The Rangers have announced that they have traded center Mike Rupp to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for center Darroll Powe and right wing Nick Palmieri. Powe is expected to be in the lineup for the Rangers tomorrow night when they take on the Devils in Newark, while Palmieri will be sent down to the Connecticut Whale (AHL).
Powe, 27, has skated in eight games with the Wild this season and has been held pointless with five shots on goal and nine penalty minutes. Powe is a gritty type of forward who has experience killing penalties and can help on faceoffs. Last year he skated in 82 games for the Wild and recorded six goals and seven assists for 13 points to go along with 57 penalty minutes.
Palmieri, 23, is a former third round draft pick of the Devils who has always put up good numbers in the AHL, but has never been able to translate it to the NHL. He's a good pick up for some forward depth, which the Rangers needed with injuries to Ryan Callahan and Chris Kreider early on this season, but that's about it. He's spent this entire season so far with the Wild's AHL affiliate the Houston Aeros and previously skated in nine games with the Wild last season while being held without a point.
On the surface, I like this trade for the Rangers. Darroll Powe is a Brandon Prust-type of player who can add some character and toughness to the fourth line while bringing some penalty killing skills along, too. Mike Rupp has done next to nothing offensively since he signed with the Rangers two offseasons ago, but there's no doubt he brings an element of toughness and size that the Rangers will now have to find a replacement for. Rupp has posted four goals, one assist and 145 penalty minutes in a combined 88 games in the regular season and postseason with the Rangers. I think at some point the Rangers will need to bring in another grinder who can add some size to the lineup and skate against teams like Philly and Boston.
More to come later on the trade.
