Rangers deal Kampfer and picks to Boston for Adam McQuaid

The Rangers add some experience and grit to their blue line.

The New York Rangers just made a trade in an attempt to upgrade their blue line by dealing Steven Kampfer, a fourth-round pick in the 2019 Draft, and a conditional seventh-round pick to the Boston Bruins for Adam McQuaid.

McQuaid, 31, is a right-handed shot and has one year left on his deal with an AAV of $2.75 million. He’s known as a tough, physical defender with a big 6-foot-4 frame. McQuaid played 38 games for the Bruins last season because of a broken leg and spending some time as a healthy scratch. He did, however, appear in 12 playoff games for Boston in the 2018 Playoffs.

What this trade means for the Rangers’ blue line heading into the 2018-19 season remains to be seen, but this can’t be good news for Tony DeAngelo’s chances of making the opening night roster. If nothing else, McQuaid gives the Rangers a better option for a seventh defenseman than Steven Kampfer. But was that a move that the Rangers needed to make before what is bound to be a throwaway, developmental year?

McQuaid is now the second-oldest defenseman on the Rangers blue line, with Marc Staal as his only senior. It’s also interesting to note that this is the third deal between the Rangers and Bruins since Feb. 20, 2018.