The Rangers have traded Mats Zuccarello to Dallas for two conditional draft picks. (Dreger)
The picks acquired and their conditions are (Bob McKenzie):
- 2019 2nd Round Pick: Becomes Dallas’ 2019 1st round pick if the Stars win two playoff rounds
- 2020 3rd round pick: Becomes Dallas’ 2020 1st round pick if Zuccarello re-signs with Dallas.
From the Dallas Stars release, “The second-round selection in the 2019 NHL Draft will become a first-round selection in the 2019 NHL Draft if the Stars advance to the third round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs and he plays in at least 50 percent of the team’s cumulative games over the first two rounds. The third-round selection in the 2020 NHL Draft becomes a first-round selection in the 2020 NHL Draft should Dallas re-sign Zuccarello in the off-season.
Ad
Zucc,
From your first goal (an OT game winner) you captured the hearts of RangersTown and always made us smile.Your spirit.
Your passion.
Your extra effort.
A Blueshirt through and through.Once a Ranger, always a Ranger. We thank you.
ZUUUUUUUUUCC pic.twitter.com/gV8O7Lhl7s— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 24, 2019
One of the most unique player and teammate I ever played with. Brings so much to the table. Will miss you a ton! 😔
My favorite moment as a Ranger, “We’re going to the finals!!” #36 #Zuuuuk pic.twitter.com/qMK5a54X21— Henrik Lundqvist (@HLundqvist) February 24, 2019
Zuccarello is a UFA at the end of this season.
Dallas is currently in the first Wild Card spot in the West and has a 79.3% chance of making the playoffs. (Sports Club Stats)
The Rangers are retaining 30% of Zuccarello’s remaining cap hit. (LeBrun)
Adam Rotter: So the Rangers trade Zuccarello for a 2nd and 3rd round picks that can turn into two 1st round picks. It’s an interesting deal and falls within the realm of what was expected for Zuccarello but I can understand if it rings a little hollow to some. There is nothing now in this return so it can feel as if the Rangers gave up him away. There is no prospect or player to learn about or even a guarantee that they get one 1st round pick, let alone both.
Zuccarello has been arguably the second most popular Ranger, behind Henrik Lundqvist, since he joined the team and when you combine the value he has to Ranger fans, as well as how great he was playing the last couple of months, the return can seem like a let down. I thought that they would get the conditional 2nd that could turn into a 1st and a prospect, rather than two conditional picks, but this was apparently the best Jeff Gorton could do and/or the offer he liked the best. Dallas certainly has the talent to win two rounds but that will play itself out. The potential first rounder in 2020 is interesting though because that would obviously mean that his time with the Rangers is officially over. I still think there is a decent to good chance that Zuccarello returns this summer but he would likely need to leave some years on the table.