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Rangers acquire defenseman William Trudeau in sudden Brett Berard trade

Trading winger Brett Berard to Montreal allows the Rangers to pivot away from a crowded bottom six mix and they address a franchise need in the process.
ByTom Urtz Jr.|
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Sep 23, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers left wing Brett Berard (65) plays the puck during the first period of a preseason game against the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Sep 23, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers left wing Brett Berard (65) plays the puck during the first period of a preseason game against the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers are still awaiting an answer from the Anaheim Ducks on Mason McTavish, but in the meantime they have traded Brett Berard to the Montreal Canadiens.

Berard's tenure with the Rangers is now over after spending 40 games with the varsity squad over two seasons, and his time with the team this year was a massive disappointment. He remained on the roster for 13 games and failed to record a single point. He primarily played for the Hartford Wolf Pack, and he ended the year with just 22 points in 41 games.

Who is William Trudeau?

Trudeau is a 6'1" and 205 pound left handed defender who turns 24 in October. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 draft and has logged 260 games of AHL experience to this point in which he's scored 28 goals and added 62 assists for 90 points.

He was drafted out of the QMJHL, and spent 166 games there during which he scored 20 goals and added 70 assists for 90 points. In terms of what he brings to the table, he was described by Elite Prospects during his draft year as someone who...

"responds to the forecheck with confidence, making the difficult plays under pressure so that his teammates don’t have to. His effectiveness comes from frequent scanning before getting the puck and from a combination of physical skills and deception. Trudeau can separate opponents from the puck, extend his limbs to protect it, and get it off the wall with a handling fake and a short pass."

What this means for the Rangers going forward

This was a pretty basic hockey trade in which the Rangers move on from a young player who didn't have a future with the organization. Bottom six forwards are something the Rangers have an abundance of, and defensive depth is an area the team could stand to improve.

Matthew Robertson famously spent a number of year in the AHL awaiting his chance to make an impact at the NHL level, and adding Trudeau feels like they are trying to recreate that magic. If nothing else, Trudeau will be an option for the Hartford Wolf Pack, and they have created an opportunity for a young forward in the system to compete for a main roster spot next season by sending Berard away.

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