Blue Line Station
Fansided

Grading the trades that made this team what it is

By Steve Paulus

MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 26: Derick Brassard #16 of the New York Rangers celebrates after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on March 26, 2016 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 26: Derick Brassard #16 of the New York Rangers celebrates after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on March 26, 2016 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 19: J.T. Miller #10 (c) of the New York Rangers celebrates his overtime game winning goal against the Vancouver Canucks along with Rick Nash #61 (l) and Ryan McDonagh #27 (r) at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2016 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Canucks 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 19: J.T. Miller #10 (c) of the New York Rangers celebrates his overtime game winning goal against the Vancouver Canucks along with Rick Nash #61 (l) and Ryan McDonagh #27 (r) at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2016 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Canucks 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The trade deadline deals of February 2018 are looking better and better for the New York Rangers. In just six days, the Rangers became a new team. Let’s update the scorecard.

February 2018 was a momentous time for the New York Rangers.  They acknowledged to their fans that the team was going nowhere and they needed to rebuild.  It was a dramatic statement for Glen Sather and Jeff Gorton to make and within weeks, they proved that they were serious by trading some key players.

Trades cannot be judged the day they are made and sometimes it will take years to see who actually “won” a deal.  The results of the February 2018 trades are becoming more and more clear for the Rangers and the picture is a good one.

The Rangers’ 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday is just one example of the long term benefits of those trades. Three players acquired in those deals played an important role in the win and all indications are that there are more to come.

Trade #1 – February 20, 2018

Nick Holden played 18 games for the Bruins and two games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with one goal and two assists.  He signed with the Vegas Golden Knights as a free agent that summer.

Rob O’Gara had a cup of coffee with the Blueshirts that season, played last season in Hartford and was let go this summer. He is currently on the roster of the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL.  With the draft pick, the Rangers selected defenseman Joey Keane who signed his Entry Level Contract this year and is playing really well in the AHL, leading all rookie defensemen in goals.

If Keane becomes a regular on defense in the future, this deal will be a total home run for New York.

Trade day grade:  C+
Hindsight trade grade:  B
Potential trade grade:  A+

Trade #2 – February 22, 2018

Michael Grabner played 21 games for the Devils with two goals and three assists.  He was a scratch in three of the five playoff games for New Jersey that spring.  He signed that summer as a free agent with the Arizona Coyote.

Yegor Rykov signed his Entry Level Contract this season and is currently on the injured reserve list after being hurt in a game in the Traverse City tournament.  The Rangers flipped the second round pick to Ottawa as they traded up in the first round to pick K’Andre Miller.  Miller is the Rangers top defense prospect in his second year at the University of Wisconsin.

If Miller lives up to his promise and Rykov makes it as an NHLer, this could be one of the most one sided trade deadline deals in Rangers history.

Trade day grade:  B
Hindsight trade grade:  A
Potential trade grade:  A+

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