It is a pretty tough time to be a Blueshirts fan right now. With the New York Rangers sitting at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, the vibes around Madison Square Garden are definitely focused more on the future than a playoff push. However, the business of hockey keeps moving, and there is plenty to talk about following a dramatic couple of weeks.
The “Quiet” Trade Deadline and Keeping Trocheck
The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline officially passed on Friday, March 6, and the biggest news out of New York was who wasn’t traded. Despite rampant rumors connecting him to the Minnesota Wild and other contenders, the Rangers opted to hold onto 32-year-old center Vincent Trocheck.
General manager Chris Drury set a high asking price for the two-way center — who recently won Olympic gold with Team USA — and decided not to sell him short just for the sake of making a move. The Rangers also held onto restricted free agent defenseman Braden Schneider.
Minor Retooling Moves
While they didn’t make a deadline-day blockbuster, Drury did make several smaller moves to stockpile picks and shift prospects:
- Traded forward Sam Carrick to the Buffalo Sabres for 2026 third- and sixth-round picks.
- Dealt 2021 first-round pick Brennan Othmann to the Calgary Flames for prospect Jacob Battaglia and a 2024 second-round pick.
- Swapped defenseman Derrick Pouliot to the Chicago Blackhawks for 24-year-old forward Aidan Thompson.
The Big Picture: Lottery Watch
The outlook for the rest of this season is heavily focused on the NHL Draft Lottery. Following the major blockbuster trade of Artemi Panarin to the LA Kings earlier this season, the Rangers are operating in a full “retool” under head coach Mike Sullivan. At a record of 24-30-8, they are expected to miss the playoffs, meaning fans and management are already shifting their attention to securing a top-five draft pick this summer.
Rangers Upcoming Schedule
The Rangers have a busy four-game slate over the next seven days, including a back-to-back early in the week and a tough road trip through the Central Division.
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (EDT) |
| Mon, March 9 | @ Philadelphia Flyers | Xfinity Mobile Arena | 7:00 PM |
| Tue, March 10 | vs. Calgary Flames | Madison Square Garden | 7:00 PM |
| Thu, March 12 | @ Winnipeg Jets | Canada Life Centre | 8:00 PM |
| Sat, March 14 | @ Minnesota Wild | Grand Casino Arena | 6:00 PM |
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