Trade deadline action heats up
Rangers, Ottawa likely big dealers as NHL trade deadline approaches
When The New York Rangers dealt Michael Grabner to the rival New Jersey Devils on Thursday night, it was like an opening bell was rung for the NHL trade market.
There had been a handful of smaller deals already, including The Florida Panthers' acquisition of Boston forward Frank Vatrano earlier the same day, but a team in playoff position like New Jersey picking up a speedy scorer like Grabner showed there are clubs looking to take serious steps ahead of Monday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.
On Friday, there was a three-team deal that sent much-coveted centre Derick Brassard from the Ottawa Senators to two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh, with the Penguins ceding a 2018 first-round draft pick, defenceman Ian Cole, who can become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and goaltending prospect Filip Gustavsson.
The Vegas Golden Knights were also involved. Pittsburgh received prospect forward Tobias Lindberg from the Golden Knights in exchange for forward Ryan Reaves and a 2018 fourth-round draft pick originally acquired from Vancouver in Friday's deal. Some of the bigger names likely to go in the next few days are from the Rangers, who issued a surprise statement recently asking fans to be patient because trades were in the offing and familiar faces may be on the move. They had already sent defenceman Nick Holden to Boston for rearguard Rob O'Gara and a third-round pick on Tuesday. Defenceman Ryan McDonagh, the team captain, as well as star left winger Rick Nash are among those expected to change teams. Even popular winger Mats Zuccarello's name has been mentioned. All the Rangers are on edge, waiting for the deadline to pass.
“Obviously no one in here wants to be traded but you have to be a professional,” Zuccarello said this week. “We're all human beings so it's hard not to let it get to us.
“You think about it at night and you think about it during the day. What's going to happen? A lot of people have been here for many years and have a strong relationships and friendships. It's going to be tough if something happens, if you're going to be gone or whatever. But it's nothing we can control right now.”
As with many players slated to be traded, McDonagh and Nash are both eligible to become UFAs this summer. McDonagh's solid play in his own zone would make him a fit for the Tampa Bay Lightning, but there are likely a handful of teams interested.