from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,
Twelve days and six games away from the Feb. 25 trade deadline, The Post has learned that Blueshirts general manager Jeff Gorton has not engaged in contract extension talks with either Kevin Hayes or Mats Zuccarello.
Hence, the Rangers are on course to trade both impending free agents as rental properties in exchange for draft picks and NHL-ready prospects in a continuation of the rebuild policy instituted one year ago. The question therefore is not so much, “if” as “when and to whom?” You’d have to think the team will pull Hayes and Zuccarello from the lineup sooner rather than later in order to protect against a deal-wrecking injury.
The powerful Central-leading Jets, who defeated the Blueshirts 4-3 on Tuesday night by scoring twice within 1:59 early in the third after the visitors had overcome a first-period 2-0 deficit, are believed among the most interested parties in Hayes. The Jets have a handful of highly regarded prospects, including forwards Jack Roslovic and Kristian Vesalainen and defenseman Sami Niku.
They also could be in on Zuccarello, who before the match told The Post that he “[has] not heard any concrete news from my agent,” while his agent at Newport Sports, Don Meehan, told The Post that the Norwegian’s situation is “status quo.” Sources confirmed the same as it applies to Hayes.
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