Minnesota Wild acquire Mike Rupp from NY Rangers to muscle up
We’ll say this about Mike Rupp’s legacy with the New York Rangers: The man knew how to wear the Broadway Hat.
But off he goes, to the Minnesota Wild, as part of that team’s early season shakeup. From the Wild:
The Wild has acquired center Mike Rupp from the New York Rangers in exchange for forwards Darroll Powe and Nick Palmieri.
Rupp, 33 (1/13/80), has totaled 94 points (53-41=94) and 765 penalty minutes (PIM) in 565 NHL games during parts of 10 seasons with New Jersey, Phoenix, Columbus, Pittsburgh and the New York Rangers. He totaled 12 PIM in eight games with the Rangers this year after netting five points (4-1=5) and 97 PIM in 60 regular-season games with the Rangers last season.
The 6-foot-5, 243-pound native of Brunswick, Ohio, was originally drafted by New Jersey in the third round (76th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Powe, 27, has posted a plus-1 rating and 9 PIM in eight games with the Wild this season. The 5-foot-11, 212-pound centerman posted 13 points (6-7=13) and 57 PIM in 82 games with the Wild in 2011-12, his first season with the Wild. The native of Saskatoon, Sask., totaled 43 points (22-21=43) in 204 games during three seasons (2008-11) with the Flyers to start his NHL career.
Here’s the Hockey Wilderness take:
This is certainly an interesting move for the Wild. Rupp does not play an altogether different game than Powe, though Rupp has much more size, and is certainly not afraid to drop the gloves. This has to be a move to improve the size of the team. The Wild have been pushed around this season, and adding Rupp to the lineup, along with Coyle, puts two big bodies in the line up in a short amount of time.
Factor in that Coach Mike Yeo coaches Rupp in Pittsburgh, and you have a nice fit.
As for the Rangers, Powe fills a defensive forward role. And hey, he blocks shots! Torts’ll love him.
