Updated Trading Block

D Jacob Trouba — $8.0M per year, 4 years left on contract. At 28, don’t see Trouba growing beyond current abilities. Trade value will decline each year. If Trouba is moved, Rangers have defenders in the system who could be called up to fill hole. We would be open to acquiring a Top 4 DEF with salary under $4.00M who has an expiring contract. Rangers can sign a free agent that fits the scheme in offseason. 

LW Chris Kreider — $6.50M salary, 5 years remaining on contract. 31 years old and has reached his potential. Expect a decline in talent. Dumping his salary could allow team to make better offers to K’Andre Miller and Adam Fox after season. Riley Smith can play LW or RW and can fill hole (currently, Smith is riding the bench making $4M).

RW Vitali Kravtsov — Kravtsov has Top 6 potential but looks more like a 3rd-line guy. In 79 games in the 21-22 season, he scored only 29 points (9 G, 20 A). In comparison, 31-year old Riley Smith racked 53 points in 82 games and scored 16 goals with 37 assists last season. Riley Smith can also fill in hole if Kravtsov is traded.

Top players on the trading block from sellers

Arizona Coyotes — D P.K. Subban (87)
Calgary Flames — RD Christopher Tanev (84) > Ducks
Chicago Blackhawks — C Jonathan Toews (85)
Dallas Stars — RD John Klingberg (92) > Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings — C Paul Stastny (84)
LA Kings — RD Justin Schultz (84) > Predators
Minnesota Wild — RD Matt Dumba (86)
Nashville Predators — C Jordan Staal, injured (89)
NY Islanders — RW/LW Connor Brown (86)
San Jose Sharks — C Nick Bonino (88)
Seattle Kraken — RW Joonas Donskoi (84)
Vegas Golden Knights — RD Alex Pietrangelo (86)
Washington Capitals — LD/RD Dmitry Orlov (86)

Rumor Mill

• Red Wings Dylan Larkin, and Paul Stastny have demanded to be traded and want outta dodge
• Washington Capitals star player Tom Wilson is fed up and wants to be traded

Buyers who are also contenders

Boston Bruins (37-19-6) — $1.5M in cap space — No one’s betting on the Burins to make any noise at the trade deadline. They have no players on the block that any team will trade for.

Carolina Hurricanes (37-22-4) — $500K in cap space — Another doubtful dealer. The Hurricanes have a couple of young players on the block with the best-of being playmaker C Ryan Suzuki who was selected in the 1st round of the 2019 draft.

Colorado Avalanche (41-15-8) — A little less than $9.00M in cap space — If Colorado makes a big trade, they are keeping it close to their vest who they might be willing to give up. Their block consists mainly of late round picks. But, they have the most cap space to add a big name.

Florida Panthers (35-25-3) — $2.6M in cap space — Another club without much to offer, but with space to add a player.

Detroit Red Wings (42-17-3) — $800K in cap space — Even though Detroit has little cap space, apparently they are willing to deal several key players. Paul Stastny has demanded a trade.

Tampa Bay Lightning (43-16-5) — $800K in cap space — Not much to get excited about looking at their trade block.

Toronto Maple Leafs (30-20-10) — A little under $5.00M in cap space — Fair amount of cap space but the best-of on their block is RW Martin Kaut (78).