The Rangers proceed to reshape their roster forward of Friday’s commerce deadline.
The Blueshirts agreed to a commerce Saturday to ship defenseman Ryan Lindgren, ahead Jimmy Vesey and the rights to unsigned 2021 draft choose Hank Kempf to the Avalanche in trade for heart Juuso Parssinen and veteran defenseman Calvin de Haan.
The commerce additionally contains draft picks coming again to the Rangers, a conditional second-round and a conditional fourth-round choice, each in 2025.
The Rangers have been fascinated with Parssinen previously and had discussions to amass the 24-year-old Finn earlier than he was dealt from Nashville to Colorado in December. He had 4 targets and 7 assists in 37 video games this season for the Predators and the Avs.
The 33-year-old De Haan, a left-handed shot and a former first-round choose of the Islanders, has appeared in almost 700 common season NHL video games over 13 seasons, together with 44 with Colorado this season. He has but to attain a aim this season however has seven assists.
The veteran seemingly will step into the Rangers’ lineup to switch Lindgren, who has been a heart-and-soul participant in his seven seasons with the group, typically enjoying by way of accidents.
With Lindgren and Vesey set to change into unrestricted free brokers after this season, the Rangers are also retaining 50 % of what stays on Lindgren’s $4.5 million wage. The commerce ensured the Rangers didn’t allow them to stroll with out buying property in return.
It’s the newest transfer by GM Chris Drury for the reason that season started, most just lately the large swing commerce to convey again J.T. Miller from the Canucks in January, with Filip Chytil and a protected first-round choose headed to Vancouver. Drury additionally jettisoned former captain Jacob Trouba and former first-round choose Kaapo Kakko earlier within the season.
Saturday’s deal doesn’t sign that the Rangers must be thought of sellers earlier than Friday’s deadline.
After shedding, 3-2, Friday night time to the Maple Leafs on the Backyard, they entered Saturday’s league motion 4 factors behind the Pink Wings and the Blue Jackets for the ultimate two playoff positions within the Japanese Convention. They are going to face the Predators and the Islanders at house Sunday and Monday, respectively.
The 31-year-old Vesey was thought of a real professional and a locker-room chief since beginning his second stint with the group after signing a PTO tryout deal in 2022. He appeared in 80 and 81 video games the following two seasons, totaling 24 targets, however he appeared in simply 33 video games this season, with 4 targets and two assists.
In late January, the Harvard product instructed The Submit that he felt like he was “dying” after being a wholesome scratch a number of instances.
“I love being a Ranger, and I think everyone knows that. The six years I’ve been here have been the best and most fun I’ve had as a player,” mentioned Vesey, who began his NHL profession with the group in 2016. “However this stretch, the place I haven’t dressed for the final [nine] video games and haven’t any indication that that is going to alter, it’s been extraordinarily tough for me.
“It seems that I have fallen out of favor and have just been cast aside over an extended period of time. It feels like I have no role or purpose on this team.”
The 27-year-old Lindgren had instructed The Submit he hoped to remain in New York.
“I think it’s tough, I don’t want to go anywhere, obviously, I try my best not to look at [trade rumors] and not to worry about it, but that’s easier said than done,” Lindgren mentioned on Jan. 27. “It’s form of a primary for me so clearly it’s exhausting.
“I just try and block it out. I don’t like hearing or seeing my name included in these rumors, but I know where I am with my contract and I get it, I’m just trying to do my best, focus on hockey, with what the team needs and try and enjoy it.”
The situations on every of the draft picks: the second-round choose would be the extra favorable of Carolina’s or the Rangers’ unique choose that was beforehand traded to Arizona, and the fourth-rounder would be the higher of Colorado’s or Vancouver’s.
