Possible Rangers Trade Deadline Targets According to the Analytics
The Rangers have a lot of parts of the game to fix right now, and it's apparent by watching their last few matchups. Everyone is demanding more energy, and the chances that opponents have are just too dangerous. The team started off strong, when it seemed that defensive pairings were working, especially some games with Miller-Fox and Lindgren-Trouba, and 5v5 xG was high. But since then, Laviolette has switched around the lines, which is probably a multi-factor problem like opposing matchups and play style. In order to solve those problems to the level of the preseason expectations for the Rangers, they may need to look towards the trade deadline as a source of resolutions. Some may be surprised to learn that the Rangers don't rank in the top 10 in defensive zone turnovers per game (11th with 9.88 per game). The players that can bring the Rangers back to Stanley Cup contention this season will fill specific roles that can make a big impact.
Face-offs
Center depth will always be needed through the spring. I always emphasize face-offs because each face-off means more and more as the season progresses, especially in the later periods of playoff games. The Rangers are looking solid as they did last year with Trocheck at 60.9% Overall and Sam Carrick 57.7%. The hurting area is Mika Zibanejad against other top line face-off takers, 51.5% overall and 44.3%. If he steps up his numbers in this department, centers specifically aren't nearly as high a priority. With a NMC and NTC on his contract, it's not like Zibanejad is being moved anyways, which I know is a pressing topic for many fans. There are plenty of wingers who would add to a Zibanejad line for face-offs. Here are a few that could be options if the Rangers are looking for wingers with high face-off percentages:
