The New York Rangers have announced a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning, acquiring Lucas Edmonds in exchange for Ryder Korczak. This is a minor league deal involving their respective AHL affiliates, with the Rangers bringing in the 23-year-old North Bay, Ontario native.
The Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ AHL team, were in need of reinforcements as the NHL club may be looking to deplete its farm system for a future acquisition. How Edmonds fits with the Wolf Pack will become clearer as their season progresses.
Edmonds, a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, had an impressive 113-point season with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs before moving to the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.
However, he hasn’t been able to replicate his junior scoring success at the professional level. If he can rediscover that scoring touch, he might earn a shot at the NHL down the line, but for now, it seems a distant possibility.
On the other hand, Ryder Korczak, a product of the WHL, is in his second full AHL season. This year, he has posted three goals and eight assists for 11 points in 35 games. While his AHL career hasn’t lived up to expectations, he has shown flashes of potential that compare favorably to Edmonds.
This trade may also be a gesture by the Rangers to give Korczak a better opportunity, as his path to the NHL in New York was blocked by a crowded depth chart that includes players like Adam Sykora, Brett Berard, and Brennan Othmann.
Ultimately, this deal is unlikely to significantly impact either organization but could create new opportunities for both players in their respective systems.
Be the first to comment