The New York Rangers strengthened their blueline by singing 25-year-old Anton Stralman to a contract on Saturday. The Swedish born star has played two years each with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jacks in his NHL career.

Thus far the defenseman has tallied 74 points and 97 penalty minutes in 212 games.  While with the Blue Jackets, Stralman established career-highs in different categories recoding six goals, 28 assists, 34 points and 73 games played.

A seventh-round draft pick of the Maple Leafs in 2005, the blueliner stands at 5-11, weighing in at 195 pounds and should bring a physical game to the Blueshirts.

Written on November 5, 2011