The New York Rangers have made another trade as they continue to retool their roster following their very disappointing 2025-26 season.
The Rangers have traded forward Adam Edstrom to the Nashville Predators in exchange for forward prospect Massimo Rizzo and the 148th overall pick of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Edstrom played in 35 games this season with the Rangers, where he recorded three goals, two assists, five points, and 65 hits. Overall, the 6-foot-8 forward provided the Rangers with grit and size when put into the lineup, but not too much offense.
With Edstrom being 25 years old, it makes sense that a team that is focused on the future, like the Predators, is taking a chance on him. He has the potential to be a solid depth addition for the Predators as they continue to retool their roster. The Rangers, on the other hand, have landed themselves another draft pick to work with to boost their prospect pool.
Where Edstrom Should Fit in the Predators’ Lineup
With Edstrom being a hard-nosed forward who throws the body but does not produce a ton of offense, he will likely slot in the Predators’ bottom six. He could work very nicely as the Predators’ new fourth-line center, but his versatility also makes him an option to play on the wing for Nashville.
Edstrom should also be a candidate to get some playing time on their penalty kill. The big forward is a solid defensive forward with size, so he can make a difference in his own zone while the Predators are on the penalty kill.
While the Predators did not bring in Edstrom to boost their top six, he should be a solid pickup for their bottom six. His size and two-way play make him a very interesting addition for the Predators, and it will be interesting to see if he can take another step forward with his development after getting this new opportunity with Nashville.
Looking at Edstrom’s Stint With the Rangers
Edstrom was selected by the Rangers with the 161st overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He played in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with Rogle BK from 2019-20 to 2022-23 before playing in North America full-time starting in 2023-24.
Edstrom appeared in his first 11 career NHL games with the Rangers during the 2023-24 season, where he had two goals. He spent the bulk of the season in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack, though, where he had 11 goals and 16 points.
Following this campaign, Edstrom played each of the past two seasons exclusively at the NHL level, where he was a serviceable depth forward. In 97 games over three seasons with the Rangers, the big forward posted 10 goals, six assists, 16 points, 31 penalty minutes, and 189 hits.
Overall, Edstrom was not a major part of the Rangers’ roster during his time with the team, but he had his solid moments. However, his time in New York is officially over, and he will now be looking to make an impact with the Predators from here. It will be intriguing to see how this trade works out for both the Predators and Rangers from here.
TRADE: NY Rangers Deal Intriguing 6-Foot-8 Forward to Predators