NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers acquired Frank Vatrano from the Florida Panthers on Wednesday for a 2022 fourth-round pick, a trade between two playoff-bound Eastern Conference teams that serves a different purpose for each.
Getting Vatrano gives the Rangers the kind of veteran forward general manager Chris Drury was looking for. The move clears more than $2.5 million of salary-cap space for the Atlantic Division-leading Panthers, who could add more players before the trade deadline Monday.
Vatrano has 10 goals and nine assists in 49 games this season.