Hokej.cz is reporting that Michal Rozsival has signed with the Rangers (thanks to reader gsdgsd for alerting us to the news). You have to be able to read Czech to read the report, but the gist of it is clear -- the Rangers have added yet another player from Jaromir Jagr's home country.
Rozsival, who turns 27 later this week, is a potential power play point man with decent size and mobility. His scouting report on TSN.ca reads: "Exciting combination of passing and shooting skills from the point. Good-sized defender with above-average mobility. Needs to be more focused for an entire 82-game schedule. Should make better use of his 6-1, 212-pound frame and still has work to do in the defensive zone. Is prone to serious injury." The latter is troubling -- he missed 111 games over the past two NHL seasons due to injury, including all of 2003-04 because of a serious knee injury. On the other hand, he was healthy last season, playing for Czech Extraliga champion Paradubice.
Too early to tell how much Rozsival will earn, but he made an even $1 million to miss the 2003-04 season, which would translate to $760,000 after the 24% rollback. Chances are he is not going to make a major dent in the Rangers' cap position, except maybe via bonus clauses.
Hard to say who he will displace on the blue line at this point. Kasparaitis and Malik will play. So will Poti, unless this signing makes him trade bait. That leaves Fedor Tyutin and Maxim Kondratiev to deal with veterans Jason Strudwick and Dale Purinton for the third pair on defense.
Comments