Aside from a center, the Rangers need for a 1LD will be at the top of their priority list this offseason. With a new coach seemingly imminent, we will start to see Chris Drury pivot to locking up restricted free agents and gauging the trade waters to start his roster planning. Given the state of free agency, it’s likely the Rangers need for a 1LD will be filled via trade, and there aren’t that many options.
The Rangers need for a 1LD doesn’t need to be from a star
If there’s anything we’ve learned from the last few years, it’s Adam Fox can make anyone better. Despite dragging around the corpse of Ryan Lindgren for most of this season, Fox’s possession metrics were still elite and he’s a top-three defenseman in the league. The Rangers don’t need a star to play with him, they just need the right player.
No matter who the new coach is, all NHL teams look to press at the blue line and force a dump-in. Teams rarely cede the blue line, as that also means ceding the neutral zone and allowing teams to gain the zone with speed. Given Fox’s ability to retrieve the puck and start zone exits, the ideal partner for him is someone who can skate and is adept at preventing zone entries.
Funny enough, the Rangers need for a 1LD would be nonexistent if Carson Soucy could skate. He’s very good at limiting zone entries, which is why he and Fox had strong possession numbers in limited minutes with the Rangers, as noted by Will. But Soucy is unfortunately a bad skater at this point in his career. While his niche is a good fit with Fox, the Rangers need more from a player projected to play 20+ minutes a night.
Someone I’d like to see Chris Drury target is Olen Zellweger in Anaheim. Zellweger is very good, but with Jackson Lacombe emerging, has seen his ice time diminish and has somehow been a healthy scratch. He’s young and fits a need on LD. He’s not your prototypical 1LD that you’d expect, but again, the Rangers just need someone who can skate and is a viable partner for Fox.
Aside: The Soucy data tracking chart above was provided to me by Hope. I’m pending my own access to add other similar micro-stat charts.
Acquiring a guy like Zellweger, who is young and cost controlled with a high ceiling, is a different path to fill the Rangers need for a 1LD. It would give present the opportunity for K’Andre Miller to play 1LD with Fox, a pairing that was holding a 60% possession rate in October before being broken up by Peter Laviolette.
Dylan Samberg in Winnipeg is the ideal player to play with Fox and fill the Rangers need for a 1LD, but I can’t imagine Winnipeg parting with him since they have $25 million in cap space and only Samberg, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Gabe Villardi to re-sign. Perhaps there’s a match if Winnipeg loses early in the playoffs, but I doubt it.
While Samberg is probably unrealistic, Minnesota may dangle Jonas Brodin for some more depth up front. Minnesota is well built, but their lack of scoring depth is evident in their series against Vegas. With Jake Middleton’s extension kicking in and Zeev Buium under contract, Brodin would bring in much needed scoring depth. Perhaps in the form of Chris Kreider? Like Samberg, I can’t see Brodin actually being available, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that I know nothing, Jon Snow.
But there may be some stars available
While it’s likely the Rangers need for a 1LD is filled by a non-star player, one who simply fits the bill as a zone entry preventer who can skate, there may be a star or two that becomes available. Boston is a team to keep an eye on, as there’s still a chance they blow it all up and enter a full rebuild. Charlie McAvoy is the name to look out for, but it’s highly improbable, especially since he’s Mike Sullivan’s son in law. Plus if Boston moves McAvoy, it probably wouldn’t be to the Rangers.
Another guy who is highly unlikely to be available, but someone to watch, is Roman Josi in Nashville. Like Boston, it’s unclear what path Nashville is taking and whether they want to tear it down. If they do, Josi would be their best chip for a quick turnaround.
Of all the stars that fit the Rangers need for a 1LD, the least “pipe dreamy” of these is Thomas Chabot in Ottawa. Chabot is excellent, fits a big need for the Rangers, and is now the 2LD in Ottawa to Jake Sanderson. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and though this is also highly unrealistic, Chabot would be the most realistic of the pipe dreams, if that makes sense.
Be prepared for tons of rumors that don’t make sense
As the Rangers need for a 1LD takes center stage, expect endless rumors regarding the Rangers. Any big name that hits the market will be linked to the Rangers, whether it makes sense or not. The Rangers are always tied to every free agent available, and there aren’t many defensemen available that fits what the Rangers need.
The Rangers have some solid trade chips, but it’s all about who becomes available and what that fit is. As mentioned above, Soucy would be a better fit if he were a better skater, so there are tons of names we simply aren’t looking at because we aren’t at that level of analysis. A guy that can skate, defend zone entries, and play 18-20 minutes a night fits their needs. It doesn’t need to be a star, but it does need to be the right trade fit as well.
The Rangers need for a 1LD won’t be filled quickly, ditto their need for a center. We may not even see anything materialize until July. As always, patience is a virtue.
