NHL Trade Grade: Rangers get underwhelming return for Mats Zuccarello
The New York Rangers have traded Mats Zuccarello to the Dallas Stars. While trading him was definitely the right move, fans have every reason to be underwhelmed by the return.
Much like last year, the New York Rangers have been active sellers heading into Monday’s NHL trade deadline. Their first official domino has fallen, as fan favorite wing Mats Zuccarello got shipped to the Dallas Stars. The return was expected to be big. After all, Zuccarello has been lighting the world on fire as of late and is a proven postseason performer. Plus, the Rangers had to retain salary to make it work.
However, all the Rangers have to show for him is a conditional second-round pick and a conditional third-round pick. The former will be a 2019 first-round pick if the Stars win at least two rounds in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Meanwhile, the latter will become a 2020 first-round pick if Dallas re-signs him.
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Let’s take a look at the trade from both sides.
Rangers Perspective
It’s baffling how the Rangers got only slightly more concrete assets for Zuccarello than the New Jersey Devils got for Brian Boyle. Obviously, this trade looks way better if one of those two conditional picks becomes a first rounder. But as is, it’s an underwhelming return to say the least.
Even the Ottawa Senators, as messed up as they are, managed to get two second-round picks for Ryan Dzingel, who has a noticeably smaller resume than Zuccarello. When you factor in that the Rangers retained 30 percent of Zuc’s salary, not getting a concrete first-round pick is nothing short of unacceptable.
Maybe general manager Jeff Gorton knows something regarding that second conditional pick. And it wouldn’t be the most surprising thing ever if the Stars manage to win two rounds since the Western Conference is a mess right now. But it’s equally possible for Dallas to miss the postseason completely.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the Rangers wind up re-signing Zuccarello in July. After all, they’re the only organization he has ever known and he genuinely seemed to love it in New York. But even if this occurs, Gorton should be eyed suspiciously by Rangers fans because they didn’t get a first-round pick for one of the best rental forwards available.
Grade: C-.
Stars Perspective
For the Stars, this is a terrific move. They get a legitimate top six forward who can add offense to their lineup. Considering the Stars rank 29th in the NHL with 153 goals scored, Zuccarello should give them a huge boost.
If Dallas winds up having to give up a first round pick, it will be for a good reason. Either they just made the Western Conference Final or they re-signed Zuccarello. Re-signing him, by the way, appears plausible. The Stars have $18 million of cap space for next season before factoring in the salary cap ceiling rising.
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Dallas just improved and didn’t have to give up a single first-round pick for a guy who should have cost them at least one. Good job by them.
Grade: B+. It likely won’t be enough for them to make noise in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but considering how bad the Western Conference has been as of late, it wouldn’t be shocking if this winds up being a pretty important move.