The NHL draft over the weekend saw a number of trades and the NY Rangers were in the middle of a lot of action, dealing Carl Hagelin to the Anaheim Ducks and backup goaltender Cam Talbot to the Edmonton Oilers while acquiring Antti Raanta and Emerson Etem in deals among four total trades to reshape the roster heading into the summer.
The Rangers were involved in talks on Talbot dating back to last week and the move with Hagelin was a surprise, but not totally unexpected. According to BlueshirtsUnited.com, the Rangers likely were going to have to part ways with Hagelin moving forward, as he is a restricted free agent and was due for a substantial raise, which is something the Rangers could not afford. The team has to sign three important players in Derek Stepan, Jesper Fast and JT Miller and they had to cut corners somewhere
The team traded Hagelin and the 59th and 179 selections to the Anaheim Ducks for Emerson Etem and the 41st pick in the draft. The team basically brought on a younger, cheaper player that is a restricted free agent in Etem and that should help them keep the trio of RFAs. Hagelin is one of the fastest players in the NHL, but Etem has potential as a former first round pick, although he has been a disappointment in Anaheim. The deal with Talbot was for pick 209 and the goalie for the 57th, 79th and 184th picks in the draft and while that was less than what the Rangers originally wanted, it's a good haul for a backup goalie.
The team was originally hoping for a first round pick or at least two second round picks in a deal for Talbot, but the market shrank a bit over the weekend and this was the best offer on the table. Talbot had a strong season while coming in for Henrik Lundqvist when the goalie was injured and he is a potential starter for the Oilers now. The Rangers move with Hagelin was mostly about money and Talbot was dealt with one year left on his deal before he can be a free agent.
The Rangers replaced Talbot with a trade for Antti Raanta, getting him from the Chicago Blackhawks in a deal for forward Ryan Haggerty. The Rangers drafted Ryan Gropp from Seattle in the WHL with the 41st overall pick and these moves over the weekend were about getting some draft picks and prospects after trading away multiple high picks the past two years. Last year the team traded Ryan Callahan and first round picks for Martin St. Louis and this season the team traded top prospect Anthony Duclair for Keith Yandle.
Check here for more on the Rangers draft moves and trades at the NHL draft.
