NHL Trade Rumors: New York Rangers Have Inquired About Teemu Selanne

The New York Rangers are looking to add a top six forward at the NHL trade deadline. However, they don't want to sell the farm to acquire a player. Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun has posted this latest rumor involving the New York Rangers and Teemu Selanne.

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League sources say as many as four teams — the Rangers, Sharks, Bruins and Wings — have all made inquiries into Selanne’s availability with the trade deadline just over a month away on Feb. 27. All are watching to see if Murray decides to make a move with his club mired near the bottom of the Western Conference.

While the Wings have plenty of experience, the Rangers, Sharks and Bruins wouldn’t mind a veteran presence. Selanne can play, contribute scoring — 15 goals, 44 points in 45 games heading into Saturday’s action — and he’d be in a similar role to the one Mark Recchi filled in Boston’s championship run last spring.

Sources say the ball is in Selanne’s court. He won’t be moved unless he gives Murray permission.

He hasn’t yet, but his attitude may change before the deadline. Besides the weather, why would he stay in Anaheim?

Selanne has a chance to do the right thing for the organization and allow them to get some assets. Keep an eye on this situation.

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This is an interesting situation to monitor because Selanne has full control with a NTC. He is very loyal to the Ducks franchise but if they enter a situation where the playoffs become a remote impossibility, Selanne could ask for a trade for another shot at the Stanley Cup.

The rumor lists three other teams besides the Rangers. The Sharks and Selanne have history but they have a pretty solid top six forward group. The Boston Bruins could press hard for the 40-year-old future Hall of Famer as could the Detroit Red Wings.

If Selanne becomes available, he will ultimately decide where he wants to go, so it won't necessarily matter what team offers the best package. While it is unlikely that Selanne will move due to the fact he loves the Anaheim franchise, this is an interesting situation to monitor.

From a Rangers' perspective, Selanne would add some much needed offense, a veteran presence and skill that the power play is currently lacking. He would be an ideal pickup and he addresses a lot of the Rangers' needs. If Selanne came to the Rangers, they would become a much deeper team.

While this is just speculation, it is the most likely trade Anaheim could make. Bob Murray obviously does not want to deal his young stars in Getzlaf and Ryan, so moving Selanne would not hurt the Ducks long term. In the end any move regarding Selanne will be of his own destiny.

Selanne may be the face of the franchise now but players like Bobby Ryan and Ryan Getlzaf are the future. It is likely Selanne remains a Duck but in the NHL nothing is ever certain.

Tom Urtz Jr. is an NHL Featured Columnist. For NHL news, updates and alerts about players: