RANGERS NEWS & TRANSACTIONS ARCHIVE

Mark Messier Elected to the Hall of Fame

Thursday, June 28, 2007 Former New York Ranger Mark Messier, a six-time Stanley Cup winner and the NHL’s second all-time leading scorer was named to the 2007 class of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Messier won five championships with Edmonton (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990), then captained the Rangers to the 1994 title that ended the team’s 54-year Stanley Cup drought. On the ballot for the first time, Messier’s induction ceremony into the Hall will take place November 12, 2007.

Rangers clinch playoff spot!

Thursday, April 5, 2007 In their final home game of the season, the New York Rangers clinched a playoff spot for the second straight year with a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadians. Led by Jaromir Jagr, who reached the 30-goal mark for the 15th straight season with his second period score, the Rangers will be the sixth or seventh playoff seed and will likely face either Tampa Bay, Atlanta or New Jersey in the first round of the playoffs.

Rangers Trade-Deadline Deals

Wednesday, February 28, 2007 The New York Rangers made multiple trade-deadline deals in an attempt to make their final push towards the playoffs. The team acquired defenseman Paul Mara from the Boston Bruins in exchange for defenseman Aaron Ward on February 27th. The 6’4”, 219-pound Mara has registered 3 goals and 15 assists in 59 games so far this season. Also on February 27th, the Rangers dealt Pascal Dupui, acquired on February 9th from the Minnesota Wild, and a 2007 3rd round draft pick to the Atlanta Thrashers for right wing prospect Alex Bourret. Just 20 years old, Bourret had 11 goals and 21 assists in only 45 games for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. Bourret, considered a high level prospect, was taken 16th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. On February 5th, the Rangers dealt Jason Ward and two prospects to the Los Angeles Kings for Sean Avery and prospect John Seymour. Prior to the trade, Avery had 9 goals and 14 assists this season.

Shanahan named All-Star Captain

Thursday, January 18, 2007 Rangers forward Brendan Shanahan was named captain of the NHL’s Eastern Conference All-Star team that will compete in Dallas on January 24. Shanahan has collected 46 points (24 goals, 22 assists) in 47 games this season. He has scored 622 career goals, tops among active players and 12th on the all-time list, and ranks fourth all-time in game-winning goals (105). In seven previous All-Star appearances, Shanahan has recorded four goals.

Rangers Sign Adam Hall

Thursday, August 3, 2006 New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the Blueshirts have signed restricted free agent right-winger Adam Hall. The Rangers acquired Hall, 25, in a trade with the Nashville Predators in exchange for center Dominic Moore. The 6-3, 210-pound winger has played his entire career with the Nashville Predators. In the 2005-06 campaign, Hall appeared in 74 games, registering 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points. In 2004-05, Hall was a key contributor for the Mestis (Finland) Championship winning club, KalPa Kuopio. Hall skated in 36 games for the Finnish club, recording 23 goals and 17 assists for 40 points. A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Hall was originally drafted by Nashville in the second round, 52nd overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

New York Rangers Agree to Terms with Brendan Shanahan

Sunday, July 9, 2006 New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced that the organization has agreed to terms with free agent forward Brendan Shanahan. In 2005-06, Shanahan skated in all 82 games for the Detroit Red Wings, registering 40 goals and 41 assists for 81 points. Shanahan, 37, ranked 10th in goals scored and 24th overall in points scored in the entire league. The 18-year veteran, 6-3, 210-pounder has had a storied career. Shanahan ranks first amongst active players in goals scored and is 15th on the NHL’s all-time goal scoring list. After being drafted 2nd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, Shanahan has appeared in 1350 games amassing 598 goals and 634 assists for 1,232 career points while playing for the New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers and Detroit Red Wings. Shanahan collected three Stanley Cup Championships while with the Detroit Red Wings.

Rangers Sign Unrestricted Free Agent Forward Matt Cullen

Saturday, July 1, 2006 The New York Rangers announced today that the club has agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent forward Matt Cullen. In 2005-06, Cullen appeared in 78 games scoring 25 goals and 24 assists for 49 points. Cullen, 29, registered 4 goals and 14 assists in 25 postseason contests aiding the Carolina Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup Championship. The 6-1, 200-pounder is a native of Virginia, Minn. and was originally Anaheim’s second selection, 35th overall, in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded to Florida from Anaheim, along with Pavel Trnka and Anaheim’s fourth round selection (James Pemberton) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Sandis Ozolinsh and Lance Ward in January 2003. In August 2004, Cullen signed as a free agent with the Carolina Hurricanes.

2006 NHL Draft: Rangers' Selections

Monday, June 26, 2006 The New York Rangers selected defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti with their first pick (21st overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Sanguinetti has proven defensive skills, but it is his offensive prowess that impressed scouts. This past season he scored 14 goals with 51 assists for 65 points in 68 games for the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

With their remaining picks, the Ranges focused on offense drafting six forwards. With their second selection (54th overall) the Rangers selected Artem Anisimov. In 2005-06, while skating in 32 games for Yaroslavl of the Russian league, Anisimov registered 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points. As a member of the Russian U-18 squad at the 2006 World Junior Championships, Anisimov netted three goals and two assists for five points and he scored the game-winning goal on the power-play in a 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic.

In third round, with the 84th overall selection, the Rangers drafted Ryan Hillier. In 2005-06, the 6-0, 197-pounder skated for Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Hillier appeared in 68 games, netting 19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points.

Rangers used their remaining draft picks to solidify their front line, drafting 4 more forwards (David, Kveton, Tomas Zaborsky, Eric Hunter and Lukas Zeliska) in an attempt to groom younger players to support their aging offensive players.

Rangers Acquire Ozolinsh Before Trade Deadline

Thursday, March 9 The New York Rangers have acquired Sandis Ozolinsh from the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2006 NHL Draft. The Rangers obtained the third-round pick just one day before in a trade with the San Jose Sharks, who received former-Ranger defensemen Ville Nieminen. Ozolinsh is a seven-time All-Star who won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996 and currently ranks fifth among active defensemen in goals (161) and points (531) and is sixth in power play goals (63) since 1992-93. Because of injury, he has only appeared in 17 games with Anaheim this season, registering three goals and three assists, along with eight penalty minutes. He skated in five games with Latvia at the 2006 Winter Olympics, collecting one goal and three assists. Ozolinsh’s three assists put him in a tie for the team lead while he ranked second on the Latvian squad in scoring with four points.

Rangers Acquire Petr Sykora

The New York Rangers announced that they have traded for Petr Sykora along with a fourth round draft selection in the 2007 draft in exchange for defenseman Maxim Kondratiev. Sykora, a veteran of two NHL franchises (Devils, Ducks), has tallied seven goals and 13 assists this season with the Anaheim Ducks. The Czech-native has played in ten NHL seasons since being selected in the first round of the 1995 draft (18th overall; Devils) and captured a Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 1999-2000 when he led the team in playoff goals (9). The proven playoff performer has also amassed impressive career numbers with 209 goals, 481 points and a cumulative plus/minus rating of +72.

Hockey Hero Mark Messier Retires

Mark Messier retired on Monday, September 12th after a storied 25-year career in the National Hockey League. During Messier’s career he won two Hart Trophies as League MVP, amassed 1,887 points—the second highest total all-time—and in 1994 led the New York Rangers to their first Stanley Cup win in 54 years. Messier leaves behind a legacy of excellence, leadership and dedication to the game of hockey. Messier became the first player in league history to captain two different teams (Edmonton Oilers) to Stanley Cup victories and won a total of six championships over the course of his career. The Rangers organization has announced that they will retire Messier’s number 11 in a special on-ice celebration at Madison Square Garden prior to a game versus the Oilers on January 6th, 2006.

Rangers Sign Free Agent Michael Nylander

On Tuesday, August 10th, the New York Rangers announced the signing of free agent center Michael Nylander. The 6-1 Nylander was entered the NHL in 1991 and has had an illustrious career playing for a myriad of teams including the Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins. Nylander is an experienced player who has appeared in 30 Stanley Cup games--registering six goals and 14 assists. Along with his NHL career, the Sweden native has participated in 12 international competitions including seven World Championships, two World Junior Championships, the World Cup of Hockey and two Winter Olympics. Nylander’s career 140 goals and 307 assists support the claim that he is a skillful and versatile player who is expected to play a significant role on this team, especially during special teams play. It is believed that Nylander will be paired with Jaromir Jagr to provide a dynamic pivot man for that line.

Renney Will Remain Rangers Coach

The New York Rangers removed the interim tag off of coach Tom Renney, giving him a permanent place behind the Blue Shirts bench for the 2004 season. Renney, who will also keep his position of VP of Player Development, replaced current GM Glen Sather in February 2003 for the final 20 games of the regular season. In those games, Renney coached the Rangers to a 5-11-0-4 record after inheriting a struggling team.

Renney was originally hired by the Rangers four years ago as the Director of Player Personnel in which he oversaw the amateur scouting department, along with serving as an assistant for the professional scouting division. In the following year (2003), Renney was given the title of VP of Player Development and Assistant Coach before taking over for Sather behind the bench in the middle of the season. Before coming to New York, Renney coached both the Canadian National Team and Vancouver Canucks. He is the 33rd coach in Rangers history, and the fourth to head up the team in the past four years.

Rangers Tab Goalie Montoya, Eleven Forwards in NHL Draft

The New York Rangers selected goaltender Alvaro Montoya with the sixth-overall selection in the 2004 NHL Draft. The club then switched their focus to offense, taking forwards with 11 of their final 12 picks. Montoya had a standout sophomore season at the University of Michigan and also led Team USA to the World Junior Championship as their starting goaltender in 2004. The Rangers hope Montoya will be the man who can finally fill the void left by Mike Richter’s retirement.

With their second selection in the first round, the Rangers moved up five spots to grab Finnish left wing Lauri Korpikoski with the 19th pick. The talented Korpikoski was expected top have been gone long before the Rangers could grab him with their second selection. Korpikoski played for TPS Turku in the Finnish Junior League and tallied twelve goals and eight assists as a 17-year-old. He also played for Finland’s Under-18 World Junior Team and scored five goals in six games.

The rest of the draft focused on offense, as the Rangers sought to restock their organization with skilled forwards after the departures of talented players such as Alexei Kovalev and Petr Nedved.

NHL Draft - 2004
Pick #	Name	Position	Team/League/Country
6	Alvaro Montoya	G	University of Michigan
19	Lauri Korpikoski	LW	TPS Turku (Finland Jr.)
36	Darin Olver	C	Northern Michigan
48	Dane Byers	LW	Prince Albert (WHL)
51	Bruce Graham	C	Moncton (QMJHL)
60	Brandon Dubinsky	C	Portland (WHL)
73	Zdeken Bahensky	RW	Litvinov (Czech Jr.)
80	Billy Ryan	C	Cushing Academy
127	Ryan Callahan	RW	Guelph (OHL)
135	Roman Psurny	LW	Zlin (Czech Jr.)
169	Jordan Foote	LW	Nanaimo (BCHL)
247	Jonathan Paiement	D	Lewiston (QMJHL)
266	Jakub Petruzalek	RW	Litvinov (Czech Jr.)

Rangers Make Moves Before Deadline

On Tuesday, March 9th, the New York Rangers continued to revamp their roster. Their latest move was the trade of Martin Rucinsky to the Vancouver Canucks for defenseman Martin Grenier and a second-round draft pick in 2004. The 23-year-old Grenier has played in seven games for the Canucks, scoring one goal, while Rucinsky, a 32-year-old left winger, has totaled 42 points this season.

Earlier in the day, the Rangers got younger and more athletic when they traded 31-year-old defenseman Greg de Vries to the Ottawa Senators for 24-year-old Karel Rachunek. Rachunek has played in 60 games for the Senators, amassing a plus-16 rating. In addition to Rachunek, the Rangers will also receive center Alexandre Giroux.

Also that week, the Rangers dealt 30-year-old right-winger Matthew Barnaby, and a third-round draft pick to the Colorado Avalanche in return for two defensemen, Chris McAllister and David Liffiton. McAllister is an imposing presence on the ice standing at 6-8, weighing 240 lbs, whereas Liffiton is a talented defenseman who was drafted by the Avalanche in the second round of the 2003 draft, but has yet to be signed. In addition to the defensemen, the Rangers also received a 2004 second round draft pick from the Avalanche by way of Florida.

In other transaction news, the Blueshirts announced that they claimed forward Sandy McCarthy off waivers from the Boston Bruins and center Mike Green from the Florida Panthers.

Malakhov Traded to the Flyers

The New York Rangers continued to overhaul their lineup, sending defenseman Vladimir Malakhov to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, March 8th. In the trade, the Rangers acquired prospect Rick Kozak of the Kamloops Blazers and a second-round draft pick in exchange for Malakhov. Malakhov leaves the Rangers with 3 goals and 15 assists in 18 games for the season.

Drafted by the Islanders in the 10th round, the 35-year-old Malakhov was dealt to the Montreal Canadians in the 1994-95 season and played there for five years. The Devils then acquired him for their run at the 2000 Stanley Cup. Malakhov contributed one goal and four assists in 23 games with the Devils before signing with the Rangers the following summer as an unrestricted free agent. In his 11-year career, Malakhov has totaled 82 goals and 254 assists for 336 points in 667 games.

Rangers Continue to Modify Their Roster

It is the latest in a flurry of trades by the Rangers, the team traded left wing Chris Simon to the Calgary Flames on March 6th for backup goaltender Jamie McLennan, center Blair Betts, minor league right wing Greg Moore and the Flames’ seventh-round pick in the 2004 NHL Draft. Simon, 32, had 14 goals, nine assists and an impressive plus-minus rating of plus-14 in 65 games for the Rangers this season. However, the 6-3, 232-pound Simon is best known as one of the NHL's most feared fighters. He is second in the league with 225 penalty minutes. McLennan, 32, was 12-9-3 with a 2.20 goals-against average and .910 save percentage as the Flames backup.

Rangers Trade Leetch and Nedved

On Wednesday, March 3rd, one day after trading Alexei Kovalev to the Montreal Canadians, the New York Rangers made two more trades dealing Brian Leetch to the Toronto Mapleleafs and Petr Nedved to the Edmonton Oilers. Defenseman Brian Leetch was a longtime Garden fixture as he spent his entire 17-year career with the Rangers. Aside from Mark Messier, he was the last remaining link to the Rangers’ championship team from 1994. He also was a two-time winner of the annual Norris Award which goes to the best overall defensive player in the NHL.

In exchange for Leetch, the Rangers acquired two young prospects—21-year-old Russian defenseman Maksim Kondratiev and 21-year-old Jarkoo Immonen. They also received a first round pick in this summer’s entry draft and a second-round pick in the 2005 draft.

In the Nedved deal, which also included Rangers’ backup goalie Jussi Markkanen, the Rangers received Dwight Helminen, a University of Michigan forward, and minor-league goaltender Stephen Valiquette. The Rangers also received a second-round draft choice in this summer’s entry draft.

The Rangers appear to be headed towards a seventh straight season of missing the playoffs, but the acquisition of these young players will help them build for the future.

Kovalev Dealt to Canadiens

On Tuesday, March 2nd, the New York Rangers began dismantling their 2003-2004 roster by trading Alexei Kovalev to the Montreal Canadiens in return for forward prospect Josef Balej and a second-round pick in this year's draft. Kovalev was in the midst of his second stint with the Rangers. However, since returning to New York on February 10, 2003, Kovalev never lived up to his expectations, scoring only 23 goals in 90 games. The 31-year-old right-winger will try to help the Canadiens make a run in the NHL playoffs, while the Rangers build for the future.

In Josef Balej, the Rangers acquire a young scorer. Balej, 22, has played in 55 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL and has scored 25 goals with 33 assists and a plus-19 rating. The Slovakian-born winger was drafted in the third round of the 2000 draft.

Glen Sather Steps Down as Ranger Coach

New York Rangers coach Glen Sather has relinquished his coaching duties as the blue shirts have slipped to 12th place in the Eastern Division with a 22-29-7-4 record. Although Sather has decided to step down with just 20 games remaining in the season, he will still remain president and general manager of the organization. In the 90 games that Sather coached the Rangers he accumulated a 33-39-11-7 record; however, with the star power of players like Mark Messier, Jaromir Jaggar, and Eric Lindros the possibility of missing the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season was just not acceptable. Tom Renney will take over as the interim coach for the remainder of the season.

Richter's Number Retired

On February 4, 2004, the Rangers honored Mike Richter by retiring jersey number “35” to the rafters of Madison Square Garden. Mike Richter is the best goaltender in team history and only the third player in the Rangers’ 78-year history to have his number retired. After a 14-year NHL career spent exclusively with the Rangers, Mike Richter was forced to retire in September of 2003 at the age of 37 due to a series of concussions.

In attendance for this commemorative night were Eddie Giacomin and Rod Gilbert, the two other Rangers whose numbers have been retired, as well as many of Mike Richter’s teammates from his career. Mike Richter, his wife, Veronica, as well as their two sons, Thomas and James, gathered together on the ice and watched the banner being raised.

Rangers Trade Carter for Jagr

On Friday, January 23rd, the New York Rangers traded forward Anson Carter to the Washington Capitals in return for Jaromir Jagr and cash. Carter, in his second season with the Rangers, had scored 10 goals along with seven assists. In Jagr, the Rangers have acquired one of the NHL’s most prolific scorers, despite his lack of success in Washington. This season, Jagr has scored 16 goals with 30 assists, and is heading to the NHL’s All Star Game for the ninth time in his fourteen-year career.

While the Rangers are hoping that Jagr will help the team make a run for the playoffs, this trade was a financial necessity for the struggling Capitals—Jagr is in the third year of a seven-year, seventy-seven million-dollar contract. The Washington Capitals will pay close to twenty million dollars to the Rangers, roughly four million dollars per year over the remaining four years. The 31-year-old Jagr has won five Art Ross Trophies, awarded to the NHL’s leading scorer, and one Hart Trophy, given to the league’s most valuable player.

Also on Friday, the Rangers acquired defenseman Jamie Pushor from the Columbus Blue Jackets for an eighth-round pick in this year’s draft. As a rookie, the 6-3, 218-pound Pushor helped the Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup in the 1996-97 season. Rangers’ coach and general manager Glen Sather had been looking to add defensive help after injuries to defensemen Greg de Vries and Darius Kasparaitis.

Still Got It

On Thursday, January 22nd, New York Rangers captain Mark Messier was named to the NHL’s Eastern Conference All-Star team. This marks Messier’s fifteenth appearance in his twenty-five seasons in the NHL. As a forty-three year old, Messier will become the third oldest to play in the NHL’s All-Star game when he suits up on February 8th. To date, Messier leads the Rangers with thirteen goals scored and is fifth on the team in points with twenty-five. Messier’s addition to the All-Star team complements his memorable first half of the 2003-04 season, having moved into second place on the NHL’s career points list with 1,869 points, surpassing Gordie Howe and trailing only Wayne Gretzky.

Empty Net

On Thursday, September 4th, the greatest goaltender in New York Rangers history, Mike Richter, retired. Richter spent 14 seasons with the Blueshirts, leading them to their first Stanley Cup championship since 1940 in 1994. Drafted as the Blueshirts’ second-round choice in the 1985 NHL Draft, Richter soon became a fixture between the pipes for the Rangers. He is the Rangers’ all-time goaltending leader in regular season victories (301), appearances (666), minutes played (38,185), wins (41) and shutouts (9) in post-season play. During his time with the Rangers, Richter posted a career record of 301-258-73, 2.28 goals-against-average, .904 save percentage, as well as 24 shutouts. Richter was a three-time all-star, and was the recipient of NHL All-Star Game MVP Award in 1994. He also served as a member of Team USA in the 1988, 1998, and 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

Richter’s work off the ice is an aspect of his career that has always been recognized. In 1995, he received the Thurman Munson Award, and the Sloan Kettering Award of Courage. In 1997, his work with the children of New York was acknowledged when he received the “Crumb Burn” Award.

Richter’s retirement came as a result of multiple injuries during the latter portions of his career. Despite his injuries, Mike Richter was indeed the greatest goaltender to have ever played for the New York Rangers. His leadership, intensity, heart, and passion for the game will be greatly missed. Mike Richter is an individual whose career accomplishments extend beyond the ice, into the city of New York. He was a special player, and the New York Rangers and their fans will remember “Number 35” forever.

The Rangers have announced that they will retire Mike Richter’s jersey number 35 on February 4th against the Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden.

Leetch Agrees to Terms With Rangers

Unrestricted free agent Brian Leetch has agreed to a two-year deal with the Rangers. The 35-year-old defensemen agreed to a two-year contract worth a reported $6.5 million per year. Leetch was traded on June 30th to Edmonton for goalie Jussi Markkanen and a 2004 fourth-round draft choice only to return to the Rangers via the free agent market. Leetch has played all 16 seasons of his NHL career in New York and holds the club record for goals (227), assists (718), and points (945) for a defensemen.

"It's my goal to finish my career with the Rangers," said Leetch, "But I don't want to be a member of the Rangers if I'm not a contributing factor to the team's success." Leetch is a two-time winner of the Norris Trophy and the 1994 winner of the Conn Smythe trophy as Playoff MVP during the “Blue Shirts” Stanley Cup championship season. Leetch has also represented the United States in three different Olympic Games beginning with 1988 in Calgary, 1998 in Nagano and 2002 in Salt Lake City. He was named to the All-Tournament team at the 2002 games helping Team USA earn a silver medal. The Rangers hope that the singing of Leetch will allow the future Hall of Fame defensemen to complete his career in the Big Apple.

No Penalty This Time

On July 25th, the New York Rangers signed unrestricted free agent Chris Simon. The 6-4, 236-pound left wing is a veteran of the NHL having played at combined 11 years for the Chicago Blackhawks, Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche, and Washington Capitals. Over his career he amassed, 108 goals, 117 assists, along with 1,346 penalty minutes in 527 games. Last season he played with both the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks where he ranked first on Chicago with 148 penalty minutes. The acquisition of Simon instantly turns the Blueshirts into a force to be reckoned with. Simon provides intensity, grit, and a physical style of play that was lacking on the ice last season for the Rangers. In addition to his imposing physical presence, Simon can put the puck in the net. In the 1999-2000 season, he recorded career highs in goals, 29, and assists 20 along with 149 penalty minutes. Simon will be used primarily in a checking role but top line duty is a strong possibility.

Rangers sign Veteran Goalie

The New York Rangers announced July 18th that they have come to terms with goalie Jussi Markkanen. Markkanen was acquired via trade with the Edmonton Oilers on June 30th along with a 2004 first round draft choice for defensemen Brian Leetch. The 6’0” 183 pound goalie played in 22 games for the Oilers last year yielding a 7-8-3 record and a 2.59 goals per game average between the pipes. He also posted three shutouts and a save percentage of .904 during the 2002-2003 campaign. Markkanen, 28, was the net minder for his native country of Finland during the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Originally the 133rd selection in the 2001 draft, Markkanen spent ten seasons playing professionally in Finalnd.

On the Eve of Free Agency, Rangers Trade Leetch

Just before becoming an unrestricted free agent, on June 30, 2003 New York Ranger Brian Leetch agreed to waive his no-trade clause to allow the Rangers to make a deal with the Edmonton Oilers. The expected trade intends to move Leetch to Edmonton for goaltender Jussi Markkanen and a fourth-round draft pick in the 2004 Entry Draft. Markkanen will most likely back up Rangers’ starter Mike Dunham. Markkanen was 7-8-3 last season with a 2.59 goals against average.

The conditions of the trade are susceptible to change. However, if Leetch decides to become a free agent and sign with another organization, the Oilers will be compensated with a Ranger draft pick. This trade does not necessarily signify the end of Brian Leetch’s illustrious career as a Ranger, as it is conceivable that he will choose to rejoin the Rangers during this free agent period.

New York Rangers 2003 Draft

With the 12th pick in the 2003 NHL Draft the New York Rangers selected Hugh Jessiman, a right winger from Dartmouth College. Nicknamed the "Huge Specimen" by his college teammates, the six-foot, four-inch, 200-pound Jessiman had a standout freshman season for the Big Green as he tallied 23 goals and 47 points in just 34 games. Jessiman hails from nearby Darien, Connecticut and has been a Ranger fan his entire life. "This is pretty much out of a written script. It's basically what I had dreamed of my entire life. Playing street hockey in my back yard, I pretty much dreamed of playing with guys like (Mark) Messier and (Alex) Kovalev. Just to be wearing this Blueshirt jersey right now and to now be a part of the organization ... I couldn't ask for more," said Jessiman.

The Rangers picked defenseman Ivan Baranka in the second round and center Ken Roche in the third round to complete day one. Roche will attend Boston University in the fall of 2003. Day two of the draft saw the Blueshirts select seven more players from a variety of different leagues and countries all with the hopes of one day making it to the parent club Rangers and the NHL.

NHL Draft - 2003
Pick #	Name	Position	Team/League/Country
12	Hugh Jessiman	RW	Dartmouth
50	Ivan Baranka	D	Dubnica Jr. (Slovakia)
75	Ken Roche	C	St. Sebastian's Prep
122	Corey Potter	D	Michigan St.
149	Nigel Dawes	LW	Kootenay (WHL)
176	Ivan Dornic	C	Bratislava Jr. (Slovakia)
179	Philippe Furrer	D	Bern (Switzerland)
180	Chris Holt	G	U.S. National Under 18
209	Dylan Reese	D	Pittsburgh (NAHL)
243	Jan Marek	F	Trinec (Czech Republic)

Rangers NHL Draft Update

The Nashville Predators will host the 2003 Entry Draft on June 21-22, 2003 at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. The New York Rangers currently have six picks this year and have high hopes for their future. The Rangers will have an excellent opportunity to pick up some new talent, as this year’s draft is said to be one of the deepest in history. The outstanding talent is expected to extend through the second round. The Blueshirts have had one first-round pick in the last three years and this year they will welcome the opportunity to have the 12th selection in an extremely talented draft. General Manager Glen Sather will lean towards selecting either a potent winger or defense-oriented defenseman. At 12, the Rangers are in a good position to grab one of the top-forwards in this year’s draft pool. Here is a look at who may be available when the Rangers make their selection:

A number of publications have predicted that Patrick O'Sullivan could possibly be the Rangers' selection in the first round. The 5’11”, 190 lbs. O'Sullivan is the wild card of the 2003 Entry Draft. On talent alone, he is considered to be among the premier players in this draft. However, off-ice issues have concerned some teams, as he was disciplined by his junior hockey club and was sent home for an entire month.

Andrei Kastsitsyn of the Central Army Russian team is considered by many experts to be the sleeper of this year’s draft. At 6’0’’, 189, Kastsitsyn has tremendous scoring ability and is smart with the puck. He ranks 13th amongst all skaters in The Hockey News. However, his epilepsy is a huge question mark. Most teams, including the Rangers, may not be willing to undertake such a risk.

Konstantin Glazachev, of Yaroslavl Jr. in the Russian leagues is another strong possibility. Glazachev is considered to have a strong shot and natural scoring-touch. He is a top offensive talent and is ranked 2nd as the best offensive talent from Russia in this year’s draft.

Hugh Jessiman, a 6’4’’, 200lb sophomore from Dartmouth may be ideal for the Rangers. Jessiman is a big and gritty forward who has superb skating ability, a hard shot, and playmaking skills. He may fit the Rangers’ need for a tough winger who can score, finish checks, and backcheck effectively.

However, with Brian Leetch’s contract status in limbo and Vladmir Malakhov’s unrestricted free agency, addressing the blueline may be a necessity for the Rangers. The Rangers will look to grab a defenseman who is defense-minded, hard-hitting, and plays the point well.

Dion Phaneuf, 6’2’’, 205lbs from Red Deer of the WHL maintains a strong physical presence on the bluelines and may fit in perfectly when paired with offensive-minded defensemen like Tom Poti on the Rangers.

Braydon Coburn, 6’5’’ 205lbs from Portland of the WHL is another hard-hitting defenseman who may fall within the Rangers’ grasps. Coburn is the top-rated defenseman in this year’s draft and brings size with a combination of speed and skills.

Mark Stuart, 6’1’’, 209lbs from Colorado College is a solid defenseman who brings a strong physical presence with a hard-nosed style of play. Stuart may be the most viable option for the Rangers as Coburn and Phaenuf may be selected prior to the Rangers’ selection at 12.

The Rangers are in great position to wind up with a top prospect, and this draft will be an exciting one for the Rangers and their fans.

Draft Selections: 12, 43, 122 (from Edmonton), 149, 209, 243

Carter Helps Canada Clinch Worlds

On May 11th, with just over 6 minutes remaining in overtime play, the Rangers’ Anson Carter slipped the puck under goalie Mikael Tellqvist for a 3-2 victory over Sweden. Carter’s goal earned Canada its first hockey world championship in six years. Only 6 years prior, in the same rink in Helsinki, Finland, Canada triumphed over Sweden to bring home the Olympic gold. Carter was also a member of this gold-medal winning team of 1997. The Rangers’ wing remarked on his score, “It was the best goal of my career. To score in overtime, to win gold for your country, I don’t think it gets bigger than that.”

Sather Takes On Head Coaching Reigns

On Thursday, January 30th, New York Rangers President and General Manager, Glen Sather announced that he will assume the role of Head Coach, replacing Bryan Trottier. Sather, 60, became the Blueshirts’ 12th President and 10th General Manager on June 1st, 2000. He arrived in the Big Apple after a renowned 24-year career with the Edmonton Oilers in which he coached Edmonton to four Stanley Cup Championships in the 1980s. Sather compiled a record of 464-268-110, placing him in the Top 10 in NHL coaching victories. His achievements were honored on September 9th, 1997, when he became the first member of the Edmonton Oilers organization to be selected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Sather made his return to the bench for the first time since 1994 with the Blueshirts taking on the Colorado Avalanche. The Rangers fell to Colorado 4-3 in overtime. After 22 games with Sather at the helm the team has a 10-9-3 record and are in contention for the 8th and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Kovalev Makes His Return To Broadway

On February 10th, the New York Rangers acquired high-profile winger Alexei Kovalev, forward Dan LaCouture, defensemen Janne Laukkanen, and Mike Wilson from the Pittsburgh Penguins in an eight-player deal in exchange for forwards Rico Fata and Mikael Samuelsson, and defensemen Richard Lintner and Joel Bouchard.

Kovalev spent his first six seasons with the Blueshirts and was a member of the 1994 Stanley Cup Championship team. In the 2000-01 season, he reached career highs in all offensive categories compiling 44 goals and 51 assists for 95 points making him fourth in the NHL with 95 points. During the 2001-02 campaign, he ranked 19th in the NHL with 32 goals, 18th with 44 assists and was tied for 1st in the league with 3 hat tricks. In his Ranger debut he scored the decisive 3rd goal finishing with one goal and a +1 rating, while logging 22:44 of ice time helping his new team to defeat the Florida Panthers by a score of 3-1.

Rangers Get Big and Physical

On Tuesday, March 11th, the New York Rangers acquired forward Anson Carter and defenseman Ales Pisa from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forward Radek Dvorak and defenseman Cory Cross. Last season the 6`1``, 200-pound checking forward reached career highs in both goals and assists registering 28 goals and 32 assists for 60 points. Carter recorded his 100th goal on November 13 at Phoenix, and his 200th NHL point in his 300th game on October 20 against Florida. This season, he has 26 goals and 34 assists for 60 points. His presence has been felt as he has registered five points in his five games as a Ranger.

Rangers Net Dunham

On December 13th, 2002, the New York Rangers acquired goaltender Mike Dunham from the Nashville Predators in exchange for left wing Rem Murray and defensemen Tomas Kloucek and Marek Zidlicky. In the 2000-2001 season, Dunham, a native New Yorker, ranked second in the NHL with a save percentage of .923 and was first among goaltenders playing in at least 41 games. Last year, the 6'3", 200-pound goaltender allowed two or less goals in 32 of 58 games. From December 6th to the 23rd, he set a franchise record with a career-high, seven-game unbeaten streak (4-0-3), allowing two or less goals in each game during that span. In his debut as a New York Ranger, Dunham denied 25 out of 26 San Jose shots, which gave the Rangers a 2-1 win over the Sharks, and ended the team's five-game losing streak.

Rangers Agree to Terms With Richard Lintner

On July 30th, the Rangers signed Richard Lintner, a 6-3, 212-pound Slovak defenseman. Lintner has scored four goals and 14 assists in his 83-game NHL career. Lintner was acquired from the Predators on March 19th in exchange for Peter Smrek. Last season Lintner, 24, did not return to the NHL, but instead played for Modo of the Swedish Elite League. There he scored an impressive 12 goals and had nine assists. Lintner also played for Slovakia in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. After his one-year respite from the NHL, Lintner’s return with the Rangers is expected to add depth to the team’s defense and aid in their quest for another Stanley Cup.

Rangers Resign Defenseman Dale

On July 19, 2002, Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced the resigning of free agent defensemen Dale Purinton. Purinton is 25 and appeared in 40 games last season, collecting a career high four assists along with 113 penalty minutes. He also matched a personal high for penalty minutes in a single contest on two separate occasions during his career. The 6-3, 225-pounder has played in 83 career NHL games with the Rangers and during those games registered six assists and 300 penalty minutes. He also holds the record for the franchise’s most single season penalty minutes, recording 415 minutes during 1999-2000. As well as being an asset to the Rangers, Purinton was also an influential member of the Wolf Pack’s Calder Cup championship team in 2000 by appearing in all 23 postseason contests and tallying three assists and 87 penalty minutes.

Blue Shirts Banking on Future

On Thursday, July 11th, 2002, both Craig Weller and Jeff State finalized deals with the New York Rangers. Weller spent his amateur career in the Western Hockey League (WHL). In the 2001-02 season, he was named to the WHL Western Conference Second All-Star team. With five goals and 13 assists in 69 matches, Weller registered 18 points to help his organization capture the championship. Defenseman Jeff State, spent last season with the Merrimack Warriors of Hockey East. He led his squad with 84 penalty minutes. His nine assists ranked second on the team.

The Rangers made two more additions to their team the following week by signing free agent defenseman Vladimir Chebaturkin and left wing Krzysztof Oliwa. Chebaturkin, a 6-3, 231-pounder has skated in 62 career games with the New York Islanders, St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks, recording two goals, seven assists, as well as 52 penalty minutes. Chebaturkin has also appeared in 344 contests with the American Hockey League’s Kentucky Thoroughblades, Lowell Lock Monsters, Worcester Ice Cats, Norfolk Admirals, and the Utah Grizzlies of the International Hockey League, recording 11 goals and 47 assists for 58 points, along with 440 penalty minutes. Oliwa, the 6-5, 235-pounder has played in 300 career games with the New Jersey Devils, Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins, accumulating 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points, along with 1,039 penalty minutes. Last season with the Penguins he appeared in 57 games, collecting two assists and a team-leading 150 penalty minutes.

Rangers Keep Wheelin' and Deelin'

On Monday, July 8th, 2002, the Rangers signed unrestricted free agent, Ted Donato. The 33-year-old forward spent most of last season in the AHL with Manchester. In 36 games, Donato tallied 18 goals and 25 assists. Although the terms of the deal were undisclosed, the Rangers are excited to bring Donato in New York.

On July 10th, the Rangers announced that the organization came to an agreement with left winger, Nils Ekman. He was acquired on June 30th, 2001, by the Rangers from Tampa Bay, along with Kyle Freadrich in exchange for Tim Taylor. Ekman spent last season in Sweden with Djurgardens IF. In 38 games, he led the team in scoring (16) while ranking third in points (31).

Richter Resigns with Rangers

On Thursday, July 4th, Ranger goalie Mike Richter announced his return to New York by signing a two-year contract. At first, Richter was hesitant to resign with the Rangers, for he wanted to assure the team was making adjustments that could get them to the playoffs. Mike Richter was satisfied when it was brought to his attention that the Rangers signed both Bobby Holik and Darius Kasparaitis. Richter has been a huge asset to the Rangers in the past. In his 14-year career, he helped lead them to a Stanley Cup and became the winningest goalie in Ranger history with 296 wins in 653 contests. Richter, 35, was 24-26-4 in 55 games last season, finishing with a 2.95 goals-against average, a .906 save percentage and two shutouts.

Rangers Add Kaspar: The Not-So-Friendly Ghost

On Tuesday, July 2nd, just two days into the free-agent signing period, the Rangers have changed the complexion of their team entirely. After signing rugged centerman Bobby Holik, the Rangers signed hard-hitting defenseman Darius Kasparaitis to a six-year, $25.5 million deal. Kasparaitis, 29, has been in the NHL for 10 seasons, spending time with the rival New York Islanders, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and briefly with the Colorado Avalanche last season. He is considered to be a menacing force on the blue line, as he has been among the NHL’s top ten in hits the last four seasons. Last season, Kasparaitis tallied two goals, 12 assists and 142 penalty minutes. He is expected to help a Ranger team that was second worst in goals allowed last season (258). It appears now that Ranger GM Glen Sather will turn his attention to securing a No. 1 goaltender. Mike Richter remains the best-available option in the free agent market.

Rangers Bring Holik Across the River

At the stroke of 12:01 a.m. on Monday, July 1st, the National Hockey League commenced its free agency signing period. Considered by many to be major players during the offseason, the New York Rangers promptly signed Bobby Holik to a five-year, $45 million contract. Holik, 31, had previously been the centerpiece of the New Jersey Devils for the last ten seasons, which included two Stanley Cup championships. The 6-4, 230-pound power forward had 25 goals and 29 assists with the Devils last season. Holik will add size and toughness to a Ranger team that has missed the playoffs the last five seasons. The Rangers are expected to continue to add top players to their roster in the coming weeks.

Rangers Name Trottier New Head Coach

On Thursday, June 6th, the New York Rangers announced the hiring of Bryan Trottier as the team’s 30th head coach. Trottier, 45, spent the past four seasons serving as the assistant head coach for the Colorado Avalanche, with whom he won a Stanley Cup in 2001. While he has never served as a head coach in the NHL, Trottier was the head coach of the Portland Pirates during the 1997-98 season. He had also previously spent three years as an assistant for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Trottier is best known, however, for his playing career in the NHL with the New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 22nd overall pick in the 1974 NHL draft, Trottier played 1,123 games in 15 seasons with the Islanders. He scored 500 goals and set up 853 others for New York. During his time with the Islanders, Trottier won four Stanley Cup championships. He also won two Stanley Cup championships when he was a part of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the early ‘90s. He retired in 1994 with 524 goals and 901 assists over the course of the 18-year career. In 1997, Trottier was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. His number 19 was retired in 2001 by the New York Islanders.

Despite his past allegiances, Trottier will replace Ron Low, who was fired on April 15th, as the new head coach of the New York Rangers. The Rangers have not made the playoffs in five seasons.

Blue Shirts Beat Deadline!

On Monday, March 18th, the New York Rangers completed a trade for one of the most dominant goal scorers in the NHL today by acquiring Pavel Bure from the Florida Panthers. Bure, 30, has led the NHL in goals each of the last two seasons, he had 59 last season and 58 in 1999-00. The All-Star forward has 22 goals in 56 games this season., and established a modern league record last season by accounting for 29.5 percent of his team's production. The Rangers hope that Bure can help the team avoid missing the playoffs for the fifth straight season. In return for Bure and a second-round draft pick in the 2002 draft, the Rangers sent 31-year-old defenseman Igor Ulanov and 19-year-old defensive prospect Filip Novak, along with two draft picks, to the Florida Panthers. The deal is considered by many to be a steal for the Rangers, who did not have to deplete their NHL roster to get the deal done.

Having addressed the team’s offensive needs, Rangers’ General Manager Glen Sather went to work on the team’s defense by acquiring defenseman Tom Poti and forward Rem Murray from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forward Mike York and a fourth-round draft pick. Poti, 24, is a 6-3, 215-pound defenseman who will surely solidify the Rangers back line. He has had a disappointing season thus far in Edmonton, scoring one goal and 16 assists in 55 games. A member of the U.S. Olympic hockey team, Poti figures to bounce back with the change of scenery. The 29-year-old Murray has seven goals and 17 assists in 69 games this season.

In other moves, the Rangers acquired minor league defenseman Richard Lintner from Nashville for minor league defenseman Peter Smrek. The Rangers also signed center Bobby Andrews, who played for the Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Andrews, 23, led the Nanooks in scoring this season, registering 14 goals and 23 assists in 37 games. Both acquisitions will be assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ minor league club.

Lindros Joins Rangers!

On Monday, August 20th, the New York Rangers officially announced a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers that brings center Eric Lindros to Broadway. In a deal that had been anticipated for quite some time, the 6-4, 236-pound former All-Star will join a Ranger team that has been looking for strength up the middle. In return for Lindros, the Rangers sent forward Jan Hlavac, defenseman Kim Johnsson, forward Pavel Brendl, and a third-round draft pick to Philadelphia. Lindros, 28, sat out last season and is considered a gamble for the Rangers due to an injury-filled career that includes six concussions. As a result, the Flyers also agreed to give the Rangers a first-round draft pick in 2002 if Lindros does not play in a certain number of games this season. In eight seasons, however, Lindros scored 290 goals and tallied 369 assists. Lindros was also voted to six All-Star teams and won the NHL’s Most Valuable Player award in 1995. This is the second time that the Rangers traded for Lindros. After the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, both the Rangers and the Flyers claimed to have made a deal for Lindros with the Quebec Nordiques, the team that drafted him. As a result, the NHL appointed an independent arbitrator who concluded that Lindros was the property of the Flyers.

Rangers Agree to Terms with Second Round Pick

On Monday, July 16th, the New York Rangers announced that the club had agreed to terms on a professional contract with their second round draft choice, defenseman Fedor Tjutin. Tjutin, the 40th overall selection in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, spent last season with SKA St. Petersburg, registering two goals and four assists, along with 20 penalty minutes in 34 games played. He also appeared in the 2001 Under-18 World Championship tournament for Russia, tallying one goal and four assists, along with 18 penalty minutes in six games played. He was rated 16th overall among European skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Service final rankings for the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-3, 202-pound Russian native will most likely spend the upcoming season with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League, as he was drafted 29th overall in the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft on June 29th, 2001.

Also announced was the signing of Zdeno Ciger, a 6-1, 200-pound left wing. Ciger, 32, appeared in 53 matches with HC Slovan Bratislava of the Slovak Republic Extraleague last season, registering 17 goals and 32 assists, along with 22 penalty minutes. His 49 points ranked fifth on the team and 15th in the league. He also skated in eight post-season contests, tallying six goals and three assists for nine points, along with 16 penalty minutes. Ciger also spent six seasons in the NHL (1990-1996) with both the New Jersey Devils and the Edmonton Oilers where he tallied 82 goals and 121 assists, along with 75 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 13 career playoff games, all with New Jersey, collecting two goals and six assists, along with four penalty minutes.

Rangers Continue to Make Moves

Despite a number of moves both prior to and during the draft, the Rangers continued to add depth to the organization. On Tuesday, June 26th, the club agreed to terms with 25-year-old goaltender Scott Meyer of St. Cloud State University. In his four-year collegiate career, Meyer tallied a 47-22-5 overall record with a 2.38 and a .919 save percentage-all school records.

The Rangers continued to make deals when they traded right wing Jeff Ulmer and defenseman Jason Doig to the Ottawa Senators for defenseman Sean Gagnon on Friday, June 29th. Gagnon, 27, spent most of his time with the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes and the International Hockey League (IHL) affiliate of the Senators. Last season with the IHL, the 6-2, 219 pound defenseman registered four goals, 16 assists, and 226 penalty minutes.

On Saturday, June 30th, the Rangers traded center Tim Taylor to the Tampa Bay Lightning for 25-year-old left wing Nils Ekman and 22-year old defenseman Kyle Freadrich. Ekman, played in 43 games with the Lightning last season where he scored nine goals and added 11 assists with 40 penalty minutes. Ekman also spent time last season with the Detroit Vipers of the IHL where he notched 22 goals and 14 assists in 33 games. Freadrich, 22, a 6-7, 260 pounder who played in 13 games with the Lightning recorded one assist and 36 penalty minutes.

That same day, the Rangers acquired left wing Dave Duerden from the Florida Panthers for future considerations. Duerden, 24, had nine goals and 14 assists with Louisville (AHL) last season.

Finally, on Sunday, July 1st, the New York Rangers signed two free agent defensemen, Igor Ulanov and Dave Karpa. Ulanov, 31, played in 67 games with the Edmonton Oilers last season where he scored three goals and 20 assists while earning 90 penalty minutes. Ulanov posted a plus-15 rating which tied for first on the team. The 6-3, 211 pounder has been in 551 NHL games where he has totaled 18 goals, 105 assists and 991 penalty minutes. Karpa, 30, played in 80 games with the Carolina Hurricanes last season. He posted four goals and six assists with a team-high 159 penalty minutes. In 463 career games in the NHL, the 6-1, 210 pound veteran has 17 goals, 68 assists, and 1229 penalty minutes.

NHL Draft - 2001
Pick #	Name	Position	Team/League/Country
10	Dan Blackburn	Goaltender	Kootenay Ice (WHL)
40	Fedor Tjutin	Defense	Russia
79	Garth Murray	Center/Left Wing	Regina (WHL)
113	Bryce Lampman	Defense	Omaha (USHL)
139	Shawn Collymore	Right Wing	Quebec (QMJHL)
176	Marek Zidlicky	Defense	Czech Republic
206	Petr Preucil	Center	Quebec (QMJHL)
226	Pontus Petterstrom	Forward	Sweden
230	Leonid Zhvachin	Defense	Russia
238	Ryan Hollweg	Center	Medicine Hat (WHL)
269	Juris Stals	Center	Latvia

Rangers Draft Goalie of the Future

On Saturday, June 23rd, the New York Rangers used their first round pick (10th Overall) to select goaltender Dan Blackburn in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Blackburn, 18, spent last season with the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League (WHL) where he posted a 33-14-2 record with a 2.77 goals against average in 50 games played. Despite missing the beginning of the season with an injury, Blackburn was a finalist for the 2001 WHL Goaltender of the Year Award. With both his talent and his quick development, it appears that Broadway won't have to wait long to see the fruits of this year's draft.

Team Acquisitions

In a separate draft day deal, the Rangers acquired defenseman Chris St. Croix from the Calgary Flames in return for defenseman Burke Henry. St. Croix, 22, spent the past two seasons with the St. John Baby Flames of the American Hockey League (AHL) where he helped the team win the 2001 Calder Cup. In his two seasons (144 games), St. Croix had 5 goals and 20 assists, along with 117 penalty minutes. He was originally selected in the fourth round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the Calgary Flames. Earlier in the week, the Rangers signed center Andreas Johansson, a member of Sweden's Olympic and World Championship team. Johansson, 28, spent last season in the Swiss League, tallying 15 goals and 29 assists for Bern. He has spent time with the New York Islanders, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Ottawa Senators, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Calgary Flames. He was picked by the Islanders in the seventh round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.

Rangers Deal Graves to San Jose for Prospects

On Saturday, June 23rd, the New York Rangers acquired Mikael Samuelsson and Christian Gosselin from the San Jose Sharks in return for Adam Graves. Samuelsson, a 24-year-old right winger, played 66 games with the Kentucky Thoroughblades of the American Hockey League (AHL) last season. During that time, the 6-1, 205-pounder tallied 32 goals and 46 assists for 78 points, while accumulating 58 penalty minutes. Samuelsson was selected by the Sharks in the seventh round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. Gosselin, a 6-5, 235-pound defenseman, appeared in 42 games with the Thoroughblades where he registered two goals and three assists. The 24-year-old also amassed 145 penalty minutes while serving as one of the team's enforcers. Gosselin was originally chosen in the fifth round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. Adam Graves spent ten seasons with the New York Rangers where he was considered one of the few leaders both on and off the ice. During the club's Stanley Cup Championship season, Graves set the single season record for scoring with 52 goals. This year, Graves received the Masterton Memorial Trophy, given each year to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

Rangers Stock Farm with More Talent

During the week of June 11th, the New York Rangers focused on adding young prospects to their organization via free agency. On Monday, June 11th, Sather announced the signing of Barrett Heisten, a 21-year-old left winger who was originally drafted as the 20th overall selection in the 1999 Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. Since being drafted, Heisten has ranked second in scoring on the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL) with 20 goals and 57 assists in 58 games. On Tuesday, the Rangers announced the signing of 21-year-old defenseman Matt Kinch. Another draft pick of the Sabres in the 1999 Draft, Kinch spent the past five years with the Calgary Hitmen (WHL), where he ranked first in scoring among defensemen this season with 18 goals and 66 assists in 70 games. Finally, on Wednesday, June 13th, the Rangers announced that the club had agreed to terms with 20-year-old center Layne Ulmer. During the last three of his four seasons with the Swift Current Broncos (WHL), Ulmer has led the team in scoring, tallying 153 goals and 145 assists. His goal output is second only to Rangers’ prospect Pavel Brendl of the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL. This season, Ulmer registered 119 points (63 goals and 56 assists), finishing second in scoring in the Western Hockey League.

Rangers Hire Ron Low and Mark Messier Returns

On July 12th, the New York Rangers announced the hiring of their new Head Coach, Ron Low. Low served as Assistant Head Coach of the Edmonton Oilers for six years and then became Head Coach of the team in April 1995. During his tenure, he led the Oilers to a 139-162-40 record. He also led the Oilers to first-round playoff wins against Dallas and Colorado in 1997 and 1998 respectively. Last year, Low was the Head Coach and General Manager of the Houston Aeros, part of the International Hockey League. While with them, his team finished with a 44-29-9 regular season record and advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Low will be given the task of bringing the Rangers back to the playoffs and ultimately the Stanley Cup.

On the day following Ron Low's introduction as the club's new Head Coach, the Rangers introduced a familiar face back to New York. Mark Messier, the former captain of the Rangers, signed as an unrestricted free agent to return to the team he was a part of from 1991 to 1997. The terms of his deal were not disclosed, but the length of the contract is said to be for two years. While with the team, Messier led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Championship in 1994. Since his departure in 1997, the Rangers have been unable to make the playoffs. After being introduced, Messier was given the captain's "C" by Brian Leetch. Upon his reception, Messier guaranteed not to disappoint the Ranger faithful. His acquisition marks the Rangers dedication to bringing this team back to greatness.

Rangers Hire Hall of Famer Glen Sather As New President and General Manager

On June 1st of 2000, Madison Square Garden President and CEO, Dave Checketts, announced Glen Sather as both President and General Manager of the New York Rangers. This announcement makes Sather the club's 12th President and 10th General Manager in franchise history.

Sather is hardly unfamiliar with the Rangers organization, as he played for the organization from 1970-1974. He leaves the Edmonton Oilers as one of the most respected executives where he spent 24 years with the club. In 1997, he was honored for his accomplishments by becoming the first member of the Edmonton Oilers organization to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

As a player, Sather's career lasted for ten years as he made his National Hockey League debut in 1966-67 with the Boston Bruins. Along with the Bruins and Rangers, Sather also played for Montreal, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Minnesota. During his ten-year career, Sather tallied 80 goals and 113 assists in 658 NHL games.

Immediately following his career as a player, Sather began coaching the Edmonton Oilers. The club made 12 straight WHA and NHL playoff appearances, five Stanley Cup Finals appearances, and won four Stanley Cups between 1977 and 1989. In 842 games coached, Sather currently ranks seventh on the NHL's all-time coaching list with 464 victories, and ranks fourth on the all-time list for playoff wins with 89 victories. He received NHL's Coach of the Year honors for the 1985-86 season and is one of only six coaches to coach five or more NHL All-Star games.

During his tenure with the Oilers, the club posted a 791-660-215 record in 1666 regular season games (.539 winning percentage). The club also captured 3 President's Trophies (awarded for best regular season record), six division titles, six conference championships, and five Stanley Cups. While Sather served as GM, the Oilers also posted a 133-82 Stanley Cup Playoff record in 215 games (.619 winning percentage).

Sather's management experience extends beyond the Edmonton Oilers. He has served as both General Manager and Coach for Team Canada during the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Two years earlier, he led Team Canada to the 1994 Canada Cup Championship and served as General Manager of the Gold-medal winning team in the 1994 World Hockey Championships.

With Sather's addition to the New York Rangers, the club has a reason to have high expectations. His experience will serve as a valuable resource to well prepare the team as they enter the new millennium and set their sights on the Stanley Cup.

Last Updated On: Monday, February 11, 2008



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