According to reports, the New York Rangers appear to be very active in finding a center player through the transaction market.
According to The Athletic's website, the Blueshirts would have been in the running for Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan. The former was traded to the Vancouver Canucks while the latter went to the Winnipeg Jets.
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Three more forwards would be in general manager Chris Drury's sights. These would be Anaheim Ducks players Adam Henrique and Frank Vatrano, as well as Philadelphia Flyers hockey player Scott Laughton.
Henrique ($5.25 million) could become a free agent next summer, while Vatrano ($3.65 million) has a contract that runs through the conclusion of the 2024-2025 season. Laughton ($3 million), for his part, has a contract that lasts two more seasons.
Stuck in the wheels?
However, it appears that the CEO is struggling with a limitation. According to TSN hockey expert Darren Dreger, Rangers owner James Dolan asked Drury not to trade his first-round pick in the 2024 draft.
The billionaire wants his team to attend the auction, which will be held in June at the Sphere in Las Vegas, which owns the venue on the famous Strip.
Let's assume that this request from its owner won't help Drury in its negotiations at the March 8 trade deadline.