More Big Names Surface in Trade Talk: Rangers “Far from Finished”

The New York Rangers are going through what Elliotte Friedman categorized as a historic collapse. Sitting at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division standings, a team with Cup-contending expectations has all but fallen apart, and as Larry Brooks writes in a recent column, the team has quit on the coach. Speaking on the 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman said he read Brooks’ column and took one thing away from it — change is just getting started in New York.

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Brooks wrote:

“The Rangers have quit on their coach, they have quit on the organization, they have quit on themselves, they have quit on each other, they have quit on the fans who pay top dollar to fill the Garden and they have quit on New York.”

Friedman called Brooks’ report harsh but noted the weight Brooks’ reporting carries. “There’s nobody that has better sources in the Rangers than Larry Brooks,” Friedman emphasized. When Brooks suggests Laviolette could be on the chopping block, he admits that it’s more than opinion—Brooks is getting that information from someone who knows.

He speculated that core players like Chris Kreider could be the next names on the trade block, experiencing the same fate as Barclay Goodrow (waived), Jacob Trouba, and Kaapa Kakko (traded). Even Mika Zibanejad, a pivotal player for the team with a no-move clause, might not be immune to trade discussions. “Either we haven’t seen anything yet, or more of that is coming,” Friedman said.

Friedman brought up Zibanejad, describing a recent series against the Tampa Bay Lightning where the forward was visibly discouraged. He isn’t sure the Rangers want to trade Zibanejad, but he wouldn’t be surprised if they did. He also mentioned Vincent Trocheck’s name and said teams would line up if the Rangers made Trocheck available.

The Rangers’ season is spiraling, and major changes—whether on the bench, in the front office, or on the roster—seem inevitable. As Friedman aptly put it, “We are far from finished with major change for the Rangers.”

Laviolette May Not Last Much Longer with the Rangers

The pressure on Laviolette is immense. While the veteran coach is no stranger to the “results-oriented business” of the NHL, Friedman suggested he might be as baffled by the collapse as anyone. “How did we end up where we are?” Friedman suggested Laviolette is asking himself right now.

While Laviolette is asking those questions, GM Chris Drury is asking questions of his own. The answer seems to be that this version of the Rangers won’t be the one that finishes the season.

Next: McLellan Wins 1st with Wings: NHL Trade Talk Morning Roundup Dec. 30