The New York Rangers are closing in on a rare intra-city trade that would send defenseman Carson Soucy to the New York Islanders, according to sources familiar with the situation. If the deal doesn’t get finalized before Monday’s matchup against the Bruins, the Rangers are expected to hold Soucy out as a precaution.
While the return for Soucy hasn’t been disclosed yet, this move would represent the first domino to fall since general manager Chris Drury announced earlier this month that the Rangers are entering a retooling phase. With the team staring down the possibility of missing the playoffs for a second straight season, it’s clear the front office is ready to shake things up.
Soucy, who carries a $3.25 million cap hit and is slated to hit unrestricted free agency this summer, was acquired last season from the Canucks in exchange for a third-round pick. He’s played in 46 games this year, logging eight points and averaging just over 17 minutes of ice time per night. While not a flashy name, Soucy brings size, physicality, and a steady presence on the back end - the kind of depth the Islanders could use as they gear up for a playoff push.
And speaking of the Isles, they currently sit third in the Metropolitan Division standings heading into Monday’s slate. After missing the playoffs last season, they landed the top pick in the draft and selected blue-chip defenseman Matthew Schaefer. Adding a veteran like Soucy to complement their young core - and to bolster a blue line that’s already shown promise - could be a savvy piece of business.
If the trade goes through, it’ll mark just the fourth time in history that the Rangers and Islanders have completed a deal. For two franchises that share a city but rarely a trade table, this one carries a bit of extra intrigue. It’s not often you see a player cross the East River in-season - especially with playoff implications hanging in the balance.
Stay tuned. This could be the first of several moves as the Rangers look to reshape their roster and the Islanders look to solidify theirs.