Grabner, 30, has 25 goals and six assists for 31 points in 59 games this season. His goal total led the Rangers and his points total ranked fourth on the team. Of his 25 goals this season, 24 have been even-strength. The 6-1, 190lb., Villach, Austria native is in his ninth NHL season having played with Vancouver, NY Islanders, Toronto and the Rangers. In 532 career NHL games played, he has scored 156 goals, 88 assists for 244 points and registered 92 penalty minutes with a plus-24 mark. He is in the final season of a two-year contract with a $1.65 million average annual value which he signed on July 1, 2016.
Grabner has represented his home country of Austria in multiple international competitions, including the 2005 World Junior Championships, 2012 World Championships and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Before turning professional, Grabner played in the Western Hockey League for the Spokane Chiefs, 2004-07. He notched 129 points, 88 goals and 41 assists, in 180 WHL regular season games and played in the 2006 CHL Top Prospects Game. Born on October 5, 1987, he was Vancouver's first selection, 14th overall, in the 2006 NHL Draft.
Rykov, 20, currently plays for SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League. He was New Jersey's seventh selection (5th round), 132rd overall, in the 2016 NHL Draft.
This marks the first ever trade between the New Jersey Devils in its 35-year history, and the New York Rangers.
