New York Rangers: Grading Their Moves (and Non-Moves) at the Trade Deadline

There was no shortage of trade rumors these past few weeks leading up to the trade deadline, but as it turns out, The New York Rangers played it safe and relatively under the radar.

I give their overall moves and non-moves a B grade because while they didn't rock the boat, they also didn't get a goal-scorer, which they are in great need of.  They did, however, pick up a defenseman, which was their other main agenda.

Perhaps the most talked about rumor was the possibility of the Rangers acquiring Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets, but that came and went with a bang.

Then there was the speculation about Ryan Smyth, which died out pretty quickly as soon as talk of Nash was in the picture.

If it made some big moves, the main thing the Rangers organization needed to focus on was how it would affect the chemistry of the current team, which is unparalleled with anything we have seen from them in quite some time.

The few trades that were made were quick and quiet.  They also made the most sense.  The Rangers cleared up some room in the salary cap, so going forward after this season they can reassess what is needed.

It is comforting to know that the organization recognizes the overall effort by the current roster and knew to leave well enough alone. That shows a lot of faith in the team, which will only help to propel them going forward at this crucial juncture in the season.

Lets take a look at what trades did in fact go through and what was all hype and perhaps better left that way.

Erik Christensen Traded to Minnesota Wild

Although not a trade deadline move, back on February 3rd, Rangers forward Erik Christensen was traded along with a 2013 conditional seventh-round draft pick to the Minnesota Wild for forward Casey Wellman.  

Wellman was immediately assigned to the Blueshirts' AHL affiliate, the Connecticut Whale, so the move was a bit of a lateral one, although getting rid of Christensen not only cleared space on the Rangers roster, but also freed up $925,000 in the salary cap.

I give this a B grade, because in general it was a good move for the Rangers.

Although Christensen beat out Sean Avery for a spot in the Rangers' original roster this season, he really failed to produce for his team.  In the 20 games he played for New York he scored just one goal and four assists.

Christensen was sent to the Whale for a two-week conditioning stint in January, but saw no ice time even after he was called back up, as he was a healthy scratch for the past month.

The 28-year-old Edmonton native has since played 11 games for the Wild and in addition to scoring no goals or assists during that time, also has minus-nine rating.

The 24-year-old Wellman, on the other hand, played 14 games this season for the Wild and has has two goals and five assists during that span.  He also has the advantage of being a younger player that the Rangers can mold to fit their needs and so hopefully can rise to the challenge when and if they need him.

Wojtek Wolski Traded to the Florida Panthers

It was no surprise that the New York Rangers traded forward Wojtek Wolski this past Saturday, as his spot had become non-existent in the Rangers roster.  He was traded to the Florida Panthers in exchange for minor-league defenseman Mike Vernace and a 2013 third-round draft pick.

While Wolski scored six goals and accrued 19 points during his 37 games played with the Rangers last season, injuries really plagued him this current season.

Due to a sports hernia that Wolski sustained at an early point this season, he has played in only nine games thus far. During that time he scored no goals and had three assists.  

This trade, however, was extremely beneficial for both parties.

Shedding Wolski from the roster, rid the Rangers of the last year of his two-year, $3.8 million per season contract, which cleared some obvious room for them in the salary cap.  Wolski, who has been a healthy scratch since his return to the lineup after a two-week conditioning stint with the Connecticut Whale, is finally getting some ice time as a Panther; he already scored a pivotal goal in his first game with his new team Saturday night.

According to the Blueshirts United website, Rangers head coach John Tortorella commented about the trade pregame Saturday, stating:

"

It's a good deal both ways. It gives (Wolski) an opportunity to get his career back on track. We get a pick, and I don't know much about (Mike Vernace), so I just think it's a good deal all the way around.

"

It's also refreshing to hear that Torts doesn't know much about Vernace, because he can formulate his own opinions about him and see how best to use him when the opportune time comes.

Vernace is a seventh-round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks from 2004.  He was recently acquired from the Panthers in December 2011 from the Tampa Bay Lightning.  At only 25 years old Vernace is already entering into his sixth NHL organization.

With Tortorella carrying three space defensemen in the lineup, the Connecticut Whale could surely use one, which is why I give this move a B.

Rangers Acquire John Scott from the Chicago Blackhawks

In a somewhat anti-climatic chain of events for the day, the New York Rangers acquired defenseman John Scott from the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2012 fifth-round draft pick.

This is not to say that this wasn't a good move, because the Rangers GM Glen Sather and the Rangers organization were definitely in the market for a defenseman. It's just that given the recent space they cleared up in the salary cap, there was much speculation as to what moves they would indeed make with that space.  

Not only did they get a defenseman they wanted, but they got a monstrous one at that.  The 29-year-old Scott is a beastly 6'8" and weighs 270 pounds.

This addition will surely add some depth in the defensive zone, as well as coming at a great price of $512,000, which is why I give this move a B.

While he doesn't serve the offensive punch they need, he is known as an enforcer.  Since the Rangers defense is pretty secure at the moment, Scott will probably serve as insurance, should any injuries befall the Blueshirts going into the last 21 games of the regular season and beyond.

Sather believes he is a good addition for the remainder of the Rangers aggressive schedule.  In a article for NBC Sports Monday evening, Ira Podell quoted him on this move stating,

"

We've got a lot of games coming this month against some pretty rugged teams. He's a real good factor to stop that kind of fooling around that happens this time of the year.

"

Rangers Do Not Pick Up Pricey Nash

According to a New York Post article by Larry Brooks from Monday afternoon,

"

Columbus GM Scott Howson rejected what is believed a Rangers' final offer of Dubinsky, 21-year-old defenseman Tim Erixon, 2011 first-rounder J.T. Miller, 2010 second-rounder Christian Thomas and a first-round selection in this June's Entry Draft.

"

It was a smart move on the part of the Rangers organization to not give into Columbus' high demands of defenseman Michael Del Zotto and Ryan McDonagh in addition to Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin and Brandon Dubinsky and draft pick Chris Krieder.  For this reason, I give this non-move a grade of B+.  

What would be the point in giving away everything the Rangers have worked for all season just to get one scoring superstar?  The price was just too high and I think everyone can breathe a little bit easier now knowing that the chemistry of this season's Rangers team is not being destroyed.

Columbus wasn't planning on giving up a player like Rick Nash without getting a lot of volume as a result, but that would have directly gone against what the Rangers have worked on building.

The Blueshirts' rocky play the last few games is largely a result of all the trade rumors whirling around. Dubinsky, for one, was well aware that he was a special on the trade menu and honestly how could that not affect how you play as a team when one of your core is in this sensitive position?

Perhaps the Rangers organization is disappointed by the Nash deal not going through, because we all know how much GM Glen Sather drools over big-name players.

Hopefully now that the trade deadline is behind us, the Rangers can get back to playing the style of hockey that the fans have grown accustomed to prior to their recent bout of sloppiness. 

Ryan Smyth Not a Ranger

So despite all the initial hype about Ryan Smyth signing with the Blueshirts, he has stuck to his guns and decided to stay put in Edmonton.

I believe he would have been a great addition to the Rangers roster and the ideal one at that, because he would just have been a rental for the remainder of the season and the playoffs.  For this reason I give this non-move a grade of B-.

Being that the Rangers did not acquire Smyth just means that they more than ever need to pick up their offensive game from here on out, because everything else seems to be in place otherwise.

Smyth told the Edmonton Journal,

"

My ultimate goal is to sign a new contract with the Oilers, ideally before the trade deadline.

"

But, while he hasn't signed a new deal before February 27th, it doesn't seem he is making a move.

Overall the minor moves the Rangers made was in their best interest, because what ain't broke, don't need fixin'.