As trade deadline rumors begin to move, the Rangers received a positive update on what will ultimately determine how the club approaches March 8th.
Filip Sitil has spent the past three weeks in his home country recovering from a suspected concussion, the Post confirmed to league officials.
The Rangers gave Sittil a diversion, hoping it would help return him to full strength quickly.
Even if this is the positive injury news Rangers have been waiting for and Sitil can return this season, it remains to be seen how long it will take the 24-year-old to get back into game shape and how effective he can be. I don't know. his return. This only adds to the importance of the moves president and general manager Chris Drury must make before the deadline.
The All-Star break from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4 should serve as a check-in point for Drury.
Depending on how close or far Sitiil's return to the Rangers is at that point, Drury will be able to better understand what kind of player he needs to go after.
trade negotiations
Here are some trade scenarios the Blueshirts should consider until the Chytil situation is resolved.
If the Rangers feel they need another center…
1. Adam Enrique, Anaheim Ducks: $5.825 million AAV, pending unrestricted free agent
The Ducks' center certainly looked like an interesting option Sunday night. He scored twice in the first period, eventually helping the Rangers pull off a 5-2 victory in Anaheim. Despite some concerns with his defensive metrics from playing on a struggling team, Enrique is capable of producing a 5-on-5 attack. The Rangers may have to sweeten the deal to convince Anaheim to take a portion of his salary, but it could be worth it in the name of boosting the team's 5-on-5 production.
2. Elias Lindholm, Calgary Flames: $4.85 million AAV, pending unrestricted free agent
It's unlikely Calgary will be able to extend Lindholm, but he would likely be an ideal addition to the midfield of Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck. Perhaps for the Rangers to make that happen, they'll need to include a 2024 first-round draft pick in an attractive trade package.
Want to catch a game? Tickets to all upcoming Rangers games can be found here.
If the Rangers don't need another center…
1. Jordan Eberle, Seattle Kraken: $5.5 million AAV, pending unrestricted free agent.
The Kraken right-winger will provide Rangers with an experienced addition to fill a hole in their top six. Ebert could be a strong postseason player, as he showed in past games against the Islanders and last season in the playoffs against Seattle. Even at 33 years old, he still brings speed to any lineup.
2. Anthony Duclair, San Jose Sharks: $3 million AAV, pending unrestricted free agent
The Rangers' third-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft will be a fun reunion story. But without long-term injured reserve funds, Sharks GM Mike Grier would have to agree to retain at least half of Duclair's AAV for the Rangers to acquire him as a low-cost addition. right. His two-goal performance at the Garden on Dec. 3 should have caught the Rangers' attention.
mailbag
We recently asked about the Texts from the Blue Seats text message conversation with Sports+ members (join here). Here are answers to some queries that caught my eye (lightly edited for clarity).
What was the main reason Drury didn't hire Patrick Roy to coach the Rangers this spring?
— Joseph Meliambro
I'm honestly very excited to see what Roy can do with the Islanders, but I don't necessarily think Drury missed out by not hiring him. Peter Laviolette's temperament seems to be exactly what this Rangers team needs. Laviolette is particular about being detailed, involved, and coaching, as well as being selective about when to send a message and start a fire under the Rangers.
That's the biggest question mark for Roy, who is in charge of his second NHL team. For better or worse, it remains to be seen, but Roy has always been an emotional coach, and his tenure in Colorado didn't lead to another chance in the NHL until eight years later. Drury may have had conversations that discouraged him from choosing Roy.
If I remember correctly, during Laviolette's introductory press conference, he mentioned the need to raise the level of competition from day one in preparation for the intensity of the playoffs. Do you think these competitive practices are having a negative impact on your team?
— Peter O
I've thought about this possibility, and I can't stress enough how much this Rangers team enjoys practicing Laviolette. They work hard every time they step on the ice, regularly participate in new drills, and stay focused in every competition. I think the team's recent struggles have to do with the injuries they've been hit with and the way Laviolette has carried certain players during these tough times. The Rangers have been a one- or two-line team every night lately, and that could be putting them in trouble.
What do you think about the Tom Wilson trade?
— Michael Youngelman
What would Artemi Panarin say…
Brennan Osman has the same level of energy as Will Quill, so are the Rangers going to develop him right away?
— Richard Lupetri
I don't know if I can go so far as to say that these two bring the same energy. Quill is much more physical, willing to do the dirty work, and is now built for the NHL. Osman has better skill and scoring ability, but his three-game cameo clearly didn't leave enough of an impression on Laviolette to set him apart from Johnny Brodzinski. Osman would be better off finishing the season in Hartford and continuing to develop his game and gain confidence.
Is Brodzinski similar to a 4A baseball player? Great as a minor leaguer, not so great as a major leaguer. He consistently misses the net and doesn't get the numbers he had in the minors.
— Eddie Brill
It was clear four seasons ago what kind of player Brodzinski was. He's a reliable 13/14 forward who brings the right attitude and can be used to temporarily fill holes in the lineup. He's been an important addition to the Rangers for some time and is the type of player every NHL team needs. However, the inconsistency in his play is why he remains in this role.
Now that Kaapo Kakko is back, do you think he will stay on the top line? I know he helps defensively, but I don't know if he brings enough offensive power to the mix.
— Sanford Wiener
At this point, Kakko is probably the best option for the top-line right wing position. That said, I would have liked to have seen what Caillou could do with some runs in that spot, but this appears to have been the plan before Kakko returned from long-term injured reserve. Bringing Kakko back to the top line was probably the right move, especially if Laviolette is looking to not only show his confidence in the Finnish winger, but also to inspire Kakko's production. I also think Jimmy Vesey could be another option for that spot before Drury gives Laviolette another top-six right winger if things don't improve.
