Blue Jackets deal Zherdev, Fritsche to Rangers for Backman, Tyutin

Blue Jackets forwards Nikolai Zherdev and Dan Fritsche were traded to the Rangers for defensemen Christian Backman and Fedor Tyutin.

EN Says: Nice move for both teams. Even with the signing of Mike Commodore, the Blue Jackets only had five defenseman under contract at the NHL level. Backman and Tyutin are solid fourth or fifth blueliners.

With Sean Avery going to Dallas the the seemingly immenent departures of Jaromir Jagr, Martin Straka or Brendan Shanahan, the Rangers need some forwards. Zherdev, a left winger, is capable of being a 20 or 30 goal type of player but he just never seemed to get it going in Columbus. Perhaps a change in scenery will get him going.