At the deadline, the New York Rangers dealt fan favorites Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes in an effort to enhance their rebuild.
Zuccarello has gone on record stating he knew his days in New York were numbered as far back as last summer. When no extension was reached and he began this season on an expiring contract, the writing was on the wall. It was only a question of when the beloved Norwegian winger would be traded, not if. Unfortunately, the looming question of where the winger was being dealt didn’t do him any favors.