Rangers acquire Andrew Copp, Tyler Motte at NHL trade deadline
It got here right down to the wire, however the Rangers made the slew of strikes that they have been anticipated to make.
President and basic supervisor Chris Drury stored his blue-chip commerce property near his chest because the NHL’s commerce deadline got here and went Monday, giving up a handful of draft picks that the group has zero want for whereas bolstering the Rangers on each side of the puck.
The Rangers introduced in two forwards to fortify the underside six within the Jets’ Andrew Copp and Canucks’ Tyler Motte, whereas additionally including Flyers defenseman Justin Braun. All three are thought-about leases, however the one asset Drury gave up who has touched the ice this season was ahead Morgan Barron within the Copp commerce with Winnipeg.
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Moreover, the Rangers traded defenseman Anthony Bitetto, who has spent the season with AHL Hartford, to the Sharks in trade for AHL winger Nick Merkley.
“There was a sure degree of consolation we have been all at as a employees and we’re excited to accumulate the gamers we did for the property that we gave up,” Drury mentioned in his first convention name with reporters because the season began. “It simply appeared like the proper offers to make for the proper property.”
To kick off the day, the Rangers acquired Braun — a pending unrestricted free agent carrying a cap hit of $1.8 million — from the Flyers in trade for a 2023 third-round choose. The 35-year-old blue liner is a veteran of 100 playoff video games and may play on the left or proper facet, which provides the Rangers some flexibility, but it surely sounded as if Drury sees Braun on the proper.
After taking part in top-pair minutes in Philadelphia, Braun will doubtless slot into the third pair subsequent to both Patrik Nemeth or Braden Schneider. Drury levied some excessive reward towards the 20-year-old Schneider, who made his NHL debut in mid-January and caught within the lineup, however mentioned it was in the end head coach Gerard Gallant’s lineup determination.
In bolstering the ahead group, the Rangers added a few two-way bottom-six gamers with offensive upsides. The Jets despatched Copp and a 2023 sixth-round choose in trade for Barron, two conditional second-round picks and a 2023 fifth-rounder.
The 2022 second-round choose the Rangers despatched to Winnipeg will change into a primary in the event that they attain the Japanese Convention Closing and Copp performs in at the least half their playoff video games. The Jets can have their selection on the opposite second-rounder within the deal — the Blues’ 2022 choose or the Rangers’ in 2023.
Along with his one-year, $3.64 million deal set to run out this offseason, Copp is one other low-risk addition for the Rangers. The 27-year-old has a historical past of being accountable on protection, however he's primarily an offensive weapon who can add some scoring punch to the underside six.
“Copp does plenty of various things,” Drury mentioned. “He’s on PK, PP, faceoffs, can play middle, can play each wings. I feel he can be utilized in plenty of alternative ways.”
The Rangers additionally despatched a 2023 fourth-rounder to the Canucks for Motte. The 27-year-old, who's a pending UFA with a cap hit of $1.225 million, must be an efficient addition to the Rangers’ forecheck.
Count on both Motte or Copp to hitch Barclay Goodrow because the Rangers’ high ahead duo on the penalty kill. Each forwards have logged vital time on the PK this season, which is able to doubtless knock Greg McKegg out of the lineup.
“We needed to offer Turk some extra items,” Drury mentioned, referring to his head coach. “Clearly, goaltending has been terrific, particular groups have been excellent. With a few of the gamers that we’ve misplaced, not solely just lately, however Sammy Blais for the yr, we did need to give Turk and the coaches extra items to maneuver and determine how greatest to win video games down the stretch right here.”
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