When the New York Rangers acquired Kevin Klein from the Nashville Predators in 2014 it was about salvaging any value that Michael Del Zotto still had at the time. The move gave the Rangers a cost-controlled defenseman, something that the team is lacking with Dan Girardi and Marc Staal signed to albatross contracts.
In his first season in New York, Klein helped the Rangers to a Stanley Cup final appearance which they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in six games. Over the following two seasons, Klein recorded 52 points (18 goals, 34 assists) with back to back career-high 26-point seasons.