The Blueshirts did some buying and some selling, but avoided costly rentals and are in better long-term position for it.

And some are like this year, when general manager Chris Drury made sure to get a return on impending free agents Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith — none of whom were going to re-up — while at the same time fortifying the roster for a run at a playoff spot and leaving the heavy lifting for the summer.

Rangers add defenseman Carson Soucy in trade with Vancouver Canucks in effort to build up battered blue line crew

The NHL trade deadline has come and gone, but Rangers GM Chris Drury feels the team will receive a big boost down the stretch in another way.