Rangers add depth, acquire 3 in FA Frenzy

The New York Rangers may not be making too many significant moves amongst the free agency frenzy but the team did gain Aaron Johnson, Dominic Moore, and Benoit Pouliot yesterday.

Per the Rangers’ press release, Moore, 32, played in 530 career regular season games in the NHL with the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Toronto, Buffalo, Florida, Montreal, Tampa Bay, and San Jose, registering 67 goals and 118 assists for 185 points. Moore tallied his career best with 18 goals in the 2011-2012 season with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In the post season, Moore registered seven goals and nine assists for 16 points, along with 31 penalty minutes in 44 games. He tallied the game-winning goal for Montreal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on April 28, 2010 at Washington.

Aaron Johnson, 6’1″, 205 pounds, skated in over 291 career regular season NHL games with Columbus, NY Islanders, Chicago, Calgary and Edmonton. In 2011-12, Johnson skated in 56 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, registering three goals and 13 assists for 16 points, along with 26 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in assists and points. Johnson ranked third among Columbus defensemen in goals, assists, and points.

Johnson registered 17 goals and 45 assists for 62 points, along with 227 penalty minutes. He made his NHL career debut with Columbus on December 2, 2003 vs. Anaheim, and registered his first career NHL assist/point on December 4, 2003 vs. Nashville.

Another addition to the Blueshirt lineup following the free agency frenzy is 6’3″, 205 pound forward, Benoit Pouliot.

Pouliot, 26, skated in 34 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning this past season, registering eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points, along with 15 penalty minutes. He led the team in plus-minus rating (plus-8). Pouliot registered a four-game point streak from February 12 vs. Montreal to February 19 vs. Toronto (two goals, five assists over the span).

In 2011-12, Pouliot skated in 74 games for the Boston Bruins, registering 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points, along with 38 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in goals, points, and plus-minus rating (plus-18). Pouliot recorded a four-game point streak from December 17 at Philadelphia to December 28 at Phoenix (three goals, one assist over the span). He skated in seven playoff games, registering one goal and one assist for two points, along with six penalty minutes.

In 291 career regular season NHL games with Minnesota, Montreal, Boston and Tampa Bay, Pouliot registered 61 goals and 63 assists for 124 points, along with 201 penalty minutes. He made his NHL debut with Minnesota on November 22, 2006 at Montreal, and recorded his first career NHL goal on March 22, 2008 at Calgary. Pouliot established career-highs in games played (79), assists (17) and penalty minutes (87) with Montreal in 2010-11. He tallied his 100^th career NHL point with Boston on March 25, 2012 at Anaheim.

During post-season play, Pouliot registered one goal and three assists for four points, along with 19 penalty minutes in 29 games. Pouliot made his NHL playoff debut on April 17, 2008 with Minnesota vs. Colorado. He recorded his first career NHL playoff assist/point with Montreal on April 15, 2010 at Washington. Pouliot recorded his first career NHL playoff goal with Boston on April 14, 2012 vs. Washington.

There is not a lot of wiggle room in the cap allotment for the Rangers to make any plays in the free agency market. Brad Richards has seven years at an annual cap hit of $6.67 million, which leaves the club limited to improve the team in free agency. The Rangers hope to see an improvement in Richards play following the past shortened condensed season, with that being said it will be interesting to see whether this executive decision will play out in favor of the Ranger’s club come the midway point next season.

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Kaitlin Sullivan

Massachusetts native, and avid hockey fanatic, I grew up in a "hockey family" and began spending countless hours in frigid hockey rinks beginning at age 2. I eat, sleep, breathe, and love every aspect of the game and I have always known that hockey was my passion. Unfortunately being a 5'5" female, however, would not grant me a place in the show. The next best thing would be writing and hopefully someday becoming a rink-side NHL reporter. My past reporting experience includes work with ESPNU Campus Connection, WHDH Channel 7 Boston, and Madison Square Garden Network. I am currently a sports broadcasting major at Boston College. Twitter: @kaitEsull

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