Rangers Re-Sign Callahan, Trade Korpikoski

Yes, it's true! A New York Ranger from the 2008-2009 campaign is coming back for another season. During an offseason that has already seen Scott Gomez, Markus Naslund, Colton Orr, Fredrik Sjostrom, Nik Antroprov, and Paul Mara leave Manhattan, Ryan Callahan has re-signed with the Blueshirts with a 2-year, $4.6 million deal.

This is a well deserved contract for the right winger who is coming off of a breakout season. Callahan was fourth on the Rangers with twenty-four goals and also added eighteen assists. He led the club with a plus seven rating and led the team and was fourth in the NHL with 265 hits.

Cally also proved to be a hard worker with a great work ethic, thus becoming a fan favorite and 2009 Steven McDonald Award winner for the Blueshirt who performs above and beyond the call of duty. The Rochester native has become one of the core youngsters on the Rangers which Glen Sather expects the team to build around, alongside center Brandon Dubinsky and defenseman Marc Staal.

One youngster who will not be back in New York is former first round pick (acquired from the Brian Leetch trade) Lauri Korpikoski who was traded to the Phoenix (?Hamilton?) Coyotes for forward Enver Lisin. This marks yet another trade between Sather and his former Assistant General Manager, Don Maloney. Maloney has also brought Marcel Hossa, Al Montoya, Alex Bourret, Nigel Dawes, Petr Prucha, and Dmitri Kalinin, to the desert in the last two years. Many of these players were former top prospects who never really panned out for the Rangers, but whom Maloney hoped would find their game and a fit in Phoenix.

This seems like a good trade to me. Although Korpikoski had a huge playoff goal in his NHL debut in Game 5 against the Penguins in 2008, he was then juggled through just about every possible line combination last season for the Rangers, and did not seem to find a fit. If not traded, Korpi would have most likely centered the third line, but his departure allows top prospect Artem Anisimov that opportunity.

Lisin, although a year older than the 22 year-old Korpikoski, had slightly better offensive numbers last season. He had thirteen goals and eight assists in forty-eight games to the Korpedo's six goals and eight assists in sixty-eight games. Both players are restricted free agents who should make around the same amount next season. Both are young and have similar numbers, but at the end of the day if a player does not fit he needs to be moved. . If Lisin has any sort of chemistry in the New York lineup, he can be very productive for the Rangers.

Ranger Notes:

-Although Nikolai Zherdev has a scheduled July 31st arbitration hearing, do not expect the Rangers to re-sign him after signing Ales Kotalik, who is a very similar styled player. Kotalik played very well with Chris Drury in Buffalo, and hopefully will do the same in New York.

-Greg Moore, 2008-2009 Captain of the Rangers AAA affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack, has signed with the New York Islanders. The 25 year-old center is expected to spend the bulk of his time in AAA Bridgeport. Moore played six games for the Rangers during the 2007-2008 season.

-The Rangers have signed two exciting players from last season's Wolf Pack- Dane Byers and Pierre Parenteau. Byers should replace Fredrik Sjostrom on the Rangers 4th line, as Brian Boyle will likely replace Blair Betts, and Donald Brashear replaces Colton Orr. I am disappointed that the Rangers dismantled their best line from last year and league leading penalty kill- but Byers can definitely be a big improvement over Sjostrom (while his linemates will probably not be improvements over whom they have replaced.) Byers can skate and kill penalties like Sjostrom, but also can be a solid scorer and physical presence.

Parenteau had an outstanding 29 goals and 49 assists for Hartford last season, and was one of the AHL's most dominant scorers. His status for next year, whether playing everyday with the Rangers, splitting time between playing and being a healthy scratch, or playing in Hartford- is very up in the air. It all depends on his training camp and preseason, but also if the Rangers send the disappointing Aaron Voros to Hartford along with Patrick Rissmiller in order to save cap space. If Parenteau has a good camp and preseason, it would make sense that the Rangers would keep him in the NHL with is offensive skills and smaller contract over Voros or Rissmiller.

-The Rangers have signed goalie (not wide receiver) Chad Johnson, who was acquired from the Penguins for a 5th round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He is expected to compete with 2008-2009 Hartford netminders Matt Zaba and Miika Wiikman for 2 spots with the Pack, with the loser being sent to AA Charlotte Checkers.