Yesterday in reading New York Rangers columns I came across yet another trade rumor in connection with the club. What was different this time than all of the other rumors I have read of late was that it involved the Rangers dealing for a defenseman despite the fact they have seven capable ones already on the roster. The source of this rumor was Larry Brooks'column in the NY Post in which he discusses the Rangers possible interest in bringing back Fedor Tyutin to the Rangers 2 ½ years after the team traded him to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Here is the main part of the rumor:
The Rangers may have interest in re-acquiring Tyutin, a left-hand shot (who played the right side) with one more year at $2,843,750 remaining on his contract.
I know the Rangers played the Blue Jackets the night before, but this is below what we expect from someone like Larry Brooks who usually does a good job of tamping down speculation. I would expect to find this at few well know rumor mongers who are also considered to basically make most of their material up and claim it to unnamed sources. I am not saying that Brooks is making it up, but I find no common sense reason for the Rangers to bring back Tyutin based the Rangers current and future situation on defense nor is there any justification based on his play this season. This from a person who liked Tyutin when he was here and thought he was a better player than Girardi who they chose to keep instead. The Rangers took the gamble on Zherdev finding his full potential here and walked away from that experiment a year later having given up Toots and signed Redden. Not saying if they never make the trade with Columbus they do not sign Redden, but certainly less likely.
I understand the draw of writing about a guy who used to be here, and more importantly connecting that with the fact the Rangers are said to be looking for a left handed defender, but Tyutin this has more of a nostalgia than present feel as is not playing better hockey than any in our current top six and probably not even better than Gilroy. Tyutin in the two games leading up to the Rangers game in Columbus was a healthy scratch and on the season he has 4 points in 26 games while be a plus two. If that was not enough to make this a bad idea, the fact that he has another year at the 2.844 million dollar cap hit should more than seal it if you are looking at him as a third pair defender. That is nearly equivalent to another Boogaard salary for the production you can expect from it. Right now the Rangers third pair combines to make, ironically exactly what Boogaard does, 1.625 million and even with raises at the end of the season if both are back Eminger and Sauer will combine for at most 2.2 million which is a much more attractive option for the team.
I can hear the calls now that if Columbus would take Rozi then it would be worth saving the two million on the cap next year, which I probably still would not do, but that is the only scenario where I would even think twice in a one for one move. If the Rangers had to take on a Tyutin salary for an extra year it would have to be accompanied by a piece the Rangers really wanted for the future in terms of a prospect or a pick. I could see the Blue Jackets who need a PP QB having some interest in giving Gilroy a shot there or maybe another enigmatic player in Alex Frolov, but maybe they have had their fill of those. I would gladly trade either or both of those to Columbus but not to bring back Tyutin, unless there is a nice sweetener, as the extra year on his deal is a huge negative in my book.
If the Rangers did deal for Tyutin you have to suspect, if not already involved, Gilroy or another defender would have to be moved in a separate deal, but before the Richards rumors get connected to this realize that 2.844 million in cap hit Tyutin adds next year makes Richards than much less affordable.
Have at it.
