With the NHL waiver draft quickly approaching, Rangers General Manager Glen Sather added a couple of depth players to the organization from. Picked up from the Carolina Hurricanes was former first round pick, Jeff Heerema, and from Atlanta, journeyman defenseman Shawn Heins. Neither player appears to have any immediate roster implications as far as the Rangers are concerned, but will more than likely help New York fill their quota of players to expose in Friday’s waiver draft.
Heerema has played just ten games at the NHL level and had struggled to break into a weakened Carolina side. The 23 year old right winger still has some potential, and with this move he may find that he has a new opportunity to reassert his game. The 6’1″, 190lb forward registered 3 goals last season in his ten game stint and has had some success at the AHL level, where he scored 33 goals two years ago.
Heins was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Penguins last season, before signing as a free agent with the Atlanta Thrashers over the summer. In 108 games over 5 NHL seasons, Heins has notched 4 goals and 8 assists.
Rangers get:
Jeff Heerema, Right Wing
Birthdate: 1/17/1980
Height/Weight: 6-1/190
Career Record: 3G 0A 3Pts 2PIM in 10 NHL games
2002-03 Stats: 3G 0A 3Pts 2PIM in 10 NHL games
Shawn Heins, Defense
Birthdate: 12/24/1973
Height/Weight: 6-3/215
Career Record: 4G 8A 12Pts 138PIM in 108 NHL games
2002-03 Stats: 1G 2A 3Pts 42PIM in 47 games