First round pick could be on the table in big trade.

This rumor is of particular interest because it involves two familiar trading partners.

Larry Brooks of the New York Post is reporting that conversations have taken place between the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Brooks went one step further, stating that talks were specifically regarding talented younf forward Jonathan Drouin.

The Post has learned Blueshirts GM Jeff Gorton and Yzerman first talked about Drouin when the Rangers were in Tampa for last Wednesday’s 5-2 victory over the Lightning.

Brooks believes that the best fit for both sides would be a trade that involves defenseman Keith Yandle, who comes with a relatively low cap hit of $2.625 million as a rental player, and draft picks.

The Blueshirts could have a match for the Lightning in rental property Keith Yandle, the offense-inclined defenseman whose presumed availability is not based on his performance or value to this year’s team, but on the likelihood that he will hit the unrestricted free agent market on July 1.

While most believe that the Rangers have traded away their 2016 1st round draft choice in the deal that brought Yandle to the Rangers, Brooks reports that the Rangers have the option to defer that pick to 2017, something that was confirmed by NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly.

“It is not self-effectuating,” Daly wrote. “The Rangers can decide to transfer their [first] in 2016 or their [first] in 2017, and must notify Arizona prior to the 2016 NHL Draft Lottery which it will be.

Brooks believes that a 1st and Yandle would be too steep a price for Drouin, who despite his pedigree has been struggling to make a consistent impact on the NHL level, but as stated earlier the Rangers and Lightning havefound a way to made big deals workl in the past.

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