The Rangers today acquired 22 year old centerman Chad Wiseman from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for left wing Nils Ekman.  Wiseman appeared in four games with the Sharks last season and registered 4 penalty minutes, without registering a point or an assist.  In 77 games with the Cleveland Barons of the AHL, Wiseman recorded 17 goals and 35 assists to go with his 44 penalty minutes.  The Sharks the 6′ 207lb forward 246th overall (8th round) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft out of the Mississauga Ice Dogs of the OHL. 

In return the Sharks get Ekman, who registered 66 points (30 goals) in just 57 games in Hartford.  Unable to break back into the NHL line-up with the Rangers (Ekman last appeared with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1999-00 season), Ekman’s days were numbered with the re-signing of Lacouture and Petrovicky as well as the addition of Chris Simon to an increasingly crowded left wing.

Rangers get:
Chad Wiseman, Center
Birthdate: 3/25/1981
Height/Weight: 6-0/207
Career Record: 0G 0A 0Pts 4PIM in 4 NHL games
2002-03 Stats: 0G 0A 0Pts 4PIM in 4 NHL games

Sharks get:
Nils Ekman, Left Wing
Birthdate: 3/11/1976
Height/Weight: 6-1/185
Career Record: 11G 13A 24Pts 76PIM in 71 NHL games
2002-03 Stats: Did Not Play in the NHL