The New York Rangers dipped into the UFA market Saturday by inking center Matt Cullen to a four-year deal worth $11.2 million.
The 29 year-old Minnesota native established new career highs in goals (25) and points (49) in his only season with Carolina. He also contributed 18 points (4-14-18) in the postseason to help them win their first Stanley Cup.
Cullen could be a possible replacement for Steve Rucchin. In his seven-year NHL career which began with Anaheim, the former teammate of Rucchin has totaled 102 goals, 178 assists for 280 points in 591 games.
The former Anaheim 1996 second round pick will be joining his fourth team (Ana, Fla, Car, Nyr) in nine years.
Sunday, Rangers President and GM Glen Sather announced the re-signing of forward Martin Straka. It is reportedly a one-year deal worth $3.1 million.
Originally signed as a UFA last summer, the 33 year-old Plzen, Czech Republic native finished '05-06 with 22 goals, 54 assists for 76 points in 82 games- helping get the Blueshirts back to the postseason for the first time since 1997.
The 13-year veteran also helped his native country take bronze at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy- finishing with two goals and six assists for eight points.
In 812 career NHL games, Straka has tallied 606 points (214-392-606) with six different teams.
Rachunek Returns: The Rangers also reached terms with RFA Karel Rachunek. Originally acquired along with Alexandre Giroux from Ottawa in exchange for Greg de Vries back on March 9, 2004, the 26 year-old defenseman skated in 12 games for the Rangers, finishing with a goal and three assists.
This past season, the Czech native played in the Russian Hockey League for Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, totaling 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points with a plus-14 rating in 48 games.
The defenseman could be a possible replacement on the blueline for Michal Rozsival, who reportedly rejected a three-year deal.
In 258 career NHL contests, Rachunek has tallied 101 points (12-89-101) with Ottawa and New York.
New York also signed defenseman Daniel Girardi and goalie Stephen Valiquette.
Girardi, 22, registered 39 points (8-31-39) and a plus-14 rating in 66 games for AHL affiliate Hartford. Along with former 2005 first round pick Marc Staal, the Ontario native might get a look in camp at making the Rangers.
Valiquette, 28, was a teammate of Rachunek last season appearing in 45 games for Yaroslavl Lokomotiv. He finished with a 1.95 goals against average (GAA), .922 save percentage along with four shutouts.
He was originally acquired on March 3, 2004 by the Blueshirts along with Dwight Helminen and a 2004 second round pick (Dane Byers) from Edmonton in exchange for Petr Nedved and Jussi Markkanen.
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