Is Erik Christensen Part of the Long Term Plan?

Where does he fit right now?

What happens when Koivu returns?

This is an educated guess, and my educated guesses almost always end up wrong. So take that with a grain of salt. Or the whole shaker. Up to you.

Where does he fit next year?

This is where it gets messy. If Christesen is a second line player, there is a log jam with everyone healthy. Certainly it adds some interest to the Kyle Brodziak negotiations, which Russo reported will be firing up shortly. Christensen is also a pending UFA, but has a lower price tag than Brodziak. All of this could be positioning, but Fletcher is certainly not playing games. You don't trade to create a better negotiating position with a third line center.

What does this say about the other centers in the organization already?

Plenty of centers in the system, and they traded one to bring another in. That has to send a message to the rest of the depth chart.

OK, OK... long term. Is he here to stay or not?

Depends on your definition of long term. I can't see Chuck Fletcher trading Casey Wellman for a rental, no. I don't think Christensen is here for the super long term, but I can see him sticking around for a two year deal, absolutely. Seems to be a guy being brought in to jump start a team that needs a jump start, to add some talent on the shootout, and possibly find a home with a team that needs top six talent. Is that top six talent Christensen? Rangers fans say no, and they've watched him much more than I have. I'll leave it up to him to prove it to the team.

Will he be here next season? You can bet he has been told that is a possibility, and he can earn that chance. If he performs, he'll be back. If he doesn't, not a chance. That hunger enough will be enough to show us if he deserves to be here or not.

I cannot see him around after two years, unless something happens with the prospects that is unforeseen. Stranger things have happened, to be sure. Don't write him off, but don't sign him to that seven year max deal in your fantasy leagues, either. After all, you can never have too many centers.