NYR swap Horak, 2 pix to Flames for Tim Erixon (Update)
Sweden's Tim Erixon, right, fights for the puck with Milan Michalek, left, from Czech Republic during their semifinal Hockey World Championships match in Bratislava, Slovakia. (May 13, 2011) Credit: AP
Tim Erixon, a 20-year-old defenseman who was a first round pick in 2009 (23rd overall by Calgary) is a Ranger.
The son of former forward Jan Erixon signed an entry-level deal today after the Blueshirts traded two second-round picks this month and Roman Horak for his rights and a fifth-round pick.
Erixon, (now 6 foot 3, 205) a left handed shot, scored 24 points in 48 games in the Swedish Elite League and had a terrific playoff. The deal had to be consummated before 5 p.m. or he would have been draft eligible again. Don't know terms yet, but seems as if Erixon, who was born in Port Chester, did not want to be in Calgary organization.
"Tim is an outstanding young defenseman with good size and mobility," Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather said in a release. "He plays a complete, all-around game, and we feel he is an excellent addition to our developing, young defense corps."
The transaction raises lots of questions. Will the Rangers move another D prospect in a deal to fill holes in this year's draft portfolio? Currently, the Rangers have only a first rounder, a fourth rounder (No. 3 went for McCabe) and two fifths. What does it mean for RFA Matt Gilroy? Who knows? It certainly insures that the Rangers will pick a forward in the first round in three weeks.
Horak, 19, a 2009 fifth-rounder, had been signed to an entry-level deal on May 11. He was 26-52-78 with the Chilliwack Bruins. The Hockey News ranked Horak as the the No. 10 Rangers prospect in its Future Watch.
