Devils acquire Rangers goals leader Grabner

The New York Rangers traded Michael Grabner to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night in exchange for 20-year-old defensive prospect Igor Rykov and a second-round draft pick.

The deal is the first ever between the Rangers and Devils.

Grabner, who led the team with 25 goals this season to go along with six assists, was held out of the Rangers' 3-1 loss Thursday against the Canadiens in Montreal.

Grabner, 30, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Rykov, the Devils' fifth-round draft pick in 2016, is playing for SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League.

Rykov has two goals and 12 assists for 14 points in 51 games this season. He helped SKA St. Petersburg capture the Gagarin Cup as KHL champions during his rookie season in 2016-17.

The draft pick gives the Rangers five selections in the first three rounds this summer.

The Rangers sit in last place in the Metropolitan Division, six points out of a playoff position. The Islanders are tied for fifth in the Metropolitan but also are tied for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

--Field Level Media