Tuomo Ruutu, Shane Doan No Longer Trade Options

The Rangers have been connected to Tuomo Ruutu and Shane Doan over the past few weeks as the trade deadline looms closer and closer, but you can cross both of those names off the list of possible trade targets for the Blueshirts. Ruutu agreed to a four-year, $19 million extension with the Hurricanes earlier today, and the Coyotes made a trade and acquired forward Antoine Vermette from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The thing about today's NHL is that the standings fluctuate so frequently that teams can literally go from being a seller one week to a buyer the next. Teams like the Ducks and Coyotes, for example, were out of the playoff picture two weeks ago and now the Coyotes are sitting comfortably as the seventh seed in the Western Conference, while the Ducks are only six points out of a playoff spot. So, all the talk of high-profile players like Shane Doan and Corey Perry being on the move are now put on hold. The fact that it's so easy for teams to gain an extra point by going to overtime, and then have the ability to steal wins in the shootout is what makes the trade market change daily.

It's hard to say who the Rangers will target. Other than being heavily rumored to be in the hunt for Rick Nash lately, it seems like things have been pretty quiet, although that's not unusual for how Glen Sather operates. Usually when Sather makes a deal it comes together fairly quickly. But we shall see.