Rangers trade Mike Rupp to Wild

With the trade of veteran Mike Rupp to the Minnesota Wild for Darroll Powe and Nick Palmieri and the call-ups of 2011 first-round draft pick J.T. Miller and Brandon Mashinter from the AHL, the Rangers are expected to have some new forwards in the lineup against the Devils on Tuesday night.

After a busy day for the lineup-shuffling Rangers (4-4), Powe, 27, an astute penalty-killer and shot-blocker, and the youngsters from the Connecticut Whale are expected to make their debuts in Newark.

Palmieri was assigned to Hartford, as was Benn Ferriero, who had one assist in four games.

Powe, a former Flyers center who played more than 200 minutes shorthanded and blocked 91 shots last season, fills a hole that opened in the offseason.

The Rangers parted with Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky in the trade that acquired Rick Nash from Columbus. Ruslan Fedotenko signed a free-agent deal with Philadelphia and Brandon Prust left for Montreal. All were deployed on the penalty-kill.

The Rangers -- who are without Ryan Callahan (shoulder) and Chris Kreider (ankle) -- rank 19th in the NHL while shorthanded this season after finishing fifth last season.

The most intriguing all-around player is Miller, 19, who won the gold medal with Team USA in the World Junior Championships this winter and would have gotten a long look if there had been full training camps.

Miller's stay could be short. If he plays six games in the NHL this season, the year counts against his entry-level contract.

Rupp, 33, a former Devil who signed a three-year, $4.5-million contract last July, is a physical presence and character guy but has been slowed by knee issues. In 68 games with the Rangers, he had four goals -- including two at the Winter Classic last January -- an assist and 109 penalty minutes. He also was second to Prust in fighting majors.

Mashinter, 24, was acquired from San Jose on Jan. 16 for Tommy Grant. The 6-4 left wing racked up 324 penalty minutes in 236 AHL games.