Kane, Tarasenko among NHL’s most impactful midseason trades
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The New York Rangers made the biggest splash at the trade deadline with the addition of Patrick Kane just weeks after getting Vladimir Tarasenko.
The veteran forwards bolstered the Rangers’ top two lines and give coach Gerard Gallant different options as he juggles them in search of the right mix. They helped the Rangers finish third in the Metropolitan Division as they look for another deep playoff run after reaching the Eastern Conference final last year.
“There’s a comfort level if they play with Mika (Zibanejad) or with (Vincent) Trocheck, I don’t think it’s a huge difference,” Gallant said. “They feel comfortable. They play with both of those guys.”
Tarasenko, acquired from St. Louis on Feb. 9, had eight goals and 13 assists in 31 games with the Rangers after totaling 10 goals and 19 assists in 39 games with the Blues. The right wing’s contributions helped the Rangers go 18-7-5 since he joined the team.
Kane came over from Chicago on Feb. 28 and finished with five goals and seven assists in 19 games with the Rangers after putting up 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) in 54 games with the Blackhawks. All his goals with New York came during an 11-game stretch from March 9-28 in which the Rangers went 9-1-1.
“Both of us want to produce, both of us want to do well here,” Kane said. “We’re both here to try and create offense and produce.”
Here are some other players who were traded midseason and helped their teams reach the postseason:
BO HORVAT, ISLANDERS
Horvat had already matched his career high for goals with Vancouver — set last season — before he was traded to New York on Jan. 30. With the more defensive-minded Islanders, he had seven goals and nine assists in 30 games to finish with career bests in goals (38), assists (32) and points (70).
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Horvat said. “Trying to still work out some kinks in my game and get familiar with a lot of things, but I’m starting to feel more and more comfortable.”
The…
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