After sitting in the New York Rangers win over the Devils, Mats Zuccarello has been traded to the Dallas Stars.
The New York Rangers have reportedly traded Mats Zuccarello to the Dallas Stars in exchange for two conditional draft picks, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.
Zuccarello to Dallas is confirmed.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 24, 2019
2nd and 3rd conditional picks to NYR for Zuccarello from Dallas.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 24, 2019
Trade rumors have been circling around Zuccarello for the better part of the season due to the fact he’s an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current campaign. He even admitted to the trade rumors being a distraction earlier in the season when he wasn’t performing up to standards.
According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, the second round pick is a 2019 draft pick and will become a first-round pick should Dallas go on to win two rounds in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The third round pick is a 2020 draft pick and becomes a first-round pick if Zuccarello re-signs with Dallas.
On the season, the 31-year-old has scored 11 goals and 26 assists good for 37 points. Since Jan. 12, he’s put up 22 points, giving the Rangers one of the best first lines in the game.
The Rangers are clearly building for the future and it would have been foolish if they risked losing him for nothing in return. While it stings witnessing a fan favorite sent packing, it is absolutely the right business move, one they absolutely needed to make.
For his career as a New York Rangers employee, Zuccarello has helped lead the club to seven playoff appearances, one Stanley Cup Final appearance, two Eastern Conference Finals, and has tallied 113 goals and 239 assists good for 352 points.