Video: Brandon Prust Talks About Why He Loves Playing In New York

Mikhail Pashnin Staying in KHL, Re-Signs With CSKA Moscow

According to Laurie Carr of  Beyond The Blueshirts Mikhail Pashnin has signed a two-year extension with CSKA Moscow of the KHL.  This is somewhat surprising given the certainty of reports a few weeks ago that Pashnin was coming to North America to pursue the NHL, but with reports late last week that he was leaving his options open, the fact he is staying in Russia is not shocking.

While Pashnin had an outside shot to make the Rangers this season, he was likely ticketed for the Connecticut Whale of the AHL.  It is possible that Pashnin used the possibility of coming to North America as a way to leverage CSKA into giving him more money to stay, which is certainly well within his rights.  Now that Pashnin is staying in Russia for two years, unless there is an NHL out clause, it is uncertain what Pashnin’s place in the Rangers organization with other defensive prospects Dylan McIlrath, Pavel Valentenko and Tomas Kundratek as NHL hopefuls in the coming few years.

Video: New York Rangers 2011-12 Season Promo

As if anyone needed more reason to look forward to the 2011-12 New York Rangers season there is a phenomenal promo package featuring great highlights from last season.

Rangers' Prospect Thomas, Miller, McColgan All Playing Well In WJC Evaluation Camps

Over the weekend all three New York Rangers prospects participating in evaluation camps had success in their scrimmages.  On Saturday Christian Thomas scored a goal and yesterday during Team USA camp J.T. Miller and Shane McColgan played big roles in a White team victory.  USA hockey tweeted that Miller had two goals in the game while McColgan scored the lone shootout goal of the game.

The expectations for Thomas and Miller were that both would have good camps and they appear to be doing just that in hopes of securing a spot on the Team Canada and Team USA respective WJC rosters.  McColgan playing well is a bonus and shows why many feel he can end up being a great value selection for New York in the fifth round of the 2011 draft.

The depth of the Rangers system is quite impressive when you think about Thomas, Miller, McColgan in addition to Kreider, McIlrath, Hagelin and Tim Erixon.  To have a system that deep and having high end potential only furthers the enthusiasm for the organization in the future.  The organization has made moves this summer to give the team a better chance to win now, while only continuing to add to the depth that can help the team in the future.  The fact that they have balanced the desire to win now without sacrificing anything significant from the future is the most impressive aspect of what Glen Sather and company have done this summer.