well.
Brooks says that Alexis Lafreniere is “surely available” but it isn’t known whether the Rangers were initiating conversations about Lafreniere or being called about him.
He adds that Drury is likely to try and make his biggest moves with Western Conference teams. (NY Post)
Adam Rotter: What makes this interesting is that the Rangers are far from the only team that is looking to make changes, but I’m still not sure how much change the Rangers can make because of no-move and no-trade clauses.
JT Miller isn’t going anywhere, Artemi Panarin potentially being untouchable could mean the Rangers intend to extend him on July 1 or that they know their best chance of success this season is with him and they’ll take the Mitch Marner/Toronto route and see how it plays out. Doing that would mean that the Rangers don’t recoup any assets if they lose Panarin, but they would gain $11.6 million in cap space. My guess is that Mika Zibanejad is staying put unless it’s been indicated to him that he’s not going to play top-line minutes and won’t be on the first PP. If that is the case then maybe Zibanejad and Drury can work together to find a place that Zibanejad would waive his no-move for. If not, I think Zibanejad on the wing with Miller could be productive like we saw over the last 30 games this season.
Vincent Trocheck’s no-move turns into a no-trade on July 1, but I don’t see him getting moved. So that really leaves Chris Kreider, K’Andre Miller and Alexis Lafreniere as the main trade chips. Trading K’Andre may force the Rangers into keeping Carson Soucy since they will need at least one person to play on the left side.
Maybe it’s still the attachment to him being the #1 pick, but I think it’s still risky to trade Alexis Lafreniere. Maybe you package him and something else to get a more proven/consistent scorer, but I’d take the chance that he is sufficiently motivated after last season and that Mike Sullivan and his staff can get him back on track.
It’s nearly as risky to trade K’Andre Miller and his upside, but maybe they are able to swap him for a similar mid-20s defenseman who has upside but battles inconsistency. If the Rangers want to make changes than guys have to move and Miller, because of his status as an RFA, would seemingly be at the top of the list.
It seems kind of inevitable that Chris Kreider is going to move. What he brings back in return may depend on if the Rangers are willing to retain any salary to lower some of the risk for the acquiring team. Freeing up the cap space and his spot on the roster and in the locker room may be enough for Chris Drury, but if Kreider is healthy then someone is going to get someone who can still make an impact, potentially a big one, on special teams.
We should start getting answers soon enough.