Rangers trading for Adam McQuaid is a little confusing
By Matt O'Leary
The New York Rangers traded for Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid. The Rangers gave up two picks and a Steven Kampfer.
In 2017-2018 the New York Rangers struggled on the blue line. They allowed the fourth most goals of any team, 268. After finishing last in the Metropolitan Division the Rangers are trying to rebuild their defensive core.
Today, they acquired defenseman Adam McQuaid from the Boston Bruins. The Rangers gave up Steven Kampfer, a 2019 fourth-round pick, and a conditional seventh rounder for the 31-year old blueliner.
What the Rangers gave up
The Rangers gave up veteran Steven Kampfer as a part of the deal. He played 32 games for New York over the past two years. He had three points over that time, as he’s your essential borderline NHLer/seventh d-man role player.
Kampfer’s career high in points is 10, which came as a member of the Boston Bruins in 2010-2011, the year they won the Stanley Cup. He’s never played more than 47 games in an NHL season.
In addition to the veteran defender, the Rangers added in a fourth and a conditional seventh rounder. The last Ranger fourth-round pick to play in the NHL was Dale Weise and he only played 10 games with the Rangers.
Essentially, fourth-round picks have little value so if you’re able to flip them for a player you like you do it.
What the Rangers got
Adam McQuaid’s ceiling is a bottom pairing defenseman. He played in just 38 games last year and put up four points. McQuaid is considered a good possession player with CF percentages north of 50 each of the last two years.
His best year came in 2010-2011 as a 24-year-old the Bruins. He had 15 points (three goals, 12 assists). He’s someone who will be competing for a bottom pair spot as a right-handed shot with Anthony DeAngelo.
DeAngelo is a 22-year-old, so if I’m the Rangers I’m giving him a shot to play every day in a rebuilding year. The Rangers essentially gave up a fourth-round pick and an AHL defenseman for a seventh d-man.
dark. Next. Did the Habs finally make a good trade?
They may have been better suited signing someone like Johnny Oduya or taking a flier on Jordan Schmaltz and signing them to a PTO. Giving up picks for a replaceable depth player doesn’t make sense to me unless the Rangers see him in a bigger role this year.