Entering Thursday night's game, the Rangers had not yet taken the precaution of scratching any of their trade chips from the lineup as Monday's NHL trade deadline fast approaches, though they did pull Adam McQuaid during Thursday's first period. They went to such lengths last year when they were on the brink of dealing Rick Nash and Michael Grabner.

Yes, the Rangers will be sellers for the second straight season after issuing their Declaration of Reconstruction last year, a decree to rebuild the roster after years of dealing assets in attempts to make runs at the Stanley Cup. Now the goal is to acquire picks and promising young players.

Here's a look at the Rangers who could be elsewhere by 3 p.m. Monday:

As the Rangers slog through a rebuilding season, they have chips to cash in on once again after last year's eventful trade deadline.

Chief among them is Kevin Hayes, who received only a one-year, $5.175 million deal as a restricted free agent last summer and is set for unrestricted free agency later this year. The ascending 26-year-old center could be a target for the Blue Jackets before Monday's deadline if they fail in their pursuit of Ottawa's Matt Duchene, according to Elliotte Friedman's latest 31 Thoughts column.

The Rangers made a third-period comeback, but it fell one goal short in a 6-5 loss the Penguins on Sunday afternoon. >> Box score

First period:

• 16:11 PIT Kris Letang; Assists: Sidney Crosby
• 19:20 NYR Mats Zuccarello (Power Play); Assists: Kevin Hayes, Kevin Shattenkirk

While the Sabres enter Friday four points behind Pittsburgh for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, the Rangers (24-24-8, 56 points) are 11 points back, and trade rumors are starting to surface ahead of the Feb. 25 deadline.

One candidate to be moved is Mats Zuccarello, who of late is forming strong chemistry with Mika Zibanejad.

Zuccarello recorded two assists in Tuesday's 4-3 loss at Winnipeg and has 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in his last 12 games. He also has a multi-point game in six of his last 11 contests and has 24 points (six goals, 18 assists) in his last 25 contests.

Rangers C Kevin Hayes has been rehabbing from an injury since the beginning of the month, but he finally made his way back to the ice against the Flyers on Tuesday night. And he couldn't have felt any better.

"I felt pretty good actually," he told SNY's Justine Ward on Wednesday. "I thought the first period I was pretty good, I played with [Jimmy] Ves[ey] pretty much the whole first...Felt good with the puck, my legs felt pretty fresh, so throughout the rest of the game I felt pretty good."

The Rangers, who lost 1-0 to Philly, will look to get back on the winning side against another division opponent in the Devils on Thursday and Hayes looked ahead to playing in yet another chapter of the rivalry...

A battle against your cross-town rival is one way to snap out of a funk. Both the Islanders and Rangers need a victory Thursday night as the teams prepare to play against each other at Madison Square Garden in the front end of a home-and-home. 
 
The Rangers must find a way to prevent the ship from completely collapsing after an ugly four-game losing streak in which they were outscored 22-5 and Henrik Lundqvist was chased from the net twice.
 
The Islanders fell to the Hurricanes on Tuesday, snapping an impressive six-game winning streak highlighted by a dominant 4-0 win over the Maple Leafs in Toronto. 

A battle against your cross-town rival is one way to snap out of a funk. Both the Islanders and Rangers need a victory Thursday night as the teams prepare to play against each other at Madison Square Garden in the front end of a home-and-home. 
 
The Rangers must find a way to prevent the ship from completely collapsing after an ugly four-game losing streak in which they were outscored 22-5 and Henrik Lundqvist was chased from the net twice.
 
The Islanders fell to the Hurricanes on Tuesday, snapping an impressive six-game winning streak highlighted by a dominant 4-0 win over the Maple Leafs in Toronto. 

This was going to be a story about how the New York Rangers were in a rebuild. It was going to be a story about how winning was not going to solve the team's long-term goals.

Well, a funny thing happened along the way: the guys on the ice continue to play well despite some glaring shortcomings. Perhaps the Rangers are following the path of the New York Yankees, who rebuilt quickly over one trade deadline.

The Rangers continued their strong start Monday evening with a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators in front of the MSG faithful. As we are now past the quarter point of the season, the Blueshirts hold a playoff spot with a 13-10-2 record. There are still over 50 games left in the season, but teams in a playoff spot by Thanksgiving have over a 60 percent chance of making the playoffs.

The Rangers scored two straight goals to start this game off, but the Capitals came right back to deliver a 5-3 loss at The Garden on Saturday. >> Box score

First period:

• 9:12 NYR Jimmy Vesey; Assists: Jesper Fast, Kevin Hayes

The Rangers overcame a 3-1 deficit in the second period by scoring four unanswered goals -- including three in the third frame -- for a 5-3 come-from-behind victory over the Montreal Canadiens. >> Box score

First period:

• 0:23 MTL Tomas Tatar; Assists: Jordie Benn, Jeff Petry
• 15:50 NYR Chris Kreider; Assists: Kevin Hayes

The Rangers managed to salvage another third-period blown lead with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Ducks on the road Thursday night. Box score

4:59PM: Elliotte Friedman said that the Rangers will have no trouble moving Zuccarello or Hayes. (Nichols)

12:13PM: Kevin Hayes, Mats Zuccarello and Vlad Namestnikov are all part of TSN's first Trade Bait board of the season. (TSN.ca)

Hayes is ranked 2nd, Zuccarello 3rd and Vlad Namestnikov is 13th. (TSN.ca)

• Namestnikov is reportedly drawing interest around the league.
• Hayes has said that he wants to stay with the Rangers past this season.
• Zuccarello also said that he wants to remain with the Rangers.

10/27/18 | On Hockey Night in Canada, Nick Kypreos said that Kevin Hayes is drawing a lot of interest from scouts and mentions Winnipeg as a possible option.

Kypreos says that he doesn't think Winnipeg would move players off their roster for Hayes but instead try to acquire him for a draft pick or prospect. (Sportsnet)

10/24 | Kevin Hayes said on Wednesday that the Rangers present a "good formula" for him and that he wants stay in New York for the rebuild and be "part of the future." (NY Post)

9/6/18 | Jeff Gorton said that people should not assume that the Rangers will be "one and done" with Hayes and that both sides are interested in staying together. (NY Post)

Gorton said that Hayes should come to camp in "great shape, be a leader, have a big season" and then things can go from there. (NY Post)

8/25/18 | Kevin Hayes said that a one-year contract was the best situation for both himself and the Rangers this summer but that he still hopes to stay with the organization past this season. (NHL.com)

Over the weekend the Rangers signed 24-year old defenseman Brady Skjei to a six-year deal worth $5.25 million per season.

On Monday the Rangers signed 26-year old Kevin Hayes to a one-year deal worth $5.125 million.

On Tuesday, the Rangers came to terms with Ryan Spooner, 26, on a two-year deal that has a cap hit of $4 million per season.

7/29/18 | Rick Carpiniello, of The Athletic, confirms that there is a "significant gap in contract talks and that if Hayes signs a one-year deal it's likely he will be traded before being a UFA next summer.

7/28/19 | According to Larry Brooks, Kevin Hayes is likely to sign a one-year deal with the Rangers that would allow him to be a UFA next summer. (NY Post)

He writes that there has been "little traction" in talks for a long-term deal and that Hayes is believed to be seeking a deal between $5.5 million and $6 million for five or six-years. (NY Post)

Larry Brooks writes that with how the market has developed, if Kevin Hayes is able to become a UFA next summer he would likely command a contract of around five-years and $30 million. (NY Post)

Brooks writes that the Rangers and Jeff Gorton will have to make a decision on whether to sign him to a similar deal now or move him in a trade. (NY Post)

He writes that arbitration, and a one-year deal that would allow Hayes to walk directly into free agency "is not an option." (NY Post)

Jeff Gorton said on Saturday that he has had "lengthy" discussions with four of the Rangers five arbitration eligible RFAs.

The players he has spoken with include Jimmy Vesey, Brady Skjei, Vlad Namestnikov and Kevin Hayes.

Gorton said that he intends to speak with Ryan Spooner's agents this week.

6/17/18 | Larry Brooks writes that Kevin Hayes is generating "significant interest" around the league. (NY Post)

Brooks notes that the Rangers could have a glut at center and that if Hayes were to be moved it would likely be as the "centerpiece" of a deal to acquire a defenseman. (NY Post)

He wrote that it's unlikely the Rangers would move Hayes in an effort to move up in the draft. (NY Post)

In his column on Sunday, Larry Brooks wrote that he would only trade Kevin Hayes or Mika Zibanejad if the Rangers could land a "legit" top-four right shot defenseman. (NY Post)

He notes that Jacob Trouba of the Jets is probably out of reach but that Calgary, with their "surplus" of right shot defensemen and need for a center could be a match. (NY Post)

Brooks suggests Dougie Hamilton as someone who might be "obtainable" but also wonders about 2016 third round pick Adam Fox. (NY Post)

4/12/18 | Larry Brooks noted back in March that Kevin Hayes, Vlad Namestnikov and Ryan Spooner are all arbitration eligible RFAs closing in on being unrestricted free agents. (NY Post)

Hayes and Spooner can become UFA following this season while Namestnikov, along with Jimmy Vesey, can become UFA after the 19-20 season.  (NY Post)

Brooks says that it's "extremely unlikely" that the Rangers bring back all three of them though he does note that Namestnikov and Spooner have seen a lot of time on the wing. (NY Post)

Kevin Hayes said earlier this season that while he admits to being a "pass-first type of player," he would love to shoot and score more because "goal-scorers get paid in this league." (NY Post)

He is an RFA after the season.

Hayes said that there have been times when he comes to the bench shaking his head because he knows he should have shot the puck instead of passed. (NY Post)

Kevin Hayes scored his 20th goal of the season on Saturday in Florida and has five goals and two assists in the past seven games.

From the Rangers Game Notes, Hayes:

• "has notched a point in 11 of the last 15 games, and he has recorded 15 points (nine goals, six assists) over the span."
• "Hayes has also registered 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 20 games since returning to the Rangers' lineup on Jan. 25, and he leads the Blueshirts in goals and points over the span."

Hayes said recently that he loves being a Ranger and wants to spend his whole career here. (NY Post)

Rick Nash and Mika Zibanejad posted two third-period goals for the Rangers to defeat the Flames, 4-3, to snap their four-game losing streak. >> Box score

First period:

• 7:53 NYR Kevin Hayes (Power Play); Assists: Tony DeAngelo, David Deshamais
• 18:15 CAL Brett Kulak; Assists: Michael Ferland, Johnny Gaudreau

Second Period

Kevin Hayes returned to the lineup after missing 6 games and picked up a goal, an assist and a plus three rating.

Hayes skated with JT Miller and Mats Zuccarello and scored the opening goal and assisted on Ryan McDonagh's first goal of the season.

He played 17:20, had 4 shots on goal, 2 shot that missed the net, 3 faceoff wins and 4 faceoff losses.

Ryan McDonagh scored two of New York's six goals as the Rangers outlasted the Sharks, 6-5, on Thursday night in San Jose. >> Box score

First period:

• 5:45 NYR Kevin Hayes; Assists: J.T. Miller, Mats Zuccarello
• 6:45 SJS Barclay Goodrow; Assists: Brent Burns
• 10:56 SJS Logan Couture; Assists: Kevin Labanc, Joakim Ryan
• 17:53 NYR Jesper Fast; Assists: Michael Grabner, Peter Holland

Second period:

• 2:36 SJS Logan Couture; Assists: Kevin Labanc, Marc-Edouard Vlasic
• 11:04 NYR Ryan McDonagh; Assists: Kevin Hayes, J.T. Miller
• 12:16 NYR Ryan McDonagh (Power Play); Assists: Pavel Buchnevich
• 17:09 NYR Brady Skjei (Short Handed)

Third period:

• 10:51 SJS Marc-Edouard Vlasic; Assists: Justin Braun, Chris Tierney
• 18:10 NYR J.T. Miller; Assists: Mats Zuccarello, Brady Skjei
• 19:10 SJS Tomas Hertl; Assists: Kevin Labanc, Brent Burns

6:09PM: Alain Vigneault said on Thursday:

• On Kevin Hayes, "he is a game time decision. This is the best that he has felt, we will talk with Rammer and the doctors and see how he feels coming back tonight and make it a game time decision."
• Is there urgency to get Hayes back, "he will play tonight if he can play. If he can't play and there is a chance that this goes sideways then we won't play him. At the end of the day, if he feels that he is good to go, he definitely helps our team and will play."

3:54PM: Alain Vigneault said that Kevin Hayes will be a game time decision for tonight's game in San Jose. (NYR)

Hayes spoke with the media after today's morning skate and said:

• Status for tonight, "still have to talk to a couple of people and we will make a decision from there."
• On how he is feeling, "much better, this is the best I have felt since that Vegas trip."
• Are you ready to go, "yea."
• Does the urgency of where the team is make an impact, "not too much. We are in a little rut right now but as an athlete, you don't want to put yourself at risk at anytime. When you feel you are ready to play you go back and play."
• "That is the biggest question. You play when you feel you won't be limited. I felt pretty good out there today. I'll be talking to people pretty soon and have a decision soon."
• What has been the most difficult, "it sucks not playing, you want to play all 82 games. You want to be part of a team, but we thought we could do some stuff for that second game back from Vegas and it just didn't go well. You never want to be watching from above when you think you can help that team and hopefully I will get that chance."
• Do you regret playing that game, "no."
• Are you a game time decision, "I think I'll know before game time./"

6:24PM: Following the game in Colorado, Alain Vigneault said the following about the status of Hayes & Staal for tomorrow, "I would say that both Kevin and Marc are, at best, 50/50 for tomorrow. Grabs, I have no idea right now." (MSG)

10:14AM- Alain Vigneault said on Friday that both Kevin Hayes and Marc Staal are out for today's game against Colorado but they are 50/50 for tomorrow night in LA.

Vigneault said that Hayes and Staal are expected to skate prior to today's game and tomorrow's game and then decisions on their status will be made.

Hayes will miss his fourth straight game today while Staal will miss his second.

1/18/18 | 6:32PM: On Hayes, Alain Vigneault said that the Rangers will see how he responds after skating today before determining if they want to call someone up before heading out west.

Vigneault said that if Hayes can practice tomorrow he will be able to play on Saturday but that if he is doubtful then they will likely call someone up.

He said that in hindsight maybe Hayes shouldn't have played last Saturday against the Islanders but at that time he was feeling good and was cleared by the doctors to play.

5:35PM: Hayes skated this morning and would need to practice tomorrow to be able to play this weekend in Colorado or LA. (NYR)

2:21PM: On Hayes, Alain Vigneault said today:

• On Kevin Hayes, "he felt fine last night before the game and during the game he felt pain come back and after he just wasn't feeling well. We decided to keep him home, treat him and we will see how he is doing tomorrow."
• "I would say that it's a lot better than it was then when the original injury occurred but not good enough to play."

11:39AM: Kevin Hayes will not play tonight against the Penguins because of a contusion. (NYR)

Hayes was 50/50 to play in yesterday's game, scored, was a minus one and played 16:53.

1:03AM: Kevin Hayes has a lower body injury and will be re-evaluated tomorrow when the team is back in New York. (MSG)

Hayes played 2:44 in the first, with 10 minutes between his final two shifts and his last shift in the first period ending with 2:37 left.

He took a big hit from Nate Schmidt at 5:22 of the first period, played one more shift, went to the locker room and returned for one last, 19 second, shift in the first.

Prior to the second period, the team announced that he was being evaluated and Hayes return to play one 17-second shift early in the second before missing the rest of the game.

Rick Nash secured the late lead for the Rangers as they beat the Kings, 4-2, at Madison Square Garden >> Read More

First period: 

• 10:23 NYR Chris Kreider (Power Play); Assists: Kevin Shattenkirk, David Desharnais

Second period: 

• 3:46 LA Marian Gaborik; Assists: Jussi Jokinen
• 14:43 NYR Kevin Hayes; Assists: Ryan McDonagh, Michael Grabner

Third period:

• 7:59 LA Torrey Mitchell; Assists: Marian Gaborik, Jussi Jokinen
• 16:33 NYR Rick Nash; Assists: Mats Zuccarello, Jimmy Vesey

Kevin Hayes has 5 goals and 4 assists through 21 games this season after putting up 9 goals and 9 assists in his first 21 games last season.

Hayes is averaging 16:35 per game so far this season compared to the 16:17 he averaged in the first 21 games last year.

Alain Vigneault said that Hayes has been adapting to his role going up against top lines.

Kevin Hayes has 5 goals and 4 assists through 21 games this season after putting up 9 goals and 9 assists in his first 21 games last season.

Hayes is averaging 16:35 per game so far this season compared to the 16:17 he averaged in the first 21 games last year.

Alain Vigneault said that Hayes has been adapting to his role going up against top lines.

The Rangers scored once in the second period and twice in the third en route to a 3-0 win over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. >> Read more

First period:

• N/A

Second period:

• 4:46 NYR Kevin Hayes; Assists: Jesper Fast, Jimmy Vesey

Third period:

• 4:52 NYR Michael Grabner; Assists: Marc Staal, Mats Zuccarello
• 17:31 NYR Mika Zibanejad (ENG); Assists: Zuccarello, Chris Kreider

The Blackhawks scored four unanswered goals -- including the first three of the first period -- to chase Henrik Lundqvist and end the Rangers' six-game winning streak, 6-3, on Wednesday night in Chicago.  >> Box score

First period:

• 9:58 NYR Mika Zibanejad; Assists: Chris Kreider, Pavel Buchnevich

Second period:

• 19:08 CHI Alex DeBrincat; Assists: Richard Panik, Duncan Keith

Third period:

• 1:07 CHI Artem Anisimov; Assists: Patrick Kane, Nick Schmaltz
• 1:53 CHI John Hayden; Assists: Cody Franson, Keith
• 5:14 CHI Anisimov (PP); Assists: Franson, Schmaltz
• 7:08 NYR Kevin Hayes; Assists: Mats Zuccarello, Rick Nash
• 11:56 NYR Nash
• 16:12 CHI Anisimov; Assists: Schmaltz, Panik
• 18:30 CHI Jonathan Toews (ENG); Assists: Brent Seabrook

11/4/17 | 8:46AM: Hayes joked that the ice was "dry" and squirted the water because of that. He added that there were some words and that things like that happen all the time. (NY Post)

11/3/17 | The NHL's Department of Player Safety has announced that the following fines for unsportsmanlike conduct:

• Kevin Hayes: $5,000
• Steven Stamkos: $5,000
• Alex Killorn: $5,000

Hayes is possibly the member of the Rangers that sprayed water on Kilorn, leading to Kilorn swinging his stick at the Rangers bench.

All three of Jimmy Vesey, Kevin Hayes and Jesper Fast scored for the Rangers on Saturday against the Predators.

From the Rangers Game Preview for tonight's game against San Jose, "over the last two contests, each of the three players has posted a plus-four rating or better (Hayes - plus-five; Vesey - plus-four; Fast - plus-four), and each player has also registered at least two points (Hayes - two goals, one assist; Vesey - one goal, one assist; Fast - one goal, one assist)."

Alain Vigneault said last week that the trio is a "hard working line" where Fast and Vesey get in on the forecheck and create turnovers and that Hayes complements them well.

Kevin Hayes has three goals and 2 assists this season with 16 shots on goal and an average of 16:34 per game.

Alain Vigneault said recently that Hayes has room for improvement at both ends and that he is being counted on to be a 200ft player.

He added that Hayes is learning and that "we are showing faith in him and I am very confident that the faith hand trust we are showing in him will pay off."

Kevin Hayes was named the number one star and awarded the Broadway Hat after today's win over Nashville.

Hayes spoke after the game on MSG and said:

• On his line, "the last few games we have been good, we try to keep it simple in the D zone and don't cheat. If we play good D we can generate some offense and tonight I thought we did that."
• On Vesey and Fast, "those two guys, you know what you are going to get. They are honest players, work hard and don't mind hitting guys. When they are getting on the D like that it generates a lot of open space and tonight we could have buried a lot more chances, we had good possession in the offensive zone."
• On his goal, "I got some speed and their D was standing flat footed, it's not often that I beat guys wide but tonight it happened and luckily it went in."
• On the win, "it's big. We have been struggling and to play 60 minutes and get two points in front of our fans, hopefully it's a spring board to a lot of other things."

9/22/17| On the first day of training camp, Alain Vigneault said that the organization has a "tremendous amount of faith" in Mika Zibanejad and Kevin Hayes.

He added "we believe they can get it done and at the end of the day they have to."

Jeff Gorton said early in training camp that both players want bigger roles and that moves the team made have opened up opportunities.

8/30/17 | Just before the playoffs last spring, Kevin Hayes wrote an essay for The Players Tribune and talked about the times during his second season where he was a healthy scratch. (Players Tribune)

Hayes said that he didn't do enough to prepare after his rookie season and that being a scratch after struggling was "embarrassing." (Players Tribune)

He added that he was "ashamed" at being a healthy scratch for Games 4 & 5 against the Penguins that season and "vowed" to himself and to the organization that he would never let them down again. (Players Tribune)

Following the Rangers trade of Derek Stepan to Arizona, Larry Brooks wrote that there is no one with more pressure to "step up" their game than Kevin Hayes. (NY Post)

Alain Vigneault said recently that the Rangers feel that Hayes, along with Mika Zibanejad, both have more to give. (NY Post)

He said that both of them are "young players who have great upside. This is going to be a great opportunity for them to take on bigger roles and have more responsibility."(NY Post)

In the first three seasons of Kevin Hayes' career, his offensive zone start percentage at 5 on 5 was:

• 2014-15: 60.9% offensive zone, 39.1% defensive zone (69.6% O Zone, 30.4% D Zone Playoffs)
• 2015-16: 61.7% offensive zone, 38.3% defensive zone
• 2016-17: 40.7% offensive zone, 59.3% defensive zone (43% O Zone, 56.8% D Zone Playoffs)

Alain Vigneault said in February that Kevin Hayes is "rounding out as a player" and starting to better understand the game at both ends of the rink.

Larry Brooks noted that even with the change in how Hayes was deployed this year, his production increased. (NYR)

Larry Brooks wrote, when the season ended, that the Rangers need more consistency from Kevin Hayes moving forward. (NY Post)

Brooks wrote that Hayes has not been "forceful enough" in using his size, reach and puck skills in getting to the net. (NY Post)

He did note that Hayes adapted well to being put in different positions by Alain Vigneault, including more time in the defensive zone. (NY Post)

Alain Vigneault said in February that Kevin Hayes is "rounding out as a player" and starting to better understand the game at both ends of the rink.

While writing about the center position and potential moves this offseason, Larry Brooks writes that the Rangers could try and use Derek Stepan to land a top-pair right defenseman. (NY Post)

Moving Stepan would also allow the Rangers to give Oscar Lindberg a bigger role at center as well as protect him in the expansion draft. (NY Post)

Brooks notes that potentially moving Kevin Hayes, as opposed to Stepan, likely wouldn't bring "close to the yield" that the Rangers could get for Stepan. (NY Post)

He writes that Lindberg has been under-utilized so far in his time with the Rangers and that it would be a "shame" to lose him in the expansion draft because of limited ice time. (NY Post)

Team USA has been eliminated at the World Championships after losing to Finland 2-0.

Hayes had 1 shot on goal, 3-4 on faceoffs, was a minus one and played 16:12 (4:37, 5:20, 6:15).

Hayes was called for two penalties in the third period, "playing without a helmet" and "slashing."

Team USA defeated Russia today 5-3 in the World Championships.

Kevin Hayes had two goals, 3 shots on goal, a plus one rating, 2 and 6 on faceoffs and played 18:36 (6:41 in the first, 6:09 in the second and 5:46 in the third).

Brady Skjei played 15:13 (4:56 in the first, 5:52 in the second and 4:25 in the third) and was on the ice for a goal for and a a goal against.

In two teams for Team USA, Hayes has two goals, two assists and 6 shots on goal.