Disgruntled Swedish defenseman Nils Lundkivst has gotten his request fulfilled, with news this evening that the Rangers have traded him to the Dallas Stars in exchange for a first round pick. The pick is top ten protected, meaning that if the Stars finish with a top ten pick at the 2023 NHL entry draft, then the pick will shift to 2024 and be unprotected.
In addition, the Stars have included a conditional 3rd/4th round pick in the 2025 draft. The pick will be a 3rd rounder if Lundkvist manages 55+ points combined over the next two regular seasons. As we saw last season, a 4th round pick can have some value at the deadline, bringing in players like Frank Vatrano and Tyler Motte.
Previous reports had second round picks on offer for Lundkvist, but as Drury has proven, he’s willing to wait for a better offer, and in this case Jim Nill and the Stars made the move to secure the former first round pick. The return isn’t bad considering the reported depth of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and now gives the Rangers two potential first round picks in next year’s draft, or provides another asset they could use to acquire a difference maker at the trade deadline.
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