Alain Vigneault said that he spoke with both Derek Stepan and Dan Girardi and told them how much they meant to the team and to himself as both players and people. (NY Post)

Vigneault said, "those are the kinds of people you care about. Everyone knows how important they were to our group." (NY Post)

He said though that the Rangers had "decisions to make" and that even with the moves the Rangers are still a "good team and we still have our goal set on winning the Stanley Cup." (NY Post)

Coyotes GM John Chayka said that they entered into the offseason with the intention of landing Antti Raanta to be their number one goalie.

He said that when the Coyotes got the chance to get Raanta "we wanted to make sure we got him."

Raanta said that he feels his game is going in the right direction and that he is ready to take the next step towards being a number one goalie.

In 515 career games with the Rangers, Derek Stepan had 128 goals and 232 assists during the regular season and in 97 playoff games he had 19 goals and 30 assists.

Below are some of the top moments from Stepan's time with the Rangers

6/29/17 | Stepan was on Sirius XM on Wednesday and said, "I've heard the rumors, to be honest, I didn't think it was going to happen to me. You never think that you are the guy who is gonna be on the move but this is the way that the business works. When it did happen I was shocked by it but it certainly didn't blindside me by any means. I knew that Arizona was really invested in trying to get me and after the whole shock hits, a lot of excitement takes over and a lot of new and excited energy for your family to start a new chapter."

6/25/17 | Derek Stepan was on 98.7 Arizona Sports Radio on Friday and spoke about the trade to the Coyotes.

On why he felt he was traded, Stepan said "I think the Rangers were just trying to better their organization and they came up with a solution that they feel is going to make them a better team and this is part of the business. I've been around and I've seen some of my buddies go and it just so happens that this time I am the one who goes. I don't hold them against it, they saw an opportunity to better their club and now I get to better the Coyotes."

Stepan visits MSG on 10/26.

Alain Vigneault spoke with Kathryn Tappen on NBCSN and said:

• On Stepan and Raanta, "especially Step, he had been with me in my four years and he was such a competitive player and I got him when he was 23 and he has turned into a real solid performer in pressure moments. But there are decisions that have to made sometimes, tough ones, and that was one that the organization felt was the right thing to do."
• On replacing Stepan, "that is a good question. We will have to do it by committee and there is still a lot of time left and free agency is coming up. We definitely have a few areas where we have to look at and we will address it in due time."
• On the draft, "it's my fifth year and it's my first time up on the stage, we haven't had a first round pick since I have been here."

Following the Rangers trade of Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to Arizona for the #7 overall pick tonight and Anthony DeAngelo, the Rangers have around $23 million in cap space if Kevin Klein retires.

The Rangers have #7 and #21 in tonight's first round.

The Rangers have centers Kevin Hayes under contract at $2.6 million and Mika Zibanejad is an RFA.

1:15PM: The Rangers have confirmed that the deal is DeAngelo and the 7th pick overall for Stepan and Raanta.

12:41PM: Darren Dreger tweets that the Rangers are sending Antti Raanta and Derek Stepan to Arizona for a package that could include the 7th overall pack as well as prospect Anthony DeAngelo.

He says that the deal is done pending the trade call.

9:57AM: Larry Brooks writes that as of now there is no traction between the Rangers and Coyotes regarding a potential trade for Derek Stepan. (Brooks)

8:44AM: Bruce Garrioch writes in the Ottawa Sun that there is "a lot of talk" that the Rangers could move Derek Stepan but that the Rangers have not been "holding an auction" on him. (Ottawa Sun)

He writes that "the talk" is that Jeff Gorton is listening to see what teams may offer for Stepan in a trade. (Ottawa Sun)

It was reported last week that Derek Stepan's name has been pretty prominent in trade talks and that teams such as Arizona have a lot of interest in him.

It's also been reported that the Rangers won't trade Stepan unless they receive a top-pair right handed defenseman.

7:49AM: The Arizona Coyotes are one of "multiple teams" that have "serious interest" in Derek Stepan, according to Bob McKenzie.

Elliotte Friedman said yesterday on the radio that the Coyotes were interested in Stepan last year but that another part of the deal fell through.

McKenzie said that the Coyotes are hopeful of making a deal before today's 3PM trade freeze.

6/16/17 | 4:38PM: Larry Brooks tweets that the Rangers are "investigating" the market for Stepan but that his best info says that as of now nothing is "imminent or close."

12:59PM: According to Larry Brooks, the Rangers will not trade Derek Stepan unless they are able to acquire a "no doubt first-pair" right defenseman in the deal. (Brooks)

It's been reported that Stepan's name has been "prominent" in trade chatter around the league.

Derek Stepan had his fourth straight 50+ point season for the Rangers though he had the lowest points per game (.68) since his second year.

Stepan had 17 goals and 38 assists in 81 games and had a career low shooting percentage of 8.1% despite his first season over 200+ shots on goal.

He had 12 goals and 25 assists before the All-Star break (.75 PPG) and 5 goals and 13 assists in 32 games after the All-Star break (.56 PPG).

While writing about the center position and potential moves this offseason, Larry Brooks writes that the Rangers could try and use Derek Stepan to land a top-pair right defenseman. (NY Post)

Moving Stepan would also allow the Rangers to give Oscar Lindberg a bigger role at center as well as protect him in the expansion draft. (NY Post)

Brooks notes that potentially moving Kevin Hayes, as opposed to Stepan, likely wouldn't bring "close to the yield" that the Rangers could get for Stepan. (NY Post)

He writes that Lindberg has been under-utilized so far in his time with the Rangers and that it would be a "shame" to lose him in the expansion draft because of limited ice time. (NY Post)

Derek Stepan said on Tuesday, after Game 6, that he was "disappointed, ashamed and flat out embarrassed" with his performance in the playoffs and how he couldn't find his game. (Rosen)

He had two goals and four assists in the playoffs, a minus 3 rating, 33 shots on goal and averaged 20:59.

Stepan said that he struggled to make the "right plays" throughout the playoffs and that while he was very hard on himself he wasn't "as bad" as he said he was. (NY Post, SNY)

Derek Stepan said on Friday that he has "stunk" since the playoffs started. (NHL.com)

Stepan has 1 goal, 1 assist, an even rating, 15 shots on goal, 27 shots attempted and has lost 20 more faceoffs than he has won.

His one goal in the playoffs came in Game 6 as an empty netter.

Jimmy Vesey scored the go-ahead goal in the third period as the New York Rangers ended the regular season with a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. >> Read more

First period:

• 9:16 PIT Nick Bonino; Assists: Dominik Simon, Phil Kessel
• 13:54 NYR Ryan McDonagh; Assist: Michael Grabner
• 18:31 NYR Derek Stepan (power play); Assists: McDonagh, Mika Zibanejad

Second period:

• 13:38 PIT Carter Rowney

Third period:

• 7:23 NYR Jimmy Vesey; Assist: Zibanejad

The New York Rangers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. >> Read more

First period:

• N/A

Second period:

• 0:33 PHI Valtteri Filppula; Assist: Jordan Weal
• 3:57 NYR Mika Zibanejad (power play); Assist: Mats Zuccarello
• 7:10 NYR Brendan Smith; Assists: Zuccarello, Derek Stepan

Third period:

• 7:01 NYR Oscar Lindberg; Assists: Dan Girardi, Zuccarello    
• 9:10 NYR Chris Kreider; Assist: Stepan
• 17:54 PHI Brayden Schenn; Assist: Shayne Gostisbehere
• 18:45 PHI Filppula; Assists: Jakub Voracek, Gostisbehere   

Derek Stepan scored last night in the third period to break a scoreless streak of 23 games.

He had 14 shots on goal in the past two games, including 10 last Thursday in Carolina against the Hurricanes.

Stepan spoke yesterday about a talk he had with former teammate Marty St. Louis about his drought and noted that he "toed it" on his goal but that with the goalie in a "tough position" "it worked." (NYR)

Derek Stepan spoke after the game tonight about a call he made to former teammate Marty St. Louis about the scoring drought he was going through and ended tonight. (NYR)

Stepan said (NYR):

• "A lot of times you are the toughest on yourself. I tried to lean on as many people as I could, coaching staff, I even got to the point where I called Marty St. Louis and reached out to those guys and talked with them and tried to keep my mind in the right place. I am glad it went in."
• What did Marty tell you, "When Marty first came to NY it took him 15 games and he said that it felt like a year. It's a lot of talking about the process. When Marty was here we talked a lot of hockey, hockey nerds so-to-say, talking plays and we played together the full time he was here and it was good to lean on him and he gave me some good advice. He is a guy I will continue to lean on, he has a lot of experience and he can relate to me pretty strongly."

Ryan McDonagh scored twice to lead the New York Rangers to a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday at Joe Louis Arena. >> Read more

First period:

• 19:33 NYR Ryan McDonagh (short handed); Assists: Kevin Hayes, Michael Grabner

Second period:

• 5:35 DET Frans Nielsen (power play); Assists: Gustav Nyquist, Justin Abdelkader
• 16:50 NYR McDonagh; Assists: Marc Staal, Pavel Buchnevich
• 17:27 NYR Hayes; Assists: J.T. Miller, Grabner

Third period:

• 16:01 NYR Derek Stepan (power play); Assist: Chris Kreider

Mika Zibanejad scored two power play goals, but Sebastian Aho tallied twice in the third period as the Hurricanes rallied for a 4-3 win over the Rangers Thursday night at PNC Arena. >> Read more

First period:

• 7:24 NYR Chris Kreider (power play); Assists: Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh
• 13:15 CAR Jeff Skinner; Assists: Victor Rask
• 13:44 CAR Valentin Zykov; Assists: Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal

Second period:

Derek Stepan has 51 shots on goal in the past 22 games but 0 goals during that stretch.

Stepan said that it's something that he is trying not to think about but added "it's the only thing you can think about." (NY Post)

He said that he would like to say that this isn't on his mind, "but of course it is, almost all the time." (NY Post)

In the past 17 games, Derek Stepan has 0 goals and 7 assists while taking 41 shots on goal and averaging 18:49 per game.

Stepan said that it has been a struggle for him lately and that he has had opportunities but hasn't been able to find the back of the net. (NY Post)

In the prior 21 games to this 17 game streak, Stepan had 8 goals and 14 assists, with 61 shots on goal and an average of 19:14 per game.

The New York Rangers lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-2, Sunday at Madison Square Garden. >> Read more

First period:

• 1:02 CLB Alexander Wennberg; Assists: David Savard, Oliver Bjorkstrand
• 4:07 NYR Rick Nash; Assists: Jimmy Vesey, Derek Stepan
• 6:47 CLB Cam Atkinson (power play); Assists: Sam Gagner, Zach Werenski

Second period:

• 9:47 CLB Wennberg; Assist: Oliver Bjorkstrand

Third period:

• 4:12 CLB Cam Atkinson; Assist: Brandon Dubinsky
• 19:36 CLB Josh Anderson; Assists: Scott Hartnell, William Karlsson
• 19:59 NYR Jesper Fast; Assists: Marc Staal, Oscar Lindberg

Jimmy Vesey's go-ahead goal midway through the third period propelled the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday at Nationwide Arena. >> Read more

First period:

• 8:12 COL Brandon Dubinsky; Assists: Brandon Saad, Seth Jones

Second period:

• 0:12 NYR Dan Girardi (short handed); Assists: Kevin Hayes, J.T. Miller

Third period:

• 4:49 NYR Hayes; Unassisted
• 11:53 COL Nick Foligno; Assist: David Savard
• 13:28 NYR Jimmy Vesey; Assists: Derek Stepan, Nick Holden  

The New York Rangers beat the Los Angeles Kings, 3-2, Monday at Madison Square Garden. >> Read more

First period:

• 11:31 NYR Brandon Pirri

Second period:

• 13:28 NYR Matt Puempel; Assists: Derek Stepan, Dan Girardi
• 18:01 LA Jordan Nolan; Assists: Andy Andreoff, Drew Doughty

Third period:

• 6:40 NYR Mats Zuccarello; Assist: J.T. Miller
• 19:59 LA Kyle Clifford

TORONTO -- Michael Grabner scored two goals against his former team, helping the New York Rangers snap a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night.

Pavel Buchnevich, Brady Skjei and J.T. Miller added goals for New York, and Henrik Lundqvist made 23 saves following a series of rough outings.

Tyler Bozak and Zach Hyman scored for Toronto, which had a three-game winning streak stopped. The Maple Leafs had earned 21 of a possible 26 points in their previous 13 games (10-2-1). Frederik Andersen gave up four goals on 40 shots.

The New York Rangers' three-goal third-period rally fell short as they allowed three goals in the first period and four goals in the second en route to a 7-6 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. >> Read more

First period:

• 0:27 NYR Derek Stepan; Assists: Chris Kreider, Mats Zuccarello
• 12:34 DAL Patrick Eaves (power play); Assists: Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin
• 12:46 DAL Patrick Sharp; Assist: Radek Faksa
• 17:54 DAL Jamie Benn; Assists: Cody Eakin, Eaves

Second period:

• 4:32 DAL Antoine Roussel; Assist: Lauri Korpikoski
• 9:56 NYR Mika Zibanejad; Assists: Rick Nash, Pavel Buchnevich
• 12:06 NYR Buchnevich; Assists: Kevin Klein, Adam Clendening
• 12:54 DAL Patrick Sharp; Assists: Devin Shore, Faksa
• 15:53 DAL Adam Cracknell; Assists: Korpikoski, Dan Hamhuis
• 17:40 DAL Eakin; Assists: Eaves, Benn

Third period:

• 3:11 NYR Kreider; Assists: Stepan, Zuccarello
• 5:31 NYR Stepan; Assists: Ryan McDonagh, Zuccarello
• 7:26 NYR Zibanejad; Assists: Nash, Buchnevich

On Saturday against Colorado the Rangers line of Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan and Mats Zuccarello had a total of 7 points.

The trio has tallied a total of 22 points int he past four games and have a total of 46 points in the Rangers past 15 games. (Game Notes)

Zuccarello had also had an assist on nine consecutive goals by Kreider from a stretch of 12/3 to 12/31. (Game Notes)

Alain Vigneault said that Stepan's line gave the Rangers a "real solid performance" on Saturday against Colorado.

With Ottawa up 2-0 in the first period last night, John Giannone reported that Derek Stepan, uncharacteristically, raised his voice on the bench as a way to try and spark his teammates.

Stepan said after the game that speaking up is something he had been thinking about doing in the past two games and that it's "so important to have good chatter on the bench." (MSG)

Stepan said that at that time the Rangers had no chatter on the bench, no emotion and that the coaching staff expects the leaders to step up in certain moments. (MSG)

He said that he tried to "light a fire" and get people thinking the right way. He added that it's not his style but "at that time we needed it." (MSG)

Prior to the game against the Devils on 12/19, Derek Stepan had not scored in 7 games and only had 2 goals in the past 13 games.

Stepan said after that game that he felt his game has been "really good" lately and that Sunday's game against New Jersey, when he scored the game tying goal, was not one of his better ones.

He said that he has to find ways to score more but that his goal on Sunday relieves some pressure and "allows me to continue to play."

In the first 18 games of the season, Stepan had 2 goals, 9 assists, a plus two rating, 35 shots on goal and an average of 17:08 per game.

Ryan McDonagh spoke on MSG about the tying goal and said, "We talked about winning the draw and spreading them out and look for ways to get the puck towards the net. We didn't have any time to draw anything up but we knew they were blocking shots and got me a couple of shifts before that and Step made a perfect deflection."

Derek Stepan said after the game, "It's a heck of a play by Mac [Ryan McDonagh]. [When you are] 6-on-5 you have to make a heck of a play to score and Ryan certainly did it. It ends up in the back of the net and we find a way to get it to overtime and we get a huge second point too." (Via the Rangers Game Notes)

The New Jersey Devils allowed a late game-tying goal to Derek Stepan and lost to the New York Rangers in a shootout, 3-2, Sunday at Madison Square Garden. >> Read more

First period:

• N/A

Second period:

Derek Stepan scored a game-tying goal late in the third period as the New York Rangers beat the New Jersey Devils, 3-2, in a shootout Sunday at Madison Square Garden. >> Read more

First period:

• N/A

Second period:

The New Jersey Devils lost their third straight game when they fell to the New York Rangers 5-0 on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. >> Read more

First period:

• 16:43 NYR Chris Kreider; Assists: Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Klein

Second period:

• 16:07 NYR J.T. Miller (short handed); Assist: Kevin Hayes
• 19:57 NYR Brady Skjei; Assists: Derek Stepan, Oscar Lindberg

Third period:

• 6:04 NYR Brandon Pirri (power play); Assists: Kreider, Ryan McDonagh
• 18:42 NYR Jimmy Vesey (power play); Assists: Nick Holden, Pirri

Five different New York Rangers scored as they beat the New Jersey Devils 5-0 on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. >> Read more

First period:

• 16:43 NYR Chris Kreider; Assists: Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Klein

Second period:

• 16:07 NYR J.T. Miller (short handed); Assist: Kevin Hayes
• 19:57 NYR Brady Skjei; Assists: Derek Stepan, Oscar Lindberg

Third period:

• 6:04 NYR Brandon Pirri (power play); Assists: Kreider, Ryan McDonagh
• 18:42 NYR Jimmy Vesey (power play); Assists: Nick Holden, Pirri

Derek Stepan broke out yesterday against Carolina

Derek Stepan spoke with the media on MSG following the Rangers loss to Ottawa:

• "When a team is playing that good defensively, they didn't make a single mistake, you have toe execute perfectly all the way to your dumps. We were just a little off and they defended extremely well and that is the story tonight."
• "Zero mistakes. They didn't make one all night. The two that they made, we had our chances and it didn't end up in the back of the net. They get a goal in the second off kind of a bad bounce but at the end of the day you don't win any hockey games with zero goals."

J.T. Miller scored a shorthanded goal with 59 seconds remaining in the second period as the New York Rangers overcame a 2-0 first-period deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 on Monday at PPG Paints Arena. >> Read more

First period:

• 1:02 PIT Jake Guentzel; Assists: Phil Kessel, Trevor Daley
• 13:12 PIT Guentzel; Assists: Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel

Second period:

• 4:51 NYR Rick Nash
• 14:23 NYR Michael Grabner; Assist: Ryan McDonagh
• 19:11 NYR J.T. Miller (short handed); Assist: Kevin Hayes

Third period:

• 12:46 NYR Hayes; Assist: McDonagh
• 18:37 NYR Derek Stepan (empty net); Assists: Nash, Grabner

The New York Rangers lost to the Florida Panthers, 3-2, in a shootout Sunday at Madison Square Garden. >> Read more

First period:

• 13:15 NYR Chris Kreider; Assists: Derek Stepan, Marc Staal

Second period:

Derek Stepan spoke with the media in Columbus on Friday and said that, while he dealt with some discomfort during the morning skate, he isn't concerned that it will impact Friday night's game. (NYR)

Stepan said that the Rangers decided this season to wear "shot blockers" on their skates and said that they make a big difference. (NYR)

Derek Stepan blocked a first period shot from the Canucks Troy Stetcher, cleared the puck from his knees and then struggled mightily to get to and over the Rangers bench.

Stepan then went to the locker room with medical trainer Jim Ramsay but returned to the ice at the start of the second period.

He only played 2:14 in the first and missed the final 11 minutes of the period.

Derek Stepan and Chris Kreider were reunited last night on the same line and worked together on a give and go for the Rangers second goal.

Derek Stepan scored his first goal of the season last night against the Bruins.

He had a goal and two assists, 3 shot attempts and was 7 and 8 on faceoffs.

Stepan has points in three straight games and has 10 points (1 goal, 9 assists) in 12 games with an average of 17:29 per game.

Derek Stepan and Michael Grabner both had a goal and an assist as the Rangers defeated the Bruins 5-2 on Saturday night in Boston. >> Read more

First Period:

• :44 BOS Patrice Bergeron Assist: Brad Marchand
• 15:09 NYR Nick Holden  Assist: Jimmy Vesey, Derek Stepan
• 17:59 NYR Derek Stepan (Short Handed) Assists: Michael Grabner

Second period:

• 2:18 NYR Kevin Hayes (Short Handed) Assists: Marc Staal, Kevin Klein

Third period:

• 13:37 NYR Pavel Buchnevich (Power Play) Assists: Derek Stepan, Brady Skjei
• 14:46 BOS David Pastrnak (Short Handed) Assists: Riley Nash, Brandon Carlo
• 16:48 NYR Michael Grabner

Jesper Fast tied it with 10:29 left and Rick Nash scored the go-ahead goal with 1:21 left as the Rangers rallied for a 5-3 win over the Oilers Thursday night at the Garden. >> Read more

First Period:

• 6:36 EDM Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Power Play) Assists: Connor McDavid, Jordan Eberle
• 8:34 NYR Kevin Hayes Assists: Michael Grabner, Brady Skjei

Second period:

• 10:28 EDM Patrick Maroon Assists: Jesse Puljujarvi
• 15:46 NYR Michael Grabner Assists: J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes

Third period:

• 8:49 EDM Adam Larsson Assists: Andrej Sekera, Mark Letestu
• 9:31 NYR Jesper Fast Assists: Brandon Pirri, Brady Skjei
• 18:39 NYR Rick Nash Assists: Nick Holden, Derek Stepan
• 18:56 NYR J.T. Miller (ENG) Assists: Nick Holden, Kevin Hayes

Jimmy Vesey had a huge night as the Rangers beat the Blues, 5-0 Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers erupted after falling into an early 2-0 hole as they beat the Bruins, 5-2 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.First period:0:10 BOS David Pastrnak; Assists: Brad Marchand, Zdeno Chara14:44 BOS Austin Czarnik; Assist: David Krejci

First Period 12:06: NYR: Marc Staal; Assists: Derek Stepan, Mats Zuccarello19:02 SJS: Logan Couture; Assists: Joe Pavelski, Joe ThorntonSecond Period4:15 NYR: Rick Nash; Assists: Ryan McDonagh, Chris Kreider10:21 NYR: Chris Kreider; Assists: Ryan McDonagh, Antti Raanta