Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Rangers Acquire Defenseman O'Gara and 2018 Third Round Pick From Bruins




Blueshirts send Nick Holden to Boston
by New York Rangers @NYRangers / New York Rangers
12:19 PM

New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has acquired defenseman Rob O'Gara and a third round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Nick Holden.

O'Gara, 24, has skated in 43 games with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season, registering two goals and six assists for eight points, along with a plus-five rating and 16 penalty minutes. He is tied for second among Providence defensemen in goals, ranks third among Providence defensemen in plus/minus rating, and is tied for third among Providence defensemen in points this season.

The 6-4, 207-pounder has skated in 107 career AHL games over parts of three seasons (2015-16 - 2017-18), all with Providence, registering seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points, along with a plus-18 rating and 50 penalty minutes. O'Gara recorded 13 points (four goals, nine assists) and a plus-11 rating in 59 games during his first full AHL season in 2016-17, and he tied for 10th among AHL rookie defensemen in plus/minus rating during the season. In addition, he has skated in three career AHL playoff games. O'Gara has also skated in 11 career NHL games over parts of two seasons (2016-17 and 2017-18). He made his NHL debut with Boston on Oct. 13, 2016 at Columbus.

Prior to beginning his professional career, O'Gara played four seasons of collegiate hockey at Yale University (2012-13 - 2015-16), and he earned more honors than any other defenseman in Yale's history during his tenure. He skated in 133 career collegiate games over his four seasons at the school, registering 14 goals and 37 assists for 51 points, along with a plus-29 rating and 134 penalty minutes. O'Gara helped Yale win the National Championship in his freshman year in 2012-13, and he was selected to the NCAA (East) First All-American Team in 2014-15, as well as the NCAA (East) Second All-American Team in 2015-16. In addition, he was named to the ECAC First All-Star Team, the All-Ivy League First All-Star Team, and the All-New England First All-Star Team in both 2014-15 and 2015-16, and he was also selected as the ECAC's Best Defensive Defenseman in 2014-15 and 2015-16. O'Gara is the only defenseman in Yale history who is a three-time recipient of the John Poinier Award as the team's Best Defenseman.

The Massapequa, New York, native was originally selected by Boston in the fifth round, 151st overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

By acquiring a third round pick, the Rangers now have seven picks for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft (their own first round pick, their own second round pick, their own third round pick, Boston's third round pick, their own fourth round pick, their own fifth round pick, and their own sixth round pick).

Holden skated in 135 games with the Rangers over parts of two seasons (2016-17 and 2017-18), registering 14 goals and 32 assists for 46 points, along with 49 penalty minutes.

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