Jagr Era In New York Over, Rangers Sign Markus Naslund, Also Sign Dimitri Kalinin

Markus Naslund is off the available list for free agents, as the Swedish winger has signed a 2-year contract with the New York Rangers worth $8 million.

The Naslund signing gives the Rangers an additional proven winger that they was desperately needed. Naslund will be a nice addition that will be another option to play alongside Gomez or Drury. Naslunds production has decreased over the past few seasons but he adds another veteran presence while joining a group of youthful wingers that include, Nikolai Zherdev, Nigel Dawes, Ryan Callahan, Fredrik Sjostrom and Petr Prucha. The Naslund signing also brings the Jagr era in New York to an abrupt close. Word is Jagr wanted a two year deal at what would most likely be $6M-$7M. In all honesty I would rather have Naslund for two years at $4M then Jagr for two at anywhere above $6M. Hopefully Naslund finds some chemistry with Drury or Gomez and provides more offense than he did alongside Morrison in Vancouver. Overall a good signing.

The Rangers also inked defenceman Dimitri Kalinin to a one year deal. The Rangers were bound to sign another defenceman after they failed to sign Brooks Orpik. Kalinin will fit in most likely on the third D pairing. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Goodbye Jagr

..One more thing, Mats Sundin has earned the write to take time with his decision.. but is it ok for him to screw the entire league in the process? Theres a fine line between taking what is rightfully yours and screwing over everyone interested in you (The New York Rangers).