Bryan McCabe Traded to Rangers

In the middle of what will be their 10th consecutive non-playoff season, the Florida Panthers continued to unload veteran players on Saturday by sending defenseman Bryan McCabe to the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Tim Kennedy and a third-round draft pick according to TSN. It's Florida's third major trade in the past month and follows the recent deals that saw it trade Michael Frolik to Chicago and Cory Stillman to Carolina.

The Stillman and McCabe trades didn't result in much of a return (the Panthers received Ryan Carter and a fifth-round pick for Stillman), but when you're trying to dump veterans that you're likely to lose as free agents on July 1, something has to be better than nothing.

McCabe, 35, is in the last year of his contract and had to waive his no-trade clause to accept the trade to New York. He'll give the Rangers a puck-moving, offensive presence -- although sometimes an erratic one -- on their blue line, having tallied five goals and 17 assists in 48 games this season.

New York will be on the hook for a pro rated cap hit of about $1.3 million for the remainder of the season.

McCabe's ability to veto any potential deal surely hurt, at least in some part, general manager Dale Tallon's ability to get maximum value for his team's captain. The key part of the return for Florida, from a long-term outlook anyway, is probably the draft pick. Kennedy, 24, has spent the entire season playing in the AHL, scoring 12 goals in 53 game. In 79 games with the Buffalo Sabres a year ago he scored 10 goals to go with 16 assists.

The Rangers could certainly use a bit of an upgrade offensively on their blue line, especially with MIchal Rozsival having been previously dealt to the Phoenix Coyotes and youngster Michael Del Zotto struggling mightily this season, and the price is certainly right to add McCabe. His 23 points this season (which, again, have come in just 48 games) would be second among Rangers rearguards, trailing only Dan Girardi's 25.