Bound For Hartford?

New York, May 27, 2009 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with free agent forward Andres Ambühl.

Ambühl, 25, skated in 50 games with HC Davos of the National League A in Switzerland (NLA) this past season, registering 17 goals and 24 assists for 41 points, along with 90 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in games played (50), goals (17), assists (24), points (41), and penalty minutes (90). Ambühl tied for the team lead in scoring and assists, while he finished fourth on the club in goals. In addition, he collected four goals and three assists for seven points in 21 postseason contests, including two goals in the NLA Finals series against the Kloten Flyers to help HC Davos win their fourth NLA championship in the last eight years.

The 5-10, 190-pounder has appeared in 358 career NLA games with HC Davos, recording 64 goals and 108 assists for 172 points, along with 425 penalty minutes. In 2006, he helped HC Davos capture the Spengler Cup, collecting the game-winning goal in the final game vs. Team Canada. Ambühl has also skated in 112 career postseason games, registering 19 goals and 14 assists for 33 points, including a career-high, five goals and eight points in 13 playoff contests during the 2008 playoffs. Internationally, Ambühl has represented Switzerland in several tournaments, including the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.

After seeing Bern play firsthand during our preseason game, I have to guess that this guy will go straight to Hartford, as the level of Swiss play was woeful and Swiss fans said that they had never seen talent like the Rangers (haha). Most players had little physicality, were slow of foot but had plenty of skill. Then again, a Swiss Blackhawk fan was sold on him in this thread saying "He's fast, he can score, fight, check and he's a really good teamplayer."

So we'll just have to wait and see. At the least he should be the replacement for PA Parenteau as a skill winger on the Pack once PA gets himself a real (deserved) shot at the show ...