3 Pacific Division Teams the Rangers Could Trade With

We are five days away from the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, and the New York Rangers have yet to make any additions to address their roster needs. They made an early trade last season when they acquired Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues, but this year, most teams have held onto their players because they are still in the playoff hunt or they are waiting for an offer they can’t refuse.

The Rangers have some key pieces they need to add, including a first-line right-winger and a third-line center, and they should be looking at the Pacific Division to help fill those holes. Here are three potential teams the Rangers could trade with.

Anaheim Ducks

One of the most common teams to be connected to the Rangers is the Anaheim Ducks. They will be sellers again this season and have some key pieces they could move for draft picks and prospects. Rumors started to heat up last week when Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek was seen at Madison Square Garden for the Rangers game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. It seems that Verbeek was scouting for a player that might interest him. Players like Kaapo Kakko and Adam Edstrom could be of interest to the Ducks as they are young but also have NHL experience.

The names that have come up most often are Adam Henrique and Frank Vatrano. Both players would fill a need on the Rangers, and a package deal could make sense. Vatrano has the familiarity of playing in New York, and he was a good fit on a line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad during his short stint with the team in 2021-22. He would fill the void on the right wing, while Henrique would be the perfect fit at third-line center. He is a veteran and is having a good season on a bad team, with 18 goals and 42 points in 59 games.

If the Rangers want to make a deal with just one team, the Ducks should be it, and while it might cost them some good picks and prospects, it would be worth it if any of these players help bring a Stanley Cup to New York for the first time in 30 years.

San Jose Sharks

Like the Ducks, the San Jose Sharks are at the bottom of the league and have players to move as they continue their rebuild. Sharks GM Mike Grier has a connection to Rangers GM Chris Drury, as he worked as an advisor under him in New York before getting the job in San Jose. They have also made it known that no player is untouchable, and they have six pending unrestricted free agents (UFA) who could help the Rangers.