The Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers pulled off a blockbuster trade on Monday with the Rangers sending center Derick Brassard and a seventh round pick to the Senators in exchange for center Mika Zibanejad and a second round pick.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have acquired Mika Zibanejad & a 2018 2nd rd pick from OTT for Derick Brassard & a 2018 7th rd pick. pic.twitter.com/RjkiVAagpy
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 18, 2016
Brassard, 28, has been a model of consistency since he was acquired by the Rangers from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013. He has missed five regular season games and 163 points over the past three seasons. Brassard scored a career high 27 goals this past season and now will likely have the luxury of joining explosive winger Mark Stone on the second line in Ottawa.
Zibanejad, 23, has spent his entire career with the Ottawa Senators, after they made him the sixth overall selection in the 2011 NHL Draft. Since then, he has racked up 151 points in 282 games, including career highs in goals (21) and assists (30) this past season.
Zibanejad will now likely end up on the same line as Chris Kreider, the former line mate of Brassard. In addition, the emerging talent will be a lot cheaper than Derick Brassard. The trade also gives the Rangers more flexibility in pursuing trades and players in free agency.
The Rangers now have $2.375 million to play with in their attempts to re-sign RFA forwards Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes. The Senators must now consider their options when it comes to re-signing top young forward Mike Hoffman, and talented young defenseman Cody Ceci, who are both RFA’s. However, despite absorbing the large cap hit of Brassard, they still have around $13 million in cap space.
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