Day: November 8, 2016

The Rangers host the Vancouver Canucks tonight, seeking to extend their winning streak to six games before heading out on their first multi-game road trip of the season, a four game jaunt through Western Canada and Columbus.  Vancouver are in the midst of their own road trip, playing the fifth of six before heading back home to host the Stars on Sunday.

While everything has been going right lately for New York, the same cannot be said for Vancouver.  The Western Canadian team started the season with four straight wins – albeit two of them in the shootout, and a third in overtime – but have slumped to nine straight losses.

Former first round draft pick, Dylan McIlrath has been traded to the Florida Panthers in exchange for 28 year old defenseman Steven Kampfer and a conditional 2018 7th round draft pick.  The Rangers will receive the pick if McIlrath appears in 30 or more games this season with Florida.

McIlrath had recently cleared waivers and had been reassigned to Hartford after appearing in just one game with the Rangers this year.  The 24 year old defenseman needed to play another 41 games this year to avoid becoming a Group V unrestricted free agent, a prospect that was unlikely with the Rangers and their new speed-centric philosophy.