New York Rangers are lucky that Vegas took Lindberg instead of Grabner

The Vegas Golden Knights selected New York Rangers center Oscar Lindberg during the 2017 expansion draft. Contrarily, they were able to keep Michael Grabner. How did this outcome affect the team?

Most people were sure that Michael Grabner would be selected from the New York Rangers by the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL Expansion Draft. Instead, Vegas selected center Oscar Lindberg.

Linberg’s season totals from 2016-17 were decent. He finished with eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 65 games while playing in a fourth line role in New York. He was a trustworthy player in his own end and could occasionally chip in offensively.

However, his season totals were nothing compared to Grabner’s. In 76 games with the Rangers, Grabner had 27 goals and 13 assists for 40 points. With these totals, Grabner looked like a lock to be selected by the Knights. When he wasn’t, it was quite shocking. How did both teams fare with their players?

Vegas’ one mistake

Lindberg’s serviceable NHL totals plummeted when he arrived in Vegas. In 63 games played, he had nine goals and just two assists, He missed 14 games towards the end of the season with an undisclosed injury.

Additionally, He was frequently a healthy scratch in both the regular season and playoffs. In Vegas’ 15 playoff games to date, Lindberg has played in just three of them, recording one assist. On a team that has defied all expectations and are on their way to the Stanley Cup Final, Lindberg’s production is lackluster. Luckily, The Rangers managed to keep Grabner, who fared much better than Lindberg this season.

In the 59 games played with the Rangers, Michael Grabner recorded 25 goals and tallied six assists. Of all the players on the roster, Grabner was the one who best fit in Alain Vigneault‘s system. His blazing speed allowed for him to record high goal totals while waiting for a breakout pass. Though he didn’t contribute much else, he was the bright spot on a roster with no real goal scorer.

The Rangers made the right decision come February to sell high on a player who exceeded expectations. Grabner was shipped across the Hudson River to the rival New Jersey Devils. In exchange, the Rangers acquired a 2018 second round draft pick and Russian defensive prospect Yegor Rykov. Grabner’s season with New Jersey lasted only 21 games, where he only scored two goals and three assists for five points. Additionally, he was a healthy scratch for three of five playoff games where he recorded no points.

Not only did the Rangers luck out on two players, they profited. By losing Lindberg and keeping Grabner, they were able to keep the better player which benefited the team in more ways than one. Not only did it provide the Rangers with a goal scorer, but they were able to  acquire additional assets.

Lindberg would have had issues cracking the NHL line up with the center depth building in the Rangers’ system. After Grabner left New York, he struggled with his new coach and system. Imagine him playing outside of Vigneault’s system with the Rangers next season?

Next: New York Rangers: A summary of the 2017-18 report cards

The Rangers managed to turn a stroke of luck into pieces for the rebuild. Now the only thing left to do is develop these assets into NHL players.