Rangers trade for Andrew Copp, Tyler Motte

The New York Rangers made two more deal at the trade deadline, picking up center Andrew Copp from the Winnipeg Jets and Tyler Motte from the Vancouver Canucks.   They join Frank Vatrano and Justin Braun as additions made by Chris Drury to strengthen this team for the stretch run.

Both of these deals make the Rangers a much better team for the stretch run.  The team’s greatest weakness has been skill on the bottom six and these two players make that group much, much better.

About Andrew Copp

Andrew Copp is 27-years-old (28 in July), 6’1″, 206 pounds.  He has 13 goals and 35 points in 56 games for the Jets this season. He was  a fourth round pick by Winnipeg in 2013.  His best season was 2020-21 when he scored 15 goals and 39 points, numbers he is set to exceed this season.

He missed a few games recently with an upper body injury thought to be a concussion, but he was back after missing only one game.

One area that he will improve the Rangers is in the faceoff circle.  He has a career 52% winning percentage and this year has won 54% of his 578 draws.

Copp slots into a role as the third line center and he was one of Winnipeg’s top penalty killers.  He is a former teammate of Jacob Trouba and hails from Michigan, like Trouba.

He will be an Unrestricted Free Agent after the season.  He is earning $3.64 million on a one-year deal he signed with Winnipeg.

About Tyler Motte

Tyler Motte just turned 27 and he listed as a center, but has played a lot on the wing.  He is described as a high energy, physical forward.  He has been among the team leaders in hits for the Canucks, leading them with 200 hits in 2018-19.

The Michigan native was originally draftedin the 4th round of the 2013 draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. He was part of the deal that sent Artemi Panarin to the Blue Jackets in 2017 and then was dealt to the Canucks that season.

He has never scored more than nine goals in a season and this year he has seven goals and 15 points in 49 games.

He will be an Unrestricted Free Agent after the season.  He is earning $1.225 million on a two-year deal he signed with Vancouver.

Bitetto gone

Anthony Bitetto’s days in New York are over.  The Rangers traded the Long Island native to the San Jose Sharks.  Details are still unknown.  Bitetto was in Hartford all season and got into 14 games with the Rangers last season, scoring a highlight reel goal in his second game at the Garden against the Capitals.

The Rangers picked up forward Nick Merkley, a 24-year old right winger who has played for the Coyotes (who drafted him), the Devils and Sharks.  He has spent most of this season in the AHL.

Other deals

Here are some other deals that are just coming down:

• Rickard Rakell (Ducks) to the Penguins
• Max Domi (Blue Jackets) to the Hurricanes
• Derick Brassard (Flyers) to the Oilers
• Johan Larsson (Coyotes) to Capitals