It’s no secret that the New York Rangers haven’t played nearly as well as anyone expected before the season. However, the last few weeks have been especially devastating. Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin are hurt, and New York suffered their worst loss of the season against the Boston Bruins in a 10-2 slaughter last week. All of these events have gotten the rumour mill stirring. Furthermore, new reports shed light on who might be leaving the team.
NHL Rumours and Latest on Potential New York Rangers Trades
Rumour: New reports have mentioned potential Rangers players who could be on the move before the deadline ends. Some notable players mentioned in this article include Artemi Panarin, Brennan Othmann and Vincent Trocheck.
Analysis: Trade rumours around Panarin have been floating around all season, but with the Rangers recent struggles, Trocheck and Othmann are being mentioned as well. Expect the Rangers to be big sellers at the deadline.
Panarin hasn’t played his best, and he is a unrestricted free agent after this year is over. However, he has recovered from a slow start at the beginning of the year. Even so, general manager Chris Drury might not be willing to meet Panarin’s contract demands, as he seems to be asking for a large extension. At 34 years old, the Rangers could be hesitant to offer him a big contract if the focus is on rebuilding the roster.
An Old Rumour
Othmann was a first-round pick from the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, but has struggled to crack the lineup. In short, Othmann hasn’t played well, scoring no points in the six games he’s played. Many believed that Othmann would’ve been moved at last year’s deadline, but the Rangers gave him one last chance. However, that did result in him not making this years starting lineup.
The Rangers have recalled Brennan Othmann from Hartford https://t.co/3UWVs60dHy pic.twitter.com/7BMNCe1pdd
— SNY (@SNYtv) January 11, 2026
Othmann has been called up once again, potentially showing that the Rangers are getting more film on him out there for teams that could trade for him. However, while that could help his trade stock, it could tank it as well if he plays poorly.
A New Rumour
A newer name emerging in trade rumours is Vincent Trocheck. Trocheck is a big leader and a fan favourite, so moving him is a big ask. He is older, but his contract is team friendly, costing the Rangers under $6 million a year in salary cap space. Trocheck also has four years of control left, making him a good depth player in the future. However, his age and contract length will have teams calling for him, so a good return could be waiting.
What It Means
These new reports show that the Rangers will be sellers at the 2026 trade deadline. New York’s recent struggles has forced the organization to look more toward the future instead. They aren’t getting any younger, and each game they seem to get worse and worse. New York has plenty of serviceable veterans for teams to trade for, so while it seems bleak, things could be looking up. If the Rangers are able to get solid assets back in exchange for veterans who are either too expensive to keep or offer nothing to the team currently, they could find themselves back in contention as soon as next year.
Main Photo Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports