In a minor league move today, the Rangers sent defenseman Tarmo Reunanen to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Russian center Maxim Letunov. Neither player is eligible to play in the NHL playoffs as a result of the trade coming after the NHL Trade Deadline, but with today being the deadline for the AHL, both will be able to play for their new AHL clubs, should they qualify for the post-season.
The 24 year old Reunanen was a 4th round draft pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, and played 4 games last season, as the club dealt with several injuries on defense. He proved to be a good blueliner, with an above average pass and a little offense to his game, and even picked up an assist and a +1 rating, to go with 5 shots in his stint.
Unfortunately for Reunanen, he entered the picture just as the Rangers hit their stride with the defense. Following his draft, the Rangers acquired Jacob Trouba, Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox through trades, and drafted K’Andre Miller in the first round two years later. Also added were the likes of Nils Lundkvist, Zac Jones and Matthew Robertson, with all bar Robertson having made their NHL debut. With so much youth and depth in the system, Reunanen found it difficult to break through again, and his prospects looked limited within the team.
Just like Joey Keane before him – traded to the Hurricanes for Julien Gauthier in 2020, he’ll get a better chance with his new club.
In return, the Rangers received the 26 year old Letunov. Now with his fifth organization, Letunov has spent the majority of his pro career in the AHL. The 6-4 180lb lanky Russian did break through with his third team, the San Jose Sharks, appearing in 3 games, and picking up his first NHL goal.
Letunov provides some forward depth for the Hartford Wolf Pack, who lost Morgan Barron last week in the Andrew Copp trade, and for Johnny Brodzinski, who has been with the Rangers in recent weeks.
Speaking of Brodzinski, Letunov played with him for the San Jose Barracudas i(AHL) n the 2019-20 season, and also played in the line-up with Barclay Goodrow for the Sharks in his three game call-up.
Whether he sticks with the organization remains to be seen, but given the timing, and his history, it would seem unlikely at this point. It’s not impossible that Rangers give him a short audition in the NHL at the end of the season, if they are thinking about resigning him.
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