NHL Trade: Devils acquire Michael Grabner from Rangers to continue playoff push
The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils completed a trade for forward Michael Grabner.
The New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils have completed a trade that will send forward Michael Grabner to the Devils for a second-round draft pick and prospect Igor Rykov. The trade, the first between the Devils and Rangers, was reported by Darren Dreger.
It is no surprise Grabner was going to get traded due to him being held out of Thursday night’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. The Devils have surprised a lot of people this year by being in the playoff hunt and they needed a few pieces to take them to the next level. Adding the speed and skill of Grabner does just that.
Grabner to the Devils for a 2nd and Rykov is complete.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 23, 2018
The Rangers addressed their fans two weeks ago saying that the team would be rebuilding and possibly trading away their top talent. Rumors about Rick Nash and Ryan McDonagh flooded the trade market. As the deadline came closer and closer it became clear Grabner would be traded. The Rangers are not done selling this year and will look to flip more veterans for future assets.
This is a good return for Grabner, a second-round pick, and a rising defensive prospect. Rykov is only 20-years-old playing on the top team in the KHL. He has played in 51 games this season and collected 14 points. The Rangers defensive pipeline had gotten a little thin earlier this week after trading away Nick Holden. Rykov is not going to play in the NHL this year and maybe not even next season but it helps fill in that gap in the pipeline.
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The Devils sit in the first wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference with 70 points and could afford to pay for a rental like Grabner. He brings a lot of speed as well as some great offensive touch. He has 25 goals in 59 games on a bad Rangers team. Grabner could pair up with Taylor Hall and turn that line from good to elite. The Devils also can put Grabner further down the line up to balance the scoring.
Trading for Grabner means this team can make the playoffs and continue to surprise. If the Devils are going to make more moves at the deadline they will look to add depth on the blue line. Many thought the Devils would not make a move this year at the deadline. Instead, they made the first big move of the NHL trade deadline and pulled Grabner out of New York.