3 Anaheim Ducks’ Trade Targets for the New York Rangers

The New York Rangers have been in offseason mode since the end of the regular season. They fell to the fifth-overall pick in the NHL Draft after having the third-best odds to win the first-overall pick. Now, as they head into next season looking to be better than what they were, they are going to have to make additions via trade that make the roster better. One team they should look to as a potential trading partner is the Anaheim Ducks. In this piece, we will go over three Ducks players the Rangers should consider trading for.

Mason McTavish

One player whose name has been out there in trade rumors the most has been Mason McTavish. After a contract dispute prior to this season, he signed a six-year deal worth $7 million per season, but his numbers dropped off this season, and he seemingly fell out of favor with new head coach Joel Quenneville. He scored 17 goals and recorded 41 points in 75 games this season, which is down from the 22 goals and 52 points from a season ago. He was even scratched in multiple games during the Ducks’ playoff run that ended in the second round against the Vegas Golden Knights. With more important players needing new deals and with it looking like the coach does not trust him, now is the time to move on.

The Rangers should be interested in McTavish because if they move someone like Vincent Trocheck, they are going to need to bring in another center to replace him. McTavish is still only 23 years old and is signed long-term to a deal that might look like a lot now, but if he can develop into a better player and with the salary cap continuing to rise, this deal won’t look so bad in a few years. The Rangers lack young centers on their roster and in their system that can make an impact, and if given a bigger role, McTavish could be that center the team is looking for as they try to become a playoff contender again. It might cost the Rangers a high price to acquire him, but he is a player who could be worth the risk.

Pavel Mintyukov

One area of weakness for the Rangers is the left side of their defense outside of Vladislav Gavrikov. They don’t have a player right now who can slide into the top four behind him, and that needs to be fixed this offseason. The Ducks have two players who fit what the Rangers are looking for, and the first is Pavel Mintyukov. He is a 22-year-old defenseman who, earlier this season, requested a trade out of Anaheim after being healthy-scratched and not seeing consistent playing time. While the Ducks kept him and he ended up having a good season, he is still a possible name they could look to trade, as he needs a new contract for next season.

He finished the season scoring eight goals and recording 22 points in 73 regular-season games, while playing in all 12 playoff games for the Ducks, but he did not record a point. The Ducks could end up just signing him to a new deal and keeping him, but if Mintyukov wants more of an opportunity, the Rangers are a perfect spot for him. They are looking for younger, more mobile defensemen, and he fits that mold perfectly. One trade that could make sense for both sides is a swap of Mintyukov for Braden Schneider, as the Ducks’ entire right side of their defense could be leaving in free agency, and the Rangers seemingly are looking to move on from Schneider, as he also needs a new deal this offseason.

Olen Zellweger

Another young Ducks defenseman that could be on the move is Olen Zellweger. He, like Mintyukov, is a 22-year-old left-handed defenseman who needs a new contract this offseason, and he also saw his playing time get reduced, especially in the playoffs. He was scratched for the first nine playoff games before playing in the last three games, where he scored a goal and registered two points. Zellweger is a more offensive-minded defenseman, and that is something the Rangers are lacking outside of Adam Fox. They need a defenseman who can move the puck quickly and can skate well, and those are two of Zellweger’s biggest strengths.

One of the knocks on him and a reason why he didn’t get into many playoff games is a lack of size and strength. He is less than 6 feet tall and under 200 pounds. He took some major hits this season, and while he was able to avoid serious injury, his lack of size is a concern. However, his upside is still very high, and with the Ducks having to pay so many of their younger players this offseason and in the future, they won’t be able to sign them all. Zellweger could be one of those players they look to trade now, and the Rangers should be all over him if he is available.

It is still early in the offseason, but the NHL Draft and free agency are less than a month away, which means teams are going to start making moves sooner rather than later. The Rangers have many areas they need to address this summer, and the Ducks could be the perfect trading partner for them. If they were able to trade for one or two of these players, it could help them get back into being playoff contenders quicker than they thought. The Ducks will be an interesting team to watch this offseason, and if they are open for business, the Rangers should be calling.