Rangers send Marcel Hossa to Phoenix, get Backman from St. Louis

GLENDALE, Ariz. - The New York Rangers sent left wing Marcel Hossa to Phoenix in a five-player deal on Tuesday.

The Rangers sent Hossa and minor league goaltender Al Montoya to Phoenix for right wing Fredrik Sjostrom and a pair of minor leaguers - goaltender David LeNeveu and left wing Josh Gratton.

The Rangers also acquired defenceman Christian Backman from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a fourth-round pick in this year's draft.

The 26-year-old Hossa has a goal and seven assists in 36 games with the Rangers this season. Hossa, selected by Montreal in the first round of the 2000 draft, has 31 goals and 30 assists and 102 penalty minutes in 223 career games with Montreal and the Rangers.

The 24-year-old Sjostrom, drafted by Phoenix in the first round in 2001, has 10 goals and 9 assists and 14 penalty minutes in 51 games with the Coyotes this season. He has 32 goals and 41 assists and 126 penalty minutes in 261 career games, all with Phoenix.

In a separate deal with St. Louis, the Rangers acquired the 27-year-old Backman, who has appeared in 45 games this season, registering one goal and nine assists, along with 30 penalty minutes.