Rangers trade Lemieux to Kings for 4th-round pick

The New York Rangers traded forward Brendan Lemieux to the Los Angeles Kings for a 2021 fourth-round pick, the Rangers confirmed Saturday.

It is the Kings' own selection heading to the Rangers, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun. Los Angeles also possesses another fourth-rounder in the upcoming draft, which the team landed from the Calgary Flames in a trade for Derek Forbort in February 2020.

The Rangers had to open up a roster spot amid several looming decisions.

NYR juggling 3 goalies, Kravtsov arrival, Di Giuseppe return, Howden. Lots of bodies. Looked to move a player for a pick

- Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 27, 2021

Lemieux collected two goals and five assists in 31 games while playing a fourth-line role with New York this season. The 25-year-old was in his second full campaign with the Rangers, who acquired him from the Winnipeg Jets as part of the package for Kevin Hayes at the 2019 trade deadline.

This is the third time Lemieux has been dealt in his NHL career. The Buffalo Sabres sent the son of longtime NHL pest Claude Lemieux to the Jets in the 2015 Evander Kane swap. The Sabres drafted the younger Lemieux 31st overall in 2014.

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