2010 Draft Watch: Jaden Schwartz

The way the Rangers are situated now, and project out to end the season, they are looking at at 15-20 pick. This seems to be the consistent spot for the Rangers, they’ve picked here for a few years now. Last year, I was extremely focused on Scott Glennie, who was initially ranked #19 in the ISS Top 30, but wound up going #8 overall. This year, there is another player like Glennie, who from what I’ve read, encompasses something the Rangers sorely need: a speedy, goal scoring winger. That player in the 2010 draft is Jaden Schwartz.

Schwartz isn’t tall, but he is built, at 5’10 193 lbs. Currently playing for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, Schwartz is playing at almost a point and a half per game pace, putting up a line of 25-47-72 in 47 games. His offensive talent has turned heads at the NHL scouting level, and his ability to create offense from nothing is one of his greatest strengths. His skating ability makes up for his size, as opponents find him to be elusive with the puck. He may be 5’10, but he plays like he is 6’1. His hockey intelligence is second to none at his level, which leads to a great defensive game and penalty kill time in the USHL. His teammates praise his skating, hands, intelligence, and most importantly, his character. They describe him as a class act who is fun to be around.

If there is one worry about Schwartz, it’s that he is small. He will not wind up as a third-fourth line guy. If he doesn’t crack the top-six on an NHL club, he will be a bust. The good thing for him is that a lot of current NHL stars are under 6’0, including Sidney Crosby. His size will see him drop in the draft, not to the third round like Ryan Bourque, but the Rangers may luck out and see him fall to the mid-late first round.

Schwartz is committed to Colorado College for 2010, but his stock is on the rise. In the February 2010 ISS Top 30, he is ranked #19. The January 2010 ISS Top 30: #26. Take a look at him walking through the opposition when he gets the puck at center ice for this goal:

I think he’s worth the “risk”.

Image Credit: The Scouting Report

Del Zotto Not Cleared to Play

A bit of old news, but the Rangers returned to practice yesterday, minus a few players. Among those players was Michael Del Zotto, who suffered a skate cut on his right thigh before the Olympics. MDZ was not cleared to skate until the stitches are removed, probably this weekend. It is still unclear whether he will suit up in Ottawa when the season resumes.

Bourque Gets Six Years

So much for my pipe dream of seeing Rene Bourque on Broadway. Calgary has resigned the winger to a six year deal, with a cap hit of $3.3 million per season ($19.8 million total). Bourque had a breakout season last year, finishing with 21 goals, 40 points, and 70 PIMS while playing in just 58 games. This year, Bourque has already set career highs in points (41), assists (23), and PIMS (74). He is also on pace to set a career high in goals (18 thus far), all this in just 53 games.

The Flames are getting a steal with this. Good job by Daryl Suter.

Are You Willing to Part With Dan Girardi?

The end of the Olympics is coming. The trade deadline is shortly thereafter. It seems clear that GM Glen Sather is going to be a buyer at the deadline, but to what extent remains a mystery. He surprised us all by swapping spare parts for a legitimate upgrade in Olli Jokinen before the Olympic roster freeze. This type of move seems to be Slats’ MO, swapping spare parts and players that have are not going to be a part of the future for upgrades for the current season.

That said, who do you think Slats is going to part with at the deadline? Other than the usual suspects on the wish list (Wade Redden, Michal Rozsival), who simply cannot be moved, the most notable name that I think the Rangers are willing to part with at the deadline is Dan Girardi, and I am perfectly OK with this. Now, before you jump down my throat for joining the trade Girardi bandwagon, you should know that I thought he was expendable in June of 2009, long before this “Trade Girardi” movement.

Girardi is in the third season of his young career, and although his GVT stands at 4.9, good for a top-10 place on this current Rangers squad, it is tough to overlook some glaring holes in his game. For example, he is big, but not physical. He is also slow on his feet, and constantly gets beat like he stole something. Yes, he is good with his positioning, but at his current price ($1.55 million cap hit), and a probable raise on the way, Girardi may price himself into a deadline or draft-day deal. With the defensive depth in the system, and the likes of Bobby Sanguinetti and Ilkka Heikkinen both NHL ready (and both combined make what Girardi makes), it appears that Girardi has run his course on Broadway.

Girardi will draw a good amount of interest around the league. He is young (25), and as mentioned before, has good positioning. Am I saying that the Rangers should dump Girardi for a 5th round pick? No. Hell no. I think a Girardi package has the potential to draw a top-six LW from teams. The loss will sting a little bit, but the trade return and the cheaper replacements on defense who have the potential to produce better results will make it more palatable.

USA Hockey Live Chat!

So, USA Hockey is in the semi-finals, and, on Friday, will play the winner of Finland/Czech Republic (happening now). They are guaranteed to play for a medal. Win on Friday, and they are guaranteed a medal. In the spirit of the Olympics, and because it’s gonna be awesome, we here at BSB are going to live chat the USA game. All the usual suspects will be here, and we hope you will be too.

Kreider Gaining Confidence, Hagelin Lighting It Up

It’s amazing what a strong World Juniors tournament can do for a young player. Kreider, who was struggling to find his game at BC in his freshman year, led the tournament in goals, and that confidence is transferring to his college game, where he is beginning to find his stride. In his 11 games since the tournament, Kreider has put up 8 goals and a +5 rating. In his previous 15 games, Kreider had just 2 goals and a +6 rating (with 3 assists).

Rangers prospect Carl Hagelin (5th round, 2008), a relatively unknown prospect in the Rangers world, is lighting it up for the Michigan Wolverines. In 35 games so far this year, Hagelin is scoring at over a point per game, while playing in one of the toughest conferences in college hockey. Hagelin has turned into a very pleasant surprise, hopefully he can continue it at the professional level.

Canadian Juniors:

• Ethan Werek; Kingston Frontenacs, OHL: 49 GP, 24G, 29A, 54 PIM, +11
• Chris Doyle; PEI Rocket/Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL: 56 GP, 21G, 38A, 49 PIM, +3
• Ryan Bourque; Quebec Remparts, QMJHL: 42GP, 18G, 24A, 20 PIM, +8
• Roman Horak; Chilliwack Bruins, WHL: 56 GP, 16G, 23A, 24 PIM, +11
• Sam Klassen; Saskatoon Blades, WHL: 58 GP, 3G, 26A, 79 PIM, +32
• Tomas Kundratek; Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL: 57 GP, 2G, 28A, 54 PIM, +11

NCAA:

• Ryan McDonagh; Wisconsin: 31 GP, 4G, 10A, 51 PIM, +13
• Derek Stepan; Wisconsin: 29 GP, 8G, 29A, 6 PIM, +2
• Chris Kreider; Boston College: 26 GP, 10G, 3A, 18 PIM, +11
• Carl Hagelin; Michigan: 35 GP, 13G, 24A, 16 PIM, +8

International:

• Roman Psurny; HC Slovan Ustecti Lvi, CZ 1.Liga: 37 GP, 16G, 20A, 28 PIM, +23

AHL:

• Bobby Sanguinetti: 43 GP, 6G, 22A, 20 PIM, -8
• Evgeny Grachev: 59 GP, 12G, 13A, 14 PIM, -8
• Ilkka Heikkenin: 51 GP, 7G, 22A, 10 PIM, -2
• Chad Johnson: 14-11-2, 2.45 GAA, .915 SV%, 3 SO

Quarterfinals: USA vs. Switzerland

Team USA, the #1 overall seed in the tournament, plays its quarterfinals game against Switzerland today at 3pm. The Swiss defeated Belarus in a shootout yesterday to advance to the quarters.

OPPONENT: Switzerland

GOALIE: Jonas Hiller, 2.70 GAA and a .919 save percentage with Anaheim

USA lines are presumably the same that beat Canada, with Miller in net

STATE OF THE UNION: #1 seed in the tournament, not having to face Russia, Sweden or Canada until the Finals, so pretty good. Can’t look ahead though, they need to win tonight to just medal. Then they will need to face either Finland or the Czech Republic, which is no small task. Remember, controlled excitement.

RANGERS PLAYING IN THIS GAME: Drury, Callahan, prospect Andres Ahmbul

CRAZY THOUGHT: Callahan scores.

FINAL PREDICTION: USA 4, Swiss 2.

So, watch, disucss, have fun. USA!!!!! USA!!!! USA!!!

Johnson Back, Vally Down

Chad Johnson is back with the Rangers, who resumed practice today. Steve Valliquette has been sent back to Hartford, in the 132nd round of the 2010 Great Goalie Shuffle.

Chris Drury

Everyone has said it, Chris Drury has been great so far for Team USA. Defensively excellent he has killed penalties blocked shots and been a strong veteran presence for the young Americans. What may have surprised some is Drury seems to have re-found an offensive game in the Olympics as well… With 2 goals thus far (including a game winner), he’s taking shots and going to the net – Drury has been very visible on the ice.

So why can he do it for USA and not the Rangers? His performance so far asks several questions; is he being deployed right in NY? does he actually have more to give? and if The Rangers arent using him correctly what are the American coaches doing differently?

With Tortorella on the coaching staff in Vancouver one can only hope he is seeing whatever is different fellow Coaches Gordon and Wilson are doing offensively and will look to perhaps replicate it with Drury after the games in NY.

There’s no doubt that if Drury plays for the Rangers like he has done for Team USA, The Rangers immediately become a lot better.

Olympic Round Up – Canada March On

Four playoff games no surprises. Unless you count Team Switzerland?! no. nor did I.

Anyway, Team Swizterland are now of interest to all American fans thanks to their narrow 3-2 shootout win over Belarus. The US team will know the Swiss well and thanks to their great game against Canada, USA wont underestimate them. You have to expect USA advancing to a medal game… so far so great for Team USA.

The Czech Republic advanced thanks to a 3-2 victory over Latvia that was alot closer than most would expect. Having taken a 2-0 lead  pretty quickly off goals from Tomas Fleischmann and Tomas Rolinek the plucky Latvians tied the game late in the third. Only thanks to an overtime goal from Boston Bruin David Krejci did the veteran ladden Czechs move on. Great performance from the Latvians who can hold their heads up with pride.  Former Ranger Jaromir Jagr only played 6 minutes in this one – the after affects of AO’s hit? The Czechs next go up agains the Fins in the quarters.

Slovakia moved into the quarters thanks to a narrow 4-3 win over Norway. Rangers sniper Marian Gaborik was back to his scoring self getting 1+1 and 9 shots off in 16 minutes of ice time. I’d say his leg is no longer an issue. Another game where the favourite couldnt shake off their lesser opponent though. Slovakia had a 3-1 lead before Norway got back to 3-3 before Miroslav Satan scored middway in the 3rd to win it. Next up will be a game of huge interest for Rangers as Gaborik and Slovakia take on the impressive Swedes in the quarters. A very intriguing game…

Canada won, as expected, 8-2 over the Germans last night. Joe Thornton, Shea Weber and Jarome Iginla (2) got Canada off to a great start before Marcel Goc got one back for the Germans. After that Crosby, Mike Richards, Scott Niedermayer and Rick Nash finished Canada’s scoring before the Germans got another to make it more respectable.

Despite the score, Canada will still not be in best of spirits thanks to their next opponent. Russia. A huge game for the quarterfinal stage, one big favourite is going home. If Russia win, watch the media onslaught in Canada begin….

Finally an observation. How many blow outs have there really been in this event? International hockey is alot closer than it used to be. The NHL is effected by this and is more international and diverse  than ever. Could this international parity (of sorts) help answer the fact that no team has won back to back Cups since the Detroit Red Wings???? Must have an impact, no?  Over at nasports.co.uk we look at the shrinking gap in hockey and offer a group stage review of the Olympics. I think Rangers fans will be interested as we choose our players of the group stages.