Do the New York Rangers need to trade for a defenseman? The Rangers have had a pretty hot start to the 2024-25 season, but defensively their play has been inconsistent. These struggles defensively caught up to New York as they lost 5-3 to the Capitals on Tuesday night with Peter Laviolette pinpointing poor defensive play as the cause for their downfall. In the playoffs, a strong defensive structure is usually the leading factor in helping teams go on championship runs, so the Rangers will need to fix up these issues at some point. Igor Shesterkin Has Reportedly Rejected Contract Extension Paying Him $11 Million Per Season How can they do that? The simple answer is to work with the current core of players and hope that over time these issues won’t be a concern come April, May and maybe even June. While the Rangers may be inconsistent at times defensively, it’s clear that the team definitely has some talented blue liners. However, at the trade deadline, it wouldn’t hurt to add a little bit of depth at the position to ensure the Rangers are as strong as possible going into the playoffs. It doesn't have to be a big name. Chris Drury should go after a defenseman who can help bring a sense of grit and someone who plays a two-way game. A trade involving the Rangers may not happen for a while, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye out for.
