For the first time in NHL history, the marketed exciting offseason like no other has finally come to fruition. In the last three days, we’ve seen top line players shifted around the NHL, but there are no Rangers trades yet. Chris Drury has been oddly silent, though that doesn’t mean he isn’t working the phones. Though it’s nice to see the promise of an exciting offseason after years of promises, it’s hard to watch trades go down without the Rangers making any significant moves. But sometimes, the trade you don’t make is the best trade to make.
No Rangers trades yet
The big story right now, at least on Broadway, is there are no Rangers trades yet. Vincent Trocheck is linked to Buffalo, and that looks like it will happen before the 2026 NHL Draft, but when and the return remains a mystery. But the Rangers have already “missed out” on Brady Tkachuk, Bowen Byram, and William Eklund. And to be fair, it’s likely a good thing there are no Rangers trades yet.
Only Byram and Eklund should have been on the Rangers radar, and at least Byram was. That’s a good thing, as Drury should be targeting these types of players. Both are young, tremendously skilled, and fit big organizational needs. But I don’t know if it would have been smart to surrender the 5th overall pick for either, which is what it’s looking like it would have cost.
So the bad news is there are no Rangers trades yet. The good news is Drury seems to be targeting talent and not “character.” We’ve heard so much about trying to get players that play “the right way,” and that led to trades for JT Miller and other “character” guys. Unfortunately those stripped the Rangers of any real talent, and that was exposed this past season.
The Rangers need talent.
Drury won’t sit around doing nothing
If Drury runs it back with the same team, he won’t last long in his job. The Knicks winning the NBA Championship changed things for owner James Dolan, and it was a not so subtle message when he said the Knicks focused on talent and let the rest fall into place. The Rangers need talent, and that’s why there are no Rangers trades yet. The talent available isn’t worth the cost.
Given the returns for Byram and Eklund, it’s safe to assume Drury is holding out for his ideal trade package for Trocheck. I recorded an emergency Blue Seats After Dark last night to discuss what that package might look like. There’s a difference between what we would do and what Chris Drury will do, so temper expectations a bit. Konsta Helenius is a pipe dream, and if it’s just Trocheck the 4th overall pick is likely a pipe dream as well.
But things get interesting if you add Braden Schneider to Trocheck for a package deal. But I can’t spoil the emergency pod, right?
The Blueshirts have some prime assets, including the 26th overall pick and other prospects that project to be middle six players. This is not a time to hoard prospects that aren’t going to be high end players. Get the high end talent without sacrificing other high end talent from the roster or the farm system. That should be the plan.
It might be tough to see both go in one trade, but if there’s a high end player and pick coming, then it may be for the best. The Rangers need top of the lineup talent, and that’s why there are no Rangers trades just yet. No need to panic, though the fear is understandable given how things have been run the last five years.