NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has acquired forward Tyler Motte from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Julien Gauthier and a conditional seventh-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Motte, 27, returns for his second stint with the Rangers after playing nine regular season and 15 playoff games with the club during the 2021-22 campaign. Motte scored his first two goals with the Blueshirts in the Second Round series win against the Carolina Hurricanes and became the seventh player in franchise history to score each of his first two goals in a Rangers uniform during the postseason. Among Rangers in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Motte ranked second in hits per-60 (min. 5 GP) with a 14.26 clip.

The St. Clair, Michigan native has played in 38 games for the Senators this season, recording three goals and six assists for nine points. On Ottawa, he ranks fourth in hits per-60 (10.27), tied for sixth in blocked shots (43) and fourth in shorthanded time-on-ice per game (2.43).

In 307 NHL games split between the Senators, Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks, Motte has tallied 38 goals and 33 assists for 71 points. In 2018-19 with Vancouver, Motte recorded career-highs in games played (74), goals (9) and points (16).

Prior to going pro, the 5-10, 192 pound forward played three seasons for the University of Michigan (2013-14 - 2015-16), notching 105 points (50G-55A) in 107 games. In 2015-16, he was named a Hobey Baker Award (top collegiate player) finalist after recording 32 goals and 24 assists for 56 points in 38 games for the Big Ten Champion Wolverines.

Motte was originally selected by the Blackhawks in the fourth round, 121st overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and was traded to Columbus by Chicago in a deal that included Rangers forward Artemi Panarin.

I wonder if Kanes feelings are more hurt now