New York Rangers: Grading the trades that made this team what it is

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DETROIT, MI – MARCH 12: Ryan McDonagh #27 and J.T. Miller #10 of the New York Rangers skate against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on March 12, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

Trade #5 – February 26, 2018

This was the blockbuster, the most controversial trade of the deadline. Ryan McDonagh had a full year left on his contract and J.T. Miller was headed to RFA status. McDonagh was the Rangers’ captain and top defenseman and Miller was an inconsistent, but physical forward who had success with the Blueshirts.

McDonagh has been a stalwart on defense for the Lightning for a season and a half. He’s been especially valuable when Victor Hedman has gone down with injuries and he signed a massive seven-year, $47 million contract beginning this season. Considering that he will be 36 in the final year of the deal and he has had a history of injures, that contract could haunt the Lightning.

Miller had a fantastic finish to the 2017-18 season with Tampa, playing on their top line. Last season he really regressed, finishing with 13 goals after signing a five-year, $26 million contract. The cap-strapped Lightning traded him to Vancouver this summer for a first and third round draft pick, a decent return for Tampa.

As for the Rangers, Brett Howden and LIbor Hajek are valuable starters for the Rangers, though both are still only 21 years old.

Vlad Namestnikov played one full season in New York, but never was able to break out offensively and was traded to Ottawa in a deal mostly to get the Rangers cap relief. The Rangers got minor league defenseman Nick Ebert and a fourth round draft pick in the exchange.

The Rangers used the 2018 first round pick to select Nils Lundkvist who is having an excellent season with Lulea of the Swedish Hockey League. He looks to be ready to move to North American next season.

The Rangers drafted Swedish center Karl Henriksson with the 2019 second round pick and he is one of the leading scorers in the SuperElit league in Sweden. This week, he was loaned to Södertälje SK. a team in the Allsvenskan League, one level below the Swedish Hockey League, probably the Swedish equivalent of the AHL.

While the trade of McDonagh and Miller was controversial, the fact is that the Rangers got two young players with tremendous upside already playing in the NHL along with two draft picks who could turn out to be outstanding contributors. The LIghting still have McDonagh to show for the deal and whatever return they got for Miller in terms of the prospects that they will draft.

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

Summary

21 months after this series of deals, they are looking better and better for Jeff Gorton and the New York Rangers. Here’s what the teams involved in these deals have to show for the trades:

Boston: Nothing

Colorado: Defenseman Ryan Graves

New Jersey: Nothing

Tampa: Defenseman Ryan McDonagh, Goalie Hugo Alnefelt , (Vancouver’s 2019 3rd round pick) , Vancouver’s 2020 first round pick (conditional). goalie Marek Mazanec currently playing in the Czech Republic.

So, two NHL players, one prospect, one draft pick and a goalie playing in Europe. That’s what’s left from these trades. How about the Rangers?

New York Rangers: Libor Hajek, Brett Howden, Ryan Strome, Yegor Rykov, Joey Keane (Hartford), Nick Ebert (Hartford), Matt Beleskey (Hartford), Nils Lundkvist (Sweden), Karl Henriksson (Sweden), K’Andre Miller (NCAA), Riley Hughes (NCAA), Ottawa’s 2020 4th round draft pick.

Three NHL regulars and at least six prospects with a shot at making it to the big leagues. That’s pretty one sided in favor of the Blueshirts. Kudos to Jeff Gorton, he deserves it.

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