The New York Rangers are expected to make a large splash this offseason. There have been rumors tying the Blueshirts to free-agent stars such as Jake Guentzel and Patrick Kane, as well as potential trades like Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras.
The Rangers had been reported to have interest in acquiring Zegras via trade, but now, more recent updates are indicating that the 23-year-old center may want to be dealt to New York as well.
Trevor Zegras has reportedly had New York as his preferred destination for a long time
Per Peter Baugh of The Athletic, Zegras has had the Rangers as his preferred destination for a long time. This comes as no surprise, as the New York native would likely want to play for his hometown team.
With Anaheim gaining interest from multiple teams, the Blueshirts may have a slight advantage in closing a deal because of this mutual interest. However, it may be better for the Rangers to search elsewhere for a player who better fits their need.
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The Rangers should avoid adding more flashy players to their skill-saturated roster
Despite reports indicating that both organizations might be interested in sending Zegras to New York, he’s not the type of player that the Blueshirts need right now. He’s on the smaller side at 6-foot, 185 pounds, and brings practically zero physicality to the roster.
The Rangers’ Achilles heel has been a lack of strong, gritty forwards in recent years. Their top players are often criticized for being soft, and afraid to take a hit to make a play. Adding Zegras to the roster will not solve that problem, but add to it.
Aside from his size and play style, Zegras’ stats just don’t live up to the hype he receives. He’s been a 60-point player twice in his career, but has been quite inconsistent in having dominant offensive seasons. His defensive play is nonexistent, as he’s already accumulated a -40 rating in just four seasons in the NHL.
Many fans have called Zegras the most overrated player in the NHL. The goals he scores may be dazzling, but they don’t come as often as they should. If the Rangers want to succeed, they need to find a bigger forward who can produce at a consistent rate.
