from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

The marriage cannot be consummated until the market officially opens at noon on Wednesday, but The Post has learned that the Rangers are expected to fortify their defense by signing 29-year-old Swedish free agent Patrik Nemeth once the bell rings.

Nemeth, who went to the Avalanche from the Red Wings as a rental in the days prior to the trade deadline, is another one of those hard-to-play-against guys whom general manager Chris Drury has targeted since taking command on May 5.

The deal would likely be for two or three years, worth between $2.25-$2.75 million per season. The Avalanche have given permission to Nemeth to speak to other teams in advance of the opening of the market.

contnued