When the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline rolled around, the New York Rangers became Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The Dr. Jekyll Rangers decided to roll the dice and go for the playoffs. They signed Chris Kreider to a big multi-year contract. They didn’t trade Jesper Fast or Greg McKegg, both pending unrestricted free agents. Dr. Jekyll believed that the Rangers had a shot at the postseason and went for it.
The Mr. Hyde Rangers then went out and traded Brady Skjei, a top pair defenseman, to the Carolina Hurricanes for a first round draft pick. They did this mostly for salary cap reasons, to free up cap space so they could sign their restricted free agents this summer.