NHL Trade: Rangers Trade Stepan, Raanta To The Coyotes
The New York Rangers trade Derek Stepan to the Arizona Coyotes

The New York Rangers have traded center Derek Stapan and goaltender Antti Raanta to the Arizona Coyotes for a 2017 1st round pick (No. 7) and defenseman Anthony DeAngelo.

Thoughts from the media …

Bob McKenzie: “On trading of Stepan, I think it’s fair to say NYR were concerned where Stepan’s game was trending and his four years left at $6.5M.”

Bob McKenzie: “NYR look at return as No. 7 overall pick (many good centres available there), talented if not temperamental D in in DeAngelo and CAP SPACE.”

Cap Friendly: “In addition to 2 First RD picks tonight (7th & 21st), the also have roughly $20M in available cap space with 17 players (9F/7/D1G).”

Larry Brooks: “Rangers now have approx $20M in cap space that could be $23M if Klein in fact retires, but massive holes in lineup.”

Stephan Whyno: “ could be serious players July 1. Shattenkirk?”

Stephen Lorenzo: “Frees up space for Shattenkirk if they want to go that route, but suddenly have no centers”

Cap Friendly: “Stepan is 27 yrs old & has 4yrs left at a $6.5M cap hit Raanta is 28 yrs old & has 1yr left at a $1M cap hit Deangelo is in yr 2 of his ELC”

Craig Morgan: “Coyotes center optons now: Derek Stepan, Christian Dvorak, Dylan Strome, Brad Richardson, Nick Cousins.”

James Gordon: “That said, Raanta is such a good upgrade in net.”

Stephen Whyno: “GM John Chayka “confident that (Antti Raanta) can emerge as an excellent starting goalie” for the .”

Tom Gulitti: “DeAngelo is a righty D. Will turn 22 on Oct.24.”

Steve Kounianos: “Like DeAngelo because he’s an Italian kid from Jersey AND he’s a quick puck distributor. But he stinks in his own end.”

Corey Pronman: “I’d be interested in seeing a team try DeAngelo at forward. Kid has talent to score. Defense part has never come. Try to rebuild him.”

Mike Morreale: “Rangers get that edgy, puck-moving defenseman they needed w/ good upside. Gs Igor Shesterkin, Adam Huska, Brandon Halverson in the pipeline”

Grant McCagg: “Anthony Deangelo’s 3rd club now before he’s 22….the character questions aren’t going to go away given that “stat”…”

Damian Cox: “Hjalmarssson is 30. Stepan is solid but doesn’t produce pts worthy of his salary. Yotes clearly in desperation mode.”

Damian Cox: “Such a smart trade for NYR. Their window to win is closing, no point pretending otherwise. Start rebuild now.”