Rangers trade Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey to Avalanche as deadline approach comes into focus
The Rangers continue to reshape their roster ahead of Friday’s trade deadline.The Blueshirts agreed to a trade to send defenseman Ryan Lindgren, forward Jimmy Vesey and the rights to unsigned 2021 draft pick Hank Kempf to the Avalanche in exchange for 24-year-old center Juuso Parssinen and veteran defenseman Calvin de Haan.The trade also includes multiple draft picks coming back to the Rangers — a conditional second-round pick and a conditional fourth-round selection.The Rangers have been interested in Parssinen in the past and had discussions to acquire the 24-year-old Finn before he was dealt from Nashville to Colorado in December.He had four goals and seven assists in 37 games this season for the Predators and the Avs.The 33-year-old De Haan, a left-handed shot and a former first-round pick of the Islanders, has appeared in nearly 700 NHL games over 13 seasons, including 44 (0-7-7) with Colorado this season.The 13-year veteran likely will step into the Rangers’ lineup to replace Lindgren, who has been a heart-and-soul player in his seven seasons with the organization, often playing through injuries.With Lindgren and Vesey set to become unrestricted free agents after this season, the Rangers also are retaining 50 percent of what remains on Lindgren’s $4.5 million salary.
The trade ensured the Rangers did not let them walk without acquiring assets in return.It is the latest move by GM Chris Drury since the season began, most recently the big swing trade to bring back J.T.Miller from the Canucks in January with Filip Chytil and a protected first-round pick headed to Vancouver.
Drury also jettisoned former captain Jacob Trouba and former first-round pick Kaapo Kakko earlier in the season.Saturday’s deal does not signal that the Rangers should be considered sellers before Friday’s deadline. After losing 3-2 Friday night to the Maple Leafs at the Garden, they entered Saturday’s league action four points behind the Red Wings and the Blue Jackets for th...