Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

It’s amazing how the roles were reversed this game. On Monday the Flyers dressed an AHL squad and looked outmatched by the Rangers. Last night, the Rangers dressed an AHL squad but didn’t look outmatched. That’s a testament to the strong undrafted UFA signings and solid development of the kids. They had a bad second period, but were always in the game. I only got home to catch the second half of the game, but such is life.

  • Danny Kristo had a solid game, but it makes you wonder if it’s enough to unseat some of the other kids. Even if you assume the Rangers send Anthony Duclair back to the Q, there’s still Jesper Fast, Oscar Lindberg, Kevin Hayes, and Lee Stempniak to beat for a third line role. It’ll be tough for him.
  • The battle for the 7D spot has pretty much been resolved at this point. Dylan McIlrath won’t be sitting in the press box, he will get big minutes with the Wolf Pack. Steven Kampfer and Michael Kostka have been ‘eh’ as well. That leaves Conor Allen and Matt Hunwick. Allen will probably get big minutes with McIlrath in the AHL, leaving Hunwick. He’s been better than Kampfer and Kostka, that’s for sure.
  • I still think that Hayes needs some seasoning in the AHL. I see no harm in going the first month with Derick Brassard-J.T. Miller-Dominic Moore-Lindberg down the middle until Derek Stepan returns.

  • Back to Duclair: He does look lost sometimes without the puck, but he is really making it hard for the coaching staff to send him to the Q. Found open ice, and Moore hit him with a nice pass. Kid sure has offensive instincts. That said, Duclair has three goals on eight shots (37.5% SH%), it’s completely unsustainable. Kid is very, very good, but using this preseason to judge him is like using the 2012 postseason to judge Kreider. Remember that Kreider needed two more years to develop before turning into the top-six forward he is today.
  • That pass is why I’m comfortable with Moore as the 3C until Stepan returns.
  • Completely unrelated to prospect development, but I truly hate the coincidental minors for diving/whatever the penalty was. There was either a penalty or a dive, not both.
  • Ryan Bourque goes forgotten in a lot of this, but he’s no longer competing for a third line spot. He’s competing for a fourth line spot now.
  • Lee Stempniak had a quietly solid game. He plays a three zone game and will chip in 20 or so goals offensively. He’s a more responsible Benoit Pouliot, who started very slowly last year.
  • Mat Bodie looked a little shaky, but that’s fine. It was his first pro game. He was always destined for the AHL anyway.
  • Chris Mueller has been quietly impressing this entire preseason. I think he’s at least earned the shot at 13F, he’s certainly outplayed Ryan Malone and Matt Lombardi.
  • That’s all I got, but the game sure did seem a step slower than Monday’s.

The Rangers will get down to 30 players by the end of the day. The picture for the bottom six spots will get a little clearer by then.

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