Marian Gaborik has been shipped out of New York.
Credit: Getty Images
The Marian Gaborik era has come to an end.
The Rangers traded Gaborik, Steven Delisle and Blake Parlett to the Blue Jackets Wednesday afternoon for forwards Derek Dorsett and Derick Brassard, defenseman John Moore and a sixth-round pick in the 2014 draft.
“Got four pieces,” director of player personnel Gordie Clark told Metro in a phone conversation after the deadline passed. “It’s really four pieces.”
Clark stressed the importance of the sixth-round pick as the Rangers selected Carl Hagelin and prospect forward Jesper Fast in the sixth rounds of the 2007 and 2010 drafts.
Yesterday’s blockbuster was the second trade the Rangers made in as many days. The Rangers acquired left wing Ryane Clowe from the Sharks for 2013 second- and third-round picks and a conditional pick in 2014 Tuesday night. Clowe played in Wednesday night’s Garden match against the Penguins.
The acquisition of Dorsett, Brassard and Moore add depth, something the Rangers have lacked this season. Dorsett, 26, has 727 penalty minutes in 280 games. He suffered a fractured clavicle, but Clark told Metro he thought Dorsett could return before the end of the season.
Brassard, the sixth-overall pick in the 2006 Draft, has recorded 169 points in 309 games. Selected 21st overall in the 2009 draft, Moore has scored eight points in 86 NHL games.
“Each of them fit into a position we need,” Clark said. “Dorsett [is an] old-school grinder, hard to play against. [Brassard is a] Top-2 center. John might have been one of the best skating defenseman in the draft. [He] skates like Paul Coffey.”
The deal also gives the Rangers $14.8 million in cap room, which is vital as the restricted free agent deals signed by Hagelin, Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh are up this summer. All should expect significant raises.
Gaborik leaves New York having scored 114 goals and 229 points in 255 regular season games. He has totaled 333 goals and 666 points in 757 regular season games with Minnesota and New York.
He scored 42 goals in 2009-10 and finished last season with 41 goals. But he had fallen off this season, totaling just nine goals and 19 points while being shuttled throughout the lineup.
“When somebody wants you and somebody tries to trade you, it’s good somebody wants you on the team,” Gaborik told TSN’s James Duthie during the Canadian network’s TradeCentre broadcast.
When asked by Duthie why the Rangers were struggling this year, Gaborik said, “I don’t know. We weren’t playing consistently enough,” and specifically noted the 25th-ranked power play. “There’s a few factors there.”
Local deals
» The Devils acquired forward Steve Sullivan from the Phoenix Coyotes for a seventh-round pick in June’s draft.
» The Islanders did not make a deal at the deadline.
Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
