Lauri Korpikoski, a RFA, will join Petr Prucha, Nigel Dawes, and Al Montoya as former Rangers to join GM Don Maloney in Phoenix.
The Rangers acquired winger Enver Lisin in return, also a RFA, who split time between Phoenix and their AHL-affiliate San Antonio last season.
In 48 NHL games last year, Lisin scored 13 goals along with eight assists.
While Korpikoski seemed to be playing his best hockey under new Head Coach John Tortorella, this move may have been precipitated by salary cap as he was most likely to command a little less than $2 million per year.
Lisin will be worth slightly more than $1 million.
The Russian winger is not without a bit of baggage (pardon the pun.)
After being drafted early in the second round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Lisin would spend two seasons in Russia before joining the NHL in 2006.
Bouncing around a bit from the AHL and NHL, Lisin was eventually suspended by the 'Yotes for failing to report to the AHL during a demotion. That summer he would sign with a Russian team, but eventually reported to camp that fall.
While he may compete for a spot on the NHL roster, this move may hint a bit more at the future of Nik Zherdev and perhaps leaves a glimmer of hope for Dany Heatley who is apparently itching to join the Blueshirts.
