Something had to give. With too many lower line forwards, the Rangers needed to do something to ease the logjam.

So, general manager Glen Sather sent forward Ryan Hollweg to Toronto yesterday for a fifth round pick in the 2009 draft. With the signings of Aaron Voros and Patrick Rismiller, the trade for Fredrik Sjostrom last season and Dan Fritsche a few weeks ago, Hollweg became the odd man out.

Although he provided energy on the fourth line, the 25 year-old provided very little scoring for the Blueshirts with two goals and two assists last season and when the team acquired Sjostrom from the Phoenix Coyotes, the little wing was scratched more often than not by coach Tom Renney.

Yet, Hollweg played in the Round 2 against Pittsburgh and the forward took a bad boarding penalty in Game 3 when he slammed Petr Sykora after the Rangers were able to tie the game at three.

Evgeni Malkin scored on the ensuing power play, leading to Pens eventual 5-3 win, putting Pittsburgh up 3-0 in the series.

And now ending Hollweg’s Ranger career.

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