The NHL’s early-season trade chatter has already started to tighten around a few familiar pressure points: goaltending in New York, depth on Toronto’s blue line, and an Edmonton lineup that suddenly has more good options than available spots.
For the Rangers, the issue is as urgent as it gets. Igor Shesterkin is out for the season, and Darren Dreger reported New York has “kicked tires” on Toronto’s Anthony Stolarz.
The Rangers have also checked in on Jordan Binnington, Philipp Grubauer and Sam Montembeault. Chris Drury isn’t rushing into the first answer that appears, though.
There’s still a wait-and-see element with Dylan Garand, and Hellebuyck is not in the picture because $20 million in two goalies would be too much once Shesterkin returns. That leaves the Rangers looking for something cheaper and shorter-term.
Toronto may be headed in the opposite direction, at least if Chris Tanev’s absence keeps stretching out. The Maple Leafs came out of their road trip with three points, and Jim Hiller said they could have had five.
More concerning is what’s happening on the back end: Toronto has allowed 19 goals over its last five games, and with Tanev on injured reserve and no timeline for a return, the defence is thin. The Leafs also don’t have the appetite for a big swing, so any move is more likely to be practical than flashy.
The Athletic’s reporting pointed to three possibilities. Chicago’s Ian Cole looks like the cleanest fit, a veteran shutdown option on an expiring deal.
Calgary’s Zach Whitecloud would cost more because he’s not just a rental. Philadelphia’s Rasmus Ristolainen was mentioned as the long shot, and his injury status makes that even less straightforward.
Tanev is in the third year of a six-year contract, and the situation may end up raising questions that go beyond this season.
Then there’s Edmonton, where the problem is a much happier one. Connor McDavid marked his 800th NHL game with a four-point performance, and with 17 points in six games he leads the league.
The Oilers beat the Kings 4-1 to stretch their winning streak to five, but Vasily Podkolzin made sure the night wasn’t only about McDavid. He scored twice, now has seven goals in six games, and has been riding alongside McDavid and Draisaitl on a line that’s clicking hard.
That makes him a lot more than a depth placeholder.
The timing creates a real lineup puzzle. Zach Hyman is close to coming back, and he’s long been a fixture with McDavid.
So now the question is whether Babcock keeps the hot trio intact, slides Hyman back where he’s been so effective, or changes the power play and leaves the even-strength mix alone. For now, Babcock’s view is simple: “life’s good” for now.
Edmonton’s home date with Utah on Thursday should tell us a lot more about how this all settles in.
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Beaudoin had just gotten his first taste of the NHL with New York before heading back to Hartford, where he has also played this season. Dowling, meanwhile, comes back with more league experience and a brief stint in Hartford already behind him, giving the Rangers a more established option as they keep sorting through the back end of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
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Rangers Suddenly Have A Big Crease Question After Shesterkin Injury
Igor Shesterkins season-ending injury has left the Rangers with a crease issue that suddenly matters a lot more than it did a few weeks ago, and Dylan Garand has been thrust into the conversation at just the right time. The young goaltender has handled the opening stretch well enough to give New York some reason for optimism, even as the larger reality remains that the team has had to pivot quickly after losing its No. 1 option.
Garands early work has helped steady things, but the situation still feels fragile for a Rangers team trying to keep its season on track without its star goalie. The organization now has to decide how much trust to place in a netminder who was not long ago viewed as depth, and the answer could shape how the rest of the year unfolds in front of him. [Read more 🡒]