NHL Rumors: 3 Defencemen That Are Great Fits For Rangers

The New York Rangers haven't been able to find the right fit for their third defence pairing this season. They have tried Zac Jones, Libor Hajek, and Ben Harpur out at the left spot, and Harpur has held onto it recently.

Braden Schneider is having a solid season on the third pair, but needs a strong veteran defenceman to provide stability to the pairing. Arthur Staple suggested three veterans who could be a good fit for the Rangers - Dmitry Kulikov, Nathan Beaulieu, and Justin Braun.

The Anaheim Ducks seemingly added Kulikov in a trade with the Minnesota Wild to give themselves another trade asset at the deadline. That is exactly what he is going to be. He has been very solid defensively while adding offence over the past two seasons. He would be a great partner for Schneider and a cheap addition to the Rangers to shore up their defence and fill a glaring hole.

Beaulieu is an even cheaper option on the Ducks and is being played like a sixth defenceman. He averages just over 13 minutes a night and none of his stats jump out at you. What he does provide is a focus on the defensive side of the game which really hinders his offence. But if he plays alongside Schneider, the young defender would have more freedom to take risks offensively this season.

The Rangers could add Braun for a second year in a row at the deadline. The Philadelphia Flyers are once again selling and Braun will be on the move if there is interest. Braun wasn't anything special for the Rangers and it was a change for him going from playing top pairing minutes with the Flyers last season to much fewer minutes with the Rangers. But he is still a strong defensive presence who plays hard and is an upgrade to who the Rangers have rotated in on the third pair this season.