New York Rangers trade veteran Marc Staal to Detroit Red Wings

As part of the ongoing rebuild of the team, the New York Rangers have shipped away a long-time veteran of their defensive corp.

The New York Rangers continued to make splashes in the off-season on Saturday as the team announced they have traded away long-tenured defenseman Marc Staal to the Motor City.

Staal will go to the Detroit Red Wings along with the Rangers’ second-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft. In return, the Rangers will receive considerations that will be determined at a future time.  With the trade, the Rangers get $5.7 million in additional cap space and Staal had to waive a No Movement Clause in his deal.

Staal is a 13-year veteran in the National Hockey League, and every game he has played in so far has been with the Blueshirts. His 43 goals and 145 assists are only a small part of a veteran presence he played on the Rangers’ blue line over that long span.

The Thunder Bay, Ontario native has seen his fair share of injuries over his career. One injury occurred most notably in 2013, when he suffered from a small retinal tear in his right eye and an orbital fracture after taking a slapshot in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

As a defenseman, Staal recorded 1,308 hits, blocked 1,162 shots while averaging 20:37 on-ice time per game. His 396 takeaways can be overlooked by his 511 takeaways. He was awarded a spot in the 2011 NHL All-Star Game, a season where he finished with seven goals and 22 assists.

Staal was selected by the Rangers with the 12th overall selection of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, and over his thirteen-year tenure on Broadway, his impact has been felt in both positive and also frustrating ways. But his dedication to the blue, white, and red, and footprint on the franchise, will always be remembered.