Rangers Sign Lisin

The New York Rangers have signed restricted free agent Enver Lisin to a contract. The terms of the contract are currently undisclosed. Lisin was traded to the Blueshirts from Phoenix (?Hamilton?) for center and fellow restricted free agent Lauri Korpikoski. The Coyotes have since signed Korpedo to a 2 year/$1.4 million deal.

This is from my post on Tuesday July 14th commenting on Lisin and the trade to bring him from the desert to the world's most famous arena:

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.