Rangers good start forces changes

Rangers management opened the 2013-14 season expecting to struggle. The writing was on the wall over the summer that players such as Stastny, Steen and Fleury would be wearing different jersey's at some point during the season. Talk had even begun with a few teams regarding each of those players at some point this season already. Then something changed. The team started off great. they were playing well and the team was winning and General Manager Phil Grote started to take into consideration all of the guys that have been working hard and playing hard and the thought process started to convert from expecting a lost year, to WHAT IF?

"We liked the overall make up of the team coming into the season. Sure we thought we could have been better in certain positions, but for what we had, we liked the group. That said, while we are maintaining an eye towards the future, after starting the season so well, I felt an obligation to match my teams effort in giving this team a legit shot at winning more games. So over the last 5 days we have completed three trades that brings in three players that can play top line mintes."

The first deal saw the Rangers ship out winger Kostitsyn, prospect DuClair and the NYR 2015 1st round pick for Justin Williams and a 4th round pick in 2014.

"what we get in Williams is a player that skates very well, he CAN score goals, but we like his vision and his hands. He's such an underrated player and feel fortunate that we were able to get him this early in the year. He's a veteran player that knows the game and is responsible at both ends of the ice. His ability to control the puck along with his skating and defensive awareness will help this team get and hold leads late in games."

The next deal was a bit more surprising as it was more a shot in the dark than anything else. There had been no indications that Joe Paveslki was going to be available so when GM Phil Grote contacted Buffalo GM Lochy Bicknell and it became clear that a deal WAS possible, the two GM's exchanged ideas and bandied about a few names and were able to work out a deal that satisfied both parties.

This trade was settled with Winger RJ Umberger, AHL center Alex Khokhlachev, prospect Stefan Noesen and a 2015 3rd rounder going to Buffalo for Joe Pavelski.

"Joe Pavelski is a lunchpail kind of player with better than average talents. He does pretty much everything you want from an MRFHL Player with the exception of fighting. He skates well, controls the puck well, is one of the better face-off men in the game. His vision and hands are underrated, but he's got a great shot and good nose for the net. Just like with the Justin Williams acquisition, Pavelski is an above average two-way player that can kill penalties. The skill set that he brings to the team is very similar to Paul Stastny, however were Stastny may have an edge in passing, Pavelski has a better shot. The fact that Pavelski CAN play the RW provides the team a great deal of versatility and forcfes opposing teams to be aware of that combo doing theri thing with sniper Alex Steen on the LW. Should the coach move in that direction, it's going to drive opposing teams bonkers"

The last trade was completed late last night with the Coyotes and Rangers hooking up on a trade that sees the Rangers moving out additional youth for winger that can play both LW and RW.

Heading west is young defenceman Luca Sbisa along with prospects Calle Jarnkrok and Michael McCarron. Coming to the Rangers is Winger Loui Eriksson and a 2nd round pick in 2014.

"During every season, GM's do something that I like to call "Go Fishing" That's when a GM reaches out to another to see if they like a guy, or if they don't like a guy to start some dialogue and last night Phoenix GM did just that. Jesse reached out to me to see if I was moving anyone and I had been having some discussion regarding a defenceman with an Eastern Conference team the moment the phone rang. So, while Jesse wasn't interested in THAT defenceman, he was interested in adding some youth to his organization and since we have admired Eriksson's game for a while now, we focused on him. Not really expecting to get anything done, we dropped some bait, got a nibble and off we went. That description fits both sides as we both saw something the other team had that we liked. It was a matter of finding a fit and within 5-10 minutes of some back and forth discussions we were able to get something done."

It's expected that in order to make room to accomodate some added salary that the Rangers will be waiving both Tim Connolly and Chad Larose

Expected lines for the Rangers look like this:

At Forward:

Steen - Pavelski - Palmieri

Prospal - Stastny - Williams

Bouchard - Cullen - Eriksson

Bickell - Grigorenko - Ward

On Defence

McDonagh - Hainsey

Carle - Ference

Murphy - Martinek

In Goal:

Fleury

Talbot