Balej Dealt To Vancouver

After failing to stick with the Rangers during training camp, the Rangers have elected to part ways with right wing Jozef Balej, sending him along with a conditional 5th round draft pick to the Vancouver Canucks for forward Fedor Fedorov.  Fedorov (the younger brother of NHL star Sergei Fedorov) had been asking the Vancouver Canucks to trade him after spending three years in the organization and failing to break his way into the NHL line-up.

Whille the 24 year old Russian born Fedorov has shown plenty of talent in his three year professional career, there have been questions about his attitude and discipline, and ultimately whether he can make a career in the NHL.  A serious eye injury in the 2001-02 season cost Fedorov an early opportunity to impress the Canucks, but a strong training camp the following year allowed him to make his debut with the club.

Analysis: In Balej, the Rangers give up a forward who showed plenty of promise, but appeared unable to simplify his game enough to compete at the NHL level.  The slick skating Balej had difficulty playing in traffic and perhaps lacked the strength to hold onto the puck when challenged.  In exchange the Rangers get another border line NHL forward who has not been able to put it together thus far in his career.  Fedorov has not been particularly impressive at the AHL level, but has shown some good hands for a bigger man.