New York Rangers: Top 3 teams who should trade for Alexandar Georgiev
The New York Rangers have made a fascinating move by calling up Igor Shesterkin from the AHL. This suggests they might be willing to trade Alexandar Georgiev. Here are the 3 teams who should be interested.
The New York Rangers have a wonderful problem right now. They have too many good goalies. The Rangers already had future Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist and strong backup Alexandar Georgiev on the roster. But now they’re adding top prospect Igor Shesterkin, as they called him up from the AHL.
Teams usually don’t stick with three goalies for that long. It simply doesn’t work because it’s so hard to find enough playing time for three goalies. Ergo, the Rangers might be looking to move someone.
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We can rule out Shesterkin because he’s their future. Crazier things have happened, but a Shesterkin trade would be especially crazy. They’ve invested too much in him to trade him right now.
Lundqvist would make sense, as he’s an aging goalie. Trading him would allow the Rangers to move on to a younger, less expensive tandem. However, Lundqvist has a no-trade clause and he has shown no inclination to waive it for anyone.
This leaves Georgiev as the odd man out. Trading him now would make a great deal of sense. His value is likely about as high as it’s going to be, though it’s remarkably hard to predict how goalies will do. That alone should motivate the Rangers to trade him sooner rather than later.
History tells us a trade likely won’t happen during the regular season. Teams are very reluctant to trade for a goalie during the season. However, these are special circumstances. The Rangers should be quite motivated to trade Georgiev because it would make their crease far less crowded. They have to figure out what they have in Shesterkin and as long as they have three goalies, it’s going to be hard for them to figure that out.
Also, there should be teams interested in Georgiev. He’s a darn good young goalie. Those are as good as good in today’s NHL. Even if a trade doesn’t happen during the season, it’s happening before the start of next season. Which teams should trade for him?
3. Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers already have Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith. However, the latter becomes a free agent after this season, so there will be a spot open at that point. Shane Starrett and Stuart Skinner aren’t exactly posting encouraging numbers in the AHL either.
I don’t think the Oilers would trade for Georgiev during the season, but a trade in the offseason could make a ton of sense. Georgiev could be the future in net for the Oilers, or at least be a part of it. I’m not sure if he’ll be a true number one, but at worst, I think he’s proven he can be a very effective member of a tandem. Which, actually, makes sense for the Oilers.
Koskinen has proven to be most effective in a tandem where he’s a 1a or 1b goalie, instead of a number one goalie. Few goalies have what it takes to be in a tandem like that. Georgiev, though, does.
Also, keep in mind the Oilers have traded for a Rangers goalie before. They traded for Cam Talbot back in 2015. It worked out pretty well for them, though injuries and being overused hurt him quite a bit. This offseason will see a number of interesting free agent goalies, but the Oilers should keep an eye on Georgiev.
2. San Jose Sharks
Now we’re diving into teams who might be motivated to trade for Georgiev right now. The New York Rangers should be calling the San Jose Sharks to see if they’re interested in him because, as they say, a desperate GM is the best kind of GM to work with. And Doug Wilson is certainly desperate at this point.
The Sharks have the second-worst goaltending in the NHL. Only the Detroit Red Wings have gotten worse goaltending. This isn’t a new trend either. The same thing happened last season. Wilson did nothing to address it and now the Sharks find themselves desperate for an upgrade.
Aaron Dell would probably have to be involved in any trade for Georgiev. The Rangers could simply just waive him if they don’t like him. History shows a second-round pick plus a prospect is what it takes to get a quality, young goalie.
The Sharks probably should trade for Georgiev now to break him in and get him ready for next season, but again, history shows that’s not too likely. I’d do it, but I’m not running things for the Sharks.
There is, however, one team that could use Georgiev right now. One team who it would be worth it for.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
Under Sheldon Keefe, the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking like the Stanley Cup contender they were supposed to be. This alone should give any team who wants to hire Mike Babcock a reason not to do so.
As great as the Leafs have looked, they still have one huge weakness. They need a backup goalie. Frederik Andersen has been terrific, but he needs a break. If the Leafs get a very good backup, they could finally give Andersen a more reasonable workload, which could keep him fresh for (hopefully) a long playoff run.
Georgiev is the best backup on the market. He’s someone the Maple Leafs should be very interested in. Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas should be on the phone with the New York Rangers right now trying to negotiate a trade.
Also, I’m not a Rangers fan (for the record, I like the Capitals). But if I were a Rangers fan, I’d be rooting for the Leafs to trade for Georgiev because they have quite a few fascinating prospects I’d be happy to get for Georgiev.
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The guy I would target is Jeremy Bracco. He’s put up outstanding numbers in the AHL. However, the Leafs forward depth has left him without a job in the NHL. Bracco is a bit one-dimensional, but the Rangers could really use someone like him.