Photo: Tortorella Imagining What Wolski's Rehab Might Look Like (Tub Included)

Wojtek Wolski has been unable to stay in the New York Rangers this season with recurring injuries to his groin.   On Monday it was announced Wolski is going to undergo surgery to repair a sports hernia.  Given coach John Tortorella's recent jab at Wolski "We can't get him out of the tub," Elissa tried to get into the mind of coach Tortorella to see what comes to mind when he imagines Wolski rehabbing after surgery.



No word yet on whether Tortorella is requesting Wolski make room in the tub for Mike Rupp to able to rehab his surgically repaired knee.

Wolski Out Four Weeks

The New York Rangers announced today that left wing, Wojtek Wolski will be out for four weeks with a sports hernia.  He will undergo surgery tomorrow in Philadelphia.

According to the press release, when Wolski returns, he will be playing his 400th NHL game. 

Wolski has 2 assists this season in six appearances and is 9 goals away from his 100th career NHL goal.

Avery To Start Montreal With Wolski Out (Groin); Rupp Knee Surgery Looming

The moment many have been waiting for has arrived as Andrew Gross is reporting that Sean Avery will be in the lineup tomorrow against Montreal.  Wolski is having an MRI on the groin and the results will be out tomorrow.  The New York Rangers will be without Wojtek Wolski who is out once again with a groin injury.  Should there be anything serious then he would likely be placed on IR and someone like Mats Zuccarello should get the call.

No word on where Avery will play, but look for him to play on the fourth line with Christensen and Deveaux or with Boyle and Prust depending on who coach John Tortorella uses to fill Wolski’s spot.  Avery being reunited with Boyle and Prust would give him more ice time and a line he has worked well on in the past.

In other injury news, Mike Rupp is going to have arthroscopic knee surgery next week where they will determine how long he is going to be on the shelf.  This is what Rupp was hoping to avoid, but better to get in there and fix the issue instead of going off and on trying to play through it.

No Further Discipline For Wolski?; Rupp, Anisimov, Del Zotto Missing At Practice

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun tweeted that there is no disciplinary hearing scheduled for Wojtek Wolski in regards to his high hit on Daniel Alfredsson yesterday, so he does not believe there will be any further discipline.  Somewhat surprising given the call on the ice and the fact that Alfredsson is out today because of the hit, but good news for the Rangers as Wolski was instrumental in two goal yesterday.

In practice news there was no Mike Rupp, Artem Anisimov or Michael Del Zotto on ice during practice (via Rangers twitter). Rupp has been dealing with a "cranky" knee, Del Zotto has had a sore hip and Anisimov is more than likely the result of soreness from yesterday's meeting with the glass.

On the good news front there was consistency with the forward groupings today as these top two lines showed some spark yesterday.  Andrew Gross reported the lines from practice ...

Wolski-Stepan-Gaborik
Dubinsky-Richards-Callahan
Fedotenko-Boyle-Prust
Deveaux, Christensen skating together

Staal Flying To Europe This Week; Wolski Out With Groin Issue, Hagelin In

Per Andrew Gross, Rangers GM Glen Sather said this afternoon that Marc Staal is scheduled to fly to Europe to meet the team on Thursday or Friday of this week.  That is great news for those who were worried about him not taking the flight with the team today.  Sather added that Staal is in excellent shape and that he is confident he will be ready when the season starts. 

Even more interesting than that is Sather saying that the problem with Staal might not be a concussion at all and could be something more along the lines of migraines or a slipped disc.  While migraines or a slipped disc are certainly not good issues to have, the treatment for them is more understood.   That will something interesting to follow over the next few days and see what the organization has to say on that.

In other injury news, Wojtek Wolski is out tonight with a slight groin pull and Carl Hagelin will take his place. This is yet another chance for Hagelin to make an impression in hopes of making the lineup.  Hagelin has not been very impactful in the first two games, but he has shown some of the work down low, and plays away from the puck along with his noted speed.  Tonight he will be in the lineup with Zuccarello, Avery, Christensen, Weise and Ryan Bourque who have to be considered the competition for the final couple forward spots so it is time to step it up.

Rumor: Wojtek Wolski Unlikely To Be Bought Out By Rangers

According to Larry Brooks at the New York Post the New York Rangers are not planning on buying out Wojtek Wolski as a way to gain additional cap relief this season.  Brooks goes on to say that Columbus is waiting to see what happens with Wolski, but that fails to track with the fact they signed Vinny Prospal yesterday to help replace the injured Kristian Huselius.  A buyout for Wolski would save the Rangers $3.33 million against a cap that is tighter than it appeared it would be a few weeks ago. 

According to CapGeek.com the Rangers have just under $5.78 million in cap space remaining to sign Ryan Callahan and likely Steve Eminger.  Those numbers factor in $1.75 million for Tim Erixon this season, but do not count Michael Del Zotto’s $1.0875 against the cap.  If we assume that both Erixon and Del Zotto make the team this fall they really have $4.69 million to sign Callahan and Eminger, which is not enough.  There will be a forward move either via trade or to the minors and right now if Wolski stays Mats Zucarello’s $1.75 million against the cap would seem a likely candidate.

Keeping Wolski for his final year at $3.8 million is a gamble on his talent, but also should indicate that they are intending on at least giving him a chance to make it on the top line with Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards.  When you have a player than could be bought out extremely cheap, as is the case with Wolski, and you keep them at their significant salary it is not so they can be a bottom six forward or scratched from the lineup.  The experiment of him playing with Gaborik and Richards could fail, but keeping him for his salary leads to the assumption it will at least be tested.

Wolski Buyout Rumors Return, But Should They?

Larry Brooks at the New York Post reports that Wojtek Wolski is not out of the woods yet in terms of being bought out of his contract this summer.  The second buyout period was triggered by the Rangers restricted free agents filing for arbitration earlier this week
. 
The Wolski buyout is a popular option amongst some looking to save some money under the cap for next season as removing him would save $3.33 million against the cap.  The problem with doing so is the Rangers don’t have anyone with that kind of upside to replace him and there is no one left on the market to be had for that kind of contract.   Wolski is a strange case because his ability to go for 65-70 points in a season is just as likely as him going for 40 points next year.

This is not really about the money as the Rangers have $12.8 million to work with under the cap to sign Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky and Brian Boyle.  Add in Tim Erixon if he makes the team and a veteran defender and it could eventually get tight, but a player like Erik Christensen should be on the chopping block before Wolski as at least Wolski has shown the ability to put it together for a season instead of just a few games.  Roll the dice with the talent playing in a contract year if he puts it together you win with a motivated first line talent and if not you walk away clean.

Rangers Not Buying Out Wolski Is The Right Move

Along with the news of the imminent buy out for Chris Drury this morning, Jesse Spector of the Daily News is reported that a buy out of Wojtek Wolski is likely to happen this month. 

The Blueshirts also appear likely to buy out the remaining year on midseason pickup Wojtek Wolski's deal, saving another $3.3 million next season while incurring a $666,667 charge in 2012-13.

Update: Apparently the Rangers agree with my assessment as according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, the Rangers are going to keep Wolski for next season.

I would understand this more if the money was necessary to chase Richards or another top-line player this summer, but it really isn’t with the savings from the Drury buyout and the impending rise in the salary cap there is the money to chase a big salary and not make this move.  Besides if the Rangers do make this move, they still need to go out and sign another left wing to provide them with offense.

The benefits to the cap are clear if the Blueshirts decide to move on from Wolski, but the question becomes what can they can to replace him.  There are players like Ville Leino, Brooks Laich, Jussi Jokinen and Simon Gagne on the market, but it is unlikely that any of them would come for just one year and most of them will want more than the $3.8 million that Wolski is scheduled to make.

There is no doubt that Wolski has been inconsistent throughout his career, but is it better to have to potentially commit 3-4 years at approximately $4 million for the likes of Leino or Jokinen instead of just giving one more year of Wolski a chance?  Talent like Wolski is hard to come by and while flawed he has more potential and a lesser commitment than any forward not named Richards that is out there on the market this summer, so maybe sending him to work with Barbara Underhill this summer and having him playing in a contract year is just what the Rangers need to make the most of the immense talent Wolski has instead of taking the buy out and playing with what is out there.

Rangers' Boyle Training With Barb Underhill Again, Recruiting Teammates To Join

Brian Boyle has a tremendous turnaround season during the 2010-11 campaign for the New York Rangers due in large measure to his improved skating from his work with Barbara Underhill last summer.  While answering fan questions for Blueshirts United he announced that he will be working with Underhill again this summer, which is great news for the potential of him repeating his season again because his skating improvement created so many opportunities for him.  Instead of being a second late he was able to get in on the forecheck better, use his physical size and strength more both on and off the puck and his improved speed allowed him to have more scoring opportunities. 

To further the good news, Boyle announced that he is getting some of his teammates to go with him.  He said that Wojtek Wolski is going with him and that both Brandon Prust and Michael Del Zotto are possible participants as well.  If Underhill can do for any of them what she did for Boyle it will pay huge dividends for the Rangers on the ice next season.  If I had to pick two guys to send to Underhill it would be Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky.  Both players are extremely talented, but both could use work on becoming better power skaters.  For Anisimov it is about strength on the puck and having a better foundation, which he also needs to get in the weight room to get.  With Dubinsky is more about refining his stride to improve his speed and cut down on the strain he puts on his legs with his current one.

It is welcomed news that Boyle is not satisfied with his career year and is still putting in the work necessary to get better.  Along with that it is encouraging both from a leadership standpoint and a team unity one that he is getting some of his teammates to get in on what worked so well for him and his career.

Check out the video of Boyle answering those questions and more:

Could Rising Salary Cap Actually Keep Drury or Wolski As Rangers Next Season?

With the news the National Hockey League salary cap could rise to as high as $63.5 million next season, much of the focus has been on what teams could do with the extra money.  For the New York Rangers it makes the chase for Brad Richards much easier to complete while resigning the key restricted free agents (Callahan, Dubinsky, Anisimov, Sauer, Boyle) that the team must do as well this summer.  One aspect that has not been talked about much is whether the extra $4.1 million, if the cap goes to the max number of $63.5, could mean that some of the Rangers who have been rumored to be buyout candidates might get another year on the roster.

The main candidates that have been discussed in buyout talks have been captain Chris Drury and winger Wojtek Wolski with some speculation regarding Sean Avery as well.  Part of the reason for the buyouts was to clear room to go after Richards this summer, but with that added money the pressure to find the money for next year would be greatly reduced.

There is no question that Drury is still massively overpaid at $7.05 million against the cap next season. Working in Drury’s favor is the apparent good standing he has with the coaching staff and players within the room.  He can have value to the team as a fourth line center, faceoff man and penalty killer, but the salary itself is a killer.  In terms of the cap though the question becomes with the cap likely to go down in future years as there is a new CBA do you wait out the last year of Drury, paying the extra $3.33 million against the cap in order to save the 1.67 million off the cap in the 2012-13 season.  There is also some question whether the Rangers would truly want to buyout their current captain.

What works for Wolski in this scenario is the weak nature of the unrestricted free agent market in terms of forwards.  There are few forwards out there who have the skill to be real impact players for the $3.8 million that Wolski will make next season.  Working against Wolski is his inconsistency and inability to maximize his tremendous physical tools over the past few seasons.

The decisions on Drury or Wolski do not come in a vacuum.  Factors involved will include: projected cost of signing the five key restricted free agents listed; projected cost of signing Richards; what if any other needs the Rangers seek to fill through free agency. 

If the $4.1 million increase goes through, then it is conceivable that the Rangers could keep their key RFA’s, sign Richards and keep Drury or Wolski on the roster at their salary, but it would leave little to no other money.  The $3.33 million that would be saved in the Drury or Wolski buyout against the 2011-12 cap could be used to add more offensive scoring or even an offensive defender this summer.  While everyone is thinking about how to spend the potential new money from a cap increase, there is also the potential it means some players stick around longer than expected.  

Wolski Debuts With Gaborik, Anisimov; Coach Praises D, Talks Experienced D

After some questions based on travel issues when the New York Rangers take the ice tonight newly acquired Wojtek Wolski will be in the lineup, wearing number 86, and he will start with Artem Anisimov and Marian Gaborik on one of the top two lines.  Some are surprised that Wolski is going to immediately go there because he literally just got here and the way that Sean Avery had played on that line the last few games, but I have none of that surprise as Wolski is a skill guy and you might as well see what he has right away.  It is bad news for Avery both on the ice tonight and in the larger picture because it is a statement however fair or unfair to view it that way on the faith the team has in him to play consistent hockey at a high level worthy of that spot in the lineup.

Full lineup is:

Dubinsky – Stepan – Zuccarello

Wolski – Anisimov – Gaborik

Fedotenko – Boyle – Prust

Avery – Drury – Weise

Staal – Girardi

Eminger – Sauer

McDonagh – Gilroy

With Wolski in the lineup it also means that recent call up Kris Newbury is getting scratched and has been reported by all the writers Torts phrased it as “he got screwed.”

Other notes of interest from the pregame were Torts praising his current group of defense but also would not mind adding a veteran presence to the team.  The debate over getting a veteran of sticking with what they have is going to be one that sticks around for as long as it is until they make a move in all likelihood.

On Wolski Torts made calls around the league and talked to coaches about him but wants to see him with his own eyes.  That makes me chuckle the same way the talk of calling McDonagh up just to watch him practice did because that is what you have scouting departments for.  It might not be fair but it strikes me as an ego thing that Torts comes off as only his eyes can determine what a player has or does not have.