Day: August 14, 2005

Poti Accepts Qualifying Offer
The Rangers today announced that defenseman Tom Poti has been re-signed for the coming season.  Early reports indicated that Poti has accepted his one year qualifying offer of 2.36 million dollars and will be eligible for free agency next July as a 29 year old.  Tom Poti was acquired March 19th, 2002 along with Rem Murray in exchange for Mike York and a 4th round pick.  Since joining the Rangers, Poti has fallen out of favor with the fans mostly as a result of his style of play, but compounded by two arbitration filings as well as being part of the deal that sent fan favorite Mike York to Edmonton.

Originally drafted 59th overall in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, Poti has represented the United States at the 2002 Olympics and was an NHL All-star selection in the 2002-03 season after Brian Leetch was unable to participate due to injury.  With limited offensive options on the blueline, Poti is expected to be the leader for the Rangers on defense, particularly on the power play.

Minor League Defenseman Re-Signed
Also re-signed today was minor league defenseman/forward Steve MacIntyre, terms of the contract were not released.  MacIntyre has spent the past two seasons within the Rangers organization, playing the majority of his games with the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL.  A fan favorite in Charlotte, “Big Mac” has established himself as an enforcer with limited offensive potential.  An undrafted free-agent, MacIntyre has been working to improve his speed and skating in an effort to move up to the AHL.

There are few General Managers around the league today who draw such a negative reaction from a team’s fans as does Glen Sather.  The one time New York Rangers winger has worn thin his welcome with his confrontational personality and inability to ice a competitive team.  But while he may be one of the most disliked members of the organization, the fact remains that he still retains his title as head of the Rangers.

Given the state of the team, it is therefore not too surprising that the face of the Rangers has shifted away from Sather and onto the fan-friendly pair of Assistant General Manager Don Maloney and Head Coach Tom Renney.  During the televising of the NHL Draft Lottery while most teams sent their General Managers, it was Maloney who was the face of the Rangers.  It was he who so obviously demonstrated his disappointment and the disappointment of Rangers fans everywhere with his little more than his expression.  In the papers it has been both he and Renney who have been providing the quotes, talking up the prospects and explaining the free agent acquisitions.  Sather makes his appearance still, but it is Maloney and Renney who are leading this rebuilding effort.