New York Rangers trade forward Mats Zuccarello to Dallas Stars
Following the New York Rangers 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils, the action did not stop as the team traded forward Mats Zuccarello to the Dallas Stars for a pair of draft selections.
The days leading up to the NHL trade deadline are always eventful, for the New York Rangers, this year is no different. After winning in convincing fashion over the lowly New Jersey Devils 5-2, the Rangers’ front office continued to unwind the team’s assets and traded veteran forward and fan favorite Mats Zuccarello to the Dallas Stars.
In nine seasons with the Rangers, the Norwegian recorded an average of 46.5 points per season and set a career high in points during the team’s lackluster 2015-2016 season. The forward joined the Rangers after a strong performance in the 2010 winter Olympics, representing Norway. From there, his odyssey to one of the league’s most underrated players.
Much of the conjecture prior to the trade finally going through centered around moving Zuccarello to the Western Conference where the Rangers would not be likely to see him again.
As for the Stars, Dallas sits in one of the two western conference wild-card spots. However, the team was shutout this afternoon against the Carolina Hurricanes. Dallas has not made the playoffs in three years, since the 2015-2016 season. The stars being in the postseason mix made the front office there feel obligated to make the move.
The Rangers acquired a second and third-round pick with different stipulations attached to each. The second rounder becomes a first-round selection if the Stars win two playoff rounds this year. The third round choice will become a first rounder if the Stars and Zuccarello can agree to a contract extension this summer.
With the west being so tightly packed, anything is possible when it comes to Dallas winning two playoff rounds. However, where the team currently sits has them slated to face off against either the Winnipeg Jets or Nashville Predators. Though unlikely, stranger things have happened in the NHL postseason.
The Rangers arguably could have landed more in a trade, but the conditional nature of both draft selections adds value that doesn’t exist on the pick’s face value. Although neither is a first, Dallas is close enough to the soggy middle of the league that it would not take much to fall out of a playoff spot and improve the quality of the pick.
New York also retains 30 percent of Zuccarello’s $4.5 million due this year, pro-rated over the final 21 games of the season.
Next. Rangers defeat Devils 5-2. dark
Stay tuned for further coverage of the deadline from the Blue line station team including an in-depth review of trades and retrospectives on the player’s time with the Rangers organization. Best of luck in Dallas and one last ZUUUUUUUUUUUC.