Rangers trading Nils Lundkvist to Stars for first-round pick

The Rangers didn't get speedy assist in the return for Nils Lundkvist, however in buying both a 2023 or 2024 first-rounder from Dallas for the sad 22-year-old Swedish defenseman, basic supervisor Chris Drury has acquired a vital asset he can transfer for speedy assist on the deadline. 

That's the crux of the matter for the Blueshirts, who could have two first-rounders with which to play because the rental market — on this area referred to as The Patrick Kane Derby — takes form. 

If Dallas’ choose is among the many high 10, the choice then slides with out safety to 2024. The Rangers may even get both the Stars’ third- or fourth-rounder in 2025 relying on Lundkvist’s manufacturing. 

This represents a notable restoration for the Rangers in alternate for a younger participant who didn't wish to be within the group simply as was earlier GM Jeff Gorton’s acquisition of a second-rounder that grew to become Will Cuylle in alternate for the recalcitrant Lias Andersson. 

Lundkvist, drafted No. 28 total in 2018 with the choice obtained from Tampa Bay within the Ryan McDonagh-J.T. Miller deal, had requested a commerce after having been leapfrogged on the appropriate protection depth chart final 12 months by Braden Schneider. 

Nils Lundkvist
Nils Lundkvist
Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos

Certainly, Lundkvist, who recorded 4 factors (1-3) in 25 video games final season earlier than he switched locations with Schneider in early January after which performed the rest of his rookie North American professional season with the AHL Wolf Pack, was not anticipated to report back to coaching camp this week. 

The formally and generously listed 5-foot-11, 187-pounder had issue in adapting to the quicker sport that options extra forechecking on the smaller North American rinks. He didn't dwell as much as the notices that preceded him, although he was not the one hyping his arrival following a 2020-21 season in Sweden by which he was voted the SHL’s Salming Award as greatest defenseman. 

Had Lundkvist not signed final 12 months, he would have develop into a free agent this previous summer time. When he was despatched to the Wolf Pack, The Submit has realized that the Rangers gave his agent, Claude Lemieux, permission to contact groups as a way to gauge curiosity on a commerce. There have been no biters at a worth Drury may settle for. Equally, gives have been negligible on the draft. 

As The Submit reported, Lemieux notified Drury that it was unlikely Lundkvist would report back to camp and reiterated his want to be traded. Sources point out that there have been a handful of groups , however unwilling to pay the value set by the Rangers. 

That's, till Dallas supplied the first-rounder, plus. The method, we're instructed, was amicable between Lemieux and Drury, teammates in Colorado within the late ’90s. 

So now Lundkvist will get his shot to compete each for a top-four function and a power-play project in Dallas that, barring damage, he wouldn't have gotten in New York behind Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba and Schneider. 

The Rangers, although, have little — if any — organizational depth under the varsity three on the appropriate facet, although lefty Zac Jones performed half of his 12 NHL video games on his off-side final season. If any of the highest three on the appropriate endure a long-term damage, the Blueshirts may have an issue. 

However Lundkvist wasn’t considering being a depth piece … or competing for a job. Left with this state of affairs, the Rangers did nicely. We'd discover out simply how nicely on the deadline.

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