Rangers GM Jeff Gorton finally pulled the trigger on a roster-shifting trade out of nowhere on Monday afternoon, sending top-six center Derick Brassard and a 2018 seventh-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for second-line center Mika Zibanejad and a 2018 second-round pick. He comes to Ottawa after a team-leading 27 goals with the Rangers in 2015-16, and a career-high 58 points. In other words, the Rangers are potentially downgrading in the short-term, but in such a way that might help them for years to come.
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The cash-conscious Sens, who can absorb such monster cap hits as Dion Phaneuf’s, will only be on the hook for $5 million in real dollars in 2016-17 and $3.5 million for each of Brassard’s two seasons thereafter.
Brassard, who turns 29 on September 22, led the Rangers with 27 goals last season and finished second in scoring (58 points) behind Mats Zuccarello (61). In 563 games between NY and Columbus, he has scored 127 goals and 216 assists.
Zibanejad, 23, skated in 81 games with Ottawa last season, registering 51 points (21 goals, 30 assists) and 18 penalty minutes.
Brassard said he was a little surprised by the news. Not only does he have a friend in Senators veteran Marc Methot, but he’s playing the best hockey of his life. He was informed of the trade by text after the Rangers were unable to reach him. He recently played at the World Championships with Cody Ceci and Mark Stone and is acquaintances with Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
In that light, it’ll be interesting to see how big an impact Brassard can make.
“I’ve really like the way the team has played the last two seasons and now with the arrival of Guy I think it will give them another edge and more energy”, said Brassard.
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Brassard, who played under Boucher in junior, should provide an immediate upgrade. “I’m more mature now”.
