Brashear joins Rangers to replace lost toughness

Jul 1, 2009 - 7:46 PM NEW YORK(AP) -- The Rangers are hitting back, signing top enforcer Donald Brashear right after losing tough guy Colton Orr to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

A few hours into the NHL free-agent shopping season began Wednesday, Orr signed a four-year deal with the Maple Leafs. New York responded by plucking Brashear away from Washington. Brashear led the Capitals with 119 penalty minutes, and had one goal and four points in 63 games.

In 989 career games with Montreal, Vancouver, Philadelphia and Washington, Brashear has 85 goals, 204 points and 2,561 penalty minutes.

Brashear was suspended by the NHL for a total of six games - five for a "blind-side hit" on Rangers center Blair Betts - during the teams' first-round playoff series.