Hugh Fighting to Make Rangers

Will the real Hugh Jessiman please stand up? In three training camps, the 2003 first round pick has always stood out. In his first, with his potential still burning bright, his presence alone was sufficient -- his height, his stature as a top ten draftee, his popularity with fans as a fellow Ranger fan. By last year, his NHL future was clouded -- at 22 he still hadn't filled in his rangy frame and he did not make a mark on the ice until scoring two goals in the Blue-White game. This year, he again stood out in the Blue-White game, scoring the game winning goal while skating on a line with Chris Drury and Martin Straka.

"If you can play a certain style, that will complement any line, as long as he works to his strengths," coach Tom Renney said of Jessiman. "He seems a little more comfortable, more sure of himself. We've been straightforward with what we've been looking for from him that will help him simplify his game, have him have success. His game is going to be a linear game, north-south, hard to the net, stick around, stop there, be a responsible two-way player, use his size and strength to protect pucks, get it to the tough areas, be physical, when necessary be prepared to protect his teammates."

Jessiman has taken an interesting course of action in trying to prepare himself for the latter. Never known as fighter despite his size, he took boxing lessons over the summer. "I worked with a boxing coach in the city," Jessiman said. "He not only helped me physically, but mentally. That helped me wrap my head around the fact that this is the year that I’ll be playing in Madison Square Garden. I haven’t fought out on the ice but I plan to quite a bit more. I didn’t really know how to throw a punch at the beginning of the summer. Last year I was fighting a little bit, but I really didn’t know what I was doing. I need to add it into my game. It’s not something I'm focusing on, but it's something that will help me, and help my teammates at times."

He did not just to learn how to fight but to increase his self-confidence and improve his quickness. "We didn’t just box, we did all sorts of stuff, like balance and core work," Jessiman said. "One of the things he noticed was I was throwing all arms and I didn’t have much core. So a lot of core strength was added by working with him." Working out with Darius Kasparaitis also helped. "Kaspar has always been a good buddy of mine," Jessiman said. "He’s been a guy I’ve looked up to all along. We got together this summer, skated over at Chelsea Piers a couple of times. Training with him is motivating. He tries to pick me up, and I try to pick him up."

Is his showing the past two days a sign that he is finally ready to step up, or is it a repeat of last year, in which Jessiman ended up splitting the season between Hartford and Charlotte and fell off every radar screen except the one that tracks draft busts? A big part of the answer is in what the team expects from him and in his confidence in being able to deliver it. The way he talks, he seems to have bought into what Renney wants him to do rather than his draft day notices.

"It was just a tip in," he said of his goal. "With these guys, they’re buzzing around at a million miles an hour. So obviously I want to be there to support them down low in the zone. But I know my role, which is to go to the net to create space for them, and forecheck hard. And that is really what I took into the game today. A lot of the game is just going to the net. It’s comfortable, not really thinking, just going to the net. Tom says you should go to the net and play a straight line game, and that is what I’m trying to do. But it's something that creates space for myself. Playing big is not just fighting, but believing that you can take on anyone. That’s where this boxing thing really helped out."

We'll get to see Hugh carry it one step further in pre-season games, Renney saying yesterday that he would get that chance. He got it last year but didn't make anything of it. How will he do this year? We will find out beginning Friday when the Rangers' pre-season schedule commences at the Garden with a pair of back to back games against the Devils and Flyers. If the first meeting between those two teams is any indication, Hugh stands a good chance of trying out his newfound skills as a pugilist pretty quickly. For more on him, see reports in Newsday, Journal News, Post, Blueshirts Blog, and Darien Times.

Renney spoke about several other prospects. "Michael's been really good starting in Traverse City," he said of Mike Sauer. "This is his first pro camp of any magnitude. He's been playing with nothing to lose other than making a good first impression for most of us. He's done that. He's been very communicative, which he always has been -- he makes life easier for his linemates. I see a kid who's well thought out, playing to his strengths. He doesn't do anything extraordinary other than playing hard and thinking his way through shifts." His communication skills are evident to all watchers -- he shouts loudly to his teammates during the course of play. The other day, a young boy observed this and said to his brother, "He's giving his position away."

On Lauri Korpikoski, Renney said, "He was really good at Traverse City, and I saw some really good things in today's game. I see the pendulum swinging upwards. He'll be around for a while longer, where he'll get an opportunity." On fellow 2004 first rounder Al Montoya, he said, "He's shown me a pro goalie. He's come in here to make a statement on behalf of himself, and every chance, he does so. So far so good for him." And on 2006 first rounder Bobby Sanguinetti: "He's coming along nicely. He's a proactive offensive player. What I like that I've seen the past few days is his thought process, his instincts. There's still some work to do defensively, but he's improved in that area. The offensive instincts are in place, and we won't stifle those. The biggest thing for him is to play at the highest level he can. I just wrote a note to myself --he'll play in the NHL. Not like that's any great revelation, but he will play. The big thing for us is taking our time with it, make sure we bring as complete a player as we can when the time comes."

And that is the attitude the coaching staff and management are determined to stick to, even if fans and the players themselves are chomping at the bit to see these promising young guys play in the NHL. "There is always opportunity," he said. "There are ways and means to make room for people. Sometimes [that] takes time -- young guys don't often have that type of patience. But we've been able to develop our people to the point where they're competing for those opportunities. Nothing's impossible, we've made that clear. Guys can look at the roster and say, 'That might be a chance for me, that might be a chance for me.' As much as we tell them to give it their best shot, they're not far off. You can't hand anything to anybody who's not ready for it. We have to make sure we apply ourselves in that manner. That's how you become a winner. The culture continues to emerge as being one of accountability, discipline, effort, and those kinds of things."

For more news: Daily News on Lundqvist, Hartford Courant and Rangers Report on the first cuts, Blue Notes on Renney's quotes, MSG.com on Glen Sather's expectations, Hockey's Future top 50 here and here and Leslie Treff's top 20 Ranger prospects (with Montoya ranking ahead of Staal on both lists), and articles on Scott Gomez here, here, here, and here.

Finally, as we reported a couple of weeks ago, Brian Leetch is one of four winners of this year's Lester Patrick trophy for outstanding service to U.S. hockey (see reports here and here). The other three also have ties to the Rangers, two directly and one tangentially. John Halligan, who writes our monthly All Around the Rink With the Rangers column, was a longtime writer, editor, historian, and communications professional with the Rangers and the NHL. Stan Fischler, a TV personality and reporter for MSG Network, has written extensively over his long career about the Rangers, including co-writing many books with Ranger players. And Cammi Granato, sister of one-time Ranger Tony Granato, who set a Ranger rookie goal scoring record the same year Leetch was NHL rookie of the year, will be honored for her impact on the U.S. Women's hockey program. Congrats to all, especially to John, a true gentleman.

Comments

[Larry Osment]

I think consistency is something that specimen needs to prove to be able to stick with the big boys!

[Buck]

Hey, does anyone know what's up with Rodent.....he hasn't posted anything new in a while....I hope everything is ok.

[laurie]

Buck - he posted on his message board that he's just really busy with his "real job" and should get back in the swing of things within the next couple of weeks.

[Levitate]

Didn't Jessiman only play in one preseason game last year? Or am I wrong on that one

[JoePucks]

Just wondering where there are openings. The first two lines are basically set. The third line needs a center and the fourth hardly ever plays.

Maybe Jessiman is used on a fourth line in place of Orr? Could be. What about the other prospects like Dawes that would be wasted on a fourth line? I guess we'll find out.

[rangerbill94]

Isn't there some kind of trophy waarded at the end of the Blue/White game...Best Rookie or something like that. Who got it?

[PJ]

Are any of the pre-season games being televised? If so which ones are? MSG?

Thanks.

[Cuch]

I believe the 3 homes games played at MSG are televised.

[Dubi]

I believe you're correct -- he played one game last season. The Lars-Erik Sjoberg Trophy is awarded before a pre-season game -- not sure if it's the first game or the last. It's going to be a tough call this year. My choice remains Sauer, but without a standout like last year (two actually) I'd expect perhaps a PR choice like Jessiman or Staal.

Joe, the only real openings are for the final three depth spots. I think the top 12 forwards and top six D are pretty much set. Strudwick and Pock have to be considered the frontrunners for two or three of those spots. So unless we see an unexpected move, like the waiving of Strudwick, Pock, and/or Hutchinson, there is really only one spot open for a forward, and as of now that is likely to be Dawes.

But what Renney was saying was that the competition was not just for spots as of this moment, The players know there will be turnover during the season -- trades, injuries, disappointments who are waived. They will prepare themselves, as Callahan and Girardi did last season, to be as NHL-ready as they can get when the opportunity arises.

I haven't looked closely, but I don't think there are more than a handful of players going back to Hartford who are over 21, and I don't think any of them are the top prospects we're looking forward to seeing in New York. So have some patience -- that's the way this management team has chosen to develop them, and so far their success rate is pretty darn good. By next season, the salary cap will dictate a major turnover of positions from the current crop of veterans to the next generation of young players.

[imitation]

Dubi some fans will not believe that because that's one less thing to complain about. The rebuild concept from 3 years ago and the vet nightmare has developed a large kids r'us bus.Almost no kid has dominated the AHL & few so far have been big successes for the NYR in the NHL. But some definitely are & others will be.PATIENCE.

[Buck]

Thanks laurie, for the info on Rodent.

[mike cosby]

DUBI,

CAN WE GET NEW ISSUE IN STORE BY THURDAY 9-20 LATEST?

MIKE COSBY

[ant]

I know its kind of late but JESS can i still sign up for fantasy hockey??

[martyd]

Ant

If they don't then I do. Atlantic div rivals keeper league.

rangerfan_79@yahoo.com

[wildman]

Consider Hollweg is completely useless at the NHL level. I'd like Jessiman to take the place of that loser.

[czechthemout!!!]

imitation-I am tired of hearing your ravings about dominating the ahl.That is a bunch of crap that means nothing!Brad Smyth,remember him?he dominated the ahl,how many games has he played in the nhl?How about our boy jason krog?he led the ahl in scoring before renney and sather plucked him off of waivers,he really shined huh?and what about alex giroux another player who dominated the ahl,he's put up biig points in the nhl too i suppose.

[Dubi]

czech, not sure if you're not arguing against yourself there -- dominating in the AHL is no guarantee of success in the NHL, as you correctly point out, but if guys who dominate in the AHL don't always make it in the NHL, how is a guy who cannot dominate in the AHL gonna make it in the NHL?

[czechthemout!!!]

based on what i saw last year,if big hugh can drop the gloves consistantly like he did last year in hartford,i would rather have him in there than hollweg,who nusts his butt every shift but is useless other than throwing his body around.we will find out whether those boxing lessons are paying off on friday or saturday.

[czechthemout!!!]

dubi-prucha did not dominate,he only played a few games there.He's done well considering how poorly he is used by renney.while i think that a year in the minors is not that bad a thing,there is something called the law of diminishing returns.the longer you play against inferior competition,the more your development suffers.I think dawes is at the cross roads in his career here,if they send him down again,that will be the end of him as a player.

[imitation]

czech I could care less how tired you are with your kid drum. Go hang out with the sw kid pushers.Better yet go to MSG and tell G Clark, Renney & Sather face to face..... the rebuild as you seem to envision it, is over. Go look at the teams that won it all and see if their average age is higher or lower than the NYR...get out your calculator, don't get any tears on it it will short out . Shocking! ...& boring....tommy is calling you....he's now elk ...don't forget to keep watching the Wolfpack and come back here screaming.

[angry]

Prucha scored 30 goals as an AHL rookie...and then two in two games before he was called up.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=63016

[imitation]

czech sw has some answers for you too. You're becoming a sideshow. The circus comes to town in March, there's plenty of kids there for you to scout.,,,,So did Dubinsky dominate last season or not?

[czechthemout!!!]

tisk tisk tisk tisk,little imitation is still upset,the rangers did not sign mike peca.unlike you,i am able to express my opinion based on visual evidence rather than brownosing ignorance .and for someone who
pans wineman's blog,you seem to know some of the posters there.I will no longer debate with you.I have decided that you are right.Renney is the second coming of Scotty Bowman,Hossa is the next Bill Guerin,and Malik is the next Rod Langway.You are the straw that stirs this blogs drink.And me,i am one of those fans who does not have the right to express his opinion.Happy Brownosing!!

[kovazub94]

It seems that everyone agrees that because of pleth.. abandance (hey, Rodent) of defensemen there going to be 8 d'men on the roster at the beginning of the season. This 8th spot technically would belong to either Pock, or Strudwick (sp?) because of the fact that they could play wing IF NEEDED. I don't understand that logic. The team really need only 7 defensemen. What's the point of carrying 8 (because the 8th can play forward) if they could actually have this spot filled by actual forward. So in my mind the question should be what's more beneficial Dubinsky or Artem Anisimov vs. Strudwick? Unless these two really would benefit greater by staying in AHL for sometime, AND there is no other forward on Rangers roster WORTHY of NHL icetime, only after this the spot should belong to Strudwick.

[czechthemout!!!]

imitation-i know the circus comes in march,I've seen you there in the dancing jackass performance.

[imitation]

czech If you don't like what the NYR are trying to do & can't stand it, the devils need more fans, go for it and stop whinning.You can express your opinion but your kiddy talk is only cute when kids hear it, Get a personal audience on Seasame Street.

[imitation]

czech Oh you do go to the circus, good. Now how's your blood pressure?

[czechthemout!!!]

imitation-thank you for allowing me to express my opinion,i really treasure your permission.But do me a favor and don't tell me who i should root for.I am not whinning,i only whine when the rangers are losing like they were doing for seven years.I will continue to complain when i think the team does somthing stupid,unlike you, who shill for them no matter what they do.And forums such as this and sw's are a great place to vent and engage in dialog with other fans who have some knowledge of the sport you clearley do not posses.there for this is my final response to you!

[Kaspar]

Can't anybody here spell "Whining"

I'm out there busting it man, and come home to read bulletin and can't get word in English spelling right.

[imitation]

finally the judge, lawyer, plaintiff, defendant and jury has resigned. In case you didn't notice, not many want to hear your broken record., so they don't respond. .....BYE!

[Mitch Beck]

Do you think we can behave like adults on this site and discuss things intelligently without name calling and without acting like a sideshow...just thought I would capture the circus refereneces.

We're all Rangers fans on this site for the most part. Some are more into it than others, the bottom line here is that we all want to see the Rangers toting Silver down the Hall of Heros and all of this nit-picking and petty arguments are so demeaning and yes, stupid and it is so incredibly unnecessary.

If you feel that someone else on this site is expressing someting that you don't agree with by all means chime in with your thoughts but for gods sake express why you feel the way you do with a logical and thought out expanation and not with petty insults and put-downs and with thoughts that are so ridiculous that they just waste the time of the rest of us in reading them.

Like I've said before is it such a bad thing to treat others the way in which you want to be treated? If you want people to respect your views then respect theirs.

Thank you for your kind attention and folks the race to Stanley's Cup starts in less than 48 hours and we can all get excited again...let's have that last bit of time be a positive experience okay?

[imitation]

Mitch with all due respect when I am addressed I will respond. If you have a problem with that especially when it was an attempt at an attack to start an argument not a discussion , let me know. But I'll not take that nonsense.

[Matty]

PJ you asked about Pre-Season games being telivised ... I posted this yesterday ... hope it helps ...

>>>

Now for those of you, like me, who do not live in NY and as such won't have access to the Rangers Pre-Season games on TV I have good news ...

NHL Center Ice will be showing all(as of now) NHL Pre-Season games online for FREE =) ... I am watching a game now just to make sure it was true XD! Sens/Flyers ... Anyhow ...

I couldn't find the link at NHL.Com but I was able to log on through the Bruins website through their Bruins TV Console ...

Here's the link >> http://bruins.nhl.tv/team/console

Once you are logged on just click on the TAB that says CENTER ICE and pick the game you want to watch ... Enjoy! =)

[Mitch Beck]

Imitation:

Why not just ignore it? I hate to sound so condescending, but "sticks and stones..." you know what I mean? I've been called more names on this site than anybody other than Dubi and you know what sometimes it's really annoying and pisses me off, but if someone starts insulting you that's about them man and don't stoop down to that. You don't need to and that applies to everyone who reads this board. When someone from some other site comes on and starts saying things that are so stupid and over the line why do you have to act like a pack of wild animals and jump right on it? TAKE THE HIGH ROAD... Ignore the person and they'll go away unsatisfied because they weren't able to get a rise out of you. When you jump in and act down to that person's level, and I mean this towards nobody in particular, it lowers you and this entire website to that level.

I thoroughly enjoy reading what you people have to say when you've thought out what you want to say. I HATE reading this or any other site for that matter when all it is is rude and petty name calling. It's a waste of my time and my energy which I would so much prefer to be doing something else that's more constructive.

I guess the bottom line Imitation, is "turn the other cheek" But I read what you were saying too and you were throwing it out there too which all that does is make the other person wan to have the last word and it's a race to the Kindergarten for the rest of us...

Does that explain it? I don't mean to be lecturing or condescending. I hope my message is received in the manner it's intended which is to make this a better site where people aen't behaving like a group of crazed children...

[imitation]

Mitch I don't turn the other cheek, sorry....if you scroll up you'll see this.."mitation-I am tired of hearing your ravings about dominating the ahl.That is a bunch of crap that means nothing..." you can go from there.....address the person that is clearly frustrated, as Dubi tried to no avail. ...end of discussion , point taken.

[Dubi]

Petr Prucha was 23 years old, he had already played three full seasons in the top Czech league, a professional men's league. He dominated in the playoffs his last season there when the league was full of locked out NHL players, helping his team win the league championship. He came over here and was not given a shot of making the team until he made it impossible to send him down with his training camp performance. A rookie, forcing his way onto the team by going out and grabbing it -- imagine that!

Now, this is the point where you say how misused he's been. And there I agree with you -- to a degree. The degree where I waver, that's the point that's off limits to me -- the coach's office. These guys may have just figured out how much ice time Prucha needs to be effective without wearing out or getting hurt. They'll also figured out (this much Renney has said) how versatile he is and how willing he is to do what the team needs him to do. But with his training camp performance this year, he is making a bold statement to Renney -- don't mess with me any more, because I'm an NHL player and I can get it done.

No one has come into camp and done what Prucha and Lundqvist did that first camp (and several others). Mike Sauer has come close. Marc Staal has demonstrated that he's not ready yet. Renney said he will not put players in a position where they cannot meet expectations, and so far, he's been right. So argue away -- as I said, you're only arguing with yourself now when you bring up guys who dominated in the AHL and couldn't make it, when you bring up a guy who dominated in a better league than the AHL, when you bring up a rookie who won a job in training camp when no one really knew what to expect of him.

[Jess]

Ant

Leave me an email address and I will get you into our league.

We have a couple of openings left in case anyone is interested

Inferno

I keep forgeting which blog is yours so could you post the link for me.

[imitation]

Dubi There's been plenty of talk about Prucha, the ever-ready battery hockey player, with too much about moving him for a 'good ' return. He's 175lbs of heart.

[czechthemout!!!]

Mitch-

To set the record straight,i was not trying to start an arguement with limitation.i was just annoyed at hearing him repeating the ranger company line expressed in writing on this blog and in the newspapers about"dominating in the ahl"before being able to have a crack at the bigs.If i wanted to read ranger propaganda i would go on their web site not BB.I don't know why limitation thinks that i have resigned from this blog.I only said that i would not respond to his posts any more because he has nothing worth while to add as far as i'm concerned.So keep upthe good work Mitch,while i don't always agree with you i respect what you have to say.You,Jess and Dubi do a great job and I'm sure are not looking for a bunch of yes men to agree with.

[imitation]

Dubi what year did you start your publication? And in case you & Mitch didn't noticed I'm being spoken about again with a cya statement.

[pgrant]

Dubi or Jess, 4th line- do you guys think there are any kids in camp that would be an upgrade over Hollweg/Betts/Orr . Someone that would be considered a grinder and not be hurt by playing 4th line minutes?

[Jess]

You know something this is getting old seeing arguing like this and the puck has not even dropped to start play on the season.

EVERYONE needs to take a step back and stop this nonsense already.

If you do not like what someone is saying then ignore that person or just simply offer to agree to disagree.

Nobody is going to like what someone says all the time. I am sure I tick people off just like there are people who tick me off.

I choose to ignore those who I do not want to get into a fight with.

I am also sure that the majority of those who read this site do not want to have to read a bunch of insults being traded back and forth.

Now can we see who is the more mature ones here by putting an end to the name calling and insults PLEASE?

[Jess]

Pgrant

Hmm tough question you ask there because the Rangers really (and I still believe this) lack a legit enforcer who's presence will stop the running just by being there.

Orr will keep his job as long as he does not take bad penalties.

Hollweg though I think is replaceable IF he continues the trend of taking bad penalties he did at the end of last season. I could see a Dane Byers who also has a little more offense than Hollweg does but basically plays the same kind of game.

As for Betts, You know people keep thinking he does a bad job but playing the role of defensive center is one tough job and Betts in my eyes does a good job. If Anisimov was more experienced he could replace Betts but for now I do not see anyone who can replace him.

[Dubi]

It is not spouting the "company line" to report to you how the Rangers judge when a prospect is ready. We haven't been asked to report any "line" by the "company", we haven't volunteered to report it to try to gain something from them, or anything along those lines. We're just trying to get you the information you need as a fan to understand what they're up to. Do with it what you will -- like it or not, that's up to you. But if you're gonna accuse anyone here of being a shill, then you're gonna get the kind of response you've been getting.

[Dubi]

As for the fourth line question, there is no one currently in the organization who is going to take away the jobs that Betts, Hollweg, and Orr will be asked to perform. No one in camp has done anything to beat them out of those jobs. Management will not use those spots for players not suited to those roles because a) it does those players no good to get minimal minutes in which they cannot meet any of the expecatations set for them, and b) they cannon fill the necessary roles those player fill.

Those roles do not included offense. The argument that this guy can't do anything other than hit is a wasted argument, because he is not asked to do anything other than hit. Ditto the fighter, ditto the center who can win draws and kill penalties. With the minutes they get, there is simply no controversy here. You absolutely need someone in the NHL who is going to go out once or twice a period when asked and pound the crap out of the opposition, or challenge someone to a fight, or win a draw and kill a penalty.

What seems to be overlooked in the case of these particular players, at least in the case of Hollweg and Betts, is that these guys can skate. Hollweg doesn't miss checks like Orr does because he has the wheels to get there. Betts may have hands made of stone, but his feet are not made of lead. Orr -- doesn't matter what he can do as long as he can take out the Fedoruks and Janssens of the world. The only guy in the organization who is close to possibly replacing Hollweg is Dane Byers, but folks, if you think Byers is going to outscore Hollweg, then you have never seen him actually play a game -- plus, he is not the hitter Hollweg is, nor is he built as solidly as Hollweg.

And that doesn't even take into account what these guys mean in the locker room. Orr doesn't have to play a minute, his presence alone emboldens his teammates, at least according to the two who have scored 600 NHL goals. Hollweg is a spark plug on and off the ice, and he's still only 24 and has room to grow. Easily replaceable, you say? Who is going to replace him at his salary who is going to make enough of a difference in those few minutes a game? Just some other easily replaceable player of the same ilk. Let's show the guy some loyalty for placing himself on the line -- he's doing his job, and doing it as best as can be expected from a fourth line role player.

[Colorado Mark]

Dubi- As always, a clear sense of reason. The HBO line is fine with me and I am stunned by the lack of respect Hollweg gets. The guy gives it his all and there is no question the other team is aware of him when he is on the ice.

[david]

The cry is always for kids who come up through the system. But then you have a kid like Hollweg -- fulfilling a particular role -- and many want to get rid of him.

Betts, Orr, and Hossa -- although they did not come through the Hartford route, are young players who played their first significant NHL minutes with the Rangers. In effect, they are our kid players -- but many want to through them overboard.

Management has put confidence in these guys and given them the commitment through contracts. I think they know better who is able to play and who is not.

[Jxmarts]

I'm glad a few people here finally defended Hollweg, Orr & Betts... They are role players, and they contribute in ways that don't show up on the scoresheet. If they are ever to be replaced by players, they must be replaced by players who can fill their roles. No team has ever won the Cup without role players.

[imitation]

The idea of constantly replacing started with the announcing of a 'rebuild' by management. Now many think it's the NYR company line and have made it theirs. There are many fans that want to see at least 3 kids per season come up. In 8 years or sooner the first 3 might be replaced. The idea is to have players to replace the weak links. Most develop favorites and want them up . Right now Dawes is the 'kid' who has earned another shot. They seem to be leaning towards using who they already have as the 3rd line center. That might change, but the D is where they need to focus and hopefully upgrade. The main goal this year is to get to the finals & win, not the 'competitive rebuild' 'work in progress' of the last 2 seasons. That's still there, but on the back burner.

[Nicholas]

Can Marc Staal play one pre-season game before people claim Staal is not ready?It's not like the Rangers have Robinson-Savard-Lapointe-Langway on defense.I'd rather see Staal go through growing pains with the Rangers in the NHL than see Jason Strudwick or Andrew Hutchinson make the same mistakes on every shift.At the very least,Staal will improve and learn with more NHL experience.The same can't said for the other two guys

If Crosby was Ranger property,he would still in Hartford.He is too young.Only 20