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New York Times
18-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Ottawa's Game 1 lineup vs. Toronto? Where does Zetterlund fit? Senators playoff mailbag
It's our final mailbag of the regular season. Bring on the playoffs. Senators fans are measuring their playoff expectations, but some are also looking to the future with $18 million-plus in cap space this offseason. Plus, questions on Tim Stützle, Fabian Zetterlund, that first-round pick and more. Questions have been condensed and edited for clarity. What are reasonable expectations? Should we be content with making the playoffs and going out in the first round? Thank goodness Buffalo isn't a potential first-round match-up. — Bradley C. Never be satisfied with just getting into the playoffs. If you're in it, you have every right to hope your team can go far and exceed expectations. That being said, I think the Senators are playing with house money. They accomplished their goal of making the playoffs, so anything they get from here on out is a bonus. From top to bottom, the organization has fully embraced being an underdog against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Advertisement I also believe their expectations and hopes would've differed depending on the opponent. If Ottawa drew Florida or Tampa Bay in the first round, we would probably look at it as an opportunity for the Sens to learn lessons against proven Cup-contending teams. But that Battle of Ontario rivalry changes everything. Imagine if the Sens can't handle the Leafs after dominating them in the regular season? I'm not sure how much solace the organization and its fanbase would take in that. While the Leafs are favoured to win, I think Sens fans have every right to be confident. The regular season games matter little, but there are elements from those games that are worth hanging on to. The prime goaltending performances from Linus Ullmark. Shane Pinto neutralizing Auston Matthews earlier this season. Jake Sanderson is the best defenceman on either side. Brady Tkachuk is an X-factor as long as he's healthy. For those wondering after Thursday night, he says he's got 'no issues.' I'll tell you this much: the Senators likely won't be as loose as they were in their 7-5 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. I expect the Senators to commit to a tightened, defensive-minded style against the Leafs. Those factors are enough for me to pick Ottawa to beat Toronto in seven games, even if I'm concerned with their penalty kill and third-pairing on defence (we'll get to that later on). I could be wrong, sure. But the pressure's on the Maple Leafs to get over the hump. It's not on Ottawa. Will Fabian Zetterlund be a regular top-six come the playoffs? — R.F. I think Thursday night's game against the Hurricanes provided a good window into how Zetterlund can be used for the playoffs, even if he doesn't start as a regular top-six forward. Zetterlund began the game on a fourth line with Adam Gaudette and Nick Cousins and he provided an instant impact, even if he didn't get a point. Advertisement That game-opening goal from Gaudette started because of a forecheck by Cousins and Zetterlund, limiting time and space for the Hurricanes defender in front. If it wasn't for Zetterlund being a second man in, the Canes probably use the right-side wall to advance the puck. Instead, they lose the puck in the neutral zone after Gaudette laid a hit on a Canes forward. Cousins then claims possession, regroups briefly before finding Gaudette. A team effort from the Senators' fourth line on that goal. Adam Gaudette makes it look easy. 😏 — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 17, 2025 'He's fast, man,' Gaudette said of Zetterlund Thursday night. 'He gets the pucks real quick. He holds on to them, too. He's hard to knock off the puck. Obviously, he's got a ton of skill as well and he can make a bunch of plays. Having him on your wing is something real nice to have.' But once the Sens eased off the gas pedal and allowed the Hurricanes to get back in the game, the Sens changed their lines. Zetterlund then got bumped up to a line with Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson. In the third period, he used his speed to drive to the net before Batherson finished the play and tied the game midway through the third. Zetterlund ended the game with four shots, with three in the third period. 'Their line was great in the third period,' coach Travis Green said. '(He) gave them a spark.' Batherson finishes an unreal sequence by Zetterlund!! #GoSensGo Cozens also has his second two point night in a row. This line has found instant chemistry. Zetterlund's ability to force turnovers is really standing out. — Everyday Sens (@EverydaySens) April 18, 2025 In Zetterlund, the Sens have a quick-paced, physical presence who can chip in at both ends of the ice and move up and down the lineup. If the Senators need to put him with Tim Stützle, they can do that. Need him on the second line with Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson? He's now shown he can do that. I have him projected on the Senators' fourth line to start the playoffs. But he's proven he can be effective there, too. If the going gets tough and Zetterlund continues to be effective, you have a secret weapon you can deploy at either wing in your lineup. Since we're here, we might as well look at that projected roster. Considering the Senators' relative playoff inexperience, I expect the Sens to lean on as much familiarity as possible. But as evidenced by Thursday night's game, they can make changes to their advantage on the fly. One more thing: Let's look at that third pairing with Tyler Kleven and Nikolas Matinpalo. I know Green was mum about his third pairing when he was asked, but that's at least what I expect to see for Game 1 Sunday. Kleven and Matinpalo are inexperienced compared to Travis Hamonic. But Matinpalo has better mobility with or without the puck and can help with zone entries. That being said, Green has leaned on Hamonic's experience throughout the season. Particularly when injuries have affected their backline. I wouldn't be surprised if he drew into the lineup. But I think Kleven-Matinpalo is the better play here. Advertisement Should we be worried about Stützle's lack of scoring? He had 39 goals in 22/23 and now 39 goals in his last 150 games. I know he's still an elite player, just curious what may be driving that. — Chris Z. If Stützle is playing well defensively and setting up his teammates for points, I think that's fine. As mentioned above to the first question, I think the Sens could still use another player to ease that goalscoring burden off of him. I wouldn't be worried, as he's still a primary point-getter who's just trying to be a great player at both ends of the ice. Just like everyone else, I think he needs to shoot more. He acknowledged that his confidence had much to do with it in recent games. I think his commitment to playing more defence has also played a role in his goal-scoring dip, but he'd still have more goals if he shot the puck more. So, Stützle is still performing like a high-end player. He's just trying to do that at both ends of the ice. Pretend you're Steve Staios. Given the Sens' current position in the standings, do you give up our first-round pick in 2025 or wait until 2026? What factors are most likely to influence your decision? — Matt B. When I asked owner Michael Andlauer about their first-round pick last week, he said he still hoped the NHL would ease up on the punishment doled out in 2023. And while it's Staios' decision, he'd lean toward keeping the first-round pick this year. If the NHL changes its mind (and we don't know if they will), my prediction is the Senators get the last pick of the first round in 2026. That's what happened with the New Jersey Devils and the first-rounder they kept after they were penalized for salary cap circumvention in 2010. At first, I thought about relinquishing the 2025 pick and keeping the 2026 one because of the potential of the draft class. But if the Senators improve again next year, they could get a lower first-round pick. If it all works out, and the Buffalo Sabres don't take a step next year, the Sens' second-round pick could still have some value. I get the logic in keeping the pick and holding out hope the NHL shows mercy. Advertisement With the amount of cap space the Sens are going to have in the next few years ($18 million next year before Claude Giroux signs), can you see them going after a big UFA like a Mitch Marner, Nikolaj Ehlers or Brock Boeser? — Kirk G. I don't see the Senators getting in on the Mitch Marner sweepstakes with teams like Chicago and San Jose prepared to throw the bag at him. Marner might also favour a veritable contending team like the Vegas Golden Knights. They are projected to have $9.6 million available in cap space this summer, but they're always ready to make a move to acquire a guy who fits their team. Brock Boeser? I didn't get the sense that the Senators were interested in him ahead of the trade deadline. So I'm very curious if they revert course. That leaves Nikolaj Ehlers, who's battling a foot injury and is week-to-week for the playoffs. Also, if he doesn't stay in Dallas, would they make a run at Mikael Granlund on an affordable deal? The Claude Giroux question is fascinating. PuckPedia projected Giroux's next contract with an annual average value between $4.85 and $5 million. But does Ottawa want to spend that on a 37-year-old winger? Also, what does Giroux want to do after this season ends? I think we'll need to wait on that. There's also Fabian Zetterlund, who will need a new contract. I think we'll see the Sens do a series of smaller moves instead of one big splash. A winger and a depth defenceman are needed. Also, will the Sens try the trade route again? They did it at the deadline while being close to the cap ceiling. Will they do it again? (Photo of Drake Batherson and Linus Ullmark celebrating Thursday's win over Carolina: Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)
Boston Globe
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
What Brad Marchand said of potentially returning to Bruins in July
'They want to win, they sacrifice, they do what it takes. And so I'm really excited to get out there and compete at that level.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up While Marchand is looking to chase another Stanley Cup this spring, he also reflected on his future this summer. The forward is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Advertisement Could he potentially entertain a return to Boston this summer? 'I mean, I don't know — I guess, is how I would respond,' Marchand said when asked about permanently closing this chapter of his career in Boston. 'I don't know what the future brings in terms of how it plays out in the summertime. I know it didn't come together. Now can things change down the road? Potentially, but that's to be seen. So I am sure we'll have a conversation down the road, but I don't know where that goes. 'So I mean obviously I would still — it doesn't change my love for the city and the will to want to be here has never changed. I don't think that it will ever change. It's just whether we can have a meeting of the minds and kind of come together, but it's to be seen.' For all of the reported contract strife between the Bruins and Marchand that eventually led to his departure, Marchand Advertisement He echoed those similar sentiments again on Tuesday, stressing that Don Sweeney and the team's management had to make the proper call in order to fuel their ongoing retool. 'I'm not going to get into the details on everything, but they tried to do what was best for the team and also give me an opportunity to stay if I wanted to. … I think they were at a crossroads as well where they wanted to do right by me and also had to make sure that they do their jobs and do it in the best interest of the group.' While Marchand's focus is to max out of the remainder of his years in the NHL, he acknowledged that the Bruins likely aren't on the same timeline — especially after overhauling a significant portion of their roster. 'I want to win. I'm a competitor and the guys in that office are competitors and they want to win and they're not going to go down the path of building losing teams. So they are doing what they feel is right to build for a bright future when they have a young core and you can't get upset about those things. 'I would've loved and it would've been incredible to have that fairytale ending, but they're doing what's right for the guys in the room. They can't choose one guy over the 20 guys and frankly, the millions of people that support the team. You owe it to the guys that are on term here that are young and the guys that just signed with the organization to build a Cup-contending team. … So it's not a personal thing. I never let it get personal.' Advertisement Marchand again brushed aside talk of donning a black-and-gold sweater once again in July. 'You can't waste a day,' Marchand said. 'I learned that very the hard way a couple years ago when we had the best season ever and we just thought we were going to be in the finals. And you waste the day, you start looking ahead, you start worrying about things that are not in your immediate future. 'It can pull you away from what you need to do to accomplish the goal here and now. So I'm not going to think about that. I'm not going to worry about it until the time comes. … I can't even think about what's going to happen down the road.' Conor Ryan can be reached at
New York Times
03-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What I'm hearing about the Jets ahead of the trade deadline: Joel Armia and other depth options
Kevin Cheveldayoff's best trades have often been untelegraphed. The best team in Winnipeg Jets history — the one that made the 2018 Western Conference final — picked Paul Stastny seemingly out of nowhere, adding a contention-worthy No. 2 centre no one seemed to think was available. Nino Niederreiter was not the subject of trade rumours in 2023, either, and contract extensions for him and Vladislav Namestnikov have given Winnipeg great value for their trades. Advertisement If you're a Jets fan hoping for Winnipeg to land a big fish, it's Cheveldayoff's element of surprise that you're leaning on now. The Jets are the top team in the NHL. They project to have $12 million in cap space by Friday's deadline. They could use an upgrade to Namestnikov at second-line centre. They could really use a veteran defenceman who makes a good first pass after winning his battles, tying up sticks and controlling the middle of the ice in their zone — including on the penalty kill. Based on what I've heard about the Jets at the deadline so far, it's looking like getting big names to fill those spots is a difficult task. Want Brayden Schenn? The Blues just climbed to within a point of a playoff spot. Brock Nelson has a 16-team no-trade clause and the New York Islanders are still five points outside the playoffs in the East. Winnipeg could help force their hand with a Tuesday win, but for now, it seems the Islanders are still holding on. In Nashville, Barry Trotz is treating Ryan O'Reilly as though he has a no-trade clause; the extra two years on his contract could make Winnipeg a tough sell after Nashville's warmth and low taxes. Prices appear to be high. The Predators need to retain O'Reilly — or get a great package for him — if they're serious about winning with Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and their other high-priced talent. Even secondary players, like Scott Laughton — who told me this weekend that his 'Last Supper' photo at 529 Wellington was just a little bit of fun — are commanding high prices. (If Laughton could be had for less than a first-round pick, he would have been moved by now.) I'd expect Winnipeg to take care of in-house business this week before moving on to make other additions. As of Monday morning, I believe the odds favour depth acquisitions: perhaps Joel Armia on the wing or Carson Soucy on defence. Advertisement What are some other realistic possibilities for the Cup-contending Jets? Here's what I've been hearing. This one's out there. Pierre LeBrun reported Winnipeg's interest in Armia earlier this week and the more I think about it, the more I like Armia relative to the various depth options I've heard connected to Winnipeg. He's a superior player to Brandon Tanev, who I expect Winnipeg has also checked in on with Seattle. I'm not sure Winnipeg should spend extra assets to add someone like Jake Evans to an Armia deal, as per Montreal's wishes, but I understand Winnipeg's desire to add PK help. I'm reminded of reclaiming Mason Appleton in 2022, although I'm unsure as to whether the similarities extend beyond familiarity with the player. The Jets wanted to bring Appleton back 'no matter what' as per Cheveldayoff and were going to make that trade regardless of what happened with pending UFAs Stastny or Andrew Copp. They believed in Appleton with Adam Lowry and signed him — at that time, a restricted free agent — in the offseason. I'm not sure if Appleton is on track to sign a mid-season extension or not but fully expect Winnipeg to try to sign him before July 1. GO DEEPER NHL rumblings: Lamoriello talks trade-deadline plans, plus latest on Flyers, Ryan O'Reilly, more Appleton's best hockey has been in Winnipeg. I have strong memories of him gluing himself to Lowry's side at Jets camp in 2021, working on drills together after practice, and I think that commitment played a big role in his emergence as a go-to third-line option. Winnipeg is going to want to keep the pending UFA beyond this summer. He'd have a case to earn somewhere between Lowry's $3.25 million and Nino Niederreiter's $4.0 million, though. If he's game to sign, I wonder if it means Winnipeg loses a player like Alex Iafallo. Advertisement Iafallo has had the impact of a third-line player while playing on the fourth line — ideal from a 'depth wins' point of view, though not the most effective use of a $4.0 million cap hit. He's also been one of Winnipeg's better penalty killers and usually plays with Lowry on Winnipeg's top PK unit. Take a moment to consider Iafallo, Niederreiter, Namestnikov and Appleton: four of Winnipeg's most recent middle-six forward acquisitions. All of them are 'no cheat' players in that they don't cheat a forecheck, backcheck or battle. When the playoffs get tough, the middle of the ice can be difficult to get to from both ends of the rink. I think Winnipeg would love to add one more player to this group of battlers and retain its own — if the cap hit is right. Cap hit is a typical counterargument to 'Winnipeg should keep Appleton and Iafallo.' They're both a lot more palatable at Namestnikov money ($3.0 million) than if they make the $4.0 million Iafallo and Niederreiter do now. The other counterargument is someone has to make room for Brad Lambert or Nikita Chibrikov next season. That's true, too, but I suspect that room comes from the absence of a much more impactful forward. Keep Nikolaj Ehlers for the playoff run and the Jets risk losing him as a free agent this summer. Trade him now and you remove a big piece of the NHL's top power play and Winnipeg's second line. I think the Jets would trade Ehlers for a lesser version of himself with more of a playoff track record. I don't think they view him as the guy when the chips are down. I know they've explored Ehlers trades in the past — clearly never to their satisfaction because they do value his contributions — and I think they'd listen to offers at this deadline, too. The problem is that Winnipeg wasn't satisfied by the offers it got when Ehlers had multiple years left on his contract. His value won't be higher now that he's a pending free agent, while a pre-deadline sign-and-trade seems beyond the realm of reasonable expectation. Could you add to Ehlers to go big-game hunting? Would Carolina be a fit if the Hurricanes are unable to sign Mikko Rantanen but think they have a better chance with Ehlers? That kind of speculation goes beyond the purpose of this piece. I don't have certainty on what Ehlers' future holds. I think Winnipeg's odds of extending him are better now than they were last year. I just think the risk of him walking as a UFA is substantial. And I think the uncertainty keeps Cheveldayoff up at night. Advertisement In the meantime, I think the Jets will lean on existing chemistry and retain Ehlers through the deadline, despite the risks. I think we might — might — see a Neal Pionk extension before the trade deadline. Pionk has bought in on Winnipeg and the feeling from the organization is mutual. He's also on pace for a career season while playing big minutes with fellow Hermantown Hawks alumnus Dylan Samberg. The duo has been a big part of the Jets' success and both defencemen are part of Winnipeg's long-term plans. Pionk's contract is the more urgent of the two. I think the Jets want clarity on his cap hit before the trade deadline, particularly as they're shopping for players with term. By this point in the season, Cheveldayoff should have a rough sense of Pionk's price, but cost certainty would help if the Jets are to make major deadline moves. Samberg is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights whose next deal can be handled later in the offseason. Both players view Winnipeg as a great place to live and play. Here's what Pionk told The Athletic before the season began: 'I would love to play here. I would love to win here. I'm going into my sixth season now. Our daughter was born here. We have a house here. It's six and a half hours away from home for both of us. Our parents come up all the time. Our friends and family come up all the time. We feel like we're home here.' What will it cost, and will the 29-year-old Pionk live up to the billing? If Pionk gets the same 7.21 percent of the cap he signed for in 2021, his next contract will carry an AAV of $6.9 million. That strikes me as fair value for Pionk's current contributions, although it would be convenient for the Jets if they managed to assert Josh Morrissey's $6.25 million as an internal cap. Advertisement I expect Pionk's interest in Winnipeg is long term — perhaps five to seven years — and that's where an element of risk comes in. Pionk will play through anything, including a broken foot, and has struggled when a lack of mobility has taken away his ability to play tight, physical gaps. This impacts his defensive performance and his offence, too — he hit a level of point production in the two seasons before his current $5.875 million AAV contract that he couldn't match until this season, four years later. There is also the concern that Pionk's shot share dropped precipitously when Samberg was hurt. He was unable to carry Haydn Fleury or Logan Stanley to the same level of success he enjoyed with Samberg. That's an admittedly tall task, but it reminds us that Pionk's best work has come alongside his Minnesotan friend. Samberg deserves credit for his part in the pair's success — and should be seen as more foundational than Pionk, in my opinion. If Pionk gets paid extra for his point production, the Jets may save some money on Samberg's deal. The younger defenceman is on pace for roughly 20 points, which shouldn't be enough to justify an enormous contract despite his excellent defence. Jaccob Slavin's next Carolina Hurricanes contract comes with a $6.4 million cap hit and Slavin is the NHL's standard bearer for Samberg's defensive archetype. The Jets will place value on Pionk's mentorship to Samberg and Winnipeg's other young players. Pionk is influential and respected in Winnipeg's dressing room. He was one of the players chosen to wear an 'A' when captain Adam Lowry missed eight games with an upper-body injury. That wasn't by accident: He's a trusted voice by teammates and coaches alike. Vibes alone do not make a contending team, but I think the Jets are as bought in on Pionk as he is on them. I'd be shocked if the Jets don't add a defenceman between now and Friday's deadline. A deep playoff run requires it. Winnipeg also has fresh memories of getting beaten to pucks in the slot against Colorado last year and could use an upgrade. Assuming there's no star arriving to play alongside Morrissey on the top pair, I expect Winnipeg to add muscle further down the depth chart. Watching Rasmus Ristolainen play for Philadelphia is a treat compared to his Buffalo days. He scans the ice better in his own zone. He doesn't chase hits for the sake of hits. On Saturday in Winnipeg, he was a force in the centre slot, tying up sticks and boxing out Jets in a way one imagines could translate directly to the Jets PK. He's probably more expensive asset-wise than Winnipeg wants to pay, although the extra two years on his deal would justify some of that cost. Carson Soucy is the name I keep circling back to. The big, left-shooting defenceman played on the same University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs team as Pionk, Iafallo and Dominic Toninato. Soucy has a no-trade clause and Vancouver has a fighting shot at a playoff spot, but his minutes have taken a big hit since the Canucks added Marcus Pettersson. His closeness with multiple current Jets eases the NTC concerns, and he would be an upgrade on Stanley on the Jets' third pair. (Top photo of Logan Stanley and Joel Armia: David Kirouac / Imagn Images)
New York Times
11-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What we know and what we think about the Rangers at the 4 Nations Face-Off break
The Rangers have been in the spotlight all season long, mostly for the wrong reasons. The Jacob Trouba drama that ended with the captain being traded on Dec. 6, the same day that Igor Shesterkin signed an eight-year extension. Former No. 2 pick Kaapo Kakko being traded 12 days later. J.T. Miller, the object of GM Chris Drury's desire for three-plus seasons, finally returning to the Rangers 11 days ago, with Filip Chytil part of the return to Vancouver. Advertisement Amid the roster turmoil, an epically awful 4-15-0 slide through December, followed by an 8-1-3 run in January that led into a decidedly mediocre 3-4-0 record heading into the 4 Nations break. It's been exhausting and clearly Drury is not finished remodeling. The Rangers are 4 points out of the second wild-card spot — not exactly cooked, but the oven is definitely preheating. Their inconsistency, especially from some mainstays, makes the month ahead of the March 7 trade deadline very intriguing for this team. Let's sort out some of the facts, some things we've heard and some we're wondering about as the two-week break begins: What we know: There will be a market for three of the Rangers' pending UFAs: Ryan Lindgren, Reilly Smith and Jimmy Vesey should draw varying levels of interest and varying quality of trade offers, but if the appetite is there to bank some assets rather than use these three for a playoff push, Drury will have a chance to sell. Lindgren would bring back the biggest return. Despite a down season that was rocky from the start when he broke his jaw in a preseason fight and missed the first five games, Lindgren is still an attractive player to a lot of teams who could do with a blood-and-guts type player in the middle of their defense corps for a playoff run. And plugging Lindgren into a Cup-contending group would likely mean fewer minutes than he's been logging as a Ranger, where the team's spotty defending has exposed him a bit this season. Smith and Vesey are likely worth mid-round picks, where Lindgren could bring back the kind of return that could restock the Rangers' draft coffers. They have no second-round picks until the 2028 draft and no first-rounder either this year or next from the Miller deal. Drury will wait until closer to March 7 to make a call on all three players. The Rangers have seven games before the deadline to decide whether to sell, keep or even buy. Advertisement What we think: That all three of these players will be elsewhere on March 8. If James Dolan and Drury think that going partway into this remodel, stopping after a few wins and going for a wild-card spot is the smart play, that would be quite a surprise. Given how Drury has gone about making his changes (brusquely, let's say) and how the team has played the last two months (erratically, let's say), there's zero reason to stop now. Especially if none of these three are in their plans for next season. We excluded Jonathan Quick because he's earned the right to call his shot if this is indeed his final playing season. But Vesey has already expressed a desire to play after sitting for nearly a month and Lindgren appears headed for free agency. Why hold here? Hard to predict where Vesey and Smith will end up, but we'll call Lindgren to Dallas, where the Stars have some injury issues on the left side of their defense. What we know: The Rangers may very well add before March 7 — and not simply because ownership has decided the pursuit of a playoff spot is the No. 1 goal of this bumpy season. Drury has not won many free-agency summers and his methods aren't exactly genteel, but his trading track record is superb, which could mean he's following on the Miller trade and targeting some players in the next month who aren't just here for short-term help. The Bruins, muddling along in the same vicinity as the Rangers, have a couple of UFA forwards who might fit the Drury mode: Trent Frederic and Justin Brazeau. Neither would be earth-shaking additions (though the prices are still higher than you'd like), but that's two sizable players with some skill to provide depth behind the new-look Rangers top six. The Rangers are short on draft capital, so acquiring one of those Bruins would mean either trading Lindgren (and Smith) first and flipping some picks or parting with a prospect. If the Rangers were willing to let Brennan Othmann go, they might even convince the Bruins to take Chris Kreider since surely Boston is a place Kreider doesn't have on his 15-team no-trade list. Advertisement Drury has already been a seller and buyer this season. He might do both again before the deadline. What we think: If we hadn't already seen how desperate the Rangers are to renovate on the fly, we'd probably dismiss the idea of the Rangers acquiring players to get ahead of free agency. But Will Borgen turned into a pretty decent piece coming back for Kakko, so it makes some sense to believe that Drury isn't just thinking of selling before the deadline. It may not be either of those Bruins forwards. There could be players out there with some term who might be worth acquiring — if the Rangers move Lindgren they don't have a left-shot defenseman waiting in the wings to take his spot — and we're thinking that Drury might go for it, even if 'going for it' in this case doesn't mean mortgaging assets for a playoff berth. What we know: If the Rangers are going to have a chance at the playoffs, they're going to need more from their veteran forwards. Kreider is collecting points at his lowest pace since he played 23 games in 2012-13 and has yet to have a primary assist this season. Vincent Trocheck's game has taken a dip from his strong 2023-24 campaign, and coach Peter Laviolette has slashed Mika Zibanejad's ice time to the lowest it has been since 2017-18. The Swedish center put together a strong stretch going into the 4 Nations break, so that's encouraging for both him and the Rangers. But the veterans have not played close to their expectations. Even Artemi Panarin, still an offensive force, has seen a decrease in production. The team's core veterans are largely why the Rangers are in a hole when it comes to playoff chances. If New York can pull out of it, the same players will have to be the reason why. What we think: The Miller trade could end up being a win-win for both clubs. Miller has injected both skill and jam into the Rangers' lineup, and New York can go into next season with him penciled in at the ever-important No. 1 center spot. That level of player, though, was likely not going to re-emerge in Vancouver, at least in the current iteration of the roster. By the end, he seemed in need of a new beginning — as did the Canucks, who are 3-0-1 since the trade. Advertisement In return for Miller, Erik Brännström and college defenseman Jackson Dorrington, the Canucks got Chytil, Victor Mancini and a protected first-round pick. They flipped that first-round pick in a package for Marcus Pettersson and Drew O'Connor. Vancouver extended Pettersson, a top-four defenseman, shortly after acquiring him. Chytil is averaging 18:40 of ice time and has 3 points in four games since the trade. Health will always be a question, but he looks like a good fit there. The team giving up the best player rarely wins a trade, but considering the Miller situation seemed to have reached an untenable stage, acquiring a top-four defenseman, middle-six center, defensive prospect and depth forward in O'Connor is a pretty solid return. Both teams could end up happy from this deal, especially if Chytil stays healthy and Miller ages well while the Rangers hope to contend in the next few years. What we think: Gabe Perreault will make his NHL debut this season. The 19-year-old has 35 points in 26 college games at Boston College and will almost certainly sign a pro deal after the season. The latest Boston College's season could go is April 12, the day of the NCAA championship. That means the Rangers will have a minimum of two games (April 14 and 17) after Perreault wraps up with the Eagles. It would make sense to get him in a game then, though if the Rangers are still fighting for a playoff spot, it could change the equation — it also likely means burning a year off his entry-level deal to do so, as that's how many top prospects approach signing contracts. Whether the Rangers are in the playoff chase or out of it by then, it would still be worth welcoming Perreault into the fold to get a look. (Top photo of Vincent Trocheck: Danny Wild / Imagn Images)
