In their first moves on the opening day of NHL free agency, the Rangers went for low-cost speed, signing forwards Michael Grabner and Nathan Gerbe as well as a depth defenseman Adam Clendening.
With limited money available, the Blueshirts were not expected to spend big dollars on the top free agents.
Grabner, 28, received a two-year deal averaging $1.6 million per season. He played five seasons with the Islanders before going to Toronto.
Gerbe, a small but feisty winger who has played for the Sabres and Hurricanes and will be 29 later this month, received a one-year contract worth $600,000.
Clendening, 23, who has played for several teams, was signed to a one-year, two-way deal, worth $600,000 at the NHL level and $300,000 in the AHL.
A native of Austria, Grabner has proven to be a high-quality penalty killer in his seven seasons with the Islanders, Canucks and Maple Leafs. He is tied for fourth in the NHL in shorthanded goals (12) since the start of the 2010-11 season, and last season ranked second among NHL forwards – in shorthanded ice time at 248:29. Overall, he has 173 points in 397 games.
Gerbe had 59 points in his last three seasons with the Hurricanes and likely will be a fourth liner.
Clendening, 23, a righty who was drafted out of Boston College in 2011, has played with five NHL teams. He skated in 29 NHL games with Pittsburgh and Edmonton this past season, recording a goal and six assists, a plus-six rating and 20 penalty minutes.
..... - Newsday