The New York Rangers have had a rather lackluster offseason, so far. They started this week out with a bang though making a surprise trade. The trade was followed up by two major RFA signings, avoiding arbitration hearings.
In a trade that came out of left field, the Rangers sent Derek Brassard, 28, and his $25 million contract to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Mika Zibanejad, 23. Brassard scored 58 points last season and led the Rangers in goals. Zibanejad scored 51 points last season.
In the trade the Rangers lose another one of their top scorers in Brassard after Keith Yandle was shipped out to Florida. Brassard was a fan favorite, not only for his point production but his tenacity on the ice as well as his chemistry with winger Mats Zuccarello.
“We talked about if we could get younger and faster and not give up too much, that’s something we would do,” said Rangers general manager, Jeff Gorton, who is in his second year on the job.
However, the Rangers gain a fast, talented two-way center who can also kill penalties; something that Rangers desperately needed to upgrade. In his three seasons in the NHL, Zibanejad has steadily increased his production from 33 points in his rookie season to 51 last season with Ottawa.
“I feel like I can skate very good for a bigger guy,” Zibanejad said. “I feel like my shot is getting improved every year. I feel like I’m a pretty good all around solid player. I think obviously as a young player you can always improve in every different aspect of your game.”
“I think the potential is there for more,” Gorton said. “He’s jut scratched the surface before he’s 23.”
As for the two RFA signings, the Rangers are bringing back Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes back into the fold.
Both Kreider and Hayes signed multi year deals, Kreider’s coming minutes before his arbitration hearing.
Kreider and the Rangers have agreed to a deal that will pay Kreider an average of $.6 million a season for four years. Last season Kreider scored 21 goals and 43 points.
“It worked out fine, and Chris loves New York and wants to be here,” said Matt Keator, Kreider’s agent, to the Associated Press. “What happens in this type of deal is that both sides have stated positions and when the specter of the ‘arb’ come in, it drives both sides closer. For us, the term was the right amount and for the tam that amount was right, so we were able to come together on both sides.”
Just a few hours later Kevin Hayes was the next to sign. The Rangers and Hayes agreed on a two-year deal that will pay Hayes $2.6 million a year for two years. A big body with good hands, something not too easy to find, Hayes scored 36 points in his sophomore year and his hopeful for a bigger year this upcoming season.
“With Kevin, we see a 6-foot-5 center who has shown at times how good of a player he can be in this league, and I would expect he would come back with a chip on his shoulder,” said Gorton. “After losing in the first round, I would expect all of our players would come back with a chip on their shoulders.”
The Rangers also locked up forward J.T. Miller and defenseman Dylan McIlrath earlier in the offseason, as well as signing Forwards Michael Grabner, Nathan Gerbe and Josh Jooris to bolster the penalty kill earlier in the offseason.
Although the Rangers haven’t made any big moves other than the Brassard, Zibanejad trade, it is possible that other players could be moved to open up more cap space. Only time will tell.
