RANGERS TRADE DOESN'T INCLUDE RICHMONDER. PHOOEY1

 

After much speculation, mostly wrong, the New York 

Rangers continued to alter their lineup Saturday with a 

multi-player deal with Colorado … that, unfortunately, 

did not include ZAC JONES.

Going to the Avalanche was top four defenseman RYAN 

LINDGREN and seldom-used forward JIMMY VESEY

 along with the rights to unsigned HANK KEMPF, a 

defenseman who played the past four years for Cornell U. 

In return the Rangers got JUUSO PARSSINEN, a 24-

year-old forward who began 2024-25 with Nashville; 

veteran defenseman CALVIN de HAAN, 33, and a 

couple of provisional choices in next month’s NHL draft.

The Rangers also reportedly agreed to pay half of the 

remaining balance of Lindgren’s $4.5 million salary. You 

might recall the often-injured veteran of seven years 

signed a one-year deal that presumably would be his last 

in New York. Lindgren spent most of the past two seasons 

with ADAM FOX on the No. 1 defensive pairing for 

coach PETER LAVIOLETTE.

Now, with Fox sidelined with a shoulder injury, the left-

handed de Haan, described as a stay-at-home, defensive 

defenseman, is expected to be teamed with either URHO 

VAAKANAINEN or BRADEN SCHNEIDER until 

Fox, the 2022 Norris Trophy winner, returns … leaving 

the talented but underused Z Jones once again facing an 

uncertain future in Laviolette’s plans … The 24 year old 

Richmonder played Friday against Toronto (3-2 Maple 

Leafs) for the first 

time after being a healthy scratch in 23 of 24 games since 

Dec. 23 … and was on the ice for the game-winning goal 

13:39 from the end when goaltender IGOR 

SHESTERKIN made a poor decision behind his own 

goal. His attempted clear, instead of leaving the puck for 

Jones, was blocked by the Maple Leafs’ MITCH 

MARNER and quickly turned into a goal by

 MATTHEW KNIES.

With the NHL trading deadline Friday, the Rangers could 

move other players … such as CHRIS KREIDER and 

backup goalie JONATHAN QUICK as well as ALEXIS 

LAFRENIERE and REILLY SMITH. Kreider, who has 

spent his entire career in New York and holds several 

franchise record for offensive excellence, was put on IR 

said to be because of an undisclosed injury but is eligible 

to return at any time. Chances are, however, it will be 

elsewhere … after he was seen turning his back on, in 

effect snubbing, Laviolette who was trying to talk to him 

during practice earlier last week. Rookie BRETT 

BERARD was recalled from AHL Hartford to replace 

Kreider.

The possibility of a deal for Quick came as a major 

surprise because the three-time Stanley Cup winner has 

been a welcomed addition for the past two seasons as 

backup to Shesterkin … and could be considered an 

indication management has all but given up hope of 

making the playoffs this year … despite being only four 

points out of a wild-card berth with 23 games remaining.

Based on early evaluations of Saturday’s swap … 

Colorado gets a slight edge but only because Lindgren 

could provide some needed help as the Avalanche bid for 

another Stanley Cup ... A seventh-round draft selection 

(210 overall) by Nashville in 2019, Parssinen (6-3, 212) 

looks like he can play but there are reasons why he is 

with his third team this season. In three NHL campaigns, 

he has 48 points (18 goals), 35 PIM and is minus 13 in 

109 games … De Haan is a former first-round draftee 

(2009, 12^th overall) of the NY Islanders. He’s 6-1, 192 

and is best known for his shot-blocking ability. In 12 

seasons with five teams, de Haan has averaged 20 PIM, 

never having more than 36. He signed as a free agent with 

Colorado on a one-year, $800,000 contract.

Bottom line: The Rangers got rid of two players who had 

no future in New York … and, fittingly, got virtually 

nothing in return. Who knows, perhaps Kempf (6-2, 201) 

will turn out to be the steal of the year. From Wilmette, 

Ill., he has taken in the seventh round of the 2021 draft 

(208 overall) by the Rangers but opted to play for Cornell 

where he was 2022 ECAC rookie of the year and finished 

plus 42 in 126 games. Even more impressive is the off-ice 

volunteer work that earned him back to back nominations 

for the Hockey Humanitarian Award.

Until next time ...