Libor Hajek was the must-have defenseman the Rangers acquired from the Lightning as part of last year’s deadline package in the deal for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller.
The 2018 first-rounder was essential, of course. To a lesser degree, the conditional first for 2019 if Tampa Bay wins the Cup.
Brett Howden? Right, the center projected to be an NHL fourth-liner, well, he was in the deal, too.
But now, as we issue the daily reminder that even the best young prospects aren’t guaranteed to progress on a unbroken linear basis, Howden has quickly earned the trust of coach David Quinn.