Rangers Sign WHL All-Star Defenseman Busto

[Thrillhouse]

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has signed free agent defenseman Michael Busto.

Busto, 20, skated in 70 games with the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season, registering 20 goals and 43 assists for 63 points, along with 79 penalty minutes and a plus-21 rating.

The First Team WHL All-Star led the Kootenay defensive corps in goals (20), assists (43) and points (63), while his 63 points ranked third among all WHL defensemen. In the postseason, he collected three points (one goal and two assists) and nine penalty minutes in six games with the Ice.

The 6-2, 210-pound defenseman has skated in 331 career WHL games with the Kootenay Ice, Swift Current Broncos and Moose Jaw Warriors, recording 41 goals and 100 assists for 141 points, along with 371 penalty minutes.

Last season, Busto registered 43 points (eight goals and 35 assists) in 69 games and ranked 12th among all WHL players with a plus-24 rating. His 43 points ranked 11th among league defensemen.

In addition, the native of Burnaby, British Columbia tied for third on his team with four assists in four postseason games in 2006.