Larry Brooks at the New York Post feels that if White can't beat out either Erik Christensen or Vinny Prospal during training camp for a spot in the middle on either of the first two lines, it's more likely than not he would be placed on waivers and sent to Hartford.
Update, 12:31 p.m.:
Gross has numerous quotes from White including this one...
“I had a down year that I wasn’t happy with,” White said. “I want to get back to being the player I know I’m capable of being, a strong two-way player helping the team win. Whatever role they ask of me I’m prepared to do.
“There were different reasons why things didn’t work out as much as the year before (22 goals, 51 assists in 2008-09),” White added. “It’s a long season and I never really got on track and got a lot of confidence. I’m looking forward to a fresh start.”
Update, 11:49 a.m.:
Andrew Gross at Ranger Rants tweets that White (shoulder) was cleared to skate three weeks ago but not yet cleared for contact, but expects to be by training camp.
...this injury is going to be a big factor as to whether White makes this team or not.
Update, 10:26 a.m.:
Because of the White trade I am not posting a guest blog submission today. Wouldn't be fair to him that all the focus is on the trade today.
Update, 10:20 a.m.:
Vivlamore at the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports on White's injury issues last season...
"It was an injury-plagued season for White, who missed the last eight games of the season and underwent surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder and torn labrum. He also suffered two knee dislocations during the season."
...if the Rangers do plan on keeping White (I think they will) and he is recovered from last year's injury issues he could be in line for a nice bounce back.
Update, 10:11 a.m.:
Kevin Allen at USAToday tweets that Brashear will be bought out by the Thrashers.
Update, 9:08 a.m.:
The Rangers announce they are sending Donald Brashear and Patrick Rissmiller to Atlanta for White.
...while it's nice that Sather was able to dump Brash, what does the White signing mean for Anisimov. I had him penciled in as the #2 center. Looks like he'll be #3 with Drury, Dubinsky and Prospal at wing. Byers and Weise look like they're out of luck also.
Update, 8:15 a.m.:Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution confirms the trade.
...this is the Thrashers beat writer so the trade is legit. Still no word on who the Rangers are sending back.
Update, 1:24 a.m.:
...now that I've had some time to process this move, not sure how bringing in a 35-year-old center making $2.3 million helps this team.
...i've heard salary is going back to Atlanta so money-wise it may make sense. Doubt it's Dury b/c of no movement clause and no way Thrashers want Redden. Could be Rozsival going.
Update, 1:02 a.m.:
White is in the final year of his contract at pays him $2.375 million this year.
...unless it's Dury, Rozsival or Redden going back, not sure how Rangers can afford this.
Original Post:
From Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune...
According to sources, #Thrashers center Todd White has been traded to the #nyrangers. No word what the Rangers got back #nhl #nyr
Michael Russo
Russostrib
Michael RussoRussostrib
White, 35-years-old, had 7g and 19a in 65 games last year. However, the previous year he had 22g, 51a in 82 games.
...not sure the accuracy of the report as why would a Minnesota Wild beat reporter be breaking this news. Especially at 1am?
...if White can revert back to his 2008-09 form it looks like the Rangers have found their #1 centerman.
Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at nyrfan94@yahoo.com.
64 comments:
This doesnt sound too legitimate to me. And honetly todd white is 35 years old and isn't much better than what the rangers have now at pivot. This deal doesnt make alot of sense, unless like you said kevin, one of the rangers larger contracts (redden, rosi) are going to atlanta.
if this is true, i wouldnt say its sad to see rozsival go but hes been a very solid player for us who catches a bad rep cause sather gave him absurd money, we need to remember that he was a good player for us. that being said this trade makes sense, we save 2.5 this year with whites salary, and id imagine that would be enough to get staal signed. also with white being a free agent and centers on the market next year like thornton and richards that is also on sathers mind im sure with that new found cap space.
gotta be hoping its rosival...doubt theyd touch redden...MAYYBE drury seeing as they dont have any sort of captain material...
also...atlanta would probably be the team to take on such large contracts, seeing as they need to hit the cap floor AND the obvious problem they have keeping potential ufas around...
if this trade isnt a salary dump for the rangers im not exactly sure the point of it...we will be almost 3 million over the cap without having staal signed...somethings gotta be up
Wow, White? That guy is old and horrible. Nothing really good came from that guy. This is clearly a money move which is good for next season and this season if Redden is going. But I'm pretty sure Redden won't be sent there. It looks like they are fur sure rebuilding and trying to get some space for the next season.
#NYR Breaking News: Rangers acquire center Todd White from @AtlThrashers for Donald Brashear & Patrick Rissmiller
mattias, beat me to it haha, brash and rismiller out, not bad still means redden prolly goes
I knew I had to be quick :p was lucky, just checking twitter when it appeared! Cool that they got rid of Brashear imo... don't really know Rissmiller..
Kevin,
Please do your homework. Todd White's chances of recovering his 2008-2009 form are about as good as his chances of being re-gifted Ilya Kovalchuk as a linemate. He will not be a good player again. This is a good trade, though. The Rangers can cut White and have him come off the cap. Sather has effectively cleared Brashear's cap space for free. The team can afford to pay white to play somewhere other than NY. This move will not at all [or rather should not at all] affect who is playing center in NY this season
Nice.
Even if White doesn't pan out as a top 6 forward, we got rid of Brashear's $1.4 mil of dead cap space. The move gives Torts one more option at center to see if someone can stick with Gabby, develop a viable 2nd line scoring threat or add a depth 3rd/4th line center to give AA a shot in the top 6.
well said, koz
i'm impressed with Sather pulling this off; that Brashear contract was bugging me.
what's next? . . .
can we please get Staal signed?
Hearing atlanta is putting brashear on wivers and buying out contract...if rangers intend to keep white and play him it shuts out a spot to develop youth...
Perhaps the Ranger splan on waiving White? They dump brash in order to rid his salary because even with him waived, he still wouldve counted against the cap... and they didnt have enough $$ to buy him out.
UNless I dont understand how the CBA and everything works, I'd imagine the Rangers can waive White and essentially salvage what money was being tied up in Brash's contract
Just wondering if they're going to retire Brashear's number?
C'mon 'dog eat' the Rangers bring in a center that scored 73 points two years ago and you're telling me it will have no affect on who's playing center?
I love that Sather was able to rid themselves of Brash and Riss, but White is getting a chance.
actually, they are retiring it right onto the TP in the MSG stalls so we can all wipe ourselves with his number
after this trade, i dont blame staal if he doesnt resign...sather clearly doesnt have his priorties in place...girardi resigns for a bit more then he should, we sign frolov, and then make this trade...
think staals feeling a bit left out?
"...a bit left out?" This is business. Staal barely gets emotional during hockey games — if you think he's getting all upset over this then we have bigger issues.
So if White doesn't make the team out of camp, then his salary doesn't go against the cap? I really hope he doesn't make the squad.
Kevin, I don't understand how you can push the 'youth movement' so hard and then be happy that we signed another aging veteran who will do nothing for our team.
Dog Eat Chow World, what "homework" wasn't done here, exactly? Even if 08-09's 73 points was an outlier for White, it looks from his career stats like he's good for around 40 annually, on average (even back through his days with the Wild, when he wasn't on a line with Kovalchuk).
Compare to last year's Artem Anisimov (32), Erik Christensen (26), Brian Boyle (6), and Chris Drury (32), and then explain to me why you think White doesn't even deserve a chance before being waived? Sure, if he sucks, we can send him down with no problem, but tell me which of our stellar centers deserves that spot without White getting a chance.
Charlie, I said in my post that I am concerned about what this means for Anisimov and guys like Weise and Byers.
However, I don't think that this move will stunt the growth of any of the Rangers prospects as most if not all (Grachev & MZA only ones with real shot) were going to start the season in Hartford and if White disappoints he's sent down and hopefully a prospect will be called up.
Plus White is gone after this season when guys like Grachev, MZA, Stepan and others will be further along and can make a difference.
And most importantly they still haven't given up any prospects showing the team's dedication to youth.
@ jack...
well seeing as you dont know staal personally i think that matter is up in the air...and sure its business, but you dont think leetch was hurt when slats traded him to toronto? players feelings get hurt all the time and it CAN effect their descisions to resign with teams...hopefully that isnt the case and staal will be resigned...but looking at what redden/rosi are getting paid, and to see slats bring in a 35 year old center, not to mention steve eminger all before they resign staal could have some effect on him..
it isnt out of the question.
Todd White is a viable center who can play along side the likes of Avery, Prust and Boogaard. Brian Boyle is the man who should be concerned, as this signing could mean he will be replacing Voros as the 13th foward this season.
white wont play for the rangers. this was a simple salary dump for 2 different teams. whats so confusing about all of this?
brash is bought out and white plays in hartford with is bad shoulder and crappy knees.
If we couldn't dump Brashear's salary in hartford how can we dump white's?
Brashear had an over 35 contract. While White is 35 also because his contract originated in Atlanta the Rangers can dump him in Hartford.
James from 318:
Voros?? Check Anaheim roster...
"Whatever role they ask of me I’m prepared to do." RE: I'm not sure what I'm doing anymore but hell if I can't try to do ANYTHING for an NHL contract.
Ouch I know that was harsh, but I think Brooks was right: If he can't out-skate the current two centers (who already have chemistry with the team) then he's going to Hartford.
While I can't argue with dumping Brashear, given his relationship with the team I wouldn't want him in Hartford bitterly kvetching with the kids, I wouldn't hold my breath for a 35 year old center who is coming off of an injury plagued season and has been the 4th line center on a pretty weak & shallow team to have a "bounce back" season.
Thanks Kevin...guess atlanta wanted rissmiller to replace white...enough to buyout brashear and dump white's cap hit on us...
Todd White comes at an affordable price and replaces dead space against the cap. With Christensen / Drury / White / Anisimov I'd say the Rangers are only now ok up the middle. And if he doesn't pan out, send him down.
But he did have 73 points two years ago while playing with Kovalchuk.
Marian Gaborik scored more goals than Kovie last year.
Bottom line there's no way this hurts the Rangers in any way, it simply opens up more options.
@Andrew . . .
The organization would happily already have Staal signed and have made it clear he is a priority, so don't you worry about his feelings being hurt. He's just trying to get the best deal he can get.
Also, Jack does know Staal personally ...
To all those worried about White taking a kid's spot, most spots on the roster are there for the taking. The fact is, most of our kids, while skilled, have a lot to learn.
This is a good move because it gets us out from under Brashear's contract -- and we're not stuck with White (even though he's 35) because this is a contract that originated in Atlanta -- and if it brings in some depth and experience, gravy.
LOL.
@Brett:
Thanks for the positive spin!
The guy is coming off of shoulder surgery and at 35 its a year before shoulder strength is back on par. I just don't see the benefit.
this saves the rangers not that much space at all for a kind of a crappy player. i wish we could have traded roszival or redden in the deal, but that would have never happened. i hope one of the young guys beats him out of a spot.
Kevin,
Yes if this were two years ago and Kovalchuk was putting his ridiculously high shooting percentage to use, I'd be optimistic about White's chance for success. But he's 35, coming off multiple injuries, and had been demoted on a shallow team last season. His totals are inflated by a disproportionate amount of power play time. He's basically a lesser version of Chris Drury when he's healthy. Ask yourself: do the Rangers need someone who makes Chris Drury look good?
Dog, if he stinks he's in Hartford. No harm, no foul.
Kevin,
"if he stinks, he's in Hartford." Then don't wax "if White can revert back to his 2008-09 form it looks like the Rangers have found their #1 centerman"
He's much closer to Brian Boyle than his aberration, Kovalchuk-carried career year.
Kevin,
Also the Rangers can waive White and have his contract come off the books not because his deal originated with Atlanta, but because the contract started before he was 35. It is not an over 35 contract. The Thrashers could have also waived him and had his salary come off their cap, but that would serve them no good. They need to stay above the cap minimum. By trading him to the Rangers, they get some salary they can keep on the cap while saving in terms of real money they will be spending.
i see white going to ahl or long term injury. coming off injury filled year on knees and shoulder.
his salary does not count as 35 and over not because he came from atl but because he was under 35 ehen he signed his current 4 yr deal - even though he is 35 now that is irrelevant.
Actually dog I can say that b/c no one knows what is going to happen. If he is fully recovered and plays well he will be the Rangers #1 b/c with the centers they have it won't be that hard to do. But if he can't come back from the surgeries then he's done.
I'm not here to predict things. I just make observations based on what I see.
Thanks for clearing up the White contract issue. However if he did have a over 35 contract the Rangers could still get rid of his contract b/c it didn't originate with them.
So you're saying that if White is healthy, he is a lock to be a #1 center on this team? I'm not buying that. Before he was injured last year, he wasn't a number one on the Thrashers and, sadly, they don't have the strength of the Rangers. And no one knows what's going to happen. That's true. But you might be the only one expecting White to come anywhere near his one top center season.
"if White can revert back to his 2008-09 form it looks like the Rangers have found their #1 centerman." sounds an awful lot like a prediction.
The Rangers could not get rid of an over 35 contract just because it did not originate with them. The Thrashers will be faced with the full cap hit from Brashear that the Rangers would have incurred. They just will be paying him less actual dollars.
And that is exactly what the Thrashers wanted
Dog, please stop putting words in my mouth.
Me saying if White is able to go back to being a 70 pt. player he will be the #1 center isn't much of a prediction. How could he not be? Are you saying that one of Dubinsky, Drury, Anisimov or Christensen will score more than that?
And yes you got me. I know absolutely nothing when it comes to the CBA. But I'm learning.
Kevin,
You intimated that it was likely to happen.
revert back to his form?
dog is right. where the contract originated does not matter
i also don't see white anywhere near healthty enough to be on the team never mind 1st center. he was really really hurt in several body parts last yr. he exceeded 45 pts once in last 6 yrs. at 35 and injury prone with that recent history he is not a 1st or 2nd line center
http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8466392
26
73
37
44
40
29
whites last 6 yrs pt totals
Thanks Joe.
Looks like White has been almost as good as Chris Drury in that span. Where's the talk of Captain Little League World Series stepping up to first line center duties?
drury last 6 yrs
32
56
58
69
67
53
i would give drury a try as 1st line center before white. i like drury so would like to see him get that chance. he certainly is not 4th line material
Hmm unfortunately he's also not first line material. He's somewhere in between. I was just trying to put White in some perspective.
with as hurt as he is white is not really close to drury. most of the yrs show that too. of course if drury is put on 4th line he'll put up 4th line numbers like most of the nhl would. if given the proper amt of time including pp time he would have a good chance to revert to his 1st 2 yrs on the rangers numbers. not to the bufalo last yrs numbers they are as much an outlier as whites one yr was
Dubinsky
44
41
40
Christensen
26
28
24
33
13
Now why do you think it's so crazy that White could win the #1 center position?
Unless I'm missing someone, who is this mystery center that is head and shoulders above a fully recovered from injury Todd White?
I didn't put Anisimov down b/c he is obviously not ready for the #1 center spot yet.
dog...
"if White can revert back to his 2008-09 form it looks like the Rangers have found their #1 centerman." sounds an awful lot like a prediction.
not exactly...a prediction sounds something like "i expect white to put up 70 points"...
kevin used the if word...thats no prediction
So White has the potential to put up as many points as Christensen, Dubinksy and Drury all have without playing a full season as a top line center on the Rangers. And he does not have the potential to match Vinny Prospal's totals. So yeah it doesn't make any sense to put the 35 year old on the first line.
You're missing almost every other capable Center on the roster. That is unless I'm missing something like White becoming the bionic man.
white had 1 good yr. the yr before last - of his last 6.
from andrews blog
"White suffered through two knee dislocations and then tore his labrum late in the season"
at 35 i don;t see him fully recovering and if he did he had 1 good yr out of the last 6.
i would use drury, christensen, prospal, anisimov before i'd use white. anisimov should get better at his age something i don't expect gtom white
i really think white was traded for to send to hartford and free up brashears cap space. people commenting in the below are very happy white is gone.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-thrashers-blog/2010/08/02/thrashers-trade-white-to-rangers/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_thrashers_blog&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Listen, I am not trying to say White is this amazing center. Check out all my commentary in the post.
All I said is if he can recover from injury and get back to the player he was in 08-09 he will be the #1 center.
And yes those are all big ifs.
Man you guys really know how to brake balls.
Joe please don't tell me I'm supposed to take the word of Thrashers fans?
kevin - i'd buy what you're saying but the problem with him reverting is there is only 1 yr to rever to in the last 6 yrs. 7th and 8th yr back were good but that is a long time ago. the 4 yrs before his one recent good yr were not good either. if they were i would fully agree.
if they're going to go the vet route as 1c prospal or drury are much better choices.
i really think the rangers fully intend to send him to hartford unless he's on long term injured list.
if atl thought he was good do you think they'd trade him for brash and rissmiller
White may be one of those players that needs to play with top line talent. That one great year he played with Kovalchuk.
Now he may get the opportunity to play with another superstar in Gaborik.
I'm just trying to be positive about a new aquisition.
I think they're going to give him a real shot at making the team. Why would they have Gaborik commenting about how he's going to be a good fit if they plan on sending him down to Hartford.
That would totally be a @ick move.
Love the back and forth by the way Joe and Dog. To me this is the best part about the blog.
Just putting up news items without contact with the readers is just no fun at all. Thank you guys and I encourage others to join in and tell me what an idiot I am.
kevin the deal is a postive anyway in getting out of brash and his over 35 contract.
just wondering why they would not try to get their moneys worth in drury before a guy like white (again 1 of 6). would do wonders for drurys confidence. if i was drury and they gave white that spot without even trying him i'd be royally pissed.
I hear you Joe. I don't think the Rangers are giving any one of their seven centers preference.
Got to assume it will be an open competitiion. If Drury is the best in camp he should be centering the first line, but if White (or any of the others) outplays him then the former Thrasher should get the call.
Kevin,
I thinks dog needs a bubble bath.
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