TRANSFER NEWS: Trade Pitch Has Rangers Acquiring Star $42 Million Defenseman in Blockbuster Deal
The New York Rangers are currently in their Stanley Cup contention window, and one proposed trade involves the team acquiring a top defenseman and forward.
According to PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool, a user suggested a trade where the Rangers would receive Jonas Brodin from the Minnesota Wild.
Rangers would get:
– Jonas Brodin
– Mats Zuccarello
– A 2025 second-round pick
Wild would get:
– Jonny Brodzinski
– Kaapo Kakko
– Ryan Lindgren
– A 2025 first-round pick
– A 2025 fifth-round pick (Minnesota’s)
This trade would be a major deal for the Rangers, as they would add the star defenseman Brodin and reunite with former forward Zuccarello in exchange for three NHL players and two draft picks.
Brodin, currently in the fourth year of his seven-year, $42 million contract, would significantly strengthen the Rangers’ defense. Last season, he tallied 27 points (7 goals, 20 assists) in 62 games. Zuccarello, who started his NHL career with the Rangers from 2010 to 2019, recorded 12 goals and 51 assists for 63 points in 69 games last season with the Wild. He would slot in as a middle-six forward for New York.
In exchange, the Rangers would give up two draft picks, including a first-rounder, and forward Kaapo Kakko, the former second-overall pick who has struggled to meet expectations. Kakko could fill Zuccarello’s role for the Wild while also bringing youth to their lineup.
Ryan Lindgren, a 26-year-old defenseman, could potentially replace Brodin for the Wild, offering a younger option for Minnesota’s defense. Lindgren played 76 games last season, registering 17 points (3 goals, 14 assists).
Jonny Brodzinski would also be part of the deal. He is projected to be a physical third-line forward who can contribute to Minnesota’s depth scoring.
Rangers Aiming for the Stanley Cup
After finishing last season with the best record in the NHL, the Rangers fell short in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Florida Panthers. Heading into the 2024-25 season, Rangers General Manager Chris Drury emphasized the team’s focus on winning the Stanley Cup, stating, “Our ultimate goal is to win the Cup.”
The Rangers, who have made the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, remain one of the top contenders for the Cup.
Wild’s Quiet Offseason
The Minnesota Wild had a relatively quiet offseason after missing the playoffs. Due to salary cap constraints stemming from the buyouts of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, GM Bill Guerin couldn’t make significant moves. The Wild did sign forward Yakov Trenin and traded for centerman Jakub Lauko from the Boston Bruins. However, their roster remains largely the same as last year’s, which saw the team finish with a 39-34-9 record.
Minnesota will begin the 2024-25 season on October 10 with a home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
