This year, the Rangers only have two prospects playing in the tournament: JT Miller (1st round – 2011) on Team USA, Peter Ceresnak (6th round – 2011) on Slovakia, . It is assumed that Jesper Fasth would have played in this year’s tournament for Sweden if not for his current injury.

For those in the US, the NHL Network will be covering the tournament this year. In Canada, TSN will be covering the tournament. You can check out the full schedule here.

A long summer since the trade has perhaps pushed Lindberg to the back of the minds of many a fan but given that he will almost certainly be playing another season of pro hockey in the SEL, Lindberg’s season begins sooner than the Rangers’. The SEL is due to kick off again in under a month and Lindberg will be hoping to make an impact as he looks to make a future in the NHL. Lindberg is under pressure and not just to show he was worth moving Werek for but because the Rangers are now stacked at center and Lindberg will have to show quite a lot to make an NHL roster spot a legitimate goal in the short term.

Drafted 57^th overall in 2010, Lindberg can play both left wing and center so it’s not all panic for the Swede should he not see an immediate future at center in the Rangers system. Indeed, given the expiring contracts in New York next season it may play into Lindberg’s hands if he plays a lot of left wing this year with his club, Skellefteå. There’s a chance that the young Swede may share a line with another talented youngster, Oscar Moller. The LA Kings property has returned to Sweden after failing to crack a deep Kings line up full time and potentially the two young forwards could help each other this season.

Known more as a defensive, two-way forward Lindberg may benefit offensively if he has line mates such as Moller. A productive season offensively with Skellefteå will certainly push Lindberg into focus even though he is based in Europe. With the SEL season starting September 13^th, we’ll be keeping tabs on how the Rangers prospect does over the season.

The US forwards include first round picks Miller (2011), Austin Watson (2010), Emerson Etem (2010), Charlie Coyle (2010), and Nick Bjugstad (2010).

As the KHL tries to retain their own talented players such as Alex Radulov (as well as recruit several NHL based players), it cannot be doubted that the overall talent level and depth has improved tremendously since the KHL formed in 2008. The league benefits from players that could still perform in the NHL. From Radulov – a legitimate star in either league – to record KHL playoff scorer Josef Vasicek, Pavol Demitra, Aleksey Morozov, Viktor Kozlov and others such as Denis Grebeshkov, Maxim Afinigenov or even Alexei Yashin. There are plenty of quality players in the KHL that could still play in the NHL. This isn’t including players such as Sergei Zubov or Sergei Fedorov – quality hockey players who had been winding down their careers in Europe. (Zubov is inactive)

The KHL is still a long way behind the NHL in both quality and quantity, but given it’s inception was only 3 years ago, the quality has come on very quickly. Where will it be in 5 years from now? The biggest thing that seems to threaten to hold the KHL back as a legitimate threat to the NHL is league stability. Given that the league could not stop (or didn’t want to stop?) traditional powerhouses such as Dynamo from having to merge with lesser clubs to exist, the league doesn’t benefit from a stable foundation. Some clubs cannot pay the players on time while other oil rich clubs seem to benefit from cash rich owners. There truly is no level playing field in the KHL.

We have seen plenty of players go to the KHL to resurrect their NHL careers (or find a way back) in recent times, such as Ray Emery or even Jaromir Jagr. This may be one angle that the KHL uses to recruit and improve their own quality in the short to medium term. Former Rangers like recent KHL recruits Nik Zherdev, Nigel Dawes or Petr Prucha may hope a solid year or two in the KHL will mean an offer or two from NHL clubs looking for depth. Zherdev in particular is blessed with elite skill regardless of which league he is in.

While he was an unheralded player in the NHL, when Antti Miettinen moved to Kazan this summer it may have been the start of legitimate NHL players making the move to Russia despite having a solid NHL career that was still in progress. Miettinen (only 31) was a consistent two way player, 30-40 point forward in the NHL who regularly flirted with 20 goal seasons on defensive clubs. Given the paucity of quality free agents this summer it may have been a surprise that the Finn chose Russia ahead of NHL teams.

Is a player like Miettinen the start of a trend and is the KHL’s improving quality reason for concern? If there’s an NHL hold out on the horizon you can bet the KHL will be looking to take advantage. Despite the (apparent) improving relationship between the NHL and the KHL, evidenced by the recent signed memorandum of understanding,  the KHL would certainly look to entice any out of work NHL stars to Russia if there is indeed a lock out. This time around, there may not be short-term KHL deals with NHL out-clauses if the KHL continues to improve. Which is another thing for the NHL to consider when they discuss the next CBA.

It’s fair to say that the Rangers will be busy during their trip over to Europe. They play the following pre season games:

• Sept. 29 – HC Sparta Prague at TESLA Arena in Prague, Czech Republic
• Sept. 30 – Frolunda Indians at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden
• Oct. 2 – HC Slovan at SLOVNAFT Arena in Bratislava
• Oct. 3 – EV Zug at Bossard Arena in Zug, Switzerland

After cramming in four games in four different countries, the Blueshirts head to Stockholm, Sweden to take on the LA Kings and the Anaheim Ducks in their regular season openers on October 7^th and 8th. Yours truly will be there (good times assured!).

How many Swedes will make the Rangers starting roster for the regular season openers? Only one is guaranteed thanks to Swedish national hero Henrik Lundqvist but Tim Erixon and Carl Hagelin both have legitimate chances while it’s too early to rule out a prospect such as Oscar Lindberg. In addition to the Swedish contingent is the potential return of former SEL star Mats Zuccarello. If 4 of these guys make the roster there’s no doubting which team will garner the most support in Stockholm.

Simply put, over the last decade there are less and less Russians playing in the NHL every year. For instance, during the 2000-01 season, there were a total of 87 Russian players in the NHL. In 2005-06, that number was down to 40. In 2010, only 23 full-time Russian players suited up for an NHL team.

Some believe that the difference in style of play has kept many young Russians from making the move, arguing that bigger rinks and more finesse systems played in Europe are just too different from the North American emphasis on defense and physicality.

While I agree that these differences, along with the language barrier, may slow a player’s initial development, I don’t believe they’re contributing to this overall decline – such dissimilarities have existed for decades.

No, the real reason the Russians are staying put is purely economic. The KHL has more money than ever before and is able to pay their players millions of dollars a year tax free. This has helped send players such as Alexei Yashin, Nikita Filatov, Alexander Radulov, and a host of other players back to Russia.

Additionally, the re-entry waiver system keeps players in the AHL making around $65,000 per year, with a maximum salary of $105,000. Any minor league player making more than $105,000 must clear re-entry waivers to get called up to the NHL…and elite Russian prospects aren’t clearing any waivers.

Not too many Russians want to come all the way over to North America to play in the AHL and make peanuts for a living when the KHL can offer much more. This waiver system, plus our tax code, makes it so that any legit Russian player in the AHL is earning less salary than he would in his homeland by a significant margin.

Between the money issue and the lack of a transfer agreement (where player contracts do not have to be honored by either league), the nail in the coffin is the draft. GM’s are beginning to avoid Russia players like the plague for fear that they’ll waste a draft pick on someone who will never step foot on American soil.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about all of this was there were more Russians playing in the NHL during the 90’s when they had a lot more to risk than money. Back then it wasn’t uncommon to hear about Russian NHL players being strong-armed by the Russian Mob for money or worse.

Evgeni Malkin, one of the best players in the world almost never came to the NHL because men associated with his former Russian club put him “under intense pressure” to sign and honor a deal to keep him in Russia. Matter of fact, he was under so much “pressure” to keep playing in Russia that he had to hide out for five days in Finland in order to escape his team and make the courageous journey to North America. This was only several years ago!

At the end of the day, the tax code is what it is. The best solution is for Bettman to not strong-arm the KHL, so the KHL doesn’t strong-arm their teenage hockey players. It would be most prudent for a transfer deal to be negotiated. Every other international sport has one, there is no reason for the NHL and KHL not to have one.

This way the NHL gets the players they want, the KHL gets the money they want and young Russian players have a chance at living a little thing called the American Dream.

Despite a disappointing tournament as host nation Slovakia beat Denmark 4-1 in the early Monday game, their last game of the tournament. Too good for the relegation rounds and not good enough to get to the quarter finals, it was indeed a tournament to forget for a Slovakia team with many NHL stars, including Marian Gaborik. Indeed, Gaborik’s tournament was much like his season for the Rangers. Some success, but not what was perhaps expected. Gaborik collected a primary power play assist on a Marian Hossa goal today, took 5 shots and played a shade under 15 minutes.For the tournament overall, Gaborik had 2 goals and an assist in 6 games (underwhelming?), took 32 shots overall and averaged over 18 minutes per game. He finished -2 for the tournament. One can only hope Gaborik has a good off season and comes back fresh and ready to bounce back from a poor year personally.

The Rangers were also well represented by team USA today, who played against Switzerland in their last ‘qualification’ game before the quarter finals. Derek Stepan (having a great tournament), Ryan McDonagh and Chris Kreider have all played their part in this tournament for the young American team. Unfortunately, the US was upset 5-3 by a hungrier Swiss team who were playing only for pride. Derek Stepan got a secondary assist on the last US goal to continue his highly productive tournament. Stepan grabbed his 7^th point in his 6^th game with his assist. Ryan McDonagh and Chris Kreider were held off the scoreboard in the game as Kreider remains with 3 points in 6 games thus far and McDonagh has a single assist in the tournament. The US team will play the Czech Republic next, either on Wednesday or Thursday. The Czechs have been arguably the best team in the tournament thus far so it’s not an easy game for the US.

The beat writers have been doing a great job at updating us on the break-up day notes, including who will be attending the World Championships, and who has been talkative abouut their contract status.  First, regarding the Worlds, Vinny Prospal (Czech Republic) and Brandon Dubinsky (USA) are definitely out.  Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh (USA) are likely in.  Artem Anisimov (Russia) is in.  Marian Gaborik (Slovakia) is also in.  Henrik Lundqvist (Sweden) is still deciding.

As for contracts, the only player that has been relatively candid about his status is Brian Boyle who “expects to re-sign quickly”.  Prospal wants to be back, but health will dictate if he will.  The other pending RFAs and UFAs have been relatively mum on the subject.

“It looks like that we will not see such matches next season. And we have only one reason that the NHL due to their, sort of say, exclusively business-like approach…”

Without getting into all the messy details (read Chesnokov’s article for those), this is probably a good thing for the Rangers, who were slated to play the biggest goons in the league. Considering the rash of Ranger injuries this year, a game against a ton of goons is not a good idea. Seriously, have you seen Vityaz Chekhov’s stats?

As per Puck Daddy, Vityaz GM Alexei Zhamnov was a little bit surprised that the Rangers, who are organizing this voluntarily, picked Vityaz:

“I have no idea why they picked us,” Zhamnov continued. “Last week I received the first phone call about it. And on Thursday a representative from the Rangers will fly to Moscow. On Friday we are going to have a meeting with him to negotiate regarding details. We are very interested in this project. We had no doubts whether to agree to it.”

It is a little surprising that the Rangers would pick Vityaz over a team like the Dynamo Moscow (Jaromir Jagr’s team). They are a bit of a dirty club, but a dirty club that sits in the bottom of the standings. That probably has a lot to do with it. If the Rangers do wind up playing Vityaz next season, let’s hope that it doesn’t open with a brawl like that. The Rangers have had enough injuries to deal with this year.