Rangers' Two Game Series in Prague Offers A Taste of What To Expect This Season

As all of you loyal Ranger fans know, the Rangers played a two game series in Prague over this past weekend, both of which were won by the Rangers 2-1. With a game on Saturday and Sunday, residents of the Czech Republic were able to see what the "new" post lockout NHL is about. Although the games were very fun and exciting to watch, there were certain points when fellow Ranger fans and I watching the games were already in mid-season form criticizing certain individuals and the play of the team. Here are some things that stood out to me during the course of both games:

• Nigel Dawes looks invisible- While Dawes may be notorious for starting off the season slowly, he is picking the wrong season to do so. With Dubinsky, Zherdev, Gomez, Naslund, and Drury filling the other top 6 forward hole, the 2nd line LW slot is wide open. I hae always defended Nigel, but I feel that he is on the 2nd line with Dubinsky and Zherdev by default based on his performance last season. So far, he has been less than spectacular and not noticeable on the ice. Dawes has to get it going, and quickly.

• The line of Naslund-Gomez-Drury looks phenomenal- I have not seen a Rangers line move the puck this well since the old combination of Straka, Nylander, and Jagr back in 2005. Gomez's pinpoint pass to Naslund that resulted in the first Rangers goal of the season was absolutely amazing. Although this line may not be the biggest, I think that this line will continue to prove the old mantra that "speed kills" in the NHL.

• The Rangers Power Play looks a lot better without Jagr- With no more Jagr to QB the power play from the right end boards, other players on the team are now able to be more creative and work the puck faster. The game tying goal for the Rangers on Sunday is a prime example of the new Rangers power play. The Rangers were able to cycle the puck around in the offensive zone and keep it in there for over a minute and a half before Redden finished off a great feed from Naslund in the slot. The power play this season should surely see an improvement from 22nd overall in the league last season.

• Kalinin is this year's Malik- But not in the way most of you may think. This guy will be the best bottom pairing defenseman this team has had since the lockout. He is sound positionally, and makes good decisions with the puck. He is apt to make a mistake or two, but what defenseman hasn't made a boneheaded move? The way some people are jumping on him and trying to make him the scapegoat of the team TWO GAMES INTO THE SEASON is unbelievable (Yes, I'm talking to you guys over at HF). Wait until this guy legitimately costs the Rangers a couple of wins this season before you guys burn him in effigy over Section 420.

As for a general observation, the team went into Prague with 15 forwards and 6 defenders. Now, only 12 forwards are able to be dressed each game, meaning 3 will take a seat each game. This is occurring while Corey Potter and Brian Fahey, both of whom made strong cases to earn the 7th defenseman job at the very least, are down in Hartford while the team carries only 6 defenders. This has lead me to believe that a trade is in the works involving the movement of some of the team's excess 3rd line players for draft picks or even an upgrade for someone that can possibly play on the second line. Maybe it's a pipe dream, but Patrick O'Sullivan anyone?

That's all from me for now. Be sure to watch the home opener against the Blackhawks on Friday at 7pm!

New York Rangers Preseason: Cutting Nedved was the Right Decision

When I found out that Petr Nedved had been invited to New York Rangers training camp back in August, my first reaction was to laugh. Right after that, I started to think if Petr actually did have a shot to play in a limited role with the Rangers. Watching a few of the Rangers' preseason games a week ago, it appeared that he exhibited some of the best skating that I can remember from him. Nedved also helped his own case by scoring a couple of nice goals in the course of the week. However, this was not enough to earn Petr a spot on the Rangers' roster, as the Rangers brass cut him over the weekend.

Some may argue that Nedved would bring some veteran leadership to a team that needs it, all the while chipping in a goal every now and then on the team's 4th line. I wholeheartedly disagree. While Nedved would bring some offense to the 4th line, he has never been known to be very strong on the defensive side of the puck, something that is all but required to be an effective checking line forward.

In addition to this, a move of Nedved to the 4th line would beg the question of where Blair Betts would play. The answer would be not on the Rangers if this were the case. In my opinion, this would have been an awful move to inject Nedved into the Rangers lineup at the expense of one of the best defensive centers in the game. Betts is the type of player that teams win championships with. Take the most recent Cup winners. Detroit has Draper, Anaheim has Pahlsson, and Carolina has Brind'Amour. Every team that has won a cup in the post-lockout era has a good defensive center that is a key part of the team's penalty killing unit, and is also able to win a key faceoff when called upon. You simply do not get rid of a player like that, especially if the guy replacing him is over 35 years old and hasn't played a full NHL season since before the lockout.

For my final point, every person that follows the Rangers very well knows that they have an abundance of forward prospects that are knocking on the NHL's door. After watching the Rangers' exhibition against SC Bern, it is clear to me that Korpikoski in particular should be a part of the NHL club right now. If Nedved had still been around, Lauri's shot at the NHL this season all but goes out the window. It also appears that players like Anisimov and Paranteau would be the first call-ups in case of injury this season. Both of these guys, in my opinion, are close to if not NHL ready right now. Adding Nedved to the Rangers' roster would have done nothing but further clog up the pipeline of Rangers forward prospects. For the reasons above, I am glad that the Rangers brass made what in my mind was the right call, and as a result allow for the progression of letting some of the Rangers prospects play a role in the big club's success in the near future.

New York Rangers Training Camp: Prucha, Dawes, Sjostrom Among Others Should Look to Impress

With a short six days until training camp, many Ranger fans, including myself, are eagerly awaiting the start of the 2008-2009 NHL season. Similar to the situation last year, there will be many new faces on the team, while some old familiar ones have moved on for one reason or another. While some argue that this team will not contend for a playoff spot next April, I tend to disagree. This season will be a matter of how the new members of the team will mesh with the existing core of players remaining from the previous couple of seasons. If all goes well, I will not be surprised to see playoff hockey in New York for the 4th consecutive season. However, I will not be surprised if the opposite comes true.

As for the issues the team is facing now, there are a few spots on the roster to be had, with the departures of Jagr, Straka, and Shanahan (or maybe not). With the rumors of Sundin becoming a New York Ranger finally cooling down (thank God), there are holes to be filled, most notably among the top 6 forward group. With the signing of Naslund for two years, and the acquisition of Zherdev in the offseason, two wing spots in the top 6 are all but cemented for them. With Gomez and Drury likely candidates to be the top two line centers, that leaves 2 wing spots to be played for.

Towards the final part of the season and the playoffs, Nigel Dawes was the 2nd line left winger on a line with Shanahan and Gomez. With Shanahan not likely to return, some shuffling of the lines is bound to happen. In my mind, one left wing and one right wing spot is open on the top 6. Although I see Nigel as a favorite to win the left wing spot, whether or not he gets it will hinge on many factors. For one, guys like Sjostrom, Fritsche, and Callahan will be fighting very hard for spots on a team deep with 2nd/3rd line talent. If one of these guys make a convincing case and plays outstanding during training camp, Tom Renney will find himself having to make a couple of pretty difficult decisions.

On top of this, believe it or not, I see Artem Anisimov, of all players, deciding how the rest of the top 6 will fill out. Tom Renney has gone on record stating that the only thing separating the 20 year old Russian from the show is his weight. At 6'4" and a reported 200 pounds, Renney would like to see Ani fill out his frame a little bit more so he would be able to endure the grind and more physically demanding NHL game. However, almost none of us expected Staal to go from training camp walk on to the team's #2, or arguably #1 defenseman as a 20 year old down the stretch last season. If Anisimov has a good training camp and Traverse City tournament, I can see him being a New York Ranger playing the games in Prague against the Lightning.

If Anisimov makes the team, you may ask, what about Dubinsky? Great question. We all saw the surge of Brandon last season centering two very experienced and skilled players in Straka and Jagr on the first line. Some have even said they see future captain material in him. One poster on HF even went as far as to compare Dubinsky's style of play to shades of Messier. That, my friends, is a scary thought. While I do by no means endorse Dubinsky as the next Messiah, I believe that he has a lot of potential as a top 6 forward, and being a key player to the organization for years to come. However, with the log jam at centers that the Rangers have, I believe that playing him on the 3rd line with checking forwards would hinder his development. My suggestion? If Anisimov makes the team, put him on the left wing of a line with Drury and Zherdev. Dubi's big body and prowess along the boards would free up space for Zherdev to do his magic and score and set-up a lot of goals. This would also immensely help out his development playing with two very skilled players while Anisimov gets his feet wet on the 3rd line.

With this scenario, this would only leave one more spot on the top 6. My personal opinion is that it should be Petr Prucha's spot to lose. Playing on a line with Gomez and Naslund would be filled with such speed and skill that Petr would pay out big time. Combine Naslund's experience and Gomez's playmaking abilites, and I truly believe that we will see the Prucha of 05-06 show up to the Garden again, and not the shell of his 07-08 self. This, however, would demote Dawes to the 3rd line, where his soft stick and finishing roles on the team would be greatly diminished. You never know what will happen in training camp, and obviously, I am not the coach of the team. Tom Renney and Co. know a lot more about the players in the organization than you and I would ever dream to know.

Without further ado, my projected forward lines for the opening games in Prague:

Naslund-Gomez-Prucha

Dawes-Drury-Zherdev

Fritsche-Dubinsky-Sjostrom

Voros-Betts-Callahan

Orr

As for the defense, I believe that the 6 defensemen who make the team are all but set in stone. It is a matter of seeing what combinations work and which one's do not. This may take some time, but overall, this group of defensemen is a lot more skilled and mature than last year's. What is up for debate, however, is who the 7th defenseman that the team carries will be. Thomas Pock in my mind is the most logical and cap friendly option, but guys like Corey Potter, although I believe is overrated, and Brian Fahey will all draw consideration. To be honest, I cannot say who will be the 7th defenseman on Opening Night, as it is too much of a crapshoot to say one guy for sure.

Some may say that Sanguinetti is ready for the big show. I respectfully disagree. While there is no denying his talent, his play in his own end leaves a lot to be desired. Working towards this, as well as serving as the power play QB of running Hartford's power play from the point, will prove to be very valuable experience for him. I have hopes that Bobby will be an absolute power play monster from the point for the Rangers, so there is no point is rushing him and throwing him into the fire of the NHL too early. I do, however, believe that he is all but a lock for the team next year if he shows encouraging signs of development in Hartford. I also would not put a brief NHL call up out of the question this season in case of injury.

The defensive pairings on Opening Night (or what they should be anyway):

Staal-Redden

Mara-Girardi

Kalinin-Rozsival

Pock/Fahey/Potter

As for the goalies...you really don't need to ask.

Lundqvist

Valiquette

That's it from me for now. Let the countdown for training camp and the regular season begin!

Traverse City Tournament for New York Rangers Prospects Announced

As per Zipay over at Newaday, the Rangers look to be sending another solid group of young players in an attempt to defend the Traverse City Championship that the team won last season. There are some interesting selections, with players such as Lauri Korpikoski and Brandon Dubinsky no longer eligible, having seen action in the NHL last season. The tournament takes place during the big club's training camp, so it will be interesting to see who in this tournament gets a long look from the big club. Here is the roster for the tournament:

G Matt Zaba
G Antoine LaFleur (unsigned)

C Artem Anisimov
C Joe Barnes
C Chris Doyle (unsigned)
C Evgeny Grachev (unsigned)
C Thomas Pyatt
C Tomas Zaborsky

F Brodie Dupont
F Siarhei Dzemahin
F Justin Soryal
F Mike Taylor
F Ryan Hillier (injured)
F David Skokan
F Dale Weise (unsigned)

D Michael Del Zotto (unsigned)
D Vladimir Denisov
D Tomas Kundratek
D Bobby Sanguinetti
D David Urquhart

Speculation: Mats Sundin to the Rangers?

After Larry Brooks' article this past Sunday that stated that Sundin has the desire to play in New York, I figured that I'd interrupt my Prospect Profiles series and sound off on the issue. This is especially a hot topic on HF Boards where I post regularly. Below is what I wrote, word for word, about the issue, including the positives and negatives of Sundin signing in New York, along with what would need to be done in order to fit Mats under the salary cap. In addition to this, I offer some insight on what can happen, both this season, and in the near future as a result of Sundin signing. Enjoy!

The way I see it, the scenario of signing Sundin will greatly affect the team, and in addition has its positive and negative impacts.

I'll start out by saying Rozsival will likely be the guy to get dealt in order to free up cap space. Some in this thread have said that it will decimate the Rangers' defense. I respectfully disagree. Trading Rozsival will free up 5 million dollars in cap space. The return for Rozy would probably be a middle to low pairing defenseman and a draft pick. The way I see it, a team like the Los Angeles Kings would make a great trading partner for the Rangers. Consider this....To LA:Rozsival (Cap hit: 5 million/year)Pittsburgh 5th the Rangers got in the Hollweg tradeTo NYR:Tom Preissing (Cap hit: 2.7 million/year for 3 more seasons)LA 2nd rounder in 2009

The Rangers in return get a servicable middle pairing guy that can man the 2nd power play unit that is signed to a cap friendly deal for the near future, and get what will probably be equivalent to a late 1st round pick in a very deep draft. If Sundin signs and the deal I outlined goes through, the team looks like this....

Drury-Gomez-Zherdev

Naslund-Sundin-Sjostrom

Dawes-Dubinsky-Prucha

Voros/Fritsche-Betts/Fritsche-Callahan/Orr

Staal-Redden

Preissing-Girardi

Mara-Kalinin

That's a damn good team if you ask me.

Now onto the negatives. The defense I just outlined looks very suspect outside of the first pairing. The bottom 4 defenseman, however, are all capable of playing middle pairing minutes in my mind, so it would be interesting to see how that would turn out. With the departure of Rozsival, the Rangers defenseman with the most experience playing the Rangers system would be Paul Mara, albeit NHL experience outside of Girardi and Staal will not be a problem. By trading Rozsival, you mortgage a very solid defensive corps and hope that what you have will work out. As we've seen last season, it took a while for the team to develop some chemistry, and I fear that the defense will encounter some of the same growing pains this season that the offense had last season.

Also, signing Sundin to a contract will greatly hinder the Rangers' ability to make a big move at the trading deadline if necessary. As the poster before me mentioned, injuries happen, and finding a placement will not be too easy unless the Rangers promote some players from Hartford.

In conclusion, I would be very happy if Sundin signed here, but for no more than a year. I absolutely love what he brings to the table, and having a guy like Naslund on his wing can potentially get him back up to the 90 point echelon again. I really believe in my heart that a team with Sundin this season can bring the cup back to the Garden. If he is signed to a one year deal, Sundin's salary comes off the books, and by the 09 season, Sanguinetti will be ready for the big club, in addition to Sauer and maybe even Del Zotto on defense. On offense, re-signing Zherdev if he performs well would be key. Once that happens, the Red Army era of the New York Rangers can begin with Anisimov and hopefully Cherepanov being ready for the big club.

New York Rangers Prospect Profiles: Hugh Jessiman

I have finally amassed the courage to write about the most enigmatic Rangers prospect, Hugh Jessiman, dubbed "Huge Specimen" by some Ranger fans for his 6'6" 225 pound frame. From that fateful day in June of 2003, Jessiman has been a mystery. After registering 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points for Dartmouth as a freshman, the Rangers decided to take a huge gamble, no pun intended, at 12th overall in the 2003 NHL Draft. In a draft that saw the likes of Parise, Getzlaf, Richards, Brown, Seabrook, Burns, and Perry be taken after Jessiman, this pick flat out hurts the Ranger fan in me. But I digress.

Jessiman played two more seasons at Dartmouth, in which he only managed 35 points in 46 games in two years despite an injury in his junior year of college. Hugh then decided to attempt to turn pro at age 20 in hopes of making the Rangers big club, but he would have no such luck. Things got steadily worse for Hugh, as he registered a lukewarm 19 points in 46 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack in the 2005-2006 season. As a result, he got sent down to the ECHL for further work on his game. The 2006-2007 season was no different, as he registered a disappointing 13 points in 49 games with Hartford, resulting in another demotion to the ECHL. At this point, most Ranger fans have written Hugh off as a huge bust. This previous season, however, a new hope was found as Hugh was able to stick with Hartford all season and register 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points in 71 games, most of the time playing top 6 minutes for the team. In addition to this, Hugh also earned 154 penalty minutes, proving that he is also a force to be respected physcially as well.

In this offseason, Hugh accepted the Rangers' one year qualifying offer, meaning he has at least one more year to prove his worth to the Rangers coaching staff. In my opinion, this is the "make or break" year for Hugh. If he fails to show any type of improvement this season, he most likely will not be re-signed by the Rangers organization. Although many if not most Ranger fans have already written off Hugh as a bust, I have not personally given up on him yet. A power forward type of player that Hugh is needs a great deal of development, and usually do not crack the NHL club until their mid-twenties. Right now, Jessiman is 24, giving him at least 2 more years in my book to prove himself. Think about this Ranger fans; Todd Bertuzzi did not have a 50 point until he was 25 years old.

Despite this, Jessiman still has a lot to work on before he can have a shot with the New York Rangers. Although he has a lot of raw talent and still oozes potential, his skating and hockey sense still leave a lot to be desired. Speed is key in the "new" NHL, and if Hugh can find a way to keep up with the pace of the game on a consistent basis, I don't think an NHL call-up is out of the question in the near future.

New York Rangers Prospect Profiles: Bobby Sanguinetti

The Garden State native is the next prospect covered in my "Prospect Profiles" series. In the year before his draft eligibility, he had a breakout year, registering 14 goals and 51 assists for 65 points as a member of the Owen Sound Attack, high among point totals for OHL defensemen. However, due to worries about his defensive positioning, he was able to slip to 21st overall in the 2006 NHL Draft where the Rangers were able to take him. Growing up a Ranger fan his entire life, he wears number 22 to pay homage to the great #2.

This previous year, he was sent back to the Canadian juniors to further polish his skills, and he did not disappoint. He notched 29 goals along with 41 assists to raise his point total on the season to 70, all the while registering a pretty low 38 PIM as a member of the Brampton Battalion. After the OHL season, he was sent to Hartford and was able to register an assist with low ice time in 11 games. Despite this, his more than point per-game pace in the OHL is very encouraging for his development.

At the prospect camp after this year's NHL draft, he has shown big signs in maturity, both in physical appearance and play on the ice. My bet is that he spends a year in the AHL as a member of the Hartford Wolf Pack, but I believe that we will be able to see Bobby in the NHL sooner rather than later. In my mind, he can become that power play quarterback that the Rangers have desperately needed on the point for some time now. He certainly has the offensive capability to do so, but how he performs defensively at a higher level remains to be seen, and will be the determination of whether or not he becomes a bottom pairing, PP specialist, or a bonafide first pairing defenseman just like #2.