New York Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck, center, celebrates with teammates Ryan Lindgren (55) and Artemi Panarin (10) after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
A solid NHL trade deadline for general manager Chris Drury will only solidify the New York Rangers’ standing as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
The Blueshirts are already among the NHL’s elite, coming off a franchise-record-tying 10-game win streak to help open up a five-point lead at the top of the Metropolitan Division. They are just one point back of both the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins for the most points in the Eastern Conference as of Wednesday morning.
Igor Shesterkin is back to his elite level and Jonathan Quick’s renaissance has created one of the top goaltending duos in the entire league. Artemi Panarin is in the midst of a career season, so is Vincent Trocheck. Chris Kreider is on the precipice of a third-straight 30-goal season and Mika Zibanejad is flirting with a point-per-game pace.
They’re the real deal, but one or two moves by Drury before the March 8 trade deadline positions them even better for a playoff run.
What do the Rangers need?
New York’s two most glaring needs are actually up front in the form of a top-line right-winger and a third-line center.
This stems from the season-ending injuries suffered by center Filip Chytil and winger Blake Wheeler along with the waiving and subsequent release of Nick Bonino.
The Rangers are giving 2019 No. 2 overall pick Kaapo Kakko a look on the top line in the interim, which provides him a golden opportunity to prove his mettle. The numbers, however, don’t suggest much working alongside Kreider and Zibanejad as he entered Wednesday night’s play with just seven goals and four assists (11 points) in 38 games.
Veteran Jonny Brodzinski, with four goals and 11 helpers this season, has stepped in as the…
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