In the written edition of his “32 Thoughts” blog Tuesday night, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet expanded on a report yesterday from Josh Yohe of The Athletic that the Canucks turned down a one-for-one trade proposal from the Rangers that would have seen the clubs swap struggling top-six fixtures J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad.
Friedman “believe[s] he’s correct — with some semantics.” Those Miller-for-Zibanejad rumors, which started when the former took a brief leave of absence from Vancouver for personal reasons, were vehemently shut down by New York. At the same time, Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford quickly said that his team wasn’t interested in trading Miller, at least not while he was still on leave.
Fast forward to today, and all indications point to Miller and star pivot Elias Pettersson at least entering trade conversations amid speculative reports of a locker-room clash between the pair. But, as Friedman wrote, the Rangers didn’t quite come as close to landing their desired swap as it may have seemed at first glance.
Friedman doesn’t believe that Zibanejad, who has a no-move clause, “was ever approached” by Rangers management about accepting a move to Vancouver. There were likely other moving parts in the framework of the deal being discussed, namely up-and-coming Blueshirts defender Braden Schneider, that New York wasn’t willing to move to make happen. Friedman adds this is the second time the Rangers have rejected an attempt from the Canucks to acquire Schneider, now in his fourth NHL season after being selected 19th overall in 2020.
There’s more from Friedman on the Rangers’ trade plans leading up to the deadline:
- Should they enter an aggressive sell-off mode, New York’s highest-value trade asset would be center Vincent Trocheck. He’s having a more productive season offensively than Zibanejad, albeit slightly, with a still-disappointing 27 points in 40 games. Like Zibanejad, he carries a no-movement clause but costs a far more affordable $5.625MM against the cap through 2029 than Zibanejad’s $8.5MM cap hit through 2030. Nonetheless, Rangers general manager Chris Drury won’t entertain the idea of trading him, Friedman reports, going so far as to suggest he could be Jacob Trouba’s successor to the captaincy after the latter was traded to the Ducks last month.
- One player definitely on the block for the Rangers is defenseman Zac Jones, who Friedman reports the Rangers have permitted to speak to other teams about a longer-term fit. The pending restricted free agent was expected to land a more prominent role this season with Erik Gustafsson out the door in free agency, but he’s still been a healthy scratch for a good portion of the campaign – suiting up in 26 of the Blueshirts’ 40 games. Jones, 24, has a goal and seven assists for eight points with a plus-two rating, ranking second among Rangers defenders behind Schneider’s plus-six. He’s averaging a career-high 16:42 per game when dressed, seeing expanded power-play usage but posting mediocre possession numbers.
Vancouver Canucks & New York Rangers are 2 organizations with lots of drama.
There is definitely going to be some interesting pieces being moved by both teams. But the 2 players (one from each team) I’m curious to see what happens to is if Brock Boeser (VAN) & Will Cuylle (NYR) will be made possibly available at the trade deadline. If so, contending teams are going to be going hard for these 2 players at the trade deadline.
Cuyle will not be available. Boeser will be. I can see the Rangers trying to send Mika with a prospect for JT and than in off season try to sign Rantanan
Cuyle, if anything is moving up the lines. Mika isn’t going anywhere. He’ll invoke that no trade clause – loves NY. He’s better suited for second line work, just happens to be paid as a first line center.
Mikko Rantanan isn’t likely going anywhere as Colorado is going to workout in moving players like Valeri Nichushkin, Josh Manson, & such to create cap space.
if Rantanan did become available, I don’t think the Rangers will be at the top of his list for destinations.
Also, Mika Zibanejad isn’t moving. He really controls his choice of destination. The Rangers are stuck with him having a full no trade clause.
Zibanejad I agree isn’t going anywhere but the reality is he’s on the decline. When a player’s 5v5 production is regressing, that’s typically the beginning of the end for a player as his prime years have arguably have passed him by at this point in his career.
Zibanejad‘s contract is a bad one for the Rangers.
The Hockey Guy on YT was musing on a Miller-for-Zibanejad swap.
How is Miller a “struggling top 6” player? He is literally a top line C scoring a point per game.
The fact that he’s only on pace for 22 goals over 82 games after hitting 30+ the past three years, tossed in with the fact that a point-per-game is a pretty decent reduction from his 103 points last year, and I’d say he’s performed below expectations this season.
The players totally dislike Drury and have NO trust in him.Its time to FIRE DRURY NOW
And why would they dislike him? Proof of this? He’s literally the guy who has been handing out their large contracts.
Because biting the hand that feeds you is popular in NYC!
Maybe not “proof” but there has been endless reporting of the players having a near mutiny, with team meetings, etc. about the way they have been treated by upper management. Probably means that every Ranger fan’s worst dream has been realized and somebody woke up Dolan and told him he had a hockey team.
The players were apparently upset about how Trouba and Goodrow were treated by the front office.
The Atlantic had a great article about it a few weeks ago, apparently really invasive and annoying micromanaging by the front office with everybody from players to trainers, off ice personnel, etc.
The Dolan Disease lol.
Another buffoon son of a billionaire, he should stick to playing in his awful cover band.
(if you google it, cover your ears lol)
Happy John Ferguson Day.NYR
If you saw the way Trouba played in the playoffs and the money he’s paid, and the way they needed to move Goodrow to pay others the contracts they wanted in the locker room, you’d be upset the way the players are treating management with this years record.
Not a Drury fan, but it’s not his fault if players are upset that they can’t conduct themselves professionally on the ice. Don’t see them complaining about their contracts. Trouba basically crapped the bed a couple of times in the playoffs and cost the team a couple of games with poor play and bad decisions at critical moments. Coach needs to be evaluated if he can’t correct the ship.
Rangers are scum Vancouver should stay away from them.