Making Moves (UPDATED)

UPDATE: Multiple sources are reporting that the Devils have acquired Atlanta’s Ilya Kovalchuck. Early indications are that it cost the Devils three players (Oduya, Bergfors, Patrice Cormier) and a first-round draft pick. Let’s hope New Jersey can’t get a contract extension worked out (if it hasn’t been already, which I expect would be part of the deal) and Kovalchuck becomes a free agent in the summer.

It would’ve been awesome to see Kovalchuck come to the Rangers, but if what The Post reported as to what the asking price was from the Rangers, then I have no problem with this deal not getting done. Del Zotto or Staal, Callahan or Dubinsky, Stepan or Kreider AND a first-round draft pick is ABSURD. I would NEVER do that trade and would be fuming if Sather did that. Clear some cap room and hope that Kovalchuck is available in the summer. Otherwise, let’s see what Jokinen can add for now. So far, so good tonight.

Well, it’s finally done. So long Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins. Hello Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust. I think a lot of my feelings echo with everyone else as well as Eric, but here are my thoughts on the deal.

As much as we all love to hate Glen Sather, the guy really does find a way to make some impressive trades. To me this is a low risk, high reward trade. The upside of Jokinen is tremendous. Yes he struggled mightily in Calgary, but we all know about his success in the Eastern Conference. His style of play also fits well with what Torts wants this team to be. If he continues to struggle then it’s obviously unfortunate for him and the Rangers, but he will become an unrestricted free agent at the season’s end. If he thrives playing with Gaborik, I agree with Eric, maybe the Rangers can bring him back for a reasonable price.

In terms of Prust, he’s a scrappy guy who will bring some physicality to this team. He won’t give you a lot of minutes, but that’s to be expected. Based on all the comments I was reading on TSN he seemed well-liked in Calgary, much more than we can say about Donald Brashear (good riddance and FINALLY!).

The Rangers really don’t lose much at all in this deal. Even if Higgins or Kotalik, or both, pick up their games in Calgary I won’t feel too badly about it. It seemed clear that Kotalik was never going to play well, or play at all for that matter, as long as Torts was manning the bench. Higgins also seemed like a lost cause to me in New York. He underachieved and looked overwhelmed at times playing in New York. I’m ecstatic that this move was made without trading away Matt Gilroy. I even heard rumors, which were just that, that Callahan was potentially the other piece in the deal instead of Higgins. Thankfully that was not the case. That would’ve been idiotic.

Torts says both Prust and Jokinen will play tonight in LA. I’m pretty excited to see how this all shakes out. Like I mentioned, if Jokinen doesn’t perform it will stink, but the Rangers lost nothing in the deal. We’ll just have to hope it pans out. Maybe Jokinen’s game is resurrected and he can help an offense that is in desperate need of some firepower.

PS: How about this bold prediction from The Maven…“I predict that this trade will turn the Rangers in a significantly upward direction, guaranteeing a playoff berth and more than a first-round performance.”