NY Rangers - Players In, Players Out

August 6, 2009

Change has come to Madison Square Garden. The measured, meticulously prepared defensive system of Tom Rennie is gone. It is replaced by the fiery, up-tempo, high pressure forechecking style of John Tortorella.

Since the end of the season, nine players from last years first team have left the club via trade, retirement, or free agency. Colton Orr, Frederik Sjøstrom, Nik Antropov, Scott Gomez, Paul Mara, Laurie Korpikoski, and Derrick Morris have all been traded. Nikolai Zherdev was allowed to walk away to free agency. Markus Naslund has retired from hockey.

What have Rangers lost?

In Orr the Rangers have lost an inexpensive, hard-working checking player who had the grit to defend his teammates. He signed with Toronto Maple Leafs.

In Sjøstrom, the club lost a physically strong winger that could hold the puck in the attacking zone, a good checker, good penalty killer, and a shootout specialist. Sjøstrom signed with Calgary Flames.

Antropov brought size, strength, and a legitimate scoring threat to the Blueshirts when he was acquired at the trade deadline in March of 2009. He finished the clubs leading scorer with 28 goals and 39 assists for 59 points (most of those coming with his previous club Toronto Maple Leafs). Antropov signed with Atlanta Thrashers.

Gomez was tied for highest scorer in the team (with Zherdev on 58 points until the Antropov trade), was a swift skater, and a fine playmaker setting up 42 goals (the most assists in the team). A fine player overall, Gomez’ departure was mostly facilitated by his $7.357 million salary. 16 goals, and 42 assists for 58 points is a reasonably decent season, but at the price of over $7 million/year, the Rangers expected that point total to be closer to 90 and for him to score more than 3 power play goals. Gomez was traded to Montreal Canadiens along with minor leaguers Tom Pyatt and Mike Busto for Chris Higgins and three minor league players Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko. Also in the deal was Doug Janik who was out of contract and signed with Detroit Red Wings. Gomez will (according to ESPN) make $8 million this season, and next season.

Paul Mara provided steady yeoman-like performances and some veteran leadership in defense last season. He also provided a bit of sandpaper when the opposing teams crossed the line. Mara was one of only four Ranger players to finish with a positive plus/minus rating (+2). At a salary of just under $2 million, the Rangers definitely got value for their dollar with Mara. Mara signed with Montreal Canadiens.

Laurie Korpikoski was a highly rated prospect from Finland. He made slightly less than $1 million, and was one of the Rangers’ past high round draft picks. Korpikoski produced 6 goals and 8 assists for 14 points in 68 matches last season. Korpikoski was traded to Phoenix Coyotes for highly rated Russian prospect Enver Lisin.

Derrick Morris was acquired from Phoenix at the March trade deadline last season. He was to provide size, strength, hitting, and help improve the Rangers’ woeful powerplay. What I remember most about Morris was that he frequently would turn the puck over. Sometimes in the neutral zone, sometimes in his defensive zone. Oddly, Dmitri Kalinin was traded to Phoenix for him, and Kalinin liked to turn the puck over in the same fashion. In the annals of the trades the club has made over the years the Kalinin/Prucha/Dawes for Morris trade begins to look like a very bad move indeed. Though neither Prucha or Dawes produced tremendous amounts of goals, Prucha was certainly a hard working and team oriented player, and young Nigel Dawes had only begun to realize his true potential as a scorer. As Morris walked away as a free agent the Rangers got nothing back for a player they dealt three players for. Morris’ contract was up at the end of last season, and he signed with Boston Bruins as a free agent for the coming season.

Nikolai Zherdev was allowed to walk away from the club after his salary arbitration hearing awarded him a $650,000 raise (to $3.9 million for one year). The Rangers have lost their third highest goal scorer (Zherdev scored 23 goals and assisted on 35 for 58 points in 82 matches. He was tied for second in club scoring with Scott Gomez) from last season. It is difficult to believe that the Rangers would part with him just over the money. I can only imagine that the Rangers have agreed to the parting of the ways over his attitude, work habits, lack of production, or perhaps Tortorella just doesn’t like him. What the Rangers lose is Zherdev’s occasional ability to produce a piece of magic with his stickhandling skills, his hard shot, his quick release, and his blazing skating pace. What the Rangers also lose is something for nothing. Zherdev finished the season +6, one of only four Ranger players to finish plus at the end of the season. The deal that brought Zherdev from Ohio to Manhattan cost the Rangers Fedor Tyutin, who remains a very good and steady defenseman. In fairness to the Rangers front office, Zherdev completely vanished in the Stanley Cup producing no goals or assists in 7 matches on 12 shots with a plus/minus of -3. He remains a free agent.

Markus Naslund has retired from hockey. He was the leading goal scorer on the team last season with 24 goals (before the Antropov trade).

What have the Rangers gained?

Marion Gaborik scores goals.....lots of them.....when healthy. He averages roughly 63 matches out of 82 in his eight years in the NHL. The first choice Slovakian international is fast, strong, and possesses a wicked quick release shot. This falls in the category of wait and see. Oddly that’s how it was with Zherdev, and Kovalev before him. Stay tuned.

Donald Brashear is meant to provide the toughness lost with Colton Orr’s departure to Toronto. It remains to be seen whether this will be the case, and whether or not the 37 year-old Brashear can fulfill his role as well as his predecessor.

Corey Locke is likely to find time on the Rangers minor league affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack. Right now, he is a young player with upside.

Tyler Arnason will likely fit in as a checking line center with moderate offensive production. Hopefully he’s good on face-offs. He’s big at 5’ 11” but does that translate into the toughness that the Rangers and Tortorella require? Perhaps with him the Rangers are hedging their bets in case they can’t sign master face-off man and excellent penalty killer Blair Betts.

Brian Boyle is a big (a 6’ 6” 222 pound monster), strong winger. Let’s hope he’s not slow and can score goals and check. He scored 4 goals and 1 assist in 28 matches with the Los Angeles Kings. I imagine the Rangers will ask this lad to go to the net and create traffic in the hopes he will score some rebound goals or by deflection. Judging by his limited experience, he looks more like a candidate to sharpen things up in Hartford.

Andres Ambühl is a stocky, rugged, 25 year-old forward who has come to the Rangers from his Swiss club HC Davos. He isn’t afraid to mix it up as he has 425 penalty minutes in 358 games in the Swiss NLA. He has scored 64 goals and 108 assists for 172 points in his NLA career. A good prediction is that he’ll provide some scoring punch, but mostly toughness and resolve. Characteristics highly prized by John Tortorella.

Ilkka Heikkinen is 24 year-old, 6’ 2” 200 pound defenseman from Finland. In the Finnish SM-liiga he has played in 283 matches scoring 31 goals and 82 assists for 113 points. Heikkinen faces a tough road to Manhattan, as the Rangers are currently loaded with defenseman prospects. It is more likely that he will log time with Hartford in the AHL.

Matt Gilroy is a 24 year-old defenseman from Boston College. He has signed a $3.5 million two year contract with the Rangers. The 2009 Hobey Baker Award winner (Best U.S. college player) and NCAA champion will be one of the many young hopefuls at the Rangers’ training camp this Summer. Though Gilroy comes to the club highly rated, the Rangers are loaded with prospects at defense and he will find himself in the same situation with Heikkinen.

Ryan McDonagh is another college boy acquired by the Rangers from Montreal in the Scott Gomez deal. It is likely that he will continue to play for the University of Wisconsin until graduation or the Rangers sign him to a professional contract. A defenseman with size and speed, the 20 year-old McDonagh will find himself in the same training camp battles with all the other young hopefuls.

Pavel Valentenko is yet another young defense prospect. The 21 year-old Russian was acquired from Montreal in the Gomez deal. Valentenko played 57 matches for Montreal’s AHL affiliate the Hamilton Bulldogs. Though Tortorella has said anyone has a chance to make the team in training camp, it is likely that Valentenko will be honing his craft with the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Chad Johnson is a young goalie prospect currently playing his hockey at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. His rights were acquired from Pittsburgh Penguins. Like the Rangers’ other prospects playing NCAA hockey, he will continue until graduation or signing a pro contract with the Rangers.

Chris Higgins was acquired from Montreal as the principal player in the Gomez deal. Higgins is a big left wing and will be expected to make the Rangers roster. He averages about 60 games and averages about 21 goals per full season. Essentially he should produce the same amount of scoring that Gomez did, at a third of his salary. He will also be a Long Islander playing in New York. He is from Smithtown, NY.

Chris Chappell is a big left wing who recently completed his Major Junior career with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. He is coming off of his best and most gritty season in that league. Last seasons numbers have him at 38 goals, 38 assists for 76 points with 88 PIM (penalties in minutes) - all record highs for Chappell in his OHL career. Chappell was signed as a free agent. As Chappell is 21 years-old he is no longer eligible to play Major Junior hockey. This means he’ll be battling to earn a place on the Rangers. Failing this he will probably play for Hartford Wolf Pack.

Enver Lisin was acquired from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Laurie Korpikoski. Wayne Gretzky (then the head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes) was quoted in The Arizona Republic as saying [if there is a faster skater in hockey] “I don't know where he is." High praise from one of the greatest to play the game. The only question appears to be will he start his career in the Rangers organization in Manhattan or Hartford. A fast would-be sniper that stays out of the penalty box.

Ales Kotalik is a 30 year old right wing who last played for the Edmonton Oilers. He has scored 121 goals and a total of 251 points in 445 matches with Buffalo and Edmonton of the NHL. A hard worker with a big shot and a knack for scoring on the power play, the Rangers hope to improve from last years horrid power play which was 29th in the NHL. I assume the Rangers signed this free agent to buy time for the prospects to season in Hartford.

Sam Klassen is a 20 year old defenseman who is currently playing with the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL. As he will be 20 years at the start of the WHL season, the Rangers may elect to have him finish out his eligibility with the Blades if he fails to make the Rangers roster and sign a professional contract. At 6’ 2” and 200 pounds he seems to be a big strong kid. Penalized for 195 minutes over his last two seasons in junior, it would appear that grit is creeping into his game as he approaches his professional career. He was signed as a free agent.

Nigel Williams was acquired from Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Hartford Wolf Pack defenseman Brian Fahey. Williams is 21 years-old, big (6’4” 226 pounds), and scored 21 points in 70 games last season with the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL. He can rush the puck and skates very well. Lots of defensemen in training camp for the Rangers this year. The question is “will it be Hartford or Manhattan?” for the young defenseman.

Thus ends the summary of the New York Rangers 2009 off season transactions to date.

The Rangers still have yet to resign free agents Blair Betts, Brandon Dubinsky, Mark Bell, Joe Barnes, and Vladimir Denisov.