Columbus Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson continues to overhaul
his roster, today swapping two forwards for two defensemen.
Howson dealt Nikolai Zherdev and Dan Fritsche to the NY
Rangers for blueliners Christian Backman and Fedor Tyutin.
The deal ends the Blue Jackets long saga with the enigmatic
Zherdev, the fourth overall pick in the 2003 entry draft, as he was as
maddening with his inconsistency as he was dazzling with his skills.
This move certainly bolsters the depth of the Jackets
defense corps but still doesn’t address their need for a top-two blueliner.
Backman, whom the Rangers acquired from St. Louis at the trade deadline,
was disappointing in his short tenure in New York and the Blueshirts signing of
Wade Redden meant his days were numbered there. Tyutin had been re-signed to a
four-year contract extension by the Rangers last season and was thought to have
a career in New York.
The Rangers had been linked to Zherdev and Fritsche in trade
speculation mid-way through last season and at one point it was thought a deal
between the two sides was imminent before it apparently fell through.
Zherdev is a good offensive winger when he’s motivated to
play and Fritsche will provide depth to the Rangers checking lines.
With Zherdev now on the Rangers roster one wonders how long
winger Petr Prucha will remain a Blueshirt, as he was unable to land a
permanent spot on the Blueshirts top two lines this past season and was once named
as a potential return to the Jackets in those trade rumors last season.
The New York Rangers were seeking an experienced blueliner heading into this year’s trade deadline and found him in St. Louis.
The Blues shipped Christian Backman to the Rangers in exchange for a fourth round pick in 2008.
He'd been considered a possible trade candidate this season to make room for younger defensemen the Blues had been rotating in and out of their lineup this season.
Backman brings some decent size to the Rangers blueline (6-4, 206) which he uses to play a physical defensive game. Unfortunately that style has led to injuries for much of his career, including a recent foot injury that sidelined him for ten games.
If Backman can stay healthy he should be a good defensive depth acquisition for the Rangers. With Marek Malik unlikely to return after this season they could use Backman as a potential replacement, as he’s signed through next season albeit at $3.4 million.
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.
