Losses haven’t kept Rangers from winning on trade pieces

Unless you evaluate the Rangers based solely on the proposition that they should lose as much as possible in order to enter the lottery with the best odds of getting a premium draft pick, this was a very good week for Broadway’s team.

And no, not because the Blueshirts entered Saturday’s nationally televised prime-time matchup at the Garden against the Lightning having split games with the conference bottom-feeding Flyers and Devils despite dominating both contests, but because the club’s trade assets continued to build their value as the Feb. 25 deadline approaches.

Mats Zuccarello, off a dazzling three-assist night in Thursday’s 4-3 victory over the Devils, has re-emerged as a force. The pending free agent’s revival over the past half-dozen games in which he has recorded 12 points (4 G, 8 A) has elevated him to the prime section of the rental market.

A month ago, Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton might have had to settle for a third-rounder in exchange for the Norwegian. Now, though, the Rangers might be able to get a second-rounder plus a prospect or a first-rounder in exchange for the winger who would play on just about any contender’s power-play unit and top six.

What’s more, Zuccarello’s revival in which he has played his finest, sharpest and most creative hockey since 2016-17 has created the very real possibility that the Blueshirts might bring No. 36 back as a free agent this summer after he completes his tour with his acquiring team. Indeed, a multi-year deal accompanied by the captaincy somehow does not seem so far-fetched.

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Kevin Hayes’ strong work this week upon his return from a nine-game absence due to a lingering mid-body issue reaffirmed his status as one of the most desirable commodities on the market. The scenario in which the Blueshirts deal No. 13 for a bundle of picks/young assets and then bring him back, too, as a free agent also may be a realistic one.

If that were to become the case with both Zuccarello and Hayes, it would represent an unprecedented daily double even if not quite so as dramatic as trading Kristaps Porzingis and then signing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving with the space created by the deal. But we’ll see. On both fronts.

In addition to the calls on Hayes and Zuccarello, Gorton will have to decide whether the return he might get for pending free agent Adam McQuaid is equal to the value the veteran defenseman is providing as Brady Skjei’s partner. The Rangers sent a fourth-rounder, AHL-level defenseman Steve Kampfer and a conditional seventh-rounder to Boston for the 32-year-old, so getting a third-rounder in return for No. 54 would make the flip a productive one.

And yet, McQuaid has been a productive Ranger in his short Broadway tenure, even if missing 21 games with a core issue early in the season. His presence as Skjei’s partner through the past 17 games in which each has played has been meaningful in No. 76’s rebound from a difficult first half that followed last year’s difficult sophomore season.

The pair’s possession numbers are pretty bad (41.7 Corsi, 44.6 shot share, minus-three rating), but that’s more a function of team-wide issues. It is clear to the eye, though, that Skjei has made significant progress over the past month.

“Brady is playing his best hockey of the year,” coach David Quinn said. “Brady is using his legs to good advantage, I think he’s making good decisions with the puck, defending better and joining the rush at the right time.

“Obviously Adam is a very steady player, he’s dependable, he’s physical, he can make a good outlet pass and he’s responsible defensively. I think it’s a good mix with two guys who kind of feed off each other and complement each other. I think they’re both bringing out the best in each other.”

The Blueshirts would need their best to beat the first-overall Lightning. Equally important as the result to the Rangers, 5-2 in their past seven after going 5-11-5 in the immediately preceding 21, is that their available players continue to shine in order to elicit the best offers the trade market will bear.

It is a two-track month for the Blueshirts.