Starting off on the ex-Pack side of the news comes word that Nigel Dawes was unceremoniously dumped by the guy who drafted him, Don Maloney, out in Phoenix by the Coyotes. Then came word a short time later that the sniper had been claimed by the Calgary Flames. There he will join other ex-Pack players Jaime Lundmark and Garth Murray. It is expected that Dawes will be signed by the team and that should come as no surprise given they went out and claimed him.
In other Nigel news, one out, one in. Brian Fahey who was brought to Hartford as a veteran with NHL aspirations for veteran Andrew Hutchinson has been traded for defenseman Nigel Williams of the Colorado Avalanche . Fahey just had a bad season and never really gained any traction either with fans or the coaching staff. He was brought in to be a first line defenseman and given the play of the other prospects, quickly slid down the depth charts. With the Pack bringing in so many new and younger defenseman it was likely he was going to go. It also got the Rangers out of yet another of their bad contracts.
Coming back to Hartford is a young defenseman with a lot of upside in Nigel Williams. It’s looking more and more like this Hartford team is going to be deep and talented on the backlines and will be quite the competition to see who gets ice time and who sits and for that matter if any of them make the big club in New York. Early favorites to playing the Big Apple are the usual suspects, Michael Sauer, Bobby Sanguinetti and the resigned Corey Potter. People will keep telling us that we’re crazy, but watch out for David Urquhart…he dramatically improved over the course of the season and he is the type of player that will impress John Tortorella. He could be a dark-horse. There is also Mike Del Zotto to consider as well as a possibility to skip Hartford and go right to the NHL a la Marc Staal.
Here’s the official release:
New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Nigel Williams from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Brian Fahey.
Williams, 21, skated in 70 games with the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL) last season, registering seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points, along with 55 penalty minutes. The rookie defenseman ranked seventh on the team overall and second among Lake Erie defensemen in points. He also tied for the team lead among defensemen in goals scored. Williams posted a season-high, three-game point streak from January 10 against Hamilton to January 13 vs. Quad City, collecting three points (one goal and two assists) over the span. He also recorded his first career multi-point performance with two assists on March 28 at Syracuse. Williams notched a goal in his professional debut on October 11 against Grand Rapids.
The 6-4, 226-pounder skated in 113 career regular season contests with the Saginaw Spirit and Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) prior to turning pro, registering 32 goals and 50 assists for 82 points, along with 192 penalty minutes. In 2007-08, Williams split the season between Saginaw and Belleville, and established OHL career-highs in games played (67), assists (31) and points (46). As an OHL rookie in 2006-07, he set a career mark with 17 goals. In addition, Williams has collected 21 points (nine goals and 12 assists) in 27 career OHL playoff contests with Saginaw and Belleville. He tied for fourth on the Bulls in playoff assists (11) and points (18), and tied for fifth on the team in goals (seven) during the 2008 OHL Playoffs.
Williams also skated with the U.S. National Under-18 Development Team during the 2005-06 season, registering three goals and four assists for seven points, along with 23 penalty minutes in 19 games.
The Aurora, Illinois native was originally Colorado's second round choice, 51st overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Fahey, 28, appeared in 66 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) last season, collecting four goals and 20 assists for 24 points, along with 67 penalty minutes.
Urquhart, like Heikkenen, Gilroy and Potter, is more seasoned. I do hope a couple of these young D make the big club. Sauer (22, 2 yrs pro experience) and Sanguinetti(21,1 yr), along w new guy Williams (21,1) will benefit from an AHL season of top 3 D minutes, and leadership roles mentoring the crew of first year pro’s – Dowzak, Glass, Berube, maybe Kundratek. New look for sure, w Fahey and Denisov gone, and Murray, Graham and Nightingale likely one-and-done. Maybe they’ll offer Stich a 3d look, although he attended the ‘hawks summer prospect camp.
Urquhart is not likely in the Rangers plans as he only has an AHL contract, and the slots among the 50 allowable contracts are almost gone.
You can’t judge a players future solely upon whether or not the player has an NHL contract. Dan Girardi as you may or may not remember didn’t and he started his career in Charlotte. Take my word for it, Urquhart got the notice of the team. It’s why he was resigned so quickly. If he progresses as far this season as he did last, you will hear about him either getting moved for a veteran or being brought up himself. He’s a talented defenseman and what a lot of teams are looking for. He’s good on his skates; hits, has a good point shot and moves the puck quickly and makes good strong passes. Keep your eyes on him that’s all I can say… If he does make it to NY or to the NHL for that matter, remember where you heard it first…