Catching up with New York Rangers dealt prior to this season
The New York Rangers made a lot of moves to prepare for this season and many of their traded players ventured into different directions this year. Former Rangers were swapped to three different divisions: Central, Atlantic and one within the Metropolitan. From there, some have moved again, but nevertheless they take a piece of New York them.
The New York Rangers organization set their sights on a rebuild which was cemented by an open letter from President Glen Sather and General Manager Jeff Gorton almost two years ago. They alerted their faithful followers that a transformation would begin to take shape and they were orchestrating a vast change.
Fans then may not have grasped that this chapter would indicate such grand construction, this soon. With 21 Rangers players moved since the letter was published, and increasing participation shopping around in the market, the Rangers still have more moves to make.
Delightfully so, the Original Six franchise has been ahead of the curve as the game of hockey transforms more and more into a game of skill and speed. Gorton’s qualifications and judgements have been under scrutiny of Rangers fans since valid arguments can be made to determine his success or failure with the rebuild.
Despite specific opinions on Gorton’s decisions, the changes have been profound, shocking, and even heartbreaking. But above all, the changes have been quick. Two years later, as we will explore, the roster looks completely different– and the whole league knows it.
So each season while we approach the trade deadline, Rangers fans, in particular are reminded of the leaps and bounds that have transformed their beloved team. They are also reminded that the Rangers are fun to watch again, it’s unpredictable and frustrating at times but it’s necessary to be a contender, so if that is what it takes to bring the Cup back to New York, go right ahead.
Let’s turn our attention to the six key players from last season who are no longer with the team, and analyze their contributions as well as their current numbers.
Mats Zuccarello
Destination: Dallas Stars
Trade Return: A conditional second round pick in the 2019 entry draft and a conditional third round pick in the 2020 draft.
What they lost
Zuccarello was the first big name in New York to be moved at the 2019 trade deadline. He was dealt February 23rd but was unable to immediately jump in and help out the Stars from after sustaining an injury in his debut. He did manage however, to score a goal before leaving the game. Zuccarello recovered in time to help the Stars push the eventual Stanley Cup Champions to a seventh game in the second round. On July 1st, the Norwegian born player signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Wild, thus ending his time in Dallas.
The Rangers lost a winger who was reliably their leading goal scorer for four out of the most recent five seasons and registered 61 points at his peak. His smaller size allowed him to become an excellent passer and he developed enough to become one of the most steady Rangers during his time in New York.
More from Editorials
- Rangers’ Playoff Redemption Recipe: Grit and Fresh Hopes
- Rangers’ Roster Chatter: Who’s Making the Cut and Who’s in the Penalty Box?
- These Rangers must learn Peter Laviolette’s ropes before they can fly
- Filip Chytil Could Take Major Steps in the 2023-24 Season
- Looking forward to the upcoming season for Artemi Panarin
In his five full seasons he averaged 56.2 points. He claimed the role of a top-six forward and became a fan favorite of Rangers fans, and thus led to a heartbreaking departure.
But the Rangers were faced with a decision when it came to the older winger who had been plagued by various injuries and had to contemplate if he had a spot in the team’s reconstruction. Ultimately, the organization decided he did not and the lifelong Ranger was moved to Texas.
Zuccarello currently has 14 goals in 48 games with his team, the Wild. Altogether, he has 30 points on the season and is tied for fourth place on his team. In comparison to the Rangers at the moment, Artemi Panarin leads with 71 points, Ryan Strome has collected 44 so far, Mika Zibanejad has 45, Tony DeAngelo has 41 and so on.
It is interesting to think about what Zuccarello could have contributed this season to the Blueshirts. Recently, the top six forwards selected by head coach David Quinn have been Panarin, Fast, Strome, Buchnevich, Kreider, Zibanejad and even occasionally Lemieux.
Although Zuccarello was affectionately considered a fan favorite, a look at the numbers reflects a slightly above average forward who just did not fit in with the vision.
Bottom line
Despite the difficult goodbye to Zuccarello, the Rangers made the smartest choice with the long-term vision in mind. The conditional 2019 pick was determined upon whether or not the Stars won round two of the playoffs. If they had advanced, the round two pick would have become a first round pick. The third round pick would have also become a first rounder if the Stars re-signed Zuccarello which they also did not. In the end, the Rangers cleared some cap space and made roster room.
Kevin Hayes
Destination: Winnipeg Jets
Trade Return: Brendan Lemieux (LW) and a first round and conditional fourth round pick in the 2019 entry draft.
What they lost
Just two days after Zuccarello was traded, the Rangers said farewell to Boston born, 6’5″ Kevin Hayes. The five year Ranger was dealt to Winnipeg in time for their participation in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but was not a massive contributor. The Jets were eliminated in round one to the St. Louis Blues who went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Hayes was 26 when he was sent to the Canadian team and although the Rangers received a decent return for the center, you can make the case that there was room for Hayes to stay. His outspoken nature emphasized his pride and love for being a Ranger and wanting to remain in New York for his career indicates that he could have taken a pay cut to stay, but after he was signed to a one-year deal entering the 2018-19 season, a parting seemed inevitable.
Of course, money was largely, if not the biggest factor in the Hayes situation despite the goal of acquiring speed and youth. Both sides had conversations about his future, but they were short and did not revolve around a longer term commitment. In the beginning of contact talks, Hayes’ camp was reportedly far from what General Manager Jeff Gorton could offer.
Although you would not be able to tell due to his poor fit and short stay with the Jets, the Dorchester native brought many intangibles to the team. He is a big-bodied player who naturally got in the way of other guys. He is a big personality and would’ve played a huge role in cultivating team chemistry.
Despite looming free agency for Hayes at the end of the season, he could have helped the Rangers by claiming a top six role and being a part of the power-play unit. If Hayes had stayed he would have likely taken Ryan Strome’s role as second line center. It would be interesting to see how Hayes would have meshed with Artemi Panarin and how a demotion would have affected Strome who is having a career year. Surely any player teamed with Panarin would flourish, but Hayes, unlike Strome, could really stand out on his own.
Eventually in free agency following the Jets’ elimination, Hayes made a return to his previous Division by signing a staggering $50 million deal with the Philadelphia Flyers worth an average annual value of $7.14 million a year. The Jets traded his rights to Philadelphia, and Hayes was persuaded enough to ink a deal.
The Rangers cannot hide their blatant lack of a reliable face off man, in fact, they are in fact ranked second to last in the league with faceoff wins. The Flyers, who have Claude Giroux with Hayes contributing, are first in the league in faceoff percentage.
Faceoffs are important because having a strong percentage of wins represents solid puck possession. When a team center has a high shot of winning a faceoff at the dot and his linemates are in proper position, the team has an elevated opportunity of scoring.
Though the Rangers have not been characterized as a strong faceoff team for the past decade, it would be a pleasant change to have a few strong guys to send to the dot. Studies have proven that faceoff wins do not directly relate to game won, but it does lead to increased puck possession, but you get that with any talented player. While a good faceoff man will have increased puck possession, so will any talented player, and with that statement, we must keep in sight the bigger picture.
In 50 games for Philadelphia, Hayes has 32 points, 17 of those are goals. Prior to leaving New York, he had similar statistics– 50 games, 14 goals, 28 assists for a total of 42. He put up an additional 13 points in Winnipeg. Even though Hayes is not on pace for a career year, he is coming in handy with key goals for the Flyers.
Hayes got off to a slow start this season, but he already has four game-winning goals on the season, which ties his season high with New York. If Hayes can continue to put up crucial goals he will pan out to be a cornerstone for the Orange and Black.
Bottom line
While we may never know what the biggest roadblock was when it came to negotiating with Hayes, it does not appear to be something to come back and bite the Rangers, during this season at least (despite having a two-goal-game against them already).
We will be seeing a lot of Hayes since his return to the Metropolitan division, which means we will continue to see how much of a well-rounded center he has become. He is, arguably, the biggest loss among this group of moved players.
His game in Philadelphia proves he can contribute nightly with a little mix of everything– assists, defense, goals, and leadership. Hayes has been named an alternate captain for the Flyers, and it shows his propensity to be a franchise centerpiece.
Adam McQuaid
Destination: Columbus Blue Jackets
Trade Return: Julius Bergman (D) and a fourth and seventh round pick in the 2019 draft.
What they lost
The Rangers lost a veteran defenseman, which is a highly sought after role in the league– we can expect these types of players to be headliners as we approach the trade deadline. The Rangers lost a lot of grit in their lineup losing McQuaid and have brought in Micheal Haley during free agency to attempt to and compensate.
As the Rangers stride towards youth, they will need a burly blueliner to prevent an abundance of cheap shots on the younger guys. A similar idea to the Toronto Maple Leafs bringing in Matt Martin from our rivals, the Islanders, in 2016-2018 to defend their young offensive core which consisted of Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, and William Nylander.
It’s a smart move to make, if they can get a McQuaid-esque replacement for the right price and even if the organization only keeps the player for a few seasons. The kids are going to need to focus on developing their skills without the fear of being bullying each game, therefore, seeking an older defenseman is going to be necessary.
A McQuaid carbon copy would be ideal. He wasn’t concerned with scoring, and with such an offensively gifted defense core intact, the Rangers really don’t need to secure a defender with a scoring touch.
Bottom line
The Ranger simply cannot delegate the role of the tough guy to winger Lemieux or Tony DeAngelo without playing with risks. These are young players who need to work on their own development too, and while physicality should not be discouraged, they need to play a bigger role. The Rangers do not have that much size in the pipelines, which reinforces the need to have a loaner come in for grit.
McQuaid, who will forever be in the hearts of the Bruins’ fans, has been skating with his former team, but is most likely unable to contribute again. His injury history is holding him back from prolonging his career in the NHL and the possibility of him playing again are minimal.
Neal Pionk
Destination: Winnipeg Jets
Trade Return: Jacob Trouba (D) and a first round pick in the 2019 entry draft.
What they lost
New York lost a young defenseman with substantial potential when they traded Pionk. He had an offensive edge in New York, but his whole game really took flight in Winnipeg. When news of the Jacob Trouba/Pionk trade broke, it was agreed upon universally that the Rangers robbed the Jets. After what he’s done for Winnipeg thus far– this is no longer the consensus.
Not only did the Jets obtain the 24-year-old but they also were reunited with their first round draft pick that was exchanged to the Rangers in the Hayes/Lemieux trade. Although Pionk is not a large player, the Jets have plenty of big-bodied guys and his skill and speed make up for it.
Pionk has 33 points in 54 games with the Jets. For a third year NHL player who began as an undrafted college player, that’s not too shabby. In regards to his teammates, Pionk is sixth in scoring on the Jets, behind forward Nikolaj Ehlers who has 41 points while Mark Scheifele is tops with 5 points. Pionk does lead the entire team in power play points with 18.
He is also the top defenseman in all offensive categories and is averaging 23:25 minutes of ice time per game, most on the Jets.
Although Pionk’s numbers make it appear the Rangers got the short end of the stick with this trade, that isn’t the case. Both teams benefited from the trade and although Trouba’s game in New York hasn’t reflected all his skill in Winnipeg, he is only a year older than Pionk with plenty of time.
Bottom line
From the initial news to now, this was a good move by the Rangers. Although we have yet to see Trouba replicate his level of play as a Blueshirt and seeing how the Rangers defense can contribute to scoring, Trouba looks to have a spot in the rebuild long enough to be a veteran Blueshirt perhaps one day.
Jimmy Vesey
Destination: Buffalo Sabres
Trade Return: Third round pick in the 2021 draft.
What they lost
Vesey was a rather interesting player to have on the Rangers, in terms that spectators were constantly wondering when he would break out. Traded on the first day of free agency, he was sent to Buffalo among persistent talks that he would be on the move.
All eyes were on Vesey upon his entry into the league, but he hasn’t quite lived up the anticipated hype. A Harvard student as well as a 2015 finalist and a 2016 winner of the Hobey Baker award, the most prestigious college hockey award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association player, Vesey was not expected to end up in a Rangers jersey.
Following his stunning college career, he chose not to sign with the Nashville Predators who drafted him and was subsequently flipped to Buffalo. After forgoing a deal with the Sabres, he signed with the Rangers for two years on an entry-level deal when he became a free agent in August 2016,
During Vesey’s time in New York we have seen a lot– even if it isn’t what we expected. He had some unbelievable finesse goals here and there, and was not known to turn away from a scrum, even if his chances to win were minimal. In totality, the Rangers lost nothing with this move, but gained so much more.
Although the 26-year-old has time to reach his prime, unfortunately he gave what he could for the Rangers. He has even laid pretty low with the Sabres. Vesey has 14 points with his current team, although he had a career year last season with the Rangers (35 points) his point totals have been increasing with each year, a good sign for Buffalo.
Bottom line
While those who followed Vesey in college along with Rangers fans may still be waiting for him to bust out, the move was necessary as it allowed the organization to make cap space room to ultimately sign coveted star Artemi Panarin.
Vesey is an average forward no question, but given the option to deal him for cap space to make other moves work and acquire a pick for someone younger was perhaps the smartest move executed by the front office in recent history.
Vladislav Namestnikov
Destination: Ottawa Senators
Trade Return: Nick Ebert (D) and a fourth round pick in the 2021 draft
What they lost
When Namestnikov was brought in from the Tampa Bay Lightning almost two years ago, there was some uncertainty with his fit here. As a part of the package received in the Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller trade, Namestnikov was the oldest of the trio consisting of Brett Howden and Libor Hajek to be sent to New York.
In early October when Namestnikov was flipped to Ottawa, his career/season point earnings were a bit erratic. To stay with this brand of Rangers hockey, you must prove yourself to be above average, or have youth on your side and a boatload of potential. This was not the case for the now 27-year-old Russian native.
Although it took some time for Namestnikov to initially crack a roster, he gained valuable playoff experience and played on a line with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov– some of the best linemates a guy could ask for.
He scored 11 goals and 31 points with the Rangers in 2018-19. This season with Ottawa he has 22 points and has already equaled his goal total of last season.
Namestnikov, who appears to be a wildcard player in the sense that he can be unpredictable, translated to a lack of fit with the rebuild. Dedicating only about two seasons to reconstructing an entire hockey club was no easy feat, but to accomplish this the team had to crack down where they could.
Bottom line
Due to the cap issues for the Rangers, Namestnikov was sent packing in order to help ease their cap situation. Given the fact he was also a pending unrestricted free agent, the Rangers took the opportunity to relieve some pressure. Ebert, acquired in the deal with Ottawa, currently plays with the Rangers’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. Ebert collected 12 points (four goals) in 34 games with Hartford. Certainly, it does not hurt New York to have stacked defense within their AHL roster, but freeing up cap space was the real benefit.