Bobby Bevilacqua

The Rangers have agreed to terms with Magnus Hellberg on a two year deal. Photo courtesy of John Russell/Getty Images.

Jeff Gorton, the General Manager of the New York Rangers, announced that the team has signed restricted free agent goaltender Magnus Hellberg, who was acquired in a trade from the Nashville Predators.

NBC Pro Hockey Talk’s Mike Halford reported that it was a two year deal.

Rangers sign goalie Hellberg to two-year extension http://t.co/fW1iwmJnfl

— Mike Halford (@HalfordPHT) July 10, 2015

Hellberg, 24, spent most of his time with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League, the Predators’ AHL affiliate. He appeared in 38 games, finishing with a 15-10-6 record along with a 2.33 GAA and a .913 save percentage, as well as three shutouts.

Hellberg started out the AHL season brilliantly, picking up wins in his first six appearances. In those six games, he allowed two goals or less, allowing one goal or fewer in five of those games as well. He had a fanastic month of November, posting a 5-0-1 record with a 1.28 GAA and a .950 save percentage, with one shutout in seven appearances. Hellberg represented the Western Conference at the 2015 AHL All Star game.

Over three AHL seasons, Hellberg has appeared in 98 games, earning a 42-36-7 record, a 2.36 GAA, a .917 save percentage and 10 shutouts. He’s never posted a save percentage below .911, and has had a 2.33 GAA or better in two separate seasons. He’s appeared in one NHL game, entering the game in relief and playing for 12 minutes, allowing one goal.

At 6’6” and 200 pounds, Hellberg has one thing that you can’t teach; size. In today’s NHL, large goalies are become the new norm. Ben Bishop, Pekka Rinne, Mike Smith, Scott Darling and Robin Lehner are all tall goalies, and teams are leaning towards guys who take up more of the net, and can cover the top parts of the net with ease.

A former second round pick out of Sweden in 2011, Hellberg has shown promise, and will help the Rangers fill out the roster for the Hartford Wolf Pack. He’s in line to be the number three goalie on the depth chart, in front of Cedric Desjardins. Desjardins struggled after tearing his ACL, and didn’t look the same. Mackenzie Skapski is recovering from hip surgery that will keep him sidelined until November.

This was a great trade by Gorton, mainly because it only cost them a sixth round pick. If Benoit Allaire can mold Hellberg in his image, the Rangers could have another quality Swede in net for them, with size to boot.