Rangers re-sign defenseman Chris Summers

"RNYRF" Staff Report

The New York Rangers on Wednesday officially
re-signed free-agent defenseman Chris Summers.

NEW YORK – New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced on Wednesday that the team has re-signed defenseman Chris Summers.

Summers was supposed to become a free-agent on July 1, but this new contract has kept that from happening.

Summers, 28, skated in 74 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) this past season, registering three goals and eight assists for 11 points, along with a plus-two rating and 51 penalty minutes. He skated in three games with the Rangers during the 2015-16 season, registering five shots on goal and four penalty minutes.

Summers was acquired by the Rangers from the Arizona Coyotes, along with defenseman Keith Yandle and a fourth round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for defenseman John Moore, forward Anthony Duclair, a second round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, and a first round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft on March 1, 2015.

Rangers resign D-man Chris Summers

The Rangers have reportedly re-signed defenseman Chris Summers to a two-way, one-year extension. If Summers plays in the NHL his cap hit would be $600,000, if he plays is in the AHL he will be paid $350,000.
Acquired along with Keith Yandle in 2015 and has played six games for the Rangers and in 74 games for the Wolf Pack last season, Summers had 3 goals, 8 assists, 69 shots and 51 PIM.

Rangers Recall Seven Players From Hartford

Statement from the Rangers website.

New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has recalled forwards Chris Brown,Nicklas Jensen, Jayson Megna, and Daniel Paille, and defensemen Mat Bodie, Ryan Graves, and Chris Summersfrom the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Brown, 25, skated in 40 AHL games with the Wolf Pack and Hershey Bears this season, registering six goals and 12 assists for 18 points, along with 40 penalty minutes. He recorded nine points (three goals, six assists) in 20 games with Hartford after he was acquired by the Rangers from Washington on Feb. 28, 2016.

Jensen, 23, skated in 68 AHL games with the Wolf Pack and Utica Comets this season, registering 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points, along with a plus-10 rating and 32 penalty minutes. He established AHL career-highs in games played, goals, assists, points, and plus/minus rating in 2015-16. Jensen notched 25 points (15 goals, 10 assists) and posted a plus-seven rating in 41 games with Hartford after he was acquired by the Rangers from Vancouver on Jan. 8, 2016.

Megna, 26, skated in 68 games with the Wolf Pack this season, registering 15 goals and 29 assists for 44 points, along with a plus-seven rating and 22 penalty minutes. He established AHL career-highs in games played, assists, and points in 2015-16. Megna tied for the team lead in assists and ranked second on Hartford in points this season. In addition, Megna skated in six regular season games with the Rangers in 2015-16, tallying two points (one goal, one assist).

Paille, 32, skated in 54 AHL games with the Wolf Pack and Rockford IceHogs in 2015-16, recording six goals and nine assists for 15 points, along with eight penalty minutes. He registered 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 23 games with Hartford. Paille also skated in 12 regular season games with the Rangers after he signed with the team as a free agent on Jan. 21, 2016.

Bodie, 26, skated in 76 games with the Wolf Pack this season, registering seven goals and 29 assists for 36 points, along with a plus-five rating and 38 penalty minutes. He established AHL career-highs in games played, goals, assists, and points in 2015-16. Bodie tied for the team lead in assists and ranked fifth on the Wolf Pack in points this season, and he led team defensemen in both categories.

Graves, 20, skated in 74 games with the Wolf Pack during his rookie season in the AHL in 2015-16, recording nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points, along with a plus-six rating and 53 penalty minutes. He represented the Wolf Pack in the 2016 AHL All-Star Challenge, and he won the AHL Skills Competition’s Hardest Shot contest with a 103.4 MPH shot. Graves led all Wolf Pack defensemen in goals this season.

Summers, 28, skated in 74 games with the Wolf Pack this season, registering three goals and eight assists for 11 points, along with a plus-two rating and 51 penalty minutes. He also skated in three regular season games with the Rangers in 2015-16, recording four penalty minutes.

NYR NEWS & NOTES 12/23

OFFICIAL:
Chris Summers and Magnus Hellberg have been loaned back to the Hartford Wolf Pack. (AHL Transaction Wire) 

Magnus Hellberg

Summers and Hellberg were called up last Friday on emergency recall after Antti Raanta was hurt against Minnesota.

Since being called up, Summers has played in three games, is a minus two, has 4 PIM, 5 shots, 4 hits, 1 blocked shot and an average of 15:23.

Hellberg came in to replace Henrik Lundqvist against the Capitals and stopped 4 of 6 shots in 20 minutes.

Chris Summers

Raphael Diaz will stay in North America this season but signed a 5-year deal in Switzerland that starts next year

Raphael Diaz will finish this season with the Rangers organization but has signed a five-year deal to return to Zug in the Swiss league starting next season. (Zug via PHT)

Diaz's contract with Zug has an out-clause in his Swiss contract to return to the NHL if a team signs him to a one-way, two-year deal. (Zug)

Diaz has only played 10 games for the Wolf Pack this season and hasn't played since suffering an injury on 11/15.

Alain Vigneault said that Diaz would have been called up when Brady Skjei was, but Diaz was hurt.

The sense from other GMs is that the Rangers may try and shake something up

Craig Custance spoke with other NHL General Managers who have the sense that Jeff Gorton is "looking to do something to shake things up" after a less than impressive season so far. (ESPN Insider)

One person told Custance to "watch the Rangers." (ESPN Insider)

Custance says that the Rangers may have interest in trading Dan Boyle but Boyle has no interest in leaving the Rangers. (ESPN Insider)

Other NHL GMs believe that the Rangers would move Keith Yandle, despite his cap hit of $2.625 million, "for the right price." (ESPN Insider)

Adam Rotter: The idea of the Rangers wanting to do something isn't surprising but the possibilities of what they could do are limited. Jeff Gorton is going to need to be creative if he wants to do something to "shake things up." Cap space is limited, the Rangers need to keep their prospects and picks and there are guys locked into no-move and no-trade clauses. Things will be difficult if the Rangers want to do something, but the biggest shakeup possible would be if the guys currently on the roster play better.

Getting Kevin Hayes and Chris Kreider going, would be like adding two top-six forwards. Getting Dan Girardi back to being Dan Girardi would be like adding a top-four defenseman. It's everyone. The Rangers can keep all of the same players but become a much different team if their guys get going.

Brady Skjei sent to Hartford/Magnus Hellberg and Chris Summers Called Up

 
Sep 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Rangers goalie Magnus Hellberg (45) in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports (Bill Streicher)

The Rangers have sent Brady Skjei to Hartford according to the AHL Transaction wire.

Last night against the Wild, Skjei played 15:17, saw 2:06 on the PK and had 1 shot on goal, 2 hits, 2 blocked shots and a holding penalty.

Alain Vigneault said of Skjei last night, "he is a young player ,we can all see the upside but this is the NHL and he will get better with every game that he gets."

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Magnus Hellberg and Chris Summers have been called up from Hartford on an emergency basis. (Brooks)

Hellberg was called up due to the injury to Antti Raanta last night.
This season in the AHL, Summers has 3 assists in 27 games, a minus 6 rating, 23 PIM and 19 shots on goal.

Hellberg is 8-8-2 with a 2.62 GAA and .908 save percentage.

Adam Rotter: This has more to do with the cap issues, the need for a goalie and the roster freeze coming this weekend. Skjei looked like a rookie but certainly one with a ton of promise who could very well make the roster next season and/or be a call up later this season if needed.

With the roster freeze coming and the Rangers apparent ability to send Summers, and if needed Hellberg, down to Hartford since they are on emergency recall, the Rangers will be able to save some space if Kevin Klein is ready. If Skjei were to be with the Rangers past tomorrow night's roster freeze the Rangers would count him on the cap until it was lifted and that would ultimately hurt the Rangers ability to bank cap space for later in the season.