Breaking News: New York Rangers Officially Sign Anton Stralman; Mike Rupp To IR
The New York Rangers have officially announced the signing of free agent defenseman Anton Stralman. The deal includes a one-year contract that will pay him a total of $900,000. It seems as if the news for Marc Staal hasn't gotten any better. With the signing of Stralman, it most likely means Staal will be out for the foreseeable future.
Also according to Larry Brooks via twitter, the Rangers could potentially re-call Ryan Bourque, in order to get as close to the cap ceiling. If the Rangers were to place Staal on the LTIR, they would want take on as much salary as possible before doing so.
Mike Rupp has also been placed on the IR, in preparation before here receives knee surgery later this week. As we heard early this week, Sean Avery was re-called because of the injury issue with Mike Rupp. Also, with Rupp to the IR, the Rangers could now re-call Ryan Bourque if they wanted to. Although, nothing has been confirmed as of yet, just speculation.
We will have more on this as it comes about. Also, be sure to check out Joe's pregame notes post, as this was posted around the same time.
Follow after the jump for the official New York Rangers press release.
RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH
FREE AGENT DEFENSEMAN ANTON STRALMAN
New York, November 5, 2011 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with free agent defenseman Anton Stralman.
Stralman, 25, has skated in 212 career NHL contests over four seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets, registering 11 goals and 63 assists for 74 points, along with 97 penalty minutes. He enjoyed his most productive season in 2009-10 with Columbus, establishing career-highs in games played (73), goals (six), assists (28), points (34), power play goals (four), power play assists (18), power play points (22), shots on goal (121) and penalty minutes (37). He led all Columbus defensemen in points, assists, power play goals, power play assists and power play points, and tied for second among team defensemen in goals that season. He also led the team in power play assists, tied for second in power play points and fifth in power play goals. Stralman posted a career-high, four-game point streak from January 16, 2010 vs. Chicago to January 21, 2010 at Boston, tallying five assists over the span. He also registered a career-high, six multi-point performances.
Last season, Stralman registered one goal and 17 assists for 18 points, along with 22 penalty minutes in 51 games with Columbus. He tallied a career-high, three points (three assists) on April 1 vs. Chicago. The 5-11, 193-pounder made his NHL debut on October 23, 2007 vs. Atlanta, and recorded three goals and six assists in 50 games as a rookie with Toronto in 2007-08. Stralman registered his first career NHL point with an assist on January 10, 2008 at Los Angeles, and notched his first career NHL goal on March 21, 2008 at Buffalo.
The Tibro, Sweden native was originally selected as Toronto’s seventh round choice, 216th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.