Former Erie Otters Michael Rupp and Nick Palmieri were involved in a trade between the NHL’s New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild.
According to reports Monday, the Rangers sent Rupp, 33, to the Wild for Palmieri, 23, and fellow forward Darroll Powe. Rupp had four goals, five points and 109 points in 68 games since joining the Rangers a season ago. He has 53 goals, 95 points and 765 penalty minutes in 565 games with the Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils, Columbus Blue Jackets and Phoenix Coyotes from 2002-13.
Rupp, a Cleveland native, had 51 goals, 110 points and 293 penalty minutes in 137 games with the Otters from 1997-2000. Palmieri totaled 65 goals and 114 points in 174 games for the Otters from 2005-08 before being traded to Belleville. He was playing for the Houston Aeros, the Wild’s AHL affiliate, this season. He had 10 goals and 21 points in 40 games. He has 13 goals and 25 points in 87 career NHL games with New Jersey (2009-11) and Minnesota (2011-12). He reportedly will play with the Connecticut Whale, the Rangers’ AHL affiliate.

Five players with ties to Erie will play in the Stanley Cup playoffs:
* D Carlo Colaiacovo, St. Louis – a key member of the Blues’ league-best defense, had 19 points and a plus-7 in 64 games in the regular season; played on the Otters’ 2002 OHL championship team, had 43 goals, 136 points in 209 games from 1997-2003.
* D Steve Montador, Chicago – totaled five goals, 14 points and 45 penalty minutes in 52 games during his first season with the Blackhawks; had 12 goals, 62 points and 149 penalty minutes with the Otters from 1997-99.
* C Jordan Nolan, Los Angeles – had two goals, four points and 28 penalty minutes in 26 games since being recalled by the Kings from Manchester (AHL) in February; had three goals and seven points in 33 games for the Otters in the 2005-06 season.
* C Michael Rupp, N.Y. Rangers – scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal as a rookie for New Jersey in Game 7 of the 2003 finals against Anaheim; had 61 goals, 110 points and 293 penalty minutes in 147 games with the Otters from 1997-2000.
* Riley Sheahan, Detroit – signed with the Red Wings on Thursday, had no points and four penalty minutes in his NHL debut Saturday against Chicago; drafted by the Otters in the fourth of the 2007 OHL Priority Selection, but played at Notre Dame for three seasons.
Note: New Jersey RW David Clarkson‘s brother, Doug, had three goals and six points in 19 games for the Otters in the 2007-08 season.

Check out this story on Pittsburgh Penguins forward Michael Rupp, a former Erie Otter.

Check out this story on Pittsburgh Penguins winger Michael Rupp, a former Erie Otter.