Filip Chytil steals the show with overtime winner
September 21, 2017, by · Comments
The NHL did it. They found a rule that I hate more than the puck over the glass penalty. It’s now the stupid faceoff violation penalty. Don’t get me wrong, I think that blatant violations should be penalized. But a winger lining up with half a skate in the circle? Are you serious? No league gets in their own way quite like the NHL.
Now that my gripe is out of the way, let’s get back to the evaluation of the game.
- Starting with Filip Chytil. It was only one preseason game, and I don’t expect him to make the club, but boy did he look good. The kid just turned 18 years old, and he was out there controlling play. There was one sequence where he protected the puck –they showed it on replay– and he looked like a seasoned NHL vet. Skill beyond his years.
Preseason Game 2: Jersey smells weird
September 20, 2017, by · Comments
AP Photo/Bill Kostroun
The Rangers are back at it tonight against the Devils after beating the Isles in overtime on Monday. Filip Chytil will get his first look at preseason hockey, skating between Chris Kreider and Mats Zuccarello. That will be a fun line to watch. Kevin Shattenkirk is also making his Rangers debut.
Lias Andersson will play again, as will Ryan Gropp. That’s a good sign for both guys. Brady Skjei will skate with Shatty, so….drool. I’m expecting a round of cuts after this game or tomorrow.
What we’ve learned from training camp so far
September 20, 2017, by · Comments
When was the last time you saw a Ranger D-man make a move like this? (Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports)
Jeff Gorton is not blind to the hole at center
Gorton was very careful with his wording in response to reporters’ questions about attempted deals for help at center over the course of the summer. Though nothing materialized, it’s clear that Gorton has been active in conversations. But he’s also willing to be patient. When camp opened Alain Vigneault said he wants to see J.T. Miller at center because he’ll be needed there “at some point.” AV also indicated that both Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil have a real chance at making the team. It’s up to all three of those players to prove their merit and take the pressure off Gorton. But for the time being, it seems that Gorton is willing to let things play out.
Trading for Matt Duchene makes all kinds of sense for the Rangers, but not so much for the Avs
Josh wondered aloud the other day about the absence of trade rumors between Colorado and New York given the Blueshirts’ glaring need and the availability of such an obvious solution in Duchene. Gorton has surely conversed with Colorado GM Joe Sakic, but there still doesn’t appear to be a trade match between the two clubs. It’s widely known the Avs are seeking a blue chip young defender and the likes of Ryan Murray, Cody Ceci, Thomas Chabot, Justin Faulk and Noah Hanifin have circulated through the rumor mill as potential building blocks from known interested parties.
Lineup for the second preseason matchup
September 19, 2017, by · Comments
The Rangers have revealed their lineup for tomorrow’s tilt against the Devils:
Chris Kreider-Lias Andersson-Ryan Gropp
Matt Puempel-Kevin Hayes-Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey-Adam Tambellini-Filip Chytil
Daniel Catenacci-David Desharnais-AndrewDesjardins
Brady Skjei-Kevin Shattenkirk
Vince Pedrie-Brendan Smith
Marc Staal-John Gilmour
Henrik Lundqvist
Alex Georgiev
That fourth line seems like a throw-away line to me, but the top-nine are very skilled. I’m intrigued to see how Gropp does. But all eyes will be on Chytil. Also Skjei/Shatty as the top pair? Drool.
Rangers reduce training camp roster by five
September 19, 2017, by · CommentsThe Rangers have cut five players from the training camp roster, leaving 49 players left in camp.
- Robin Kovacs and Adam Chapie were assigned to Hartford. Brenden Kotyk was released from his NHL PTO and assigned to Hartford as well.
- Tim Gettinger and Ty Ronning were assigned to their junior teams.
The Gettinger/Ronning moves were expected. It is interesting that Sean Day was not assigned to juniors. The club may be looking at sending him to the AHL instead.
The fact that Kovacs was assigned to Hartford with the first players cut is not promising. Many, including myself, were hoping his rough year last season was due to the bad team and bad usage. However getting cut this early does not bode well.
Top 10 Prospects for the New York Rangers
September 19, 2017, by · Comments
Time for the final addition of my prospect rankings this year. If you missed it, here are rankings 35-29, rankings 28-21, and rankings 20-11. Without further ado:
10. Ryan Gropp, W – Ryan Gropp is a polarizing character on the Rangers prospect list. Don’t get me wrong, I like a lot of prospects more than I like Gropp, but given his physical traits and his quick release he may have a better chance at carving out an NHL career. It is hard for me to get excited about Gropp knowing the Rangers willingly passed on Daniel Sprong, Jeremy Bracco and Oliver Kylington and it is even worse when he hasn’t exactly made them look brilliant. While he is known to be a wonderful scorer with an NHL release, you would expect him to produce more as an overage guy in the WHL.
Unfortunately for the Rangers, he didn’t really get the offense going until halfway through the year when Islanders top prospect Matt Barzal returned to his pivot. His lack of offense was a major red flag, and coincidentally as it was becoming more profound we started getting prospect reports discussing Gropp’s drastically improved defensive play.
Recap #1 of the Season: Preseason opener vs. the Islanders
September 19, 2017, by · Comments
Spoiler Alert: Not from this game
There isn’t much to say about last night’s preseason game. Maybe the Rangers wanted to temper everyone’s excitement so they could gradually build it up, or maybe it was just a preseason game. But Neal Pionk had something to say about that shortly into the 0-0 overtime.
Folks…
Preseason Game 1: Fishsticks
September 18, 2017, by · Comments
Hockey has arrived, and boy am I happy to say that. The Rangers begin their preseason tonight at home against the Islanders. There are a bunch of roster battles taking place this preseason, with the focus primarily on the bottom six and the bottom pairing. We get to see Lias Andersson tonight with Pavel Buchnevich and Michael Grabner flanking him, something we could see in the preseason. We also get to see Anthony DeAngelo tonight as the 3RD, a role he might get with Nick Holden, his partner.
Also playing tonight are Neal Pionk, Ryan Graves, and Boo Nieves. All three have an outside chance of making the club. We may see Graves-Kampfer, a pairing tonight, as the top pairing in Hartford this season, so paying attention to that chemistry will help us figure out what we have in the AHL this season.
Filling the leadership void
September 18, 2017, by · Comments
Photo: Jim McIsaac/Newsday
The Rangers made major moves this offseason, not only shedding salary and getting younger, but parting ways with two member of the leadership core. Dan Girardi was bought out, and Derek Stepan was traded to Arizona, leaving just Rick Nash and Marc Staal with ‘A’s on their jerseys. Both of their futures are questionable as well.
Alain Vigneault has hinted that he is unsure if the Rangers will go with four ‘A’s again next season, or just stick with Nash and Staal. Letters are more recognition that a player is a leader in the locker room, but you don’t need a letter to be a leader. Just look at Henrik Lundqvist, who’s a powerful and respected voice in the locker room.
Lineup for tomorrow’s preseason opener
September 17, 2017, by · CommentsAlain Vigneault has released the roster/lineup for the preseason tilt tomorrow at MSG against the Islanders. There’s a mix of kids and roster players, with some interesting lines/pairings:
Bobby Farnham-Boo Nieves-Vinni Lettieri
Pavel Buchnevich-Lias Andersson-Michael Grabner
Rick Nash-JT Miller-Paul Carey
Andrew Desjardins-Gabriel Fontaine-Cole Schneider
Ryan McDonagh-Neal Pionk
Nick Holden-Anthony DeAngelo
Ryan Graves-Steven Kampfer
Ondrej Pavelec/Brandon Halverson
The Buchnevich-Andersson-Grabner line could be the third line on opening night. It also appears that DeAngelo will be given every opportunity to stick on the third pair, assuming Holden gets the nod. Wonder what that means for Marc Staal.