The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club made significant roster changes today by announcing the acquisition of defenseman Ryan Lindgren, forward Jimmy Vesey, and the rights to defenseman Hank Kempf from the New York Rangers. In exchange, the Avalanche will send defenseman Calvin de Haan, forward Juuso Parssinen, and two draft picks to New York: a second-round and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. New York is set to receive whichever draft picks Colorado currently owns that result in a higher placement in the draft order.
At 27 years old, Ryan Lindgren has been a standout player for the Rangers this season, appearing in 54 games and achieving a career-high of 19 points (2 goals and 17 assists). His average ice time of 19:56 per game showcases his importance on the ice, ranking second among team defensemen. Lindgren leads all Blueshirt skaters with 146:23 of shorthanded time on ice, proving his defensive prowess. The Burnsville, Minnesota native is on a hot streak, having recorded four assists in his last three games.
Originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft, Lindgren was acquired by the Rangers at the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline. Throughout his career with the Rangers, he has accumulated 99 points (12 goals and 87 assists) over 387 regular-season games and contributed 11 points (3 goals and 8 assists) in 43 playoff games, helping the Rangers reach the Conference Finals in 2022 and 2024. His experience and capability to average over 19 minutes of ice time in four of his six NHL seasons will be invaluable for the Avalanche.
Jimmy Vesey, 31, is another key player acquired from the Rangers. In the 2024-25 season, he played 33 games and contributed six points (4 goals and 2 assists). Vesey achieved career milestones this season, including his 600th NHL game on December 17 and scoring his 100th career goal on February 23. This marks his second stint with the Rangers, having signed as a free agent in October 2022.
A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Vesey has played 616 regular-season games over nine seasons with the Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and New Jersey Devils, amassing 192 points (100 goals and 92 assists). His best season came in 2018-19 with New York, where he recorded 17 goals, 18 assists, and played 81 games. Additionally, Vesey has participated in 31 postseason games, scoring nine points (2 goals and 7 assists). Before turning professional, he excelled at Harvard, earning the Hobey Baker Award for the NCAA’s top college player in 2016.
Hank Kempf, 22, is currently in his senior season at Cornell University and has tallied seven points (2 goals and 5 assists) in 28 games. Over his collegiate career, the 6-foot-2, 201-pound defenseman has registered 25 points (4 goals and 21 assists) in 126 games. Kempf was drafted by the Rangers in the seventh round (208th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft and has played alongside Avalanche prospects Sam Malinski and Matt Stienburg from 2021 to 2023, showcasing his potential as a valuable asset for the future.
Calvin de Haan, who signed with the Avalanche as a free agent on July 1, 2024, participated in 44 games with Colorado, accumulating seven points (0 goals and 7 assists). Meanwhile, Juuso Parssinen joined the Avalanche from Nashville on December 28, 2024, and contributed six points (2 goals and 4 assists) over 22 games. The Avalanche's strategic trades reflect their commitment to enhancing their roster and improving their performance in the upcoming NHL season.
The Colorado Avalanche's recent trades with the New York Rangers signal a focused effort to bolster their lineup with experienced players like Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey. With the addition of promising prospect Hank Kempf, the Avalanche are setting themselves up for future success while navigating the complexities of the NHL Draft. Fans can look forward to seeing how these new acquisitions will impact the team's performance in the coming season.
