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The Arizona Coyotes are making a splash today with another huge trade with the New York Rangers.
The Coyotes have acquired center Derek Stepan and goaltender Antti Raanta from the New York Rangers for the 7th overall pick and right-handed defenseman Anthony DeAngelo.
That ARIZ 7th pick is going to NYR as part of a deal that includes DeAngelo. For Raanta/Stepan. May be more
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 23, 2017
Derek Stepan is a defensively-minded center who is great on the penalty kill. In 81 games last season he scored 17 goals and 38 assists for 55 points. Stephan is 27 years old and has 4 years left on his current contract. This would give the Coyotes time to groom whoever is going to be the 1C after him.
Antti Raanta is a 28-year-old goaltender who is looking to be a starter. In his 29 games last year, he had a .922 save percentage and four shutouts. This solves the starting goalie issue fairly quickly.
Those NYR-ARI trade talks on Stepan-Raanta/DeAngelo-No. 7 overall dated back to last week, before expansion draft roster freeze.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 23, 2017
Losing the 7th overall pick and Anthony DeAngelo is not a huge loss, considering the logjam of defenseman the Coyotes have in the AHL and still in junior.
UPDATE: Quotes from Derek Stepan on joining the team and Antti Raanta, via Dave Vest, the Arizona Coyotes Senior Director of News Content.
Derek Stepan on joining @ArizonaCoyotes: "I couldn't be more excited to get to Arizona ... I'm hoping to make the transition smooth & easy."
— Dave Vest (@davest4yotes) June 23, 2017
Derek Stepan on joining @ArizonaCoyotes: "I'm ready to step in & do whatever they ask me to do. They're on the cusp of taking the next step"
— Dave Vest (@davest4yotes) June 23, 2017
Derek Stepan on Antti Raanta: "He loves to be the guy who gets it done. That's something he's going to do in Arizona."
— Dave Vest (@davest4yotes) June 23, 2017
What do you think of this trade?
What do you think of John Chayka now?