Immonen Signs On
The Rangers finally made it official today, announcing the signing of Jarkko Immonen to an NHL contract. The announcement ends a period of uncertainty over Immonen’s future, and will mean the JYP’s former star forward will get a chance to compete for an NHL roster spot this season. Acquired from Toronton in March of 2004, Immonen was part of the deal that saw long time Ranger Brian Leetch leave the only team he had ever played for.
Without an NHL season last year, Immonen elected to continue to play for JYP in the Finnish SM-Liiga where he lead his team with 19 goals and 47 points in 54 appearances. His total of 47 points was tied for 7th in the league and his power play totals of 6 goals and 17 assists tied him for 4th in the league with 23 power play points.
There’s a good chance that Immonen will start the year with Hartford, but a strong camp and pre-season could see him earn a spot on the NHL squad to start the year.
| Jarkko Immonen | |
| Height: 6-0 | Age: 23 |
| Weight: 202 | Birthday: April 19, 1982 |
| Position: Center | Birthplace: Rantasalmi – Finland |
| Shoots: Right | Drafted: 2002 NHL Entry Draft – Toronto – #254 (8th round) |
| REGULAR SEASON | ||||||||||||||
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | PPG | SHG | SOG | |||
| 2001-2002 | Assat | FNL | 44 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 26 | 6 | – | – | – | |||
| 2002-2003 | JYP | FNL | 56 | 10 | 23 | 33 | 8 | 34 | – | – | – | |||
| 2003-2004 | JYP | FNL | 52 | 23 | 26 | 49 | 8 | 28 | – | – | – | |||
| 2004-2005 | JYP | FNL | 54 | 19 | 28 | 47 | 3 | 24 | 6 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 206 | 52 | 79 | 131 | 45 | 92 | 6 | 2 | 0 | |||||
Trade Made With Ducks
In an unexpected move, the Rangers have acquired centerman Steve Rucchin in exchange for minor leaguer Trevor Gillies and a conditional pick (believed to be a 4th rounder) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. The Mighty Ducks found themselves needing to move some salary and the Rangers were only to happy to oblige, taking on their captain in exchange for a limited return. The 34 year old Rucchin was selected in the 1994 NHL Supplemental Draft by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and has spent his entire ten year pro career with the team.
A reliable contributor at both ends of the ice, Rucchin is well liked by team mates and coaches and may provide some of the leadership the Rangers need to rebuild their organization. Rucchin has just one year remaining on his contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next season.
In exchange the Ducks get Trevor Gillies, whom the Rangers signed as a free agent last summer. Gillies can play forward or defense, but played as a fourth line enforcer on the wing for the Wolf Pack last season.
| Steve Rucchin | |
| Height: 6-2 | Age: 34 |
| Weight: 215 | Birthday: July 4, 1971 |
| Position: Center | Birthplace: Thunder Bay, ON – Canada |
| Shoots: Left | Drafted: 1994 NHL Supplemental Draft – Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
| REGULAR SEASON | ||||||||||||
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | PPG | SHG | SOG | |
| 1994-1995 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 43 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 7 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 59 | |
| 1995-1996 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 64 | 19 | 25 | 44 | 3 | 53 | 8 | 1 | 113 | |
| 1996-1997 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 79 | 19 | 48 | 67 | 26 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 153 | |
| 1997-1998 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 72 | 17 | 36 | 53 | 8 | 22 | 8 | 1 | 131 | |
| 1998-1999 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 69 | 23 | 39 | 62 | 11 | 61 | 5 | 1 | 145 | |
| 1999-2000 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 71 | 19 | 38 | 57 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 131 | |
| 2000-2001 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 16 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -5 | 44 | 2 | 0 | 19 | |
| 2001-2002 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 38 | 7 | 16 | 23 | -3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 57 | |
| 2002-2003 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 82 | 20 | 38 | 58 | -14 | 41 | 6 | 1 | 194 | |
| 2003-2004 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 82 | 20 | 23 | 43 | -14 | 74 | 9 | 1 | 148 | |
| Total | 616 | 153 | 279 | 432 | 28 | 340 | 58 | 6 | 1150 | |||
| Trevor Gillies | |
| Height: 6-3 | Age: 25 |
| Weight: 225 | Birthday: January 30, 1979 |
| Position: Forward / Defense | Birthplace: Cambridge Bay, ON – Canada |
| Shoots: Left | Drafted: Undrafted |
| TREVOR GILLIES – REGULAR SEASON | ||||||||||||||
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | PPG | SHG | SOG | |||
| 1996-1997 | North Bay Centennials | OHL | 26 | 0 | 3 | 3 | – | 72 | – | – | – | |||
| 1997-1998 | North Bay Centennials | OHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 | – | – | – | |||
| 1997-1998 | Sarnia Sting | OHL | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 33 | – | – | – | |||
| 1997-1998 | Oshawa Generals | OHL | 45 | 1 | 2 | 3 | – | 184 | – | – | – | |||
| 1998-1999 | Oshawa Generals | OHL | 66 | 6 | 9 | 15 | – | 270 | – | – | – | |||
| 1999-2000 | Lowell Lock Monsters | AHL | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 38 | – | – | – | |||
| 1999-2000 | Mississippi Sea Wolves | ECHL | 53 | 0 | 6 | 6 | – | 202 | – | – | – | |||
| 2000-2001 | Greensboro Generals | ECHL | 63 | 1 | 6 | 7 | – | 303 | – | – | – | |||
| 2001-2002 | Richmond Renegades | ECHL | 18 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 51 | – | – | – | |||
| 2001-2002 | Providence Bruins | AHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 | – | – | – | |||
| 2001-2002 | Augusta Lynx | ECHL | 46 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 269 | – | – | – | |||
| 2002-2003 | Lowell Lock Monsters | AHL | 25 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 132 | – | – | – | |||
| 2002-2003 | Richmond Renegades | ECHL | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 20 | – | – | – | |||
| 2002-2003 | Peoria Riverman | ECHL | 24 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 180 | – | – | – | |||
| 2003-2004 | Springfield Falcons | AHL | 61 | 2 | 1 | 3 | – | 277 | – | – | – | |||
| 2004-2005 | Hartford Wolf Pack | AHL | 33 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 192 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |||
| Total | 498 | 10 | 33 | 43 | 9 | 2248 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||