Hugh Jessiman, the 6-6 right wing and Dartmouth grad who was the 12th overall pick in the 2003 draft---a major disappointment---has apparently accepted the Rangers' qualifying offer. He's coming off his best season for Hartford (18-24-42, 154 PIM) in 71 games. No terms available just yet. Assume he will continue with the Wolf Pack.
That leaves forward Freddie Sjostrom as the only restricted free agent left. The Swede has until Aug. 4 to determine whether he'll accept a two-year deal for siginficantly less per year than his one-year offer.
Comments (22)
well hopefully Zherdev now gives us the opportunity to look at the 1st round of the 2003 draft and not weep all day.
Jessiman is a career AHLer who hopefully goes somewhere with his Dartmouth degree.
He cannot skate at the NHL level.
who says Jessiman can't be an NHLer? where did you read that difinitive judgement?
Burt,
have you seen him play? He moves with all the grace of a dump truck on the ice.
Nothing would make me happier than Hugh Jessiman becoming a regular Ranger and making up for that awful draft pick, but, sometimes reality must set in.
Actually saw Jessiman have a huge game in Hartford. Skated through the other team from his blue line and scored a beautiful goal up front carrying the puck all the way. His problem is consistency!
lennynyr-
The AHL and NhL are night and day.
Jason Krog scored 30 or 40 goals this year that should tell u something.
What a waste of a draft pick, a current roster spot on the AHL team and MONEY !!!!
If Shanahan doesn't end up in St. Louis does that indicate he already has something put together with the Rangers?
Worst case scenario: Shanahan and Rangers have a deal in place but are waiting until after the Europe trip. If they were to let him skip the trip, and camp of course, how is that going to go down with the real Rangers?
"...Rangers: 50/50 for the playoffs. For all the talk about replacing Jagr, Avery and Straka with Zherdev and Naslund, this season will be all about our young kids making a difference nightly. (a high scoring Defense, like last year, is key also)
Hank will need to keep is slumps to short minimums. Dawes, Callahan, Prucha, Korpi, _______ (insert any name here) 20+ goal seasons are expected by a few of them. (a third line scoring threat, production from the 4th line)
If this doesn’t happen, we miss the playoffs." ... . Keep this for April, this poster is never wrong, a NYR fan for a loooooong time. But was too young to go to the parade in 94.
I'm sorry Slick, I didn't write that. It's an impostor.
You should report that to Zip and see about getting his IP blocked.
well Slick looks like you have an admirer , but since most of you are kids here knock yourselves out.
I don't think that anyone's taken the time to analyze how truly crowded our forward situation is throughout the organization. As a result, I thought I'd take a shot at laying out exactly how the Rangers would most logically deploy the various forwards we have under contract (or whose signings appear imminent) if they were to enter the 2008-2009 season exactly as they stand now.
Rangers - starters:
Gomez
Drury
Naslund
Zherdev
Prucha
Voros
Fritsche
Dubinsky
Betts
Dawes
Callahan
Sjostrom
Rangers - extras:
Rissmiller
Orr
Wolfpack - starters (AHL teams only dress 11 forwards):
Korpikoski
Anisimov
Parenteau
Moore
Byers
Jessiman
Dupont
Zaborsky
Pyatt
Hillier
Jamtin
Soryal
Wolfpack - extras:
Ouellette
Sent to Checkers
Owens
Barnes
potentially C. Urquhart depending on the veracity of that announcement
Sent back to juniors
Skokan
Sent back to Europe
Kveton
Did I miss anyone? Anyone whose deployment is illogical? If so, it gets MORE crowded. Anyway, assuming I've got everyone who could conceivably play for the Rangers listed, that's:
-at least one (two, depending on whether or not you believe Orr should be in every game) guys in NY sitting in the press box, who should be on the ice;
-a lot of guys playing at HFD, who should be banging down the door of the big club;
-a lot of guys playing bottom 5 in HFD, who should be playing top 6;
-two guys in HFD sitting in the press box, who were signed specifically to play there;
-one guy in Charlotte who was signed to play at HFD; and
-two guys sent back to their junior/European clubs who also could well demand time at HFD.
And that's without adding any veteran presence on the forward lines at HFD or the persistant Shanny signing rumor!
What this tells me is that, barring a massive rash of injuries, there simply isn't enough room for all of these players on the Rangers or the Wolfpack. As far as I'm concerned, Slats is virtually guaranteed to make one or more moves between now and the start of the season.
I think right now all we need to do is trade Betts and Sjostrom for either picks or a goalie prospect. Then re-evaluate the situation during the camp and pre-season games and possibly trade Rissmiller, Orr, and/or Prucha.
Brooklyn - good points.
we're up against the limit on the cap as well. I can definitely see Prucha getting traded for a pick.
we're also low on d men at the AHL level whiich is further heightened by needing one of the few in Hartford to be in our 7 dmen on the Rangers. and we're not very deep in goal in the organization.
I would love to know which players can move up and down without being subject to waivers. because if a guy is sent down who is subject to waivers we can't afford the recall since we would be hit with dead cap $.
Sjostrom and Betts to Panthers for Tyler Plante and 4th rounder. Panthers need forwards.
i see Sjostrom still here. Swedish connection for henrik more so than Naslund who is older with a family. and salary is ok (i think he is in $ 600 k to $ 800 k range).
I could see Betts getting traded.
But like I said more so Prucha at his contract would give us some cap relief.
Jamtin could replace the "Swedish connection" if there really ever was one.
880K is too much for a player who hasn't impressed at all. Sjostrom is just the next Marcel Hossa.
To BrooklynRangersFan and others:
You seem to be correct, and thorough, with your Forward assessments. Remember the Organization can have 50 NY Ranger Contracts, the balance must sign with Hartford or Charlotte directly.
The cap limit is not a concern really, especially since the Waiver draft, just prior to the Season will require Players to be exposed.
As for Sjostrom, should he re-sign and be used properly, he is a solid/useful player....
There are 2 D-Men to add to the possible Hartford lineup for the upcoming season. Vladimir Denisov, who was signed out of the ECHL and David Urquhart out of the Canadian collegiate ranks, not Corey Urquhart the former Montreal draftee as erroneously reported by several sources.
Oh, and I forgot Brian Fahey who was signed off the AHL champion Chicago Wolves roster.
lijoe when you give a link, then it will be true, not really funny.
LI JOE prove it.
bklynblue - that was not me re Sundin. just some poor soul with nothing better to do is using my name.