Brandon Mashinter was returned to the AHL this morning after playing four games for the Rangers. Mash finished with a -2 rating, 7 hits, and 1 blocked shot in extremely limited playing time. Returning Mash to the AHL leaves the Rangers with 11 forwards, so it is likely that Rick Nash, the player who was on IR, will be reactivated for tomorrow’s game.
Speaking of Nash, he participated in practice today in a full-contact jersey. Ryan McDonagh and Michael Del Zotto also participated in practice, also with full-contact jerseys.
It was only a matter of time before we heard the bad news on Darroll Powe, who took a nasty fall yesterday after a collision with Matt Hendricks. Powe has been placed on IR (note: not LTIR) and the Rangers have recalled Brandon Mashinter from Connecticut to replace him on the roster.
It will be interesting to see how coach John Tortorella deploys Mashinter –likely on the fourth line in place of Powe– while also handling Chris Kreider, who is still with the club. Many assumed Kreider would get out of the press box, but that may not be the case.
In a bit of a surprising move, the Rangers have returned forward Brandon Mashinter to the Whale, per Dan Rosen. It’s surprising because Mashinter was just recalled yesterday. Guess that means the “Stu Bickel as a forward” experiment is still ongoing for tonight’s game at least. Unless of course Chris Kreider is good to go.
Rob Carr/Getty Images
Today we are going to take a deeper look at the Rangers recent moves. Though the team played better in Tampa the other night, the bottom six hasn’t been very consistent and clearly Torts and Sather thought a change was needed. Below we’ve put together a qualitative analysis, or as Dave likes to call it – the eye test. If there’s an interest in the quantitative/advanced stats-type stuff. Let us know. Dave can whip that together.
Rangers trade C/LW Mike Rupp for C/LW Darroll Powe & RW Nick Palmieri
What the Rangers lose – Size, fights, veteran leadership
I was one of the few advocates of having a guy like Mike Rupp in the lineup. Most people who didn’t play organized hockey growing up have a hard time evaluating 4th line guys, so I get the disconnect some fans had with his presence in the lineup. For me, Rupp was exactly what you need from a 4th line role player.
Rupper was a leader in the locker room, as evidenced by Torts constantly seeking Rupp’s input at key times (shown in 24/7). He stood up for his teammates (remember Tomas Kopecky sucker punching MDZ last year? Rupp was the first guy in). He also played well in a limited role during the playoffs, bringing a good forecheck and puck management.
Read more »
In the second big move of the day, the Rangers have called up forwards J.T. Miller and Brandon Mashinter from the CT Whale, and returned Benn Ferriero to the AHL. Despite impressing in his debut, Ferriero saw reduced time on the ice, and with the acquisition of Darroll Powe, the writing may have been on the wall for the forward. This won’t be his last trip to the NHL.
In eight games with the Whale, Mashinter has a line of 3-4-7 and has been one of the best forwards on the ice. Miller, the Rangers prized prospect, has a line of 8-12-20 in 37 games, and has really picked up his game since his slow start to the season.
Tonight, the Rangers made a minor deal, sending AHLer Tommy Grant and a 2014 seventh-round draft choice to the San Jose Sharks for LW Brandon Mashinter.
Mashinter, 24, stands 6-foot-4, 230 lbs. He has posted two goals and three assists in 30 games this season with San Jose’s AHL affiliate, the Worcester Sharks. Last season, Mashinter tallied 16 goals and 17 assists in 65 games. He made a cameo in the NHL in 2010-2011, playing 13 point-less games and serving 17 penalty minutes.
Mashinter spends some time in the penalty box, having been in four fights this year and seven a season ago. He carries an NHL cap hit of $550k.
Grant, 26, signed with New York before last season and had nine goals and seven assists in 34 games with the Whale this year.
This is a pretty insignificant trade for the Rangers. Grant was not part of the team’s future plans and Mashinter won’t be either. However, he clearly offers size and a willingness to drop the gloves, which the Rangers like to have some of in the minors.
