The New York Rangers are right in the thick of the NHL playoff race.
Alain Vigneault's squad is four points behind the Islanders in the Metro Division and tied with the Penguins for the fourth playoff spot in the East with two games in hand. They're well-positioned for the postseason, but GM Glen Sather could look to add some forward depth to ensure another serious playoff run.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a strong, ascending team but have been beset by injury woes the likes of which may have never before been seen in the NHL - they've already racked up 346 man games lost to injury this year. They're out of the playoff race with 27 games remaining and could turn their attention to next season by becoming sellers ahead of the NHL's trade deadline in March.
The latest NHL trade rumor, from The Fourth Period, reveals that the two sides have been discussing a deal for center Mark Letestu.
"According to sources, TFP has learned the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins are among the teams eyeing Letestu.
"TFP Columnist and New York Correspondent Patrick Kearns confirmed, via Twitter, on Wednesday, the Rangers have expressed interest in Letestu."
Letestu, 30, is in the final year of a two-year deal that carries a cap hit of $1.2 million. He's got six goals and three assists in only 27 games this year - he's one of those Blue Jackets that lost a number of games to injury.
Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Post-Dispatch wrote recently that it's "safe to add Letestu's name to the list of players who could be traded" by Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen ahead of the deadline.
As a pending unrestricted free agent with a very palatable cap hit and a track record of NHL success - he scored 12 goals and added 22 assists in 82 games just last season - it's not hard to see why the Rangers and Sather would be interested in his potential addition.
