The New York Rangers had a disappointing season last year and are looking to get back to the playoffs this year.
Heavy.com has a trade idea that sees the Rangers acquire Adam Pelech from arch-rival New York Islanders in an intriguing move.
Rangers acquire:
Islanders acquire:
- Scott Morrow
- 2026 second-round pick (Hurricanes)
The proposed deal would be an intriguing one as the Rangers would acquire Pelech to bolster their blue line for a young defenseman they acquired this season and a second-round pick.
The Rangers would acquire Pelech, who’s entering the fifth year of his eight-year, $46 million deal. Pelech would be a top-four defenseman for the Rangers and be a shutdown defenseman, but he can also be a playmaker from the back end. He dealt with injuries as he skated in 60 games, recording 0 goals and 21 assists for 21 points.
In return, the Rangers would trade their second-round pick, which they got from Carolina in the K’Andre Miller deal. The Islanders would also acquire Morrow, who’s a 22-year-old defenseman and fits New York’s young core better. Morrow is entering the final year of a three-year, $2.75 million deal. Morrow skated in 14 games, recording 1 goal and 5 assists, and 6 points.
Islanders Could Make Pelech Expendable
Pelech has played his entire career with the Islanders, but his time with the team could be over soon.
Islanders’ analyst Michael Stahurski of EyesonIsles named Pelech a trade candidate this season, as New York may look to turn over the defense and go younger.
“Perhaps the most likely candidate who would bring the most back in return is Adam Pelech. Pelech has been a rock for the Islanders since entering the league, but with three seasons left on his deal at $5.75M, he could draw interest from multiple organizations…,” Stahurski wrote.
“With some of the young prospects at the point in their development where they can potentially contribute at the NHL level, moving on from a current defenseman could be in the best interest of the Islanders moving forward,” Stahurski added.
Pelech was selected in the third round of the 2012 NHL Draft. He’s skated in 560 career games, recording 26 goals and 135 assists for 161 points.
Rangers GM Focused on Improving Defense
After last year’s disappointing season, New York focused on improving its defense.
The Rangers wanted to allow fewer goals and be harder to play against. New York made a major addition this offseason by signing Vladislav Gavrikov, who’s one of the best defensive defenseman in the NHL.
“It starts in our D-zone,” Drury said when asked about how Gavrikov will improve the team. “We have to be better in our zone. We have to be better in front of (Igor Shesterkin) and (Jonathan Quick). To me, that’s the mindset he shows up with every single day.
“The size, the reach, the competitiveness, the way he defends and the way he is able to complement his partner, whether that’s (Adam) Fox or any other of our right-shot D that we have, that’s what excited all of us in targeting this player. Thrilled to be able to have him as a key part of that D corps,” Drury added.
If the Rangers do allow fewer goals, it would make New York better and make them a playoff contender.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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