DAWES IN THE MIX

Nigel Dawes, who absolutely tore it up while in Hartford last season (14G, 20A 34 points in 20 games) has been resigned by the NY Rangers. Terms were not released, however John Dellapina, in his Blueshirts Blog reports that it’s a one year deal in the $600,000 range.

Here’s one to remember…We’re sure that Marty Brodeur does…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rTs-bs-DZA&hl=en&fs=1]

Here is the official release:

RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH NIGEL DAWES
New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Nigel Dawes.

Dawes, 23, skated in 61 games with the Rangers this past season, registering 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points, along with 10 penalty minutes and a plus-11 rating. He led the club in plus/minus rating (plus-11), ranked second in shootout game-deciding goals (two) and tied for third in game-winning goals (four). His four game-winning goals also tied for second in the NHL among all rookie skaters. He registered five multiple-point games, including a multiple-goal game on October 25 against New Jersey at Madison Square Garden. During the 2008 playoffs, Dawes recorded two goals and two assists for four points, while appearing in all 10 of the Rangers’ post-season contests. In addition, Dawes skated in 20 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL), notching 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points and a plus-eight rating. At the time of his recall on January 7, he ranked second on the Wolf Pack in goals (14), assists (20) and points (34). He also led all AHL skaters in points per game (1.70 points/game) and was tied for 16th in the league in points (34) at the time.

The 5-9, 190-pounder has skated in 69 career NHL games in two seasons with the Rangers, registering 15 goals and 15 assists for 30 points, along with 10 penalty minutes. In 2006-07, Dawes appeared in eight games with the Rangers, collecting one goal. He made his NHL debut on October 5, 2006 vs. Washington and notched his first career NHL goal on October 21, 2006 at Toronto. Prior to the season, he was named the winner of the 2006 Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award as the best rookie of the Rangers Training Camp, along with Brandon Dubinsky, as voted by select New York media. In addition, Dawes has appeared in 166 career AHL games with Hartford, registering 76 goals and 85 assists for 161 points, along with 52 penalty minutes.
The Winnipeg, Manitoba native was originally selected as the Rangers’ fifth round draft choice, 149th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

(Nigel Dawes photo courtesy of Chris Rutsch via hartfordwolfpack.com)