Rangers Gain Three Players from Coyotes

On February 26, 2008, New York Rangers President and General Manger Glen Sather announced the results of this year’s draft. The club has acquired forwards Fredrik Sjostrom (a junior teammate of Henrik Lundquist’s back in Sweden) and Josh Gratton, and goaltender David LeNeveu. Along with a conditional draft pick from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for goaltender Al Montoya and forward Marcel Hossa.

Fredrik Sjostrom (6-1, 217lb forward) is 24 years old and a native of Fargelanda, Sweden. Sjostrom was originally Phoenix’s first pick, 11th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He has skated in 261 career NHL contests with the Phoenix Coyotes, recording 32 goals and 41 assists for 73 points, along with 126 penalty minutes. He made his NHL debut on November 30, 2003 at Boston, and recorded his first NHL point with a goal on December 12, 2003 vs. Edmonton. In 2005-06, he established 17 assists and 23 points. This season he has appeared in 51 games with the Phoenix Coyotes. He obtained 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points, along with 14 penalty minutes. Currently, his 10 goals mark is tied for 5th on the Coyotes. Sjostrom ranks 2nd on the team with two shorthanded goals. He has recorded a three game goal streak from December 15th – December 18th. He also recorded his first career hat trick on October 11th at Nashville, and 3 assists on December 8th at Los Angeles.

David LeNeveu (6-1, 187lb goal tender) is 24 years old and a native of Fernie, British Columbia. He was originally Phoenix’s second round selection, 46th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. LeNeveu has appeared in 21 career NHL contests in two seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes, posting a 5-9-2 record, 3.38 goals against average and a .888 save percentage. In 2005-06, he established career-highs in 15 games played, 3 wins and goals against average (3.24). He recorded his first NHL win with a 24-save performance vs. St. Louis on October 25, 2005. This Season LeNeveu has appeared in 21 games with the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League (AHL), posting a 9-7-3 record, along with a 2.66 goals against average, a .911 save percentage and one shutout.

Josh Gratton (6-2, 214lb forward) is 25 years old and a native of Brantford, Ontario. He was originally signed as a free agent by Philadelphia on July 27, 2004. Gratton currently ranks third on San Antonio in penalty minutes (124) and is tied for 12th on the team in scoring with 14 points. He has appeared in 67 career NHL contests with the Philadelphia Flyers and Phoenix Coyotes, recording two goals and one assist for three points, along with 237 penalty minutes. In 2006-07, he established career-highs in 52 games played, 1 assist, 2 points, and 188 penalty minutes (which ranked second in the NHL). This season Gratton has appeared in one game with the Phoenix Coyotes, registering five penalty minutes and a plus-one rating. He has also skated in 38 games with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL) this season, collecting 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points, along with 124 penalty minutes.

Al Montoya (23 year old goaltender), appeared in 31 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season. He posted a record of 16-8-3, 2.54 goals against average and a .908 save percentage. Marcel Hossa (26 year old forward), skated in 36 games with the Rangers this season, tallying one goal and seven assists, along with 24 penalty minutes.