Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Morris to the Rangers


Derek Morris is heading to the Big Apple from the Desert for a good package of players including, Dimitri Kalinin, Petr Prucha and Nigel Dawes.




2008-2009 Statistics20092010
To RangersPositionAgeGP/MINPointsCap HitCap Hit
Derek MorrisD305712$3.916 millionUFA




2008-2009 Statistics20092010
To CoyotesPositionAgeGP/MINPointsCap HitCap Hit
Dimitri KalininD285813$2.1 millionUFA
Petr PruchaF26289$1.6 millionUFA
Nigel DawesF245219$588,000RFA

The Rangers turned out to get the most-prized (or most available) defenseman on the market for the deadline in Morris and ended up paying a pretty good premium to get the rearguard. On the flipside of that comment, Prucha and Dawes have been regular scratches for the Rangers, which led to a little bit of speculation on this side of the blog that thought they would be moved at the deadline. Prucha and Dawes are quick wingers, so the Coyotes will love having them, while Kalinin will fill a gap on the blueline that Morris leaves behind.

Pool-wise, Morris is a blueliner of Wes' in the Draft (also a Box 11 defenseman), who can help increase the offense from the blueline of the Rangers, which may improve other Rangers more than it really increases Morris' offense. The Rangers' blueline has been horrible offensively this season, so the influx of Morris should help greatly.

Prucha and Dawes are both Sheet forwards and they will be going to a team that will greatly accept a couple of young players with a little bit of experience. Look for their numbers to increase slowly before the end of this season and come back with some decent numbers in Phoenix, if they re-sign there.

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