CHICAGO, IL – FEBRUARY 22: at the United Center on February 22, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

New York Rangers find their backup in Antti Raanta

The New York Rangers were busy this weekend, shopping backup goalie Cam Talbot, one of the hottest goaltenders on the market. After weeks of speculation, the Rangers shipped Talbot to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for draft picks. While they didn’t get the massive rumored haul that Twitter speculated they might, the club did well to get value for a goaltender who was likely to leave when he hit free agency after next season.

With Talbot out of the picture, the Rangers needed a backup for Henrik Lundqvist. Mackenzie Skapski has got a bright future ahead of him, but probably isn’t ready to take the job yet.

The club filled their need almost immediately, swinging a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks for Antti Raanta. New York gave up prospect Ryan Haggerty in a one-for-one deal which brings the Finnish goaltender to the blueshirts.

It’s a great deal for New York.

No offense to Ryan Haggerty, who scored 15 goals and 33 points in 76 games with Hartford last year in his first pro season, but he’s a B-prospect at best – so giving him up for a somewhat established backup is a no-brainer.

With Scott Darling emerging as the backup with the Blackhawks, Raanta was expendable.

He isn’t a superstar, or likely to become a starting goaltender, he’s a very serviceable backup.  His 91.34 career even strength save percentage leaves a lot to be desired, but that’s an admittedly small sample size of 39 games. It’s not like he’s expected to play 30 plus games over a full season – so I expect he’ll be a good backup in New York. He’s going from playing behind a spectacular defense to another spectacular defense, so I don’t see a collapse coming.

The Rangers essentially gave up Talbot, Haggerty and a seventh rounder and acquired Raanta and three draft picks for them. That’s pretty solid asset management by general manager Glen Sather. Talbot has the potential to be a starting goalie, but not with King Henrik blocking his way. Moving him and bringing in a goalie who can make a similar, if not the same impact for a lesser cost allows the team to build, even if it’s just a little bit.

About Liam McGuire

Social +Staff writer for The Comeback & Awful Announcing. Liammcguirejournalism@gmail.com

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