Copp traded to Rangers by Jets for three draft picks

Winnipeg received two conditional second-round picks in the 2022 NHL Draft or 2023 NHL Draft and a fifth-round pick in 2023.

New York also received a sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft.

Copp signed a one-year, $3.64 million contract with the Jets on Aug. 12, 2021, to avoid a salary arbitration hearing and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

The 27-year-old forward has scored 35 points (13 goals, 22 assists) in 56 games this season.

The Rangers also acquired defenseman Justin Braun from the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday for a third-round pick in the 2023 draft, and forward Tyler Motte from the Vancouver Canucks for a fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft.

Each of the three could make his Rangers debut when New York hosts the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, MSG, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).

“There were obviously a lot of balls in the air leading up to the deadline,” general manager Chris Drury said. “Excited with what we were able to do, get the players we were able to get and excited to see them play hopefully as soon as tomorrow.”

[RELATED: 2021-22 NHL Trade Tracker]

Selected by Winnipeg in the fourth round (No. 104) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Copp has scored 184 points (74 goals, 110 assists) in 467 regular-season games and 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 34 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Drury said Copp’s versatility makes him a key piece for the Rangers and coach Gerard Gallant.

“You see how [Gallant] uses [Barclay Goodrow] and uses other guys who can play and do different things, play different positions,” Drury said. “‘Turk’ can figure that out. I’m just excited to be able to give him that piece.”

Drury was asked if New York will try to re-sign Copp.

“He’s so fresh to being here that we’ll be watching and evaluating just like we do everybody else,” Drury said. “But he’s certainly an exciting piece to have in a Rangers uniform.”

The Rangers (40-18-5) are second in the Metropolitan Division, three points behind the Carolina Hurricanes.

Barron has one assist in 13 NHL games this season and can become a restricted free agent after the season. The 23-year-old has scored two points (one goal, one assist) in 18 games since he was selected by New York in the sixth round (No. 174) of the 2017 NHL Draft.

The Jets (29-24-10) are four points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. They traded forward Mason Appleton to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday for a fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft.

Braun has scored 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 61 games this season and is in the final season of a two-year, $3.6 million contract ($1.8 million average annual value) he signed with the Flyers on Oct. 5, 2020. The 35-year-old can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. He has scored 195 points (33 goals, 162 assists) in 783 regular-season games with the Flyers and San Jose Sharks, and 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 100 playoff games.

“We’ve got a good group, a mix of veterans and some younger guys,” Drury said, “and excited to have him on the right side for us.”

Motte has scored 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 49 games this season. The 27-year-old is in the final season of a two-year, $2.45 million contract ($1.225 million average annual value) he signed with the Canucks on Oct. 9, 2020, and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. He has scored 62 points (35 goals, 27 assists) in 260 regular-season games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Canucks, and five points (four goals, one assist) in 17 playoff games.

“Just a good all-around pro who can do a lot of good things, PK and in the bottom six of your lineup,” Drury said of Motte. “He plays extremely hard and competitive. He’s a high-character guy I think will fit in nicely.”