After clearing waivers again today the New York Rangers have finally sent Todd White down to the Connecticut Whale of the AHL. The move to send White down comes approximately three months later than it should have sending him down. White, 35, was acquired over the summer from the Atlanta Thrashers in a deal that sent Donald Brashear and Patrick Rissmiller out of New York. In 18 games this season for the Rangers White recorded one goal and one assist while getting mainly fourth line minutes.
The move to send White down was not necessary from a roster situation aspect, but with the Rangers now carrying Mats Zuccarello-Aasen and his 1.75 million dollar cap it as well it became more of a financial decision to finally let him go. Moving White out means that at least for the near future Zuccarello is here to stay which is good news for him, the team and the fans as his added skill has been very evident in his first two appearances, especially on the power play. Hopefully the Rangers have now found combinations that work for an extended period of time and can stop the line juggling that has plagued them of late.
This move also makes it possible depending on the opponent and the play of Avery, Frolov and Christensen to call up Dale Weise to play a fourth line role again due to having an open roster spot, though it does add another veteran to the Connecticut Whale and the veteran roster limit. To make room on the roster the Whale sent Lee Baldwin down to the Greenville of the ECHL. Let us all hope that White takes the same attitude to his demotion as Wade Redden has and turns into a mentoring figure for some of the young forwards down with the Whale.
