The throw-in became the keeper.
Restricted free agent Brandon Prust, originally believed merely an appendage to the Feb. 2 trade with Calgary that also brought Olli Jokinen to Broadway, signed a two-year, $1.6M deal with the Rangers on Friday after establishing himself as a reliable contributor down the stretch.
The 26-year-old winger, who would have been eligible for salary arbitration, recorded nine points (4-5) in 26 games as a Ranger, not only carried an abrasive personality onto the ice, but showed some surprising scoring touch as well.
Prust scored goals in three straight games during the first week of April playing the right side on a fourth line with center Artem Anisimov and Jody Shelley that evolved into the most dependable unit during the aborted run for a playoff spot.
That was good for Prust, who engaged in seven fights (all in his first 17 games), but not necessarily so good for the Rangers.
GM Glen Sather now faces more difficult negotiations with Marc Staal and Dan Girardi, the club’s remaining Group II free agents. Girardi owns salary arbitration rights, but there is no immediate urgency to conclude a deal with either of the first-pair defensemen.
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Corey Potter, the 26-year-old defenseman once perceived as an excellent prospect, is apparently on his way out of the organization as a an unrestricted Group VI free agent.
The Rangers do have interest in retaining Potter, a 2003 fourth-round pick out of Michigan State who played a combined eight games the past two seasons, but they are leery of signing him to the one-way contract he’s seeking because if sent down, he would be susceptible to re-entry waivers on the way back.