The New York Rangers have traded center Derek Stapan and goaltender Antti Raanta to the Arizona Coyotes for a 2017 1st round pick (No. 7) and defenseman Anthony DeAngelo.
Thoughts from the media …
Bob McKenzie: “On trading of Stepan, I think it’s fair to say NYR were concerned where Stepan’s game was trending and his four years left at $6.5M.”
Bob McKenzie: “NYR look at return as No. 7 overall pick (many good centres available there), talented if not temperamental D in in DeAngelo and CAP SPACE.”
Cap Friendly: “In addition to 2 First RD picks tonight (7th & 21st), the #Rangers also have roughly $20M in available cap space with 17 players (9F/7/D1G).”
Larry Brooks: “Rangers now have approx $20M in cap space that could be $23M if Klein in fact retires, but massive holes in lineup.”
Stephan Whyno: “#NYR could be serious players July 1. Shattenkirk?”
Stephen Lorenzo: “Frees up space for Shattenkirk if they want to go that route, but #NYR suddenly have no centers”
Cap Friendly: “Stepan is 27 yrs old & has 4yrs left at a $6.5M cap hit Raanta is 28 yrs old & has 1yr left at a $1M cap hit Deangelo is in yr 2 of his ELC”
Craig Morgan: “Coyotes center optons now: Derek Stepan, Christian Dvorak, Dylan Strome, Brad Richardson, Nick Cousins.”
James Gordon: “That said, Raanta is such a good upgrade in net.”
Stephen Whyno: “GM John Chayka “confident that (Antti Raanta) can emerge as an excellent starting goalie” for the #Coyotes.”
Tom Gulitti: “DeAngelo is a righty D. Will turn 22 on Oct.24.”
Steve Kounianos: “Like DeAngelo because he’s an Italian kid from Jersey AND he’s a quick puck distributor. But he stinks in his own end.”
Corey Pronman: “I’d be interested in seeing a team try DeAngelo at forward. Kid has talent to score. Defense part has never come. Try to rebuild him.”
Mike Morreale: “Rangers get that edgy, puck-moving defenseman they needed w/ good upside. Gs Igor Shesterkin, Adam Huska, Brandon Halverson in the pipeline”
Grant McCagg: “Anthony Deangelo’s 3rd club now before he’s 22….the character questions aren’t going to go away given that “stat”…”
Damian Cox: “Hjalmarssson is 30. Stepan is solid but doesn’t produce pts worthy of his salary. Yotes clearly in desperation mode.”
Damian Cox: “Such a smart trade for NYR. Their window to win is closing, no point pretending otherwise. Start rebuild now.”