Rangers trade Tarmo Reunanen to Carolina for forward Maxim Letunov

A minor league deal, as the Rangers have traded defenseman Tarmo Reunanen to Carolina for forward Maxim Letunov.

Letunov cannot play for the Rangers this season (the deal was after the deadline) and will report to Hartford. Letunov, 26, is a former 2nd round pick and a career AHLer. He’s about a 15-goal, 40-point player with in the AHL. This is the second time the Rangers have sent an defenseman to Carolina for an AHL forward (Joey Keane/Julien Gauthier).

Reunanen, who is already 24, was once higher on the depth chart. But signings and development have pushed Reunanen down the depth chart by no fault of his own. He’s a decent defenseman who may see bottom pair minutes with Carolina next season.

Reunanen was completely blocked in the Rangers organization and due a new contract at the end of the year. Hartford, starved for forward depth and rich with defenseman, now gets another guy who can score. This is the second defense-for-forward swap in a week for the Pack.