Rangers Agree to Terms with Defenseman Michael Sauer
Published on July 8, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release
New York, July 8, 2011 - New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Michael Sauer on a new contract.
Sauer, 23, skated in 76 games with the Rangers last season, registering three goals and 12 assists for 15 points, along with 75 penalty minutes and a plus-20 rating. His plus-20 rating led the team, ranked fourth among NHL rookies and tied for 11th among NHL defensemen. He also ranked sixth among NHL rookie defensemen with 78 hits, and tied for sixth among all league rookies with 96 blocked shots. Sauer tied for third among Rangers defensemen in goals, and ranked third in assists and points. The Rangers posted a record of 3-0-0 when he tallied a goal and 12-2-0 when he registered a point. Sauer tallied his first career goal with the game-winner, on the power play, in a 5-3 win at Ottawa on December 9. He recorded his first career NHL point with an assist on October 23 at Boston. In addition, Sauer registered one assist in five playoff contests.
The 6-3, 213-pounder has skated in 79 career games with the Rangers, registering three goals and 12 assists for 15 points, along with 75 penalty minutes. Sauer made his NHL debut on March 24, 2009 vs. Minnesota. He has also appeared in 177 career games over three seasons with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL), registering 13 goals and 33 assists for 46 points, along with 160 penalty minutes and a plus-29 rating. In 2008-09, Sauer established AHL career-highs in goals (six), assists (17), points (23), plus/minus rating (plus-29), and shots on goal (92). His plus-29 rating led the Wolf Pack and ranked third in the AHL, and he tied for second among Wolf Pack defensemen in goals and ranked 10th on Hartford in assists. Sauer made his professional debut with Hartford on October 6, 2007 vs. Bridgeport, and tallied his first professional point with an assist on November 9, 2007 at Manchester.
The St. Cloud, Minnesota native was originally selected as the Rangers' second round choice, 40th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
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