GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Emerson Etem’s days with the Rangers are over.
Etem was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for former first-round pick Nicklas Jensen and a sixth-round pick in the 2017 draft.
Earlier in the day, Etem, 23, had been assigned to the Rangers’ AHL affiliate for conditioning, a move which doesn’t require being exposed to waivers.
Etem had been acquired by the Rangers from Anaheim for Carl Hagelin last summer.
The Long Beach, California, native was not at practice. Etem had three assists in 19 games and has been surpassed on the depth chart by ex-Penguin Jayson Megna, who had a goal and assist in his Rangers debut against Dallas on Tuesday and will skate on the second line with Rick Nash and Derek Stepan against the NHL-leading Capitals on Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.
Etem carries a $850,500 annual cap charge and is a restricted free agent after this season. He has appeared in 131 NHL games, mostly with the Ducks since the 2012-13 season, and scored 15 goals and 34 points. In 23 playoff games, he was 6-2-8.
Blue Notes
Chris Kreider (cut on right hand) will not dress against Washington. Kreider, who did not play against Dallas, said he wanted to play but team trainers recommended that he should be held out for a second game. D Dylan McIlrath also is expected to be scratched. . . . The Capitals (30-7-3) are No. 2 in the NHL on the power play with 31 goals on 122 opportunities. . . . A Rangers scout was expected to watch Tampa prospect Jonathan Drouin, who has asked to be traded, play for the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch this weekend.
