The Rangers made a big move to bolster their blue-line this week by signing defenseman Ryan McDonagh to a professional contract despite the fact that McDonagh had previously made it known that he would return to the University of Wisconsin instead of turning pro and joining the Rangers.

McDonagh was taken by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round, 12th overall, in the 2007 draft. The Rangers acquired him along with winger Chris Higgins a year ago in a deal that sent Scott Gomez to Montreal. At the time the deal was largely a salary dump designed to clear space for the signing of Marian Gaborik, but now that McDonagh has signed that ..read more

The Rangers have agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth $1.6 million with forward Brandon Prust. Prust was a restricted free agent and the two sides worked quickly to hammer out a deal.

The Rangers got Prust in a deal with the Calgary Flames that was mostly a salary dump and Olli Jokinen was the main piece coming to Broadway. It didn’t turn out that was as Prust was one of the few energized Rangers down the stretch while Jokinen merely phoned it in. Resigning Prust was a no-brainer after the stretch run.

Here is more from the Rangers:

Prust, 26, skated in 69 games with the Rangers and Calgary Flames last ..read more

The Rangers have resigned center Vinny Prospal to a one-year $1 million contract with another $1.1 million in incentives that are said to be easily achievable, according to Larry Brooks of the NY Post.

That leaves the Rangers with $6.515 million left in cap space according to CapGeek.com. The Rangers could potentially clear another $6.5 million by stashing defenseman Wade Redden to the minors. Prospal’s $1.1 million in incentives doesn’t necessarily count against the cap this season, but if they go over it because of those incentives it counts against the cap the following year.

Prospal is 35-years-old and registered 58 points for the Rangers last season, 20 goals and 38 assists in 75 ..read more

In my last post I passed along a rumor that the Rangers were not going to sign forward enforcer Derek Boogaard. It turns out that I, and Andrew Gross, were wrong.

The Rangers have signed Boogaard to a yet undisclosed contract according to Darren Dreger of TSN.

I like this deal as opposed to resigning Jody Shelley. Shelley certainly played well with the Rangers last season, but has had a longer career where he hasn’t really ever been a difference maker. Also, still 28-years-old Boogaard has youth on his side and more potential.

Update: Spector’s Hockey is reporting that Boogaard’s deal is a four-year deal worth $6.6 million, or $1.65 million per season.

Jody Shelley has had a long and relatively undistinguished career as an enforcer in the NHL which made it a surprise that he came over to the Rangers and infused so much enthusiasm.

But those days are over for Shelley and the Rangers as Bob McKenzie of TSN has reported that the 34-year-old has signed a three-year deal worth $3.3 million to play for the Philadelphia Flyers.

There were rumors that the Rangers would target Derek Boogaard of Minnesota Wild to make up for losing Shelley, but that no longer appears to be the case according to Andrew Gross of the Bergin Record.

The Rangers also have Brandon Prust who can act as ..read more

The Rangers have finally found a way to ensure that they won’t be forced to overwork goalie Henrik Lundqvist as they have signed an experienced backup goalie in Martin Biron to a two-year $1.7 million deal according to Larry Brooks of the NY Post.

Here is more from Brooks:

Biron, who will turn 33 next month, is a nine-year NHL veteran who recorded a 3.27 GAA going 9-14-4 for the Islanders last season after previous runs as a No. 1 with Buffalo and Philadelphia.

GM Glen Sather and head coach John Tortorella had focused on obtaining a quality veteran to support Henrik Lundqvist in order to reduce the King’s ..read more

The Rangers have announced that they have resigned center Erik Christensen to a one-year deal for a still undisclosed amount of money.

As long as the money is low on this deal this is one that makes sense. Christensen isn’t going to knock you out with his production, but in a weak free agent class he’s probably a better bet than other more costly veterans.

Here is more from the Rangers:

Christensen, who was named co-receipient of the John Halligan Good Guy Award for cooperation with the media, recorded a career-high, eight multi-point efforts, including a three-point performance on February 14 vs. Tampa Bay (two goals and one assist) to tie ..read more

Welcome to Broadway Hockey Daily’s live blog of the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft! We’ll be updating periodically throughout the night, with the most recent update appearing at the top of the post.

10:58 PM – Welcome to Long Island, Brock Nelson! The Pisles select the high schooler with the final pick of the draft. Thanks for joining us tonight folks! Not much action for the Rangers other than that puzzling #10 pick of Dylan McIlrath. Stay with Broadway Hockey Daily for the best Rangers coverage on the interweb.

10:56 PM – Those damn dirty Islanders pick up the final pick of the night, trading the #35 and #58 picks to the Blackhawks for the 30th ..read more

Hey, folks. Just wanted to let you all know that tonight, Broadway Hockey Daily will be live blogging the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. The New York Rangers have the tenth pick in the draft. Join us at 7PM!

As if Ranger fans needed another reason to hate Donald Brashear, Glen Sather and the Rangers gave them another one last season when they signed him to a 2-year $2.8 million contract.

Not even midway through the season last year the Rangers realized this was a mistake and demoted him to the Hartford Wolf Pack. Unfortunately his contract still counts against the cap as at 38-years-old Brashear is over 35 so his contract still hits the cap even in the AHL.

For a team struggling to find cap space his $1.4 million hit in the 2010-11 season could make a big difference. Larry Brooks of the NY Post has actually come up ..read more