Rangers trade Tommy Grant to San Jose for Brandon Mashinter

Tonight, the Rangers made a minor deal, sending AHLer Tommy Grant and a 2014 seventh-round draft choice to the San Jose Sharks for LW Brandon Mashinter.

Mashinter, 24, stands 6-foot-4, 230 lbs. He has posted two goals and three assists in 30 games this season with San Jose’s AHL affiliate, the Worcester Sharks. Last season, Mashinter tallied 16 goals and 17 assists in 65 games. He made a cameo in the NHL in 2010-2011, playing 13 point-less games and serving 17 penalty minutes.

Mashinter spends some time in the penalty box, having been in four fights this year and seven a season ago. He carries an NHL cap hit of $550k.

Grant, 26, signed with New York before last season and had nine goals and seven assists in 34 games with the Whale this year.

This is a pretty insignificant trade for the Rangers. Grant was not part of the team’s future plans and Mashinter won’t be either. However, he clearly offers size and a willingness to drop the gloves, which the Rangers like to have some of in the minors.