The New York Rangers suffered a rough 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks in their last matchup on Dec. 15. With this, the Rangers now have a 16-14-4 record and remain seventh-place in the Metropolitan Division standings.
Yet, luckily for the Rangers, they are still in an okay spot, even with being second to last in the Metropolitan Division standings. This is because they are only one point behind the fifth-place Pittsburgh Penguins and sixth-place New Jersey Devils. They are also just two points behind the Philadelphia Flyers, who are fourth in the Metropolitan Division.
With all of this, the Rangers still have time to salvage their season and climb up the standings. While they have played more games than the Flyers, Penguins, and Devils, a winning streak could be enough for them to move up the standings.
Due to this, the Rangers are in a position where they should be looking to add to their roster. Adding another skilled forward should be one of their top priorities, especially on the wing. The NHL trade market has a very interesting buy-low option to consider in Vancouver Canucks forward Lukas Reichel. It is no secret that the Canucks are looking to move him, and the Rangers should strongly consider taking a shot on.
Canucks Are Shopping Lukas Reichel After He Cleared Waivers
On Dec. 13, the Canucks placed Reichel on waivers. This was after the Canucks traded superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, and a 2026 first-round pick.
When it was announced that Reichel was placed on waivers, it seemed possible that a team would claim him. However, he instead cleared waivers and was sent down to Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks.
While Reichel cleared waivers, he still could end up getting a change of scenery. According to NHL insider Rick Dhaliwal, the Canucks are continuing to shop Reichel, and there is a chance that a trade centering around the young forward will get finalized.
“Canucks are trying to trade Reichel. There is a chance of a deal happening,” Dhaliwal posted on X.
With Reichel clearing waivers, it is possible that more teams could be interested in him. This is because any potential suitors would now not need to place him on waivers if they wished to send him down to the AHL. Due to this, there would be zero risk in a team like the Rangers taking a chance on the young forward.
Reichel Would Give Rangers Former Top Prospect Who Could Still Break Out
If the Rangers landed Reichel, they would bring in a former top prospect who is young enough that he could still hit a new level. While the 2020 first-round pick has yet to break out at the NHL level, perhaps that could change on a team that needs help on the wing, like the Rangers.
In 14 games this season with the Canucks, Reichel has recorded zero goals and one assist. However, he also showed promise with the Chicago Blackhawks this season before being traded to the Canucks, as he had two goals and four points in five games. He also notably had seven goals and 15 points in 23 games for Chicago in 2022-23, so there could still be some offensive upside there.
Perhaps playing in a third-line role on the Rangers could help Reichel break out.
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