Ryane Clowe is expected to be the newest Ranger. Copyright Getty Images

With less than 24 hours until the trade deadline, the Rangers have acquired Ryane Clowe from the Sharks. The 30-year old forward, who is earning $4 million in the final year of his contract, hasn’t scored a goal all season. However, he does have 11 assists and plays a gritty style that could aid our team. Clowe has racked up 79 penalty minutes and totaled 69 hits.

Two years removed from a career best 62-point season (24-38-62) in which he also had 100 PIM and 153 hits, Clowe’s production has slipped dramatically. In ’11-12, he still finished with 17 goals and 28 assists for 45 points along with 97 PIM and 109 hits. How does a player who’s scored over 20 goals twice and produced at least 45 points-or-more in four seasons suddenly tale off to no goals and 11 helpers? It might be the physical style he plays. He’s always mixed it up. That grinding style can wear out.

According to multiple reports, the Rangers are expected to part with a second and third round pick plus a conditional second if Clowe re-signs. TSN’s Bob McKenzie is the source. It all depends on Clowe, who has to give his okay for the deal to be completed.

Assuming Clowe accepts the trade, it makes our team more interesting. They definitely are lacking in the physical department since Brandon Prust’s departure. Clowe plays a similar game and gets his jersey dirty. At this point, he’s a rental. They certainly overpaid. I’d much rather have re-signed Prust. It makes Glen Sather look bad. He brought in Arron Asham and Taylor Pyatt to offset the loss of Prust figuratively speaking. Anyone with a pulse knew otherwise.

With John Tortorella unwilling to trust Chris Kreider and J.T. Miller struggling recently, it looks like they’re both going back to Connecticut. Tortorella prefers defensively responsible forwards who take the body. Something our team hasn’t done enough of. Instead of challenging for a higher seed, they currently sit eighth with 37 points- trailing the Devils, who also could be in the market. The Islanders also have 37 but are ninth due to one more game played. They host Winnipeg tonight.

Clowe’s addition should bump someone. With Mats Zuccarello playing with Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik and Derek Stepan currently centering Rick Nash and Ryan Callahan, Clowe can slide into a third line with Carl Hagelin and Brian Boyle assuming he’s not dealt. I wouldn’t move him due to his faceoff and penalty killing capabilities. If he plays with Hagelin and Clowe, that could work. They’d at least have the speed and physical element which is what Boyle needs. If that’s our top three lines, that leaves Kris Newbury, Asham and Pyatt on the fourth unit.

Updating the story, Clowe has waived his no-trade clause. So, it appears he’ll be a Ranger. They just have to work out the details with San Jose.

UPDATE II: The official trade is two second round picks and a third for Clowe. The other second rounder is still conditional based on if he re-signs. It becomes a fifth round pick if he doesn’t. 

If I were guessing, these would be my lines:

Nash-Stepan-Callahan
Gaborik-Richards-Zuccarello
Hagelin-Boyle-Clowe
Pyatt-Newbury-Asham

I’d still like to see them upgrade on D. It’s apparent that Roman Hamrlik can’t play regular minutes. If Sather fails to address this need, the club will be hard pressed to do better than a first round appearance.