Let’s make one thing clear. Before the 3 PM trade deadline comes on Tuesday, the New York Rangers will make something happen.

What that is, we can’t be sure of just yet.

A season ago, the Rangers acquired Sean Avery from the Los Angeles Kings a few weeks before the deadline and then got Paul Mara from Boston and prospect Alex Bourret from the Atlanta Thrashers at the deadline itself.

As they were last season, it seems the Broadway Blueshirts are primarily concerned with acquiring a defenseman this season, perhaps because Paul Mara hasn’t exactly provided all that general manager Glen Sather and head coach Tom Renney hoped he would. He’s been decent defensively, showing a consistent willingness to use his size and strength in his own zone, but he’s provided virtually nothing offensively, especially on the power play, despite possessing one of the strongest shots from the point in the league.

Unfortunately for the Rangers, a puckmoving blueliner with experience as a power play quarterback just happens to be what a ton of other teams around the league are coveting right now, as well.

The Rangers have been attached to rumors regarding Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle for a while now, rumors that seem to be intensifying as the deadline approaches.

Boyle is 31-years-old, but he’s still one of the best offensive defensemen in the league. He’s also headed toward unrestricted free agency this summer, unless the Lightning or the team they trade Boyle to re-signs him. Word so far is that the Lighting have a potential contract extension in place with Boyle if they decide to keep him, but that hinges on the possibility of them trading one of their other top stars, center Brad Richards.

If the Lightning are unable to deal Richards, they will be forced to deal Boyle. The Rangers, according to the New York Post’s Larry Brooks, are intent not only on trading for Boyle, but for holding on to him. Boyle will certainly command a salary of around $6.5 million per season and probably wants a deal for at least 4 years. He’s probably worth the price, but with the team already obligated to devote significant space under the salary cap to the contracts of Henrik Lundqvist, Scott Gomez and Chris Drury, tying up that much money to one more player may seriously hurt the team’s financial flexibility.

Boyle is certainly attracting other suitors, as well. The Philadelphia Flyers and the Boston Bruins might be the Rangers’ biggest competition for acquiring Boyle.

If Boyle falls out of play, the Rangers may turn their attention to Brian Campbell of the Buffalo Sabres, although that seems unlikely. Campbell, or Soup, as he’s known in Buffalo, is also heading into unrestricted free agency and will likely command the same kind of deal Boyle would. The hot rumor for weeks has been that Campbell is headed to the San Jose Sharks, but the Montreal Canadiens, Flyers and Rangers may also be factors.

All of these teams would prefer to make a deal for Tomas Kaberle of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but Kaberle, like many of his teammates, possesses a no trade clause, one he doesn’t seem intent on waving. The case seems to be the same for his teammate Bryan McCabe. The former Islander draft pick has been at the center of rumors claiming that he’d be willing to wave his no-trace clause if he were dealt to the Islanders, Rangers, Devils or Flyers, as he maintains a home on Long Island, where his wife’s family is from. McCabe to the Rangers, in particular, became the hot rumor for some time yesterday, but it seems that has died down, for good reason.

McCabe is a solid offensive d-man with an excellent shot and is not afraid to be physical, but defensively, he is lackluster. He is prone to huge brain cramps and often takes stupid penalties at the most inconvenient of times. Still, most teams would certainly be interested in him, except he is under contract until 2011-12, making $5.75 million a season. That would probably end up being less than the Rangers would have to pay Boyle if they acquired him and signed him, but McCabe is worse offensively and defensively than Boyle.

The Rangers were also rumored to be interested in renting Barrett Jackman of the St. Louis Blues, who would have been a free agent had he not agreed to a four-year contract extension on Monday night.

There are still ancient rumors going around involving the Rangers and the Phoenix Coyotes, with the Rangers interested in either Ed Jovanovski or Derek Morris. But ‘Yotes GM Don Maloney is probably not interested in making any significant trades with his team finally making some headway as they begin to emerge from the league’s basement, led by Wayne Gretzky behind the bench.

What’s more, Jovanovski has long denied any interest in waving his own no-trade clause. Morris might be the best, most affordable fit of all the potential choices for the Rangers, as he makes just under $4 million a year and has one more year after this one remaining on his deal, but seeing him in Ranger Blue by tomorrow is unlikely.

Another possible target for the Rangers is Colorado Avalanche defenseman John-Michael Liles. Liles is not having a good season and his name has popped up in rumors from the start of the year, but with Colorado having signed Peter Forsberg for the remainder of the season on Monday night, indications are that Avs GM Francois Giguere is going for it this year. Liles likely won’t be moved unless the Avalanche can get a return featuring players who can step into the lineup and contribute immediately.

Originally, the Rangers seemed heavy on Los Angeles Kings’ defenseman Rob Blake, but the 38-year-old, also heading into free agency, has reportedly told the Kings that if he were to agree to waive his own no-trade clause, it would only be to a Western Conference team.

The Rangers may also make a move that will shore up their group of forwards, but if something like that happens, look for Sather to pull something out of left field here. The Rangers are not going to be players for any of the big name forwards like Marian Hossa, but they may swoop in and use their deep prospect pool to upgrade one of their forward slots.

Early Monday, the Rangers were mentioned as a possible destination for Calgary Flames’ sniper Alex Tanguay, with names like Martin Straka and prospect Artem Anisimov mentioned as possible trade bait. Calgary general manager Darryl Sutter, however, told the media that he was planning on keeping Tanguay, which makes a lot more sense for Calgary at this point.

Brooks has also reported that the Rangers have talked to the Edmonton Oilers about Robbie Schremp, a 2004 first round pick who some may classify as a bust, although in reality, the jury is still out. Slats is apparently interested in sending one of his own potential busts, Hugh Jessiman or Alex Bourret in exchange, but Oilers GM Kevin Lowe is likely to ask for more than either of those guys in return. Schremp was once considered a top-5 pick, but slid down draft boards because of attitude problems, problems that many around the league believe have been overhyped.

More on the deadline later…