New York Rangers teammates Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello are on the trading block, with the trade deadline coming up on Monday.
The Rangers have two games before then -- Saturday afternoon at home against the New Jersey Devils, and Sunday at the Washington Capitals -- with Hayes and Zuccarello still expected to be in the lineup, for now.
"As I stand here now, guys that are on the roster will be in the lineup until I'm told differently," Rangers coach David Quinn told reporters after Friday's practice.
Zuccarello is in the final year of a four-year, $18 million contract he signed before the 2015 trade deadline, when the Rangers were the defending Eastern Conference champions and on their way to claiming the Presidents' Trophy before losing to Tampa Bay in the conference finals.
When the Rangers began rebuilding at last year's trade deadline, it was expected that the team would deal Zuccarello. Heading into Saturday, Zuccarello is fourth on the team with 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists).
"I am not the GM or the coach of this team, so you gotta ask them," said the 31-year-old Zuccarello, who made his debut with the Rangers in December 2010. "I try and do my best as long as I'm here and as long as they call my name in the lineup.
"I mean, you never know. I have fun every time I play hockey. I have fun every time I'm in this rink. Whatever happens, happens." Read More
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