The New York Rangers are fighting for a playoff spot, but their roster could look significantly different in the offseason.
Using PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool, which allows users to create their own trades, one user proposed a major deal in which the Rangers would acquire Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres. This trade would involve four players and could take place once offseason trading begins. In this scenario, New York would gain two young defensemen and a draft pick in exchange for another young defenseman, while also moving Chris Kreider’s contract and sending out a draft pick.
The Rangers would bring in Byram, who is in the final year of his two-year, $7.7 million contract and will be a restricted free agent. The proposal suggests that New York would sign Byram to a two-year deal worth $4.75 million per season. Byram has scored 7 goals and added 25 assists for 32 points in 65 games this season.
In addition to Byram, the Rangers would also acquire Bernard-Docker, another pending RFA. He is expected to sign a two-year deal worth $900,000 per season. With the Sabres and Ottawa Senators this year, he has recorded 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points in 25 games.
In return, Buffalo would get Schneider, a young, talented defenseman who would fill the gap left by Byram. Schneider is in the first year of a two-year, $4.4 million deal and has tallied 5 goals and 11 assists for 16 points in 67 games this season.
The Rangers would also take on Kreider’s contract, which is in the fifth year of a seven-year, $45.5 million deal. Kreider has been part of trade rumors, having registered 18 goals and 4 assists for 22 points in 53 games this season.
