Turbulence
08-28-2003, 05:02 PM
Rangers agree to terms with Hlavac, Rucinsky
NEW YORK (newyorkrangers.com) -- New York Rangers President, General Manager and Head Coach Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent left wing Jan Hlavac. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"Jan is a player who enjoyed success in New York and we feel he can be an asset to our hockey club once again," stated Sather. "He has the ability to produce solid offensive numbers and provides excellent depth to the left side of our lineup."
Hlavac, 26, skated in 61 contests with the Vancouver Canucks and Carolina Hurricanes last season, registering 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points, along with 28 penalty minutes. He began the 2002-03 season with the Canucks, posting one goal and one assist for two points in nine matches. After being acquired by Carolina on November 1, in exchange for Marek Malik, Hlavac collected nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points, along with 22 penalty minutes in 52 games with the Hurricanes. He posted the first three-assist game of his career on December 12 vs. Calgary. Hlavac also registered his third hat trick of his career with three power play goals on November 29 vs. Detroit.
The 6-0, 200-pound left wing has appeared in 284 career NHL contests with the Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks and Rangers, registering 73 goals and 90 assists for 163 points, along with 82 penalty minutes. Hlavac spent two seasons in New York from 1999-00 through 2000-01, registering 47 goals and 59 assists for 106 points, along with 36 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in all statistical categories during the 2000-01 season, posting 28 goals and 36 assists for 64 points in 79 matches. In 1999-00, Hlavac tied for fifth on the Rangers and ranked fifth among NHL rookies with 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists). He also ranked third in goals (19) and seventh in assists (23) among league rookies.
As a member of the Czech Republic national team, Hlavac captured a gold medal at the 1999 World Championships in Norway, collecting the game winning, overtime goal in the Championship game vs. Finland. He led the club with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 10 tournament matches. Hlavac also participated in the 1995 and 1996 World Junior Championships with the Czech Republic. The native of Prague, Czech Republic was the originally the Islanders' second choice, 28th overall, in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. His rights were acquired by the Rangers on June 26, 1999, along with Calgary's 1999 first (Jamie Lundmark) and third (Patrick Aufiero) round draft choices in exchange for Marc Savard and the Rangers 1999 first round draft choice (Oleg Saprykin). Hlavac was acquired by Philadelphia from New York on August 20, 2001, along with Pavel Brendl, Kim Johnsson and a 2003 third round draft choice (Stefan Ruzicka) in exchange for Eric Lindros and future considerations. On December 17, 2001, he was acquired by the Canucks, along with a 2002 third round draft choice (Brett Skinner), in exchange for Donald Brashear and a 2002 sixth round draft choice (Jaroslav Balastik).
Manager and Head Coach Glen Sather also announced today that the club has agreed to terms with free agent left wing Martin Rucinsky. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"Martin is a multi-talented athlete who can complement a number of the center icemen on our hockey club," stated Sather. "He is an experienced player who can step right into our lineup and make significant contributions on both the offensive and defensive ends of the ice." Rucinsky, 32, skated in 61 contests with the St. Louis Blues last season, registering 16 goals and 14 assists for 30 points, along with 38 penalty minutes. He ranked first on the team and fourth in the NHL with four shorthanded goals. Rucinsky posted a four-game point scoring streak from January 18 through 23, registering six points (two goals, four assists) over the span. He appeared in his 700th career NHL match on December 23 vs. Los Angeles. In seven post-season matches, Rucinsky registered four goals and two assists for six points, along with four penalty minutes. He ranked second on the team with four playoff goals and tied for second with six points in the post-season.
The 6-1, 205-pounder has appeared in 735 career NHL contests with the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Dallas Stars and Rangers, registering 194 goals and 269 assists for 463 points, along with 605 penalty minutes. Rucinsky was acquired by New York from Dallas on March 12, 2002, along with Roman Lyashenko, in exchange for Manny Malhotra and Barrett Heisten. Following the trade, he registered three goals and 10 assists for 13 points, along with six penalty minutes in 15 matches with the Rangers. Rucinsky posted a six-game point scoring streak from March 30 to April 10, registering three goals and seven assists for 10 points over the span. He also tallied one game-winning goal, four multiple-point games and a plus-six rating.
Rucinsky represented the Montreal Canadiens at the 1999-2000 NHL All-Star Game, posting 25 goals and 24 assists for 49 points in 80 games that season. On the international scene, he was a member of the Czech Republic team at the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan and the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, capturing a gold medal in Nagano. The Most, Czech Republic native was originally selected by the Edmonton Oilers as the team's second choice, 20th overall, in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. He was acquired by the Nordiques from Edmonton on March 10, 1992 in exchange for Ron Tugnutt and Brad Zavisha. On June 21, 1995, Rucinsky was acquired by the Canadiens, along with Jocelyn Thibault and Andrei Kovalenko, from Colorado in exchange for Patrick Roy and Mike Keane. He signed with St. Louis as a free agent on October 30, 2002.
Good luck, Jan.
NEW YORK (newyorkrangers.com) -- New York Rangers President, General Manager and Head Coach Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent left wing Jan Hlavac. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"Jan is a player who enjoyed success in New York and we feel he can be an asset to our hockey club once again," stated Sather. "He has the ability to produce solid offensive numbers and provides excellent depth to the left side of our lineup."
Hlavac, 26, skated in 61 contests with the Vancouver Canucks and Carolina Hurricanes last season, registering 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points, along with 28 penalty minutes. He began the 2002-03 season with the Canucks, posting one goal and one assist for two points in nine matches. After being acquired by Carolina on November 1, in exchange for Marek Malik, Hlavac collected nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points, along with 22 penalty minutes in 52 games with the Hurricanes. He posted the first three-assist game of his career on December 12 vs. Calgary. Hlavac also registered his third hat trick of his career with three power play goals on November 29 vs. Detroit.
The 6-0, 200-pound left wing has appeared in 284 career NHL contests with the Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks and Rangers, registering 73 goals and 90 assists for 163 points, along with 82 penalty minutes. Hlavac spent two seasons in New York from 1999-00 through 2000-01, registering 47 goals and 59 assists for 106 points, along with 36 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in all statistical categories during the 2000-01 season, posting 28 goals and 36 assists for 64 points in 79 matches. In 1999-00, Hlavac tied for fifth on the Rangers and ranked fifth among NHL rookies with 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists). He also ranked third in goals (19) and seventh in assists (23) among league rookies.
As a member of the Czech Republic national team, Hlavac captured a gold medal at the 1999 World Championships in Norway, collecting the game winning, overtime goal in the Championship game vs. Finland. He led the club with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 10 tournament matches. Hlavac also participated in the 1995 and 1996 World Junior Championships with the Czech Republic. The native of Prague, Czech Republic was the originally the Islanders' second choice, 28th overall, in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. His rights were acquired by the Rangers on June 26, 1999, along with Calgary's 1999 first (Jamie Lundmark) and third (Patrick Aufiero) round draft choices in exchange for Marc Savard and the Rangers 1999 first round draft choice (Oleg Saprykin). Hlavac was acquired by Philadelphia from New York on August 20, 2001, along with Pavel Brendl, Kim Johnsson and a 2003 third round draft choice (Stefan Ruzicka) in exchange for Eric Lindros and future considerations. On December 17, 2001, he was acquired by the Canucks, along with a 2002 third round draft choice (Brett Skinner), in exchange for Donald Brashear and a 2002 sixth round draft choice (Jaroslav Balastik).
Manager and Head Coach Glen Sather also announced today that the club has agreed to terms with free agent left wing Martin Rucinsky. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"Martin is a multi-talented athlete who can complement a number of the center icemen on our hockey club," stated Sather. "He is an experienced player who can step right into our lineup and make significant contributions on both the offensive and defensive ends of the ice." Rucinsky, 32, skated in 61 contests with the St. Louis Blues last season, registering 16 goals and 14 assists for 30 points, along with 38 penalty minutes. He ranked first on the team and fourth in the NHL with four shorthanded goals. Rucinsky posted a four-game point scoring streak from January 18 through 23, registering six points (two goals, four assists) over the span. He appeared in his 700th career NHL match on December 23 vs. Los Angeles. In seven post-season matches, Rucinsky registered four goals and two assists for six points, along with four penalty minutes. He ranked second on the team with four playoff goals and tied for second with six points in the post-season.
The 6-1, 205-pounder has appeared in 735 career NHL contests with the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Dallas Stars and Rangers, registering 194 goals and 269 assists for 463 points, along with 605 penalty minutes. Rucinsky was acquired by New York from Dallas on March 12, 2002, along with Roman Lyashenko, in exchange for Manny Malhotra and Barrett Heisten. Following the trade, he registered three goals and 10 assists for 13 points, along with six penalty minutes in 15 matches with the Rangers. Rucinsky posted a six-game point scoring streak from March 30 to April 10, registering three goals and seven assists for 10 points over the span. He also tallied one game-winning goal, four multiple-point games and a plus-six rating.
Rucinsky represented the Montreal Canadiens at the 1999-2000 NHL All-Star Game, posting 25 goals and 24 assists for 49 points in 80 games that season. On the international scene, he was a member of the Czech Republic team at the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan and the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, capturing a gold medal in Nagano. The Most, Czech Republic native was originally selected by the Edmonton Oilers as the team's second choice, 20th overall, in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. He was acquired by the Nordiques from Edmonton on March 10, 1992 in exchange for Ron Tugnutt and Brad Zavisha. On June 21, 1995, Rucinsky was acquired by the Canadiens, along with Jocelyn Thibault and Andrei Kovalenko, from Colorado in exchange for Patrick Roy and Mike Keane. He signed with St. Louis as a free agent on October 30, 2002.
Good luck, Jan.