Hockey Trade Rumors

As expected, the rumors of either (or both) Jason Allison and Tony Amonte to the Rangers continue. Allison, an unsigned restricted free agent has claimed to be unhappy with Boston and wants out bad after an ongoing contract squabble. Amonte has been rumored from everywhere to N.Y. to Detroit to Colorado to Nashville, and it appears (again) he may be on the move.Jason Allison, the younger and more productive (as of recent years) of the two was rumored to the rangers along with defenseman Kyle Mclaren for centers Petr Nedved and Mike York, and defensemen Mike Mottau and Darren Van-Impe. This is a hefty price tag for Allison considering he expects somewhere near 7-8 mil per season for somewhere around 4 years. if this deal happens, with Allison and Lindros the rangers will have arguably the best 1-2 centers in the game. But at what loss? the teams best forward for the last 3 seasons, the teams best 2 way player by far, a young defenseman that was expected to crack the lineup before the preseason, and a veteran defenseman. The recent (soon to be) signing of Bryan Berard, who is only 1 year older than Mottau, and his exceptional play in his first two games has made Mottau expendable. York has been rumored in the past few weeks to Detroit for Chris Osgood, and Sather seems content on moving him. Nedved was rumored to both the Habs and bean town before he resigned. The rangers recent depth at center has made either York or Nedved expendable, however Nedved would bring more in return.

Tony Amonte, apparently unhappy with Chicago and its current status as an NHL bottom feeder, wants out. a supposed offer of either Nedved or York, along with Mottau, and backup goalie peter Skudra to Chicago for Amonte, a third rounder and cash was rumored around in recent days. Again, it appears Sather wants to move Nedved or York, perhaps to allow standout prospect Jamie Lundmark onto the roster, for some more offense, something the rangers are far from short on. However, Amonte was quoted as saying he didn’t want to return to play in N.Y., perhaps after being robbed of the cup when then ranger gm Neil Smith moved him at the deadline for Stephane Matteau (we all know of his 94 playoff heroics) and Brian Noonan. This deal seems to make more sense, since the rangers lack firepower on the wing. Amonte is a right winger, and with Radek Dvorak, Theo Fleury, Sandy McCarthy and Barrett Heisten playing right wing for the rangers in recent games, it makes one wonder if a move to left wing, or perhaps another move is in Sather’s plans.

Both Amonte and Allison would provide more offense to a team more than capable of leading the league in that department. With the recent play of Berard, Mottau is almost sure to be moved. The Mclaren add-on from Boston has me wondering. The last thing the Rangers need more of is defenseman right now. With 10 capable of playing on the big club this year (Leetch, Malakov, Berard, Ulanov, Karpa, Van-Impe, Mottau, Kloucek, Smrek and Novak) it makes me wonder what Sather’s intentions are. The next few days may answer my questions