A Bus Fit For A King; Andrew Yogan Notes

For his effort with the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the face of the Rangers, and all-world goalie Henrik Lundqvist has a New York City bus named after him yesterday afternoon. I was unable to attend, but good friend Nick Montemagno of Rangers Tribune was able to not only join, but found a way to interview The King himself. The interview can be found at Rangers Tribune. It’s good to see that professional bloggers like Nick can still find ways to get interviews with players, even if the organization doesn’t approve. Nick also had the privilege of interviewing Wayne Gretzky a while back, and always does a great job. Make sure you head over and read his brief interview.

Also, Draft America caught up with Peter Worrell, who coached Rangers 2010 4th round draft pick Andrew Yogan while he played in Florida for the Junior Panthers. Peter had some very kind words for Andrew:

“Andrew is one of those kids who’s just a naturally gifted goal-scorer. He has an ability that you cannot teach a player. He just knows how to put the puck in the net. He’s a big, strong kid… He has a real opportunity to be the first kid from this area to actually be an NHL player.”

Although HockeysFuture has Yogan projecting out as a checker in the NHL, it is good to see Yogan has a scoring touch. Yogan will be playing for the Erie Otters in the OHL next season, as he begins his career as a professional hockey player. Don’t forget to go to Draft America to check out the rest of the interview.

One last thing, I received an email about some Ranger greats appearing at Iona College on September 25. Here’s the information:

I thought you, and your followers, may be interested. Saturday, September 25th, Messier, Lemieux, Howe, Leetch, Graves, Hull and more will be at Iona College’s Mulcahy Gym at 10AM for ‘Steinerfest IV:Hockey Greats’, to meet fans and sign autographs. Admission is $10 and $5 for children 12 and under. Fans will be able to purchase player autographs, win raffle prinzes, participate in silent auctions, take pictures and more. Tickets can be purchased at Steiner Sports Store and at Last Licks locations.

That’s a hell of a crew headed to Iona for autographs. Each one alone is worth the admission.

Training Camp Preview: Goalies

Training camp is just around the corner, and each Monday here at Blue Seat Blogs, I will be previewing each position in camp, including the incumbents, the new guys, and the guys just trying to make a name for themselves before being sent to Hartford. This week, we look at the only position that is (hopefully) set for the next two years at the NHL level, the goaltender position.

Henrik Lundqvist: The incumbent, current face of the franchise, and top-five goalie in the league. Lundqvist has been the backbone of the franchise in the post-lockout NHL, and will hopefully continue to do so for the next decade. In Lundqvist, the Rangers have one of the most consistent goalies in the league, who will most likely see his fare share of All-Star appearances and build upon his already three Vezina finalists. Last year, Lundqvist put up a record of 35-27-10, with a 2.38 GAA and a .921 SV%. With more rest coming, Lundqvist should be able to build on those numbers, and hopefully not burn out at the end of the season, like he has in the past few seasons due to starting 70 games a year.

Martin Biron: After last season’s debacle at the backup position, the Rangers identified that they need a capable, veteran backup that can spell Lundqvist for 20 games this season. Signed to a two year deal at $875,000 per year, Biron’s job may appear to be simple, but the Rangers haven’t had a capable (and consistent) backup since Kevin Weekes. If Biron can put together a .500 record, with a GAA under 3.00 for 20 games per year the next two years, then it will be the single most important signing of the offseason.

Chad Johnson: Johnson played well in his four games last season, putting up a 2.35 GAA, which is unfortunately overshadowed by the Rangers W-L record during his stint in net (1-2-1). There is simply no room for Johnson at the NHL level, but the Rangers are hoping he can put together a good camp, and carry the Hartford Wolfpack in net. Johnson struggled at the end of last season, but it may be due to jet/train lag from traveling to and from Hartford to go wherever the Rangers needed him to go. Dos-Nueve will likely start in Hartford, and hopefully can develop into a solid and reliable goalie. With the starting position seemingly filled for the next decade, Johnson is probably going to be best served as a trade chip.

Cameron Talbot: The recently signed Talbot is entering camp as the #4 goalie in the system. Talbot played for a very weak Alabama-Huntsville for three seasons, posting a solid final two seasons that led to the Rangers signing him. Talbot will definitely be in Hartford next year, probably serving as the backup for Chad Johnson. Talbot will likely be the first goalie in camp sent to Hartford, but he is definitely going to show up motivated. In the best case scenario, Talbot gives Johnson a run for his money, forcing the coaching staff to take a longer look at him before sending him to Hartford.

The goaltender position isn’t going to change much in the next few years, as Lundqvist will continue to be the backbone of the Rangers. It is the Rangers greatest strength, but can also be their greatest weakness if Biron doesn’t fulfill his duties. The backups and prospects will come and go, but when you have The King in net, you tend to look at goalie prospects as trade bait.

No Worlds for Lundqvist

It looks like Henrik Lundqvist will not be participating in this year’s World Championships. According to 5-hole blog, Lundqvist’s knees are bothering him so much to the point that he will not be able to participate.

Take a second to panic.

Now that you’re done panicking, there’s no real reason to panic here. When goalies play 70+ games for three years in a row, their knees bother them. Hell, when I play one game in net my knees bother me for three days. Unless this turns into an issue that lingers into August and September, then there really is nothing to worry about. The hockey season is one of, if not the most, grueling seasons in professional sports. It really takes its toll on your body. Let’s not panic, and consider this to be a good decision made by the face of the franchise to get some much needed rest.

Hank Out Tonight

As per Andrew Gross’s twitter, Chad Johnson will get the start again tonight, as Henrik Lundqvist will be out with a stomach flu for the second game in a row.

Update 7:00pm: Ales Kotalik and Donald Brashear are scratched again. Strong trade rumors swirling, as there was a 35 minute delay for Tortorella’s pregame press conference.

Don’t Sweat It

Yeah, I know I haven’t posted much outside of the game thread, but if you saw my schedule, you would understand. I’ll take this rare free moment to talk about the Rangers. Mostly, about the game last night. Yeah, it sucked. No goals in two straight games. Unacceptable.  Too many games with no effort. Again, unaccetpable. But, there’s one thing that gives me confidence: Henrik Lundqvist. It may be trite, but in the lackluster Eastern Conference, you don’t need to score that much to win. You just need a great goalie. Lundqvist is playing at an extremely high level as of late. He’s been almost unbeatable. And while the lack of scoring is frustrating, and tough to watch, take solace in the fact that you can make the playoffs with a stellar goalie. The Rangers are lucky to have a stellar goalie. While the scoring could haunt them in the playoffs, Hank is good enough to steal a win or even a series. In the playoffs, it’s all about a hot goalie. To make the playoffs, a stellar goalie can get you there.

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.

Lunqvist Named Swedish Goalie

This is relatively old news, and unsurprising news, but Henrik Lundqvist has been named the starting goalie for the Swedish Olympic team. In the 2006 Olympics, Lundqvist backed the Swedish team to a gold medal. Although the 2010 Swedish team will lack Mats Sundin, they are making up for it with new comer Niklas Backstrom.

I get the feeling that Sweden will be defending their gold in the medal round this year, possibly against Canada.

Which Rangers Will Be In The Olympics?

With the Olympics around the corner, and the announcement of rosters just days away, it’s time to break down which Rangers will be heading to Vancouver.

MORTAL LOCKS:

Henrik Lundqvist, Sweden

Marian Gaborik, Slovakia

What, you thought these guys would be staying home?

ON THE BUBBLE:

Chris Drury, USA

Ryan Callahan, USA

Vinny Prospal, Czech Republic

Marc Staal, Canada

I think Drury’s recent hot streak helps him. He’s an unbelievable penalty killer. And a great leader. But, he may not score enough to make it. Same with Callahan. Will he provide enough offense for USA to take him? He’d be a hell of a 3rd liner, though. Prospal is interesting. He probably wasn’t on the radar at the beginning of the year. But, he’s had a such a good year, and he can really set up some of the big stars. Staal is probably a long-shot. He hasn’t had a great year, offensively, but he can be a shut down defenseman. I think 2014 is more likely for him.

Anyone I’m missing?

Chris Higgins Can’t Buy A Goal, And Other Random Thoughts

As we try to digest yet another Rangers loss, I couldn’t help but think. So here are some random thoughts coming from my mind to yours.

-Chris Higgins can’t buy a goal. Honestly. He’s been playing so well. He’s been aggressive on the forecheck. He’s creating chances. He just can’t bury the puck. And I don’t know why. I don’t know why. But,  I have a feeling that he’s going to get hot. He has to at some point. He’s playing to well.

-Lundqvist needs a break. Whether he’s been worked too hard, or whether is mind is elsewhere, having Valliquette start a couple more games cannot hurt. Hank needs to be Hank for this team to win. Right now, he’s struggling.

-Marian Gaborik is close to breaking last year’s high goal total. Markus Naslund had 24. Gabby has 21. He should break it this week.  And it hasn’t even been 30 games!

-Gaborik is why this team is better than last year. Immediately, you have a better scoring presence. Power play is imporved, markedly. This team should make the playoffs. They are better than last year. This is probably just a rough stretch.

-I miss Wade Redden.

-Bobby Sanguinetti does nothing for me.

-Chris Drury looks like a different player, in a good way. Much faster, much better skating-wise. He’s doing a hell of job on the point.

-Ales Kotalik has found his way into the doghouse.

-P.A. Parenteau is pretty good. He should stay for awhile.

-Like I said, this is a playoff team. This is just a rough (very rough) stretch. All teams go through it. If the Rangers can come out of this and get some points, everything will be okay.

Drury Out, Lundqvist “Maybe”

The injury news for the Rangers is not good. Already out is Brandon Dubinsky, who will be gone at least three weeks with his broken hand. Andrew Gross is reporting that also out is Chris Drury, as the Rangers are taking the safe route with his concussion, as they should. Henrik Lundqvist is a maybe, as his wonky groin (looks like us fans were worried about the wrong groin) may keep him out of action for tomorrow’s game. Enver Lisin is going to play, even though he broke his left foot. Having trouble keeping up?

This is just terrible news for the Rangers. Losing one of Dubinsky or Drury is tough, because the Rangers aren’t that deep of a team, but losing both is going to take its toll on the team. Lisin’s foot is troublesome, but not overly concerning, as he will be playing through it. The worst news here is Lundqvist, as the Rangers can ill afford to have him out for a while. As much as the Rangers will depend on Marian Gaborik to carry the team, if Lundqvist goes down long term, we are looking at a lottery pick.

The lines, as per Gross, for tomorrow:

Speaking of lines, here’s what the Rangers showed today:
Lisin-Vinny Prospal-Marian Gaborik
Christopher Higgins-Artem Anisimov-Ales Kotalik
Sean Avery-Brian Boyle-Ryan Callahan
Donald Brashear, Aaron Voros, Dane Byers.

There are commas instead of hyphens with the fourth-liners because none of them are likely to play center. Instead, if Tortorella decides to use his fourth line for the occasional shift, he’ll most likely double shift one of his three centers.

The defense pairings, as usual, remain the same:
Matt Gilroy-Wade Redden
Michael Del Zotto-Michal Rozsival
Marc Staal-Dan Girardi.

It makes sense to just substitute the fourth line in. If the centers need a rest, both Higgins and Avery can play a shift or two a game at center to compensate.

I guess the silver lining is that Ilya Kovalchuk will not be playing tomorrow night, so it’s going to have to be Rich Peverley and Nik Antropov that do the damage against either Lundqvist or Steve Valliquette.