MTPS: Smithing Out Some Quick Trades to Keep Up with the Joneses
A Quick look at some players we're Jonesing to move out before their value is blown to Smitherines.
With the trade deadline coming up fast and the Rangers chances of making the playoffs slipping further into the abyss, I’m looking at a bunch of trades that the Rangers could make, should make, and most likely won’t make.
Recapping what we’ve done so far:
Gone: K’Andre Miller, Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey
Here: Logan Stanley, Cole Beaudoin, Jack McBain, Will Skahan, and a 1st Round pick
Note: Following the trade of Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey the Rangers have added Calvin deHaan, Juuso Parssinen, a 2nd Round pick in 2025 and a 4th Round pick in 2025; not Logan Stanley and Winnipeg's 1st Round Pick.
Up today: The Murky Middle Players
This is the group of players composed of Reilly Smith, Jonathan Quick, Zac Jones, and maybe a couple of nebulous minor leaguers. Guys who aren’t going to bring back a huge haul, but can be used to return assets that help fill out the depth of the organization and—equally importantly—can be moved to create opportunities for younger players like Brett Berard, Brennan Othmann, Arthur Kaliyev, and other guys who probably should be playing but aren’t because Peter Laviolette is a buffoon.
As always, first we look at the comps:
Reilly Smith. OK, before we get to player comps it’s important to note one thing about Smith. The coach’s decision to move him from a Top 6 role to a 4th Line role has been one of the most asinine examples of asset management of the season. A month ago, Smith could arguably have brought back a low 1st Round pick, now…not so much.
Tanner Jeannot
Jeannot was a rare miss by Tampa Bay when they acquired him. A bottom-six wing known for toughness rather than scoring he wound up bringing neither to the Lightning. Confronted with tight cap space they dealt him at the draft last year to the Kings.
LA Kings acquired Jeannot for a 4th in the 2024 Draft and a 2nd in the 2025 Draft.
Jack Roslovic
The search for a 1RW to replace Pavel Buchnevich has had some wild twists and turns. There was Frank Vatrano, who turned his cameo with the Rangers into a major contract with the Ducks that everyone agreed was an overpayment but simultaneously were annoyed Drury didn't match. He begat Vladimir Tarasenko and the Ghost of Patrick Kane—two guys who basically pushed Gerard Gallant into quitting on the team heading into the playoffs. That led to Jack Roslovic.
At the trade deadline last year the Rangers were in need of a 1RW to partner with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, so they went out and added a 3rd/4th Line center from a bad Columbus team in Jack Roslovic to play that spot. It was a choice.
At the time of the trade, Roslovic had 23 points in 40 games for Columbus; Smith has 29 points in 57 games for the Rangers right now.
The Rangers acquired Roslovic for a conditional 4th Round pick
Jason Zucker
Zucker had a couple of good seasons for the Penguins a few years ago, but last year on a 1-year contract with the Arizona Coyotes he was, as my kids would say, pretty mid. At the deadline he had 25 points in 50 games and was moved to Nashville.
The Predators acquired Zucker for a 6th Round pick.
So yeah…comps are all over the place for a guy like Smith.
How about Quickie?
Backup goalies get moved at every deadline and Quick’s resume as the best American-born goalie in NHL history, a playoff-tested veteran, and the work he has done as Igor’s backup over these last two seasons would make him a hot commodity on the market. That said, Quick’s future is up to Quick. Does he want to run out this season (possibly his final one) in meaningless games or does he want another Cup run? My guess is that he would accept a trade, but only one to a team that’s relatively close by.
So what are the comps?
Jake Allen
Allen’s history is a complex tapestry. He’s been both over and underrated throughout his career. His best run came with the St. Louis Blues about a decade ago, but since then he’s been a perfectly cromulent back up goalie.
The Devils acquired Allen for a 3rd Round pick
McKenzie Blackwood and Alex Georgiev
Two goalies in a similar boat. Both were brought to their respective teams in hopes of becoming “The Guy” and failed to do so. Blackwood struggled with availability, Georgiev struggled with everything else. In the end, the two of them were swapped for each other and Blackwood was since extended by Colorado. Who knows what the future has for Georgiev.
Logan Thompson
A good goalie that people seem to hate, Thompson helped backstop Vegas to their Stanley Cup victory a couple of years ago but that wasn’t enough to get him anointed as “The Man” in Sin City. Now he’s splitting time with Charlie Lindgren in Washington.
The Capitals acquired Thompson for a pair of 3rd Round picks.
So I think it’s pretty clear that a 3rd or 3rd-plus is probably a reasonable return for Quick.
