December 14, 2024 | 11:24pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

RANGERS LOOKING TO MAKE MORE TRADES

Ryan Lindgren, defenceman

The New York Rangers continue to struggle, losing four of their last six games after a 5-1 loss Saturday afternoon to the Los Angeles Kings.

Having already traded their captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 6, the Rangers have yet to gain any ground and currently sit outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, behind the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers for the final wildcard slot in the East, currently held by Ottawa.

Following today’s loss, word started to spread that the Rangers have put up the ‘for sale’ sign on just about everyone and GM Chris Drury is willing to listen to all calls.

During the “Saturday Headlines” segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Elliotte Friedman reported the “Rangers are open for business” and outside of goalie Igor Shesterkin and those with a no-movement clause – forwards Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck and defenceman Adam Fox – everyone else seems to be in play.

“I think they’re willing to consider all options,” Friedman said. “They want to hear ideas people have and they’re listening to what could be out there for them.”

The Rangers have already made forwards Chris Kreider and Kaapo Kakko available, while sources have told TFP there are clubs interested in defenceman Ryan Lindgren, who is in the final year of his contract.

Reilly Smith, whom the Rangers acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the off-season, is in the final year of his contract and is also believed to be available for trade.

Drury is trying to shake up his roster by adding some extra fire power up front and he created an extra $6.9 million in cap space when he traded Trouba to the Ducks. The Rangers have flexibility to add to their cap, but it seems like the team is evaluating bolder moves that may include additional core players.

Kreider, 33, owns a 15-team no-trade list and has two more years left on his contract after this season. He has a $6.5 million salary cap hit.

Zibanejad, 31, has five more seasons left on his contract, but his name has started to pop up in trade speculation, despite his full NMC.

It is unclear, at this point, when the Rangers plan on pulling the trigger on another move, but the team is feverishly scouring the market. The holiday roster freeze comes in effect Dec. 20 at midnight local time (per market) and runs through 12:01am (local time) on Dec. 28.