Chris Kreider’s Beanpot Goal

For those that missed the Beanpot, or Sportscenter this morning, you missed a great goal by Rangers prospect Chris Kreider. BC, Kreider’s team, was up 2-1 in the 3rd of the Beanpot finals, when Kreider put the icing on the cake, dangling through the BU defenseman and around the goalie to give BC a 3-1 lead, and the Beanpot title.

This is just a glimpse of what he can do. The future looks bright.

Del Zotto’s Leetch-Like Goal

It all started with an innocent clearing of the zone by Columbus. The puck was barely out of the zone by the Columbus bench, and Michael Del Zotto, just 19 years old, picked up the loose puck. Columbus then made a mistake, half the team went for a line change as Del Zotto back skated with the puck, and Del Zotto countered and made them pay.

He carried the puck in the zone, deked out one defender, and used the other as a screen, ripping a shot from the high slot passed the outstretched blocker of goaltender Steve Mason, and the Rangers had a 3-2 lead. Brian Leetch was in the house, and it seems like Del Zotto put on that show just for him.

Ranger fans haven’t seen a defenseman do something like that since, well, Leetch. Del Zotto, in his first 23 games, has shown a poise that most veterans don’t show. As Stas (where art thou?) has seen, I have been raving about this kid since he was drafted (pre-BSB). But even I and my completely biased hyping up of prospects couldn’t have imagined him being this good this early. And how about that ridiculous pass to Ryan Callahan in the first? It was so good that even Cally was stunned.

The Del Zotto effect is seen on the powerplay as well. While Ales Kotalik and his booming shot is getting most of the credit, it’s Del Zotto’s poise with the puck and crisp passing that is making everything click. The last effective powerplay quarterback the Rangers had was, of course, Leetch.

Perhaps the most underrated portion of his game is his defensive abilities. This was something he was doubted on during his days in the OHL. But Del Zotto, while making rookie mistakes, has been a steady defender in his own zone. This was highlighed by those two beautiful plays in the third period to keep the 7-3 (at the time) lead.

We are watching a very special hockey player, who hopefully will become a top-five defenseman in the league as he matures. While it is premature to call him the next Leetch, the comparisons are going to be made for years to come.

Where Will Hank Rank?

Last night, Henrik Lundqvist stole the show, and won game #150 in his young career. Lundqvist, just 27 years old, got to 150 wins in a little over four seasons. At this rate (averaging 35 wins a year), assuming he plays until he is 38 (another 11 years), The King will finish his career with over 500 victories. To put this in perspective, he will get win #302, and set a Ranger record, before he turns 33. His peripherals are outstanding, and he already has 21 shutouts. Of course, there are many factors that come into play here, such as injuries and the increasing workload in the form of shots against, but in his first four years, he has been nothing short of phenomenal.

When it comes to all-time Ranger greats in net, two prominent names come to mind: Mike Richter and Eddie Giacomin. Both are numbers 1 and 2 in pretty much every Ranger goalie stat, and in the fans hearts. There will never be a clear cut line between Richter and Eddie, as fans will never seem to agree who was “better”. Both were flat out great in net, and while Giacomin may be the more decorated of the two, Richter is the one with the Cup and the all-time wins record.

This brings us back to Hank. What if he never wins a Vezina? There needs to be something said for consistency, and usually the most consistent players don’t win that many awards (see: Rivera, Mariano). Vezina’s go to the top goalie in the league for that year, and while the finalists, or even the top five, are consistent, the winner is generally the goalie who was just abnormally great that year (see: Theodore, Jose). Can one trophy be used to measure his success? What if he never wins a Cup? Is that his fault? Hockey, after all, is a team game, and we have seen that the supporting cast has been less than Cup-worthy in the past years.

Then there are the stats. Hockey isn’t mature enough in the metrics department to help account for the many changes in the game since Eddie’s, and to a lesser extent, Richter’s era (like the way ERA+ helps account for this in baseball). Sure, goalie equipment is bigger and lighter, but the skaters are bigger, stronger, and faster. Composite sticks have changed the way pucks are shot. But, you can’t ignore gaudy numbers, such as 150 wins and 21 shutouts before his 28th birthday, no matter what era they come from. How many teams would kill to have that kind of consistency in net?

There’s no denying the fact that if it were any other goalie in net the past four years, we may still be talking about a playoff drought in New York. So in that regard, Hank is already one of, if not the, most influential Rangers of the “new NHL”, and rightfully earned him a spot as one of the top-100 Rangers of all time. Are numbers alone enough to vault him past Eddie and Richter? Or does that Cup mean that much? This debate has only just begun, and it will be become a wild debate as Hank starts approaching these records.

Will The Real Nik Zherdev Please Stand Up?

Well, its finally official.  The Rangers have officially said no to Z’s $3.9 million award, making him an unrestricted free agent.  Zherdev’s value  and upside have been discussed ad nauseum on this and other Rangers websites, and hopefully this will be one of the last posts in an otherwise tragic story of seemingly untapped potential.  Even though it removes a scoring threat from an already anemic offense, the departure of Nik Zherdev and the way it all transpired speaks volumes of who this guy really is and how people really see him.  And when you consider the chain of events, it was really a no-brainer.

Consider this…at just 24 years old, and having only played in two full 82-game seasons, Zherdev has amassed 99 goals and 239 points.  All these totals were achieved on relatively stale, offensively-inept teams.  But when you also consider that the Columbus front office and head coach Ken Hitchcock, whom is very well-respected in hockey circles, repeatedly clashed with the young winger, it makes you wonder where this kid’s head is at.  Zherdev actually went as far as threatening the Jackets to remain in Russia if his contract demands weren’t met after his 27-goal season in 05-06.  The Jackets broke down and decided to pay him $7.5 million over 3 years.  How did Zherdev respond?  By putting up 10 goals and 32 points in 71 games.  Columbus or not, if you demand that kinda cash and claim to be a rising star in this league, you need to perform, regardless of where you’re playing.  Zherdev rebounded the following year with 26 goals, but the coaching staff still failed to get the youngster to reach his maximum potential, and his work ethic was called into question.  The Columbus front-office decided they had enough, and traded him to the Blueshirts for essentially nothing.  Don’t get me wrong, Fedor Tyutin is a great defenseman and I loved him when he played in New York.  But a sniper’s value is a whole lot more than a defenseman’s.

His time in New York was short spotted.  He got off to a promising start, and after some spectacular dangling and stick work, everyone thought they got through to him.  But somewhere along the way, he just fell off.  There was no injury, no sickness, no talk of any dispute with coaches or the front office.  He just stopped playing.  We can’t even blame it on Tom Renney, because it continued after he was cut loose.  When Tortorella arrived, he made it very clear to everyone that there was going to be accountability.  Zherdev was benched for periods on end on more than one occasion, and he never responded mentally or physically.  Even after 23 goals in the regular season, fans and coaches were still wanting more.  And when push came to shove in the playoffs, Nik Zherdev was just abysmal.  His playoff stats don’t even tell the story, because its hard to tell a story with a bunch of zeroes and negative numbers.  He was skating in mud and quicksand with a lead vest on him, and many of us were caught screaming at the TV for hours begging him to finally make a play….and it never came.

The truth is that Nik Zherdev is a poison for any franchise  Not a poison the way Terrell Owens, Brett Favre, or Jessica Simpson are, but a much more dangerous one.  You don’t see or don’t hear how infectious he really is until you’re cured of him.  He doesn’t speak bad about his teammates, his city, or the front office.  He literally does nothing but play hockey, and its difficult to motivate him to do that to the best of his ability.  You almost wish he was more outspoken to show you that he actually cared.  But it seems he only cares about taking the ice 82 times a year, playing hard when he wants to, and demanding absurd money when the season is over.  Can you imagine what his work ethic would have been if he was given the $4+ million he was asking for?  Credit Glen Sather for not giving in.  That now makes 2 NHL executives in less than a year that have been more than happy to see Nik Zherdev walk out of their locker room for very little in return, and in the Rangers case, nothing.  Now, Zherdev is without a home in the NHL, and will likely head back to Russia.  He has burned some serious bridges along the way, so its probably best for him to go back to his roots and figure it all out.  Hopefully for his sake, he fires whatever person is giving him advice and learns to find a love for the game he once had.  Maybe I was a bit harsh on him here, but it bothers me to see a player of his talent simply go through the motions and think he is entitled to whatever he wants.  The fact of the matter is that this is still a young player with a ton of potential.  But until he gets his head right, no one will ever regret the day they let Nik Zherdev pack his bags and walk out the front door.

Prospect Profile: Ryan McDonagh

Ryan McDonagh, whom the Rangers acquired as part of the Scott Gomez deal, was the 12th overall pick of the 2007 draft, taken by the Montreal Canadiens. McDonagh, a defenseman, and often overlooked as a solid acquisition in the Gomez deal, has a solid build at 6′1 203 lbs, and is flourishing at the University of Wisconsin after leading his high school to a state championship.

His rookie season with the Badgers was nothing short of a success, being named to the WCHA All Rookie team. Although his stats appeared to be underwhelming in his first year (5-7-12, 42 PIMs in 40 GP), the often overlooked stat is that he led the Wisconsin defensemen in goals, which is no small feat for a rookie. This Wisconsin defensive corps also led the entire nation in goals with 26, with McDonagh at the top of that list.

Last season, his sophomore season with the Badgers, saw McDonagh improve slightly in the points category, but greatly improve in both his defensive and physical game. He again put up 5 goals, while adding 11 assists and 59 PIMs in 36 GP.

In addition to his physical and defensive play, which is top notch at the college level, McDonagh showcases his speed, which is one of his key assets, and his ability to make that first breakout pass on the rush. Defensively solid in his own end, McDonagh uses his speed and his passing ability to help develop the rush.

Entering his junior year with the club, McDonagh is one of the key components of the Rangers defensive prospect depth. McDonagh, along with Bobby Sanguinetti and Michael Del Zotto, are three blue chip prospects. While Del Zotto and Sangs are predicted to be solid offensive defensemen, McDonagh looks to be that anchor on the blueline, the one that will dish out the hit and play solid defense. As much as Ranger fans loved getting Christopher Higgins in the Gomez deal, McDonagh is definitely the one we should be focusing on.

Future pairings of Del Zotto-Staal and Sanguinetti-McDonagh, all first round picks, definitely get Ranger fans excited for the future on the blueline.

More on Enver Lisin

Lisin, the RW received for Lauri Korpikoski, is 23 years old and just finished his 3rd season in the league. The 2004 2nd round (50th overall pick’s best season was last season, where he played 48 games and finished with 13 goals, 8 assists, and a -13. While a -13 is never pretty, take it with a grain of salt because it was Phoenix after all. While his numbers are not overwhelming, his scouting report, as touched on by Mike below, is very promising.

Hockeysfuture:

Lisin is a talented two-way forward with a huge offensive upside and a significant defensive upside. The young forward was more than likely the fastest forward eligible for the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He is fully capable of developing into a top line forward in the NHL. He’s an amazing skater, who’s a good finisher, has a great wrist shot, is very precise and has a deceivingly quick release.

Russian Prospects:

Skating: An amazing skater…the fastest Russian skater and possibly the fastest skater in the world born in ’86…excellent technique. Shot: A very good finisher and has a great wrist shot…very precise and deceivingly quick release…has very good control over his backhand. Technical Ability: An average puck handler, does not excel in great puck control, who depends more on his speed…uses the stick well in defensive situations. Pass: Doesn’t pass the puck often, as he is more of a finisher than a set up player…when he does pass, his passing ability is above average. Hockey Sense: Sees the ice very well at both ends of the ice…developing into a great two way player…a natural finisher, able to be at the right place at the right moment. Defensive Play: Surprisingly responsible defensively…uses his speed effectively to get back into the defensive zone…uses his stick work effectively in the defensive zone. Physical Play: Grew an inch in the spring and summer of ’03…not a physical player, depending on his speed, but is durable and can handle pressure well in traffic…defensively delivers the pressure at the boards, showing a good level of toughness and physical play. Intangibles: Has a very good attitude and a solid work ethic…listens well to authority… effective on his own, but needs a talented center to take full advantage of his scoring ability and speed.

The review from Russian Prospects is much more detailed, and I really like the way it sounds. Lisin is probably the fastest skater on the Rangers right now, and appears to be a pure sniper. He doesn’t have the hands that would make him steal the show, and it appears he will need a playmaking center in order to make the best of his ability, but if he convert, then we will all be happy, considering the lack of converting opportunities into goals by the Rangers last season.

The trade of Korpikoski for Lisin really illustrates how this team is being built around the Tortorella model. He wants people who can skate, shoot and score, and get back on defense. If he develops the way these scouting reports say he will, then this trade will be a steal for the Rangers. I think he has the potential to put in 25-30 goals this year if he sees solid playing time on one of the top three lines. Assuming he doesn’t sign with the KHL.

On a side note, what’s with Don Maloney picking up all the Ranger prospects? Montoya, Korpikoski, Prucha, Dawes. What’s the deal?

Image Credit: AP Photo/Paul Connors

Prospect Profile: Matt Gilroy

With all the commotion of free agency and Glen Sather’s dedication to add scoring, its easy to forget about the defensemen the Rangers have in their system.  Among them is Matt Gilroy, who signed a 2-year $3.5 million deal on April 17th, 2009.

BIO: A native of Long Island, Gilroy, 24, played high school hockey for St. Mary’s, where he was captain and won two New York State Championships in the process.  He then began his junior hockey career playing for Apple Core in Long Beach and later played in the British Columbia Hockey League.  Gilroy was an accomplished forward during his junior years. After a stint with the Walpole Junior Stars in the ECHL, Gilroy walked-on to the Boston University Terriers in 2005-2006.  With no forward positions available, Gilroy made the transition to defenseman, where he contributed immediately.

In his freshman year, he played in all but one game, tallying 8 points with a +21 rating.  In his sophomore season, Gilroy blossomed, garnering his first of three All-American honors.  He was named assistant captain and played in every single game, netting 26 points with a +18 rating.  Gilroy’s junior year was more of the same, again playing in every game while scoring 21 points with a +17 rating.  It was at this point, however, that Gilroy began turning heads and started to become a legitimate NHL prospect.  He was garnering so much attention that he even told BU Head Coach Jack Parker he was going to test the NHL free-agent waters after his junior year, and likely leave the team after he was signed.  As a result, Parker gave Gilroy’s scholarship to another player, but Gilroy ultimately decided to hang around and finish up his degree.  Since the scholarship was no longer his, however, Gilroy’s played his senior year without a scholarship.  Not much changed though in terms of Gilroy’s on-ice contributions.

Gilroy dominated college hockey as a senior, reaching career-highs in almost every category.  The team captain helped lead BU to their third Beanpot title in 4 years and again led the team in plus-minus.  Gilroy’s accolades included his third All-American selection, a feat accomplished only by fellow New York Ranger Chris Drury and Rick Meagher, as well as the 2009 Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top college hockey player.  Gilroy’s last college game was the National Championship against the Miami-Ohio Redhawks.  With his team trailing 3-2 and less than a minute to play, Gilroy pulled off one of the most unselfish of plays in a clutch moment, assisting the game-tying goal (fast-forward to 5 minutes to see the goal).  BU would eventually go on to win, and Gilroy would round out his college hockey career as one of the most decorated players ever.

SCOUTING REPORT: 6 foot, 2 inches.  202 pounds.  Excellent hockey sense, responsible defenseman.  Rarely found out of position.  Great ice vision.  Excellent puck control and passing ability.  Good two-way player.  Exceptionally strong skater.  Character player, who can project as a future captain.  Leads by example.  Does not have a great shot.  Will not use his body as often as he should, but will use it when necessary.  Projects as a second-pairing defenseman

BSB Analysis: It’s hard for me personally to say anything bad about this guy, having the same roots here on LI (his hockey career turned out a little better than mine though).  What I love about Gilroy is that those roots are humble.  Being a walk-on at a major university could not have been easy.  He knows he has to earn everything he plays for, and should have little trouble mentally adjusting to the NHL.  Having Chris Drury nearby also helps, as he was instrumental in bringing the BU blue-liner to the Rangers.  His play in the title game and being named assistant captain in just his second year at BU really shows you the type of leader he is and what the other players in the locker room think about him. His plus/minus ratings while at BU are simply staggering.  That and the fact that he only missed one game during his 4-year career really stand out to me.  Durability, versatility, responsibility, and leadership are probably his best attributes, and those alone can take you a long way. When they originally signed him, I believed they were going to move him back to forward, given the Rangers ineptitude for offense and the deep depth chart on the blue-line.  With the changes in free agency and the new regime beginning to take shape, I don’t see that happening anymore. As a prospect, Gilroy has a lot going for him.  He is 24, which is several years older than his fellow prospects, and he already has a big contract.  Ultimately,  I think Gilroy makes the team as a defenseman out of training camp for those 2 reasons alone, but mostly because of his poise and moxy.  He just doesn’t seem like the type of player who will get rattled when things go south, and us all being Rangers fans, we have seen plenty of newcomers do so.

It Won’t Be Long Until He’s Not So “Under the Radar”

ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun wrote a very nice piece on Ryan Callahan, even pointing out himself that its just a matter of time until the 24-year-old winger erupts on the national scene.  The playoffs are an excellent time to do it.  While many of the local writers and broadcasters have continuously praised Callahan’s play, this may be the first column written solely about Cally on a national level.  The truth of it all is that Callahan still hasn’t been able to put together a full season, meaning that he has usually been a strong second half player.  It would be interesting to see what Cally will be able to do under Tortorella for a full 82 games.  I love the last bit when LeBrun mentions that Callahan has had the ability to score on every level.  I think that is so important when evaluating a player; the ability to recognize that the player is a goal-scorer, and someday will put it together and be successful in the NHL.  Ultimately, I have been caught with my foot in my mouf.  When I was evaluating the Rangers situation under Renney a few months back I mentioned that a group of young Rangers, including Callahan, were expendable.  He obviously isn’t.  Here are some highlights from the article, if you don’t have the time to read it yourself.

“He’s a guy that does everything,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said. “He’s in every situation. He’s earned the responsibility and the chance to be in those situations because he’s succeeded. Players sometimes need to believe they can score regularly; I think he’s beginning to realize that and believe in himself.”

“Ryan had a big breakout season for the Rangers,” Brian Burke, the GM of the U.S. Olympic team, told ESPN.com on Friday. “He has put himself into contention for Team USA in Vancouver.”

The kid could always score. He tallied 52 goals in 62 games in his final junior season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm in 2005-06. But like many young players, he needed to find his confidence with the puck once he got to the NHL. He had eight goals in 52 games last season but took huge strides in 2008-09

The Fury of Ryan Callahan

In the new John Tortorella era, the Rangers are now attacking the puck carrier and playing aggressive hockey. This has led to more offensive chances, and more scoring. We have seen better play from the likes of Gomez, Drury and Zherdev. Newcomer Nik Antropov has been great, and Sean Avery has been great too in his return to Broadway.

All this is nothing compared to the leaps and bounds made by Ryan Callahan since Torts’ arrival. The Rangers’ 4th round pick in 2004 NHL draft, has been one of the best players on the ice for the Blueshirts since Torts’ arrival. In the 14 games since the coaching change, Callahan has put up 6-4-10. This has propelled him into a career season, just one goal short of 20 on the season, and 33 points so far (19-14-33). His highest goal total prior to this? Eight. He has doubled his career high goal total, and may even triple it by the time this season ends. His play has impressed Torts, and Callahan is now seeing first line minutes, and has been for a few games now.

But what’s so special about 10 points in 14 games, you might ask? Well, it’s also the little things that Callahan is doing that makes him that much more dynamic. He kills penalties, and does a fantastic job with it. He hits people, leading the team with 242 hits, which is 4th in the NHL. He is fast, and he never takes a shift off. He is turning into a very special hockey player, and we are watching the transformation with each game.

Can Callahan keep this up? Torts expects it, as he is seeing first line time, power play time, and penalty kill time. Callahan plays the game the way it should be played: Balls to the wall intensity with every shift. He has speed, skill and determination. We will be seeing much more of Ryan Callahan, hopefully flanking Scott Gomez and Sean Avery (wow has that line been amazing), for many seasons to come.

Prospect Profile: Derek Stepan

Derek Stepan, the Rangers 2nd round pick of last year’s draft (#51 overall), is an 18 year old center currently playing college hockey for Wisconsin. Before being drafted, he played for the very talented Shattuck-St. Mary’s high school hockey team. That school should sound very familiar, it’s produced players like Zach Parise, Ryan Malone, and the Cry Baby himself, Cindy Crosby. During his final season playing for St. Mary’s, he netted 44 goals and 67 assists for 111 points in 63 games. The year before, he scored 41 goals and 75 points in 63 games. He likes to play along the boards and work for loose pucks, showcasing his ability to make plays and score goals during his time at St. Mary’s.

Playing for Wisconsin in his freshman year, Stepan has put up 6 goals and 18 assists for 24 points in 30 games and is the second leading scorer on the team. It’s safe to assume that Stepan’s build (6′0 168 lbs) is working against him right now. He will need to fill out in college before coming over to the AHL. The Rangers are also lucky that they don’t need to rush any of their centers to the NHL, as there is quite the logjam at the position.

Perhaps Stepan’s best trait, aside from his ability to serve as a goal scorer and a playmaker, is his defensively sound play.

“Stepan has the ability to make plays and score goals. He understands how to do all the little things defensively that are such an important part of winning hockey games.” Ray Clearwater, Rangers’ amateur scout.

He also doesn’t take many penalties, with just 6 PIMs all year with Wisconsin. That’s 3 minor penalties in 30 games. Aaron Voros gets 3 minors in one period.

Currently, Stepan is ranked #10 on the Rangers prospect list on Hockey’s Future. He will surely move up on the list as he develops more and fills out. Hockey’s Future lists him as a potential #2 center as a ceiling, which I agree with if he fills out properly. Between him, Artem Anisimov and Evgeny Grachev, the Rangers have three solid center prospects.