Rangers acquire agitator Daniel Carcillo from Kings
Los Angeles Kings' Alec Martinez, left, talks to Daniel Carcillo during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks. (Jan. 4, 2013) Credit: AP
With Derek Dorsett out through the Olympic break with a broken right leg, creating a need for an "element of toughness," as coach Alain Vigneault said, the Rangers on Saturday acquired agitator Daniel Carcillo, who has been suspended or fined 10 times in his career, from Los Angeles for a seventh-round draft pick in June.
"It's an area we felt we needed to get a little bit better," Vigneault said.
How much better is questionable. Carcillo certainly is one-dimensional, with 41 goals, 48 assists and 1,136 penalty minutes in 359 games with the Coyotes, Flyers, Blackhawks and Kings.
Carcillo might not be a favorite with Rangers fans who remember his pounding of Marian Gaborik in the second fight of the sniper's career, and Carcillo's elbow to the head of Ruslan Fedotenko, both in 2010. He also has been widely accused of diving and dirty play.
Vigneault called the trade a "low-risk move" because Carcillo is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and carries a small cap hit ($825,000).
The longest punishment of Carcillo's career came with the Blackhawks on Jan. 2, 2012, when he was suspended seven games for boarding and attempting to injure Oilers defenseman Tom Gilbert. He tore his left ACL on the play and was traded to the Kings last July 16.
The career highlight? Playing 23 games for the Stanley Cup-winning Blackhawks.
Carcillo, whose other most notable season was with Phoenix in 2007-08, when he had 13 goals and 24 points and led the NHL with 324 penalty minutes, will join the Rangers for practice Monday before their game against Columbus at the Garden.
The acquisition is the latest in a recent list of short-lived enforcers signed by president and general manager Glen Sather that includes Donald Brashear and John Scott.
Dorsett, who was acquired in the Gaborik trade with Columbus, had three goals and 103 penalty minutes in 37 games before he was injured Friday night while blocking a shot in the loss to Pittsburgh.
