Defenseman Thomas Pock's less-than-impactful tenure with the Rangers has come to a close as the Islanders claimed the 26-year-old Austrian off waivers today. Pock had been ticketed for Hartford (AHL) anyway and his chances of ever sticking with the Blueshirts seemingly faded for good this training camp with the emergence of Corey Potter and Brian Fahey as potentially NHL legitimate defensemen.
Pock played 59 games over four seasons with the Rangers, scoring seven goals with seven assists and a minus-13. The bulk of his action came when he had four goals and four assists in 44 games in 2006-07. He's coming off shoulder surgery this summer though he said he was pleased with his recovery. His best moment as a Ranger was his first game on March 23, 2004, after the Rangers had essentially traded away their roster. The Rangers signed Pock out of UMass that day. He literally got a call while lounging in his campus apartment around lunchtime and drove down to the Garden to make his debut. He had a goal on three shots in a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins that night, fueling expectations that he would eventually become a decent NHL player.
Pock will most likely start the season now with Bridgeport (AHL).
Andrew-GReat to see you have a blog. I don't think you are correct about Pock being in Bridgeport. What I remember about the Waiver rules is that a team can claim a player, but he has to stay in the NHL. If they try to send him down then there is some kind of penalty. This is to prevent teams from cannibalizing other teams minor league players, and only taking them if they believe they can play in the NHL.
The whole waiver wire rule was designed by the NHLPA to keep teams from yo-yo-ing a player back and forth without giving him an opportunity elsewhere (PJ Stock was the poster boy for the changes in Waiver rules). I think he has to play on the Island, and cannot be sent to Bridgeort.
Posted by: Colorado Mark | September 30, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Colorado Mark,
Upon further review, I think you are correct. Plus the fact that the Islanders have been hit by injuries, particularly among defensemen. So it does look like Pock has found an NHL home for now.
Thanks for the fact-checking.
Posted by: Andrew Gross | September 30, 2008 at 02:03 PM