Battle Of Hudson

Marian Gaborik was traded to Columbus for Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John Moore and a sixth round pick. Copyright Getty Images

In a stunning move, the Rangers have traded Marian Gaborik to the Blue Jackets. You heard it right. The same team they packaged Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky and Tim Erixon for Rick Nash. In a world that doesn’t make sense, I guess it shouldn’t come as a shock. Nothing should.

Gaborik agreed to waive his no-trade to a team that has as many points as us. Columbus has performed much better than anyone expected. They’re currently 11th in the West with 37 points. A point out of eighth. Our team sits ninth with 37 points, trailing the Devils and Islanders by two entering tonight’s game against the Pens.

So, what did the Rangers get for Gabby? They acquired center Derick Brassard, forward Derek Dorsett and defenseman John Moore along with a sixth round pick. At first glance, it looks like they didn’t get enough. You don’t replace Gaborik’s goal scoring. Even in a down year, his nine goals rank fourth on our offensively challenged roster. Despite his under performance, he still was a threat.

In four years, Gabby finished with 114 goals and 115 assists totaling 229 points over 255 games. Playing hurt last postseason, he posted five goals and six helpers for 11 points in 20 games. That included a dramatic triple overtime winner to beat the Caps in Game Three. Something for Garden Faithful to remember him by. He recorded two 40+ goal seasons netting 42 in his first on Broadway (’09-10) and 41 in ’11-12. The only year where he played all 82. In 35 games this season, he has nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points.

With Gaborik gone, Glen Sather has dramatically overturned the roster. First, he added Ryane Clowe to improve our physicality. Now, he unloads Gaborik who’s still owed $7.5 million for next year. While he’ll be looked upon for offense in Columbus, the Rangers are banking on the changes to alter their fate. Right now, they’re fighting just to make the playoffs. They’ve added two former first round picks in Brassard and Moore.

Brassard is a versatile forward who can play center or wing. He’s put up over 40 points twice. This year, he has seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points. One less point than Gaborik. He can play on the third line and has seven power play points (1 PPG). So, he should see time on the power play. He’s 25 and signed through next year. His cap hit is $3.2 million.

Moore was taken by the Blue Jackets in ’09 21st overall. Oddly enough, the Rangers took Chris Kreider 19th and Calgary drafted Tim Erixon 23rd. That same draft, our team selected Roman Horak in the fifth round. He was sent to the Flames as part of the Erixon deal. Erixon of course was included for Nash. In 17 games this season, Moore has an assist and is minus-five with 18 hits and 14 blocked shots. He’s 22 and in the second year of an entry level deal. Moore makes $810,000 and turns restricted this summer.

Dorsett is a fan’s dream. Tough as nails, the 26-year old from Saskatchewan is exactly the type of player we need. In ’11-12, he posted career bests in goals (12), points (20), games played (77), penalty minutes (235), shots on goal (137), power play goals (2) and shorthanded goals (1). He also recorded 199 hits and blocked 40 shots. He’s one of the toughest players in the league. Unfortunately, he’s currently out with a fractured clavicle and could miss the remainder of the season. In 24 games with Columbus, he has three goals and six assists for nine points with 53 PIM and 55 hits. Columbus thought so much of Dorsett that he’s signed through 2014-15 at an average of $1.63 million.

It’s hard to assess this deal because it came out of nowhere. On one hand, we lose a skilled player who’s capable of turning it around. Gaborik was in Tortorella’s dog house. He needed a change. If he’s not scoring, he’s a waste. Hopefully, he’ll be rejuvenated with the Jackets.

The Rangers have addressed their lack of depth. A sore spot all year. How Tortorella handles the new acquisitions will determine our fate. If he finally has enough faith to roll four lines and play all six defensemen, then it might work in our favor. Half our fan base is jumping off the bridge due to the odd return. I’m going to withhold judgment. Our team just became a lot more interesting.

Can anyone say over payment? Bishop turns restricted this summer. He’s 26 and has started 29 games in his four year career. He came over from St. Louis for a second round pick. He performed well for Ottawa after Craig Anderson went down. In 13 games, he’s 8-5-0 with a 2.45 GAA, .922 save percentage and a shutout against the Rangers.

Considering that Steve Yzerman brought in Anders Lindback from Nashville last summer, I don’t get it. Bishop is hardly proven. He put up respectable numbers on a well coached team that plays solid defense. Even with all the injuries, Paul MacLean should be up for the Jack Adams. The Sens are currently sixth in the East with 44 points. They add offense in the diminutive Conacher who ranks second in rookie scoring with 24 points (9-15-24). He can certainly help in that department.

In case you’re wondering, the Bolts gave up a ton for Lindback. They traded Sebastien Caron, two ’12 second round picks and a 2013 third for Lindback, Kyle Wilson and a ’12 seventh rounder. Lindback is signed through next year and is due $2.2 million. He’s currently on the injured list with an ankle sprain. In 21 games, he’s 10-7-1 with a 2.88 GAA and .903 save percentage. Lindback is two years younger than Bishop.

Flyers Deal For Mason: Steve Mason is a Flyer. Apparently, Paul Holmgren traded Sergei Bobrovsky for the Columbus backup. I’m baffled.

Jokinen has six goals and five assists for 11 points in 33 games this season for the Hurricanes. Once a top six forward, his role has diminished with the additions of Jordan Staal and Alex Semin. Plus the emergence of Jiri Tlusty made him expendable. Jokinen just turned 30. So, he’s not old by any stretch. Going to the Pens should give him a jolt. This is a guy who’s scored big goals. A solid addition for GM Ray Shero. 

While I’m no fan of how Kreider’s been treated, it’s best for his development to stay with the Whale for the rest of the season. Enough of the dilly dallying. They’ve already screwed with him. May as well just let him finish out the year in the AHL. As for Miller, he definitely is further along. Despite being a couple of years younger, he is more active during his shifts and capable defensively. But like any kid, prone to mistakes.

I doubt we’ll see either again unless the team goes far in the playoffs. First, they have to make it.

Deadline Quiet So Far: There are less than two hours left until the Trade Deadline. So far, things have remained quiet. Nashville moved Jered Smithson to Edmonton and Scott Hannan went back to San Jose. Nothing earth shattering.

There’s a rumor on Twitter that the Devils might be shopping their first round pick for a scoring winger. It might make some sense considering their recent struggles. But they do host the Draft in Newark. If they do swing a deal, I think it could be for Jason Pominville. He definitely would help them offensively. Especially with Ilya Kovalchuk uncertain.

Marek Zidlicky didn’t practice today. Nobody seems to know why. He has a no trade clause. 

Anders Lee receives congratulations for scoring his first NHL goal in the Isles’ 5-2 win over Winnipeg. Copyright Getty Images/by Kathy Willens

While much of today was centered around the Rangers trade for Ryane Clowe, their bitter New York rival continues to play well. With a come from behind 5-2 win on home ice over Winnipeg, the Islanders moved past the Rangers into eighth. 

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. 

After dealing Robyn Regehr yesterday, the Sabres could move captain Jason Pominville next. Copyright Getty Images

Yesterday, the Sabres dealt Robyn Regehr to the LA Kings. The veteran defenseman agreed to waive his no-trade clause and accepted a trade to the defending Cup champs. He makes $4 million this year before turning unrestricted this summer.

Buffalo GM Darcy Regier did well unloading the 32-year old Regehr for two second round picks in 2014 and 2015. The Sabres acquired him from Calgary a couple of summers ago. With Buffalo under performing, they decided to be sellers. Having already moved blueliner Jordan Leopold to St. Louis Saturday for a second round pick and conditional fifth in this year’s Draft, they continued to retool by trading Regehr. In two seasons with Buffalo, he participated in 105 games tallying seven points and 77 penalty minutes. He totaled 65 hits and 50 blocked shots in 29 contests this year with two assists.

The Kings made the move for the defensive defenseman due to an injury to Matt Greene. They also learned that Willie Mitchell will miss the entire season after recovering from knee surgery. Greene is expected to miss the rest of the regular season.

Pominville Next? For Buffalo, they also could be trading captain Jason Pominville next. Pominville has spent his entire nine-year career with the Sabres. Originally selected in the second round of the ’01 Draft, the 30-year old right wing has been one of the club’s most consistent scorers. In 577 games, he’s registered 185 goals, 269 assists for 454 points.

The man known as Pommer has put up five or more seasons of 60+ points. He has been part of two teams that made the Eastern Conference Final. That included a memorable shorthanded goal as a rookie to oust Ottawa in ’06. It came with the Sabres down two men. He went around Daniel Alfredsson and Wade Redden for the highlight reel goal that advanced Buffalo to the Conference Finals. They also made it in ’07.

This season, Pominville ranks fourth in team scoring with 23 points (10-13-23). He agreed to waive his no-movement clause- giving Regier a list of teams he would consider going to.

According to The Buffalo News, Pominville said: “I don’t want to answer by yes or no, but what I can say is obviously Darcy has a job to do, and for him to be able to do that in my case and in guys that have these kinds of lists, for him to be able to listen, he needs to know.“

He has one year remaining on his contract and is set to earn $5.5 million in ’13-14. So, he’s not just a rental. If he is moved, it shouldn’t come cheap. 

Jaromir Jagr is officially a Boston Bruin. Copyright Getty Images

Jaromir Jagr is a Boston Bruin. A day before the trade deadline, the Bruins got their guy after missing out on Jarome Iginla. Jagr doesn’t come cheap. Boston gave up prospects Lane MacDermid and Cody Payne along with a conditional pick in 2013 to Dallas. If the Bruins make the Conference Finals, the pick becomes a first rounder. 

In particular, Miller had a tough night finishing minus-two before Tortorella adjusted the lines. Miller started the night with Brian Boyle and Carl Hagelin, who also didn’t see as much time. Hagelin also went minus-two in 14 shifts (10:55). He was switched off Derek Stepan’s line. Instead, captain Ryan Callahan supplanted him posting a four-point game to help lead the club to a big win. It kept them in eighth over the Islanders, who also were winners over the Devils. The Islanders have played one more game. Each New York club trails the slumping Devs by two for seventh.

The question moving forward is what happens with Kreider and Miller. Do they go down? The Rangers can easily reinsert Arron Asham and Kris Newbury if they feel the rookies aren’t ready. I still believe the more aggressive style they played tonight is how they need to to have any chance. Scoring goals hasn’t been a team strength. Tortorella prefers a more physical element, which Asham and Newbury can provide.

Maybe it’s better if they go down to Connecticut. But if they do, the team might have to make a move before Wednesday’s 3 PM deadline. 

Mike Del Zotto battles Antti Miettinen during first of Rangers 4-2 win over Jets. Copyright Getty Images/by Bill Kostroun

Derek Stepan put them ahead 19 seconds in. So, it figured to be a good night. Not so fast. Before they recovered, the Rangers fell behind Winnipeg 2-1. But when all was set and done, they responded  by scoring three unanswered en route to a big 4-2 win over the Jets. With the Islanders going into Newark and beating the Devils 3-1 in regulation, both the Rangers and Islanders have 37 points, trailing New Jersey by two for seventh.