The 8 Centers the Rangers Should Be Targeting at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline

The New York Rangers have only won just 10 of their past 20 games. What was once a titanic lead in the Metropolitan Division has shrunk to just three points, with the Carolina Hurricanes on their heels.

Many factors have contributed to their slump. Igor Shesterkin hasn't played up to his usual standard. Multiple injuries have taken away the team's depth. The team, despite generating many scoring chances, has struggled to convert. Those are mostly temporary issues that should course-correct with time.

Less certain is the team's fate at the center. Filip Chytil, out since early November with a concussion, has no timetable for his return. The Rangers have utilized Nick Bonino and Barclay Goodrow at center on the third and fourth lines, respectively. Though they both kill penalties well, the two heavily feature in the team's struggles to carry play at five-on-five. The duo has scored just one goal each, and the opposition has way too much control of play when their lines are on the ice.

Regardless of Chytil's status, the Rangers would be better off with an upgrade at the center position. If the young Czech is in serious jeopardy of missing the rest of the season, then the need for another center moves to a desperate level.

Let's take a look at the options that might be available.

Lindholm, 29, will be an unrestricted free agent in July. Though the Flames have significantly improved their play recently, they are on the outside looking in of the playoff picture and are in the midst of an existential crisis as a franchise, with numerous top players slated to hit free agency after the season. Lindholm is more likely to leave than stay.

Lindholm's career year of 82 points in 2021-22 was inflated by linemates Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, but his 28 points in 43 games this season aren't an accurate reflection of his abilities, either. At his best, Lindholm is a strong offensive driver and competent defensive center.

If Chytil is indeed out for the season, then Lindholm would be the best replacement available. Being able to deploy three All-Star caliber centers in Zibanejad, Trocheck, and Lindholm for 90 percent of the game would be a matchup nightmare for the opposition.

A combination of a bad contract, injuries, and overexposure on a weak team have made Henrique a difficult player to trade, but Henrique has averaged 52 points per 82 games over the past three seasons. His $5.825 million cap hit expires this summer, and with Anaheim presumably ready to retain half of that number to facilitate a trade, he's suddenly an intriguing option.

Henrique has historically been a creator of offense at even strength and, though his defensive metrics aren't great, he would be in a different world of competition playing behind Zibanejad and Trocheck.

The 33-year-old has previously played a middle-six center during a Cup run with the Devils over a decade ago, and that's just what the Rangers need. If he performs, Rangers fans will get over the negative association stemming from the 2012 Eastern Conference Final. Just ask Jonathan Quick.

Trading Monahan was practically built into Montreal's plans when they signed him to a one-year, $1.985 million contract.

Though he's still not the player he once was because of hip injuries, Monahan has salvaged his career. Playing second-fiddle to Nick Suzuki, Monahan has tallied 11 goals and 14 assists in 43 games for the rebuilding Habs.

Monahan has been thriving offensively and with the aid of power-play opportunities. The Rangers would ask him to play a checking-line role, but he fits better as a sheltered offensive driver.

Other centers available may offer superior two-way play, but depending on how the market shakes out, Monahan would still be a massive improvement over the Rangers' current options.

Mass departures are coming to Columbus, and that may not be restricted to the roster. In any case, expect Jack Roslovic to be available.

Roslovic's career high for points was back during the 2021-22 season when he posted 45 points in 81 games. On a team heading nowhere, the 26-year-old's expected goal percentage is surprisingly a shade above 50 percent this season.

Columbus shouldn't balk at retaining half of his $4 million contract. He's a hard-working forward who can play both center and wing. He produces offensively at even strength and has experience on the penalty kill.

Like Monahan, Wennberg is a former top young player who lost his mojo and has worked hard to reclaim his career. The former first-round pick out of Columbus signed in Seattle for their inaugural season on a three-year, $4.5 million contract that came with limited trade protections.

The move hasn't quite worked out. Wennberg totaled just 37 and 38 points, respectively, in his first two seasons and is on pace for 13 goals and 21 assists this season despite leading all Seattle forwards in ice time.

The difficulty with Wennberg is that he doesn't quite produce enough offense to warrant priority in goal-seeking shifts, but he also isn't consistent enough off the puck to be a sure thing in shutdown situations. He'd still be a clear upgrade over the Rangers' current options and, when everything clicks, he can play like a difference-making two-way center.

Novak is the player on this list with the lowest profile, but that's not indicative of what he could do to help the Rangers. A former sought-after prospect who showed well as a freshman at Minnesota, Novak plateaued during his three remaining NCAA seasons and toiled in the minor leagues for four seasons before earning his first NHL ice time.

Novak was in the AHL as recently as last season, but the 26-year-old has earned late-bloomer status. Novak tallied 43 points in 51 games for Nashville last season. This season, with the departures of Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene, he's taken the second-line center spot and made it his.

Novak has 20 points in 31 games while playing predominantly with Luke Evangelista and Keifer Sherwood. Equally important? He's held his own defensively. With an expected goals percentage of 55.54 and a Corsi percentage 53.54, Novak tilts the ice toward the opposing goal.

A playmaking center with defensive instincts and a frugal $800,000 cap hit? Novak may not have the reputation of the others on this list, but that could be to the Rangers' advantage. Pound-for-pound, he might offer the best return-on-investment of any center available.

The St. Louis Blues acquired Kevin Hayes over the summer as part of an ill-fated attempt to compete with a roster that is plainly not up to snuff.

The former five-season Ranger has lost a step at age 31, but he's still a heavy, rangy, playmaking forward with high hockey IQ. Hayes has 10 goals and 10 assists in 41 games for an inept offensive team. His defense has also taken a hit—his expected goals percentage this season is slightly above 44 percent—but he could be a fit in head coach Peter Laviolette's system, where the team attempts to clog up the neutral zone with sticks and bodies.

The Blues acquired Hayes at half of his $7.14 million cap hit. If the Blues retained another 50-percent in a trade, then his acquiring team would be adding Hayes for this and two more seasons at a bargain $1.79 million cap hit. Hayes also has plenty of experience playing right wing and could move there should Chytil return.

Could Drury be enticed by an opportunity to add Hayes for three playoff runs at a cap hit below his true value?

John Tortorella is a polarizing head coach. Some players, such as Rasmus Ristolainen, credit him with unlocking their potential. Others end up in his dog house.

Morgan Frost is among the latter. The 2017 first-round pick was a dominant playmaking center in junior hockey, but he has struggled to find his identity in the NHL.

Maybe that's not his fault. Frost contributed 19 goals and 27 assists as a 23-year-old for the Flyers last season. This season, Frost has 15 points in 32 games despite averaging just over 15 minutes per game. With strong two-way possession-driving metrics, Frost at least shows indicators of a 200-foot, middle-six center. For whatever reasons, Tortorella doesn't agree, and Frost is on the chopping block.

Frost's $2.1 million cap hit through 2025 is underpayment for what he brings to the table, and at just 24 years old, he has the potential to be a building block for a number of seasons ahead.

Advanced statistics courtesy of NaturalStatTrick. Salary information courtesy of CapFriendly.