The Mike Rupp era closes with the Rangers after a little more than a season, with the 32 year old forward dealt to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forwards Darroll Powe and Nick Palmieri, as the Rangers try to shake the team up after a slow start, and provide a little more depth.
Rupp never really got it going on Broadway and managed just 4 goals and 1 assist in 68 games over the past two seasons. The 6-5 forward struggled last year with a knee injury, and despite being healthy this year, never really looked like a key piece of a Rangers team that was looking for energy, scoring and a forecheck.
In return, New York gets pesky forward Darroll Powe who has just 28 goals and 28 assists in 294 games with the Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota Wild, but brings other dimensions to his game. Last year with the Wild, Powe had 151 hits – 2nd on the team, 91 blocked shots – 1st amongst forwards on the Wild and 2:27 of PK time per game – 1st amongst Wild forwards. Like Rupp, Powe has two years remaining on his contract, but at around $433K of Cap Space less per year.
The Rangers also get depth forward Nick Palmieri, who started his career with the Devils before joining the Wild last season. Palmieri 13 goals and 12 assists in 87 NHL games, and at 23 perhaps still has a chance to make the jump. At 6-3 and 220lbs, he has the size – and by some reports the shot – to play in the NHL, but lacks consistency. At 23, he doesn’t have many more chances to make an impression on his third organization.
Powe looks like a more legitimate replacement to Prust – albeit with less fighting instincts, while Palmieri provides some extra depth, and will likely play in Connecticut for the most part.
Trivia note: Palmieri was acquired in the trade that sent former Ranger draft pick Marek Zidlicky to the Devils last season.
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