Rangers, Islanders make minor swap

In the first trade between the two clubs since 1972, the Rangers yesterday acquired Finnish defenseman Jyri Niemi from the Islanders for a sixth-round pick in next month's draft.

Niemi, 19, is 6-3, 210, and had eight goals and 21 assists in 50 games with Saskatoon of the WHL. The Islanders' third-round pick in 2008, Niemi was Finland's captain at this year's Under-20 World Junior Championships.

The news came on the same day as another Finnish defenseman in the Rangers' system, Ilkka Heikkinen, who had eight goals and 37 points in Hartford last season, agreed to a one-year contract with Sibir, of Russia's KHL. Heikkinen, 25, told Newsday in February that he probably would return to Europe.

The last swap between the clubs came Nov. 14, 1972, when the Rangers sent right wing Ron Stewart to the Islanders for cash.