Rangers claim D Jeff Woywitka on waivers from Montreal

Woywitka, 28, is a 6-3, 225-pound lefty defender. Depth guy, and a plus guy in his short NHL career. He was 1-6-7 in 34 games in his rookie year with the Blues in 2006-7. Played 65 games in St. Louis in 2008-09, 3-15-18. In two years with the Stars, he was 2-12-15 in 99 games. He averaged about 18 minutes per game in 62 games last season. His cap hit in the final year of his contract is reasonable: $650,000.

So, Stu Bickel or Brendan Bell will have to be re-assigned to fit him under the cap unless he goes straight to Hartford, where the AHL cap hit is $105,000. 

 Appears that Tim Erixon will debut tomorrow night with Steve Eminger on the third pair. 

Could Erixon or Bell/Bickel also be re-assigned when the team gets back to New York next week?  Torts has said this was not an ideal situation for Erixon, and that he wasn't comfortable with Bell/Bickel.

Also means that the Paul Mara speculation can blissfully end.