NEWBURY FOR OWENS

The Rangers have made a minor league move in sending the Pack’s versatile utility guy, Jordan Owens, for Detroit’s Kris Newbury.

Newbury is a quick footed center who should give the Pack a player that he can use to try and get P.A. Parenteau, Dane Byers or Dale Weise rolling again.

Owens was a good character guy in the locker room and has a lot of talent. He impressed the Rangers organization with his hitting and penalty killing.

Ex-Pack Captain Craig Weller was moved earlier in the day in Boston’s deal for Dennis Seidenberg.

What still remains to be seen is what is done with Aaron Voros and Enver Lisin who both cleared waivers. If the Rangers make another move of any substance will likely determine who goes where.

Here’s the official release on the Newbury, Owens trade

RANGERS ACQUIRE FORWARD KRIS NEWBURY

New York sends forward Jordan Owens to Detroit

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has acquired forward Kris Newbury from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for forward Jordan Owens.

Newbury, 28, has registered one goal in four games with Detroit this season, tallying a goal in his season debut on December 14 vs. Phoenix.  In addition, Newbury has appeared in 52 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season, registering 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points, along with 144 penalty minutes.  He leads the team and is tied for 19th in the AHL in penalty minutes, and ranks third on the Griffins in points, tied for third in assists, fifth in power play goals (three), and ranks eighth in goals.  He has registered five multi-point performances on the season, including two three-point efforts on October 25 vs. Abbotsford (one goal and two assists) and December 13 at Toronto (one goal and two assists).  Newbury posted a season-high, seven-game point streak from October 25 vs. Abbotsford to November 13 vs. Milwaukee, registering nine points (one goal and eight assists) over the span.

The 5-10, 205-pounder has skated in 48 career NHL contests with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, registering four goals and three assists, along with 64 penalty minutes.  He made his NHL debut with Toronto on December 23, 2006 vs. Washington, and notched his first NHL point with a goal in his fifth game on January 1, 2007 vs. Boston.  Newbury has also appeared in 377 career AHL contests with the St. John’s Maple Leafs/Toronto Marlies and Grand Rapids Griffins, recording 76 goals and 158 assists for 234 points, along with 875 penalty minutes.  He established AHL career-highs in games played (74), goals (22), assists (38), points (60) and penalty minutes (215) during the 2005-06 season.

Prior to turning professional, Newbury appeared in 306 games over five seasons with the Belleville Bulls and Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), registering 122 goals and 184 assists for 306 points, along with 621 penalty minutes.  He enjoyed his best OHL season in 2001-02, leading Sarnia with 62 assists, 104 points and 141 penalty minutes and finishing second on the Sting with 42 goals en route to being named as an OHL Second Team All-Star.

The Brampton, Ontario native was originally selected as San Jose’s fifth round pick, 139th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.