Massive changes for Rangers

Another exit from the Playoffs by the New York Rangers, another summer of massive change for the team.

Hold overs from the 2009-2010 team are Anze Kopitar, Corey Perry, Brooks Laich, Valtteri Filppula, Colton Orr, Shea Weber, Brian Rafalski and Bryan McCabe.

That means that less than half the team will be returning for the 2010-2011 season. Here's a look at the deals that have been made once the season was over and the trade freeze was lifted.

First deal of the summer was trading sniper Marian Gaborik to the Anaheim Ducks for Antoine Vermette and the Ducks 1st round pick in the 2010 Draft.

"Well, we had been eying Vermette for a while and have previously consumated a deal for him earlier in the year only to see that deal rejected by the League due to the Future Considerations portion that was part of that transaction. When the season ended for us, we resumed negotiations with Anaheim and while the player we were trading changed, the return was very similar. We were looking get a little younger down the middle and felt that moving Marian would be the best option to get what we were looking for."

A day later, the Rangers 2nd deal took place. The Anaheim Ducks 1st round pick to Florida for Wojtek Wolski

"We were fortunate enough that Florida was in their rebuilding stage and that they valued that pick as much as we valued Wojtek Wolski. We went into that deal thinkinkg that the Gaborik trade just turned into Vermette and Wolski. We were very excited about the sudden turn of events here"

The 3rd deal of the off season saw the Rangers pick up defensive defenceman Robyn Regher from Chicago for winger Steve Downie.

"This was a tough deal for us in that we were very much excited about having Steve playing in New York. We know the kind of player that Steve is and the fans in NY would absoluely love the kid, however, the Flyers series kind of brought to our attention that we were more deficient defensively than we believed headed into the playoffs and upgrading that area was going to be an important off-season task that needed to be addressed"

The 4th trade was very much in line with the task of addressing the defence. The Rangers traded Ruutu and Clowe to Vancouver for Pahlsson, Cogliano and Paul Martin.

"Getting Martin was the key here. We wanted to get another defensively responsible puck moving defenceman to help balance out the defence and we feel we got one of the better all around guys out there. Martin has experience, leadership qualities and an overall understanding of what it takes to win games in the MRFHL. We are very fortunate to have been able to acquire this player"

The 5th deal may turn out to be a great move as the Rangers traded a 4th round pick in 2012 to Philadelphia for center/winger Todd White.

"This is a no lose situation for us. Even if Todd plays in just 40 games and posts 20 points, he's going to prove more valuable to us than a 4th round pick 2 drafts from now. No knock on the player picked then, but there's just way to mane unknowns there that we feel more secure going with the devil we know, rather than the devil we don't."

The 6th trade was a bit odd, but understandable. Wolski for Backes.

"The reasoning behind this is twofold, first, we needed to add a RW'er to help balance out the forward core. Perry is good, but asking him to play RW on all 4 lines is a bit much. Secondly, we like David Backes alot. He combines size, skill, determination and grit into one very attractive package. A teammate that can notch a hattrick and then go out, protect a 1 goal lead and protect his teammates. An all around player that we are very happy to have."

The Rangers and Flyers struck again thsi time, the Rangers sent Pahlsson and a 2012 3rd rounder to the Flyers for Marco Sturm

"Sturm is a very versatile player that can score if put in the right situations and can also defend very well with his speed and hockey sense. We didn't really have a role for Pahlsson here and moving him to get a winger that we needed was adeal we had to make."

The Rangers and Edmonton then hooked up on a deal that sees the Rangers acquire winger Martin Erat for a 1st rounder in 2012.

"This was a deal that we had some issues with in that Erat has this year coming left on his contract, we are hoping to catch lightning in a bottle here in that if he plays for a contract, he's an incredible player that provides us skill and scoring on the 3rd line that we did not have last year. We will try to retain the young man and hope to begin contract discussions with him shortly."

The 8th trade of the off-season was with Buffalo.

"Buffalo is in a rebuild of sorts, mor eof a retooling if you will. We on the other hand are looking to win the MRFHL Championship this season coming so while it would seem odd to trade a player for 2 picks in 2012, we did so with the full knowledge that these assets were brought in to package together to gain help elsewhere"

The 9th trade again saw the Rangers and Oilers hook up this time the Rangers sent Vaclav Prospal to Edmonton for prospect Eric Tangradi and the Oilers 2nd rounder in 2011.

"Very similar to the deal above, the goal in this trade was to acquire picks to package elsewhere."

The 10th and thus far, last trade that has been made this summer was a big one. Fehr, Tangradi, Mason, a 1st in 2012, a 2nd in 2011 and a 2nd in 2012 was traded to Montreal for goalie Jonathan Quick.

"Acquiring the picks that we acquired wasfor the sole purpose of packaging them in a trade for additional help this year. We had been searching around for a #1 goalie in the prime of his career and has discussions with Montreal about quick earlier in the summer. We had discussed parameters of a deal that didn't work out. We actually had discussions with another Eastern Conference team regarding a young starter in the prime of his career but were never able to settle on a package that made sense for either team. This trade was not without controversy as the league had to review the trade. However, unlike the Erik Johnson trade that was rejected before the trade deadline last season, the league found merit in this trade and approved it."

"Did we give up alot, I think we did, but I also think that we are getting one hell of a goalie that is signed for just 750K this season. He's a 24 year old kid that is already a legit #1 guy in this league. We are going to be careful with him and expect him to compete for the starters role here with Jose Theodore who we just signed this off-season. We fee we now have strength at forward, on Defence and more importantly out goaltending situation is the strongest it's ever been."

Are the Rangers done trading?

"We are trying to firm up our 4th line and have been talking to a team that could help us do that. Additionally we have looked at the Free Agent market to further assist in that endevour. Time will tell if we are successful in either situation"