NHL Trade Speculation: 6 Players the New York Rangers Would Love to Acquire

The New York Rangers have the best record in the NHL's Eastern Conference, and they have been playing their best hockey in years. Each and every night is seems that the Rangers find a way to win and get the job done.

No roster or team is ever perfect, and there is always room room for improvement. While the Rangers are playing great hockey, there are certain players they would just love to acquire. Some players are more realistic, but with the trade deadline approaching, there is no harm in saying "What if?"

The Rangers realistically will look to add a power-play specialist and top forward at the deadline, but to what degree would they love to add a player like Shea Weber or Bobby Ryan?

Ray Whitney

Ray Whitney is 39 years old and is pushing 40, but he would be a great fit for the Rangers. Why? He has 15 goals and 27 assists for a total of 42 points. If he were a Ranger, he would be leading the team in points.

This is the type of player to acquire at the deadline. He is a low risk due to the amount of time he would potentially be on the Rangers.

Whitney would add scoring, power-play experience and veteran leadership to a relatively young hockey club. Whitney was a vital part of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 when they won the Stanley Cup, and he could have a similar impact for the Rangers.

He is a dream acquisition for the simple fact he may not be available. Given the Rangers' current team makeup, adding a complimentary piece like Whitney would not set back the youth movement and wouldn't jeopardize the future. 

Mark Recchi played until he was 43, and both Nicklas Lidstrom and Teemu Selanne are still playing. Whitney still can be an impact player, so he would be a good rental player with retainment possibility. 

Bobby Ryan

Bobby Ryan is the type of player that the Rangers could invest the future in. He is a young stud who has gradually increased his overall offensive production.

Ryan is a situation that the Rangers should revisit at the trade deadline. If the price is right, the Rangers would pull the trigger.

Players like Ryan do not grow on trees. He is only 24 years old, and he is a proven 30-goal scorer with 80-point potential. 

Ryan can shoot the puck, can be the ideal flank for Brad Richards and would add another option to a struggling power play. He may not be available, but you can't fault the fanbase for dreaming.

Brendan Morrow

Brendan Morrow is another player the Rangers should look into. Morrow, by all accounts, was expected to not be available because he is the captain of the Dallas Stars in addition to being one of their key players.

A recent report from the Edmonton Journal has speculated that the power winger could hit the market:

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Why should anybody be surprised that Dallas Stars captain Brenden Morrow might be on the market? There are lots of miles on that chassis from all the punishment he’s taken and dished out, and he just turned 33. He’s still an effective player, but this is the classic case of the Stars checking the level of teams’ interest before Morrow hits the free-agent marketplace on July 1, 2013.

He would be the perfect pickup for the San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks or Detroit Red Wings, although you would think they would rather move him to an Eastern Conference team. Do you think Brad Richards in New York would be talking him up to Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather? 

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Morrow would fit in with the Rangers' system and would really complement some players already on the Rangers roster. Morrow could be paired up with former teammate Brad Richards, or he could be paired with a young center like Derek Stepan.

Either way, this move would help the Rangers if they could make it.

Teemu Selanne

Teemu Selanne is a future Hall of Fame player who is in the twilight of his career. He may be 40 years old, but he still is one of the best at what he does.

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.

However, there is little to no chance that Selanne would accept a trade out of Anaheim, especially with the way that the team has started to rebound. Sadly, it looks like the only way fans will see The Finish Flash in Broadway Blue is in the confines of EA's NHL 12.

Shea Weber

Shea Weber is the ideal defenseman for the New York Rangers. He is tall, mean, physical and has a howitzer of a shot. Weber's cannon has been clocked as high as 106 MPH. What makes Weber appealing is that he is a franchise defenseman in every sense of the word. He is steady and reliable in his own zone, but he can join the rush on offense.

He would fit in on the Rangers squad because they already have great passers like Michael Del Zotto and Brad Richards.

The Rangers have the long fuses, but they have no dynamite. With Weber, there would be no dilly dallying.

When Weber is passed the puck, he pulls the trigger. No shooting lane? No problem. Weber's slap shot has a reputation, so it has a way of clearing bodies from the front of the net.

Adding Weber would signify that the Rangers feel that Kreider can fill the forward void next season. Weber would cement the Rangers blue line considering he re-signs with them at a fair rate.

Zach Parise

The trade, to quote Chris Jericho, would "never.....ever........" happen. Parise, however, is the perfect player for Brad Richards. He is fast, skilled and can score goals. The two could be a dominant duo that would terrorize the league.

However, this couldn't happen, and it would be unlikely that the Rangers could afford signing a player like Parise without jeopardizing future free agent renewals.

This is pure fantasy and would never occur, but on a list like this, leaving off Parise would be a mistake.

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