The New York Rangers’ complete roster overhaul appears to be entering its next step, as neither of their top two goal-scorers will be in the lineup on Thursday as the Rangers work on trading the wingers.
Two days after trading defenseman Nick Holden to the Boston Bruins, the Rangers reportedly have scratched Rick Nash and Michael Grabner as a precaution ahead of Thursday’s game in Montreal against the Canadiens, according to the New York Post’s Brett Cyrgalis and TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.
Grabner expected to be pulled from Rangers lineup tonight given trade talks happening… Rangers might potentially do same with Rick Nash.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 22, 2018
Neither Rick Nash nor Michael Grabner will play for #NYR tonight. Team closing in deals, so right now, this is just precautionary. Lettieri and Carey will be in.
— Brett Cyrgalis (@BrettCyrgalis) February 22, 2018
Both of those names have frequently come up in the rumored trade conversations as the Monday’s NHL Trade Deadline draws near.
Nash has the second-most goals for the Rangers this season (18), and the sixth-most points (28). Grabner is the team’s highest goal scorer (25), with the fourth-highest point total on the team (31).
While potential landing spots for both players are uncertain at the moment, the move to scratch them definitely is an indication that the Rangers are all hands on deck for their impending rebuild.
