To Phonenix: Marcel Hossa, Al Montoya
Rangers fans cannot look at this trade with the same Al Montoya opinions of old. To be blunt about it, he is a prospect who is first and foremost on the decline and secondly had no chance of ever becoming the starting goalie for the New York Rangers. Granted, I think Glen Sather could have gotten more for him during this past offseason but the fact remains...his value has plummeted over the past 2 seasons.
What I think this trade comes down to is the fact that the Rangers obtained a serviceable NHL forward in Fred Sjostrom for a couple of young players who, despite having their moments in Rangers land, really had no place in this organization.
Believe me there are very few Rangers fans right now who are sad to see Marcel Hossa go. This guy has had chance to prove himself time and time again and despite seeing some time on a line with Jagr has managed just one goal this season in limited action. What the Rangers do lose, however, is a good penalty killer and a player with the ability to throw the body around on the fourth line.
Fred Sjostrom is a player with definite upside. A former 11th overall pick, he has 19 points in 51 games this season including 2 shorthanded goals (I guess this guy can kill penalties). Being this only his 4th year in the NHL, I'd be curious to see how he can produce with some players around him.
The problem I have is I'm not exactly sure where Sjostrom fits into the lineup. Whereas Marcel Hossa had the ability to play the 4th line, Sjostrom is more a speed player who is less apt to take the body and buckle down defensively. Assuming the top two lines stay as is:
Avery-Dubinsky-Jagr
Dawes-Gomez-Shanny
...I think it would be worth it to give Sjostrom a shot on the third line next to Drury and Straka. This would remove Callahan/Prucha off that line and presumably on to the 4th line. This then begs the question...can Cally or Prucha be a solid 4th line player. If it is determined that they cannot and the 4th line stays as Orr-Betts-Hollweg then that means that both Cally and Prucha will remain out of the lineup. While depth is good in case of injuries, I'm not sure if keeping these guys in the owner's box every game is necessarily a good thing.
Just to mention, in a four game swing in which Phoenix played the Islanders, Rangers, Devils, and Flyers, Sjostrom had 4 goals. Not bad.
Dawes-Gomez-Shanny
...I think it would be worth it to give Sjostrom a shot on the third line next to Drury and Straka. This would remove Callahan/Prucha off that line and presumably on to the 4th line. This then begs the question...can Cally or Prucha be a solid 4th line player. If it is determined that they cannot and the 4th line stays as Orr-Betts-Hollweg then that means that both Cally and Prucha will remain out of the lineup. While depth is good in case of injuries, I'm not sure if keeping these guys in the owner's box every game is necessarily a good thing.
Just to mention, in a four game swing in which Phoenix played the Islanders, Rangers, Devils, and Flyers, Sjostrom had 4 goals. Not bad.
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