Rangers fall again as trade winds swirl
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Twelve days and six games away from the Feb. 25 trade deadline, The Post has learned that Blueshirts’ general manager Jeff Gorton has not engaged in contract extension talks with either Kevin Hayes or Mats Zuccarello.
Hence, the Rangers are on course to trade both impending free agents as rental properties in exchange for draft picks and NHL-ready prospects in a continuation of the rebuild policy instituted one year ago. The question therefore is not so much, “if ” as “when and to whom?” You’d have to think the team will pull Hayes and Zuccarello from the lineup sooner rather than later in order to protect against a deal-wrecking injury.
The powerful Central leading Jets, who defeated the Blueshirts 4-3 on Tuesday night by scoring twice within 1:59 early in the third after the visitors had overcome a first-period 2-0 deficit, are believed among the most interested parties in Hayes. The Jets have a handful of highly regarded prospects including forwards Jack Roslovic and Kristian Vesalainen and defenseman Sami Niku. They also could be in on Zuccarello, who before the match told The Post that he, “[has] not heard any concrete news from my agent” while his agent at Newport Sports, Don Meehan, told The Post that the Norwegian’s situation is “status quo.” Sources confirmed the same as it applies to Hayes.
“We’re playing so many games now, it’s not hard to keep my focus on the ice,” said the laconic No. 13, who coincidentally had one of his most lackluster games of the year. “I’m keeping a clear mind about things. It’s not like I’m waiting to be told that I’m traded. We’ll all find out soon enough.”
Zuccarello, who first slipped into the Blueshirt on Dec. 23, 2010 for his NHL debut against the Lightning, has played some of the most compelling and productive hockey of his career over the last month in connecting with linemates Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider to form one of the league’s most dynamic units.
Indeed, Zibanejad scored twice, once off of a double-deflection off two Jets defensemen, to increase his otherworldly recent numbers to eight goals in the last seven games and 13 over his last 13 matches. Pavel Buchnevich scored the Rangers’ other goal.
“I’m in the best shape of my life,” Zuccarello, whose two assists boosted his run to (five goals, 14 assists) 19 points in the last 12 games, told The Post. “I know I’m 31, but I feel I can contribute to a winning team for a long time. I don’t think I am anywhere near the end of my career. I have a lot to give. I hope it’s here, but if it isn’t, I’ll do my best to help my new team win.”
And isn’t it ironic, like a free ride when you’ve already paid, that as Zuccarello’s play has increased his value as a rental to contenders, he has also re-established his value to the Rangers both on the ice and in the room. The winger’s revival has prompted the Rangers to consider the scenario under which they would trade Zuccarello and then re-sign him as a free agent on July 1. The same could hold true regarding Hayes.
“I’m not aware of that,” Zuccarello said. “If that’s the situation that develops, I would look at it, but that’s far off. I can say that no one has come to me and said that’s the plan.”
Several agents told The Post they believe that Gorton would be prohibited from raising that option during conversations with the players and/or their agents under tampering regulations contained in the collective bargaining agreement . Deputy commissioner Bill Daly did not respond to a Post email seeking clarification of the matter.
The Blueshirts, 2-3-1 over their last six contests with road games coming up in Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Raleigh, played a spirited second period after being run out of the building for most of the opening 20 minutes.
“I thought we played afraid, not afraid in the physical sense of afraid of being hurt, but afraid to make plays and get in on the forecheck,” coach David Quinn said. “We played afraid and on our heels. We talked about it between periods and I thought we responded really well.”
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — When the Rangers return home for a pit stop at Wednesday’s Casino Night, the folks attending are advised to queue at the table of dealer Mika Zibanejad, who is on one of the great hot streaks of recent franchise vintage.
Maybe some of it will rub off.
Very good and very lucky, that defines Zibanejad’s match Tuesday in which he scored two more goals, the first on an intended pass in front from a sharp right-wing angle that banked in, and the second on a fling from the left side that got by netminder Connor Hellebuyck after ricocheting off Jets defensemen Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey.
“It’s obviously nice to see the bounces go in,” the center said after his team’s 4-3 loss to the Central Division-leading Jets. “But we didn’t win, so it doesn’t really matter.”
Zibanejad has recorded 13 goals over his past 11 games, the second Ranger since the 1989-90 season to accomplish that feat, after Adam Graves in 1993-94 and Jaromir Jagr in 2005-06. The center, who finished last season by recording 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in the final eight games, has 25 goals and 56 points in the Blueshirts’ 56 games.
Dustin Byfuglien escaped without a penalty for his flying elbow to Jimmy Vesey’s head late in the first period and was handed merely a two-minute minor for his elbow that sent Jesper Fast’s head into the rear glass late in the second period.
The Blueshirts went with seven defensemen and 11 forwards for the second straight game and the third time in the past five matches. The maneuverability allowed coach David Quinn to move Neal Pionk, who started the night as the swing guy, up to Marc Staal’s right side while Tony DeAngelo struggled at even-strength.
Thus, Vinni Lettieri was the healthy scratch up front. Brett Howden, who hails from Winnipeg, made the trip while continuing his rehab for a sprained MCL.
AHL Hartford goaltender Marek Mazanec was traded Tuesday. The 27-year-old Czech, who spent 10 days on the NHL roster and backed up a few games after signing last summer as a free agent, was sent to the injury-wracked Canucks in exchange for a 2020 seventhround draft pick.