Rangers acquire defenseman Yandle from Coyotes

The New York Rangers acquired defensemen Keith Yandle and Chris Summers and a fourth-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft from the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday for defenseman John Moore, forward prospect Anthony Duclair, a second-round pick, and a conditional first-round pick.

The Rangers, who advanced to the Stanley Cup Final against the Los Angeles Kings before losing in five games, are again among the top teams in the Eastern Conference this season. They are second in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind the New York Islanders. The Rangers are five points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the top spot in the East and hold a game in hand.

Rangers general manager Glen Sather addressed their blue-line depth with this trade. Yandle, who has one year remaining on his contract, is considered to be among the game's better offensive defenseman.

Yandle, 28, carries a $5.3 million NHL salary-cap charge through the 2015-16 season and is under contract through 2016-17. There are multiple reports suggesting Arizona will retain half of Yandle's salary for each of the next two seasons.

A two-time 50-point scorer, Yandle has 41 points in 63 games this season. He is expected to contribute heavily on the power play. His 26 points on the man-advantage are the most of any defenseman in the League this season. For his career, Yandle has 65 goals and 311 points in 558 NHL regular-season games. He has 19 points in 27 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Sather pulled off a similar deal last season near the trade deadline, trading for veteran forward Martin St. Louis from the Tampa Bay Lightning. That deal cost the Rangers captain Ryan Callahan, a first-round pick in 2015 and a second-round pick in 2014 that became a first-round selection when New York reached the Eastern Conference Final. St. Louis had eight goals and 15 points in the 25-game playoff run.

Arizona also received a top prospect, Duclair, a 19-year-old who can play either wing. Duclair, selected in the third round (No. 83) in the 2013 NHL Draft, opened the season with the Rangers. He had a goal and six assists in 18 games with New York before he was loaned to Canada to compete in the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, and he had eight points (four goals) in seven games to help lead Canada win the gold medal.

In that tournament, Duclair played on a line with Max Domi, one of the top prospects in the Arizona system. After the WJC, Duclair was sent to the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He has 25 points in 20 QMJHL games.

"Anthony Duclair is a dynamic, skilled forward who has size, speed and offensive talent," Arizona general manager Don Maloney said. "He will be a valuable addition to our organization."

The Coyotes also receive Moore, 24, who played in 38 games for the Rangers this season, scoring six points as an occasional third-pair defenseman.

"John Moore is a young, strong-skating, puck-moving defenseman who will solidify our core group on the blue line," Maloney said.

Arizona also landed a 2015 first-round pick when it traded Antoine Vermette to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. Arizona has six picks in the first three rounds, including two first-round picks, in this year's draft.