12:52PM: On Thursday, Elliotte Friedman said on The Fan Hockey Show that “I think the Rangers are really trying to do something.”
He noted on Wednesday and again on Thursday that the Rangers were “big” in trying to acquire Bowen Byram from Buffalo before he was sent to Chicago for a package that included the 4th overall pick.
Friedman also said that despite not being on Brady Tkachuk’s list of teams the Rangers were trying to get involved.
Pierre LeBrun said on Thursday that the Rangers seem to be hoping that Dylan Larkin gets traded so that Vincent Trocheck becomes the top center available again.
On Trochek, LeBrun said “Buffalo, I think the Leafs have called in the last week, Montreal is monitoring that situation, lots of teams interested. The question is, the asking price for New York is a first round pick and a prospect, how many teams are willing to line up for that?
LeBrun also said that in his opinion the Rangers may regret not moving Trocheck at the trade deadline.
Adam Rotter: It’s not surprising that the Rangers were in on Byram as they have been linked to him for a while and it also wouldn’t be a surprise if part that Byram deal also included Vincent Trocheck going back to Buffalo in what would likely have been a much bigger deal. Buffalo does make sense, at least from a Rangers point of view, for Trocheck. I don’t think the Rangers could get #4 for Trocheck but Buffalo does have #20 and a bunch of young/recently drafted forwards and defensemen. This is also presuming that Trocheck wouldn’t block a trade to Buffalo.
With no good free agents available and teams still needing to upgrade, I have to imagine that someone will either pay what Chris Drury wants or come close to it at some point before next season. The Rangers don’t have to move him by tomorrow’s draft, especially since Trocheck’s no-trade goes from 12 to 10 teams on July 1, but there does need to be a resolution at some point. I hope that I’m wrong but I think that this goes into at least next week when the Rangers get a tiny bit more flexibility on where they can send Trocheck to, but if Larkin moves soon or other teams start making other moves then maybe someone finally steps up for Trocheck.
In terms of what else the Rangers may be trying to do, I would be surprised if they aren’t in on any player that becomes available. The issue is what the Rangers are willing to move outside of Trocheck. Braden Schneider still seems possible but Alexis Lafreniere seems like he will be staying and I think that makes sense. I doubt the Rangers would move #5 unless it’s someone franchise changing.