Friday, March 29, 2013

Trade Deadline




A trade deadline in a shortened season could be gold for certain teams poised to make deep playoff runs. Games get tighter, every mistake is magnified to the highest degree, every little detail needs attention. Some of you may have read my blog last evening about The New York Rangers and their woes so far this season. I mentioned a few names I thought would be good players to target for the NY Rangers.

- Dan Boyle
- Jaromir Jagr
- Ryan Clowe

First lets look at what this team needs:
        Desperately need to improve their Power play. It isn't as abysmal as it was in the beginning of the season but 25th in the league (14.6%) is not where this talented group should be. With that being said, this team just needs some scoring period. Tied with Columbus for last in the league with 75 goals. What hurts the most is that, this team is 4th in the league in Goals Against with a 2.36 GAA. You can see lately Henrik Lundqvist has been unhappy with the play in front of me, with the exception of a few players he's been the only one to show up on a night in, night out basis. Another reason I think they're struggling with scoring is because they are constantly playing from behind or coming out of the gate slow and sluggish. Maybe that's making them clench their sticks a little tighter. This team just doesn't look like its having fun on the ice. So the two main needs for this team is Scoring and an improvement to their Power Play. Dan Boyle & Jagr could help with both of those, Clowe would be a good addition come playoff time.
         
Another few players I see rumors about being dangled out there:

-Jay Bouwmeester
-Derek Roy
-Mike Ribeiro
-Brian Campbell
-Keith Yandle

Bouwmeester is still a soid DMan, and at 29 years old he's in his prime years of hockey. He hasn't put up many big seasons for Calgary like he did in Florida but he's still pretty good at moving the puck. He has a year left on his contract & is set to make 6.6 mill which may be the only reason teams turn away. 

Derek Roy still a very solid forward and good leader. Went to Dallas in the off-season & isn't having such an amazing year. Don't forget this is a guy who put up 81 points back in 07-08 & is a great defensive forward being a plus player for his career. I don't think he finds his scoring touch in the big apple though.

Mike Ribeiro, another off-season acquisition for the Caps is having a pretty darn good season in Washington registering 35 points in 33 games. He's 33 years old can bury the biscuit & brings that edgey play with his game when he needs it also. Not sure if Washington, who is trying to make a playoff run would be willing to give up an asset like him but you never know.

Brian Campbell, hasn't been as big of a name since leaving Chicago but did put up 50+ points last season in Florida. With Florida sinking this season and looking like they will rebuild Campbell may be a player that could catch some teams attention with back end offense struggles. But his 7.1 million dollar contract is a huge hit for a lot of teams, which would make them turn their backs.

Lastly Keith Yandle, a player The Rangers have been rumored to be interested in for well over a season now. Yandle says he'd like to stay with Phoenix but lets face it, he's still one of the most stable back end defenders in the NHL today. I dont know if Phoenix would be shopping him come a week from now but he'd be a great add.

The only question is what would you as a Rangers fan be willing to part with to acquire a valuable player? Marian Gaborik seems to be sinking in New York, Brad Richards is struggling but I don't think he goes anywhere. You also have some young talent in Kreider, Miller, Christian Thomas (AHL), Jasper Fasth (Sweden), Michael Del Zotto. I'm not sure you want to part with any of these players for someone who's going to be a "rental" player. The only player I can see being moved would be Gaborik, who today was demoted to the 4th line in practice but if Sather decides to make a move you cant just let a 40+ goal scorer leave for nothing. I guess we see in the next few days who's names come up, who moves & who stays.

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