Etem, Rangers agree to terms

New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced Tuesday that the team has agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Emerson Etem.

 

Etem, 23, skated in 45 games with the Anaheim Ducks this past season, registering five goals and five assists for 10 points, along with four penalty minutes. Etem established NHL career-highs in games played and shots on goal (77) in 2014-15. He tied single-game NHL career-highs with two assists and two points on Nov. 16 vs. Florida. Etem skated in his 100th career NHL game on Mar. 1 at Dallas. In addition, Etem registered three goals and posted a plus-one rating in 12 games with Anaheim during the 2015 Playoffs. He established NHL playoff career-highs in games played and shots on goal (23), and tied his playoff career-high in goals. Etem also tied for fifth on Anaheim in even strength goals (three) and tied for sixth on the team in goals in the playoffs. He registered a goal in two consecutive playoff games for the second time in his NHL career in Game 4 of the First Round at Winnipeg on Apr. 22 and Game 1 of the Second Round vs. Calgary on Apr. 30.
 
The 6-1, 212-pounder has skated in 112 career NHL games over parts of three seasons, all with Anaheim, registering 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points, along with a plus-four rating and 17 penalty minutes. Etem has reached the playoffs in each of his three NHL seasons, registering eight points (six goals, two assists) and a plus-five rating in 23 career playoff games.
 
In addition, Etem skated in 22 games with the Norfolk Admirals in 2014-15, recording 13 goals and eight assists for 21 points, along with two penalty minutes. He posted seven multi-point games during the season. Etem registered a three-game goal streak from Jan. 24 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to Jan. 31 at Binghamton, and tallied a hat trick on Jan. 30 at Binghamton.
 
Etem has registered 51 goals and 41 assists for 92 points, along with a plus-13 rating and 26 penalty minutes in 119 career AHL games. He established AHL career-highs in games played (50), goals (24), assists (30), points (54), and plus/minus rating (plus-14) during the 2013-14 season. Etem has also recorded four points (two goals, two assists) in eight career AHL playoff games.
 
Prior to beginning his professional career, Etem played three seasons of junior hockey with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). In 202 career WHL games, Etem registered 143 goals and 109 assists for 252 points, along with a plus-78 rating and 84 penalty minutes. In his final season of junior hockey in 2011-12, Etem led all players in the three Canadian Major Junior Leagues (OHL, QMJHL, and WHL) in goals with 61, and he was named to the WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team.
 
Internationally, the Long Beach, California native has represented the United States in several tournaments. Most recently, Etem tallied four assists in six games at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship. He also helped Team USA capture a bronze medal at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship.
 
Etem was acquired by the Rangers from Anaheim, along with a second-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, in exchange for Carl Hagelin, a second-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, and a sixth-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft on June 27, 2015. He was originally selected by Anaheim in the first round, 29th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.