The New York Rangers are reportedly interested in forward Frank Vatrano ahead of Friday’s trade deadline, but the Anaheim Ducks’ asking price may be too much.
Emily Kaplan of ESPN reported “the Rangers initially balked” when the Ducks previously offered a trade package of Vatrano and Adam Henrique in exchange for a first-round draft pick and forward Kaapo Kakko.
“The Rangers clearly thought that was too rich for their liking,” Kaplan wrote.
Anaheim can no longer include Henrique in any trade with the Rangers, as it moved him and Sam Carrick to the Edmonton Oilers in a three-team trade that also involved the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Rangers were busy themselves Wednesday and announced they landed forward Alex Wennberg from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a 2024 second-round draft pick and 2025 conditional fourth-round draft pick.
Yet New York is still in the market for more offensive firepower as it looks to replace Filip Chytil and Blake Wheeler, who are both out for the season.
Kaplan noted general manager Chris Drury is “very hesitant” about including Kakko in a trade, which could be a factor in any additional Vatrano talks since the Ducks reportedly already asked for him in a previous offer.
Vatrano is in the middle of a career-best season production-wise with 49 points on 29 goals and 20 assists.
Those are all career-high numbers and would help New York add more of the needed forward depth ahead of the stretch run.
There is also a familiarity in place, as the veteran played for the Rangers during the 2021-22 season, appearing in 22 games.
For now, New York is six points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes in the race for the Metropolitan Division crown.
However, it has lost three of the last four games and could use more offensive firepower.
Perhaps that firepower will come in the form of Vatrano even if there is some hesitation to give the Ducks a significant return.
