Training Camp Hot Seats

Less than a month to go before Camp. Who is in danger of missing out? Which players need a strong camp to make the club and fight their way up the depth charts? For the first time in several seasons the Rangers go into training camp with a lot of competition for places. How many places are really up for grabs remains to be seen but there are a few spots seemingly up for grabs.  On Tuesday we considered the Sean Avery scenario however Avery is not alone in needing a good camp. For varying reasons, here are a few more guys under pressure.

Brian Boyle; Boyle may be one of the more frustrating Rangers of recent times. A massive body that was very good at the AHL level for Manchester and who had a good college career, Boyle simply hasn’t done it at the NHL level. Doesn’t play physical given his size and hasn’t finished well when the opportunities have been there. He’ll start the camp without a spot and needing to win one back. It’s hard to see how he fits into the equation at present. His NHL career is in jeopardy so it’d be nice to see some desire and passion in camp.  

Dane Byers; The talented Byers could be a useful player for the Rangers if only he could stick and stay healthy. Having been repeatedly overlooked it’s hard to imagine he’ll get another chance if he doesn’t make the team this time around. Good size, aggression and decent scoring ability are all facets of Byers’ game and in theory he’d make an ideal bottom six player. With the signings of Prust and Boogaard, the presence of Boyle and the threat of Weise it’s looking cluttered in the bottom 6. If another year in the AHL beckons, surely it’s either a trade or a change of scenery after his current 1 year deal expires.

Erik Christensen; Yes, EC has a new 2 year deal in his pocket. However, a deal that pays less than 1m annually is easy to move (or rid) and Christensen has by no means secured anything at this stage. Flashed his tantalizing skill set enough last year to equally impress and frustrate the coaching staff (‘why couldn’t he do it more’…) but his spot will be under threat if Anisimov wins a top 6 spot and Prospal, Dubinsky and Todd White battle for the other centre spot. That’s without mentioning X factors such as Ethan Werek and Derek Stepan who come to camp with little pressure. It’s hard to imagine Christensen thriving enough lower down the order, to stick. Top 6 or bust?

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Difference Makers?

While studying the Rangers current NHL roster the other day (and not considering who might make the roster from the minors/juniors/Europe) it was interesting to note who may be the most crucial influences in making the club a playoff team again. Not considered were Gaborik, Lundqvist, Frolov and Del Zotto. Those players will obviously have a big say on the season ahead and until Marc Staal signs on the dotted line its hard to consider him. Let’s have a look at three players that can make a huge difference.

Chris Drury. The captain’s goal output in the last 4 years: 37, 25, 22, 14. That’s a worrying trend. He also took 71 shots less last year than the year before. Everyone knows the defensive skills he brings on the PK but if Drury can ‘just’ get back to the 22 goal form of 2 years ago then he will have a huge influence on the secondary scoring of this team. Simply put Drury needs to get into dangerous positions more and shoot the puck. He’s never been a plus player as a Ranger and his ice time may be limited given the additions to the roster but thanks to his captain status and cap hit it’s hard to imagine Drury wont atleast get an opportunity to make an impact. We should know early into the season whether Drury has anything left in the tank offensively. If he does, it bodes well for the Rangers.

Artem Anisimov. The lanky Russian is hugely talented and has progressed a lot since his rookie year in Hartford. Defensively proficient and with the ability to both score himself or make a play it’s unclear just where on the depth chart Anisimov will start the year. If Anisimov grabs a top 6 centre spot it serves the Rangers well in the long term. Given his solid totals from last year in limited ice time it’s fair to expect progression from the Russian. Anisimov’s play also hugely affects other roster players. All of Brandon Dubinsky, Eric Christensen and Todd White’s ice time may be affected by AA so his training camp performance directly affects a lot of players careers. Training camp competition at center should be fierce which can only be a good thing.

Dan Girardi. Girardi wasn’t very good last year yet he got more than a 100% rise in salary. It’s time to earn the pay rise Dan. Given the potential change and lack of experience on the blue line Girardi needs to step up. If Girardi can show the composure that highlighted his early Rangers career, can show more consistency and score a little heavier then Girardi can become a key cog for this team. A good Dan Girardi allows Del Zotto and any rookie such as McDonagh to not have their development rushed. The Ontario native isn’t great at any one facet of the game but can make positive contributions in several areas. Stepping into a senior role this season would benefit the Rangers long term development massively.

Rookies Rated

TSN recently looked at the top 100 rookies in the NHL this season that included both Michael Del Zotto and Artem Anisimov. Using a measuring system they explain here this is what TSN had to say about our kids. Make sure you read the methodology/scoring first….

 16. Michael Del Zotto, D, N.Y. Rangers
Age: 19
Stats: 9-28-37, minus-20, 32 PIM in 80 GP
TSN.ca Rating: 69.16
Comment: Has to tighten up defensively, but there aren’t many teen defensemen who have put up more than 35 points as a rookie. Aside from Myers, the last one to do so was Bryan Berard with 48 in 1996-1997.

MDZ came in at 16th in their ‘scoring’ but their analysis reveals something that speaks volumes for MDZ.  He had the 2nd best (teenage) scoring season for defenceman since 1996-97. That’s an impressive performance though TSN are right in saying that his defence will need to be improved upon. Hopefully that comes with age and experience. A very good first year, personally, for the Rangers’ future star PP QB.

 Next was AA:

 35. Artem Anisimov, C, N.Y. Rangers
Age: 21
Stats: 12-16-28, minus-2, 32 PIM in 82 GP
TSN.ca Rating: 65.38
Comment: Not a huge offensive year, but solid enough for lanky pivot who can still get faster and stronger.

The further down the list the less analysis TSN do so not much to read here. However looking deeper ourselves consider this: on a non playoff team, a low scoring team and anchoring the 4th line at 12mins/game, 28 points may not sound a lot but factoring all that in, it was an excellent year for AA. Defensively sound and with room to grow this was also a great start to an NHL career.

 Almost an afterthought at the end of the season was Matt Gilroy. He made TSN’s list at 39:

 39. Matt Gilroy, D, N.Y. Rangers
Age: 25
Stats: 4-11-15, even, 23 PIM in 69 GP
TSN.ca Rating: 63.72
Comment: Hobey Baker winner saw ice time decrease as season progressed and didn’t play at all in April.

No analysis here that we don’t know already but allow me to add a little: Defensively still developing, I was most disappointed by the offensive numbers. I was hoping for around 20-25 points off Gilroy who at 25 should have come in less phazed by it all (the rookie year). He did, at times, show enough to indicate he could have a bright future but the way his season ended indicates he has an uncertain immediate future and may have lost the coach’s trust. Can he get it back? Long term for the Rangers it would be good if he could.

Rick Carpiniello in particular often talks about how the Rangers lack top end talent compared to most teams but going forward do most teams have Henrik Lundqvist and Marian Gaborik? Do most teams have two future D studs like Staal and MDZ? I know I harp on about it but (Gilroy’s struggles aside) its hard to be too negative when we have such a young core growing together featuring AA, MDZ, Staal, Dubinsky, Callahan, Lundqvist and Gaborik. The Magnificent 7? Could be…

Dubinsky, Gilroy, Staal, Anisimov Headed to Worlds

As per Kevin Allen of USA Today, Brandon Dubinsky and defenseman Matt Gilroy will be representing Team USA in the World Championships. Both players have something to prove, as Gilroy was a healthy scratch for the final eight games of the Rangers season, and Dubinsky battled inconsistency all year. Ryan Callahan would have participated, but will sit out to help his knee heal.

Bob McKenzie is reporting that Marc Staal will be named to Team Canada. Staal, who was left off the Olympics roster, is a solid addition for Team Canada.

Larry Brooks is reporting that Artem Anisimov will play for Russia. Anisimov was impressive all year in minimum ice time, and should be able to build on this experience and come to camp next year to take the #1 center position.

A Star Is Born

So, I lost power last night. It literally just came back on 15 minutes ago, and it was down for 24 hours. (Aside: I lose power a lot. Every time it’s windy out, I lose power. I’d invest in a generator, but I’m moving in the summer. Not because of the power issues. But, that did play a (small) role. But I digress).

Anyway, I had to listen to the game on the radio, which really isn’t the same. But, the name I kept hearing was Artem Anisimov. Anisimov with the puck. Anisimov with the defensive play. Anisimov with the goal. It appeared that Anisimov was the best player on the ice last night (Those who watched please confirm or deny).

Anisimov is not going to score 30 goals this year, like he did in Hartford. But he may get 20. He’s quickly learning the defensive side, and he’s a really good in his own end. He can play on the power play, and kill penalties. In the future, Anisimov will be a 30 goal scorer. He’ll be great in his own end.

My point is this: Anisimov is a star in the making. He’ll center the first line for years to come. Best part: He’s homegrown.

Top Draft Picks of The Decade

Yeah, yeah, I know. The decade ended already. We’re in a new one. But, better late than never, right? I’ve seen a lot of these, and wanted to throw in my two cents. Here are the Rangers top 10 draft picks of the decade (Note: I considered time played with the Rangers. Marek Zidlicky was a great pick, but he never suited up. So he’s not on the list.)

10. Lauri Korpikoski

The “Korpedo” was the 19th overall pick in the 2004 draft. In his one full season on Broadway, Korpikoski established himself as a nice defensive forward with some offensive skills. He was later traded for Enver Lisin. He was 6-8-14 last year. I’m kind of disappointed the Rangers gave up on him so early. While Lisin clearly has some great offensive skills, the “Korpedo”could’ve been another Ryan Callahan type.

9. Bobby Sanguinetti

He hasn’t played much in the NHL, but he clearly has a lot of talent. He has offensive skills, and is improving defensively. He’s playing well in Hartford, but still needs time in the AHL. You’ll see a lot of him next year.

8. Fedor Tyutin

Fedor Tyutin was a stalwart on the blueline for the first couple years of the Rangers resurgence. Big, strong, composed, he had a bright future ahead of him. Still does. Only it will be in Columbus. Tyutin was part of the Nik Zherdev deal. Again, I’m disappointed that they gave up on him. We could’ve used him now.

7. Artem Anisimov

Still only a rookie, Anisimov  is showing flashes of offensive brilliance, with an improving defensive sense. So far, he is 7-8-15, and he seems to improve every game. We know he can score; he scored 37 goals in Hartford last year. I think he has star potential. He’s 6-4 and has room to put some weight on his frame.

6. Brandon Dubinsky

Dubinsky is starting to live up his potential, as he’s getting first line duty with Marian Gaborik. Selected in the 2nd round of the 2004 draft, Dubinsky is a talented forward. Score, hit. He can do it all. He has the potential to be a big time player.

5. Petr Prucha

One of the surprises coming out of the lockout, Prucha posted 30 goals in his rookie year. Of course, he fell into the doghouse after that, and saw his goal totals dip, before being shipped off to Phoenix. A fan favorite, Prucha really got the short end of the stick. Once Jagr left, he wasn’t getting the same chances. Making this pick even better was that it was in the 8th round of the 2002 draft. A steal, to say the least.

4. Michael Del Zotto

Taken in the first round of the 2008 draft, MDZ surprised some by making the team this year. He quickly took the lead on the power play, and has been one of the best rookies in the NHL. He has Leetch-like skill. Great vision, unbelievable passing, and a good shot. He’s a keeper, that’s for sure.

3. Ryan Callahan

Taken in the 4th round of the 2004 draft, Callahan’s rise has been breathtaking. He’s an energy winger, who works hard, but it pays off as he scored 22 goals last year. A great penalty killer, and he loves to hit. He is the alternate captain of the Rangers, and was named to the US Olympic team. He’s a future captain.

2. Marc Staal

Another first round pick, Marc Staal is quickly becoming a shut down defenseman. His offensive skills are still a work of progress, but he is always paired against opposing teams best players. He is one of the best young players in the league, and will anchor the Rangers blueline for a long time.

1. Henrik Lundqvist

Some may say this was the best pick of the decade for the entire NHL. He was taken in the 7th round of the 2000 draft. He wasn’t even the first goalie the Rangers took. They took Brandon Snee in the 5th  round. Who is Brandon Snee? Exactly. Lundqvist is one of the best goalies in the league. He led Sweden to a gold medal. He has been nominated for the Vezina trophy multiple times. He is the key to the Rangers success. What a draft pick.

There are others who didn’t make this list. I didn’t include promising youngsters such as Chris Krieder, Derek Stepan, Ryan Borque, or Evegeny Grachev. They haven’t played a game yet in the NHL. Alexei Cherepanov would be on this list somewhere, if not for his tragic death. But, in the last part of the decade ,the Rangers have done a great job of drafting. Some really promising players in the system. I can’t wait.

Anisimov In, Lisin Out

It looks like Artem Anisimov isn’t feeling any lingering effects from the Matt Cooke cheapshot, as he will be playing tonight in the back-end of the home-and-home.

Enver Lisin, on the other hand, will be a healthy scratch tonight. He played a total of 0:0 in Saturday night’s abomination of a game, and you have to assume that broken foot is really bothering him.

Anisimov: First Line Center?

Before Chris Drury and Brandon Dubinsky went down with injuries in the same game, a combination of Dubinsky and Vinny Prospal (with Enver Lisin on the wing) was used to center the top line. It generally produced the same results: Gaborik and Prospal score, other player gets an assist or two. The best chemistry came when Prospal was playing the wing, as Dubinsky was producing at a 50-60 point pace. Of course, with the aforementioned centers out, the Rangers have been forced to scramble, and Prospal is required to play center.

That all changes with the news that Drury will be back from his concussion tomorrow night against Florida. Aside from the discussion of who will sit, another question is who gets moved from center. Gut reactions are going to say Ryan Callahan, because he’s a natural winger playing center. But I say, let’s try a different route.

Move Prospal back to LW on the top line, and put Artem Anisimov up front to play pivot between him and Gaborik. Believe it or not, Anisimov is fifth in points and fourth in goals on the Rangers. He does all this while averaging barely 11 minutes a game, of which 23 seconds is on the powerplay. That’s a pretty good point/TOI ratio right there.

The skill is obviously there for Anisimov, as he has put up his points (5 goals, 6 assists) while playing with the likes of Aaron Voros, Brian Boyle, Dane Byers, and Donald Brashear. Suffice it to say, that’s impressive. He has also outscored all of those four combined, but that’s less impressive as pretty much everyone on the team has outscored those four.

At the least, Anisimov has earned more playing time than his 11 minutes a game. Those currently playing more time than Anisimov: everyone not on the fourth line. That’s right, everyone. But yet, here is Anisimov in fifth on the team in points. I think it’s about time he gets rewarded for his hard work and results. At least he doesn’t give up the puck every time he touches it (see: Lisin, Enver; averaging 14 minutes a game).

What does John Tortorella have to lose by putting Anisimov on the top line for a game? He can definitely mesh with Prospal and Gaborik. Let’s see how it goes.

The Kids! The Kids!

My dad has a saying for success in sports: The Kids! The Kids! Play the Kids!  He says that kids provide enthusiasm, exuberance, talent. It seems the Rangers were listening. After three games, it’s hard to tell if Michael Del Zotto is going to play as well as he has. It’s hard to tell if Matt Gilroy is going to play as well as he has. It’s hard to tell for Enver Lisin, even Brandon Dubinsky. It’s hard to tell for Artem Anisimov. But for three games, these guys have shown that they can produce, that they can infuse life into a team.

Let’s take last year’s team for example. Pretty veteran laden team. How many rookies did they have? Just Lauri Korpikosi. Include Callahan and Dubinsky, and that’s only 3 kids. Petr Prucha and Nigel Dawes were traded midseason. You see, the problem of the Rangers in the early 2000s was the lack of youngsters. You can overpay for veterans, and your team could be very talented, but unless you have that youthful exuberance, that youthful spirit, you’re not going to go very far. The Red Wings always call up a rookie or two for their playoff run. The Yankees in baseball infused youngsters and vets on their way to the best record in baseball this year. Youngsters are crucial to success in sports. 

Now you have MDZ, Gilroy, Anisimov, Lisin on the ice nightly, and playing in all situations. It’s been three games. It would be foolish to get over excited. But, it’s exciting to watch these guys develop, produce, it’s good for the team. The Rangers might not win the Cup. But their success is crucial to the team’s success. It’s all about the kids. My dad was right all along.

Scoring: A Problem?

Before I start, I’d like to properly introduce myself: My name is Jeremy Fuchs and I’m really excited to join the team here at BlueSeatBlogs. A life long Ranger fan, I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts on my beloved Blueshirts. You may have seen my other work on GiantsGab, or The Blog of Champions. Now that you know a little bit about me, let’s talk hockey.

Last year, all we heard about was scoring. Or the lack thereof. Scott Gomez didn’t (or couldn’t) fill the large shoes of Jaromir Jagr. Chris Drury was playing like a second or third line center, not a first. Markus Naslund, while solid, certainly didn’t set the world on fire. Nikolai Zherdev oozes talent, but can’t get it done on the ice.

As in typical Ranger fashion, they re-tooled in the offseason. They traded Scott Gomez to Montreal, getting Chris Higgins and promising blueliner Ryan McDonagh. Markus Naslund retired, Nik Antropov went to Atlanta, and Nik Zherdev went to the KHL. They signed Marion Gaborik to a mega deal. They signed Vinny Prospal and Ales Kotalik. On paper, this seems to make up and then some for the losses. Yet all I hear from fans is: Where’s the scoring? All I read about in season previews is: Where’s the scoring? Is it an issue? Or are we just too wary of Glen Sather to think he actually did a good job?

184. That’s how many goals the Rangers scored last year. In comparison, the Cup winning Penguins scored 255. Big difference. Well, how many goals can we project the Blueshirts to score this year?

Marion Gaborik: 32

If he’s healthy, he scores 40+ goals. However, I’m accounting for the fact that he might not stay healthy. I think 32 is a reasonable estimate.

Chris Drury: 24.

Hopefully, he’ll rekindle his magic with Kotalik.

Brandon Dubinsky: 16
Playing with Gabby should increase his outptut.

Sean Avery: 15

He scored 8 goals in 41 games. 15 in 81 sounds about right.

Chris Higgins: 24

Higgins was hurt last year, limiting his goal production to 12. I think he can double that if healthy, especially if he plays on a wing with Gaborik.

Ales Kotalik: 20

Scored 20 last year, too

Ryan Callahan: 28

28 might seem like a lot, but Callahan scored 22 goals last year, and was on fire at the end of the season, and in the playoffs. He’s a perfect fit for Tortorella’s system.

Vinny Prospal: 20

Scored 19 last year on a Tampa team in turmoil.

Artem Anisimov: 10

I don’t want to expect too much from the rookie, but he’s a goal scorer, and proved that in Hartford.

Donald Brashear:  2

Hey, it’s an improvement over Colton Orr

Brian Boyle: 5

That’s a nice number for a fourth line center.

Enver Lisin: 15

Lisin scored 13 in Phoenix. His speed is too tantalizing from him not to improve on that total, and he’ll flourish with Torts. He’ll score some on the Power Play as well.

Marc Staal: 8

I think he’s going to flourish in Tortorella’s system. He’ll be leading the rush a lot more.

Dan Girardi: 5

He’s got a very underrated shot.

Wade Redden: 5

I expect him to improve, and he was much better once Tortorella came on.

Michal Rosival: 8

If he just used that shot of his more, this total would be in double digits.

Matt Gilory: 5

He’s been very impressive in preseason duty.

Michael Del Zotto: 4

He’s a true power play QB. He’ll have a good number of assists as well.

So how many goals is that? 246. That’s a HUGE improvement over last year. I think the Gaborik addition, and the development of youngsters aids in the increase. And even if Gaborik gets hurt and only scores 10 goals, it’s  still 224 goals scored. Am I being a bit optimistic? Perhaps. But, it’s reasonable to think. This team is more well balanced. And judging from preseason games, they are a much better passing team. They attack, and they shoot the puck more.  If the Rangers get this goal amount, they will be a much better team. And with Lundqvist, it could lead to a deep playoff run.