RANGERS – ISLANDERS MAKE TRADE…COULD HELL HAVE FROZEN OVER? 

Perhaps the two greatest rivals in the NHL, and certainly would get a high mention in all of sport, have made a trade ending a 38 year drought between moves. The Rangers are sending a sixth round draft pick in the upcoming draft to the Islanders in exchange for 19-year old defenseman Jyri Niemi.

The last time these teams hooked up for a player move was on Nov. 14, 1972. At that time the Rangers flipped right wing Ron Stewart, no relation to Rod, to the Islanders in a cash deal (and a bag of pucks…sorry that one was just screaming to be written).

Niemi was the Islanders Third round pick in the 2008 draft (72nd overall). The Hameenkyro, Finland native is 6-3 and 210-pounds and over this previous season played in over 50 games with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Niemi (pronounced nee-YEH-mee) registered eight goals, 21 helpers for 29 points. The blueliner also logged 67 penalty minutes and held a plus-nine rating.

Some interesting facts about the Rangers’ newest acquisition is that he won the hardest shot competition at the 2008 CHL Top Prospects Game. At 17 he registered a shot at 97 miles per hour. He patterns his game after fellow Fin defensemen Joni Pitkanen and and another defender that the Rangers had their eyes on, Sheldon Souray. According to the Islanders website, Niemi said, “Pitkanen, because he’s good offensively and Souray because of his shot”. Perhaps that’s the thought process behind this move for the Rangers. Souray without the price tag?

Niemi, a left handed shot, plays the point on the power play and likes to blast away with his hard shot but needs to improve his defensive play if he’s going to fulfill his projection as a top-tier blueliner.

The Fin has had a series of injuries to contend with during his career, but the allure of a D-man with a Souray like shot costing VERY little to the Rangers had to be a) worth the risk and b) the basis of the appeal.

The accompanying picture shows Niemi as Finland’s captain in last year’s world junior championships. You may recall that Niemi and his Fin buddies went down the tubes to the United States team, the events champion in the quarters.

We’ll be checking in with our own Jess Rubenstein of Prospect Park to get more on the Rangers’ latest acquisition.

Niemi agreed to a contract and will likely start the season with the Wolf Pack.

Could this move be a precursor to one of the Ranger prospects like Bobby Sanguinetti or Corey Potter, the top two offensive minded D-men in the system, being moved elsewhere or will he join them in Hartford?

Here’s the official release:

RANGERS ACQUIRE DEFENSEMAN JYRI NIEMI

Rangers and Islanders Complete First Trade in 37 Years

New York, May 25, 2010 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Jyri Niemi from the New York Islanders in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.   The Rangers and Niemi have agreed to terms on a contract.

Niemi, 19, skated in 50 games with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this past season, registering eight goals and 21 assists for 29 points, along with 67 penalty minutes and a plus-nine rating.  He ranked second among team defensemen in goals and power play goals and third in assists and points.  Niemi recorded a career-high, five-game scoring streak from October 7 vs. Kootenay to October 18 at Edmonton, tallying seven points over the span, including a two-goal effort on October 7.  He recorded a point in each of his last four regular season contests from February 20 vs. Brandon to February 26 vs. Prince Albert (one goal and three assists), and registered 10 points (two goals and eight assists) in 13 games during the month of February.  The third-year player established career-highs in post-season games played, goals and penalty minutes while ranking second among Saskatoon defensemen in playoff goals and tied for third in playoff points.

The 6-3, 210-pounder has appeared in 159 career regular season contests for Saskatoon, registering 29 goals and 66 assists for 95 points, along with 198 penalty minutes and a plus-27 rating.  He established career-highs in games played (60), assists (25), penalty minutes (74) and plus/minus rating (plus-19) during the 2008-09 season.  Later that season, Niemi made his WHL Playoff debut, and led Saskatoon with a career-high six assists and seven points in six post-season contests.  In 2007-08, he finished first among WHL rookie defensemen with a career-high 14 goals, and ranked third with 34 points while skating in 49 games.  He was selected to participate in the 2008 CHL Top Prospects Game, where he won the hardest shot competition with a shot registered at 97 miles per hour.  Saskatoon’s first pick, 13th overall, in the 2007 CHL Import Draft, Niemi made his WHL debut on September 21, 2007, at Brandon, and notched his first point with a goal and added two assists for a career-high, three points on September 26 vs. Moose Jaw.

Prior to joining Saskatoon, Niemi played with HPK Hameenlinna in the Finnish Junior League, registering six goals and three assists for nine points, along with 72 penalty minutes in 35 games during the 2006-07 season.  Internationally, Niemi has represented his native country in several international tournaments, most recently serving as Captain for Finland at the 2010 U-20 World Junior Championship.  He finished the tournament tied for second among all defensemen and ranked second among Finnish skaters in goals (three), and tied for third on the team in points (five).

The Hameenkyro, Finland native was originally selected as the New York Islanders’ third round pick, 72nd overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.  The Rangers and Islanders last completed a trade on November 14, 1972, when the Rangers sent right wing Ron Stewart to the Islanders in exchange for cash.

Niemi picture courtesy of Zimbio.com