Twelve players weren't sent to Hartford today. They are:
Goalies: Chris Holt, Matt Zaba
Defensemen: Clayton Barthel, Corey Potter, Jake Taylor
Forwards: Joe Barnes, Alex Bourret, Brodie Dupont, Mitch Fritz, Bruce Graham, Greg Moore, Jordan Owens
The only surprise for me from that list is Bourret. Apparently he has some type of injury though.
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In other news, goaltender Sean Burke has hung up his skates and retired. The list of possible free agent goalies to sign (to backup Henrik) is dwindling.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
Lines On The First Day of Camp
It looks like the top 4 forward lines are looking like:
Hossa-Gomez-Jagr
Avery-Drury-Shanahan
Straka-Callahan-Prucha
Hollweg-Betts-Orr
And no, I didn't mistype the order of the third line. Callahan used to play center in juniors and the team is indeed going to see if he can handle that role. I honestly didn't see that coming. But then again, you can't get very carried away with anything that happens in training camp. The whole point is to experiment to see what works and doesn't. I will update you guys on any interesting camp developments as they happen.
Preseason Opener: Next Friday agains the Devils
Regular Season Opener: Thursday, October 4th @ MSG vs Florida
Hossa-Gomez-Jagr
Avery-Drury-Shanahan
Straka-Callahan-Prucha
Hollweg-Betts-Orr
And no, I didn't mistype the order of the third line. Callahan used to play center in juniors and the team is indeed going to see if he can handle that role. I honestly didn't see that coming. But then again, you can't get very carried away with anything that happens in training camp. The whole point is to experiment to see what works and doesn't. I will update you guys on any interesting camp developments as they happen.
Preseason Opener: Next Friday agains the Devils
Regular Season Opener: Thursday, October 4th @ MSG vs Florida
Poll Results
Which forward would you like to stay permanently with the Rangers this season? The following scouting reports are courtesy of hockeysfuture.com.
1) Brandon Dubinsky (46%) - Dubinsky has bulked up, which has accentuated his tough aggressive style of play. He tends to be an agitator, but his offensive game is his best attribute. Dubinsky has become an excellent playmaker.
*My take: He looked good last season, but seemed to be overpowered at times by much stronger NHL players. I still think he might be another year away from making this team full time, but I hope I am wrong.
2) Artem Anisimov (33%) - "A decent skater for a player of his size [who] displays adequate bursts of speed [and] solid balance on his skates." Anisimov displays "nifty stickhandling skills [and] can handle the puck in traffic well." He has "decent vision and hockey sense[, is] a crafty passer who can make long accurate feeds[, and] fires a quick slap shot."
*My take: He has been a hot topic lately after playing very well in the Russian Super Series and the Traverse City Prospects Tournament. It would be terrific for this team if he could play right away, but it might take time for Artem to get used to North American hockey. My guess is that the organization would want him to learn the game and mature in Hartford.
3) Nigel Dawes (13%) - Despite his short stature, Dawes has offensive intangibles that make him a top candidate for an NHL roster spot. He is a prolific goal scorer with incredible hands, who can make some very good moves at top speed. Dawes is also a very hard worker, and he never hesitates to sacrifice his body to make plays in the slot.
*My take: Dawes is without a doubt the most NHL ready prospect the team has. He made the team out of training camp last year and even scored some goals, but the team was struggling badly and the younger inexperienced players are often the first ones to go. He has scored goals (lots of them) at every level he has played at and I am looking forward to him doing the same in New York. Although he is not a center, he is prospect I want to make this team.
4) Alex Bourret (6%) - Bourret is a strong skater , who combines skill with physical play, and is a tireless worker. Beyond his offensive ability, the most dominant aspect of Bourret’s game is his physical play. He is more than willing to get his nose dirty, and stick up for his teammates. What Bourret needs to improve upon is his consistency. Flashes of brilliance were interspersed with poor decision making at times during the 2006-07 season. If Bourret can become a consistent player, he has the potential to be a top-line forward.
*My take: Atlanta gave this kid up to the Rangers for a bag of potatoes. After overcoming a head injury and adjusting to a different style of play with the Wolfpack, Bourret started to show his magic in Hartford. He is one of the few players that are of the 'power forward' variety in the Rangers organization. I have a feeling that the team thinks he is one more year away (similar to Dubinsky) from making the team.
5) Tom Pyatt (0%) - He can bring you out of your seat. He has great abilities and great hands but after making some awesome plays, he’ll disappear for three games. He made some moves with the puck this year that were just outstanding but I just don’t know where his consistency was. He looks smaller than he is; he’s really strong on his skates and when he runs into somebody you realize that he’s not small. There is more here than we saw all year but at the U18’s he was very good.
*My take: His lack of votes is most likely from the fact that nobody knows who he is and there is not a lot of hype surrounding his name. He probably will play in Hartford this year, because he is still very young. I have heard some great things about him. Basically a Jed Ortmeyer that can score.
1) Brandon Dubinsky (46%) - Dubinsky has bulked up, which has accentuated his tough aggressive style of play. He tends to be an agitator, but his offensive game is his best attribute. Dubinsky has become an excellent playmaker.
*My take: He looked good last season, but seemed to be overpowered at times by much stronger NHL players. I still think he might be another year away from making this team full time, but I hope I am wrong.
2) Artem Anisimov (33%) - "A decent skater for a player of his size [who] displays adequate bursts of speed [and] solid balance on his skates." Anisimov displays "nifty stickhandling skills [and] can handle the puck in traffic well." He has "decent vision and hockey sense[, is] a crafty passer who can make long accurate feeds[, and] fires a quick slap shot."
*My take: He has been a hot topic lately after playing very well in the Russian Super Series and the Traverse City Prospects Tournament. It would be terrific for this team if he could play right away, but it might take time for Artem to get used to North American hockey. My guess is that the organization would want him to learn the game and mature in Hartford.
3) Nigel Dawes (13%) - Despite his short stature, Dawes has offensive intangibles that make him a top candidate for an NHL roster spot. He is a prolific goal scorer with incredible hands, who can make some very good moves at top speed. Dawes is also a very hard worker, and he never hesitates to sacrifice his body to make plays in the slot.
*My take: Dawes is without a doubt the most NHL ready prospect the team has. He made the team out of training camp last year and even scored some goals, but the team was struggling badly and the younger inexperienced players are often the first ones to go. He has scored goals (lots of them) at every level he has played at and I am looking forward to him doing the same in New York. Although he is not a center, he is prospect I want to make this team.
4) Alex Bourret (6%) - Bourret is a strong skater , who combines skill with physical play, and is a tireless worker. Beyond his offensive ability, the most dominant aspect of Bourret’s game is his physical play. He is more than willing to get his nose dirty, and stick up for his teammates. What Bourret needs to improve upon is his consistency. Flashes of brilliance were interspersed with poor decision making at times during the 2006-07 season. If Bourret can become a consistent player, he has the potential to be a top-line forward.
*My take: Atlanta gave this kid up to the Rangers for a bag of potatoes. After overcoming a head injury and adjusting to a different style of play with the Wolfpack, Bourret started to show his magic in Hartford. He is one of the few players that are of the 'power forward' variety in the Rangers organization. I have a feeling that the team thinks he is one more year away (similar to Dubinsky) from making the team.
5) Tom Pyatt (0%) - He can bring you out of your seat. He has great abilities and great hands but after making some awesome plays, he’ll disappear for three games. He made some moves with the puck this year that were just outstanding but I just don’t know where his consistency was. He looks smaller than he is; he’s really strong on his skates and when he runs into somebody you realize that he’s not small. There is more here than we saw all year but at the U18’s he was very good.
*My take: His lack of votes is most likely from the fact that nobody knows who he is and there is not a lot of hype surrounding his name. He probably will play in Hartford this year, because he is still very young. I have heard some great things about him. Basically a Jed Ortmeyer that can score.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Camp Opens Tomorrow
Here is a list of players that are invited to camp. Very exciting!
Goalies: Lundqvist, Valiquette, Montoya, Lafleur, Wiikman, Zaba, Chris Holt
Defensemen: Rozsival, Malik, Mara, Tyutin, Girardi, Kasparaitis, Pock, Strudwick, Staal, Sauer, Sanguinetti, Hutchinson, Baranka, Busto, Liffiton, Taylor, Potter, Barthel.
Forwards: Jagr, Shanahan, Drury, Gomez, Avery, Straka, Prucha, Callahan, Betts, Hossa, Hollweg, Orr, Dubinsky, Dawes, Dupont, Bourret, Korpikoski, Anisimov, Pyatt, Jessiman, Byers, Moore, Lessard, Fritz, Barnes, Graham, Owens.
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The Rangers prospects also won the Traverse City Prospects Tournament that was mentioned here on Saturday. The organization was elated about how well they played.
Goalies: Lundqvist, Valiquette, Montoya, Lafleur, Wiikman, Zaba, Chris Holt
Defensemen: Rozsival, Malik, Mara, Tyutin, Girardi, Kasparaitis, Pock, Strudwick, Staal, Sauer, Sanguinetti, Hutchinson, Baranka, Busto, Liffiton, Taylor, Potter, Barthel.
Forwards: Jagr, Shanahan, Drury, Gomez, Avery, Straka, Prucha, Callahan, Betts, Hossa, Hollweg, Orr, Dubinsky, Dawes, Dupont, Bourret, Korpikoski, Anisimov, Pyatt, Jessiman, Byers, Moore, Lessard, Fritz, Barnes, Graham, Owens.
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The Rangers prospects also won the Traverse City Prospects Tournament that was mentioned here on Saturday. The organization was elated about how well they played.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Prospects Tournament
The majority of the Rangers top prospects are playing together in the Traverse City Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan. Here is the team's roster.
http://newyorkrangers.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?id=2997
http://newyorkrangers.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?id=2997
Brian Leetch Night
The Rangers organization have officially announced that their game on January 24th (against Atlanta) will be "Brian Leetch Night". I am very happy for Leetch, who is one of the best defenseman to every play the game. I would expect a teary evening for many, with former teammates such as Messier, Richter, and Graves participating or even making speeches. For me, 1994 seems like yesterday even though it is soooo far away.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Fantasy Insanity
The only thing that matches my love for NY Rangers hockey is fantasy football. I just finished my draft and I am ready for tonight's opening game (Colts vs. Saints). I am also very much ready for the opening of training camp, so that we can see not only see Gomez and Drury in Ranger blue, but some of those talented prospects. It won't be long.
It has been pretty quiet on the Rangers front, as it has for most of the NHL. Most GMs are waiting until training camp to see how the younger players in their respective organizations perform before reaching out to any more free agents or making trades. Teams like the Rangers might have holes (third line center, defenseman, etc.) to fill, but it would be much more cost efficient for them to be filled by a prospect. Interestingly enough, the Devils seem to have a large amount of holes to fill with Gomez and Rafalski gone. I would be really surprised if Lou doesn't pull off some type of trade over the next month to bring in a playmaker.
It has been pretty quiet on the Rangers front, as it has for most of the NHL. Most GMs are waiting until training camp to see how the younger players in their respective organizations perform before reaching out to any more free agents or making trades. Teams like the Rangers might have holes (third line center, defenseman, etc.) to fill, but it would be much more cost efficient for them to be filled by a prospect. Interestingly enough, the Devils seem to have a large amount of holes to fill with Gomez and Rafalski gone. I would be really surprised if Lou doesn't pull off some type of trade over the next month to bring in a playmaker.
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