It is premature to call it a plan, for it is more like a concept. Yet the notion of pulling off what would be quite the creative exacta appears to be crystalizing within the Rangers’ front office as the Feb. 25 trade deadline approaches.
That is, the Blueshirts are mulling an approach in which they would swap premium rental properties Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello for a combined bundle of picks and prospects before then re-signing the pending free agents when they hit the open market on July 1.
Now, listen. Nothing would be set in stone.