Rangers re-sign Callahan, trade Korpikoski

July 13, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

The Devils weren’t the only local flavor making news. The Rangers have re-signed forward Ryan Callahan to a multi-year extension.

Terms are disclosed but supposedly it’s less than a two million average which means somehow, Glen Sather got Cally to take less. Cancel that. Per Steve Zipay, it’s a $2.3 million cap hit with Cally receiving 2.2 this season and 2.4 next year. Even more baffling. How dumb is this organization?

What that spells for the future I’m not certain as the 24 year-old Callahan- who posted career bests in games (81), goals (22), assists (18), points (40) and penalty minutes (45)- will once again be restricted following 2010-11. I guess rather than lock him up long-term, Slats is saying to the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award winner prove yourself. Just imagine the cost if he improves.

With that out of the way, that leaves Brandon Dubinsky as the next must. Is he in their plans now that the club has shockingly parted with Lauri Korpikoski, dealing the former 2004 No.1 pick (19th overall) to Rangers West Phoenix for Enver Lisin?

Who knows what the thinking is. I honestly am extremely disappointed in this latest development. While it’s true Korpikoski only scored six goals and 14 points in his rookie season, the soon to be 23 year-old Finn possessed excellent skating ability and work habits that would’ve made him a popular Ranger. Another part of the failed Brian Leetch deal is gone. Sadly, he barely got a chance to prove he was worth trading up for in the 2004 Draft. Maybe he isn’t more than a third liner but that’s also what Callahan was projected as and look where he is now after getting a much fairer shake.

Not only am I baffled by this move but Korpikoski was a dependable penalty killer whose role might’ve increased with Blair Betts and Freddy Sjostrom gone. I really wanted to see him get a shot as a wing playing more minutes on the third line. Something we’ll never get to find out thanks to the latest incompetence of a confusing organization that doesn’t seem to have any direction. Yet again, they have failed to practice what they preach showing zero patience.

I could care less if Lisin is the same age and scored 13 goals and 21 points in 48 games for the ‘Yotes. The fact is he’s Russian and could leave for the KHL just like what probably will become of Nikolai Zherdev, who they gave Fedor Tyutin away for. Lisin was a second round pick from that same ’04 Draft. He’s hardly lit it up totaling 18 goals and 10 assists for 28 points along with a nightmarish minus-36 rating in 78 career NHL games. He’s probably more skilled than Korp but until proven otherwise, this is not a good trade.

It also seems that the Rangers panicked due to the rumors Korpikoski might sign to play in the KHL for two years at $1.5 million-per-season. I hope he is part of Don Maloney’s plans like two other exiled players Petr Prucha and Nigel Dawes. We have nothing to show for the Al Montoya deal and Derek Morris likely isn’t returning, meaning that also was EPIC FAIL.

Hell. The Nik Antropov trade cost them a second round pick. He was never going to re-sign and the team wasn’t going anywhere. Why did Sather do it?

I am not going to excuse him even if John Tortorella forced his hand. I just don’t like the direction things are headed. Next, Dubinsky will be packaged to Dallas for Brad Richards. I hope that’s not the plan.