Rykov, 20, has skated in 51 games with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) this season, registering two goals and 12 assists for 14 points, along with a plus-13 rating and 20 penalty minutes. He has established KHL career-highs in games played, goals, assists, points, and plus/minus rating this season. In addition, Rykov helped SKA St. Petersburg win the Gagarin Cup as KHL Champions during his rookie season in 2016-17, and he was selected as the KHL's Rookie of the Week during the Gagarin Cup Quarterfinals and during the Gagarin Cup Finals.
The 6-3, 225-pounder helped Russia earn a bronze medal at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship, registering one goal and six assists for seven points, along with a plus-seven rating in seven games. The Vidnoe, Russia, native was selected as one of the Top Three Players on his team, and he tied for first among all defensemen in assists in the tournament.
By acquiring a second-round pick, the Rangers now have eight picks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, including five picks in the first three rounds (their own first-round pick, their own second-round pick, New Jersey's second-round pick, their own third-round pick, Boston's third-round pick, their own fourth-round pick, their own fifth-round pick, and their own sixth-round pick).
Grabner skated in 135 games with the Rangers over parts of two seasons (2016-17 and 2017-18), registering 52 goals and 19 assists for 71 points.
