NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers acquired defenseman Steven Kampfer and a conditional draft pick from the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Dylan McIlrath, the teams announced Tuesday.
Kampfer, 28, has 134 games of NHL experience and will add depth to the Rangers' defensive core. He played 47 games for the Panthers last season but only one this season.
McIlrath, 24, played 38 games for the Rangers over parts of four seasons. He scored two goals and added two assists for four points. He has had 84 penalty minutes.
The 6-foot-5, 236-pounder was originally selected by the Rangers in the first round (10th overall) in the 2010 NHL entry draft.
"He's a great kid. He's a guy that deserves a chance to play in the league," Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton said of McIlrath. "[Florida] has been calling me for a while about him and it's a fresh start for him. At the same time, we've had Kampfer before and we like his speed, we like his skill level and we think he's someone who can help us along the way here."
Kampfer will report to the Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. It hasn't been announced yet whether McIlrath will report to the Panthers or the AHL.
