Rangers add talented goal-scorer Frolov

The Rangers agreed to contract terms with Russian winger Alexander... — The Rangers agreed to contract terms with Russian winger Alexander Frolov who spent seven seasons with the Los Angeles Kings. Credit: AP

By ARTHUR STAPLEarthur.staple@newsday.comJuly 27, 2010

Alexander Frolov had a choice: Take the money - four years for $20 million from Russia's Kontinental Hockey League - or try to prove himself in the NHL, where he'd spent seven productive seasons.

He chose to stay in North America, signing a one-year, $3-million deal with the Rangers. Frolov, 28, has scored 30 or more goals twice in his seven seasons with the Kings, but dipped to 19 last season; even so, he was one of the most productive forwards on the free-agent market, but this deal was the best he could do.

The Kings made a late push when talks between the Rangers and Don Meehan, Frolov's agent, started heating up, but Frolov decided to leave Los Angeles after having some issues with coach Terry Murray last season.

"I was there for a long time, and it's time to move on," Frolov said. "I had a tough decision to make, with an offer from Russia. But I'm happy. I think I made a good choice. I know what the Rangers need and I think I'm going to bring it to them."

That is offense. The Rangers had 42-goal scorer Marian Gaborik and only two others, Vinny Prospal and Brandon Dubinsky, who had 20.

Either as a wing on the other side from Gaborik on the first line or as a wing to add scoring punch on a second line, Frolov could give the Rangers something they were missing last season.

And the price was clearly right for Rangers president Glen Sather.

The Rangers now have roughly $6.5 million of salary-cap space under the summer rules, where teams can go 10 percent over the $59.4-million cap for next season. Restricted free-agent defenseman Marc Staal is still unsigned, but the Rangers expect to have Staal in the fold by training camp.

That would mean a higher-paid Ranger would need to be waived or traded for the Rangers to get under the cap - Wade Redden with his $6.5-million cap hit is the likely target.

Frolov said he hopes to get a long-term offer next summer, after a big season in New York. A big season in Russia would not mean as much.

"In my whole career, I've only been to the playoffs once," he said. "It was a great time. I want to do that again, get to the playoffs and win a Stanley Cup."