Rangers Trade Kolarik to Penguins
The Penguins have announced that they have acquired forward Chad Kolarik from the New York Rangers in exchange for Benn Ferriero.
Ferriero has 4g, 14a this year for the Penguins AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Ferriero has played 92 NHL games for the San Jose Sharks scoring 14g, 18a. He also scored the game-winning goal in overtime against the Detroit Red Wings in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals in 2011.
Kolarik was second on the CT Whale in poinst with 35 (16g, 19a).
...what the? Huh? I was convinced Kolarik was going to have an impact for the Rangers this season. I guess Sather and co. didn't see him in their future plans.
...i know Kolarik isn't an all-star but I got to admit, I'm shocked with this move.
Adam Herman:
It's a curious move for sure. Kolarik had 31 points in 36 games with the Connecticut Whale this season and was named as an AHL All-Star. And he seemed destined for a call-up at some point this season. Perhaps Kolarik requested a trade. Perhaps he got into a fight with Jeff Beukeboom yesterday. Something to that effect would make the reasoning behind this trade clear. But let's pretend that's not the case; or even if it is, let's rationalize how this move logistically makes sense or might make a difference for the Rangers.
Why move him now; at a time where he is producing for the Whale? Kolarik has offensive skill for sure but fits the mold of guys like Mats Zuccarello, Erik Christensen, and Marcel Hossa in that he likely does not have enough offensive skill to warrant a consistent top-six spot and he doesn't bring enough physically or defensively to make him a good fit for a bottom-six spot. And at 26, he doesn't exactly have a large developmental curve. Could he match the likes of P.A. Parenteau? Sure it's a possibility, but the Rangers are not in a place to test that out and experiment.
Tortorella made it evident that Kreider might end up back in the AHL for some time, and the three minutes of icetime last night tells you all you need to know about how confident he is in Stu Bickel as a winger. The Rangers lack AHL substitutes for a depth forward role; JT Miller and Christian Thomas are not ready for the NHL right now and certainly should not be taken away from the AHL to serve fourth line minutes. Benn Ferriero, on the other hand, is a guy who makes sense. He does not have the offensive potential of Chad Kolarik, but he does has 12 goals in his last 68 NHL games. And perhaps more relavent here is that he is a gritty, hardworking player; the kind of guy who IS suited for fourth line duties.
Again, perhaps there were other unavoidable reasons for this trade, whether it be Kolarik's request or something else. But from a tactical and personnel standpoint there is logic behind the move. We're sacrificing legitimate offensive potential in Chad Kolarik in order to fill a more immediate need. I don't think anybody is happy with Stu Bickel getting forward duties and if Kreider is indeed sent down then somebody is going to have to fill in. Ferriero makes more sense getting spot duty on the third or fourth line than Kolarik does at this point in time.
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Here are some telling quotes from Hockey's Future website, which assesses and projects talent:
"Ferriero is a tenacious, fiercely competitive forward who plays equally well at both ends of the ice."
"Kolarik needs to develop more of a two-way game."
The only other thing you need to know is that John Tortorella is the Ranger coach. But, it is interesting to note that Ferriero has put up fairly impressive numbers at every level, and played with Brian Boyle at B.C. for 2 years. Ferriero also scored an OT winner against the Red Wings in his first NHL playoff game, so he has some experience in big spots.I disagree that Kolarik has better offensive potential than Ferriero, especially on this team where Kolarik would never see the ice with his defensive liabilities. I like the deal - Ferriero has a better chance to contribute on the NHL level.
@smoothyv When I say that Kolarik has more offensive potential I mean that if we're looking at the two players in a vacuum. Kolarik is a better skater, has a better shot, has better vision with the puck, etc. Like you say, though, his inability to contribute in other aspects of the game will likely inhibit him from getting ice-time at the NHL level.
If they know Kolarik has no place in the big club next couple years, then maybe they take advantage of his higher trade value now, since he had a good season with the Whale. On the other hand, I guess it remains to be seen whether adding Ferriero equals getting value back.
Lets all just be thankful that the Rangers were able to get something in return for him, considering he just cleared waivers last week. Definitely a strange move, but we shall see...
I asked a friend who has season tickets to the baby pens what he thought of Ferriero and he said he's a lesser Max Talbot. Soooooooo...we lose this trade haha
I'm not 100% sure but didn't Ferriero play with Boyle at BC?Coach York demands a very specific kind of discipline and work ethic from his players, very similar to that of Tortorella. It makes sense to me that a graduate of the BC hockey system would fit better in his future plans than Kolarik. Kolarik always seemed to fit the "enigmatic" descriptor a bit, for me; and Adam, I think your thoughts on the grittiness and where they fit is spot on.
Makes no sense u they would trade him to Pittsburgh...they only thing I can think of is he prob has too much skill to play for torts...torts like players that have zero skills that's y newberry is coming up and Kreider going down
Didn't see that one coming. Not sure what to think yet. But was concerned in off season about depth and still concerned now.
Does ferreiro play center? Could be one reason - Halpern's been pretty much used exclusively on the PK and his faceoff% is awful.
Is Asham out for more than a game or 2? Could be another reason (anything's better than Bickel). While I think the Newbury promotion fills the Bickel issue for now, Newbury could be just like Segal and if he really sux, he'll be subbed in by Ferreiro.
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I wanna see Mashinter with the big club once he gets acclimated to the Rangers system. He's kind of intriguing.
Already saw the positive writeup on Kolarik on the Penguins site. Right now, there is barely a mention of Ferriero on the Rangers site, with "more to come." I hope this is not an omen.
Kolarik was slotted as CtWhale rep for AHL AS game. My question besides the trade is do the Whale get a rep for AS game in Providence on Sunday?
Ferriero apparently is a center. Maybe he is the answer to all of our faceoff problems. LOL.
So basically the Rangers organization is just going to milk the sh!t out of their "core" players (Callahan, Girardi, Richards, Boyle, Staal, Nash, etc.) and everyone else is just a pawn.
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Might be a reach, but this guy went to BC. Since he has both AHL and NHL experience, maybe he's some type of Derek Sutton to Kreider's inner Dean Youngblood. Hopefully the Phantoms don't sign Racki!
I live in Wilkes-Barre and I'm kinda perplexed by this? Kind of a nonsense move. Ill enjoy watching Kolarik here though. So strange...
How much worse can he be than Bickel for when Asham's vagina (err groin...sorry) acts up? LOL
I don't understand it at all. They are virtually the same size and age and Kolarik has clearly had the better year. For a Whale team that is already offensively challenged this is going to be a blow to the club. They will probably now miss the AHL playoffs losing their second leading scorer and by calling up their top scorer to the Rangers. I know ultimately what the Whale does not matter to the Rangers if they need a player but it does hurt the fans of that club to lose their best players.
@bioinsegnante with all due respect to fans of the Whale, its not about the Whale, and as long as they are in the AHL, it never will be...time for other players to step up and develop...it may be tough to stomach, but that's what its about, developing talent for the big team.
@bioinsegnante Size in itself means little. Marek Malik TOWERS over Ryan McDonagh. Yet which guy plays "bigger"? Ferriero fits the mold of a depth forward. He's gritty and strong on the forecheck and does the little things. Kolarik is a finesse player who has no place in that role. I understand and sympathize with the fact that this trade hurts the Connecticut Whale but ultimately Sather needs to do what is best for the NHL club. And all other 29 teams would do the same.
I feel the same way and then saw something that might make sense...someone guessed he asked for a trade. If I saw Segal and Newbury (yes I realize this just happened) called up before me, I would too lol.
@KevinDeLury @Melissa (angelzeyes2521) you guys keep forgetting that he does not fit the mold of a player that Torts will play. AHL stats are fool's gold.
