Rangers acquire Marcus Pettersson from Canucks for first-round pick
The New York Rangers are getting an upgrade on their blueline, as they’ve acquired defenseman Marcus Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2030 first-round pick. David Pagnotta was the first to report the deal going down, while Elliotte Friedman was the first to confirm the return.
TRADE🚨 To NYR - Marcus Pettersson (D) 🔁 To VAN - 2030 1st round pick (top-10 protected). [per @FriedgeHNIC & @ThomasDrance ]
The first-round pick going to the Canucks belongs to the Rangers, but it is top-10 protected. The deal still leaves the Rangers with first-round picks in 2027 and 2029, especially after they didn’t get a first-round pick in return for Trocheck.
Pettersson is in just the second year of a six-year contract at a cap hit of $5.5 million. He’s coming off his lowest point total in a full season with three goals and 15 assists for 18 points in 82 games, although it should be taken with a grain of salt after spending the season on the worst NHL team. That said, he also brings a strong defensive game which will certainly help a Rangers team who struggled in that regard last season.
The deal allows Pettersson to reunite with Mike Sullivan, who was the Skelleftea, Sweden product’s head coach for parts of seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pettersson emerged as a reliable defensive defenseman under Sullivan and saw some of his best seasons while in Pittsburgh.
The Rangers have been active this summer, as they also acquired Pavel Dorofeyev, Sean Durzi and Joonas Korpisalo via trades, dealt Vincent Trocheck and potentially Will Borgen, and signed Oliver Bjorkstrand and Joe Veleno in free agency. New York has $1,982,143 left in cap space according to PuckPedia (prior to trading Will Borgen), and have six restricted free agents left to re-sign, highlighted by Braden Schneider and Vincent Iorio. The only player of note eligible for an extension is Will Cuylle.
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