Rangers Trade Brett Berard to Canadiens; Islanders Re-sign Tony DeAngelo

The New York Rangers kicked off a pivotal offseason on Friday by trading forward Brett Berard to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman William Trudeau. This move marks a significant shift for Berard, who is set to turn 24 in September. Once viewed as a key piece of the Rangers’ future, he now embarks on a new chapter in Montreal, while Trudeau, who is just a month younger, has yet to make his NHL debut after spending time in the minors.

Berard has already made his mark in the NHL, having played 48 games with the Rangers and tallying 10 points. Meanwhile, New York general manager Chris Drury is anticipated to pursue more substantial trades as the offseason progresses. Notably, center Vincent Trocheck has been a topic of trade discussions dating back to before the March deadline, hinting at further changes in the Rangers’ lineup.

In other news from around the league, the New York Islanders have re-signed defenseman Tony DeAngelo to a two-year contract worth $9 million. This deal will see DeAngelo count $4.5 million against the salary cap through the 2027-28 season. At 30 years old, DeAngelo returns for his second full season with the Islanders after making a comeback to the NHL from the KHL in January 2025.

A former first-round draft pick in 2014, DeAngelo has found a home on Long Island, contributing to a defensive lineup alongside emerging star Matthew Schaefer and a solid mix of veteran players. Over his time with the Islanders, DeAngelo has accumulated 54 points in 111 games, further solidifying his role within the team.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.