The New York Rangers traded two American-born players this morning moving enforcer Donald Brashear and his contract along with Patrick Rissmiller to the Atlanta Thrashers for forward Todd White.

The Rangers add the 35-year-old White after he recorded 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists) in 65 games last season. In all, White has collected 136 points (43 goals, 93 assists) in 221 games with Atlanta since being signed as a free agent on July 1, 2007.

Overall, the Kanata, Ontario native’s NHL career numbers include 140 goals and 239 assists for 379 points in 635 games with Chicago, Philadelphia, Ottawa, Minnesota and Atlanta.

Rissmiller, (20g, 27a, 47 pts.) in 69 AHL games last season with Grand Rapids and Hartford, also appeared in two NHL games with the Rangers. The Belmont, Mass., native was originally signed by the Sharks as a free agent on Sept. 23, 2002.

Overall, the 6-4, 215-pound left wing has tallied 45 points (18 goals, 27assists) in 182 career NHL games with San Jose and the Rangers.  He has appeared in 30 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Sharks, posting seven points (three goals, four assists).  Rissmiller’s best season was the 2006-07 campaign when he recorded a career-high 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 79 games with the Sharks. 

One of the league’s most feared enforcers, Brashear, 38, appeared in 36 games with the Rangers last season, recording one assist and 73 penalty minutes. The Thrashers placed Brashear on waivers right away and expect to buy out the remainder of his contract if no other team picks him up. Imagine that, Brashear was teammates for a day with Eric Boulton, pictured here fighting Brashear.

The 6-3, 240-pound left wing has posted 205 points (85 goals, 120 assists) and 2,634 penalty minutes in 1,025 career NHL games with Montreal, Vancouver, Philadelphia, Washington and the Rangers.  He has nine points (three goals, six assists) and 121 penalty minutes in 60 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

The Bedford, Indiana, native was originally signed by Montreal as a free agent on July 28, 1992.

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As the regular season winds down for the NHL, the Eastern Conference current playoff standings are as cluttered as a pack-rat’s closet. After tallying the most recent scores, Montreal, Philadelphia and Boston all have 82 points and the Atlanta Thrashers are right on the doorstep with 80.

Last night while the Bruins picked up an important two points after getting a goal from Patrice Bergeron with just 18.3 seconds left in overtime to earn a 1-0 victory over their rival New Jersey Devils, the Thrashers picked up two with a 3-2 win in Toronto.

After the Bruins beat the Devils for the first time all season, Bergeron spread the credit. “It was a huge effort from everyone,” said Bergeron. “We need it. It’s in our hands. If we worry about ourselves and do the job, we shouldn’t worry about anybody else. We’ve got find a way to get that energy, that effort. We know it’s a tough schedule but no one feels sorry for us.”

The tough schedule he is referring to is the one that includes two road games against the Washington Capitals.

“We’re fighting for our lives right now,” said Bruins coach Claude Julien. “Look around the league tonight. Teams that are chasing us also won. Every game has to be about desperation.”

Thrashers’ forward Colby Armstrong also commented on the tight race for the final playoff spots. “We know what the schedule is. Five games left and we’ve got some tough teams coming up. It’s really close.”

Like the Bruins, the Thrashers also will face some strong opposition that includes the Capitals twice and the Pittsburgh Penguins in the final game of the season.

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