This was declaration day for the Rangers, a day they stated the chance to win a Stanley Cup is right now, and they’re going for it.
Late Sunday afternoon, on the eve of Monday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline, general manager Glen Sather sent defenseman John Moore, highly touted prospect Anthony Duclair, along with a conditional 2016 first-round pick and 2015 second-round pick, to the Coyotes in exchange for blueliner Keith Yandle, minor-league defenseman Chris Summers, and a 2016 fourth-round pick.
The Coyotes are also retaining half of Yandle’s salary, which carries a $5.25 million salary-cap hit this year and next before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2017.
“I think if you look at this group, it’s found ways to win,” coach Alain Vigneault said earlier in the day of his team, 8-1-1 in its past 10, the lone regulation loss coming with Saturday night’s 4-2 defeat in Philadelphia. “It’s found ways to play the type of game that you have to play, depending on what’s unfolding on the ice.
“But that being said, as much as I like this group, I’m probably like any coach or coaching staff in the league. If you can improve — and you can ask management the same question — if you can improve your team, you’re certainly going to look at it.”
Yandle, 28, is an offensive defenseman, putting up 30 or more points in each of the past six seasons, twice surpassing 50 points. The Boston native has four goals and 41 points in 63 games this season. It’s unknown if he’ll be ready to play in the Rangers’ game against the Predators on Monday night at the Garden.
As a left-handed shot, Yandle can shore up the Blueshirts’ struggling third pair, which was often composed of Moore on the left with the disappointing Dan Boyle. Signed to be the offensive push from the blueline this offseason, the 38-year-old Boyle has been unable to meet expectations, thus necessitating this upgrade.
Yandle is also leading the Coyotes in power-play ice time per game, and should factor into the Rangers’ inconsistent man-advantage.
In giving up Duclair, 19, the Rangers sacrificed arguably their most-prized prospect, one that started this season with the big club before going off to play for Team Canada in the World Junior Championship and then returning to his junior team in the Quebec league. Yet the organization is also high on 19-year-old Russian winger Pavel Buchnevich, who is currently in the KHL but is likely to factor into the team next season.
By sending off another first-round pick, the Rangers will now not have picked in the first round for four consecutive years, trading them away in deals for Rick Nash, Martin St. Louis, and now Yandle.
“It’s part of the business, it’s there every year,” alternate captain Derek Stepan said about the trade deadline. “But we can’t control it. None of the guys in this room can control the trade deadline. What you try to do is focus on playing hockey. We have a big-time push coming here from our group that we have to have.”
The Rangers are two points behind the rival Islanders for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division, still holding three games in hand.
They have also reportedly reengaged in contract negotiations with top-line winger Mats Zuccarello, thus likely taking him off the trade block. The deal is reportedly a four-year term for around $4.5 million per season.
The deal for Yandle would likely be the big move for Sather and the Blueshirts this season, and the goal — as always — will be to make another run for the Stanley Cup, taking advantage of the prime years of goalie Henrik Lundqvist, set to return to action from his vascular injury in his neck later this month.
“Each year, around this time you have those funky feelings and stuff like that,” Stepan said. “The teams that can focus and get themselves ready to play a hockey game come out with two points in times when there is a lot of confusion around the league.”