Rangers Trade Brendan Lemieux to Los Angeles Kings for Fourth Round Draft Pick
The New York Rangers have traded Brendan Lemieux to the Los Angeles Kings for a fourth round draft pick according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Pick is a 4th
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 27, 2021
Pierre LeBrun adds that the pick is Los Angeles’ fourth rounder.
It’s the Kings’ own 4th this year for Lemieux
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 27, 2021
Lemieux joined the Rangers’ organization on February 25,2019 along with a 2019 first round draft pick as part of the Kevin Hayes trade to the Winnipeg Jets. That pick ultimately went back to Winnipeg in the Jacob Trouba trade.
In 109 games with the Rangers, Lemieux averaged 12:08 a game and tallied 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points. This season hasn’t been a great one for Lemieux, and here’s a look at his impact chart via Micah Blake McCurdy’s Hockey Viz.
He also didn’t look too hot from Evolving-Hockey’s RAPM charts either.
The move frees up cap space and a spot on the Rangers’ roster which presumably will be occupied by Vitali Kravtsov. The departure of Lemieux likely means that Phil Di Giuseppe will inherit his minutes on the fourth line, and Kravtsov will compete for ice time vs. Julien Gauthier.
UPDATE (7:38 p.m.)
The Rangers officially announced the trade and confirmed the return is a 2021 fourth-round draft selection in exchange for Brendan Lemieux.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have acquired a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft from the LA Kings in exchange for forward Brendan Lemieux.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 27, 2021
