Rangers Not A Playoff Team?

Following the signing of Brad Richards many of the “experts” have written the New York Rangers are locks to make the playoffs and some have even said they could be threats to contend.  Rob Simpson obviously did not get that memo.  Simpson, writing at Hockey Buzz, wrote that the Rangers are still extremely flawed and his estimation are not even a playoff team this season.

And along those same lines, adding Brad Richards didn’t suddenly make the New York Rangers the fourth or fifth seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs. In fact, it’s highly questionable whether they’ll make it in at all.

Simpson went on to call the Rangers a one-line team, which is a complete fallacy by ignoring the skill and production of Dubinsy, Anisimov and Callahan as a group last season.  However, many of the questions he raises about the roster are absolutely true, and the Rangers will need to answer them on the ice instead of expecting anyone to hand them anything as the “experts” have done since the end of last season.   

The negatives and/or questions from Simpson…

For different reasons and to different degrees, here’s a list that includes those likely to be around: Wolski (desire), Anisimov (next step), Stepan (2nd year), Zuccarello (size), Boyle (consistency), Christensen (minutes), Staal (health), McDonagh (experience), Sauer (consistency), Del Zotto (see above), Erixon (opportunity).

On the positive side Simpson does look at what is working in the Rangers favor and that is exactly what everyone would expect it to be…

The Rangers have three important things running in their favor. 1) Goaltending. 2) Work ethic. 3) Team identity (related to number 2) and buy-in. Wait! Four things. 4) Plenty of weak brothers in the East, including Winnipeg, Florida and Ottawa that won’t contend for anything.

All of those items are absolutely working in New York’s favor as long as the team plays to that work ethic and identity they had last season instead of waiting for the skill of Richards and Gaborik to do the job for them.  The skill must complement the identity or the Rangers will lose the edge they had over their opposition on most nights.  Outworking teams is what made this team fun to watch and brought hope for the future as the skill was growing with the hard-work they were putting forth.  Even with Richards, Gaborik and improvements from players like Anisimov and Stepan, the Rangers are not going to be the most talented team on the ice against the upper echelon team’s in the league.  Work ethic can counter than on any given night and as long as the Rangers remember that part of it they can prove Simpson wrong and make the playoffs when all is said and done.

Video: Lightning Test Out New Tesla Coils

The Tampa Bay Lighting are in the process of starting their 2011-12 season with a 5 game road trip because of $40 million in renovations being done to the St. Pete Time’s Forum.  While there are a number different items being added or modified the one that everyone has been waiting to see is the Tesla coils.  The coils are set to shoot off lightning bolts each time the team scores a goal at home this season.  As if a team that went to the Eastern Conference Finals with a young superstar like Steven Stamkos or a superstar like Martin St. Louis, who only improves with age, needed more excitement to bring in fans, this will certainly create even more buzz.


Here is video, via @FelixPotvin, of them testing the coils out.



Wonder how many people want to go see the Lightning in Tampa just to see those live.

Sauer Out Against Islanders Saturday

Update (12:50PM): Sauer officially out tomorrow against Islanders.  Will make the Western trip but no timetable on when he will be back in the lineup.

Every team in the NHL will have to deal with their share of injuries during the 2011-12 season, but the New York Rangers are being hit hard on defense with injuries right now.  Already without Marc Staal (concussion), Michael Sauer missed another day of practice today (shoulder).  Sauer has not practiced at all since the team returned from Europe and Andrew Gross tweeted that Sauer is likely to miss tomorrow’s game against the Islanders.

If Sauer does miss the game the Rangers are looking at Del Zotto, Erixon, Woywitka and Eminger as the bottom four defenders in the lineup.  Those defensive pairings from practice…

McDonagh-Girardi

Del Zotto-Erixon
Woywitka-Eminger

While McDonagh and Girardi will certainly eat a ton of minutes regardless of whether Sauer goes tomorrow, looking at that bottom four against the speed and skill of the Islanders is a scary proposition for the Rangers.  Mitigating the loss of Staal is enough to deal with, but being without both Staal and Sauer is a huge blow the Rangers defense corps.

In terms of those four playing tomorrow, pairing Erixon and Del Zotto seems like a recipe for disaster at even strength defensively.  Both have played reasonably well in the first two games, but both have their defensive shortcomings at this point so putting the two young defenders together might not be the best move.  Del Zotto pairing with Eminger while Woywitka plays with Erixon seems like a more balanced approach, but regardless the loss of Sauer from the lineup would likely be very evident tomorrow.

Three Years After Cherepanov Death Rangers Still Searching For Homegrown Sniper

Going into the 2007 NHL Entry Draft Russian winger Alexei Cherepanov was considered one of the top talents available, but he slipped to 17 overall because of concerns over issues with Russian players possibly staying in the KHL.  At 17 the New York Rangers took the gamble on the immense talent of Cherepanov selecting him with the hopes of him developing into the kind of impact offensive player the Rangers had not been able to produce.

Cherepanov continued his development over in the KHL and while he did not come over during 2008 for camp, the talk was that he was going to leave the KHL following the 2008-09 season when his contract with Omsk was complete.  This upset many Rangers fans, but that anger turned to excitement when Jaromir Jagr left the NHL and signed with the same team.  The idea that Cherepanov could learn from and play with Jagr only increased the excitement to see how good the young Cherepanov would be, but sadly we would never find out.

Three years ago today, during a game against Vityaz Chekhov, Cherepanov would have his life cut far too short when he collapsed on the bench following a shift and he passed away.  The tragedy likely could have been avoided if the medical personnel was still in the building or the defibrillator had a full battery, but regardless the hope for the Rangers future was extinguished never knowing what he would actually become.

For some the development of players like Artem Anisimov and Derek Stepan has changed the amount of wonder about what Cherepanov would have become in a Rangers uniform.  While both are excellent players and have the talent to be top line players, neither is likely to develop into the superstar or sniper that Cherepanov was said to have the potential of being.  Instead much of that pressure and hype has been transferred to other prospects rising through the ranks, most notably Chris Kredier as the savior goal scorer the Rangers have not developed to this point.  The Rangers have done a phenomenal job in developing a number of excellent young talents that are capable of the 20-25 goal mark in a given season.  It is that development that brought the team to a place that the organization felt signing a Brad Richards would bring them into the contender status.  Having said that, it is still hard not to wonder if Cherepanov would have been that missing top six forward the team is searching for right now. 

Stepan Skates On Rangers Top Line With Gaborik, Richards

According to Pat Leonard of the Daily News, Derek Stepan skated with Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik on the top line during practice this afternoon.  It is not set that Stepan will play there on Saturday, but it allows the Rangers to reunite Dubinsky, Anisimov and Callahan to give the Rangers their best line from last season back. 

Here is how the lines shaped out today:

Stepan - Richards - Gaborik

Dubinsky - Anisimov - Callahan

Fedotenko - Boyle - Prust

Rupp - Christensen - Zuccarello

This is the kind of lineup I was calling for on Sunday as it gives the Rangers their two most consistent lines from last season to be the foundation as the rest of the lineup looks for chemistry and rhythm. This gives Stepan the ability to showcase his skill and be much more involved than he has been in the first two games.  He has the tools to play with Richards and Gaborik, but that line will have to do it with skill as their is a lack of physicality amongst the trio.  Gaborik would be playing with two extremely good playmakers and Stepan could be the biggest beneficiary as the attention to his linemates should create scoring chances for him.

Was Avery Playing Hurt During Rangers Training Camp?

Sean Avery might be in the AHL right now with the Connecticut Whale, but there is no telling when he will actually suit up for the team.  According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post the winger is unavailable as he is receiving treatment for a right shoulder problem.  

Avery, who has not skated since playing in his third and final preseason game with the Blueshirts in Gothenberg, Sweden, on Sept. 30, underwent an MRI exam upon his return to New York from Stockholm on Oct. 5 after clearing waivers a day earlier, The Post has learned. 

The MRI exam revealed no structural damage. If the shoulder does not respond to treatment, Avery might require a cortisone injection that would further delay his return to the ice. 

The fact that Avery could have been playing injured during camp is yet another twist in the training camp drama that saw him be cut from the roster last week.  Avery playing through the injury and trying to make the team without complaining about it is admirable, especially since it opened the door to send him down on waivers.  As Brooks points out, had Avery revealed his injury prior he could have filed a grievance against the Rangers because you are not allowed to waive injured players.

McDonagh Has Grown Into Top Caliber Defender For Rangers

One year ago Ryan McDonagh was coming off his first training camp with the New York Rangers having shown well in the preseason, but having been sent down to get more experience with the then Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL).  McDonagh struggled early on in the AHL, but few would believe that with the way he has grown since joining the Rangers on January 3, 2011.  When McDonagh joined the lineup the hope was that he could play solid on the third defensive pair while gaining experience and eventually moving up the ranks.  McDonagh quickly changed those calculations with his seamless transition to the NHL that had him combine with Michael Sauer to form a stellar second pair. 

McDonagh was expected to continue in his role on the second pairing with Sauer to give the Rangers, along with Marc Staal and Dan Girardi, one of the best top four defensive groups in the league Last month, during training camp, it was revealed that Marc Staal has been dealing with concussion issues over the summer and ended up not being ready for the start of the season.  With Staal unavailable, McDonagh was elevated to play with Dan Girardi against the best line that the opposition has to offer.  The loss of an All-Star player like Staal from any lineup is a huge void to fill and there was considerable fear amongst the fans that the void would be very evident against the excellent top lines Los Angeles and Anaheim possess.  

Sean Avery Reports To Connecticut Whale

When the New York Rangers waived forward Sean Avery last week speculation and rumors ran rampant as to whether he would report to the Connecticut Whale (AHL) or explore other options.  Today Avery answered the questions and end the rumors by reporting to the Whale.  While Avery might have had options overseas or outside of the hockey world, this is his only option if he wants to get back to the NHL.


With Avery officially reporting the Rangers have most of his $1.9375 million cap hit off their cap and creates extra flexibility if the team wants to make a bigger move.  Whether the Rangers use that space to make a move to add significant salary likely depends on the long-term status of Marc Staal and whether they need a legitimate top 4 defender as opposed to additions like Jeff Woywitka.

Kreider Decision To Stay At Boston College Best For Him/Rangers Long-Term

Despite repeated attempts by the New York Rangers to convince him to sign this summer, Chris Kreider was determined to go back to Boston College for his Junior season.  The combination of continuing his education being better prepared to be an impact player once he turned pro were said to be the keys to Kreider’s decision to return.  After two games, all side should be thrilled with Kreider’s decision as he is showing the domination of college opposition that he never really found last season.

Kreider was dominant in both games of the North Dakota Ice Breaker Invitational this weekend scoring two goals, one game winner, and adding an assist en route to winning the Most Valuable Player honors as Boston College claimed the trophy.  This weekend was more of what was expected of Kreider last season, but he never found his groove only tallying 11 goals and 13 assists in 32 games. 

There has never been a question concerning Kreider’s physical skills as his skating would be amongst the best in the NHL right now.  The questions have revolved around consistency of production and understanding of the game, but he is certainly looking to quell those doubters in the early season.  With the departures that Boston College had to end last season Kreider had every opportunity to be one of their go-to players this season and he certainly seems up to the task early on.

Some might look at Kreider’s performance in this tournament and question why he didn’t come out of college as he could be doing this for the Rangers or at the very least in Hartford for the Connecticut Whale.  It is intriguing to think about what he could be doing, especially with the team's offensive struggles in Sweden and glaring need for a top six left wing.  However, I will disagree with those question the decision to go back and give the credit to Kreider for knowing he had more work to do in being an impact player at the collegiate level first before he could reach his potential in the professional ranks.  If this past weekend is any indication of what Kreider is going to do this season for Boston College, then the decision is only validated further and the Rangers will be the ultimate benefactor in the player Kreider ultimately is when he turns pro, likely next summer.

Erixon Doing Enough To Stay On Rangers Roster, For Now

The past couple of weeks have been a rollercoaster ride for Tim Erixon as he has gone from hero and presumed lock to make the team after the Traverse City Prospects Tournament to assigned to the minors during training camp and then back on the team making his professional debut in Sweden for the New York Rangers. 

When the Rangers claimed Jeff Woywitka late last week many presumed that Erixon would be headed back to the minors when the team returned from Europe, but that is not happening right now.  The team instead demoted Brendan Bell to Hartford and are keeping Erixon as one of seven defenders on the roster. 

Erixon was not overwhelming on the third pair with Steve Eminger in the opening games, but he flashed more of what was seen in Traverse than the tentative game he played during the preseason.  This is a tough situation to read because Erixon was still showing issues dealing with the strength of NHL caliber players, but his skating and overall play were better than Eminger.  The issue will be with the Rangers deciding on what is best for his development in terms of playing 12-14 sheltered minutes on the third defensive pairing in the NHL or playing 20+ minutes against all competition and in all situation in the AHL.  This could be a scenario where with the Rangers off until Saturday and Whale not playing until Friday that he gets another week of NHL practices and maybe one more game before the team heads out on the road trip.