The Rick Nash trade to Boston is benefiting the New York Rangers immensely right now
The Boston Bruins traded for Rick Nash one day before the NHL Trade Deadline on February 25th, 2018.
The Bruins acquired Nash from the New York Rangers in exchange for Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, prospect Ryan Lindgren, a 2018 first-round pick, and a 2019 seventh-round pick.
Looking back, it's crazy how much the Rick Nash trade is benefitting the Rangers today:
- Ryan Lindgren has turned into a top-four defenseman who has been great on a pair with Adam Fox.
- With the 2018 first-round pick, the Rangers selected K'Andre Miller, who is a valuable piece of New York's top four on the back end as well.
- The Rangers would also trade Ryan Spooner to the Edmonton Oilers for Ryan Strome, who has since become a top-six centre for the team.
So basically, that's a second centre and two top-four defensemen for a rental at the deadline in 33-year-old Rick Nash, who only had 28 points in 60 games with the Rangers at the 2018 deadline.
Nash would play 11 regular-season games with the Bruins, recording 3 goals and 3 assists. In 12 postseason games, Nash collected 3 goals and 2 assists before Boston was eliminated in five games in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Nash would never play another NHL game. On January 11th, 2019, at age 34, due to unresolved symptoms from a concussion sustained in March 2018, Nash was forced to retire from professional hockey after playing 1,060 career games spanning over 15 seasons.
