11:14AM: The Rangers have announced the trade officially and the deal is:
- To Winnipeg: Kevin Hayes
- To Rangers: Winnipeg 2019 1st rounder, Brendan Lemieux, Conditional 4th rounder in 2022 if Winnipeg wins the Stanley Cup
10:53AM: Hayes said on TSN, “it’s been pretty crazy, I knew I was getting traded a like a week ago. Once I said bye, it was pretty emotional. It felt like every hour I was going somewhere new. Glad to finally have it over with.”
Adam Rotter: Lemieux was someone that definitely seemed like a target for the Rangers throughout this process. He’s probably the most “Sean Avery-type” player the Rangers have had since Avery and that has the potential to bring both good and bad on the ice. He’s young, physical and brings the Rangers something they didn’t have.
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I think it’s a pretty nice return for the Rangers. Maybe the conditional pick could be a little better but the Rangers will have at least two and up to four first round picks this year and get someone in Lemiuex that should step right in and make an impact.
Hayesey,
You came to us as a kid from Dorchester and became not only a true blue Ranger but a true New Yorker.
A loyal teammate and even better person who embraced our city and our fans.
We thank you! pic.twitter.com/U7459V53TG— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 25, 2019
10:41AM: The conditional pick is a 4th rounder if the Jets win the Stanley Cup. (LeBrun)
10:38AM: Nick Kypreos said that Lemieux brings sandpaper, hard work and is someone that goes to the net.
10:29AM: On TSN, Darren Dreger said that the Rangers have liked Lemieux for a while and that he brings “personality” to the team.
The Rangers did not retain any salary in the deal.
10:26AM: McKenzie notes that the Rangers and Jets are believed to have an agreement in place but the trade call has not happened yet.
He adds that the Rangers could also receive a conditional pick.
10:20AM: Bob McKenzie said on TSN on Twitter that Winnipeg is believed to be closing in on a deal for Kevin Hayes.
The return, according to Darren Dreger, is possibly Winnipeg’s 1st round pick and Brendan Lemieux.
Lemiuex, 22, is the son of former Devil Claude Lemiuex and was the 31st pick, of Buffalo, in 2014.
He has 10 goals and 2 assists in 53 career NHL games.
Last year in the AHL he had 19 goals and 24 assists in 51 games.