It was one year ago today that the Ottawa Senators sent Mika Zibanejad to the New York Rangers in exchange for Derick Brassard.
One year after the trade both the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers have reason to be happy with the trade. There were picks involved with the trade but let’s stick to the players. At first glance when this trade was announced I was upset. The players seemed fairly equal but Zibanejad was younger. However, as time has passed I’ve become much more pleased with the deal.
Rangers Outlook
Both teams got what they needed in the deal so let’s start with the Rangers. The Rangers are a team that is exiting their championship window but still has some good young pieces. They don’t need a full rebuild but they do need to retool. Trading for a player that is slightly worse now but has a higher skill ceiling makes sense for them. They have time to let Zibanejad develop and fix his consistency problems. Since their championship window won’t open again for a few years Zibanejad works well for the team.
Senators Outlook
As for the Senators, Brassard was exactly what they needed. He has similar stats to Zibanejad but is a little better right now. He’s also much more consistent than Zibanejad was. With the Sens being in their championship window having a consistent player is very valuable. The coaching staff doesn’t have to worry about Brassard showing up to big games. In fact Brassard also has a reputation for being a clutch player. He always shows up for big games, in fact he raises his play. This was evident during the playoffs for anyone who watched. Brassard was always noticeable on the ice and was at times the Sens’ best forward. Although he doesn’t have as a high a skill ceiling as Zibanejad, he gives the Sens a better chance to win now which is what they need to do.
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Final Thoughts
One year later and both the New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators appear to have got what they needed. The Rangers got a player who will help them down the road when they’re contending again. The Sens get a player who will help them win while they have prime Karlsson on a cheap contract. Ottawa Senators fans should be happy with Brassard and they appear to be. He will be a crucial player in future playoff runs and for many years to come.