After a relatively quiet start to the Summer, the Rangers today announced their first major free agent signing of the off-season with the addition of center Michael Nylander. The Swedish pivot who began last season centering fellow Ranger Jaromir Jagr, is coming off a year in which he was limited to just 18 regular season games after missing much of the season with a broken bone. Nylander finished off the year in Boston where he managed 3 goals and 6 points in the first round exit by the Bruins.
The deal is said to be worth $8.9 million over three years with Nylander set to make $2.9 million in 2004-05. There is also an option for a 4th season in 2007-08 season, when the veteran center will be 36 years of age.
OTG’s Take:
The Rangers were in search of a #1 center and they were perhaps looking for someone who would also make Jaromir Jagr happy, in Michael Nylander they get both. Nylander provides the playmaking center that the Rangers were looking for, and takes the pressure off of the likes of Lundmark, Moore, Betts and Helminen as well as allowing Bobby Holik to play more of a line-matching role which he is better suited to. Perhaps the only knock against the deal is the 3 years for a player who is 32 and coming off a year in which he played just 18 regular season games.
Michael NylanderPosition: Center Height / Weight : 6-1 / 195 Shoots: Left Drafted: 1991 – 3rd Round (59th), Hartford WhalersBirthdate: 10/3/1972 Birth Place: Edmonton, AB – Canada Contract: Believed to be 1 year – $1.13 million | ||||||||||||
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | PP | SHG | GW | S |
1991-92 | AIK | SEL | 40 | 11 | 17 | 28 | – | 30 | – | – | – | – |
1992-93 | Hartford | NHL | 59 | 11 | 22 | 33 | -7 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 85 |
1993-94 | Calgary | NHL | 15 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
1993-94 | Hartford | NHL | 58 | 11 | 33 | 44 | -2 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 74 |
1993-94 | Springfield | AHL | 4 | 0 | 9 | 9 | – | 0 | – | – | – | – |
1994-95 | Calgary | NHL | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
1994-95 | JYP | FNL | 16 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 0 | 63 | – | – | – | – |
1995-96 | Calgary | NHL | 73 | 17 | 38 | 55 | 0 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 163 |
1996-97 | Lugano | SWI | 36 | 12 | 43 | 55 | – | 28 | – | – | – | – |
1997-98 | Calgary | NHL | 65 | 13 | 23 | 36 | 10 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 117 |
1998-99 | Calgary | NHL | 9 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
1998-99 | Tampa Bay | NHL | 24 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
1999-00 | Tampa Bay | NHL | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
1999-00 | Chicago | NHL | 66 | 23 | 28 | 51 | 9 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 112 |
2000-01 | Chicago | NHL | 82 | 25 | 39 | 64 | 7 | 32 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 176 |
2001-02 | Chicago | NHL | 82 | 15 | 46 | 61 | 28 | 50 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 158 |
2002-03 | Chicago | NHL | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
2002-03 | Washington | NHL | 71 | 17 | 39 | 56 | 3 | 36 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 141 |
2003-04 | Washington | NHL | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2003-04 | Boston | NHL | 15 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 29 |
Rangers announce re-signing of Jamie Lundmark
New York also announced today the re-signing of restricted free agent Jamie Lundmark who is rumored to have accepted his one year $1.13 million qualifying offer. Lundmark is coming off a sophomore season in which he registered just 2 goals and 8 assists in 56 appearances after suffering an early knee injury as a result of a knee on knee collision with the Islanders’ Michael Peca.
The contract will be the second of Lundmark’s young career, with the 23 year old forward coming off of his initial three year entry level deal.
OTG’s Take:
There were plenty of rumors that Lundmark would not be back with the Rangers this year, gone in a draft day trade. As it happens Lundmark now finds himself in a position to once again prove that he’s got what it takes, although it’s fair to say he has less competition this season and could well have the opportunity to move back to his natural center position.
Jamie LundmarkPosition: Center / Wing Height / Weight : 6-0 / 197 Shoots: Right Drafted: 1999 – 1st Round (9th), New York RangersBirthdate: 1/16/1981 Birth Place: Stockholm – Sweden Contract: 3 years – $8.9 million with a 4th year option | ||||||||||||
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | PP | SHG | GW | S |
1998-99 | Moose Jaw | WHL | 70 | 40 | 51 | 91 | – | 121 | – | – | – | – |
1999-00 | Moose Jaw | WHL | 37 | 21 | 27 | 48 | – | 33 | – | – | – | — |
2000-01 | Seattle | WHL | 52 | 35 | 42 | 77 | – | 49 | – | – | – | – |
2001-02 | Hartford | AHL | 79 | 27 | 32 | 59 | -17 | 56 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 226 |
2002-03 | Hartford | AHL | 22 | 9 | 9 | 18 | +2 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 72 |
2002-03 | New York | NHL | 55 | 8 | 11 | 19 | -3 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 |
2003-04 | New York | NHL | 56 | 2 | 8 | 10 | -8 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 68 |