2 Players Rangers Could Trade Next

The New York Rangers look to compete again this season and have the lineup to do so. They barely managed to fit everyone in under the cap, and soon enough will have to free up some money somewhere. They also have a fair deal of young talent who will be pushing for spots, so players will have to go. Let's take a look at who they could trade next.

Barclay Goodrow

The first and most obvious answer is Barclay Goodrow. Many were skeptical when the Rangers signed him to a six-year, $3.641 million AAV deal in free agency, and it is looking like the contract they would most like to shred. It is a little bit easier now to move him in year three of six, but his 15-team no-trade clause might also get in the way. He has played in the top-six at times, but seeing how Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko need more playing time, Goodrow's role will get smaller and his contract will look worse. If they want to make any upgrades or keep some of the young players around for the future, his contract has to be cut short by dumping him.

Zac Jones

Zac Jones was given a good shot at making the Rangers and being the number six defenseman last season, but both he couldn't solidify it, so Ben Harpur took over the role until Niko Mikkola was brought in at the trade deadline. The team signed Erik Gustafsson for that spot, but now that Jones isn't exempt from waivers, the Rangers will want to keep him in the NHL. I can see a trade happening early in the year if Jones doesn't show promise so a team with more space and freedom can give him more of a shot. The Rangers have Harpur in the system still as well as Connor Mackey and Mac Hollowell if things don't go right with Jones.