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.

NYR Today Sat 5/14: Buchnevich, NYR Grades, Alumni

ICYM: Rangers signed prospect Pavel Buchnevich to Entry Level Contract

Additional Contract Clause:
Pavel Buchnevich has a European Assignment Clause in his contract with the Rangers which means that he has the right to play in Europe if not on the Rangers roster.
Buchnevich would rather return to the KHL rather than play in the AHL. If Bucmnevich does not make the Rangers roster and is sent down to the AHL he can return to Europe but he if is called up he has to return to the team.

RNYRF's GRADING THE RANGERS 2015-2016
KEITH YANDLE Defenseman

Playing in his 6th 82+ game season Yandle showed why he was brought to the Rangers at last year's trade deadline leading the team in assists with 42. Yandle also added 5 gooals, 2 of which came on the anemic Rangers power play. A minus 4 on the season Yandle did find himself caught in the opposition's end many times where he could not get back into defensive position resulting in goals against, a problem that plagued him being paired with an aging Dan Boyle who had lost more than a few steps in his game. Overall a good season for Yandle who most likely will garner a 6 million plus per year contract somewhere else rather than in New York due to an already over priced defense corps.
GRADE B

NYR Alumni Birthdays 5/14 
Don Blackburn LW (1969-1971) Cory Larose C (2003-2004) Pierre Plante RW (1978-1979) Gump Worsley G (1952-1963)

NY RANGERS BIRTHDAY
Alain Vigneault Head Coach 2013-Present
Born May 14, 1961 Quebec City, QC, CAN

Rangers agree to terms with Pavel Buchnevich

Statement from Blueshirts United.

New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has agreed to terms with forward Pavel Buchnevich on an entry-level contract.

Buchnevich, 21, split this past season between Severstal Cherepovets and SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), registering 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points, along with 24 penalty minutes in 58 games. He established KHL career-highs in games played, goals, assists, points, game-winning goals (three), power play goals (four), and average ice time (16:10). Among KHL players younger than 24 years old, Buchnevich ranked third in assists, ranked fourth in points, and tied for seventh in goals. He tallied three points (one goal, two assists) in the Gagarin Cup Playoffs while helping SKA St. Petersburg advance to the Western Conference Finals.

In 2014-15, Buchnevich registered 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points, along with a plus-eight rating and 16 penalty minutes in 48 games with Severstal. Buchnevich’s 30 points were the third-most a KHL player younger than 20 years old has recorded in one season in the league’s history. Buchnevich’s 17 assists were also the second-most a KHL player younger than 20 years old has posted in one season and his 13 goals were tied for the third-most a KHL player younger than 20 years old has tallied in one season. The only KHL player who recorded more assists and points than Buchnevich in a season which he was younger than 20 years old was Evgeny Kuznetsov. In addition, the only KHL players who matched or eclipsed Buchnevich’s goal total in a season when they were younger than 20 years old were Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko.

The 6-2, 176-pounder skated in 158 career KHL games over parts of four seasons (2012-13 – 2015-16), registering 37 goals and 50 assists for 87 points, along with 52 penalty minutes. Buchnevich’s goal, assist, and point totals increased in every season over his four years in the league. In addition, Buchnevich recorded 31 of his 37 career KHL goals at even strength and tallied seven game-winning goals.

Buchnevich played in Russia’s Junior Hockey League (MHL) for parts of four seasons (2011-12 – 2014-15), registering 69 points (23 goals, 46 assists) and posting a plus-17 rating in 71 regular season games. He tallied 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 31 career MHL playoff games, including 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in 11 playoff games in 2015.

The Cherepovets, Russia, native has also represented his country in several tournaments. Buchnevich participated in the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2014 and 2015. In those tournaments, he recorded 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 14 contests and helped Russia earn a medal each year (silver medal in 2015 and bronze medal in 2014). In addition, Buchnevich tied for first among all skaters in assists (six) and tied for second among all skaters in goals (five) and points (11) while representing Russia at the 2013 IIHF U18 World Championship.

Buchnevich was selected by the Rangers in the third round, 75th overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH ANTTI RAANTA

Statement from the Rangers website.

Antti Raanta

New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has agreed to terms with goaltender Antti Raanta on a new contract.

Raanta, 26, appeared in 25 games with the Rangers this past season, posting an 11-6-2 record, along with a 2.24 GAA, a .919 SV%, and 1 SO. He tied his career-high in appearances, and he ranked eighth in the NHL in GAA in 2015-16. Raanta allowed two goals or fewer in 13 of his 18 starts during the season. Raanta earned a win in each of his first four starts of the season, becoming the first goaltender in franchise history to register a win in each of his first four starts with the Rangers. He stopped all 22 shots he faced to earn a win/shutout while making his debut with the Blueshirts on Oct. 19, 2015 vs. San Jose, becoming the fourth goaltender in franchise history to earn a shutout in his first start with the Rangers and the first to do so since Marcel Paille on Nov. 2, 1957.

Raanta concluded the 2015-16 regular season by earning a win in each of his final four starts, posting a 1.75 GAA and a .941 SV% in those contests. In addition, he posted a 7-1-0 record, along with a 2.13 GAA and a .931 SV% in his final eight starts of the season. Raanta appeared in three playoff games with the Rangers in 2016 and made his NHL playoff debut in Game 1 of the First Round against Pittsburgh on Apr. 13.

The 6-0, 193-pounder has appeared in 64 career NHL games over parts of three seasons with the Rangers and Chicago, posting a 31-15-7 record, along with a 2.35 GAA, a .914 SV%, and 4 SO. Among goaltenders who have appeared in at least 15 games over the last two seasons (2014-15 – 2015-16), Raanta ranks second in the NHL in GAA (2.10) and ranks fourth in SV% (.926). In 31 career NHL appearances at home, Raanta has posted a 19-4-4 record, along with a 1.80 GAA, a .934 SV%, and 4 SO. In 13 career NHL appearances in which he has made at least 30 saves, Raanta has posted an 11-1-1 record, along with a 1.61 GAA, a .955 SV%, and 2 SO.

The Rauma, Finland native was acquired by the Rangers from Chicago in exchange for Ryan Haggerty on June 27, 2015.

Rangers agree to terms with forward Steven Fogarty

Statement from the Rangers website.

New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has agreed to terms with forward Steven Fogarty on an entry-level contract.

Fogarty, 22, skated in 37 games with the University of Notre Dame this season, registering 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points, along with a plus-seven rating and 26 penalty minutes. Fogarty, who was serving as Notre Dame’s captain for the second consecutive season in 2015-16, established career-highs in goals, assists, and points this season. He tied for fifth on the team in goals and ranked sixth on the team in assists this season. Fogarty tallied a hat trick and recorded four points in Notre Dame’s regular season opener on Oct. 16 at Penn State.

The 6-3, 215-pounder skated in 150 career collegiate games over four seasons with the University of Notre Dame, registering 27 goals and 38 assists for 65 points, along with a plus-17 rating and 46 penalty minutes. Fogarty averaged 0.58 points per game over his final two seasons of collegiate hockey, registering 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) and posting a plus-15 rating in 76 games. Fogarty’s assists and points totals increased in each season from his freshman year through his senior year. He posted a plus/minus rating of plus-one or better in each of his four seasons with Notre Dame.

The Chambersburg, Pennsylvania native was selected by the Rangers in the third round, 72nd overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Ranges sign Boo Nieves

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

The New York Rangers on Monday signed forward Boo Nieves to a two-year, entry level contract.

Nieves was the Rangers' 59th overall pick in the second round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

NYR have agreed to terms with free agent forward Daniel Paille; Kreider skates on his own

OFFICIAL: 
NYR have agreed to terms with free agent forward Daniel Paille.
Daniel Paille will wear number 12. AV says that Paille will travel with Rangers to Carolina, not sure if he will play yet. We got (Paille) for a particular role--he was an excellent fourth line penalty killer in Boston, & our PK needs some help"-AV.

Dan Girardi on NYR signing Daniel Paille: "He's a great guy off the ice & on the ice he's a great skater and a great PK guy"

Injury Update:
Chris Kreider (neck spasms) skated on his own after practice today ... AV: "see how he feels tomorrow"