Rangers agree to terms with Shanahan

NEW YORK (AP) - Brendan Shanahan stuck to his word and agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Rangers on Tuesday.

The 38-year-old winger had 29 goals and 62 points with the Rangers last season, his first with New York. Following the Rangers' second-round playoff elimination, Shanahan said he wanted to continue his career and had no interest in playing anywhere but New York.

"I had a fantastic time this year and if I play again next year, I'd love to be a part of it," he said in May. "The pieces are there if they want to make it happen."

The Rangers pushed closer to the salary-cap ceiling of US$50.3 million by signing star centres Scott Gomez and Chris Drury to lucrative deals on July 1, the first day of free agency, but maintained they still had enough financial flexibility to bring back Shanahan.

Now that he is in the fold, the Rangers will seek to make deals with goalie Henrik Lundqvist and gritty forward Sean Avery - who spent time on Shanahan's line after being acquired from Los Angeles. Both Lundqvist and Avery are restricted free agents slated for salary arbitration.

Shanahan was second on the team in goals and fourth in points, He missed 15 games after a violent collision with Philadelphia forward Mike Knuble him with a serious concussion on Feb. 17.

He had one goal and seven assists upon returning for New York's final nine regular-season games and added five goals and seven points for the Rangers in 10 post-season games against Atlanta and Buffalo.

Shanahan's numbers could improve next season with Drury on the No. 2 line. The Rangers juggled players all season trying to find the right mix since they didn't have a natural centre to play with Shanahan.

His one season in New York had plenty of significant moments. Shanahan became the 15th NHL player with 600 goals when he scored twice against Washington during his Rangers debut last Oct. 5. He also reached the 20-goal mark for the 18th straight season, joining Gordie Howe as the only players to do that.

Shanahan leads active players and is 12th overall with 627 goals. The eight-time all-star, who earned US$4 million last season, has 1,294 points in 1,417 regular-season games. In the playoffs, Shanahan has 53 goals, 119 points and three Stanley Cup titles in 157 games.

The deal will pay him a base salary of $2.5 million with myriad bonuses that could get him back to the $4 million mark he hit last season.

Canadian Press
7/11/2007 11:54:44 AM

NEW YORK (CP) - Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will get US$4.25 million in a one-year NHL contract with the New York Rangers.

The 25-year-old Swede, who was a restricted free agent before the new deal was announced Wednesday, made $817,000 last season when he won 37 games - second most in one season by a Rangers goaltender since Mike Richter won 42 during the team's 1993-94 championship season.

Lundqvist ranked fourth in the NHL in minutes played (4,108), tied for sixth in shutouts (five), tied for eighth in wins (37), was eighth in goals-against average (2.34) and tied for ninth in save percentage (.917).

The 2006 Olympic champion was hot down the stretch. In his last 44 regular-season games, he had a 1.85 GAA, a .931 save percentage and surrendered two goals or fewer 33 times. He was named first star of the week twice last March and was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy for the second consecutive season.
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In the 2007 playoffs, Lundqvist had a 6-4 record, a 2.07 GAA and a .924 save percentage in 10 games. The six-foot-one, 195-pounder has more wins (67) in his first two NHL seasons than any goaltender in team history. He was the Rangers' seventh selection, 205th overall, in the 2000 entry draft.

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According to nhlnumbers (www.nhlnumbers.com/nyr.html) the Rangers' cap number would stand at $48,710 if you subtract DK salary. That leaves roughly 2M to sign both Hossa and Avery. I'm not worried about Hossa, but Avery put up some decent numbers and I'm a bit worried about what he would get in arbitration.

'Canes acquire Cullen from Rangers

The Carolina Hurricanes have acquired forward Matt Cullen from the New York Rangers for defenseman Andrew Hutchinson, forward Joe Barnes and a third round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Cullen had 16 goals and 25 assists in 80 games for last season for the Rangers. He had one goal and three assists in 10 playoff games.

It will be Cullen's second stint with the Hurricanes. He was part of Carolina's Stanley Cup winning team in 2006.

"Matt was an important member of our championship team in 2006 and we obviously know he is an excellent fit for our style of play," said president and general manager Jim Rutherford. "He is extremely popular in our dressing room and his speed and skill will be important assets going forward."

Hutchinson had three goals and 14 points for the Hurricanes last season. Barnes was a third-round pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and played 15 games for Albany (AHL) in 2006-07.

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It's official. I think this is a good move for both sides. Cullen played his best hockey in Carolina and the Rangers get the caproom they needed.

So, they send DK to the minors (-3M), trade of Cullen (-2.8M), and obtain Hutchenson (+.5M) the Rangers should now have about 4M in capspace, give or take a bit.

Updated guess as to the RANGERS line combos:

Straka – Gomez – Jagr
Shanahan – Drury – Avery
Hossa – Betts – Prucha
Hollweg – Dawes – Callahan

Extra forward: Orr

Malik – Rozsival
Tyutin – Mara
Girardi – Staal

Extra D: Pock

Lundqvist
Montoya