Frank Vatrano was traded to the New York Rangers by the Florida Panthers on Wednesday.
Florida received a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft for the forward. It will be the lower pick of New York’s own selection or the Winnipeg Jets selection, which was previously acquired by the Rangers.
Vatrano is in the final year of a three-year contract he signed with the Panthers on Feb. 23, 2019, and can become an unrestricted free agent July 13. The 28-year-old has scored 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in 49 games this season.
“After almost five seasons with the club, we want to thank Frank for his professionalism and compete,” Panthers general manager Bill Zito said. “His team-first approach was always appreciated, and we wish him all the best moving forward.”
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Signed by the Boston Bruins as an undrafted free agent on Feb. 22, 2018, Vatrano has scored 157 points (93 goals, 63 assists) in 379 regular-season games with the Panthers and Bruins and three points (two goals, one assist) in 14 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The Rangers are without forwards Kaapo Kakko, who has not played since Jan. 21 because of an upper-body injury, and Kevin Rooney, who was placed on injured reserve March 3 with an upper-body injury.
New York (38-17-5) is tied for second in the Metropolitan Division and hosts the New York Islanders on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
Florida (41-13-6), first in the Atlantic Division, visits the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday (10:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNO, ATTSN-RM, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
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