Media Bytes: Poaching Playoff Performers, Ferraro, Draft Deliberations
Mario Ferraro is headed to UFA—and at least one expert isn't sure the Rangers are the right fit. Plus: who New York should be targeting from this year's playoff field.
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Poaching Playoff Performers
1. On this week’s Rangers Recon, Andrew Chelney and Arthur Staple explored a compelling exercise: identifying players from current playoff rosters who could help accelerate the New York Rangers’ retooling effort.
The discussion covered a wide range of names, but several potential targets stood out.
Chelney began with the Colorado Avalanche, pointing to 29-year-old Ross Colton as an intriguing fit.
“He’s someone I think the Avs would want to keep, but I don’t think he’s untouchable,” Chelney said. “He has the exact skill set the Rangers’ middle six needs—scoring ability, speed, and tenacity. I also like how effective he is at taking the puck away. If Chris Drury really wanted to pursue it, there’s a path to getting it done.”
Staple also identified another potential fit tied to Colorado: Nicolas Roy.
“I think he brings valuable center versatility,” Staple said. “He’s a big body with skill, and he came through that Vegas system before ending up in Toronto during that failed experiment. If you’re looking for dependable middle-six players—maybe a little older, sure—I like both of those guys.”
Later in the episode, the conversation shifted to the Minnesota Wild and the Vincent Trocheck trade talks that reportedly stalled at the trade deadline.
“Around the deadline, all the insiders were saying that Danila Yurov was the sticking point in a potential Trocheck deal,” Staple explained. “That’s the guy I’d hold out for. I think he’s only scratching the surface of what he can become.”
Staple argued that Danila Yurov has been somewhat blocked in Minnesota because of the team’s established top-six depth. In his view, the Rangers could offer Yurov a clearer path to a major offensive role and more opportunity to grow into a top-six fixture.
“I understand why the Wild didn’t want to move him, but if those Trocheck conversations reopen, I think Chris Drury is right to insist that Yurov be the centerpiece coming back.”
Staple also speculated about the future of Pavel Dorofeyev with the Vegas Golden Knights, noting that his next contract could command a massive raise.
“I’d absolutely want him on my team, and I’d be willing to give up a fair amount to get him,” Staple said. “If Vegas decides they really need someone like Braden Schneider, for example, you could start building a larger package around that kind of framework.”
