Thirteen years ago today Rangers landed the star winger they had been chasing for years

The New York Rangers had an interesting run during the early 2010s, and it was a team that continued to build and improve the roster in the attempt of winning the Stanley Cup. They went to the Conference Final in 2011-12, the Stanley Cup Final in 2013-14, and back to the Conference Final in 2014-15. One of the players most associated with the team during than run was Rick Nash, and he officially became a New York Ranger on July 23, 2012.

The Rangers had been interested in acquiring Nash at the trade deadline, but were unable to come to terms with a deal with the Blue Jackets as then General Manager Scott Howson had been unrealistic in negotiations. Nash had a full no movement clause and he was able to pick his destination when everything was said and done.

The Blueshirts were ultimately defeated in the Eastern Conference Final by the New Jersey Devils, and it was a playoff run highlighted by their inability to score goals for Henrik Lundqvist. During that run the Rangers legend posted a .931 save percentage and 1.82 goals against average in 20 games. That loss to New Jersey, plus dwindling options in free agency, created a sense or urgency to make the trade for Nash.

Here is what the deal looked like 13 years ago today, and it remains one of the better trades the Rangers have made in recent memory.

Nash's New York tenure was unfortunately limited by injuries, and concussions robbed the Rangers from getting the absolute best out of their star winger. He appeared in just 375 games across six seasons, and he scored 145 goals and added 107 assists for 252 points. In the playoffs he failed to live up to expectations, and he ended his Rangers tenure with 14 goals, 24 assists, and 38 points in 73 games while shooting 5.6 percent on 248 shots on goal.

While Nash's impact playing for the Rangers wasn't as great as expected, you can look at what they gained by trading him as adding to the overall impact the trade had on the organization.

On February 25, 2018, the Rangers dealt Nash to the Boston Bruins in a deal that netted them Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, Ryan Lindgren, and a first round pick in the 2018. The first round pick ultimately turned into K'Andre Miller.

In the time that has passed since the original trade, Ryan Lindgren and K'Andre Miller played important minutes on the team that went to two Eastern Conference Finals in three years. Lindgren was traded to Colorado during the season, and the trade package they got in return hinges on how Juuso Parssinen performs.

K'Andre Miller was just traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2026 first round pick, a 2026 second round pick, and Scott Morrow. Additionally, the Rangers signed Vladislav Gavrikov with cap space created in part by moving Miller's contract.

Ryan Spooner eventually was traded for Ryan Strome who also played an important role for the team, and when Spooner was eventually bought out of his contract the Rangers gained $600,000 in additional cap space since they retained salary to help complete the trade. The Rangers went on to sign Artemi Panarin in free agency a day later to a deal that pays him $11,642,857 per year, so you could make the case that they were sure to spend that $600,000 right away.

There are other branches you could look at that involve futures and trades of trades, but the most immediate ones have borne fruit in a big way for the Blueshirts. When you combine that with what Nash was able to do in the regular season to help the team make the playoffs, it's hard not to look back on this trade of 13 years ago with fondness.