The churn of New York Rangers rumors has posited the club’s interest in two big stars: Auston Matthews and Brady Tkachuk. Matthews, captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Tkachuk, captain of the Ottawa Senators, could be players on the move.
However, judging by the current state of affairs, it seems likelier that Matthews would be on the move than Tkachuk. Be that as it may, landing either star forward would be nothing more than a pipe dream.
The rationale behind that assertion is pretty straightforward.
Assuming that the Maple Leafs and Senators were willing to move forward with a deal, the chances of one happening would depend on the offer the Rangers could put together. And that’s where the situation essentially comes to a screeching halt.
Let’s start with Matthews. The Maple Leafs will be rebuilding, whether they want to admit it or not. As such, they’ll be looking to maximize whatever return they get for the former 60-goal scorer.
The ongoing chatter is that the Maple Leafs are looking at the Quinn Hughes trade between the Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild as a template for this move. If that’s the case, the Rangers would have a tough time coming up with the equivalent of four first-round picks for Matthews.
Perhaps moving the third overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft would be a great start. But what about the rest of the package? Adding Alexis Lafreniere may be a decent second piece. Unless sending Liam Greentree and Gabe Perreault happens, the Maple Leafs might pass.
But would sending all those pieces to Toronto be worth it for the Rangers? It depends on whether the Rangers really think Matthews will turn the franchise around.
Rangers May Have Tougher Time Landing Tkachuk
Unlike the Maple Leafs, the Senators are a playoff club. And Tkachuk is a major piece of their team. That’s why trading Tkachuk could seem paradoxical to the team’s aims.
Even if the Senators believed that they could cash Tkachuk to bulk up their team, the price tag would be just as high as it is on Matthews.
So, would sending Rangers prospects like Perreault and Greentree be worthwhile?
Considering Tkachuk’s long injury history, like Matthews, trading for the 26-year-old Sens captain may be a risky proposition.
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New York Would Only Be Getting Two Years of Tkachuk or Matthews
Let’s also assume that a Tkachuk or Matthews trade occurs this summer. That situation would give the Rangers just two years of Tkachuk or Matthews.
It’s the same sort of gamble the Wild took on Hughes.
Now, if the Tkachuk and Matthews helped deliver a Stanley Cup in that window, the ultimate price tag wouldn’t matter. Fans would take it.
But what if the Rangers trade for either one and then they bolt in free agency?
That’s something that would call such a trade into question. And even if the Rangers inked either Matthews or Tkachuk to an extension, what would that extension look like? Would it even make sense for the team to pursue it?
Those questions make the idea of landing Matthews or Tkachuk questionable at best.
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