New York Rangers roundtable: Best trade of the Lundqvist era

Joseph Ostapluk- Zibanejad trade

The New York Rangers have been involved in trades to enhance an already-established team in an attempt to reach the paramount goal of a Stanley Cup. However, the Rangers’ best trade of the Lundqvist era is far more recent.

On July 18, 2016, the Rangers made a major move, trading Derick Brassard and a seventh-round pick for Mika Zibanejad and a second-round pick.

The Rangers had always had a problem with center depth, having two fringe-first-line-centers in Brassard and Stepan. As a result, the team made a move for Zibanejad.

The Rangers managed to both upgrade their center position and get a younger, more skilled player to fill the void.

While Zibanejad has been hampered by injuries, his upside is tremendous. He scored 27 goals en route to one of the most productive seasons of his career in 2018-19.

Now, with David Quinn behind the bench, Zibanejad has the potential to become a true number-one center.

While Brassard has been respectable in his seasons since the trade, he hasn’t surpassed a 46-point season in the past three years. Even though the ex-Ranger Brassard scored 60 points in 2014-2015, the team knew that Zibanejad’s potential far surpasses Brassard’s abilities.

Moreover, Zibanejad is almost six years younger than Brassard, giving the Rangers options at center for years to come.