The NHL trade deadline has come and gone and once again New York Rangers General Manger Jeff Gorton was faced with letting go a couple of mainstay players as another chapter in the rebuild was completed. This year’s deadline provided an additional dimension of caution and portential hazard with the upcoming expansion draft for the newly awarded franchise in Seattle.
On the trade block were upcoming unrestricted free agents Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Hayes and Adam McQuaid. Due to contract term prerequisites, it was clear Gorton did not see these players as 5 year investments or the annual cap hits that the team would need to absorb to keep them.