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A year after publicly announcing their reconstruction efforts in a letter to fans, the Rangers continued to move Monday to the N.H.L. negotiating deadline, storage of more young prospects and selection projects through two trades.
Two days after sending popular striker Mats Zuccarello to the Dallas Stars, the Rangers exchanged Kevin Hayes, a high-scoring striker, the Winnipeg Jets and defenseman Adam McQuaid at the Columbus Blue Jackets.
In exchange for 26-year-old Hayes, who, like McQuaid and Zuccarello, is expected to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, the Rangers have received 22-year-old forward Brendan Lemieux, Winnipeg's first draft June draft. – and conditional choice of the fourth round in 2022.
The Rangers added two more choices in the deal with Columbus, as well as 23-year-old prospect Julius Bergman, in exchange for 32-year-old McQuaid.
"I would say we met or hopefully did better than expected," said Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton, speaking about the three deals over the past few days.
The Rangers now have potentially two first-round picks, three second-round picks and one pick each for rounds 3 through 7 of the June draft.
If the first-round pick that they received Monday from Winnipeg became one of the top three picks in the provisional lottery, he would go on to the first round in 2020. They would receive the fourth round conditional election if Winnipeg won the Stanley Cup this season. .
"We have added many strengths, many opportunities for our team to improve better, hopefully, relatively quickly," said Gorton.
That includes Lemieux – the son of former Devils forward Claude Lemieux, four-time Stanley Cup champion – who has scored nine goals and two assists in 44 games with the Jets this season. The deal, however, cost Hayes, who finished third in the Rangers with 14 goals and 28 assists in 51 games this season, his fifth with the franchise. The 6 foot 5 inch Hayes is a pillar of the Rangers since its signing as a free agent at Boston College in 2014.
McQuaid joined the Rangers before this season in a Boston exchange. He was a solid blue in 36 games for the Rangers, who received the Blue Jackets picks in the fourth and seventh rounds in June.
The Rangers, who are likely to play in the playoffs for the second consecutive season after seven straight playoff seasons, have amassed a lot of choices and prospects since writing a letter to fans last February asking them to be patient during the reworking of the composition.
"At some point, with all of our draft picks, we will have to consider the possibility of moving and getting a little N.H.L. the players here, "said Gorton.
In February, the Rangers sent Rick Nash to Boston and traded captain Ryan McDonagh and striker J. T. Miller to Tampa Bay as part of their composition changes.
Zuccarello's departure to the Stars Saturday had a considerable emotional impact on his teammates. Zuccarello was particularly friendly with goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist and his lineman Mika Zibanejad, the team's top scorer.
After losing 6 to 5 overtime Sunday in Washington, Lundqvist broke down when asked about trade. Lundqvist saw many teammates leave during his 14 years with the Rangers, but he had developed a particularly deep connection with gregari Zuccarello. The two men worked together on an outdoor game for a charity in Oslo last summer.
"It's hard, a good friend," said Lundqvist, watery eyes and crackled voice. "I'm sorry i can not. "
Gorton said that Zuccarello's trading had not been easy.
"It's always difficult to trade a player of this magnitude who has been so important to the organization," said Gorton.
Unfortunately, Zuccarello was injured in the arm when he blocked a shot during his debut with the Stars on Sunday. He should be away for four weeks.
In the other key transactions Monday, Ottawa sent striker Mark Stone to the Golden Knights Vegas, Philadelphia traded veteran forward Wayne Simmonds to Nashville and the Florida Panthers sent the former striker to Rangers Derick Brassard – Earned Earlier This Month From Pittsburgh – In The Colorado Avalanche. Monday night, Brassard scored for the Avalanche against the Panthers, his employer at the start of the day.
Nashville also acquired Minnesota forward Mikael Granlund for forward Kevin Fiala.
The Devils made two trades, sending striker Marcus Johansson to Boston for two draft selections and exchanging goaltender Keith Kinkaid for Columbus for a fifth round pick in 2022.
The Islanders, who won first place, have decided to stay at the end.
"You do not do anything for the pleasure of doing it," said Lou Lamoriello, Islanders General Manager.
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