Just A Little Trim

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has assigned the following five players to Hartford (AHL): goaltenders Chad Johnson and Matt Zaba; defensemen Ilkka Heikkinen and Corey Potter; and forward Paul Crowder.

The only thing that could be qualified as a slight surprise is Potter. He has NHL experience and is defensively sound. But, given Tortorella's ambivalence when it comes to defense, it isn't a shock that he keeps both MDZ and Hobey Gilroy in camp. They've said from the start that Heineken needs North American experience and he will get it in Hartford. Despite showing some wonderful hands, Paul Crowder's fate was sealed with the signing of another center in Brandon Dubinsky. Besides, Crowder needs to pack on some weight and strength if he is to survive the grind of the NHL - dude looked like a stick when I saw him at the rookie game. And finally, the two goaltenders were never going to upset Valley for the backup job. Still, all credit given and due for Chad Nueve-Seis as he certainly positioned himself as the first call-up should anything change in the Ranger crease.