The Rangers announced today that they have re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Martin Grenier. Grenier was acquired in March, along with R J Umberger in the deal that sent left wing Martin Rucinsky to the Vancouver Canucks. The rugged defenseman played out the season with the Hartford Wolf Pack and was part of the team that went to game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals after returning from injury.
Grenier split time between the Manitoba Moose and Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL and appeared in 7 games with the Vancouver Canucks prior to the trade. In 15 career NHL games, the former Colorado Avalanche draft pick has scored 1 goal and registered 14 penalty minutes.
OTG’s Take:
Grenier is a depth defenseman who can help out with his fists. He may get a look with the Rangers this year with the depleted roster, but it appears unlikely that he’ll be a regular NHLer in the near future..
| Martin GrenierPosition: Defense Height / Weight : 6-5 / 245 Shoots: Left Drafted: 1999 – 2nd Round (45th), Colorado AvalancheBirthdate: 11/2/1980 Birth Place: Laval, PQ – Canada Contract: undisclosed | ||||||||||||
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | PP | SHG | GW | S |
| 1997-98 | Quebec | QMJHL | 61 | 4 | 11 | 15 | – | 202 | – | – | – | – |
| 1998-99 | Quebec | QMJHL | 60 | 7 | 18 | 25 | – | 479 | – | – | – | – |
| 1999-00 | Quebec | QMJHL | 67 | 11 | 35 | 46 | – | 302 | – | – | – | – |
| 2000-01 | Quebec | QMJHL | 26 | 5 | 16 | 21 | – | 82 | – | – | – | – |
| 2000-01 | Victoriaville | QMJHL | 28 | 9 | 19 | 28 | – | 108 | – | – | – | – |
| 2001-02 | Springfield | AHL | 69 | 2 | 6 | 8 | – | 241 | – | – | – | – |
| 2001-02 | Phoenix | NHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 | – | – | – | – |
| 2002-03 | Springfield | AHL | 73 | 2 | 10 | 12 | – | 232 | – | – | – | – |
| 2002-03 | Phoenix | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| 2003-04 | Manitoba | AHL | 38 | 5 | 4 | 9 | – | 145 | – | – | – | – |
| 2003-04 | Vancouver | NHL | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | 9 | – | – | – | – |
| 2003-04 | Hartford | AHL | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | – | 105 | – | – | – | – |
Rangers announce re-signing of Layne Ulmer
Restricted free agent center Layne Ulmer was re-signed today. The former WHL star originally signed with the Rangers as a free agent in 2002 after he was unable to come to terms with the Ottawa Senators. The 6’1″ forward made his NHL debut last year with an appearance in the final game of the season, capping off his best pro year in which he totaled 22 goals and 16 assists in 76 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack.
OTG’s Take:
Ulmer has not been able to translate his junior career success into an NHL career as of yet and it appears the likelihood of him doing so is ever decreasing. However, with only a limited number of forwards under contract, it was almost essential to re-sign the young centerman and he will get another chance to try and take the next step within the organization.
| Layne UlmerPosition: Center / Wing Height / Weight : 6-1 / 205 Shoots: Left Drafted: 1999 – 7th Round (209th), Ottawa SenatorsBirthdate: 9/14/1980 Birth Place: North Battleford, SK – Canada Contract: undisclosed | ||||||||||||
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | PP | SHG | GW | S |
| 1997-98 | Swift Current | WHL | 50 | 8 | 9 | 17 | – | 23 | – | – | – | – |
| 1998-99 | Swift Current | WHL | 72 | 40 | 35 | 75 | – | 34 | – | – | – | – |
| 1999-00 | Swift Current | WHL | 71 | 50 | 54 | 104 | – | 66 | – | – | – | — |
| 2000-01 | Swift Current | WHL | 68 | 63 | 56 | 119 | – | 75 | – | – | – | – |
| 2001-02 | Charlotte | ECHL | 38 | 18 | 17 | 35 | – | 12 | – | – | – | – |
| 2001-02 | Hartford | AHL | 22 | 0 | 5 | 5 | – | 17 | – | – | – | – |
| 2002-03 | Hartford | AHL | 68 | 12 | 20 | 32 | – | 16 | – | – | – | – |
| 2003-04 | Hartford | AHL | 76 | 22 | 16 | 38 | – | 26 | – | – | – | – |
| 2003-04 | New York | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |