Trade Hypothetical: What Would Rangers Offer to Flames for Gaudreau?

There was an interesting question posed on social media Thursday that asked what the New York Rangers might have to offer the Calgary Flames for winger Johnny Gaudreau. There’s no indication the Flames are actively looking to trade Gaudreau, but his name has come up in rumors over the past couple of seasons, Gaudreau is pending UFA, and the Rangers are looking to add, with insiders suspecting they could be one of the more active teams ahead of the NHL trade deadline.

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The question was posed by Kent Wilson and he asked, “Hypothetical – what would the Rangers trade to get Gaudreau at the deadline?” Few teams have the kind of cap space this season the Rangers do and after some followers asked why he would even put such a question out into the universe and others jokingly said Adam Fox — which would be hilarious considering where Fox came from –, others started creeping closer to some more serious responses.

Some said that Gaudreau likely wouldn’t be the Rangers’ first choice since the organization is set at left wing. Another commenter said, “That’s something I hope Treliving is looking at. Gaudreau would be a perfect addition for them and his stock is very high. Could lead to a quick retooling.” Some fans started wondering who on the Rangers were considered untouchable and some rightfully pointed out that the only way the Flames are even doing this trade is if Gaudreau says he’s not signing again in the summer or his ask is so outrageous that the Flames feel they have no choice but to move him and salvage something out of the player instead of letting him walk for nothing.

Most of the responses seemed center around Kaapo Kakko a likely trade piece. There’s also the potential that the Rangers would be open to moving Nils Lundkvist at some point in the near future. With both Fox and Jacob Trouba on the roster, perhaps is he is expendable. Could a combination of these two players get the ball rolling?

Then again, what happens if Gaudreau is just a rental? That’s a big haul for a guy you’ll only have for a playoff run. He’d be a big acquisition for the short-term, but at what cost? What if the Rangers took a really massive swing and went for Tomas Hertl, moved Ryan Strome and then added Gaudreau? With questions about Strome’s future in New York and Hertl’s future being uncertain in San Jose, that’s a series of rentals trades rarely, if ever seen in today’s NHL landscape.

That’s probably crazy talk. Then again, so might be the Rangers going after Gaudreau in the first place.

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