Golden Knights trade Ryan Reaves to New York Rangers

The Vegas Golden Knights are sending forward Ryan Reaves to the New York Rangers for a 2022 3rd round pick.

The 34-year-old played 209 games and had 18 goals, 42 points and 158 penalty minutes over his four years in Vegas. He is on the last season of a two year, $3.5 million deal($1.75 million AAV) he signed in 2020. Overall, Reaves’ tenure in Vegas will be remembered for his Tom Wilson rivalry during their run to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final.

Even after the Reaves trade, the Golden Knights are $37,439 above the upper cap limit with a 21 man roster. The only problem with this is that forward Nolan Patrick and defenceman Dylan Coghlan are still unsigned. Unless Vegas isn’t going to sign these two young players, more money has to come off of the books.

For the New York Rangers, this move helps strengthen a lineup that was beat apart this past season. Former Ranger Pavel Buchnevich was famously punched in the head while laying on the ice in mid-February. Teammate Artemi Panarin was also thrown to the ice by Wilson and missed the rest of the season as a result.

The Rangers were roasted for not immediately responding to the Wilson incident. That lack of immediate reaction could be the root of this move. New York wanted to get tough and found the one guy that can take on Wilson and win. This move makes the Rangers better and gives them a deeper lineup.

For Vegas, another familiar, fan favourite player is on their way out due to the lack of cap space.