[1] He soon centered Anaheim's top line with Paul Kariya and Teemu Selänne, a major feat for a former CIS player.

In August 2005, he was traded to the New York Rangers for minor-league enforcer Trevor Gillies and a conditional 2007 draft pick in a move to dump salary.

Known as a great locker-room teammate, he provided veteran leadership in 2005–06, as an alternate captain (along with Jaromir Jagr and Darius Kasparaitis) on a young Rangers team.

In his 47th game with the Thrashers, on March 6, 2007, he suffered a concussion on a hit by Ben Guite of the Colorado Avalanche.

Prior to the 2007–08 season, Rucchin failed a physical at training camp and sat out the final year of his contract effectively ending his professional career.