Buchnevich’s name floated in trade proposal

Larry Brooks of the NY Post and the New York Rangers go together like lamb and tuna fish:

You would be hard pressed to actually find a beat reporter that hates the team he covers more than Brooksie hates the Rangers. In todays column, he brought us this:

Under that scenario, perhaps moving Pavel Buchnevich for a north-south winger might make sense to investigate. Someone like Columbus’ Josh Anderson, who has struggled this year, might make sense. The idea is not to toss away or scapegoat Buchnevich, invisible in this one, but to use him in order to diversify the approach and the attack.

“Hey guys, let’s give up a verified top 6 forward for a project who has potential for greatness but is realistically a 3^rd liner on any good team.”- Brooks probably 

I’ll give credit where credit is due. The idea isn’t bad. Use Buch to get a player that might diversify the team’s approach at the attack so the team doesn’t have 12 forwards on the ice trying to skill the way to victory. But Josh Anderson is the wrong player. 

The upsides to Anderson are that he is that he is truly a different player than Buch. He works hard around the edges and at 6’3” 221, he is a big and gritty winger. He has a great upside too, as shown by his 27G 20A in 82GP last season, but has nowhere near the hands and pure skill that Buch brings to the table.  Anderson has also regressed this season. He is currently sitting at 1G 2A in 20 GP and is, at best, a 3rd line player with 2nd line potential all depending on who his center is. Now, what I do love about him, is he is the kind of guy that will go toe to toe with Chara and arguably pull out the victory. That is what this team needs more of, in my opinion, but to give up a 2nd line player for that is not what is best for the Rangers right now. 

This team needs either more picks to continue to build, or more veteran leadership if they are serious about starting to win. With the money that is still (on the books), the best the Rangers can hope for, if they are really intent on moving him, is a 2nd and a 3rd in the upcoming draft. With how deep the upcoming draft is, this is probably the best way to go.