SAUER SIGNS…SWEET

Hartford Wolf Pack defenseman Michael Sauer has signed his qualifying offer from the Rangers and will come to camp to compete for a job on the blue line in New York. It is likely that Sauer will start the season in Hartford. Sauer, when healthy, has shown to be solid defensively and has a good shot, but the key for the St. Cloud, Minnesota native is staying out off the injured list. Sauer has had major injury issues, (knee & shoulder respectively), the past couple of seasons that cut his year short.

Here is the official release:

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Mike Sauer on a new contract.

Sauer, 22, skated in 42 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2009-10, registering three goals and nine assists for 12 points, along with 45 penalty minutes.  He missed the final 32 games of the season due to a shoulder injury sustained on January 29 vs. Lowell.  Prior to the injury, Sauer notched his first career shorthanded goal on October 17 at Springfield, and registered his fourth career game-winning goal with a power play tally on October 24 vs. Lowell.

Sauer skated in three games with the Rangers during the 2008-09 season, making his NHL debut on March 24 vs. Minnesota.  He enjoyed his finest offensive production in the AHL that season, establishing career-highs in goals (six), assists (17), points (23) and shots on goal (92).  Sauer led the Wolf Pack and ranked third in the AHL with a career-high, plus-29 rating.  He also tied for second among Hartford defensemen in goals, and ranked 10th on the team overall in assists.  Sauer tallied six points (two goals and four assists) in a three-game span from March 13 at Worcester to March 15 at Worcester, including a career-high, three-point performance on March 14 vs. Bridgeport (two goals and one assist).

The 6-3, 220-pounder has skated in 177 career AHL games with Hartford, registering 13 goals and 33 assists for 46 points, along with 160 penalty minutes and a plus-29 rating.  Sauer made his professional debut with Hartford on October 6, 2007 vs. Bridgeport, and tallied his first professional point with an assist on November 9, 2007 at Manchester.  He ranked third among Wolf Pack defensemen in penalty minutes (80) and tied for fifth in goals (four) that season.  He also tied for fourth among Hartford rookies in assists (seven), and fifth in goals and points (11).

The St. Cloud, Minnesota native was originally selected as the Rangers’ second round choice, 40th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

In a totally unrelated story, we were honored to be asked and pleased to be able to contribute to Rick Carpiniello’s Rangers Report blog as a guest writer on July 21st.