What’s next for the New York Rangers?
By now, the New Jersey Devils have officially announced that their roster will not feature defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and forward Matt Duchene on Opening Night.
The Devils also announced today that they’ve traded forward Andrei Loktionov to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Nikita Zaitsev.
The Devils announced the news today, after they’d announced the two forwards to join Shattenkeks and Duchene in their lineup.
Shattenkin is a 21-year-old defenseman from KHL’s HC Spartak Moscow, and Duchen is 26 and from Slovakia.
Both players played for the Devils last season, and both are considered quality defensemen.
Shorthashkirkirk, who had a goal and an assist in seven games for the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs last season and posted four assists in 18 games for Boston College, is the more experienced of the two players.
He’s played in 11 NHL games this season.
Duchen, meanwhile, is coming off a career year for the Czech Republic at the World Juniors.
He led all NHL defensemen with 23 points in 25 games, and had seven goals and six assists.
He also added three penalty minutes, the third-highest total among Czech defensemen, and has four penalty minutes in 17 career games for Czech National Team.
The deal will send both players to Columbus for the draft rights to the second-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
It’s the first major trade of the summer for the Blue Jackets, who currently hold the No. 1 overall pick.
The Blue Jackets have also made the trade of defenseman Brandon Dubinsky to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange the first-round pick in 2018 NHL Draft.
Dubinsky, the No, 14 overall pick, has spent this past season with the AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but is expected to join the Blue Jacket soon.
He was acquired by Buffalo as part of the Kevin Shatley trade.