Rangers Trade Forward Rick Nash In Multiplayer Deal With Bruins

BUFFALO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) — The New York Rangers traded forward Rick Nash as part of a multiplayer deal with the Boston Bruins on Sunday.

The Rangers acquired the Bruins' first-round pick in this year's draft as well as forwards Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey, defenseman Ryan Lindgren and a seventh-round pick in the 2019 draft in a deal made a day before the NHL's trading deadline.

Nash has topped 30 goals in eight of his 15 NHL seasons.

The 33-year-old Nash leaves the rebuilding Rangers to join a Bruins team that ranks third in the Eastern Conference standings with 82 points. Nash is in the final year of his contract and eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The Bruins play at Buffalo on Sunday and are coming off a 4-3 loss at Toronto on Saturday night.

Nash is traveling to join the Bruins and will be eligible to play.

This marks the second trade between the two teams this past week. On Tuesday, the Bruins acquired veteran defenseman Nick Holden for prospect Robbie O'Gara and a draft pick.

The Rangers are retooling their aging roster at a time the team is slipping out of playoff contention. They're 5-16 in their past 21 games since Jan. 7 and have lost six straight in preparing to host Detroit on Sunday.

In anticipation of trading Nash, the Rangers had the forward sit out their past two games to avoid the possibility of getting injured.

Nash has 18 goals and 28 points in 60 games this season. He was selected by Columbus with the No. 1 pick in the 2002 draft and played his first nine seasons with the Blue Jackets before being traded to the Rangers in a multiplayer deal in July 2012. Overall, he has 434 goals and 799 points.

The Rangers saluted Nash following the trade by posting a note on their Twitter account by thanking him for "6 memorable years as part of the New York Rangers family. ... Once a Ranger, always a Ranger. We salute you!"

The deal allowed New York to add much-needed youth.

The 26-year-old Spooner has 41 goals and 142 points in 252 NHL games since being selected by Boston in the second round of the 2010 draft. Lindgren was selected by Boston in the second round of the 2016 draft and currently is playing his sophomore season at the University of Minnesota.

Beleskey has 10 seasons of NHL experience, including the past three with Boston. He had no points in 14 games with Boston before being demoted to the minors in December.

By acquiring Boston's first round pick, the Rangers now have nine picks in this year's NHL Draft, including six picks in the first three rounds and four picks in the first two rounds.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)