Ottawa received forward Julien Gauthier and a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, which will become the lower of the Rangers' or Winnipeg Jets' sixth-round selection if New York advances past the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Motte, who can become an unrestricted free agent after the season, was in his first season with Ottawa after signing a one-year, $1.35 million contract on Sept. 14, 2022. The 27-year-old forward has nine points (three goals, six assists) in 38 games this season, missing 16 with an injury.
It's the second straight season Motte has been acquired midseason by the Rangers, who traded a fourth-round pick in 2023 draft to the Vancouver Canucks for him on March 21, 2022. He scored two goals in 15 playoff games last season to help New York advance to the Eastern Conference Final.
Selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fourth round (No. 121) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Motte has 71 points (38 goals, 33 assists) in 307 regular-season games, and seven points (six goals, one assist) in 32 playoff games.
The Rangers (33-14-9), who are 7-0-1 in their past eight games, are third in the Metropolitan Division. They previously acquired forward Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola from the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 9 for forward Sammy Blais, defenseman prospect Hunter Skinner and two conditional draft picks.
The 2023 NHL Trade Deadline is 3 p.m. ET on March 3.
Gauthier, a 25-year-old forward, has nine points (six goals, three points) in 40 games this season.
Selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round (No. 21) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Gauthier has 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 136 games for Carolina and New York.
Ottawa (27-24-4) is currently seventh in the Atlantic Division, five points behind the New York Islanders, who have played four more games, for the second wild card into the playoffs from the East.
"He played with [Thomas Chabot] and [Mathieu Joseph] in junior," Senators coach D.J. Smith said. "They've talked to both of them about it. He's a big, strong guy that's in phenomenal shape, that can skate. And he's looking for a fresh start. We'll get him right in the lineup tomorrow (against the Boston Bruins). We'll decide who's coming out. We'll get him right in and get him going."
