Rangers Acquire Todd White From Thrashers

 

With the most important restricted free agent the New York Rangers entered the offseason with in Marc Still still un-signed, General Manager Glen Sather continues to plug away at other business. In the wee hours of Monday morning (about 1 a.m.), Michael Russo of The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that Todd White had been dealt to the Rangers from the Atlanta Thrashers. No details were immediately made available about what Atlanta was receiving in return. That did not prevent speculation from revealing a package involving Michal Rozsival and a fourth round pick going the other way.

This deal was made official today, but it did not include the $5 million defenseman and a mid-round draft selection. Instead, the Rangers packaged Donald Brashear and Patrick Rissmiller to the Thrashers in exchange for White.

In White, the Rangers gain a veteran forward who can play center or left wing. He is coming off a fairly poor campaign in which he scored just seven goals and added 19 helpers for 26 points. White is, however, only two years removed from his best NHL season. In 2008-09, he managed to put up 22 goals and 51 assists for 73 points over the course of a full 82-game schedule. It may be wishful thinking on the Rangers’ end to figure he’ll get back to that mark. But White could still post in the neighborhood of 40-50 points and even challenge for a spot on the top two lines. If nothing else, he will provide a depth role for the Rangers and serve as a veteran leader for a team still intent on becoming a bit younger.

The only negative from the Rangers’ acquisition of White is that he brings $2.375 million to the table on the final year of his contract. While Brashear ($1.4 million) and Rissmiller ($1 million) essentially combine to match that mark, Rissmiller was going to end up in Hartford for another season while Brashear would either join him there or be bought out by the Rangers. Their total $2.4 million in salary would have never counted against the Rangers’ cap. Meanwhile, White’s will based on the likelihood of him actually suiting up on Broadway.

Brashear’s future in Atlanta will be a short one. He is expected to be bought out by the Thrashers once he clears waivers and will be free to sign up with another club looking for an aged enforcer who is not nearly as effective as he once was. Rissmiller, on the other hand, could be bought out, as well. There has been no firm indication toward such a move, though, and he may remain with the organization.

Ben Wright of Blueland Blog summed up the benefits this deal presents for the Thrashers:

1. It moves out a player who didn’t necessarily fit the plan for 2010-11 and who underperformed in 2009-10.
2. It frees up a roster spot for a young player like Patrice Cormier, Carl Klingberg, Fredrik Pettersson or Spencer Machacek.
3. It adds a depth asset in Patrick Rissmiller who can hit, kill penalties, and contribute on the scoresheet.
4. It saves some money which can be used in other ways if another opportunity to add a player comes up.

For a team that has been as severely remodelled like the Thrashers, these points make plenty of sense. Move out an aging player that it pretty pricey in order to open up a spot for one of the many Atlanta prospects waiting in the wings. I doubt Rissmiller will be even a minor contributor to the team. But even if he is not, that leave Atlanta with another $1 million on the books if they elect to send him down to the minors.