The New York Rangers open a three-day West Coast trip today in Anaheim. The Blueshirts face the Kings tomorrow before closing the trip in San Jose against the Sharks, who just acquired Kiefer Sherwood, on Friday. Games have been secondary to the focus on who will be here moving forward and how quickly players will be moved.
Rangers lines vs. Anaheim:
Perreault-Zibanejad-Miller
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafrenière
Othmann-Laba-Cuylle
Raddysh-Carrick-Brodzinski
Gavrikov-Schneider
Robertson-Borgen
Vaakanainen-Morrow
Quick
Martin
Scratches: Rempe, Mackey, Soucy (personal, not listed on roster right now)
IR: Shesterkin (lower-body injury)
LTIR: Edström (lower-body injury), Sheary (lower-body injury), Fox (lower-body injury)
For the next several weeks, at least until February 4 (pre-Olympics freeze) and then March 6 (trade deadline), most of the Rangers’ talk will be on trade rumors. Barring a Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres-like streak, New York will remain on the outside looking in on the playoffs, with part of the focus on the lottery. Unfortunately, this is where the 2025-26 team sits, an abject disappointment.
The Letter 2.0 has put the organization in this position. Most of the chatter over the weekend from the experts centered on who is or may be in play, which teams might have an interest, and possibly cost. Below are just a few examples of those columns and podcasts, which will increase in volume as we inch closer to the deadline and/or players are dealt. New York put itself in this position, and the fanbase.
Vincent Trocheck to the Wild was a rumor prominently mentioned with Charlie Stramel’s name tossed about, same with Danila Yurov, who is likely much more of a long shot but the player I would want. Trocheck will garner a ton of interest due to his contract and productivity, as I noted the other day. His current lack of a no-trade or movement clause bolsters the probability of him being moved.
Elliotte Friedman speculated that the Sharks could be a landing spot for Artemi Panarin. Sherwood cost San Jose a second this year and next year, along with Cole Clayton, who isn’t really a prospect. New York had an offer of a second-rounder plus a young player on the table for Sherwood, as Chris Johnson reported, but it was turned down when Vancouver wanted a first.
The Canucks lowered their price tag and received several offers, with the Sharks adding a solid winger.I wonder if this deal makes it more or less likely that the Sharks pursue Panarin, who I view as a long shot to land there. But imagine Panarin on one side and Macklin Celebrini on the other side of their power play.
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