In acquiring Grabner from Rangers, Devils add offensive option

The New Jersey Devils were in need of another offensive scoring option. The New York Rangers are looking to get younger and faster. One way to do that is rid the roster of expiring contracts. That’s what the Rangers accomplished by sending forward Michael Grabner to the cross-rival rivals on Thursday night.

For the Devils, Grabner becomes an immediate offensive scoring option to go along with Taylor Hall. Outside of Hall, the Devils have not had another consistent threat on offense this season. Grabner should change that moving forward as New Jersey looks to end a five-year playoff drought.

Grabner has 156 goals and 88 assists in his career, having played for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs and Rangers.

In return for Grabner, the Rangers will receive the Devils 2018 second-round pick and defenseman prospect Yegor Rykov. The 2016 NHL Draft selection has two goals and 12 assists in 51 games this season with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL.

Grabner will become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

The Devils currently sit in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division.