Archive for Tanner Glass
A subtle distinction
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Photo Credit: @GraphicComments
With the Sharks 4-2 win last night in game 5, the 2015-2016 season lasts just a little bit longer. Once Lord Stanley has found his summer home, we move on proper to the business of improving the New York Rangers. Much digital ink has been spilled, including some stellar pieces around these parts, about who should stay or go, cap math and statistical analysis. This morning, I want to talk about some subtle distinctions.
I was having a beer with a buddy of mine yesterday afternoon. I grew up playing with this guy, and we been friends and Rangers fans for over 20 years. We started talking about the team; who we liked, who was overpaid, who should be shipped out and replaced in an effort to re-tool the roster back to a legitimate contender. It occurred to me during this conversation, partly because of our dynamic, that it kind of sounded like those old school scouting conversations. He isn’t much of an advanced stats guy, so we were talking like it was the 90’s. Read More→
Thoughts prior to “Glen Sather Night” in Edmonton
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oilers.nhl.com
After a tough loss against Vancouver, the Rangers continue their west coast trip tonight in Edmonton. Between late games and a somewhat erratic, feast or famine schedule, I have some scattered thoughts…
1) Can you believe we are past the 1/3 mark of the season already? I am of the mind set that the first third is for evaluating your systems and personnel, the second third is for making adjustments and the final third is for making that push toward the playoffs. Injuries to Kevin Klein and Derek Stepan have thrown something of a wrench into that plan.
2) Speaking of those injuries, they have really wrecked havoc on AV’s deployment and line management. I understanding you are without one of your top-six centers and top-4 defensemen. That would be a serious issue for any contending team. The concern I have is that it seems like AV is putting a greater focus on trying to find lightning in a bottle with his line combo’s than he is trying to find a reliable balance.
Rangers recall Tanner Glass
Posted by: | CommentsThe Rangers have recalled forward Tanner Glass from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. Glass was waived in October, as he did not have a spot on the roster when everyone was healthy. With Derek Stepan on the shelf, the Rangers needed a spare forward. Although Jayson Megna was called up over the weekend just in case a forward couldn’t play, clearly Alain Vigneault prefers to have someone like Glass around just in case.
It is unclear how long Glass will be with the team, but it’s logical to assume he will be here through the Western Canada road trip. Glass put up a line of 2-3-5 in 17 games with the Pack.
Per Pat Leonard, Glass will play for Emerson Etem, who is sick.
Some random Friday thoughts
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www.newsday.com
The Rangers have now past the ten game mark of the new season, and will be taking on the cellar-dwelling Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at Madison Square Garden in search of a 7-2-2 start. There has been much to analyze in the early going, so naturally I have some thoughts…
1. Mainstream media analysis, especially in the early goings of a season, is especially broad. Good starts, slow starts and unexpected performers litter the narrative landscape. Reading publications like The Hockey News or ESPN, the assumption is that the Canadiens are invincible and the Ducks and Blue Jackets are toast. You dig a little deeper into the individual teams and you find that each club has it own sources of consternation and optimism.
Tanner Glass clears waivers
Posted by: | CommentsAs expected, Tanner Glass has cleared waivers. Assuming he is sent to the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers will clear $950,000 in much needed cap space. The Rangers will retain a $500,000 cap hit for Glass as a part of the Wade Redden rule.
Rangers place Tanner Glass on waivers
Posted by: | CommentsThe Rangers have placed winger Tanner Glass on waivers. Glass appears to have been beaten out by Jarret Stoll for the 13F position, and his $1.45 million cap hit was putting the Rangers in a precarious position. If unclaimed and the Rangers send him to Hartford, the Rangers will only clear $950,000 of his salary on the cap. The Rangers will retain a $500,000 cap hit, per the Wade Redden rule.
Putting together the ideal fourth line
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Will sitting Fast work?
In case you missed it, and I’m pretty sure you haven’t, the Rangers have inserted Tanner Glass back to the fourth line. In the process, Jesper Fast has been scratched from the lineup. It’s October, so it’s not worth panicking yet (as I mentioned this morning), but this is a bit of an alarming move.
The Rangers need a solid fourth line to compete for a Stanley Cup this year. Scoring and skating depth throughout the lineup is critical, as is a fourth line that can eat up defensive zone starts. The Rangers had this in 2013-2014, and rode that roster construction all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Rangers did not have that last year. The scoring suffered. The defense suffered. And while injuries certainly played a role in their seven game loss to the Lightning, the roster was not constructed to give the Rangers their best chance at winning.
Tanner Glass returns to practice
Posted by: | CommentsTanner Glass returned to practice today, skating as the 8th defenseman with Dylan McIlrath. Glass missed two days with a leg issue. The only other item of note from practice was Emerson Etem swapping in with Jesper Fast for fourth line reps. This doesn’t mean Etem will play over Fast, just that he’s getting reps in at his usual position.
Understanding Alain Vigneault’s lineup choices this week
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Glass
When the lineup for last night’s victory against the Flyers was released, there were a few questions regarding the choices Alain Vigneault made. The major questions were regarding the choice to sit both Tanner Glass and Kevin Klein, despite all signs pointing to the duo competing for roster spots.
Glass is competing with Jarret Stoll for a 4th line/13F spot on the roster. Stoll played last night on the fourth line with Dominic Moore, who will likely be on the fourth line as well. It makes sense that AV is trying to see who performs better in that specific role. That said, expect Glass to get into the lineup during tomorrow’s finale against Boston.
With two cuts looming, Rangers have plenty of options
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Stoll (Mark J. Terrill/AP)
Over the weekend, the New York Rangers cut the roster to 25 players. In doing so, a lot of questions were answered about the makeup of the opening day roster. Brady Skjei will spend some time in Hartford. Brian Gibbons, despite his solid preseason, will also open the season in Hartford. The only apparent guarantee is that Jayson Megna gets cut, which means there are very few question marks remaining.
Kevin Klein, Dylan McIlrath, or Raphael Diaz?
Two of the above three will make the team, but if Alain Vigneault has his way, all three will make the team. McIlrath has been a pleasant surprise this preseason, as it was do or die for the former first round pick. He has certainly out-performed Klein, whose contract may become a hindrance rather than a luxury. But the Rangers can fit all three under the salary cap, assuming other roster moves are made first.