The Boston Bruins are going all in.
The B's acquired forward Rick Nash from the New York Rangers in exchange for Ryan Spooner, Ryan Lindgren, Matt Belesky, a 2018 1st round pick and a 2019 7th round pick.
TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie broke the news about an hour before the trade was officially made complete.
Not yet official yet because the trade call with NHL has not happened but BOS and NYR have a deal in place for Rick Nash. Return to NYR expected to include BOS first-round pick and prospect defenseman Ryan Lindgren, but there are other elements to the deal as well.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 25, 2018
OFFICIAL: #NYR have acquired a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, forwards Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey, and a seventh-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft from the Bruins in exchange for Rick Nash.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 25, 2018
By acquiring a first-round pick, #NYR now have nine picks in the 2018 NHL Draft, including six picks in the first three rounds and four picks in the first two rounds.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 25, 2018
The TSN Hockey insiders provided all the intricate details of the deal, and whether or not Ryan Spooner could be flipped prior to the deadline.
To recap: Rangers retain 50 percent of Nash's remaining contract (UFA July 1) and Bruins in turn retain 50 percent of Beleskey contract (two more years on his deal past this season)
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 25, 2018
Quick take on the NYR-BOS trade: From a lineup perspective, BOS effectively traded Spooner for Nash. Nash likely a fit on 2nd line with Krejci and DeBrusk. BOS likes it 3rd line of Riley Nash-David Backes-Danton Heinen, so Spooner not a fit there and he’s not effective 4th liner
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 25, 2018
So Spooner became expendable and including him was also an inducement for BOS to lose the Matt Beleskey contract, well, half of it anyway. Don’t ever underestimate the value of buying cap space for a cap team like BOS. BOS is loaded with picks and prospects, so...
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 25, 2018
...giving up a first-rounder and Lindgren to upgrade to a bigger, stronger, older, more experienced top six winger is well worth the price, in a year where BOS is a legit threat. That said, no guarantees who comes out of the TB-BOS-TOR Atlantic Division triangle.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 25, 2018
From the NYR perspective, it’s mostly about accruing picks and prospects. NYR now have two firsts, two seconds and two thirds in this draft. Lindgren is a solid blueline prospect.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 25, 2018
Spooner is young enough, at age 26, to possibly stay with NYR and while he’s expected to play tonight, Spooner becomes like any other NYR at this deadline: available for the right price. So we’ll see if there’s any action on him.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 25, 2018
As for Beleskey, with BOS retaining 50 per cent, two years left with AAV of $3.8M, or $1.9M cap hit for NYR, he can either play on Ranger roster or, failing that, about half of that $1.9M cap hit could be buried in the minors. Either way, not onerous for NYR.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 25, 2018
Here's some of the best reaction from the hockey world.
Nasher, thank you for 6 memorable years as a part of our #NYR family. We cheered 145 Nashty goals and together we celebrated your career milestones, including your 400th goal and 1000th game.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 25, 2018
Once a Ranger, always a Ranger.
We salute you! pic.twitter.com/1ylpHP8v0z
Spoon me.
— James Duthie (@tsnjamesduthie) February 25, 2018
Bruins get Rick Nash. Done deal. Send a 2018 first rounder, college D-man Ryan Lindgren, Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey & a 2019 7th rounder to Rangers in exchange for former 40-goal scorer. That's a good deal
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) February 25, 2018
Rangers take Beleskey... but then they take Spooner... pic.twitter.com/Lo9iXjDSWB
— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) February 25, 2018
Ryan Spooner, Ryan Lindgren, and a 1st round pick for 33 YEAR OLD UFA RICK NASH is a horrific trade. my god.
— mike darnay (@MikeDarnay) February 25, 2018
Are the Bruins better today with Rick Nash than the were last night? I think I’d rather have kept Spooner Lindgren, Belesky and the draft pick.
— DartGuy (@LeafsMaz20) February 25, 2018
Is anyone even confident Rick Nash (38-point pace) is more effective than Ryan Spooner (53-point pace)? There’s no question he brings a different element, but should style really come at the expense of a first and another pick?
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) February 25, 2018
The Bruins got fleeced. I had no idea that Spooner was involved in that deal as well.
— Rob Pizzola (@robpizzola) February 25, 2018
Belesky at $1.9-million for the next two years is totally fine. Also, don't sleep on the Rangers flipping Spooner to another contender. There's a lot of moves left for Gorton, and we haven't even gotten into McDonagh yet.
— Joe Fortunato (@JoeFortunatoBSB) February 25, 2018
All the people replying to this thinking it was serious pic.twitter.com/lkdPzWsYC5
— Bruins Stats (@bruins_stats) February 25, 2018
To any #NYR still complains to what they have done so far: All 3 players traded were rentals. a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Spooner, and 3 defensemen prospects is outstanding. They help in a rebuild for sure. However the real test for Gorton will be what he can get in a pure hockey deal. McD!
— Forever Blueshirts (@4EverBlueshirts) February 25, 2018
Rangers get Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey. Spooner has always graded well in micro-stats. Very good on zone entries and at setting plays up. Beleskey is uh..well yeah. pic.twitter.com/Q4eaROuZwF
— Corey Sznajder (@ShutdownLine) February 25, 2018
Ryan Spooner is a tricky one. If my math is correct, he becomes a UFA next summer. He's a nice player, but tweener middle-six forwards are not the kind of players you should hand a premium, long-term contract.
— Adam Herman (@AdamZHerman) February 25, 2018
Excellent trade from a Bruins standpoint. Lindgren was not very high on my overall depth chart for them. They kept all their key AHL prospects, NHL youth and will have cap room moving forward. Plus they get Nash for a Cup run.
— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) February 25, 2018
Lingren hasn't shown me enough at Minnesota (or the WJC) to tell me he's close to NHL ready. I thought he struggled at the WJC and regressed from last year, but was really good at the NTDP and still has Top-4 potential. Not a point producer but another "warrior/leader" type
— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) February 25, 2018
So maybe Rick Nash will play like a 25-year-old and be worth the cost...
— /Cam Robinson/ (@CrazyJoeDavola3) February 25, 2018
More likely though, is he plays like his 40-point self and it’s another deadline deal gone wrong.
It’s as if teams forgot what year it is and just remember he’s a former first overall pick.
Rick Nash v Ryan Spooner 2017-18 #SKATR comparison, via @billius27 pic.twitter.com/wLc8S70Vkx
— Sofos XIII วัดאַיִ (@SofosXIII) February 25, 2018
The @NHLBruins traded a 1st, a 7th, prospect Ryan Lindgren, Ryan Sooner, and Matt Beleskey...
— Chris Kettman (@Kettman71) February 25, 2018
...for Rick Nash! pic.twitter.com/RRF3UYTyZI
Recap
— Kamp (@mdoverkamp) February 25, 2018
Full trade:
To BOS:
Rick Nash
Rangers retain 50% of Nash salary
To NYR:
Ryan Spooner
Matt Beleskey
Ryan Lindgren
2018 1st RD pick
2019 7th RD pick pic.twitter.com/N6vJTmk8kM
That’s five pieces for Rick Nash. Could imagine the price for Karlsson at this point. You’re going to overpay at deadline #TBLightning https://t.co/0rXXeo6lks
— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) February 25, 2018
The best part of the Nash trade is that Boston now has Riley Nash and Rick Nash. I hope they have their full names on their jerseys.
— Bonk's Mullet (@BonksMullet) February 25, 2018
The #NHLBruins overpaid for the ghost of Rick Nash. A normal player that has notched 28 points in 60 games without his pedigree doesn't fetch that type of return. More than likely this one significantly favours #NYR in the end.
— Grady Sas (@GradySas) February 25, 2018
Anyway the Rangers don't play the Bruins for the remainder of the season so Nash can win a Stanley Cup in Boston, come back to NY in the summer, and then we can pretend this never happened.
— Adam Herman (@AdamZHerman) February 25, 2018
Breaking news: New York Rangers trade Rick Nash to Boston Bruins for Matt Beleskey, Ryan Spooner, Ryan Lindgren, 2018 1st rd pick, 2019 7th rd pick. NYR also retain 50% of Nash's salary.
— Trade Deadline Correspondent Cpl Matthews (@CplMatthews) February 25, 2018
Boston is now in heated discussions with Colombus looking to acquire Nash's legs from 2007
So the Bruins got Nash without giving up DeBrusk, Heinen, Carlo or Donato. Got the Rangers to retain salary AND got rid of Matt Beleskey's deal? For a 1st an Lindgen?!?
— Mike From Woburn (@MikeFromWoburn) February 25, 2018
All Hail the Sweenius!!!
#Bruins took on $3.9M of Nash's cap hit, but sent a total of $3.7M to the #Rangers (Spooner $2.825M + Beleskey $875K [50% Buried]), meaning that Boston only ended up losing $45,161 in prorated cap space.
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) February 25, 2018
They still have $446,209 in projected cap space moving forward. pic.twitter.com/5ihvKDOEj4
Rick Nash is expected to join the team in Buffalo and will be eligible for tonight's game against the Sabres. #NHLBruins
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 25, 2018
Welcome to Boston, Rick! #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/LenQBKqTgn
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 25, 2018
