The Rangers acquired Jokinen along with forward Brandon Prust from the Flames for left wing Christopher Higgins and right wing Ales Kotalik on Feb. 1. New York gave up two unnecessary players for two low-risk, high-reward players who improve the team’s playoff chances.
Jokinen is a consistent center, and the team can pair him with Marian Gaborik to boost its anemic offense. Prust adds toughness to the Rangers’ lineup.
The new players can help the team make the playoffs, and if they don’t, Jokinen and Prust can leave via free agency. It’s a win-win situation for the Rangers, who were able to cut some dead weight.
Kotalik signed a three-year, $9 million contract with the Rangers last July but failed to live up to expectations. Moving his contract gives the Rangers future salary-cap flexibility.
Higgins was almost nonexistent with the Rangers this season, posting just six goals and eight assists in 55 games.
Meanwhile, the Devils gave up a first-round pick, defenseman Johnny Oduya and forwards Niclas Bergfors and Patrice Cormier to acquire Kovalchuk from the Thrashers on Feb. 4. Kovalchuk makes New Jersey a Stanley Cup contender, but the Devils gave up a king’s ransom to acquire a player who likely will hit free agency this offseason.
