Rangers acquire Lucas Edmonds from Lightning for Ryder Korczak

The New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning completed a minor trade Saturday. Heading to Manhattan, the Rangers have received right winger Lucas Edmonds in exchange for center Ryder Korczak.

Through 35 appearances this season with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, Korczak had recorded three goals and eight assists for 11 points. In all, Korczak has spent part of three seasons with the Rangers’ minor-league club, totaling 107 games in which he collected 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points.

A 22-year-old native of Yorkton, Sask., Korczak is a graduate of the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors. At the junior level, which also counted part of two seasons with the Calgary Hitmen, Korczak tallied 82 goals and 164 assists for 246 points in 248 outings.

Korczak was originally chosen 75th overall by the Rangers in the 2021 NHL Draft. Per PuckPedia, the budding forward is in the final year of his three-year, entry-level contract.

For Edmonds, the 23-year-old forward has seen 26 showings with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch this season, recording one goal and four assists for five points. Edmonds has spent three seasons with the Lightning’s farm team, totaling 25 goals and 23 assists for 48 points in 120 outings.

A product of North Bay, Ont., Edmonds is also a dual citizen of Sweden. Prior to coming to North America, Edmonds skated with Kristianstads IK of the second-ranked Swedish league during the 2020-21 season. That season, Edmonds made 22 appearances in which he finished with three assists and a minus-two rating.

Skating a lone season with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs in 2021-22, Edmonds was an offensive force as he racked up 113 points in 68 outings, highlighted by a league-leading 79 assists. In recognition of his impressive performance, Edmonds was named to the OHL’s Third All-Star Team at season’s end.

Edmonds was chosen by the Lightning in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft. Like Korczak, Edmonds is in the final year of his entry-level contract, due to become a restricted free agent this coming offseason.