The New York Rangers have traded forward Michael Grabner to the crosstown New Jersey Devils for a second-round selection and prospect Yegor Rykov.
One man in Rangerstown has officially bitten the dust.
According to Darren Dreger of TSN, the New York Rangers have traded speedy forward Michael Grabner to the crosstown New Jersey Devils for a second-round selection and prospect Yegor Rykov.
Grabner to the Devils for a 2nd and Rykov is complete.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 23, 2018
Speculation surrounding the 30-year-old winger has been rampant for the last several weeks with the Blueshirts falling to the basement of the Metropolitan Division, the NHL’s toughest of the four.
He was acquired prior to the 2016-17 season in an attempt to fill a much-needed void left by Carl Hagelin and proved to be one of Jeff Gorton’s best value signings of his tenure. A year ago, Grabs finished with 27 goals and 13 assists with a plus-22. This season, he leaves New York as the team’s leading goal scorer with 25 tallies.
Interestingly enough, this is the first ever trade between the Rangers and the much-hated New Jersey Devils, who’ve shocked everybody this season to the tune of 70 points, good enough for a playoff spot and fourth in the Metro.
The only previous trade between both organizations came back when the Devils were the Colorado Rockies and Berry Beck was exchanged.
The Rangers lose Grabner yet take on a retooling organization approach. They’ll receive the Devils second-round selection in 2018, this season, along with prospect Yegor Rykov, a Russian defenseman currently playing for SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League.
The New York Rangers now currently hold five picks within the first three rounds of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
