Thanks, Gabby

Blog readers know that I was pretty sure Gaborik would be traded now or possibly by the draft.   Turns out it was now.    Today the Rangers traded Marian Gaborik and two non-prospect minor league D's with contracts, to the Columbus Blue Jackets for C Derick Brassard,  D  John Moore,   W Derek Dorsett and a 6th round pick.  Several weeks ago, I laid out the parameters of an acceptable return for Marian Gaborik as two young players (one C and one D, with either being a prospect) and a first round pick.    Well, the Rangers did get the young C, and a young puck moving D, but they didn't get a first rounder - in fact CBJ have their first rounder (and 2 others!) for this year and a great deal would have brought one of them back.    Now, we still don't have a first rounder or a second rounder for 2013 and our way of getting them is now a Blue Jacket.   So, on that side, I don't think they made the kind of great trade we'd gotten used to since the Gomez deal.  I'm also not a fan of trading for an injured player (in deals involving a Marian Gaborik type chip, there are times when it's a good idea).

But did they make a good deal?  I think it's a pretty good deal.   Brassard and Moore are young and potentially solve problems as a top 3 C, and a puck moving D who might be useful on the PP.   Everyone says Dorsett is like Prust, unfortunately he might be out for the rest of the season and playoffs with a busted clavicle.    That's suboptimal.   However; this trade does allow them to extend Clowe, and sign McDonagh, Stepan and others.    So the salary dump element looks strong, and let's be honest, it was needed, and even the trade structure I was pushing would have serviced that need.

In the bigger picture, these moves make it look like they believe in Tortorella, and I'm not sure he's done anything this year to earn such a vote of confidence.  Just today, he sent down Miller and Kreider, in yet another indication that he has not adapted at all to the 48 game schedule and he's blaming others. But this is where we are right now.   4 new players with 15 or fewer games left, and an additional 6th.   We still don't have a first or second this year, and as soon as Clowe signs his extension we won't have a  2nd next year.    Interesting times.

PS: Miller's been recalled and Jesper Fast was assigned to the Whale.