The Rangers are busy making changes to their team as the trade deadline approaches.
On Saturday, they traded defenseman Ryan Lindgren, forward Jimmy Vesey, and rights to draft pick Hank Kempf to the Avalanche. In return, they received center Juuso Parssinen and veteran defenseman Calvin de Haan, along with two conditional draft picks for 2025.
The Rangers have shown interest in Parssinen before. The 24-year-old Finn had four goals and seven assists in 37 games this season, previously playing for Nashville before moving to Colorado.
Calvin de Haan, 33, is a left-handed shooter and a former first-round pick who has played nearly 700 games in the NHL over 13 seasons. This season with Colorado, he has no goals but has contributed seven assists. He is expected to take Lindgren’s place in the lineup. Lindgren has been a key player for the Rangers for seven years, often playing through injuries.
Both Lindgren and Vesey are set to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. The Rangers are retaining half of Lindgren’s $4.5 million salary, making sure they gain some value from these players instead of losing them for nothing.
This trade is part of General Manager Chris Drury’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the team. Earlier in the season, he brought back J.T. Miller from the Canucks and let go of former captain Jacob Trouba and first-round pick Kaapo Kakko.
Despite the trades, the Rangers are not giving up on the season. After a recent loss to the Maple Leafs, they are only four points behind two teams for the last playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. Upcoming games against the Predators and Islanders could be crucial for their chances.
Vesey has been a respected player on the team since returning in 2022. Over two seasons, he played a total of 161 games, scoring 24 goals. However, his playing time has decreased this year, with only four goals and two assists in 33 games. He expressed frustration about being a healthy scratch multiple times, sharing how difficult it has been for him.
Lindgren has also spoken about his desire to stay in New York, trying to focus on his game despite the uncertainty of trade rumors. He has admitted that the situation has been tough for him.
The draft picks in the trade will depend on the performance of other teams, specifically the better picks between Carolina, Vancouver, and Colorado.
Check out this related article: Giancarlo Stanton’s Season Kickoff Delayed: What His Injured List Status Means for Fans and the Yankees
Source linkNHL,Sports,colorado avalanche,jimmy vesey,new york rangers,nhl trade deadline,ryan lindgren
