Rangers acquire Zibanejad from Senators for Brassard

The New York Rangers acquired forward Mika Zibanejad from Ottawa Senators on Monday in exchange for forward Derick Brassard.

As part of the trade, the Rangers acquired a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL draft from the Senators, who also get a seventh-round pick in the same draft.

Zibanejad, 23, skated in 81 games with Ottawa last season, registering 51 points (21 goals, 30 assists) and 18 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in several categories in 2015-16, including games played, goals, assists, points, game-winning goals (seven) and faceoff win percentage (50.5)

The 6-foot-2, 222-pound Zibanejad has played in 281 career NHL games over parts of five seasons, all with Ottawa, with 64 goals, 87 assists and 64 penalty minutes.

Zibanejad helped Ottawa reach the playoffs in two seasons during his tenure with the team (2012-13 and 2014-15). In 16 career NHL playoff games, the Stockholm, Sweden, native has two goals and six assists. Zibanejad was selected by Ottawa in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2011 NHL draft.

Brassard, 28, played in 254 games with the Rangers over parts of four seasons, recording 174 points (69 goals, 105 assists).

Brassard was selected in the first round (sixth overall) by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2006 draft. After spending the first five-plus seasons of his career with Columbus, he has spent the last three-plus seasons with the Rangers.

Brassard established a new NHL career high with a team-leading 27 goals for the Rangers in 2015-16. His 58 points ranked second among New York players in scoring last season. The Gatineau, Quebec, native, has recorded 343 points (127 goals, 216 assists) and 294 penalty minutes over 563 career NHL games. He also has 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) and 30 penalty minutes over 59 NHL playoff games, all of which have occurred with New York.