The New York Rangers are trading Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey to the Colorado Avalanche for Juuso Parssinen, Calvin de Haan and a second- and a fourth-round draft pick in the 2025 NHL draft.
The Rangers are retaining 50% of Lindgren’s $4.5 million cap hit as part of the deal. The defenseman’s contract expires this summer. They will receive the better second-round pick of Carolina’s or the Rangers’ and the better of Colorado’s or Vancouver’s in the fourth round.
New York, which entered Saturday outside of playoff position, still believes it can make the playoffs and wanted to bring in players to help down the stretch.
Mitch Marner goes a little soccer style to move the puck with his head. (0:16)
The Vancouver Canucks — who currently hold the coveted playoff spot, with 75 points and 25 regulation wins in 68 games — will be visiting the St. Louis Blues (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+), who also have 75 points and 25 regulation wins but in 69 games.
So, with apologies to the Calgary Flames and Utah Hockey Club, Thursday night’s clash has become extra pivotal, after the clubs split the first two games of the season series and will not play again.
Looking beyond this game, the Blues play five of their remaining 12 games against current playoff teams; the Canucks have an extra game down the stretch, but they play seven of their final 13 against playoff teams, including five of their final six.
Stathletes likes the Blues’ postseason future a bit more, putting their playoff chances at 56.8%, with the Canucks at 26.3%.
There is a lot of runway left until April 17, the final day of the regular season, and we’ll help you track it all with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide details on all the playoff races, along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
The Capitals can clinch a playoff berth on Thursday night if:
- They defeat the Flyers in regulation, and there is any result in the Islanders-Canadiens game other than an Isles win in regulation
- They defeat the Flyers in overtime or a shootout, and the Isles lose to the Canadiens in any fashion
- They lose to the Flyers in overtime or a shootout, and the Blue Jackets lose to the Panthers in any fashion AND the Isles lose to the Canadiens in regulation
