BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – The early NHL Trade Deadline returns that came with Connecticut connections are, so far, minimal.
The Hartford Wolf Pack franchise parent, the New York Rangers, locked up one-time Pack forward, Chris Kreider on a seven year/$6.5 million per deal locking up the speedy forward until he’s 35 years old, keeping this year’s team’s best player from leaving as an Unrestricted Free Agent this summer.
The possible continued break-up of the Rangers’ roster was averted as well. The team is currently on a 7-1 run and find themselves just four points out of the second wild-card playoff spot.
Other big news out of The Big Apple was the announcement by Rangers President, John Davidson, that both goalie Igor Shesterkin and forward Pavel Buchnevich, both former Wolf Pack players, were involved in a motor vehicle accident Sunday night at 8:30 PM in Brooklyn.
Davidson, talking to the media from the team’s practice facility in Tarrytown, NY announced the details of the accident as well as Kreider’s signing.
The two Russians were taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital for treatment.
Shesterkin was the driver of the car when the other driver made a U-turn in front of them causing the crash. The airbags deployed and “thankfully,” both players were wearing seat belts.
Buchenvich was “quite shaken up,” according to Davidson, but suffered “no significant injuries and he’s listed as day-to-day.”
Shesterkin wasn’t quite as lucky and did suffer an injury.
The preliminary diagnosis for Shesterkin is he suffered a non-displaced rib-fracture and will be re-evaluated by team physicians in two weeks.
After a 9-1 record-setting start to his professional career, it would seem that the only thing that Shesterkin couldn’t stop was another car.
On the trade front as of 3pm only a few made have some local flavor.
The first two involved former Quinnipiac University Bobcats.
Florida traded Vincent Trochek to Carolina for Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark, Eatu Lustostarinen and former Bobcat Chase Priskie playing in Charlotte.
Priskie was reassigned to Springfield (AHL).
Then Montreal continued the housecleaning of veterans in Laval by dealing one-time Bobcat, Matthew Peca to Ottawa for Aaron Luchuk.
Sam Gagner, the son of former New Haven Nighthawk and Ranger, Dave Gagner, was sent from the Edmonton Oilers to the Detroit Red Wings along with a second-round pick from this year and next year 2021.
