In an effort to solidify their position as Stanley Cup contenders, the New York Rangers made three trades before the NHL trade deadline on Friday. With the addition of defenseman Chad Ruhwedel from the Penguins, forward Jack Roslovic from the Blue Jackets, and forward Nic Petan from the Wild, the Rangers have bolstered their roster for the playoff push.

The first trade saw the Rangers acquire Ruhwedel from the Penguins in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. The 33-year-old right-handed defenseman provides valuable depth on the backend, adding support to the likes of Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba, and Braden Schneider. Ruhwedel, who signed with the Penguins as a free agent in 2016, has recorded one goal and three assists in 47 games this season.

In a separate minor-league swap, the Rangers sent forward Turner Elson to the Wild in exchange for forward Nic Petan. Petan brings with him 170 NHL games of experience over nine seasons. While he has spent a majority of this season with the Wild's AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild, Petan has contributed two assists in six games for the big club.

The final trade of the day saw the Rangers surprise everyone by acquiring Jack Roslovic from the Blue Jackets in the final minutes before the trade deadline. In exchange, the Rangers sent a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to Columbus. If the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Final this season and Roslovic plays in at least 50% of the postseason contests, the pick becomes a third-rounder. The 27-year-old forward has six goals and 17 assists in 40 games with the Blue Jackets this season.

These moves come on the heels of the Rangers' major acquisition earlier in the week when they landed center Alex Wennberg from the Kraken. As the team looks to make a deep playoff run, these trades enhance their depth and add valuable experience to their roster.

The Rangers now head into the final stretch of the regular season with a stronger lineup as they aim to secure their spot in the playoffs and compete for hockey's ultimate prize.