The second move by the Rangers/Wolf Pack saw Miika Wiikman heading out to Rangers West as Don Maloney took yet another of the players he brought over here and sent back another defenseman in Anders Eriksson. The 35-year old defenseman has been in Wolf Pack camp before and fit in nicely into a leadership role on the back line.
We’ll have quotes from both Kris Newbury and Eriksson tomorrow…
Corey Potter was also sent back to Hartford. The Pack should have an interesting 19 games left to make a run at getting into the playoffs.
By bringing in these two players, it’s safe to assume that others will be heading to Charlotte. Who we will find out soon enough.
Here’s the official release:
RANGERS ACQUIRE DEFENSEMAN ANDERS ERIKSSON
New York sends goaltender Miika Wiikman and
a seventh round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft to Phoenix
New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Anders Eriksson from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for goaltender Miika Wiikman and a seventh round selection in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Eriksson will report to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Eriksson, 35, was originally a first round draft pick, 22nd overall, in 1993 by Detroit, and captured the 1997-98 Stanley Cup Championship with the Red Wings. The 11-year veteran has skated in 564 career NHL games with Detroit, the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Columbus Blue Jackets, Calgary Flames and Phoenix Coyotes, registering 22 goals and 152 assists for 174 points, along with 242 penalty minutes and a plus-41 rating. Eriksson established career-highs in goals (seven) and plus-minus rating (plus-21) during the 1997-98 season, while he recorded a career-high in assists (25) and points (28) with Chicago in 1999-00. In addition, he has skated in 36 career post-season contests, registering six assists with 18 penalty minutes and a plus-five rating. Eriksson tallied a career-high five assists and plus-seven rating in 18 games during Detroit’s championship run in the 1998 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The 6-3, 224-pounder has registered three assists in 12 games with Phoenix this season, after signing with the Coyotes as an unrestricted free agent on December 21. He tallied three assists and a plus-two rating in his first seven games with Phoenix, from December 21 vs. Columbus to January 5 at Edmonton. In addition, Eriksson appeared in 10 games with the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League (AHL) prior to signing with Phoenix, registering one goal and three assists, along with two penalty minutes and a plus-three rating.
Internationally, the Bollnas, Sweden native has represented his country in several tournaments. He helped Sweden capture the Bronze Medal at the 1999 IIHF World Championship, registering three assists in 10 games. He also won the Silver Medal at the 1994 IIHF World Junior Championship and the Bronze Medal at the 1995 IIHF World Junior Championship. Eriksson recorded three goals and seven assists for 10 points in seven games during the 1995 IIHF World Junior Championship, en route to being named to the Tournament All-Star Team.
Mitch,
What are your thoughts on the two trades? Do they make an impact or not? You write the facts but I want your opinion.
Thanks!
Brenda,
It’s too soon to tell exactly what either guy will or won’t be able to add to the mix. My guess is not much. Eriksson will add some experience on the backline. He’ll get paired with one of the younger guys. I’m guessing the Brouillette and Urquhart have played their last games unless someone gets hurt.
Newbury?
Who knows. Nothing has worked up front so far this year. He doesn’t exactly have light them up numbers. But then neither did Owens.
Owens had six goals and 13 assistts and 53 minutes in 50 games.
Newbury has 11 goals and 22 assists and 144 penalty minutes in 52 games.
What does that mean ultimately to the Pack?
It means they are giveing up some youth, Owens is 23 and Newbury is 28, and they are getting back more scoring and a guy who will knock people on their collective asses. Is that enough to vault the Pack into the playoffs? I don’t know.
My guess is that they will probably line up like this:
Byers – Locke – Parenteau
Newbury – Dupont – Weise
Brashear – Crowder – Grachev
Ambuhl – Garlock – Couture
Potter – Sanguinetti
Heikkinen – Eriksson
Williams – Dandenault
Zaba
Johnson
Nightingale will be the extra d-man and I think Brouillette and Urquhart will get sent to Charlotte.
I’m going to the Wolf Pack practice this morning and will have some words from Kenny and the two new Pack players.