The Dallas Stars have landed a big-name prospect.
The New York Rangers have traded defenseman Nils Lundkvist to the Stars in exchange for a conditional top 10 protected first-round pick in 2023 and a conditional fourth-round selection in 2025.
The Athletic‘s Shayna Goldman first reported the news.
According to the New York Times’ Larry Brooks, if the pick ends up being a top 10 pick, it’ll roll over to 2024.
Lundkvist has 25 games of NHL experience, recording four points in 2021-22 while also getting into 34 games with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. The 22-year-old blueliner has previously been a high-impact player with Sweden’s national team and was named Swedish defenseman of the year after the 2020-21 season.
Skilled puck-moving defenseman don’t become available often at Lundkvist’s age, but with a crowded Rangers blueline, he requested a trade to earn a better shot at ice time. In Dallas, a fringe playoff team, he has that potential now.