Rangers Farm #3 in the League

Hockeys Future has come out with their 2009-2010 organizational rankings, which ranks all 30 NHL clubs farm systems. The Rangers come in at #3, which, suffice it to say, is very very good. It’s a good read, and notes the blueline strength of the Rangers as the biggest asset, while goaltending depth as the most glaring hole to fill.

The good thing here is that of the top 5 prospects in the Rangers system, only two (Artem Anisimov, Michael Del Zotto) are going to “graduate” next season, so there’s still a very good opportunity for the Rangers to be in the top 5 next year as well.

Remember that rebuild that everyone was so adamant about? Well, it’s happening right before your eyes. The future looks bright.

S/t to Mike Axisa for bringing this to our attention.

Can I get a Let’s Go Yankees?

What To Do With Higgins?

It’s abundantly clear now: Chris Higgins is struggling. Mightily. He was benched in the third period in his return to Montreal after weak forechecking, and a costly penalty. Torts benched him to send a message. He benched him for accountability. That makes Monday’s game against the Coyotes the most important of the year for Higgins.

I’m not expecting Higgins to break out against the ‘Yotes and score 3 goals. I don’t think Torts is. But, he needs to produce. He needs to get on the scoresheet. If not, a stint in the press box is needed. Try Evegeny Grachev on for size.

I think we all thought Higgins was going to score 20-25 goals. That seemed like a reasonable amount. But now, after 11 games, he’s scoreless. Only 2 assists. It’s time for Higgins to start producing. It’s time. Torts knows it. Hell, Higgins knows it. What do you think is the best course of action with Higgins?

Game 11: Rangers At Canadiens

The Rangers travel up to Montreal to take on Scott Gomez, Paul Mara and the Canadiens. This will be the first time that Gomez and Mara are facing their old team; it’s also the first time Chris Higgins is going back to Montreal.

Dave detailed the new lines and defensive pairings for you, but here they are anyway:

Forwards:

Enver Lisin-Vinny Prospal (remaining at center)-Marian Gaborik
Sean Avery-Chris Drury-Ales Kotalik
Christopher Higgins-Brandon Dubinsky-Ryan Callahan
Donald Brashear/Brian Boyle-Artem Anisimov-Aaron Voros.

Defense:

Michael Del Zotto remained with Michal Rozsival. Otherwise, Staal skated with Matt Gilroy while Wade Redden was paired with Girardi.

 

It’ll be interesting to see how these new combos work. The Rangers will also have to deal with the “Les Smurfs” line of Gionta, Gomez and Cammalleri, especially with Gomez probably wanting some revenge. Lundqvist is in. Brashear is out. For Montreal, Jarsolav Halak is in goal. Gametime is at 7, on MSG. And now that the Yankee game is postponed, I want full attention on the Blueshirts! Lots of comments tonight! No excuses! Enjoy the game

A Look Ahead: Ilya Kovalchuk

The biggest name heading into the 2010 free agency period is Atlanta Thrashers RW Ilya Kovalchuk. He will definitely get top dollar if he hits the open market, but how much he will get is already starting to generate buzz. ESPN cites sources (RDS.ca) that he is on the verge of signing a deal forth $11.3 million average over 9 years, which nets him over $100 million. Let’s let that sink in for a while before I pick this apart (aside from the fact that the article states that Boston, with all those draft picks, can be a possible target. Um, no. Zero cap space).

First and foremost, $11.3 million is exactly 20% of the current NHL salary cap ceiling. The current CBA states that no player shall make more than 20% of the salary cap ceiling. Considering that the salary cap will most likely decrease next year (cap numbers are tied to revenue, no one spends money in a recession), $11.3 million will almost definitely be against the current CBA.

Second, Kovalchuk is just awful in his own end. He is a combined -85 in his seven years in Atlanta, with his best year being 2006-2007, when he finished as a -2. He has never finished a year in on the positive end of this stat, and is a consistent liability in his own zone.

Third, Kovalchuk has never once broken 100 points in a season. Ever. He has five straight seasons of 40+ goals, and two 50+ goal seasons, but never has he once broken 100 points. Alex Ovechkin is, well Alex Ovechkin, and he makes $9 million a year, going up to $10 million a year in 2014. Is Kovalchuk worth $2 million more than Ovechkin. I think not.

As important to the survival of hockey in Atlanta as Kovalchuk is, he probably will net the most in return at the trade deadline. Atlanta is a team with a lot of holes, and rebuilding with everything GM Don Waddell can get for Kovalchuk is a very good start. If they can net a good young prospect, someone who is hyped up and they can market, then there is no loss in terms of marketing, as long as it’s presented properly. I am one of the many who believe that in order for Atlanta to become a good franchise, they need to trade Kovalchuk. I thought so last year, and not trading him this year would be asinine.

Atlanta already has some nice chips in place with Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian, Tobias Enstrom, and Bryan Little. That said, they need more than Kovalchuk in order to compete. Kane has the potential to match Kovalchuk’s production in the future, and if you pair him with Little, that’s a good first line. Bogosian and Enstrom are capable of anchoring a blue line.

Trading Kovalchuk though, is a whole other situation. A trading partner will have to be a contender, with cap room (or expendable pieces to create the necessary cap room) to fit Kovalchuk’s pro-rated $6.4 million cap hit (if you assume there are 20 games in the season after the trade deadline, that amounts to roughly $1.56 million), with a good enough farm system to deal non-roster players, and with enough off-season cap space to make a legitimate run to sign him long-term. It’s a tough task, but it’s doable.

If I had to make a guess, if the Blues are competing for a Division crown (with Detroit and Chicago’s suspect goaltending, it’s possible), or are fairly locked into a playoff spot, come the trade deadline, I would guess that St. Louis would make a run at him. They will definitely have the cap space (currently $5 million under the cap, they can practically fit him without dumping salary). They definitely have the prospects, #1 on HockeysFuture Organization Rankings. They can definitely compete. And with Paul Kariya’s $6 million coming off the books, they can definitely make a run to sign him long term.

I think a deal centered around Lars Eller/Aaron Palushaj, Jake Allen, Carlo Colaiacovo (cap space), Patrick Berglund/BJ Crombeen/David Perron, and a first round pick in exchange for Kovalchuk and Colby Armstrong could get it done. It’s a nice balance of two prospects, a roster player, a high pick, and cap space in exchange for Kovalchuk and a role player.

You heard it here first, if the Blues are competing, Kovalchuk goes to St. Louis.

Image Credit: Dave Sandford/Getty Images

New Lines

After roughly ten games of keeping the top line of Vinny Prospal-Brandon Dubinsky-Marian Gaborik together, and occasionally shuffling the other three lines, coach John Tortorella has completely revamped the Rangers lines.

As for the forward lines:
Enver Lisin-Vinny Prospal (remaining at center)-Marian Gaborik
Sean Avery-Chris Drury-Ales Kotalik
Christopher Higgins-Brandon Dubinsky-Ryan Callahan
Donald Brashear/Brian Boyle-Artem Anisimov-Aaron Voros.

As for the defense:

Michael Del Zotto remained with Michal Rozsival. Otherwise, Staal skated with Matt Gilroy while Wade Redden was paired with Girardi.

Changing lines is a part of hockey, happen quite often, and shouldn’t really be analyzed too much. Look on the bright side, if it were Tom Renney, this would have been the 10th time we would have seen a lineup change. The only thing I don’t like is Anisimov on the fourth line. But then again, where are you going to put him if you put Prospal at center?

The Need for a Seventh Defensemen Intensifies

The Rangers need a seventh defensemen, and the last two games are definitive proof of this. In both games, players that we as fans have come to trust as defensive stalwarts have been playing shaky defense at best. Marc Staal and Dan Girardi have been fairly unspectacular this year, with the latter being downright terrible at points. We saw it last year with Girardi, as towards the end of the year, he has been prone to being beat to the puck. This year, teams are just attacking him and he has yet to adjust.

While Girardi has been consistently bad, Staal is prone to the epic turnover. He made a horrific turnover during the game against Anaheim, but Steve Valliquette bailed him out. He also made a pair of turnovers in the first period against the Devils last night, which eventually led to the Zach Parise goal in the first period.

As a matter of fact, the most consistent defensemen on the Rangers this year, in terms of defensive consistency, has been….wait for it….Wade Redden. That’s right Blueshirt Faithful, the most dependable defensman has been none other than the second (first?) of the albatross twins. He has been uncharacteristically solid in his own end, and conceding the offensive game to Michael Del Zotto. Sure, he isn’t paid to be just defensively solid, but I think we will take a non-liability.

On a team with two rookies (Del Zotto, Matt Gilroy), a downright terrible Michal Rozsival, and the stunningly consistent (but for how long?) Wade Redden, Staal and Girardi were expected to be anchors along the blue line and have been anything but that. Perhaps they have become too comfortable with their role on the team. Perhaps they are tired after an intense training camp. Perhaps teams have watched video and are exploiting their weaknesses.

No matter the case, a seventh defensemen will light a fire under the collective rear-ends of the defensive corps. If someone like Mathieu Dandenault, now with Hartford, winds up with the team, don’t you think that the current defensemen will have some pressure to perform? Competition is a very good thing, especially when someone is knocking on the door to play.

I would have preferred the Rangers go after Cory Murphy, but he was already assigned to the AHL. Instead, we have to count on Dandenault impressing in Hartford. Regardless of who it is (Corey Potter, Bobby Sanguinetti, and Michael Sauer are other possibilities that don’t have to pass through waivers), the Rangers need to apply the appropriate pressure to get the underachievers on their game.

Sloppy First, Weak Goal Does In Rangers

Our beloved Blueshirts looked to bounce back from an embarrassing 7-3 shellacking at the expense of the Devils last night. The plan didn’t go so well. The Rangers came out sloppy in the first, playing sluggish and lackadaisical hockey, and wound up down 2-0 at the end of the first. Oh to be a fly on the wall during that intermission. Because whatever coach John Tortorella said, worked.

The Rangers came out much better in the second, and a Marian Gaborik powerplay tally cut the lead in half before Ales Kotalik was sprung on a breakaway by a beautiful outlet pass from Dan Girardi, tying the game at two a piece. That was the loudest the Garden would get during the game, especially because it came during a period that the Rangers are generally outplayed.

The Rangers and Devils exchanged chances in the third period, before strong board play by Zach Parise led to the game winner. Parise gained the puck along the boards and just threw it at the net, where Danius Zubrus tipped it past Lundqvist. This was not a very good tip, nor was it a surprise to see Zubrus in front of the net. That is a goal that Hank should have stopped, and while not on the same severity of the Nik Backstrom goal, was very weak. The tip barely changed the direction of the puck, and didn’t elevate it at all. A very weak goal to say the least.

The Rangers had their chance to tie the game late in the third, but some timely defense, including three blocked shots by the Devils in a row with Brodeur out of position, sealed the deal for the Devils. Ryan Callahan was not tripped on the breakaway by Colin White, who got all puck on the dive.

The Rangers are coming back to Earth after a seven game winning streak. Starting the season 7-3-0 is still a great start to the season, but the Rangers need to start playing 60 minutes of hockey, not 20-40.

Game 10: Rangers vs Devils

The Rangers look to get back on the winning side, as they take on the Devils tonight at 7.   The Devils, of course, are all about Zach Parise and Martin Broduer. And tonight could be special for “Fatso”. If he pitches a shutout, he will tie Terry Sawchuk for most all time. Pretty great accomplishment, but let’s hope it doesn’t happen against the Rangers.

The lines are such:

Prospal-Dubinsky-Gaborik

Avery-Drury-Callahan

Higgins-Ansimov-Lisin

Brashear-Boyle-Kotalik

D pairs, as always, are the same.

This is a big game for Higgins, and Torts even said as much. Gaborik and Callahan left practice yesterday with “flu-like” symptoms,  but they seem to be okay for tonight.

Use this as your open thread for tonight. Watch the game, discuss, have fun. Yanks are on tonight at 7:57, trying to clinch the pennant, so at least the first period will be uninterrupted. And if you’re looking to discuss the Yankees, head on over here, but make sure between innings you stop back here.

Earning Your Keep

Much was made over the “holdout” of Brandon Dubinsky, especially when it lasted well into the preseason. When he finally signed, about two minutes after Phil Kessel was traded, in September, many fans were saying that his contract ($1.85 million cap-hit annually for two years) was “way too much”. It appears that Dubinsky has heard your outcry, and is playing up to that contract, and a little bit beyond.

As of today, Dubinsky is 4th on the team in scoring, putting up a line of 3-5-8 in 9 GP. He is also a ridiculous +9 in those games, tops on the team. At this pace, he will finish out the season with a line of 27-45-72 and a whopping +82. Of course, he won’t come anywhere remotely close to a +82, but is it out of the realm of possibility for him to reach 70 points this year? He is playing on the top line with Marian Gaborik and Vinny Prospal, and as long as the former stays healthy, that line won’t be broken up anytime soon.

Does a 70 point season mean that Dubinsky earns his $1.85 million a year? I’ll say so. It averages out to roughly $26,000 per point. Compare that to Chris Drury, who is on pace for a 46 point season, and that averages out to roughly $153,000 per point. That’s what we call bang-for-your-buck. Especially if he continues to play sound defense, the type of defense that has led him to an average of +1 per game for the first 10% of the season. He works, he skates, he grinds, and he can score. I think he’s earning his money so far.

The question is, if he does this for two years, how much does he get when his contract expires after next season?

Second Guessing Torts

Throughout his tenure, I haven’t really second guessed John Tortorella. I’ve agreed with all his moves, and the results, so far, have been pretty good. Monday, against the Sharks, provided the first time to second guess him. Torts went with Steve Valliquette against the high powered Sharks. Now, his reasoning was that he wanted to give Hank rest, and that it doesn’t really matter the opponent. Well, it does. The Sharks are one of the best teams in the NHL. They have an unbelievable offense, led by Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and company. They are the Caps of the West. And yet, Torts went with Valliquette. Not with Lundqvist. I understand giving Henrik a rest. In fact, he needs rest, especially in an Olympic year. But, rest him against the Maple Leaves. Rest him against the lesser teams in the NHL. Not San Jose. Not one of the best. Hopefully, Torts will learn from his mistake. He’ll play Vally against Toronto, or the Islanders. He won’t play him against Pittsburgh, or against Washington. Let’s hope.