The New York Rangers have agreed to trade forward Michael Grabner to their local rivals, the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Igor Rykov and a second-round NHL Draft pick. This is the first trade ever between the two teams. More to come.
Grabner to the Devils for a 2nd round pick and a prospect.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/status/966877961117884418
Michael Grabner Traded to the New Jersey Devils
The Rangers completed a trade Thursday Night with the Devils. The Rangers acquire Igor Rykov and a second-round pick in exchange for winger Michael Grabner.
Key Players
In Grabner, the Devils get an NHL journeyman. Grabner has been on and contributed to the success of four teams in his eight-year NHL career. He is somewhat of an ironman for every team. Regularly playing between 75 and 80 games during each regular season. He has not been a superstar but is a solid performer. During his first full season with the New York Islanders, he finished third in the Calder race. This season he scored 25 goals and six assists for 31 points in 59 games. He also added 12 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers are 45 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of -2.5. Those totals are ahead of his pace compared to last season, where he scored 27 goals, 13 assists for 40 points.
Over his NHL career, Grabner has played for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers. He has put up 156 goals and 88 assists for 244 career points in 532 career games. He was originally drafted in the 1st round, 14th overall of the 2009 NHL draft by the Vancouver Canucks.
Grabner is a speedy winger, known to be one of the fastest players in the NHL. That speed also makes him a dangerous threat on the penalty kill.
The Return
Rykov, 20, was the Devils fifth-round pick, 132nd overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. He is playing for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL and has two goals and 14 assists for 16 points in 51 KHL games. He had seven points in seven games with Russia at the 2017 World Junior Championships, winning bronze. He was also on the 2016 World Junior Silver Medal squad, and had three points in seven games.
COLUMBUS, OH – JANUARY 7: Michael Grabner #40 of the New York Rangers skates after the puck during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 7, 2017, at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
