With the NHL’s Feb. 24 trade deadline less than two weeks away, all eyes are on the New York Rangers.
The rebuilding Blueshirts’ playoff hopes are fading. With 58 points in 54 games, they’re nine points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Barring a strong surge over the remainder of the schedule, and several of the clubs ahead of them cratering in the standings, they’ll miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
General manager Jeff Gorton will likely become a seller before deadline day. Pending unrestricted free agent forwards Chris Kreider and Jesper Fast could soon hit the trade block.