33-year-old defenseman Marc Staal was traded to the Detroit Red Wings by the New York Rangers on Saturday. As part of the deal, a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft goes to Detroit for future considerations.
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman expressed his satisfaction with the deal, explaining, “The trade accomplishes a couple things. One, as part of our rebuilding process, we’re trying to add draft picks, prospects, young players, future assets, really, to help us down the line. That’s kind of where we are. In this trade, obviously, we’re acquiring … we get a second-round pick in the [2021] draft. But also we have to ice a team. We’re trying to be competitive. We’re trying to improve at the same time. So in this deal, not only [do] we get a defenseman that will go right into our lineup, that plugs a huge hole for us, we add future assets as well.”
In 52 games this season, Staal scored two goals and nine assists. He also missed 13 games due to undergoing ankle surgery in November.
Staal will playing the final season of a six-year contract he agreed to in January 2015, with his salary cap remaining at $81.5 million next season.
