Ranking the Players the New York Rangers Should Covet at Trade Deadline

The New York Rangers are the defending Eastern Conference champions, and by no means should the team sit on its laurels. The Blueshirts may be farther ahead in the standings than they were at this point last season, so they have a good chance at winning the Stanley Cup this season.

However, the roster has room for improvement, and the Blueshirts should be interested in some players who are slated to be available.

Without further delay, here are the players the Rangers should covet at the trade deadline.

No. 5: Jeff Petry, Edmonton Oilers

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Age: 27

Cap Hit: $3.075 million

Jeff Petry is a 27-year-old defender with a cap hit of $3.075 million, and he's slated to become a free agent this summer. He's been underutilized by the Edmonton Oilers for a number of years, and he could be a nice fit for the Rangers' bottom pairing.

Petry is a 6'3", 198-pound defender who was selected 45th overall at the 2006 draft, and he's a puck-moving defenseman with some upside.

If you take a look at his HERO chart at Own the Puck, you will notice that Petry fits the role of a top-four defender in terms of usage-adjusted Corsi. He would be a steal for the Rangers because of his all-around game.

No. 4: Jiri Tlusty, Carolina Hurricanes

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Age: 26

Cap Hit: $2.95 million

Jiri Tlusty is a solid two-way player whose regular and advanced stats are solid. He is a third-liner in terms of usage adjusted Corsi via his HERO chart, but his points per 60 place him in second-liner territory.

He'd be a decent offensive upgrade for the Rangers' bottom six that is on pace to finish with about 20 goals and 35 points.

That is the type of production that could help the Rangers lineup, and as a free agent on a non-playoff team, he could be a low-cost addition. The Rangers have interest in Tlusty, according to The Fourth Period, so it will be interesting to see if a deal ultimately happens.

No. 3: Daniel Winnik, Toronto Maple Leafs

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Age: 29

Cap Hit: $1.3 million

Daniel Winnik is a versatile hockey player who is averaging second-line minutes for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has a good usage-adjusted Corsi rating, is putting up decent points per 60 and has good size at 6'2" and 207 pounds.

The Rangers like to balance size and speed throughout the lineup, and Winnik's frame would fit in well with Kevin Hayes and Carl Hagelin.

He is on pace to finish with about 33 points, and he could be a wonderful addition to the Rangers as they prepare to embark on another marathon playoff run.

No. 2: Cam Atkinson, Columbus Blue Jackets

Age: 25

Cap Hit: $1.15 million

The Rangers could use another scoring winger, and Cam Atkinson is a speedy sniper who would be great for the team's third line and second power-play unit.

Atkinson is on pace to finish the season with about 21 goals, and that's a respectable number for a player who is averaging just about 17 minutes every night. Right now the Rangers have a decent third line with J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes and Carl Hagelin, but the line could just use a solid scoring punch.

He is going to be in high demand, but his upside, speed, shot and $1.15 million salary make him a perfect fit for the style of hockey the Rangers play.

No. 1: Andrej Sekera, Carolina Hurricanes

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Age: 28

Cap Hit: $2.75 million

Andrej Sekera is a solid top-four defender on a floundering Carolina Hurricanes team, and he is the one player Glen Sather should really go all-out to acquire. 

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, via Nichols on Hockey, stated that the Rangers had interest in Sekera, and Larry Brooks of the New York Post revisited the rumor this week.

Although he's a top target who could cost a hefty price, he'd be a nice addition who could fill the void of Anton Stralman.

Sekera has amazing possession stats and fits the top-pairing defenseman profile for usage-adjusted Corsi when you look at his HERO chart. He showed last season that he has an offensive side to his game, and he's just a solid all-around defender.

Rumors via NHL.com and The Fourth Period. Stats via Hockey-Reference, NHL.com and Own The Puck.