On June 25, 2016, the Rangers acquired Nick Holden from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a 2017 fourth-round draft pick. Over the course of the summer, the Rangers re-signed J. T. Miller, Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes, while Dominic Moore, among others, departed via free agency. On July 18, the Rangers traded their leading scorer Derick Brassard and a 2018 seventh-round draft pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Mika Zibanejad and a 2018 second-round draft pick. The team also signed Michael Grabner to a two-year contract and the much-anticipated college sensation Jimmy Vesey to a two-year, entry-level contract.