Keith Yandle Trade to the Rangers: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Keith Yandle has been traded to the New York Rangers. (Getty)

Keith Yandle has been traded to the New York Rangers. (Getty)

The New York Rangers have acquired defenseman Keith Yandle from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for defenseman John Moore, forward prospect Anthony Duclair and a 2016 1st-round draft pick according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie. Yandle makes $5.25 million and is signed through 2016.

The Coyotes are retaining 50% of Yandle’s salary in the trade — the most allowed under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. The official trade also included the Coyotes sending Chris Summers and a 2016 4th-round draft pick to the Rangers:

McKenzie also reported that the Rangers were close on a contract extension with forward Mats Zuccarello:

John Moore was acquired by the Rangers along with Derek Dorsett and Derrick Brassard in the 2013 trade that sent Marian Gaborik to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Duclair played for Team Canada at the 2014 World Juniors — Duclair played on the same line as Coyotes top forward prospect Max Domi.


1. The Coyotes Are In the Middle Of Rebuilding

(Getty)

(Getty)

The Coyotes have been one of the NHL’s bottom three teams all season. Two years ago, the Coyotes won the Pacific Division and went to the Western Conference Finals, only to lose to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings in five games.

Since then, the team has struggled to re-find its mojo. The team has also been tagged with injuries in the last two seasons to key players like Mikkel Boedker and Martin Hanzal. The Coyotes offense needs an infusion of youth.


2. The Rangers Are Loading for Another Stanley Cup Run

(Getty)

(Getty)

For the first time in 20 seasons, the Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2013-14. However, the Rangers lost to the Kings 4-1.

The Rangers have 82 points and currently sit in 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division behind their rival New York Islanders with three games in hand. The Rangers, along with the Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings are the top five teams in the East. The Rangers have lacked a power play quarterback type of defenseman since the organization traded Brian Leetch in 2004. They now have that again in Yandle.


3. The Rangers and Coyotes Have Been Trading Partners Before

John Moore was traded to the Arizona Coyotes. (Getty)

John Moore was traded to the Arizona Coyotes. (Getty)

The Coyotes General Manager is Don Maloney, brother of Dave Maloney, former Rangers player and one of the team’s radio play-by-play broadcasters.

In 2009: the Rangers dealt forward Lauri Korpikowski in exchange for Enver Lisin and acquired Derek Morris in exchange for Petr Prucha and Nigel Dawes.


4. The Rangers Were Active at the Trade Deadline in Consecutive Seasons

anthony duclair

The Coyotes acquired Rangers top prospect Anthony duclair, who impressed at the 2014 World Juniors. (Getty)

Last year, the Rangers traded captain Ryan Callahan and draft picks to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Martin St. Louis. St. Louis lost his mother in May 2014 during the Rangers playoff run, and his mother’s death was the catalyst that brought the team together emotionally and lifted them to coming back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Pittsburgh Penguins and into the Stanley Cup.

Most of the Rangers stars such as: Henrik Lundqvist, Rick Nash, Marc Staal and Daniel Girardi are currently in their primes, so the Rangers trade signals a “win-now” move for a team that hasn’t won a Stanley Cup in 21 years.


5. Keith Yandle Is an Elite Offensive Defenseman

Keith Yandle has been traded to the New York Rangers. (Getty)

Keith Yandle has been traded to the New York Rangers. (Getty)

Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett is known as a tight, defensive oriented coach. Yandle, playing with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Zybnek Michalek and Brandon Gormley, was the offensive producer in the bunch and an elite power play performer.

In 2014, 31 of Yandle’s 53 points came on the power play. Despite his performance, he was a -23 (the Coyotes weren’t very good in 2013-14), but besides last year, Yandle has mostly been a plus-performer throughout his entire career. Yandle is on pace for his 6th straight 40-point season.

Yandle’s individual corsi is also one of the best in the NHL for a defenseman. Corsi is an advanced hockey statistic that measures the shot-differential when a specific player is on the ice.