Rangers Linked to Star Center in Blockbuster Trade Proposal

Rangers Eye Blockbuster Deal for New No. 1 Center

The New York Rangers have stumbled out of the gate in the 2025–26 season. With a 15–13–4 record, they sit seventh in the Metropolitan Division and are riding a three-game losing streak, highlighting their recent inconsistency.

Despite the uneven start, the Rangers remain very much in the playoff mix. They trail the Pittsburgh Penguins by just one point for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot and are tightly bunched with Montreal, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia in a crowded standings race.

Given their postseason expectations, it wouldn’t be surprising to see New York pursue a significant trade to strengthen the roster. One intriguing option on the market is Nashville Predators star center Ryan O’Reilly, who could be an ideal fit for the Rangers.

Heavy Sports has proposed a trade scenario that would bring O’Reilly to Broadway in a high-profile deal.

Proposed Trade

Rangers receive:

• Ryan O’Reilly

• 2026 fourth-round pick

Predators receive:

• 2026 first-round pick (top-10 protected)

• Taylor Raddysh

• Brennan Othmann

O’Reilly Emerging as a Top Trade Target

Nashville is enduring another frustrating campaign. As the holiday break approaches, the Predators sit at 12–14–4, near the bottom of the Central Division, ahead of only Vancouver. As a result, speculation is growing around several Nashville players, with O’Reilly chief among them.

There is increasing belief that the Predators could move the 34-year-old veteran before the 2026 trade deadline. That possibility earned O’Reilly the No. 4 spot on Lyle Richardson’s most recent trade board for Bleacher Report.

Richardson noted that Nashville’s openness to offers should keep O’Reilly firmly in trade discussions leading up to the March 6 deadline.

If the Predators do make him available, the Rangers would be smart to pursue him. O’Reilly could be the missing piece that pushes New York back into legitimate playoff contention.

How O’Reilly Would Help the Rangers

Adding O’Reilly would significantly strengthen the Rangers down the middle. A center group featuring Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, and O’Reilly would be difficult for any opponent to match, regardless of where O’Reilly slots in the lineup.

His elite two-way game would make him a natural fit on both the power play and penalty kill, while his experience and leadership—he previously captained the St. Louis Blues—would be invaluable in the locker room.

Through 30 games this season with Nashville, O’Reilly has tallied 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points, along with a plus-2 rating. He’s coming off a solid 2024–25 campaign as well, where he recorded 21 goals and 53 points in 79 games.