Brown, Grosek Traded to Rangers

The Chicago Blackhawks traded defenseman Brad Brown and left wing Michal Grosek to the New York Rangers on Thursday for future considerations.

The Blackhawks also claimed defenseman Stephane Quintal off waivers from the Rangers.

Brown, 24, had nine assists and 134 penalty minutes in 57 games last season. Brown has one goal and 16 assists in 131 games with Chicago and the Montreal Canadiens.

Grosek, 25, was acquired by the Blackhawks in March from the Buffalo Sabres. He finished the season with 13 goals and 27 assists in 75 games. He has 77 goals and 104 assists in 350 games with the Blackhawks, Sabres and the Winnipeg Jets.

Quintal, a 12-year NHL veteran, appeared in 75 games for the Rangers last season. He had two goals, 14 assists and 77 penalty minutes. The 31-year-old Quintal has 48 goals, 142 assists and 1,021 penalty minutes in 750 NHL games for the Rangers, Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, Jets and Canadiens.

*

The NHL fined two referees for incorrectly allowing the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars to begin overtime of their season opener five on four.

When a game goes into overtime, the extra period is supposed to be played four on four, instead of the usual five on five. However, when a power play carries into overtime--as it did in Wednesday’s NHL season opener--the period is supposed to begin four on three.

Dallas’ Derian Hatcher received an elbowing penalty with 40 seconds to play in the third period of the 2-2 tie.

Mark Faucette and Dan O’Halloran allowed both teams to begin the overtime with an extra skater. The amount of the fine was not disclosed.

*

Alain Vigneault, a finalist last season in voting for the NHL’s top coach, signed a one-year contract extension with the Canadiens. . . . Backup goalie Marty Turco signed a two-year contract with the Stars. Turco, 24, was 1-0-2 with a 2.05 goals-against average last season.