Sunday’s game against the Islanders was their last before Monday’s NHL trade deadline, but inside the Rangers' dressing room, there hasn’t been that air of anticipation – or dread – that might have been there in past seasons.
"I think everybody's just more worried about our position that we're in (in the playoff chase), and trying to get points,’’ forward Brett Howden said Sunday morning of the team’s mood approaching the deadline. "Especially with playing games every other night, there's really no time to be thinking about anything else.’’
Considering where they are in their rebuild process, this year’s trade deadline figures to be quieter than the past few years.