Rangers' Top Players to Target and Avoid at 2026 NHL Trade Deadline

The New York Rangers are heading into the 2026 NHL trade deadline at a pivotal time for their franchise.

After waving the proverbial white flag by trading Artemi Panarin ahead of the Olympic break, the Rangers are heading into the deadline as sellers with an eye toward rebuilding for next season.

What return general manager Chris Drury is able to get before the trade window closes March 6 at 3 p.m. ET will determine how quickly the franchise is able to retool around star netminder Igor Shesterkin.

Here's a few players the Rangers should watch and avoid before the trade deadline hits next Friday.

Target: Danila Yurov, Minnesota Wild

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The Minnesota Wild are reportedly interested in trading for Rangers center Vincent Trocheck, per The Athletic's Vincent Z. Mercogliano.

The Rangers could arguably benefit from that most if Drury is able to convince the Wild to send over 2022 first-round pick Danila Yurov in return.

Yurov played five KHL seasons before making the jump to the NHL for the 2025-26 campaign, during which he has posted 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists).

His importance to the Wild has been growing down the stretch, and he's recently started clicking with linemates Yakov Trenin and Vladimir Tarasenko.

Yurov is signed through the 2027-28 season at a cap hit of less than $1 million, and he just turned 22 in December. His age and contract flexibility could make him a great fit in a retooling Rangers bottom six.

Whether the Wild would be willing to consider trading Yurov could depend on the value the franchise places on Trocheck. The Rangers could be helped there by the Wild's recent loss of Marco Rossi in the Quinn Hughes trade, which has left the franchise in search of a top-six center.

Avoid: Kiefer Sherwood, San Jose Sharks

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The Rangers were "pushing hard" to trade for Sherwood in January before the Vancouver Canucks dealt him to the San Jose Sharks, according to Mercogliano.

Given Sherwood's status as a pending unrestricted free agent and the Sharks' position outside the playoff picture, the winger could potentially be moved again ahead of the deadline.

Sherwood posted 19 goals last season and is on track for his first 20-goal campaign this season.

He's also playing on an expiring $1.5 million contract, and he'll be looking for an extension and a raise ahead of his age-31 campaign in 2026-27.

TSN's Chris Johnston said in January he feels Sherwood could be seeking around "$30 million on a long-term deal."

Making a significant commitment to a winger in his 30's might not be the right direction for a Rangers team that should be aiming to get faster this offseason.

Given Sherwood's contract status, the Rangers could be better off letting a team with more immediate playoff hopes take a swing if the Sharks decide to shop him at the deadline.

Target: Shane Wright, Seattle Kraken

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If Trocheck is moved ahead of the deadline, the Rangers could use some additional center depth down the stretch.

One potential option is the Seattle Kraken's Shane Wright, who the Fourth Period's David Pagnotta recently reported "wants a change of scenery."

Pagnotta wrote that the Kraken have been testing the waters with trade packages including Wright, who has recorded 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 58 games as a third-line center this season.

Wright is another young center with a favorable age (he turned 22 in January) and contract status (he's signed for one more season at $887k).

If the Kraken are looking to move Wright, the Rangers could bet on a change of scenery boosting his production while bolstering their bottom six with a young player on an affordable deal.

Avoid: Evander Kane, Vancouver Canucks

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The Vancouver Canucks are "motivated" to move veteran winger Evander Kane ahead of the deadline, per The Athletic's Thomas Drance.

That motivation is strong enough that the Canucks are willing to eat half of the $5.13 million cap hit remaining on Kane's expiring contract, per Drance.

Kane, who missed the entire 2024-25 season after undergoing surgery on multiple injuries, has returned to post 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 57 games of his age-34 campaign.

Whichever team trades for Kane could help a change of scenery could help the winger increase his production and live up to what would be his remaining $2.6 million cap hit.

That's another potential trade that could see the Rangers negotiating a new contract for a player in his 30's.

Even if Kane is likely to receive a lower salary on his next deal, the Rangers could instead prioritize getting prospects or young players on cheap contracts in return for whoever the franchise ships out ahead of the deadline.