The Wild has traded Darroll Powe to the New York Rangers for Michael Rupp.
Nick Palmieri, a right winger playing in Houston, was also part of the deal, as he goes to the Rangers as well.
Rupp, a 6-foot-5, 230-pounder, has 53 goals and 94 points in 565 games. He is a tough, tough customer who will add grit to the Wild lineup. He has 78 career fights. He is expected to make his Wild debut Thursday night at home against Vancouver.
Here's a fight from January 26 against Toronto's Colton Orr:
More soon, but Powe was to be a healthy scratch tonight at Phoenix. Now we know why. It's become very clear the Wild needs to get bigger and grittier.
Here's the Wild release with the stats of all players involved:
Rupp, 33 (1/13/80), has totaled 94 points (53-41=94) and 765 penalty minutes (PIM) in 565 games during parts of 10 NHL seasons with New Jersey, Phoenix, Columbus, Pittsburgh and the New York Rangers. He totaled 12 PIM in eight games with the Rangers this year after netting five points (4-1=5) and 97 PIM in 60 regular-season games with the Rangers last season. The 6-foot-5, 243-pound native of Brunswick, Ohio, was originally drafted by New Jersey in the third round (76th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft and helped the Devils win the Stanley Cup in 2003, scoring the Cup-clinching goal.
Powe, 27, has posted a plus-1 rating and 9 PIM in eight games with the Wild this season. The 5-foot-11, 212-pound forward posted 13 points (6-7=13) and 57 PIM in 82 games with the Wild in 2011-12, his first season with the Wild. The native of Saskatoon, Sask., totaled 43 points (22-21=43) in 204 games during three seasons (2008-11) with the Flyers to start his NHL career.
Palmieri, 23, has totaled 21 points (10-11=21), a plus-12 rating and 35 PIM in 40 games with Houston (AHL) this season. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound native of Utica, N.Y., played in nine games with the Wild in 2011-12 after being acquired from New Jersey on Feb. 24, 2012. Palmieri has totaled 25 points (13-12=25) and 20 PIM in 87 career NHL games in parts of three seasons after originally being selected by New Jersey in the third round (79th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
