New York Rangers possible trade targets to upgrade right wing position
If there was one positional need heading into 2023-24 for the New York Rangers, it was at right wing.
The Blueshirts lost both their top six right wingers in Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane in free agency, and a lack of cap space led General Manager Chris Drury to shop the bargain aisle on July 1.
The low-risk, high-reward signing of Blake Wheeler has been so-so at best, as the 37-year-old has been elevated to the top line more out of necessity than production.
Alexis Lafreniere, a natural left wing, shifted to the right side to fill a need and to allow him more ice time. He’s been a revelation and is playing the best hockey of his career with 14 points in 22 games playing opposite Artemi Panarin.
Kaapo Kakko, meanwhile, started the season on the top line before being demoted for Wheeler. And while the production wasn’t there, the underlying numbers were positive before a leg injury last month sent the winger to long-term injured reserve.
While New York is off to its best start in franchise history, there’s certainly a need for Drury to upgrade on the right wing, namely on the top line. So who is out there to target?
New York Rangers RW Targets
Vladimir Tarasenko
Reports over the summer indicated both sides — especially from the player — were open to continuing the relationship after Tarasenko arrived from St. Louis in March. The numbers didn’t match up and the 31-year-old landed a one-year, $5M contract with Ottawa.
Things in Canada’s capitol haven’t gone according to plan with the Senators currently in last place in the Eastern Conference (though they’ve played the fewest games in the NHL).
Tarasenko hasn’t lit the world on fire with just three goals, but he does have 14 points in 19 games. A reunion in New York seems plausible, especially after the success he had last year alongside Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.
He had 21 points in 31 regular season games before adding three goals against the Devils in the postseason.
