The Blueshirt Beat

Long Road Trip Comes to an End

2011-10-25T17:51:00.000-04:00

No this was not a scene out of the move "Euro Trip", nor was it a prolonged vacation. This was the brutal beginning to the 2011-2012 hockey season for the New York Rangers. A trip that spanned over 20,000 miles, across 2 continents, measuring almost a month's time, and countless cities. The Rangers finished off their 7 game road trip on Monday night with a victory against the recently renewed Winnipeg Jets.

The Rangers began their long voyage towards the end of September going over to Sweden, Slovakia, Finland, and Switzerland to play preseason games against their European counterparts. The Rangers then had to kick off their 2011-2012 season playing two games against the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks. The team then flew back to New York to recuperate for a week and play the Islanders. After completing that game the Rangers then headed all the way out to Western Canada to take on the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and lastly the Winnipeg Jets.

A tough grind that gave the Rangers limited quality practice time, and ample team bonding time is one that the players are happy to see end. Ranger's first year captain Ryan Callahan had this to say, "We know there are a lot of things we need to work on, but at the same time it's been an extremely long month with the trip to Europe and then this one, so we'll gladly take the 3-1 (record)."

Towards the end of the trip the Rangers appeared fatigued during games as well as lacking the chemistry and work ethic we're all accustomed to seeing from them. While it was pretty apparent that the team still has quite a bit to work on, the Rangers did finish the long trip with a 3-2-2 record. Considering how poorly the team played in some games, and the length of time they were away that's a very reasonable number.

Some players were up to the task of the trip however. Henrik Lundqvsit, who some would argue was solely responsible for the team's 2 wins in Vancouver and Calgary played incredible throughout the whole excursion. Defensemen Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh both stepped up to fill the missing ice time by injured defensemen Marc Staal and Mike Sauer. McDonagh even contributed offensively netting a couple of assists, a goal in Vancouver, and a game-winning goal in Calagry. Marian Gaborik also appears to have his game back in order as he was flying around the ice and creating plenty of scoring chances, tallying 4 goals early on in the season. Brad Richards also had some bright spots, along with wingman Derek Stepan, but Richards also exhibited some problems with chemistry. Another negative spot was the play of the "pack line" of Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, and Artem Anisimov. All 3 players appeared sluggish and lacking of creativity forcing Torts to have to constantly flip lines around to get them going. In order for the Rangers to continue to improve and succeed, it is necessary for the other 3 lines to help produce some offense.

While the Garden was undergoing the first of it's 3 year renovation plan, it forced the Rangers away for that long stretch. Instead of flying out to Western Canada, some would argue it would have been a lot more convenient for the team to play road games against teams like the Flyers, Pens, Devils, Isles, and so forth--thus reducing the intensity of the travel. However, with this long trip over, the Rangers return to play a 6 game homestand that will hopefully rejuvenate the team. With Wojtek Wolski returning for the first time against Winnipeg, and Mike Sauer expected to return on Thursday, hopefully things start to improve for the Rangers.

But with the most difficult part of the schedule over with for the Rangers, things should hopefully get a lot easier from here.

Preliminary Training Camp Cuts (9/24); Marc Staal Injury Update

2011-09-25T20:23:00.000-04:00

John Tortorella wanted to trim the roster down quite significantly prior to the club's European trip later in the week. They did just that with the teams' first round of training camp cuts on Saturday.

Back to the Ranger's AHL Affiliate, the Connecticut Whale, are goalies Cam Talbot, Jason Missiaen and Chad Johnson; defensemen Lee Baldwin, Collin Bowman, Sam Klassen, Tomas Kundratek, Jyri Niemi, Jared Nightingale, and Pavel Valentenko; and forwards Johnathan Audy-Marchessault, Jordan Hickmott, Tommy Grant, Tayler Jordan, Kale Kerbashian, Chad Kolarik, Matt Rust, Chris McKelvie, Scott Tanski, Kelsey Tessier, and Jason Wilson.

Seven players were also returned to their CHL clubs. Among those players were defensemen Peter Ceresnak of the OHL team Peterborough, Samuel Noreau of the QMJHL's Baie-Comeau, forwards Shane McColgan who returns back to Kelowna of the WHL, J.T. Miller goes back to Plymouth of the OHL, Christian Thomas returns to Oshawa of the OHL, Andrew Yogan join Peter Ceresnak back in Peterborough, and Michael St. Croix returns to his WHL team Edmonton.

Among the NHL hopefuls still in camp, to name a few of the prominent ones, are Tim Erixon, Ryan Bourque, Carl Hagelin, Scott Stajcer, Dale Weise, and Dylan McIlrath.

My quick take on the first round of cuts, with more cuts expected later in the week (most likely Tortorella will only want to take one forward, one to two defensemen, and one extra goalie as extras who are hoping to still make the team). Expect Carl Hagelin, Dylan McIlrath, Tim Erixon to be among the Ranger's contingent to fly out to Europe with one or two more players possibly joining the fray depending on injuries and who continues to impress.

First an foremost in these first round of cuts is the surprising fact that Pavel Valentenko was sent back this early. Last training camp VTank, as he is affectionately called by fans, was one of the last players remaining in camp. Impressing coaches with his booming shot, big hits, and solid defensive play. From all accounts he was uninspired in training camp this year, and really didn't look impressive in Friday's game against the Devils.

J.T. Miller was also surprising to be sent back already. He had a very impressive camp and was doing great things on the ice. It appears as though the Rangers really didn't want him to miss significant time with his OHL team starting up this weekend and wanted to get him into as many games as possible.

Lastly, Christian Thomas was a tad disappointing this training camp. Coming off a 50 goal campaign for his Oshawa OHL team, Thomas struggled to stand out and unfortunately goal scorers are expected to score goals. Thomas couldn't really take advantage of his booming shot, several times having it shot wide or be blocked. Thomas will need to strengthen up before he is ready to make an impact at the NHL level.

Dylan McIlrath has been very impressive both in the Traverse City Tournament and in training camp. He has stuck up for his teammates, as well as played solid defensively and shown the ability to throw big hits. His makes really have been few and far between. Carl Hagelin has opened a lot of eyes with his blinding speed. Hagelin can be used in multiple roles and is really effective in all of them--thus lending himself more time to be noticed in training camp and possibly make the team.

When Marc Staal got hit by his older brother Eric in a game late February he really didn't think much of it at the time. However, over the summer Marc began to realize that he would get headaches every time he tried to work out and push himself. Marc has been on the ice and reports say he has been cleared for contact, but with several tests slated over the last couple, and next couple, of days the Rangers have decided not to have Marc fly with the team originally to Europe. The team will reevaluate him over the next 4-5 days and will make a decision then. The Rangers really don't want to rush him, and it is still possible he will play the club's first two regular season games in Europe, however if they need to let him miss the games then it would be perfectly understandable since the Rangers have a week off after those two games.

Who Vacates the Hole on the Top Line Left Wing Spot?

2011-09-25T19:49:00.000-04:00

There have been several discussions about who should be the player that fills the spot on the top line alongside Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards. Wojtek Wolski was given the first crack at the spot in training camp and has shown some good chemistry in the early scrimmages with the aforementioned players.

Originally I wanted Wolski to fill that spot in order to keep the second line of Dubinsky, Anisimov, and Callahan--who exhibited very good chemistry at times last year--together. However, after watching Brad Richard's first preseason game with Wolski on the line they showed good chemistry but they left a lot to be desired defensively. There were several instances when that line got trapped in the defensive zones for long periods of time. In the offensive zone they showed good puck movement at times with that expected to increase as the familiarity grows.

Another popular candidate to take that spot has been Brandon Dubinsky. I was originally opposed to breaking up the "Pack Line" for reasons mentioned before, but after watching some action I think Dubinsky would help the line incredibly defensively, as well as be more willing to go into the corners and fight for the puck. Wolski's lesser defensive talents would easily be covered up by the strong two way games of Ryan Callahan and Artem Anisimov.

Yet another player that may be able to take that open spot is Brian Boyle. Though some worry that Brian Boyle's offensive output last year was something of a fluke, and many are uncertain if he can continue to put up as many goals as he did last year, Boyle is similar to a Dubinsky type player with less skill. Boyle loves to use his size in the corners to win the puck, as well as set up in front of the net to try to screen the goalie. Some argue given more of a offensive role on the team, Boyle could match, if not improve, upon his totals from the previous year.

Another possible candidate, although this reaches more in the realm of fantasy then actuality, is Zach Parise. Now I know many will say the Devil-Ranger connection has failed multiple times in the past, however Zach Parise is in a whole class above players like Holik and Gomez. The Ranger's have some $15 million in cap space this coming summer with only players like Brandon Prust, Michael Del Zotto, and possibly Mats Zuccarello needing to be resigned. Zach is the perfect type of player to fit the spot vacated at the moment. He has elite offensive talents to be on par with Richards and Gaborik--both his goal scoring abilities and playmaking abilities, as well as he loves to fight in the corners for the puck and position himself squarely at the side of the net for tip-ins and deflections.

There are quite a few other options out there via trade, but those are the type of players that may be too costly to try to acquire at this time. However, given the Ranger's defensive depth, should a trade come about dealing some of that depth they should definitely look into the opportunity as another way to better the team. There have even been some discussions about possibly moving center Derek Stepan to the wing, or Ryan Callahan on that line.

Ultimately, I'm sure there will be several players given the opportunity to play with Richards and Gaborik. The one that takes advantage of their chance will likely wind up sticking there for the long haul.

Ryan Callahan Named 26th Ranger's Captain

2011-09-12T12:29:00.000-04:00

It's the dawn of a new era in New York Rangers hockey. Today marked the day where Ryan Callahan was named the 26th Captain in franchise history. Callahan will be taking over the duties that were vacated by the ousted Chris Drury after his mid-summer buyout.

Callahan not only has earned the respect of his fellow teammates and people within the organization, but throughout the league. Players across the league have taken notice of what an impact Callahan truly provides on the Rangers.

Callahan will upgrade his role as assistant captain to the new voice of the team. Marc Staal will remain an assistant captain, and big time free agent acquisition Brad Richards will dawn the other assistant captain spot.

Ranger's General Manager Glen Sather spoke of Callahan in high regard. "Ryan Callahan embodies all the leadership qualities we seek from our Captain. He leads by example with courage and a tireless work ethic on and off the ice, which is why he is so deserving of this honor."

Even the opposition takes notice of Ryan Callahan. Recent free agent signing Mike Rupp talked about how when he played in Pittsburgh against Ryan Callahan and that he would someday want to be on his team because of his battle and work ethic.

If the Captain is supposed to lead by example, then there really isn't a better player to follow in their footsteps.

Brad Richards overtook Brandon Dubinsky for the final assistant captains spot. His long history with Tortorella and his success under his tutelage with hopefully be a calming voice in the locker room. A very quite-spoken man, Richards is yet another player that leads by example.

Russian Plane Crashes Killing 43 Members of KHL team Lokomotiv and Crew

2011-09-07T23:14:00.001-04:00

An absolute tragic event has taken place today thousands of miles around the world. A Russian plane leaving from the city of Yaroslavl in Central Russia crashed shortly after takeoff on it's way to Minsk, Belarus. The plane was carry the entire KHL team Lokomotiv's active roster.

The plane was believe to have trouble getting up to an adequate altitude shortly after takeoff. The plane was believed to only hold 100 people, and the plane was carrying at least 43 people and all the team's equipment.

Lokomotiv's entire main roster, as well as it's coaching staff, and 4 members of it's youth roster were all killed. Among the fatalities were 8 crew members. The crash really hit home here in the NHL when it was realized that several of the people on board had long NHL histories as players and coaches.

According to NHL.com, "Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, founded in 1949 as the team of the Railways Ministry, is one of Russia's leading hockey teams and came runner up in the Kontinental Hockey League in 2008 and 2009. In 1997 it took the Russian Superleague title and won back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003."

Among the most notable players involved in the crash were Pavol Demitra, Ruslan Salei, Karl Rachunek, Karlis Skrastins, Alexander Vasyunov, Josef Vasicek, and coach Brad McCrimmon.

Gary Bettman issued a statement in regards to this terrible event stating, "Though it occurred thousands of miles away from our home arenas, this tragedy represents a catastrophic loss to the hockey world — including the NHL family, which lost so many fathers, sons, teammates and friends."

There were several conflicting reports concerning the number of survivors, multiple times hearing that there were none to as many as two. It is being reported that there are two survivors as of this moment, one of them being forward Alexander Galimov, who has suffered burns on nearly 80% of his body. Both of the survivors are in critical condition.

The crash really hit home in the tri-state area, more specifically for some current Ranger's forward. Ranger's Russian forward Artem Anisimov commented, "I knew half the team. I didn't believe it at first... then I felt sick."

Ranger's forward Marian Gaborik, who became very good friends with Demitra when they shared time in Minnesota tweeted, "Demo, u will always b in my heart. U were one of my best friends on and off the ice. U will be greatly missed by all of us. My condolences..."

Karl Rachunek also spent some time with the Ranger's, as did one of the coaches Alexander Karpovstev who was a popular member of the Ranger's Organization.

The National Hockey League Player's Association said in a statement, "The club included many former NHLPA members, as well as many members of the international hockey community. Words cannot express the profound sorrow that this loss has created. Our sincere condolences go out to the friends and families who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy."

A tragic event that has not only hit the Russian Kontinental Hockey League hard, but a tragedy that has hit the hockey world spanning the area of 10 different countries, as well as families, friends, and fans all around the world. A tough offseason for hockey indeed, but hopefully the upcoming hockey season will help ease the pain of a terrible couple of months and help in the grieving process. May they all rest in peace.

In The System - A Look At The Top Ranger Prospects Fall 2011

2011-09-01T17:30:00.001-04:00

I have here a video that goes along with the previous blog I wrote about the Ranger's top prospects for the Fall of 2011.

This video highlights some of the talents that the Rangers currently have in their system, and some are on the cusp of making the NHL club this year.

Enjoy.

Ranger's Top 10 Prospects - Fall 2011

2011-08-30T20:28:00.111-04:00

The Ranger's have a dearth of organizational depth in their system. The Ranger's have had quite the ability to pump out quality NHL talent for the last few seasons. Gone are the days of the Blueshirts patching a team together with aging stars that are on the back 9 of their career. Enter the days where most of the team is assembled from within, surrounded by superstars that fit the system the team is building.

Take a look at all the talented NHL players the Rangers have produced which made contributions to the team last year: Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Artem Anisimov, Marc Staal, Derek Stepan, Dan Girardi, Henrik Lundqvist, and so forth.

All of these players fit the bill of the team they are trying to build--an in your face, grind it out, work-for-your goals type of team. The Rangers keep using the draft to build on to the list of talented young players. What's especially impressive is that the Rangers use later rounds in the draft to pick prospects that really have boom-or-bust potential.

The Ranger's strong suit is producing quality NHL caliber defensemen. That won't be changing since there are still a few solid young defensemen scheduled to make an impact for the big club in a couple of years. However, the one thing that the system is arguably missing is that gamebreaking top line NHL star. While Chris Kreider may one day fit the bill of an elite, top line left winger, that still remains to be seen. Another weakness of the Ranger's system is goaltending. Their farm is barren in that regards with no real NHL level goalies behind Henrik Lundqvist.

So without further ado, I present to you the Rangers Top 10 prospects for the upcoming season.

10. Andrew Yogan, C

Analysis: Standing 6'3, 205 pounds, Yogan has a great passing game. His shot is average at best, but he has showed signs of improvement with it. Skating also appears to be an issue with Yogan, although like his shot he has worked to improve it. Yogan explain his game in a nutshell as such, "I definitely have size to my advantage, so I like to use my size and I like to be a little physical. But I love to score. That’s why I play the game, and that’s what I do. I put the puck in the back of the net." Yogan likes to use his long reach and puckhandling skills to get by defenders and crash the net to get his goals. Yogan likes to work down low and he uses his size as a tool to protect the puck. He has been compared to a Jason Spezza type player.

9. Michael St. Croix, C

Analysis: The Rangers took a chance on St. Croix when they drafted him with the 106th pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The diminutive center is extremely talented offensively. Much off his game revolves around his vision, his playmaking, and his goal scoring. St. Croix is a solid skater, with a very fluid and effective stride who has the agility, size, and edge control to be extremely elusive. St. Croix also possesses above average puckhandling with a very good shot. This gives him the ability to dangle around defenders, or if they step back he can unload a shot from above the circles. Due to his size, St. Croix struggles with the physicality that is used against him at times. He is also not a very physical player who drives the net but really isn't effective at that area of the game. St. Croix is better off staying on the outside in order to be effective. His defense is also average at best, although it has shown signs of improvements. In the long run St. Croix may be better off playing wing as opposed to center.

8. Jesper Fasth, RW

Analysis: Yet another diminutive player, Fasth was selected in the 6th round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Fasth was extremely impressive in the 2011 World Junior Championships for Team Sweden, really opening eyes with his speed, aggressiveness, and work ethic. Fasth is described as an above average skater with nice acceleration and top speed. He also loves to forecheck with impressive intensity and can create a lot of his offense from his speed and agility. His hockey sense, offensive ability, and technical skills are good to average and he can create offense usually by himself. The downside to Fasth's game is his size. He can easily be knocked off the puck by bigger defenders and that sometimes makes it difficult to drive to the net. If Fasth can develop his strength, then he could project to an offensive-minded, grinding 3rd line winger.

7. Oscar Lindberg, C

Analysis: The Rangers acquired Lindberg on May 8th, 2011 in a trade that sent Ethan Werek to Phoenix. Lindberg is your prototypical two-way center. He is incredible at winning faceoffs, and has a very solid defensive game. He is continuing to improve on the offensive side of the puck however. Lindberg describes his game as such, "I would say I’m a two-way center who likes to play in the offensive zone, but I have also developed my defensive game. "Hopefully, I will have a bigger role on the Skelleftea team this year and hope to play on the power play and stuff like that. I would like to be more of an offensive player, but right now I’d call myself a two-way center." Besides his faceoff abilities, Lindberg doesn't really do any one thing extremely well. He is very solid on both sides of the puck, and continued development could project him to a 3rd or 4th line checking center who could provide some offense every now and again. Linberg has also been complimented for having good hands.

6. J.T. Miller, LW

Analysis: Miller is the Ranger's prototypical two-way forward. He has strong offensive skills, likes to use his size to protect the puck, but he also enjoys the defensive aspects of the game. Miller is a very strong and powerful skater that likes to use his speed to help him on both ends of the ice. He works extremely hard and can use his speed to get to loose pucks as well as separate the puck from the carrier. When Miller has the puck, he likes to use his good balance to stay strong on the puck. Without the puck, he loves to battle hard to try to get, or maintain, possession. He’s good along the boards and gets out of battles with the puck. Miller handles the puck well and uses his balance and strength to protect the puck until he makes a play. Miller likes to rely on his hard work to create offense, but while he's not the most creative player on the ice he has the ability to make the easy plays. Miller's passing and shooting abilities are solid and consistent, but he also has the ability to show flashes of high-end ability in these areas at times. One of the knocks on Miller is that only recently has his production really matched his skill. Miller’s decision making with the puck has also been in question and caused some to question his hockey sense and offensive awareness. A good hockey comparable is Ryan Kesler.

5. Carl Hagelin, LW

Analysis: The Swedish-born winger is praised for his incredible speed. Hagelin is yet another prototypical two-way forward who can play both on the powerplay and on the penalty kill. Hagelin describes his game as such, "I’m a two-way player with good speed, and a strong PK guy...That’s standard for me now to always work hard and to backcheck and win battles. Speed is my game, and if I don’t use my speed, I’m not going to have any success no matter what level I play on." Hagelin also has a strong penchant for blocking shots. He fits the mold of a Ryan Callahan-esque player with a little more speed, and possibly a slightly better shot. Hagelin has a chance to win a roster spot out of camp this year, but more than likely will need a year of AHL seasoning before he is ready for the big club.

4. Dylan McIlrath, D

Analysis: Nicknamed "The Undertaker," the young defense towers over his foes at an astounding 6'4, 212 pound frame. McIlrath is a physical defensemen that loves to hit people, and will never back down from a fight. McIlrath fits the bill of an old-school, physical, stay-at-home defensemen. McIlrath will need to work on his hands and his skating ability to keep up in the NHL; and Ranger's brass hopes he can continue to develop his offensive game to possibly resemble a Shea Weber-lite type defensemen. McIlrath loves to use his long reach to keep attackers away from the net, and is also a very good crease clearer due to his size and strength. McIlrath has said of his game, "I want to really round out all my game because that’s what it takes to get to the next level." Although he understands the main part of his game is his defensive abilities. Ranger's scout Gordie Clark explains some of McIlrath's talents as such, "The overall confidence of his game, his handling of the puck, the moving of the puck and his body, the way he’s built muscles. He knows he has to put on weight, but he doesn’t want to do it just pumping iron. He wants to do it naturally and he has a great build on him. He’s really developing well." McIlrath will probably take a few more years to develop, but if he pans out he may be well worth the wait.

3. Christian Thomas, RW

Analysis: Son of former NHL'er Steve Thomas, Christian is quite possible one of the crown jewels of the Ranger's farm system. Standing only a minuscule 5'9, Thomas is the definition of a boom-bust prospect in the sense that there are so many diminutive players who can't quite make it in the NHL, but then there are some that can really thrive at such a small stature. Thomas is an absolute sniper in every sense of the word. He tallied 54 and 41 goals in two consecutive years for the OHL's Oshawa Generals. Adam Graves talked about Thomas' shot in high regards. "I used to say that when Brendan Shanahan would do his one-timer, he had about a 14-inch backswing. I used to call it the ‘wow’ shot, because when it comes off the stick, you just have to say wow,” says Graves. “Christian’s shot is more of a drag-snapper, but it’s still one of those ‘wow’ shots, where the puck just rockets off his stick. I couldn’t advise him on shooting any better than he already shoots. His shot is as good a shot as I have seen in a long, long time,” said Graves. “Inside the top of the circles, he has a special shot. He knows where it’s going and he can move it and he can change the angle on a goalie in a hurry." Oshawa Generals head coach/GM Chris DePiero said Thomas is fast, and his quickness allows his to get to the loose pucks and release his incredible shot. He also said Thomas just has a knack for scoring, scoring in any way really. Thomas loves to use his speed and acceleration to drive hard to the net, coupled with his incredible shot and his high hockey IQ, Thomas has all the tools to be an offensive force in the OHL. Thomas does have a chippy edge to his game, he does like to throw his weight around, and protect the puck down low. He has a knack for getting open and does the simple things really well. The knock on Thomas is clearly his size. At only 5'9, Thomas has the potential to be knocked around in the NHL by some of the bigger defenders. If Thomas can develop his strength to win battles along the board, he can use his speed to blow by bigger defenders. Thomas has the potential to be a Brian Gionta-esque player, but for every one Brian Gionta, there's 5 Nigel Dawes. Thomas will compete in the Traverse City Prospect Tournament in a couple of weeks. He really needs to impress there before going to camp where he hopes to win a roster spot. More than likely he will go back to the OHL this year.

2. Chris Kreider, LW

Analysis: Kreider's game can mainly be described in one word--speed. Kreider has the ability to dangle around defenders while maintaining a high rate of speed, making him difficult to stop. Consistency has really plagued Kreider's game. He has shown all world talent in the two previous World Junior Championships, but those abilities really hasn't translated into his collegiate play. Kreider talked about what he wanted to work on recently, "What I really want to focus on now is my consistency. I think that’s the most important thing and with that just kind of improve on everything that I have been improving on. I almost sounded like a broken record whenever I said that I've got to do the ‘little things’. But I think I’ve figured out what those were and I think I've improved on them a lot.” Kreider is a typical power forward with scoring abilities. He has extremely soft hands and great vision. He is a threat to score or set up a goal every time he touches the puck. Kreider likes to use his size to battle for, or get, the puck. He works hard on both ends of the ice and isn't afraid to work in the dirty areas or drive to the net to create a chance. Kreider has an NHL-level shot that only figures to get better, and his soft hands allow him to have a quick release on his shot to keep goalies guessing. One of the negatives of his game is his need to continue to improve defensively. He is solid in the defensive zone but still may need some improvement. If Kreider can become a consistent threat, once he matures he could potentially develop into a top 6 left winger.

1. Tim Erixon, D

Analysis: The Ranger's acquired Tim Erixon this past offseason after the young Swedish defensemen failed to reach a contract agreement with the Calgary Flames. Son of former Ranger fan favorite Jan Erixon, Tim is a very smart defensemen that plas a solid two-way game. He is not very spectacular and isn't overly physical, but plays a very effective, simple game. He has good size, and is very mobile. His offensive potential is still untapped, but he is very good at quarterbacking the powerplay and can put up a decent point total. Erixon is very good at leading the rush when he needs to, and he also has a very good first pass. Most feel that Erixon is ready to make the Rangers now, and should he impress in both the Traverse Cirt Tournament and training camp, he should have no problem cracking the NHL roster as a 5th or 6th defensemen. Many compare parts of his game to both Marc Staal and Ryan McDonagh. Both players are not spectacularly flashy, but get the job done. Erixon may have more offensive potential then those two however.

Five for Fighting

2011-08-27T20:43:00.001-04:00

This offseason saw the sudden and tragic passing of two of the NHL's toughest enforcers. New York Ranger Derek Boogaard died unexpectedly after mixing alcohol and prescription pain killers. Winnipeg Jet Rick Rypein also died this summer due mainly from issues brought on by depression. With these recent string of events, members of the hockey world are starting to call into question the validity of fighting in the NHL. Quite a few people believe that fighting serves absolutely no purpose in the game today; and that it shows young kids that violence is a good way to deal with things. Fighting serves a very critical purpose in the game however, and is reserved for the physically and mentally tough.

The NHL is one of the only major sports that actually allows fighting to occur. Fighting has long been interwoven into the history of the NHL as an integral part of the game. There is growing sentiment that Rypien's depression, and Boogaard's concussion-related symptoms were inevitably the cause of their deaths. Could these fights have led to some form of trauma that brought upon depression, taking of painkillers, etc? Most likely to some extent yes. But that's not the whole story.

Fighting actually serves a major purpose in the game of hockey. It allows for the lesser skilled players to protect their superstar teammates from being physically abused by the other team. It also allows for these skilled players to see that if someone comes after me, or there is a dirty hit against one of my teammates, that these fighter has my back. It is the ultimate sacrifice for showing that a players' teammates matter to them.

The late Derek Boogaard fighting Philadelphia's Jody Shelly

In fact, fighting isn't some malicious event where anything goes. There is actually a code that fighters live by. Enforcers usually only fight someone that is around their size, or at least a willing combatant. They don't simply sneak up on a foe and start pummeling them into oblivion. Fighting gives the enforcer the chance to stick up for his teammate. Enforcers rarely ever wait until the end of a shift to fight because they don't want each fighter to be too tired. There also is that fact that in fighting, there really isn't a ill-will towards the other combatant. The fighters are usually just trying to do their job--be it protect a teammate, get momentum, etc. Derek Boogaard was also once quoted as saying that he really didn't even like to fight. That if he could have been a 50 goal scorer he would have. Enforcers usually fight because they understand they aren't skilled enough to be a goal scorer, playmaker, shut down defensemen, or what have you. They understand their skill set and they will do anything to stay in the game because they love hockey so much.

So while many people say that it's just something that serves absolutely no purpose in the new NHL, that it sends a bad message, and that it has long term side effects on these fighters, I view it as the ultimate symbolism for being a good teammate. A player who is willing to sacrifice himself--both physically and mentally, because he understands his role on the ice and he will do anything to stick up for his teammates.

Now, with that said, there needs to be some changes in the way fighting occurs for it to be "more civilized" if you will. First things first, you have to separate the goons from the enforcers. What's the difference? An enforcer is what was described above--someone who will stick up for their teammates, and goes by the fighters code. A goon is someone who runs around and takes cheap shots at their opponents, or someone who instigates a fight while the other fighter isn't prepared or is unwilling. Goons need to be removed from the NHL because they are the ones that give a bad name to fighting.

Secondly, no player should be allowed to fight with their helmets on. Both fighters must remove visors/helmets before being allowed to engage in an altercation. Keep the fight fair to both combatants so one doesn't have to break his hand punching a helmet.

Lastly, dole out harsher penalties to individuals who want to fight people who aren't willing to engage in such behavior. Instead of giving the instigator a 5 minute major and the other player a 2 minute minor, give the instigator a match penalty to send out the message that this behavior is unacceptable.

So while fighting might be a lost art moving forward in the new NHL (one that is geared towards smaller, quicker, and more skilled players), when a teammate sees another teammate rushing to their rescue after a dirty hit, or a player trying to pick a fight with you--that sends the message of being an ultimate team player. Sure they may not want to be enforcers, but as long as they understand and are willing to accept their roles then that sends the ultimate message of doing anything for a team/teammates.

New York Rangers 2011-2012 Season Preview

2011-08-27T00:28:00.005-04:00

With the season a mere 5 weeks away, the NHL begins to brace itself for the grind of yet another long season. This is a great time of year if you're an NHL fan. Everyone is optimistic about their team and their chance to make some noise this year. This is the time of year when every player feels like they may have something special with their particular group of collective talent. Expectations are high all around the league.

But usually it's decided pretty quickly which teams are the contenders and which are the pretenders. Several teams made great improvements to their roster this offseason. Buffalo acquired the likes of Christian Ehrhoff, Villie Leino, and Robyn Regehr. Florida went out and acquired a dearth of roster upgrades. Philadelphia completely overhauled their roster by shipping out their two stars in favor of that ever elusive veteran goalie. Lastly, the Rangers went out and acquired the crown jewel of the free agent class--Brad Richards. Every team around the league has question marks heading into the season, areas of interest that they may seek to upgrade during the course of the year if you may. To the contrary, some teams are relying on their youth to push them forward into contention while other teams seek to rebuild their prospect cupboards. So where exactly do the Rangers fall in this whole scenario?

As mentioned previously, the Rangers had a great offseason by going out and acquiring the number one center and powerplay quarterback they so desperately needed. The Rangers also went out and acquired stud young defensemen Tim Erixon--son of former Ranger Jan Erixon. All the while they resigned all their main restricted free agents in Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, and Michael Sauer.

Heading into the 2011-2012 season, the Rangers now have two very good lines, to couple with a very strong young defense and elite goaltender. A lot of the Rangers' success hinges on the chemistry between newly acquired star center Brad Richards and sniper Marian Gaborik.

A lot of the Ranger's success rides on the ability
of Richards and Gaborik to mesh this season.

Should the two manage to mesh because of Richards' elite playmaking abilities, then that sets the Rangers up with two very good lines. Last year, as the Rangers used the grind-it-out mentality to score goals, which in turn lead to offesnive droughts for extended periods of times in which the Rangers often struggled to get three goals a game, and forcing the Rangers' second line of Dubinsky, Anisimov, and Callahan to see top pairing defensemen a majority of the time. The cohesion between Gaborik and Richards would take a lot of the pressure to carry the offensive load off the talented young second line and onto more veteran shoulders. This would allow the Ranger's second line to see weaker defensemen and create better offensive chances. Meanwhile young center Derek Stepan, a first year player straight out of college, also shoulder a heavy dose of the offensive load putting up very solid numbers in his first NHL campaign. Similar to the Rangers' second line, a gelling of Gaborik and Richards can give Stepan more time to work on his game while not having to worry as much about carrying the team.

The Rangers had one of the youngest average-aged defenses in the league last year. With "veterans" Marc Staal and Dan Girardi logging a ton of icetime, that gave the opportunity to youngsters Mike Sauer (and mid-season callup Ryan McDonagh) to get acclimated to the NHL game while steadily giving them an increasing diet of more ice time. The Rangers top four defensemen proved to be two great shutdown units that can be put up against some of the top players in the game and face little consequences. The acquisition of Tim Erixon and the hopeful resurgence of Michael Del Zotto only adds to the defensive depth of the Rangers' organization. Lastly, when all else fails there is always one of the top goaltenders in the league, Henrik Lundqvist, to cover up any noticeable defensive gaffs.

So the Ranger's 2011-2012 success greatly depends on whether Richards and Gaborik can mesh together. However, that's not the end-all be-all for the Rangers. The acquisition of Richards gives the Rangers choices if they want to shuffle the lines up and break apart their two top players. Their offensive depth allows them to do such a thing.

A big question mark heading into the season is whether Wojtek Wolski, who from all indications put in a lot of work this offseason to be ready for the season, can slot into that top line left wing spot. Wolski, in his near half season with the Rangers last year, showed some flashes of brilliance coupled with long stretches of inconsistency. Can Wolski harness his talents more consistently, he could benefit greatly from playing alongside Richards. This would allow the Rangers to keep their second line (dubbed the pack line since all three members were developed by the Rangers Hartford affiliate the Whalepack) intact. Those three players showed signs of chemistry multiple times last season, and keeping them together would be very important for the Rangers to get a fast start right out of the gate.

Injuries and a lack of confidence riddled the Ranger's 2010-2011 campaign. With most of the Rangers top offensive players missing extended time at some point in the year. The hit early on in the year to Marian Gaborik which seperated his shoulder could have caused him to come back tentatively and thus make him lose his confidence in his game. This could potentially be the reason for Gaborik's lackluster performance last year. Ranger's sophomore defensemen Michael Del Zotto also suffered from a bruised ego causing him to spend a majority of the season in Hartford after such a wonderful rookie season. Del Zotto became all too predictable at times last year and suffered from his porous defensive play. This most likely caused him to lose his confidence and lose his game. For the Rangers to be successful this year, they need Del Zotto to regain that offensive confidence so to be another weapon to use on the powerplay.

The Rangers also have some very talented players chomping at the bit to try to crack the NHL club. While Ranger's top prospect Chris Kreider decided not to forgo college in lieu of the NHL, the Ranger's 2011 Entry Draft selection J.T. Miller opted to take his talents North to the WHL instead of going to college. While both are expected to factor majorly into the Ranger's future, neither will be making an impact on this year's club. Young Swedish defensemen Tim Erixon is coming into camp with the expectation that it's his roster spot to lose. The Ranger's feel his is well equipped to handle the NHL now, and should he impress in the Traverse City Tournament and in camp he should find himself heading to Sweden for the Rangers' first two games of the year.

Norwegian-born Mats Zuccarello saw limited NHL action last year. He frequented Derek Stepan's right wing and showed signs of great playmaking ability and soft hands. However, his diminutive nature caused him to be knocked off the puck too easily last year and showed limited puck control. Zuccarello has a shot to make the NHL club as a third line right winger should he have a good camp. Otherwise he may find himself in the AHL and before long headed back to Norway.

Lastly, the most intriguing player to watch this training camp is diminutive right winger Christian Thomas. Listed at 5'9, the young Thomas is fresh off a 50 goal OHL campaign. Thomas has been noted for his incredible one-timer and wrist shot. Should Thomas be able to manage his height deficiency with his strength and speed, you can look for him to beat out Mats Zuccarello for that third line right wing spot.

Prediction: The East has so much parity this year that it is difficult to see where the Rangers may end up. Just in the Atlantic Division alone there are major question marks. For example, is Crosby healthy? Can Philadelphia find chemistry quickly? Will New Jersey be the first or second half team from last year? And can the Islanders put it together and make progress this year?

As of right now personally it seems the Rangers are the second best team in the Atlantic. However depending on the questions above, it is very conceivable that come April the Rangers could be fourth in the Atlantic and fighting for a playoff spot again. Should Crosby not be 100%, the Rangers might be able to take the Atlantic Division and grab a top 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. Again, a lot hinges on the ability of Gaborik and Richards to mesh. Couple that with the continued growth of their young players, and the insertion of some other young players, the Rangers could be poised for a special year.

When all is said and done, I predict the Rangers to be the 4th seed in the East, with a second round elmination. A majority of Ranger's fans assume that this really isn't the year where we're bonafide contenders, but expect to hear from us in 1-2 years. The spotlight might finally be shinning back on Broadway.