Rangers Agree to Terms with Martin Grenier and Alexandre Giroux

[LORDAL]

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with restricted free agent defenseman Martin Grenier and restricted free agent forward Alexandre Giroux.

Grenier, 24, skated in 23 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) last season, collecting two goals and five assists for seven points, along with 136 penalty minutes. In five post-season contests for Hartford, Grenier led the team in penalty minutes with 32. He also played in four games with the Charlotte Checkers of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and recorded two assists and 10 penalty minutes. He missed the majority of the year due to injury.

In 50 games for the Manitoba Moose and Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) during the 2003-04 season, Grenier registered five goals and six assists for 11 points. Before the trade to New York, he skated in 38 games with Manitoba, recording five goals and four assists for nine points, along with 145 penalty minutes. After being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks on March 9, Grenier collected two assists and 105 penalty minutes in 12 games for the Wolf Pack. He finished the season with a career-high 250 penalty minutes. Grenier established an AHL 2003-04 game high with 49 penalty minutes at Worcester on March 26. During post-season play for the Wolf Pack, he collected one assist and 32 penalty minutes in nine games. In addition, he skated in seven NHL contests with the Vancouver Canucks, recording one goal and nine penalty minutes.

The 6-5, 260-pounder has appeared in 15 career NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks and Phoenix Coyotes, registering one goal and 14 penalty minutes. Grenier made his NHL debut with Phoenix on October 11, 2001 against the Chicago Blackhawks. He has also skated in 215 career contests with the Springfield Falcons, Manitoba Moose and Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL), collecting 11 goals and 27 assists for 38 points, along with 859 penalty minutes. Prior to joining the professional ranks, Grenier skated in 242 career games for the Quebec Remparts and Victoriaville Tigres of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), registering 36 goals and 99 assists for 135 points, along with 1,173 penalty minutes.

The Laval, Quebec native was originally Colorado's second choice, 45th overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He was acquired by the Boston Bruins, along with Brian Rolston, Samuel Pahlsson and New Jersey's 2000 first round choice, from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Raymond Bourque and Dave Andreychuk on March 6, 2000. Grenier was signed as a free agent by the Phoenix Coyotes on June 27, 2001. He was traded to the Vancouver Canucks by Phoenix in exchange for Bryan Helmer on July 25, 2003. The Rangers acquired Grenier, along with the rights to R.J. Umberger, from Vancouver in exchange for Martin Rucinsky on March 9, 2004.

Giroux, 24, appeared in 78 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) last season, registering 32 goals and 22 assists for 54 points, along with 128 penalty minutes. He led the Wolf Pack in goals (32) and points (52) and tied for fourth on the team with a rating of plus-15. In six post-season contests, Giroux tallied three goals and three assists for six points, along with 23 penalty minutes. His three assists and six points tied for second on the club.

The 6-3, 190-pounder has appeared in 290 career AHL games with the Hartford Wolf Pack, Binghamton Senators and Grand Rapids Griffins, registering 87 goals and 80 assists for 167 points, along with 395 penalty minutes. During the 2003-2004 season, he skated with both Binghamton and Hartford, accumulating a total of 25 goals and 26 assists for 51 points, along with 92 penalty minutes in 75 games. Before his departure from Binghamton, he ranked second on the Senators in each of the major offensive categories. After being acquired by the Rangers and arriving in Hartford, Giroux competed in 16 matches with the Wolf Pack, tallying six goals and three assists for nine points.

Prior to joining the professional ranks, Giroux skated in 202 career games for the Hull Olympiques and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), registering 111 goals and 115 assists for 226 points, along with 359 penalty minutes. In 1999-00, he led the Hull Olympiques with 52 regular season goals and 12 post-season goals.

The Quebec City, Quebec native was originally Ottawa's seventh round choice, 213th overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He was acquired by the Rangers from the Ottawa Senators, along with Karel Rachunek, in exchange for Greg de Vries on March 9, 2004.

[Kocur4life]

Well, I guess the Rags didnt plan on having both Gillies and Grenier on the big club, so this kinda explains the Gillies for Rucchin trade. In Rucchin you have an NHL 3rd or 4th line center. But with the huge stock of Ranger defensemen, the only place I can see Grenier fitting in is as a 4th line winger.

Im glad to see Giroux signed. This guy put up impressive numbers on the best regular season AHL team. From his penalty minute totals, he likes to mix it up also.....Should grab a spot as a 3rd or 4th line center. Hopefully Hollweg gets a shot at the big club too