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This is a twice a month feature that will be running on 5-hole for the rest of the season.  In this feature, we will follow the players who were members of the Rangers last season but were either traded or signed elsewhere for this season.

I’ve always kept up on the players that have left the Rangers to see how they did in the next season with their new team.  So after one month of hockey, where do the Rangers stand in terms of the performance of the new players vs. the ones that got away?  Here is what the Rangers have “lost” in terms of production this season through October 31, 2009.

Only players currently playing in the NHL were included.

Not included: Zherdev (KHL), Kalinin (KHL), Naslund (retired), Fritsche (AHL)

Here is what the Rangers have “gained” from the new guys:

So how are we doing compared to last year?

New Rangers with more points than Scott Gomez (2G, 7A):

Marian Gaborik (10G, 8A) has more goals AND assists.  Ales Kotalik has more goals, Vinny Prospal has more goals and assists.  Even 19 year old rookie defensemen Michael Del Zotto (4G, 8A) has more goals AND assists than Scott Gomez!

While three former Rangers have yet to register a point, every new Ranger has at least one point.  Even Donald Brashear.

Even if you remove Marian Gaborik, the guy who was supposed to be our only scorer, the new players still have more goal, assists and points than the former players.

The new players are a combined plus-13 while the former players are a combined minus-9.

The new players are taking fewer penalties and are killing penalties at a rate (87.0%) comperable to last season (87.8%).  And let’s not forget the incredibly improved Power Play this season (24.1%) compared to last (13.9%).

While it is only a month into the season, it would appear that the current crop of players is greatly improved compared to the former.

The next update will be for games played through November 15.

P.S. Petr Prucha has just as many goals as Scott Gomez even though Gomez is on a line with Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta.  Just sayin’.

About the author:  Eric is an engineering student from Long Island, NY. His all-time favorite Rangers are Mike Richter and Petr Prucha. Currently, his favorite players are Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan Callahan, and Marian Gaborik.

Related posts:

1. Where Are They Now? – November 15, 2009
2. Where Are They Now? – December 15
3. Where Are They Now? – November 30
4. Rory Grades the Rangers
5. The Rangers are Thankful