Rangers Announce Roster Vs Flyers; Two Cuts Still Coming

Update: Wojtek Wolski is out with a groin issue and Carl Hagelin in.

Tomorrow will mark the Rangers final preseason game in North America and the roster for the game, if not the lines/pairings has been announced.  Jesse Spector has the details:

Goalies: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron

Defense: Michael Del Zotto, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh,  Mike Sauer, Stu Bickel, Tim Erixon

Forwards: Sean Avery, Brandon Dubinsky, Brian Boyle, Dale Weise, Andre Deveaux, John Mitchell, Mats Zuccarello, Erik Christensen, Artem Anisimov, Andreas Thuresson, Ryan Bourque, Wojtek Wolski.

Expect Del Zotto to start the game with Girardi while Erixon plays with Bickel, but Erixon could get some time there during the game.

No Richards, Gaborik, Callahan, Stepan or Rupp up front, but that was to be expected with a number of other forwards battling for spots.  Of those battling only Carl Hagelin and Kris Newbury have been left out of the lineup.  Christensen and Avery need to show something tomorrow to keep their spots while players like Bourque and Weise look to continue building on their other preseason performances.

The Rangers are expected to cut two forwards after tomorrow's game and the logical choices at the moment would have to be  Andre Deveaux and Andreas Thuresson.

Marc Staal Not Travelling To Europe With Team

Rangers head coach John Tortorella announced after Sunday's practices that Marc Staal will not be one of the people on the plane traveling to Europe following tomorrow night's pre-season game in Philadelphia.  This should not be a surprise give how limited Staal has been during training camp and the length of travel the team is making only makes this decision easier for the organization.  Flying with concussion symptoms, especially headaches, is not advisable and the Rangers goal with Staal has to be to have him as much as possible this season, not to focus on the season opener.  However, coach Tortorella did not rule Staal out of the opener on Oct. 7.  The next update on Staal is not expected for 4-5 days as he is going to continue working with specialists here in hopes of returning to the team for opening night.   


There is good news on Staal in that he was back on the ice practicing with the team today for the first time in three days, so hopefully he continues to improve over the course of the week.  The cautious approach is definitely the right one and while concern is certainly warranted, it is not time for panic.


"He will not be on the trip," stated Tortorella. "We are hoping as he continues his procedures with the specialists that I will have an update in 4-5 days. We're gonna try and get him on the trip. Once he's ready to do all the stuff we want him to do to prepare for the regular season, we'll have him come out." Tortorella did not rule out Staal---who has been experiencing headaches since the summer---from playing in the season opener in Stockholm October 7th. (NHL/Getty Images)

Rangers Finally Found Right Tough Guy in Mike Rupp

The New York Rangers have invested big money in each of the past three offseasons, trying to find a heavyweight who can both fight and bring toughness to the team.

The first experiment was with Donald Brashear in 2009. That failed in record time, and the Rangers ended up trading him the following summer just to eliminate his contract from the books. The following summer saw the Rangers give noted fighter Derek Boogaard a four-year, $6.5 million contract. Boogaard’s first season with the Rangers was not what anyone hoped. He died in May of an accidental overdose of oxycodone and alcohol, so we will never know what could have changed over the course of his contract. But the fit never felt quite right.

With the loss of Boogaard, Rangers general manager Glen Sather took another swing at finding the heavyweight he has been searching for. Sather signed center Mike Rupp away from the Penguins to a three-year, $4.5 million contract.

After only one preseason game, Friday night's 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils, it appears Sather finally has gotten the right guy for the job. The differences in what Rupp brings to the team were apparent immediately Friday night at Newark.

Rupp has the skating ability to keep up with the play, which allows him to be the intimidating force by using his body to punish the opposition. Rupp took each and every opportunity he had to deliver a hit, and the effectiveness he has will play well with coach John Tortorella’s fore-checking approach to create offense for Rupp’s linemates.

Beyond that, Rupp is known for ability in front to screen and pester opposing goaltenders, which is something that the Rangers have not been good at over the past few seasons. If Rupp can not only add that for himself but also teach players such as Brian Boyle how to do the same, it can pay dividends throughout the lineup.

The biggest complaint that most people had about Boogaard, besides his contract, was that he did not have that instinct to protect his teammates in the same way that a Colton Orr did. Boogaard would fight any heavyweight out there but was reluctant to fight smaller guys. That left the protection duties mainly to Brandon Prust.

Rupp, meanwhile, has no hesitation to defend his teammates from whomever as he showed Friday night when New Jersey’s Eric Boulton was taking some liberties. Rupp immediately took action in a great fight. That instinct from Rupp will make Prust one of the biggest beneficiaries because Prust’s surgically repaired shoulder will need to do less fighting.

The past two years, Rangers fans have had their frustrations with the amount of money Sather has given out to enforcers. But Sather has made the right decision this summer in giving the money to a tough guy who brings more to the ice than just fighting ability. Rupp’s combination of some/limited offensive contribution, fit for the Tortorella system and instincts to defend his teammates make him a great fit for New York. 

Rangers vs Devils Recap; Who Stood Out, Who Fell Down

The Rangers blew a two goal lead tonight, but pulled out the 4-3 win in another sloppy preseason performance. The Rangers got off to a slow start when Brian Boyle took a penalty just 38 seconds into the game.  During the ensuing power play Brendan Bell could not control the pick and Adam Henrique made then pay just 1:32 into the game.

The Rangers responded when their top line created a series of chances ending with Brad Richards scoring 4:22 in. Derek Stepan kept it going with a beautiful snipe at the 5:43 mark.  After Bryce Salvador took a bad interference penalty to open the second period Marian Gaborik made it 3-1 just 1:32 in. The goal was on a scramble play in the slot where Gaborik pounced bringing back memories of 2009-10 when he vultured so many goals.

The Devils got one back during 4-on- 4 action at 7:36. Brad Richards over stickhandling in his own end turned the puck over to Kovalchuk leading to a Josefson backhand goal top shelf.  Late in the second Ilya Kovalchuk tied it 3-3 with just one second left on a two man advantage. Once again Kovalchuk scored on the Rangers because he was given way too much time and space.

Brendan Bell scored with just 3:04 left to give the Rangers the lead back. After the goal Mike Rupp and Eric Boulton dropped the gloves for an excellent fight.  With just 2:22 left the Devils momentarily appeared to tie three game, but the goal was waived off after Palmieri was called for goalie interference. The Devils swarmed late, but couldn't tie it.

Few standout performances from this one, as, only Stepan, McDonagh and Sauer really had good games.
Zuccarello, Richards, Gaborik had moments, but nothing consistent.  Really liked what Mike Rupp brought to the team.

Valentenko clearly wasn't ready for the NHL tonight, Erixon was still playing scared and Del Zotto other than one stretch in the third was still struggling.

Rangers Make First Cut; Hope Remains For Number of Prospects

The New York Rangers completed their first set of cuts today and while there were a few surprises it was mainly what was expected.  

 

Players sent to Hartford: 

G: Chad Johnson, Jason Missianen, Cam Talbot;

D: Lee Baldwin, Collin Bowman, Sam Klassen, Tomas Kundratek, Jyri Niemi, Jared Nightingale, Pavel Valentenko

F: Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, Tommy Grant, Jordan Hickmott, Tayler Jordan, Kale Kerbashian, Chad Kolarik, Chris McKelvie, Matt Rust, Scott Tanski, Kelsey Tessier and Jason Wilson.

Players sent back to Juniors: 

D Peter Ceresnak, Sam Noreau; 

F: Shane McColgan, J.T. Miller, Michael St. Croix, Christian Thomas, Andrew Yogan

Players remaining in camp: 

G: Biron, Lundqvist, Stajcer; 

D: Bell, Bickel, Del Zotto, Eminger, Erixon, Girardi, McDonagh, McIlrath, Parlett, Sauer, Staal; 

F: Anisimov, Avery, Bourque, Boyle, Callahan, Christensen, Deveaux, Dubinsky, Fedotenko, Gaborik, Hagelin, Mitchell, Newbury, Prust, Richards, Rupp, Stepan, Thuresson, Weise, Wolski, Zuccarello

Biggest surprises include Scott Stajcer being the third goalie for the Europe trip, Stu Bickel, Andre Deveaux, and Andres Thuresson stilling being in camp.  Also a little surprised that J.T. Miller was cut, but it is the smart move since he wasn't going to make the roster and better for him to get the couple weeks playing games in Juniors.  

 

Rangers decision to keep McIlrath in camp was one that he earned from his excellent showing Wednesday night and if others do not step their respective game up a few levels he might just steal a roster spot a year early.

 

Disappointing performance by Valentenko to get himself cut when it was all lined up for him to make an impression and make the club.

Brendan Bell Making Best Case of Those Competing For Final D Spots

When the New York Rangers opened training camp last week much of the talk surrounding the battle(s) to fill out the defensive corps revolved around Tim Erixon, Michael Del Zotto and to a lesser extent Pavel Valentenko.  After two preseason games the best defender that was not a New York Ranger when last season ended has been Brendan Bell.  Erixon has played scared for the better part of two games.  Del Zotto has had moments of very good things, but seems to manage to match them with many of the same mistakes that cost him his spot last season.  As for Valentenko, he looked overmatched last night in New Jersey. 

All of these things have left an opening for Bell and he is working his way through the door.  Bell has not been spectacular in either game, but of the group he has been the steadiest.  In Albany he did not look out of place early when paired with Dan Girardi and against the Devils last night other than a gaffe on the first goal he was solid again.  Given the uncertainty surrounding Marc Staal and his health status the Rangers would love to have a more experienced defender, though most of Bell’s experience is AHL, be able to be in the lineup.  The big things working in Bell’s favor are his steady play in his own zone and his willingness to shoot the puck.  Bell is by no means a lock to make the team as the Rangers would likely rather have Erixon and/or Del Zotto win these spots outright, but as long as the young players continue to just get by in games there is an opportunity for Bell to claim it away.  His biggest competition, right now, might actually be Dylan McIlrath, but not sure the Rangers want to bring him up just yet.

Rangers Prospects Win 5-4 in OT

The New York Rangers prospects got a little revenge for the Albany loss Wednesday night with a 5-4 overtime win when Jonathan Audy-Marchessault scored 16 seconds in.  The players Rangers' fans want to see stand out did so on the scoresheet with Ryan Bourque netting two, while J.T. Miller and Christian Thomas got one each.  Let us all hope that the game tonight is as entertaining as this one seemed to have been.

Be sure to head over to Mike Ashmore's twitter to check out the videos he has been posting from the game.

Rangers Lines vs Devils

<p>Wolski-Richards-Gaborik <br>
Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan<br>
Feds-Boyle-Zuke <br>
Rupp-Newbury-Weise</p>
<p>McDonagh-Sauer<br>
Del Zotto-Eminger<br>
Valentenko-Erixon</p>
<p>Biron-Johnson <br>
</p>

<p>Playing with Callahan and Stepan is a huge opportunity for Hagelin in his quest to make the roster. Interesting to see Zuccarello in Prust's spot instead of someone like Rupp, but there isn't enough skill with Newbury and Weise for Zuccarello. <br>
</p>

Zuccarello Leading In Race For Final Forward Spot?

The New York Rangers have a series of battles going on to make the 2011-12 opening night roster and amongst those competing for a spot is Mats Zuccarello.  With Gaborik, Richards, Dubinsky, Callahan, Anisimov, Prust, Boyle, Stepan, Fedotenko, Rupp, and Wolski seemingly locked on the roster there are only 1 or 2 spots to be had up front.  Zuccarello got some good news yesterday when he was selected to practice with all of those expected to make the Rangers forward core when they open Oct. 7 against the Kings.  Even with that reinforcement, Larry Brooks, of the New York Post, is reporting this morning that Zuccarello is taking nothing for granted.

"Sure, it shows confidence from the coaches to be in this group now, but there is a long way before the first game and we have a lot of players fighting for spots on the roster, so I know I have to earn a position and keep showing that I want it and am willing to work hard for it, which I am.

"Nothing is handed to you. I completely understand that."

That attitude is exactly what coach John Tortorella expects from everyone on the team and if Zuccarello does make the team it will because he took that approach and that he continues to play at the level he has thus far in camp.

"Zuke is in competition like a number of guys," the coach said. "He's played very well, he makes [subtle] plays that can go unnoticed, small plays in small areas of the ice, but he's still in a competition.

"He's in there now, but it could change."

Those are certainly encouraging words from Tortorella, but still show a similar lack of commitment to the Norweigan's future that Tortorella had when asked about how long Zuccarello would be on the team last season.

Zuccarello’s 42 games with the Rangers, in which he recorded 23 points should help him in the competition, but his $1.75 mil cap hit does have some negative impact on his standing.  The Rangers do have the space for him if either Erik Christensen or Sean Avery get cut before the start of the season.  The other key in terms of Zuccarello’s standing on the team might be what the team ultimately decides to do with Derek Stepan.  There are still questions as to whether Stepan will play center or left wing this season and a move to the wing for Stepan, especially with Gaborik and Richards, would change the dynamic of the Rangers lower lines and possibly cost Zuccarello.

Did J.T. Miller Play His Way Onto Europe Roster Last Night

Originally when the New York Rangers left for Europe follow Monday’s preseason game with the Flyers there were going to be 31 players (18F, 10D, 3G) making the trip.   Those plans have changed.  Jesse Spector tweeted that coach John Tortorella has decided to add an extra forward along with one more defender to the trip.  The addition of more players to the trip is not huge news, but what created the buzz was Tortorella saying that the additional forward earned their way on the plane with last night’s game.

The best forwards for the Rangers last night that were not already on the NHL roster were Dale Weise, John Mitchell and J.T. Miller.  My gut reaction to the additional forward was that it was Weise now going, but as others have pointed out Weise and Mitchell were likely already making the trip so Miller could be the guy.  If Miller does make the trip it will be a nice cap to an impressive couple weeks for the 2011 first round pick.  Miller struggled at the beginning of Traverse City, but has been getting better with each passing game and the more the games are against pro level talent, the better he has played.  His strength and playmaking instincts have been on display and the glimpses of what Miller can become in a few seasons are exciting for Rangers fans.

The defender being added to the list is as cover for Marc Staal as he continues his recovery from concussion issues.  Speaking of Staal, there was concern earlier today when he was not at practice, but it was a scheduled absence to see a concussion specialist.