The New York Rangers are reportedly looking for a center to solidify their third line. Recent speculation suggests they could get Adam Henrique or Frank Vatrano from the Ducks.

Recent reports suggested the New York Rangers could be in the market for a center leading up to the March 8 trade deadline. 

Rangers GM Chris Drury could have his eye on Anaheim Ducks forwards Adam Henrique and Frank Vatrano, according to The Athletic's Arthur Staple and Eric Stephens.

Henrique, 34, recently surfaced as a playoff rental option to replace Filip Chytil, who's out for the season with a suspected concussion. As The Hockey News' Ducks site editor Patrick Present has mentioned, Henrique is on pace to set a career high in points this season, with 33 in 49 games so far. The Hockey News' Rangers contributor Matthew Mugno said adding someone with veteran experience and solid production like Henrique could help the squad surpass its performances in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2022 and capture the Stanley Cup.

The 29-year-old Vatrano had a brief but successful tour with the Rangers during their run to the 2022 Eastern Conference final before signing with the Ducks as a free agent.

Carrying a cap hit this season of $5.825 million, Henrique is slated to become a UFA on July 1. If he becomes available before the deadline, the Ducks must retain part of his salary for the Rangers to acquire him. That's assuming they're not on his 10-team no-trade list.

Vatrano carries a more affordable $3.65-million cap hit, lacks no-trade protection and is signed through next season. Nevertheless, he could prove expensive in terms of return. He's on pace to reach the 30-goal plateau for the first time in his career. Staple and Stephens speculated that Ducks GM Pat Verbeek could attempt to cash in while Vatrano's value is high.

A potential return from the Rangers could include winger Kaapo Kakko. It was reported last week that Drury was fielding calls about the 22-year-old right wing. Verbeek could prefer a package with prospects, such as Brennan Othmann or Gabriel Perreault, though Stephens believes those two Ranger hopefuls could be off-limits as trade bait.

Henrique might not be the only center on Drury's radar. Mugno noted a recent report by TSN's Darren Dreger claiming the Philadelphia Flyers were taking calls on Scott Laughton. They're not keen to move him but were gauging the interest in the 29-year-old Flyers center, who's under contract through 2025-26 with an annual cap hit of $3 million.