Rangers Trade Deadline Moves

• Traded LW Barclay Woodrow and a 2023-3rd Round Pick to the Buffalo Sabres for defenseman Lawrence Pilut and a 2023-4th Round Pick.
• Claimed LW Zach Aston-Reese off waivers from Toronto Maple Leafs.

Arizona makes top Trade Deadline transaction

C/RW Nick Bjugstad’s time on Arizona didn’t last a full season after being traded to the Avalanche along with D Troy Stecher and a 2024 3rd-Round pick. In return, the Coyotes received the top-player traded at the deadline, 27-year old LW Arthur Lehkonen (OVR 87). Lehkonen spent two seasons with the Avalanche and registered 34 points, 18 goals, and 15 assists over 74 games.

All Trade Deadline moves

Bjugstad, a 12-year veteran, scored 28 points, 10 goals, 18 assists in 62 games with the Coyotes this season. Bjugstad’s is on an expiring contract, while Lekhonen will be a fixture (5-yrs, $3.12M per) in Arizona for years to come.

Colorado entered the trade deadline in 5th place in the West with 70 points. Arizona sits in 13th-place in the West, 12 points from 8th-place.

Philadelphia shows seriousness at Deadline

Philadelphia made the boldest moves at improving their team at the Deadline. The Flyers, who entered the day in 5th-place in the East, acquired two solid veterans from the Los Angeles Kings: LW Alex Iafallo, and D Alexander Elder. The Flyers sent a big package to Los Angeles: C Tyson Foerster, 2023-3rd Rd Pick, and D Ronnie Attard (both are young prospects with Elite potential).

Iafallo, a 2-way forward, scored 33 points in 63 games for the struggling Kings (12th-place, 8 points behind 9th-place St. Louis). 36-year old Elder is a minus-9 in 46 games and is sidelined with post concussion syndrome but expected to return by March 28.

New York Rangers Trade Status

The Rangers have all the pieces to make it to the Stanley Cup. So, the question is not how can they improve at the Trade Deadline, but how can they make sure they’ll have the cap space to lock up their young stars long term?

Winger Alexis Lafreniere, defenseman K’Andre Miller, and center Filip Chytil are the top three RFAs with expiring contracts. Combined, their salary requests total $17.5M — leaving the Rangers with under $1M of cap space remaining for free agent signings and extension offers. 

POSSIBLE MOVES 

Ryan Reaves, 36, OVR 78, 4th Line FWD
Reaves has racked up 58 penalty minutes this season and the Rangers are ranked 14th on the Penalty Kill. Reaves wants to explore free agency.

Bradley Goodrow, 30, OVR 83, 3rd Checking Line
Goodrow is a good player, but as the salary demands of better players grows, Goodrow’s contract seems like a bad deal at over $3.6M per season for the next 5 years.