Rangers Re-Sign Anton Stralman

[chilly666]

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Anton Stralman on a new contract.

Stralman, 25, skated in 53 games with the Rangers last season, registering two goals and 16 assists for 18 points, along with 20 penalty minutes and a plus-nine rating. He established career-highs in plus/minus rating, hits (76), and blocked shots (71).

Stralman made his Rangers debut on November 23 at Florida after signing with the club as a free agent on November 5. He tallied his first point as a Blueshirt with a power play assist on the game-winning goal on December 11 against Florida, and notched his first goal as a Ranger on January 5 against Florida.

In the post-season, Stralman recorded three goals and three assists in 20 games. He tied for the team lead in power play goals (two), tied for second on the Rangers in power play points (four) and fifth in goals (three). He also tied for first among NHL defensemen in power play goals, second in power play points, third in goals, and eighth in points. Stralman made his NHL playoff debut on April 12 against Ottawa in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

The 5-11, 193-pounder has skated in 265 career NHL contests over five seasons with the Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets, registering 13 goals and 79 assists for 92 points, along with 117 penalty minutes.

In 2009-10, Stralman established career-highs in games played (73), goals (six), assists (28), points (34), penalty minutes (37), power play goals (four), power play assists (18), power play points (22), and shots on goal (121) as a member of the Blue Jackets.

He led Columbus defensemen in points, assists, power play goals, power play assists, and power play points, and tied for second among team defensemen in goals that season. He also led all Columbus skaters in power play assists, tied for second in power play points and fifth in power play goals.

Stralman made his NHL debut on October 23, 2007, against Atlanta as a member of the Maple Leafs. He recorded three goals and six assists in 50 games as a rookie in 2007-08. Stralman registered his first career NHL point with an assist on January 10, 2008, at Los Angeles, and notched his first career NHL goal on March 21, 2008, at Buffalo.

The Tibro, Sweden native was originally selected by Toronto as a seventh round choice, 216th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

[chilly666]

New York Rangers defenseman Anton Stralman agreed to a two-year, $3.4 million contract, avoiding Tuesday's salary arbitration hearing.

via Kevin Allen (USA Today)

[bigjack]

Nothing great but a 6th defenseman. My only issue is 1.7 a year is a little steep! If he gets 1.7 million, what is DelZotto gonna get?

[pesadillamal]

You have to be kidding me. This bum is a horror show in his own end.

[Janssen25]

Ummmm, what? 1.7 a year?

They don't have anyone in their system who can step in on the last pairing?

Sather must have heard that people were praising his deal for Nash and realized he had to make a boneheaded signing like this to keep his rep.

[Big_Fat_Dan]

I like Stralman, but i would of rather locked up Eminger as a 6th Dman, would of been half the price to.

[fcm]

Rangers fans, is Stu Bickel's spot in danger with this signing? Should he get at least 50 games this season, or he just had a spot last year because of Staal's injury?

[bigjack]

Originally Posted by fcm

Rangers fans, is Stu Bickel's spot in danger with this signing?

Everything depends on the health of Michael Sauer! If Sauer is healthy, they have:
McDonagh and Girardi
Staal and Sauer
DelZotto and either Stralman or Bickel!
Bickel will be on the team but how much he plays depends alot on the health of Sauer!

[straka91]

Overpaid by 700k but he is decent offensively. Horrible in his own end though. I think he and Bickel will rotate as needed. Would not be surprised to see them split the season down the middle if there are no injuries.

[acdcrocksno1]

Originally Posted by straka91

Overpaid by 700k but he is decent offensively. Horrible in his own end though. I think he and Bickel will rotate as needed. Would not be surprised to see them split the season down the middle if there are no injuries.

In games where Bickel is needed he can be played as a forward happened a few times this year and then Stralmarn can be kept in of Torts really wants to

[Orr=God]

Stralman was very good for the Rangers last year. Good offensively and perfectly competent in his own end.

Just because he isn't tough doesn't mean its a bad signing. I love Bickel but Stralman is ten times better than him. Going into the season this is likely to be the Rangers' D (Sauer is not expected back bc of post concussion syndrome):

Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi-
Marc Staal-Anton Stralman
Michael Del Zotto-Stu Bickel

If Sauer were to come back that would be an unbelievable d corps but likely push Bickel to the 7 spot.

[acdcrocksno1]

Originally Posted by Orr=God

Stralman was very good for the Rangers last year. Good offensively and perfectly competent in his own end.

Just because he isn't tough doesn't mean its a bad signing. I love Bickel but Stralman is ten times better than him. Going into the season this is likely to be the Rangers' D (Sauer is not expected back bc of post concussion syndrome):

Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi-
Marc Staal-Anton Stralman
Michael Del Zotto-Stu Bickel

If Sauer were to come back that would be an unbelievable d corps but likely push Bickel to the 7 spot.

I can't see Stralman playing on the second line over Del Zotto

[Big_Fat_Dan]

Torts likes to rotate his D men also, once Staal got back to his best he and Girardi saw some time together, So who knows with Torts.

It's a shame about Sauer, he had a lot of potential.

[bigjack]

Originally Posted by Big_Fat_Dan

Torts likes to rotate his D men also, once Staal got back to his best he and Girardi saw some time together, So who knows with Torts.

It's a shame about Sauer, he had a lot of potential.

Sauer is actually feeling much better! I read a few stories about him yesterday that he is finally beginning to get well!

[Big_Fat_Dan]

Originally Posted by bigjack

Sauer is actually feeling much better! I read a few stories about him yesterday that he is finally beginning to get well!

That is good to here, do you think he will see some time at the Whale for his rehab?