Phoenix Coyotes GM Don Maloney stated before the deadline he would not be a deadline seller, and held true to his word, looking to bolster his roster both for now and the future.
He also decided to deal with his former employer, the New York Rangers, where he used to work as an assistant to GM Glen Sather.
The Coyotes shipped winger Fredrik Sjostrom, goaltender David Leneveu and winger Josh Gratton to the Rangers in exchange for goalie Al Montoya and winger Marcel Hossa.
Hossa has some decent offensive skills but has spent his NHL career in Montreal and New York bouncing between the scoring lines and the checking lines, along with stops to farm clubs during his NHL career. Perhaps the pressure of playing in the shadow of his more talented and famous older brother Marian Hossa has affected Marcel’s development.
He’ll get an opportunity to prove himself with a young, promising Coyotes team that has surprised many observers by battling for a playoff berth this season.
Montoya could be perhaps a key addition in the future for the Coyotes. A former first round pick of the Rangers who backstopped Team USA to gold in the 2004 World Junior Hockey Championships, Montoya has struggled to crack the Rangers lineup. With Henrik Lundqvist signed long-term with the Rangers he wasn’t likely to get an opportunity to prove himself with the Rangers.
It won’t be easy for him with the Coyotes, however, as they’ve committed to Ilya Bryzgalov, who’s perhaps the biggest reason for the ‘Yotes improvement this season. He’ll have to battle Mikael Tellqvist in training camp this fall for the backup role, but if he can get his foot in the door with the Coyotes, it could be the opportunity he needs to establish himself as an NHL goalie.
As for the Rangers, they’re getting an upgrade over the inconsistent Hossa in Sjostrom, who’s proven himself a reliable checker who can play either wing, giving the Rangers some flexibility. LeNeveu was once projected a future number one goalie for the Coyotes but at this point he appears a career minor league, as does Gratton.
Huh... Not what I was expecting, but huh... Initial reaction, Coyotes win in this one. Montoya's looked pretty solid in Hartford (despite Hartford being Hartford this season), has experience on the international stage, and from what I've seen of Tellqvist, will be a more-than-adequate backup for Bryzgalov for the time being.
The lesser Hossa brother still brings scoring depth and a little grit to the table. From what I've seen this season, he's fairly responsible in his own end, something young teams often lack. He'll do well in Phoenix.
Hopefully Sjostrom has a couple years on his contract (couldn't be bothered to check for the moment) since the Rangers already have a bunch of FA's to address this season. If he's a good checking forward, all the better. The Rangers haven't had a good checking line since the Cup days.
Montoya has been plagued by injuries over the last two seasons. He wasn't even starting anymore in Hartford. The bottom line with him was that his trade value was only decreasing. As for Marcel Hossa - I have no problem giving him up in this deal. He's the only player I can think of who is either starting on the top line or a healthy scratch.
As for the players the Rangers got back, I'm not sure either one of them are going to play Broadway this season. Maybe Sjostrom will but I think the more likely scenario is that he heads to Hartford once Petr Prucha is ready to play again.
The Rangers also got D Chris Backman from St. Louis for a 4th round pick. He'll probably take Jason Strudwick's place in the lineup and then force Renny to sit either Mara or Malik.
Bluesbacker - keep in mind you're talking about a team that runs Paul Mara and Marek Malik out there on the blueline on a nightly basis - a bag of pucks is a huge improvement.
Chaas - I have no problem moving Montoya. He was never going to be the starter in NY and they have a capable backup as well. Given his uneven play in the AHL (Miika Wiikman had bumped him to No. 2 netminder with the Pack) getting something back was getting harder and harder.
Sather what a fat loser you are. You sit on top of MSG and suck on that fat cigar. These moves will do nothing for the Rangers run to the play offs. There were a few better moves out there and YOU failed to get them.
Maybe the owners need to trade you for a bag of #### in the off season. Worth more then you.
Sather is apparently not making a lot of fans on Broadway. I'm actually surprised there were any left to begin with. That said, I think it's a bit overcritical in this instance. It's not like he was trading the best and the brightest, and the goalie market just stinks right now. You had to figure something needed to be done with Montoya, and even if he never pans out, I'm impressed with the job Phoenix has done turning their horrible goaltending situation around into an honest-to-goodness competition that has the potential to turn very interesting before too long. They have completely overhauled the position, and deserve full credit for that. I don't see anyone else involved here making much of an impact.
Since the end of last season Sather has added Chris Drury and Scott Gomez. He locked up two young defensemen and Lundqvist, what other moves would some of you have liked him to make? The top need on the team was defense and the top targets were Brian Campbell (who wasn't coming to the Rangers so long as Buffalo is fighting the Rangers for a playoff spot) Dan Boyle and Barret Jackman (both of whom were signed to contracts) Going out and trading prospects for a big name, just for the sake of getting a big name, is exactly how the Rangers wound up in the mess they were in 10 years ago when they were bringing in Marty McSorely, Jari Kurri, Pavel Bure, and others of that ilk.
The team needed some tinkering, they tinkered. Marcel Hossa wasn't a useful player and won't be missed. Al Montoya was losing value each day in Hartford, so they traded the two of them for another disappointing draft pick and a goaltender to replace Montoya in Hartford. With Mara out they needed depth on the blue line and got it with Backman, and with Mara, Malik, Jagr, Shanny, and Roszival all leaving after this season the money Backman is slated to make won't be all that big a hit. I'm not getting how this is a bad day for the Rangers.
ChipS is the only person talking sense on this thread. Let's not forget people that we have a FUTURE to think about. To get Campbell or a similar player we weren't going to be able to just give up Marcel Hossa and Al Montoya. A lot of you seem to have forgotten the mistakes of only a few years ago. What did trading for aging talent do for us between 98-03?
I'm happy with what Sather accomplished really. Backman means that we won't have to see any more Strudwick unless TWO defenseman are injured. Sjostrom is a good depth winger - he's got better offensive skills than Hossa. Montoya never was going to amount to anything with the Rangers and personally, I don't think he will with the Coyotes either. Let's reunite LeNevue with his old goalie coach - Allaire and see what happens. My only qualm is that he didn't trade Montoya earlier. Did he really have to wait until Montoya couldn't even start for the Wolfpack to trade him?
NYRFan818: I'm thinking that some of the people knocking Sather are just knocking him out of habit at this point. The way I see it, the cap hit for Backman will be meaningless since next year the odds are that, like I said above, so much money is coming off the cap and the plan being to replace the departing blueliners with the likes of Ivan Baranka and Bobby Sanguenetti.
Throw in the likes of Hugh Jessiman (who is finally developing the way the Rangers wanted him to), Artem Anisimov, Cherepanov, Lauri Korpikoski, Tom Pyatt and Alex Bourret the Rangers will have plenty of in house options to pick from before having to go outside and look for free agents (of which it appears the pickings will be slim)
I don't understand why the no-trade clause is causing Sundin so much grief. First, people moan that players have no loyalty, that they only think of themselves, they are so selfish, yada yada. Now that a high-profile player FINALLY shows some loyalty to the team that he loves, people there are moaning because they can't trade him to improve their club. Well which way do you want it folks? Who's being selfish now?
As for the Rangers obtaining Backman; realize this: Mara is most likely out for the remainder of the regular season. They needed a replacement, someone who can pass the puck out of his zone. Backman just might provide that element.
As for Hossa, good riddance. What a robotic forward he is. And he plays a small game.
As for Jagr, I'm dissappointed we couldn't deal him for some good draft positions.
As for Montoya.......WHO???? What has he done at Hartford? We have Valliquette to back up Henrik, although sometimes I think their roles should be reversed! Montoya was wasting away on this club. Leneveu has a better future in my opinion. If Benoit Allaire pushed for this guy, then I'm sure he knows what he's talking about.
Biggest joke of the day is steroid-boy Cam Janssen being picked up by John Davidson's Blues! It was only last year when JD said on the air that Cam Janssen had no business being in the NHL! All of a sudden he's worth trading for?
Pittsburg took out an equity loan on their future in trading for Hossa, but they sure will be tough to beat now. What a 1-2 punch they have now. Yikes.
I like this trade for the coyotes. Hossa still has potential. If he can even be as half as good as his brother it would be great. Montoya is great for the future but i think their goaltending situation is stable right now. Sjostrom was good but he like Hossa has not lived up to his potential.LeNevue had his chance phoenix a couple of years ago and wasn't good enough. Plus he was getting beat out by josh tjordman.When it comes to josh gratton- who cares.
chips, nyrfan818 and antny.........I think some of these "Ranger Fans" would rather give up 2 number one picks for Jeremy Roenick just because they heard of him!!!! Sather is finally building a frachise and not being suckered by other GM's. Solid, no panic moves today. I still think Brian Campbell may come this summer, without giving up prospects ordraft picks.
totally agree with you, no mortgaging the future. If we made a big splash for a name like Hossa, we'd mortgage alot of the future, many of the Pens fans are actually opposed to that trade, even thought they got a big name. Sather didn't tinker too much, and we have our core in tact.
I guess no one wanted Jagr that badly, otherwise I'd think Sather would've listened to reasonable offers.
Pittsburgh can't keep Hossa and Malkin long term, so if they don't win now, it'll look bad later for them.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
