OFFICIAL: Rangers trade Namestnikov to Ottawa, open spot for Chytil or Kravtsov

Zak Chiger Updated: Oct 7, 2019

Namestnikov (Photo Credit: The Canadian Press via AP / Darryl Dyck)

Moments ago, the Rangers announced that they have traded forward Vlad Namestnikov to the Ottawa Senators for a 2021 fourth round pick and prospect Nick Ebert. In addition, the Rangers are retaining $750K of Namestnikov’s $4 million AAV in the deal.

OFFICIAL: #NYR have acquired defenseman Nick Ebert and a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Vladislav Namestnikov.
— x – New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 8, 2019

#Sens traded a fourth in 2021, Nick Ebert to Rangers. New York retains 750,000
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) October 7, 2019

This deal does a couple of things for the Rangers. Firstly, it clears some cap space for the Blueshirts. With Ottawa assuming responsibility for $3.25 million of Namestnikov’s contract, the Rangers now have that money added to their cap.

Just texted with Namestnikov's agent Dan Milstein. He said "Vlad is extremely happy," and when I asked if they were surprised by the trade, he wrote, "Absolutely not."

They knew this was a possibility all summer. #NYR
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) October 8, 2019

Second, it opens up a roster spot. One would have to think that either Filip Chytil or Vitali Kravtsov will be joining the Blueshirts in Namestnikov’s spot, but there’s always a possibility that Rangers brass calls up a veteran instead.

The Rangers now have nine picks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft (NYR 1st, NYR 2nd, NYR 3rd, BUF 3rd, NYR 4th, OTT 4th, NYR 5th, NYR 6th, and NYR 7th). The Blueshirts also currently have 18 picks over the next two years (2020 and 2021) in the NHL Entry Draft. #NYR
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) October 8, 2019