New York Rangers Trade Mats Zuccarello To Goal Starved Dallas

By BetOnline February 24, 2019

0 Comments

The New York Rangers have traded away one of the franchise’s most popular players by sending forward Mats Zuccarello to the Dallas Stars in exchange for draft picks. Zuccarello had spent his entire nine year career with the Rangers who are in the process of trying to rebuild with youth. With Zuccarello’s contract expiring at the end of the season, New York was anxious to avoid a $4.5 million salary cap hit though they will retain 30% of his salary in the deal.

Dallas sent the Rangers two conditional draft picks. New York’s picks are a second-rounder in 2019 and a third-round pick in 2020. Team and player incentives can improve the draft pick as follows–the second round pick becomes a first round pick if the Stars reach the Conference Finals and Zuccarello plays in at least 50% of the first two round games. The third round pick will become a second round pick if Zuccarello re-signs with the Stars this Summer when he will become an unrestricted free agent.

The Rangers clearly weren’t happy to part with Zuccarello. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist became an emotional mess when asked about the trade. The entire Rangers’ franchise felt the same way as evidenced by this tweet sent on the team’s official Twitter account:

Zucc, From your first goal (an OT game winner) you captured the hearts of RangersTown and always made us smile. Your spirit. Your passion. Your extra effort. A Blueshirt through and through. Once a Ranger, always a Ranger. We thank you. ZUUUUUUUUUCC

Dallas’ defense has been solid this year but their offense has struggled. Heading into Sunday’s play, the Stars were #29 in team scoring offense putting up 2.51 goals per game. Dallas GM Jim Nill thinks the transaction was a good investment in the team’s immediate future:

“You’re going to pay a premium this time of year, that’s a fact we all know. That’s what we have to weigh. Is the acquisition cost, is it worthwhile for what we’re trying to achieve?”

Zuccarello has put up 11 goals and 26 assists in 46 games this season, For his career, he has 352 points with 113 goals in 509 career games. Dallas currently holds the #7 position in the Western Conference and the first wild card berth for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.