The Rangers already have traded the only NHL-ready piece they acquired in last summer's Carl Hagelin deal.
GM Jeff Gorton sent right wing Emerson Etem to the Vancouver Canucks early Friday evening in exchange for right wing Nicklas Jensen and a 2017 sixth-round pick. In the trade, the Rangers and Canucks swapped two former first-round picks that both were selected 29th overall in their consecutive draft years.
Etem, 23, an Anaheim Ducks 2010 first-round selection, played in just 19 of the Rangers' 40 games this season with no goals and three assists. Jensen, a Canucks 2011 first-round pick, has not played in the NHL this season and has four goals and 12 points in 27 games for the AHL's Utica Comets.