Entering Thursday night's game, the Rangers had not yet taken the precaution of scratching any of their trade chips from the lineup as Monday's NHL trade deadline fast approaches, though they did pull Adam McQuaid during Thursday's first period. They went to such lengths last year when they were on the brink of dealing Rick Nash and Michael Grabner.
Yes, the Rangers will be sellers for the second straight season after issuing their Declaration of Reconstruction last year, a decree to rebuild the roster after years of dealing assets in attempts to make runs at the Stanley Cup. Now the goal is to acquire picks and promising young players.
Here's a look at the Rangers who could be elsewhere by 3 p.m. Monday:
KEVIN HAYES
Hayes likely would bring the Blueshirts the biggest haul of all their chips as the 26-year-old center has been one of their best players over the last two seasons. The Rangers only signed Hayes to a one-year, $5.175 million deal last summer when Hayes was a restricted free agent and coming off a 2017-18 season in which he emerged as the team's matchup center.
With the New York Post reporting that contract discussions between the two sides went nowhere, Hayes' days as a Ranger are likely numbered. He's on pace for a career-high in points with 42 through 51 games; he had 49 points in 2016-17.
The market for Hayes is impacted by that of Ottawa center Matt Duchene, one of the best pieces available. Teams who lose out on Duchene and are looking for a rental center could pivot to Hayes.
MATS ZUCCARELLO
Much of the Garden faithful may be disappointed to see Zuccarello dealt, but the sensible thing for the Rangers to do is to trade the impending unrestricted free agent, who has been in very good form over the last month.
The 31-year-old winger has 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in his last 16 games. He has 11 goals and 26 assists in 46 games this season.
The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported Thursday that Zuccarello is on Calgary's radar. Flames GM Brad Treliving was at the Garden Thursday for the Rangers' 4-1 loss to the Wild.
The Rangers have played this season without a captain after last season's trade of Ryan McDonagh, but if Zuccarello had more years left on his deal he would've been a perfect fit to don the 'C' on his sweater. But absent a contract extension, the diminutive toiler from Norway will likely be playing for a different team in a matter of days.
ADAM McQUAID
The 6-foot-4 defenseman was pulled during the first period of Thursday's game against the Wild for "precautionary" reasons and didn't return. He has likely played his final game as a Ranger.
The 32-year-old righty brings size and toughness, qualities a team like the Maple Leafs might want to add as they try to put themselves in the best position to win their first Stanley Cup since the 1966-67 season.
McQuaid was acquired from Boston before the start of the season. In the final year of his contract, he was always likely to be dealt again if the rebuilding Rangers' season went as expected. It has, with the Rangers 10 points out of a playoff spot with 22 games remaining.
VLADISLAV NAMESTNIKOV
It hasn't quite worked out for Namestnikov since being acquired in last year's deadline blockbuster in which the Rangers dealt McDonagh and J.T. Miller.
Namestnikov, who had 44 points in 62 games with Tampa Bay last season while playing with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, had just four points in 19 games the rest of the 2017-18 campaign with the Blueshirts. He has 20 points in 56 games this season.
The Rangers brought back the restricted free agent on a two-year, $8 million deal, the same contract they gave fellow RFA and midseason acquisition Ryan Spooner. When Spooner got off to a poor start he was dealt in November to Edmonton - which has since traded Spooner to Vancouver.
Namestnikov, 26, snapped a 23-game goalless drought last week with a two-goal game in Buffalo, and he scored again Tuesday at Carolina. Perhaps he could benefit from a change of scenery.
