New York Rangers sign Ruslan Fedotenko
The New York Rangers announced that they have signed forward Ruslan Fedotenko to a one-year contract worth $1 million. Fedotenko spent last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but was not re-signed by the club and became an unrestricted free agent this
summer.
Fedotenko went undrafted and was signed by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1999 after he put up an impressive season playing for the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League. While with the Musketeers, Fedotenko was able to post 43 goals and 77
points in only 55 games.
This type of production transferred well when he joined the Flyers American Hockey League affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, for the 1999-00 season. While in the AHL, the native of the Ukraine posted 16 goals and 50 points in 67 outings. The wingers impressive
display on the score-sheet earned him a spot with the big club for the 2000-01 campaign.
Fedotenko spent two years with the Flyers before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He remained in Tampa Bay for four seasons and was a major part of the club’s Stanley Cup win during the 2003-04 season. Fedotenko moved on to the New York Islanders
for a season in 2007-08, before joining the Penguins for the start of the 2008-09 campaign.
Fedotenko was a strong depth move by the Rangers brass. The 31-year-old is still a skilled third or fourth line player and is capable of scoring 15 goals. Although it is unlikely that the winger will earn top line minutes, he is still proficient on the penalty
kill and may be able to add a slight scoring punch, to a team that is in desperate need of depth in that category.
Last season with the Penguins, Fedotenko was able to notch 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points.
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