NHL trades: Busy Rangers ride momentum, add James Sheppard, Carl Klingberg

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After making the biggest splash of the trade season so far and extending Mats Zuccarello, the Rangers continued their pre-deadline dealing Sunday with a pair of trades to bolster their depth.

First, the Rangers sent veteran Lee Stempniak to the Jets for fellow winger Carl Klingberg. They then added gritty center James Sheppard via the Sharks in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2016 draft.

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Both moves fit the profile of minor rearranging as the Rangers gear up for a Stanley Cup run. 

Stempniak, 32, is more of a coupe for the Jets than Klingberg is for the Rangers. Winnipeg sought forward depth coming into the weekend, and the 10-year veteran's nine goals and 18 points in 53 games this season will fill that role on a cheap contract. Meanwhile, Klingberg has spent most of the season in AHL St. John's.

Sheppard, 26 and a former ninth overall pick, could play in a more prominent role with the Rangers than Stempniak. He's got five goals and 16 points through 57 games this season and can be a useful penalty killer. Sheppard could join a line with Dominic Moore and Jesper Fast to form a championship-caliber shutdown fourth line.  

As part of the trade, the Sharks agreed to pay $100,000 of Sheppard's $1.3 million contract to allow the Rangers to fit him under the salary cap.

Stempniak, Klingberg and Sheppard are all pending unrestricted free agents.

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Brandon Schlager is an assistant managing editor at The Sporting News.