NY Rangers Sign Free Agent Forward Andres' Ambuhl

The New York Rangers organization has officially signed Swiss forward Andres Ambuhl.

A little background:

Ambühl began playing junior hockey in the HC Davos organization, with the club's junior team. In 2000–01, he scored 41 points in 31 games as a junior and debuted in 3 games with HC Davos in the Nationalliga A. He joined the senior team in 2001–02, scoring 8 points in 38 games during his rookie season. Playing with HC Davos in the 2006 Spengler Cup as tournament hosts, Ambühl scored the championship-winning goal against Team Canada in a 3–2 final win. In 2007–08, Ambühl scored a career-high 26 points in 49 games for HC Davos. Ambühl, rugged for a 5-10, 198-pounder, has played 43 times for Switzerland in Olympic and World Championship competition.

I don't know much about the guy, but it is gratifying to know that management is out in the field doing their job.

Go here, here, here or here for more information.

tdr

(UPDATE - Old news that we haven't yet covered)

Obviously our 2008 first round pick (20th overall), Michael Del Zotto, has officially been signed and will compete for a starting position with the Rangers this summer. Go here or here for more information. So much for the sharpshooters desperately needed on this Blueshirt squad.

Tom Renney - former coach of the NY Defensemen (Rangers) has taken an assistant coach job with the Edmonton Oilers, second to Patrick Quinn. Sound familiar? If these two don't kill each other by mid-season....watch for the fireworks up north and beware of dual rabid/rapid gum chewing.

At Least We Have Sean

Three more seasons of Sean and M-A-R-T-Y!!!! and this little video may give you something to look forward to during the off-season; you know Avery will continue to harrass Fatso in Newark regardless of how our new coach Tortorella attack hockey bionic squad looks like come the fall.

And no matter how General Manager Glen Sather mishandles any available salary cap space this summer (thanks to the generous Marcus Naslund), we DO HAVE SEAN AVERY. There is a God!

As for the current playoffs, "Go Chicago" for now! Please upset Detroit and take out 'The Diver" (a.k.a. the whiner Sid Crosby). He picked up the Conference Trophy and the Hockey Gods should punish him for it.

tdr

Suspiciously Silent at The Garden

All is quiet in Ranger-land these days.

Sure...every night you can watch some of the best damn hockey seen all season -- even Sid "the Diver" Crosby is so good this playoff season, it makes it easier to make fun of him every time he complains to the refs. Tonight's games should make for great hockey viewing pleasure as the final four will be determined by this evening, but in the end.....

...who cares! It's not the Rangers!

tdr

Naslund hangs up the skates....

A few days ago, Markus Naslund provided the Rangers with some cap relief by announcing his retirement. Signed to a 2 year contract, he decided only to stay for one. The game probably just wasn't the same for him. One could argue the same could be said for his last days in Vancouver that saw him given the cold shoulder from the management and many of the fans.
While we hardly got to know Markus, he does deserve a proper send off and heres to hoping Vancouver does the right thing by him and gives him some sort of recognition for his time with them. What I did see of Naslund from the one season he was here, was that while he wasn't known as an aggressive guy, he did finish his checks and did make some good defensive plays in front of the net at good times. He scored his share of goals and made some quality assists for us and while some fans may point to his point totals and claim they didn't meet expectations, he was on par for what his averages were at this stage in his career. (Too often, we expect an aging vet or restoration project to come here flourish under the garden lights, walk on water and be our savior.) I thought he stepped up at key times in his role as alternate Capt. when it came to campaigning to the refs.(even more so than our actual captain)and even through down for the second time in his career. (ok, it was more like a shoving/wrestling match, but he was willing). The point is, the Naslund never showed that there was anything he was unwilling to do on this team for year he was here. As Ranger fans we should appreciate that. Good Luck Markus...Stay Classy.

-J_Undisputed