Prospal officially a Ranger

August 17, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

It’s a done deal. Vinny Prospal is officially a Ranger. The 34 year-old veteran forward agreed to the one-year $1.1 million deal NY Post’s Larry Brooks reported yesterday. Full marks to our favorite beat writer.

Following an impressive season in which he netted a career high 33 goals and 71 points with Tampa Bay and Philadelphia, he disappointed with just 19 goals and 45 points along with a minus-20 rating in the first year of a new contract with the Lightning. Not surprisingly, they bought him out making Prospal a free agent.

It didn’t take long for the versatile Czech to find a new home with former Bolts’ coach John Tortorella on Broadway. So much for any animosity between them. We’re fairly certain Tort smoothed things over and suggested this move to Glen Sather, who got a decent player at a bargain basement price.

“Vinny is a highly-skilled player with good offensive instincts and the ability to play on the wing or at the centre position,” Slats said in a statement earlier today.

“We think he will give us added flexibility and brings a veteran presence to our lineup.“

Over 12 seasons spent with five clubs (Phi, Ott, Fla, TB, Ana), Prospal’s registered 198 goals and 401 assists totaling 599 points in 874 career games. So, his next point will be a milestone. Gee. What a shock.

Throughout his NHL career, he’s scored at least 20 goals four times and tallied 50-or-more points seven times.

As we stated yesterday, adding another vet takes up a roster spot and makes it harder for Artem Anisimov to make the club next month. There’s also the continued unresolved issue of Brandon Dubinsky with the two sides not close. Unfortunately, he will likely have to play at his qualifier ($698,500) due to limited cap space. The Rangers are between 54 and 55 million. So, unless he wants to sit out and hope a team signs him to an offersheet, Dubinsky will have to take less for the good of the club.

If he does cave in, does Dubinsky anchor the top line flanked by Prospal and Marian Gaborik? Or will Tortorella start Prospal in the middle with probably Sean Avery adding needed grit?

If there is a plus to this, it allows one of Ryan Callahan, Chris Higgins or Ales Kotalik to slide down to the third line which should help provide more balance. And if Dubinsky and Prospal are centers, the third-year player should anchor that line while Chris Drury centers line two. How the lines are rounded out should be interesting if you factor in Enver Lisin, who looks to be battling fellow Russian Anisimov for a key spot.

The fourth line likely will comprise a combo of one or the other along with Brian Boyle, Donald Brashear and Dane Byers who should get competition from Aaron Voros and Tyler Arnason.

What this means is that top prospect Evgeny Grachev likely will start in Hartford unless he opts for a second season in the OHL with Brampton. Highly doubtful considering the production (40-40-80 in 60 GP). It would be best for him to move to the pros which should be an adjustment. As Prospect Park’s Jess Rubinstein said on last nite’s The Program we took part in hosted by Chris Wassel along with The Rick and Mike, there’s no reason to rush him. If he progresses, perhaps he forces the big club to give him a look by January or February.

It should be an interesting season.