In what can best be described as a depth move, the Rangers signed forward Matthew Lombardi. Interestingly, he got a two-year deal worth a reported $1.6 million. The 32-year old veteran spent last season with Geneve-Servette of the Swiss League where he posted 20 goals along with a league-leading 30 assists and league best 50 points in 46 games.

Lombardi spent the first decade of his career with five teams including Calgary, Arizona, Nashville, Toronto and Anaheim. He had two stints with the Coyotes including a career best 34 assists and 53 points in ’09-10. Since that point, injuries limited him to 26 points in 92 games. He spent ’11-12 with the Leafs tallying eight goals and 11 helpers in 62 contests. During the 2013 shortened season, he returned to Arizona posting four goals and four assists in 21 games. He was moved to Anaheim and had no points in seven contests.

If healthy, Lombardi can play on one of the bottom lines. Listed at center, he can take faceoffs but isn’t good at it going 49.4 percent for his career. He had two seasons where he was over 50.0 but they came a while ago. The Rangers never replaced Brian Boyle, who was more capable in the faceoff dot. Lombardi has speed and is capable of killing penalties. For his career, he’s scored 12 shorthanded goals. Almost all the production came with Calgary where he notched 11 between ’03-04 to ’08-09 before he was packaged to Arizona for Olli Jokinen. Yeah. That guy.

Most notable is that according to a post from Blue Seat Blogs writer Dave, the Rangers were supposedly in on Mike Ribeiro, who signed with Nashville yesterday for a bargain basement cost of $1.05 million. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug tweeted more on it last night.

No state tax in Music City helped sway Ribeiro, who reportedly picked up the phone and spoke to Predators GM David Poile and coach Peter Laviolette. It sounds like his mind was made up. It’s probably a good landing spot for the troubled 34-year old pivot who had marriage issues off the ice that contributed to the Coyotes buying him out after only one year of a four-year $22 million contract.

Reading more about the situation, it makes one understand why it didn’t work out. Ribeiro was late for team meetings and was buried by Don Maloney, who cited “behavioral issues.” It wasn’t a healthy situation. With him and his wife back together, he can spend more time with his family and get back to focusing on hockey. Hopefully, it works out for him.

Ribeiro is a talented player who could’ve helped the Rangers. They haven’t replaced Brad Richards. With a little over $13 million left to re-sign Derick Brassard, Chris Kreider, John Moore and Mats Zuccarello, it’s looking more likely that Glen Sather won’t add anyone else. There just isn’t enough room. The organization is hoping J.T. Miller can become a regular. The former first round pick will get competition from Oscar Lindberg. If either can stick, that could prove crucial to team success. Clearly, they’ve downgraded losing Boyle, Benoit Pouliot and subtracting Derek Dorsett. The Tanner Glass addition remains puzzling. But he’s played for Alain Vigneault before.

I’d prefer seeing Ryan Bourque slot in on the fourth line. But Lombardi is an inexpensive addition who they can plug in. He only makes $800,000. There’s always the option of assigning him to Hartford. I would’ve taken him a few years ago. Maybe Sather knows something we don’t.