Welcome to New York Roman! I think you need a new number though… (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

I don’t know if I should be impressed or worried that I am beginning to truly understand the Rangers organization. Yesterday when the Caps placed Roman Hamrlik on waivers, I was intrigued. No, I didn’t think he would be a top defenseman but I thought he may be a sold sixth d-man, something the Rangers don’t currently have. (I have nothing against Steve Eminger, Matt Gilroy or Stu Bickel but Tortorella clearly does.) So when it was announced a little while ago that the Rangers claimed him, I wasn’t surprised.

The wrench in this whole thing is the injury to Staal. Right now, there has been no update but the Rangers are expected to release one later in the day. Personally, I don’t think the two are connected. Even if Staal is out long-term, I don’t think that would’ve made the Rangers all of a sudden go “there’s a defenseman on waivers, let’s claim him”. I think it’s purely coincidental. Plus, while I don’t know much about Hamrlik, he’s 38 and clearly at the end of his career so odds are he isn’t here to replace Staal no matter what.

I’m okay with the move. If it works, the team got a veteran defenseman for nothing. If it doesn’t, they either put him back on waivers in a couple of weeks or his contract is up at the end of the season. No risk, plenty of chance for reward in my eyes. Let’s see how it goes…