As an avid fan of the University of Michigan, its always nice to see one of their former players finding their way into the Blueshirts organization (still trying to get over Al Montoya).  Kolarik captained the Wolverines his senior year and was a leading candidate for the Hobey Baker (along with teammate and eventual winner Kevin Porter) until an injury sidelined him for a key part of the stretch run.  He averaged nearly 20 goals per season in college, which is solid considering most teams only play 40 games.  Kolarik has had some success in the AHL, averaging roughly 50 points in 2 seasons.  He is a very skilled skater with speed and quickness who can play with some grit and create chances for his own, which is just the type of player Tortorella enjoys.  I don’t see him being anything more than minor league player this season, with the potential to be called up to fill a roster spot in the event that someone gets injure.

As for Byers, it seems that the Rangers are content with the oversized players they currently have on the roster.  The 6’3” winger wasn’t able to make a consistent impact at the big league level.  The Rangers probably see more potential for Kolarik in Tortella’s system, and Byers will have to try and find his niche in the Columbus organization.

Forget Tim Kennedy. If he is brought up, back a club can grab him for a mere 275k and a player at his age with minimum 25 point potential wont clear so Kennedy is likely in Hartford for the year. Will we see Todd White make his Rangers debut any time soon? His chances have certainly improved due to the injuries but if Christensen is ready to return the Rangers need is on the wing not at center so the chances the Rangers turn to Hartford increase.

Friday night, while the Rangers were struggling to deal with the Leafs, Mats Zucarrello-Aasen scored his first goal for Hartford. If the Rangers opt to bring a player up and go for skill, over merit they may fast-track MZA to the NHL. One goal in 3 games is nothing to scream about but in terms of pure skill he is the best option in Hartford out of the prospects. Other options may include Dale Weise and/or Dane Byers. Both have started the AHL season reasonably well – Byers has 3 points in 3 games, Weise 2 in 3 – and both were considered close to the roster in pre-season.

A player that should be left well alone (to find his game) in Hartford is Evgeny Grachev. With a goal in his first 3 games Grachev has made an impact but hasn’t yet taken over offensively. He should be allowed to get lots of ice time in the AHL and mature without having the burden of trying to make up for Gaborik’s loss.

If anyone is called up the smart money may be on Weise. Last year the Rangers wanted to get him in the line up at seasons end and Tortorella admitted he likes him as a player. If the Rangers go down the Weise/Byers route we may see Ryan Callahan bumped up a line. Whoever inserted into the line up will cause a rippling effect on the roster because its unlikely the Rangers would insert a guy like Weise straight onto the top line just to avoid breaking up the Stepan and Anisimov lines.

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?

Artem Anisimov; Yes, the uber-talented young Russian is under pressure. Why? Expectancy. Following excellent progress in the AHL and a solid rookie year given his limited ice time last year, a lot is expected – and required – from Anisimov.  An important part of the Rangers future, AA will be expected to grab a scoring role and run with it, especially given the apparent lack of (young) talent the Rangers have at center. Then there’s the threat from below. One poor year and Anisimov may suddenly feel Stepan and Werek breathing down his neck. AA’s progression will cause a rippling effect at the position throughout the entire organisation.  

Matt Gilroy; The much discussed Gilroy will need a year of atleast ‘solid progression’ to get another deal in NY, given the prospects coming through. Even that may not be enough. Blessed with speed and great puck skills there is certainly a need for Gilroy on the roster but he needs a good camp and not have a poor start to the year to avoid being on the outside looking in. With guys like Valentenko, Mcilrath, Niemi, Kundratek and Pashnin on the horizon Gilroy needs to secure his roster spot quickly. The BC star needs to earn Tortorella’s trust and make an impact when he plays. He needs to be confident, use his talents and work his way up the depth chart. The apparent impressive off season work outs are a good start.

Mike Sauer; Brian Leetch – remember him? Almost in perpetual prospect mode, Sauer’s the last playing remnants in the organisation of Brian Leetch.  Picked with the 2^nd round pick acquired from the Leetch to the Leafs deal, Sauer has great tools but poor health. Mismanaged by the Rangers when he was healthy several prospects seem to be passing him by. If Sauer can’t gatecrash the Rangers blue line in this camp, he’s surely gone. A new one year deal in his pocket, Sauer has entered the last chance saloon. A player that doesn’t seem to fit Tortorella’s system, Sauer seems to be a long shot to make the team but if he can stay healthy you never know. It won’t be due to a lack of talent that Sauer doesn’t make it. Is it unfair to mention that Paul Statsny, Kris Letang and John Quick (among others) were picked soon after him? No pressure then…

No doubt, there are several other players that will be under pressure during camp but that’s a good thing. Several roster places (hopefully) aren’t set in stone and therefore there will be plenty to play for. This promises to be the most interesting camp in a long time and a very significant one in the Rangers short and long term future. Next week we will look at some players entering camp with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

This deal surprises me a little, as I thought Byers would have pushed for a one-way deal to guarantee himself more money. As a RFA, he had very little negotiating power though.

Byers previous contract was a one year, two-way deal which paid him $500,000 in the NHL (the league minimum), and $80,000 in the AHL.

Terms of the new deal have not been disclosed.

Starting with Dale Weise, the only player of the trio under contract for next season, has never played an NHL game in his career. Still on his entry level contract at a $700k cap hit, Weise was called up briefly at the end of last season, only to sit in the press box watching the Rangers miss the playoffs. The 2008 fourth round pick put up 50 points (28-22) in 73 games with Hartford this past season, adding 114 PIMs to his point total. He is a prototypical power forward in the AHL. Those who watch him on a daily basis say that the winger is ready for the NHL. He may not put up 28 goals, but he would be able to skate with the pros and hold his own as a grinder. Weise, to the Rangers, represents a cheap, somewhat versatile bottom-six forward who may or may not succeed at the NHL level. What Weise has working for him is the fact that he is signed, a RW (which the Rangers severely lack), and that coach John Tortorella is on the record saying he wishes he could have found a spot for him to play. What he does not have going for him is that he does not have to pass through waivers, and he is unproven at the NHL level.

Next on this list is Brandon Prust, the only player of the trio to find success at the NHL level. Prust, an RFA who was a cap hit of $500k last season, was acquired by the Rangers in the Olli Jokinen trade. In the 26 games he played with the Rangers, Prust was a pleasant surprise, netting 4 goals, 5 assists, and 65 PIMs after the trade. What Prust represents to the Rangers is a young, gritty winger who is not afraid to drop the gloves with anyone in the NHL. Prust serves a purpose on any teams 4th line, as he has proven he can skate and chip in a few goals here and there. Prust is also a very cheap option for the Rangers to put on a bottom-six forward line. However, Prust is due a raise from his $500k salary. With the Rangers in dire salary cap straits, Prust may find himself being a cap casualty, even at a minimal raise. As long as Prust does not ask for more than Weise, he should find himself in Ranger blue next season.

The last on this list is the curious case of Dane Byers. Byers, an RFA this season who was a cap hit of $500k last season, was drafted by the Rangers in the 2nd round of the 2004 draft. Prust has played just 6 NHL games, netting 1 goal and 31 PIMs (all 31 coming from his 5 games this season). Although he was drafted in the 2nd round, Byers has failed to crack the NHL roster in each of the past three seasons. This past season in Hartford, Byers put together a respectable line of 26-26-51, with 100 PIMs in 76 games. The 24 year old winger may actually find himself at the bottom of the depth chart amongst this trio. Byers would also come cheap, and would probably be the cheapest of the trio, which works to his advantage. Much like Weise, Byers is still unproven at the NHL level, but represents a bottom-six forward with size and some goal scoring ability. Unfortunately for Byers, Weise may have passed him on the depth chart this past season.

All signs point to Dale Weise being put in the position of having a roster spot for him to lose come training camp. He has the coach on his side, and has the distinct advantage of actually being signed heading into next season. Prust, being the only player of the trio with successful NHL experience, has history on his side (a strong finish to last season doesn’t hurt either). If he comes relatively cheap, it is a fair assumption that he will be back in blue next season. If you had to create a depth chart from these three guys, it would generally be Weise-Prust-Byers, or Prust-Weise-Byers. The common theme here is that, unfortunately, Dane Byers could find himself as the odd man out. With the glut of bottom-six forwards signed, the Rangers are going to have to make a tough decision when it comes to these three forwards. It is possible that all three are re-signed, but chances are slim that all three will find themselves as a member of the Rangers come opening night in October.

• As per Steve Zipay, Steve Valliquette will be in net tonight, and Enver Lisin will be returning to the lineup as well.
• As per Andrew Gross, Canucks defenseman Shane O’Brien has been suspended for jabbing his stick at Ranger winger Sean Avery during that melee in Vancouver.
• It is presumed that there will be no lineup changes, in terms of who is dressing, for tonight’s game. As noted above, Lisin is back; and as discussed yesterday, Dane Byers has been suspended for this game.

This is probably a move that has two meanings: 1) although he didn’t score, Higgins played a solid game against Boston. This is could be some sort of recognition of that, in an attempt to 2) get him on the scoreboard. It is no surprise that fans’ patience has been a little thin with Higgins. We all penciled him in for 20 goals, and 15 games into the season, he is one of four goalless Rangers. When the other three are Aaron Voros, Donald Brashear, and Michal Rozsival, it’s a little bit disturbing to put Higgins in that company. But, there’s a solid chance that this will work, as he’s playing with the two Rangers that average more than a point per game.

Also making the trip out west was Dane Byers, who will likely be filling in for the injured Donald Brashear. The rumor is that he injured his hand fighting Colton Orr way back when. If he produces, both on offense and in overall toughness, something the Rangers have lacked, we may be seeing a lot more than initially anticipated.