Rick Nash has not been a part of the New York Rangers in almost three years. However he’s directly or indirectly responsible for five key pieces on the Rangers roster today.
Yes, if not for the acquisition and subsequent trade of Nash the Blueshirts would be without Mika Zibanejad, Pavel Buchnevich, Ryan Strome, Ryan Lindgren and K’Andre Miller.
Rangers trade for Nash eventually nets Zibanejad and Buchnevich
After much speculation, on July 23, 2012 the Rangers sent Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Animisov, Tim Erixon, and 2013 1st rd pick for Rick Nash, Steven Delisle, and a conditional third round pick.
That conditional third rounder became none other than Pavel Buchnevich. The Rangers winger now finds himself on the team’s top line with Chris Kreider and yet another star that comes from the Rick Nash Trade Tree.
On April 3, 2013 the Blueshirts would acquire Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John Moore and a sixth round pick in 2014 for Marian Gaborik, Blake Parlett, and none other than Steven Delisle.
In 2016, the Blueshirts would rob the Senators by sending over Derick Brassard and a 7th round pick for Mika Zibanejad and a 2nd round pick.
Trading Nash to Boston lands Lindgren, eventually nets Strome and Miller
We recently wrote about “The Letter” and one of the biggest pieces moved to start the rebuild was Rick Nash. On February 25, 2018 he would net the Rangers Ryan Lindgren, Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, a 1st rd pick in 2018, and a 7th rd pick in 2019.
Lindgren would make his debut on the Rangers blue-line on January 15, 2019 and never looked back. He and Adam Fox now form one of the Blueshirts best defense pairings and will play a role when the team starts to contend.
Ryan Spooner was moved in a one for one deal to land Ryan Strome from the Oilers on November 16, 2018. However, the biggest piece acquired came a little more indirectly.
At the 2018 NHL Draft, the Rangers moved that 1st rd pick (26th overall) to the Ottawa Senators to acquire the 22nd pick. That selection was used on future Norris Trophy candidate, K’Andre Miller.
Looking back at Rick Nash, fans should have a new level of gratitude for his time in New York, and the subsequent time after. A big thank you is owed.
Note: I want to thank the NYR PR department for collecting all this great info for me to share with you.
NHL Rumors
Today’s latest offering.
NHL Rumors: Marc-Andre Fleury off the market, Jimmy Vesey available, David Quinn on the hot seat in New York?
More must-reads: