Rangers get White from Thrashers for Brashear, Rissmiller

In what appears to be a shrewd swap for both teams, the Rangers acquired center Todd White from Atlanta for forwards Patrick Rissmiller and Donald Brashear.

While the Thrashers receive some financial relief by unloading White, whose cap charge is $2.375 million, the Rangers add some depth down the middle with the 35-year-old veteran by shedding two Hartford-bound players in Rissmiller and Brashear.

Additionally, Rangers general manager Glen Sather managed to avoid Brashear's cap charge. Because Brashear, 38, signed a multiyear, over-35 contract last July, the Rangers would have been saddled with a $1.4-million hit regardless of where he was assigned had he remained property of the Rangers.

White, who scored seven goals and 19 assists in 65 games with Atlanta last season when he was hampered by shoulder and knee injuries, experienced a dramatic drop-off from the previous season when he finished with a career-high 73 points (22 goals, 51 assists).

"I'm really excited," White said when reached by phone Monday. "I'm looking forward to coming here and doing what I can to help the team win. I'm also looking forward to a fresh start in New York. Last year was not a great year for me, but I'm trying to get back to what I did two years ago."

In acquiring the 12-year veteran, Sather was able to rid himself of two unsuccessful free-agent signings.

Rissmiller, 31, who signed a three-year, $3-million dollar deal with the Rangers in 2008, spent the majority of last season with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League, where he had 20 goals and 25 assists in 63 games.

After requesting a trade in February, Brashear spent the remainder of the season in the minors, playing 27 games with the Wolf Pack.

According to reports, the Thrashers waived Brashear and plan to buy out the final year of his contract.