Rangers turn the page on Patrick Kane and are now going after another pending free agent star

No question about it, the New York Rangers need something, ANYTHING to help shake things up on their roster.

The Rangers currently hold down the third playoff position in the NHL's Metropolitan Division, but they're at real risk of dropping out of the Stanley Cup Playoff picture entirely if they can't sort themselves out over the back half of the regular season. They've been inconsistent all season long thanks mostly to their lack of depth and some momentarily lapses during critical moments. In short: The Rangers are NOT playing like a playoff team, let alone the Stanley Cup contender that many fans and analysts felt they'd be this season.

If I'm GM Chris Drury, I'm madly searching for some help on the trade market. The Rangers have been linked to Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane for months now, but NHL insider Frank Seravalli isn't certain that the Rangers are as hot on Kane as they once were. Instead, Seravalli reports that the Rangers have interest in pending free agent forward Timo Meier of the San Jose Sharks.

From Seravalli's latest podcast for Daily Faceoff:

I think everyone’s curious what happens with Patrick Kane. I would include the New York Rangers in that group still as well. But they’re also doing their due diligence on some others. I was told that Timo Meier of the San Jose Sharks has risen to the very top of the list as a potential trade target and fit for the Rangers.

You look at the season that Meier is having with the Sharks, it’s not just Erik Karlsson who is having a career year. It’s Timo Meier with 25 goals wrapped up already to this point in 45 games. He’s got 45 points, he’s someone that would add a little bit of heft I think to their top-six. And if you can plug him in, whether it’s on the line with Artemi Panarin, whether it’s in another spot with Mika Zibanejad, there’s certainly a place and a spot for Timo Meier.

I think the one complication, I’m told with Patrick Kane even with a team like New York potentially interested, is that I don’t think he wants to go anywhere for a three-month run. I think if he’s going to move, he wants to have a long-term contract extension in place. And that’s sort of where things get complicated for the Rangers as you do the math with someone like Meier. He has a $10 million qualifying offer that’s due to him at the end of this season.

I don’t think anyone thinks right at this moment, even as he’s been a point-per-game player, that this season he’s taking a big leap forward from the 75 points he put up last year to be a $10 million player. So can they come to some sort of long-term contract extension for Timo Meier under a number that is not just comfortable for Meier, but also fits the Rangers and their cap moving forward?

I don’t think there’s been much happening with Meier and the Sharks in terms of a contract negotiation. It’s front-burner for them to try and maximize the return on Timo Meier and as I said the New York Rangers have emerged as a prime candidate to land Meier’s services.

- Frank Seravalli

Honestly, I think Meier is a better fit with the Rangers than Kane is, so this makes a lot of sense. The speculation though is that the Sharks are seeking a top prospect AND a 1st round pick in exchange for Meier. Would the Rangers be willing to give up a young player like Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko or Filip Chytil along with a top pick in exchange for a rental in Meier?

Thoughts, Rangers fans?