The New York Rangers are in a bit of a tight spot. The club would like to get younger, without heading into a rebuild, while also remaining competitive.
That situation could pose a considerable challenge. The Rangers are mostly a veteran team with some younger pieces coming up along the way. However, it seems somewhat implausible that the Blueshirts could parlay some of their veterans into draft picks or prospects without regressing.
But then again, as Rangers insider Vincent Mercogliano suggests, the club could find value in overlooked areas. One such player could be disgruntled Columbus Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov.
Mercogliano expounded on his idea in this December 27 piece in The Athletic:
“New York should be targeting young players with scoring upside, speed and years left of team control. Chinakhov is a bit of a reclamation project, but at least he checks all of those boxes.”
Indeed, Chinakhov is the sort of player the Rangers could utilize. While the 24-year-old hasn’t really taken off in Columbus, it could be more a question of the system rather than the player himself.
Under the tutelage of Mike Sullivan, the former first-round pick of the 2020 NHL Draft could find success. The Rangers could offer a more sheltered role for Chinakhov. Of course, the club will need to be patient. But the upside is too good to ignore.
Rangers Could Find Great Value in Chinakhov for the Right Price
Chinakhov has been part of ongoing trade speculation this season. Before the start of the year, the Russian winger asked for a trade out of Columbus. The Blue Jackets have not honored Chinakhov’s request thus far. But one has to think that Columbus will have to do something.
That’s where the Rangers could step in. Chinakhov’s contract expires at the end of this season. He has a $2.1 million qualifying offer and becomes an RFA . Under those circumstances, the Blue Jackets have to do something. So, trading Chinakhov, even for a modest return, could be the way out.
If the Rangers can land the Russian prospect for a late-round pick, the deal could be worthwhile. Otherwise, overpaying for him really wouldn’t make sense.
Blueshirts Need to Get Younger Moving Forward
Regardless of whether the Rangers target Chinakhov or not, the club needs to get younger. Players like Gabe Perrault, Matthew Robertson, and Noah Laba have injected some of that youth into the club.
Beyond that, the Rangers remain largely a veteran squad. That’s fine, for now. But heading down the line, the Blueshirts could face an inevitable decline. Said decline could hurtle the club into a much-despised rebuild.
A rebuild is something neither the fans nor the organization plans to endure. A full-on rebuild could mean up to a decade of waiting for the club to turn a corner. So, the next best thing Rangers GM Chris Drury can do is retool on the fly, hoping that a modest regression could translate into another window of contention.
In the meantime, this year’s trade deadline will be interesting. The Rangers have a unique opportunity to get back into the playoffs while turning over some of their roster.
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