With the New York Rangers announcing that they are headed for a full-blown rebuild, and the Boston Bruins skating their way to the President’s Trophy, despite the long-time New York vs. Boston sports rivalry, the two teams found common ground on a blockbuster trade just over 24 hours prior to the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline. The Rangers have traded Rick Nash to the Bruins for Ryan Lindgren, Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, a 1st-Round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft and a 7th-Round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.
OFFICIAL:
#NYRhave acquired a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, forwards Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey, and a seventh-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft from the Bruins in exchange for Rick Nash.
The Rangers already traded Michael Grabner to the New Jersey Devils earlier in the week, so dealing top players to rivals in the Eastern Conference was already proven as a non-issue. The Bruins also made some room for Nash a few days ago by sending Frank Vatrano to the Florida Panthers. A corresponding addition by Boston was inevitable.
This is actually the second trade between the Rangers and Bruins in less than a week, as New York sent Nick Holden to Boston for Rob O’Gara and a 3rd-Round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft this past Tuesday.
Per NHL.com, Nash is in the final season of an eight-year contract and can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. He has 28 points (18 goals, 10 assists) in 60 games this season. He has 799 points (434 goals, 365 assists) in 1,049 games during 15 NHL seasons with the Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Rangers (27-30-5, 59 points) are last in the Metropolitan Division, and eight points behind the Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, while the Bruins (37-14-8, 82 points) are one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for second in the Atlantic Division and five behind the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning.
The 2018 NHL Trade Deadline is Monday, February 26 at 3 p.m.
