One of the more shocking trades made by the New York Rangers in recent history happened last summer. In late June 2017, New York traded Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Anthony DeAngelo and the seventh overall pick in the 2017 draft (which then became Lias Andersson).
At that moment, the search for a new “number one center” began. Stepan had been on the team since his rookie season beginning in 2010. Soon after, Rangers fans considered him to be the best center on the team.
He put up between 44 and 57 points every year and had consistently solid possession numbers.