Post-Game Press Clips

All was bright and rosy in Rangerland last night, with Brandon Dubinsky moving to the head of the class in today's local area news reports on last night's pre-season opener (see the Daily News, Newsday, and NYR.com). But on the Jersey side, there was indignation about Sean Avery's hit that knocked out Kevin Weekes. "I couldn't stop really, so I think I would have hit Weeksie anyway," Johnny Oduya admitted to the Record about the play that would have turned out to be harmless had Oduya been skating under control while cutting Avery off before he got to Weekes while driving to the net for a rebound. New Devil coach Brent Sutter, who excused his son's uber-dirty hit on Alexei Cherepanov in the Super Series as being unintentional, told the Star-Ledger, "I never saw the actual contact, but I saw a punch after to the defenseman's head." Apparently, he also didn't see Oduya's stick into Avery's groin before the return punch.

The Post reports that Alex Bourret was re-assigned to Hartford earlier than expected because he came to camp in the wrong kind of shape, having bulked up too much over the summer. Writes Larry Brooks: "He was gone with the first wave of cuts after not making it into the Blue-White intrasquad match, perhaps because of a bruised shoulder, perhaps not." Brooks has earned the right to take shots at Blueshirt Bulletin after the shot we took at thim over the summer, especially since he had that one right. And what he reports about Bourret comes directly from Tom Renney. On the other hand, Bourret himself told me about his shoulder, and he told Bruce Berlet of the Courant that he injured it while working out with weights over the summer. Since teams have been known to hide injuries now and again, perhaps what Renney was actually talking about was Bourret self-injuring his shoulder during his weight training.

Additional reading: NY Sports Day on Steve Valiquette, the Journal News on the new jerseys, USA Today with Ranger game notes, SNY with a Ranger preview, the Philadelphia-area Courier Post on the first meeting between former Sabre co-captains Daniel Briere and Chris Drury, Stan Fischler on Marc Staal and other topics at MSG.com, and the Courant on Mitch Fritz. And over at Prospect Park, Jess explains what the story is with his blog, what Ranger prospects did elsewhere last night, and adds part two of his look at how to rank prospects fairly.

Comments

[ANT]

Why are new jerseys cut from both sides at the bottom i dont get the point of that

[AveryTuff]

Great reporting on the game and post-game comments, Dubi! I was at the game last night and can certainly confirm Dubi's observations. I must say that it felt like an exciting regular season game last night, with the Rangers playing in mid-season form and the entire crowd riled up.

First things first, the new jerseys--HATE THEM! Seeing the players with them on looked somewhat disheveled to me. The back bottom part of the jersey is longer, and gives the appearance that the players are wearing long white undershirts beneath their jerseys that hang out. Sloppy look. I then went to the team store to try one on...too tight. So, personally, I don't like them and won't buy one. Hopefully, CCM won't phase out the traditional style jerseys. Otherwise, I may have to load up on them b/f they're gone forever.

As for the players:
On defense--I've been a staunch supporter of Kaspariatis, and after seeing him last night, I have mixed feelings about him. He brings that rough-brand of hockey with veteran experience on the blueline, but he continues to be hesitant at times and mistake prone...not good. Hopefully, he improves during pre-season. Hutch wasn't noticeable. Girardi was absolutely solid. Staal was pretty good on both ends of the blueline, but needs to build strength and girth. He cannot handle all types of NHL forwards now. Sauer seemed good defensively.

The forwards--Stand out play by Anisimov, Dubinsky, Callahan, and, at times, Jessiman. Straka, Avery, and Betts were their usual selves. I know it's only one game but Anisimov looks fantastic...he is quick, poised with the puck, creative, and has great shooting ability. However, his physical strength and faceoff ability leaves much to be desired. Dubinsky, on the other hand, appears to have all the tools. Therefore, I can't see anyone other than Dubinsky seizing the 3rd line center position.

Finally, just thinking we didn't have half of our regular season roster, with Juggernaut Jagr playing, is just incredible (and darn exciting)!!

[imitation]

There was a video clip of Bourret weight lifting. Renney says the NYR have to follow up more on their summer instructions. Bourett & his trainer went overboard in the wrong direction on the wrong muscles. In the video he wasn't even being spotted and supposedly doing it wrong on top of it. That's too dangerous. I assume he doesn't want to become a Blackburn. Welcome to the NYR doghouse!

[Matty]

Imitation that's what I got out the Post's report as well ... the Rangers didn't feel that Alex B. followed the program that they laid out for him to follow during the summer and it might've led to this injury he suffered ...

[imitation]

matty the NYR can't play pontious pilot. Renney said they need to improve their watching. These kids want to make the NHL & will tend to go overboard if not properly supervised and if need be baby sat. It's in the best interests of all.

[Phill]

I recall watching the Bourett video here a couple weeks back, and although in the video he seemed to be do each exercise correctly, I would not be surprised to find out that is how he hurt his shoulder. With the amount of weight he was doing and without some sort of a spot, it looks like he could've torn, or developed serious tendinitis in his rotator cuff. I'm no doctor, but that is what I would guess when they say "bruised shoulder".

Renney makes it sound like Bourret looks like he spent his off-season training for a body-building competition, instead of training camp for the Rangers. Did he really get that bulky, so much so that he can barely handle a puck?

[Matty]

While I agree that the Rangers need to monitor them better I also feel that the kids need to be responsible for following the program that the team's trainers set out for them because the trainers know what is best and the kids should trust that if they want their career to continue to go on the right track as fas as how they train in the off-season ... While they are kids, they are old enough to know that if the team gives them a program to follow that they should follow it and not deviate from it without first talking it over with their team ...

[Scott]

Not sure I really like those jerseys. The bottom looks like a smock.

[gravey09]

New sweaters are awful. Tell me now, why couldn't they make them with the new material but the old design?

I'm hoping they don't sell cause when that happens, the league will immediately rethink this whole insulting mess.

[iceycup]

anybody else have a black screen only on msg? somebody over there better get their s**t together in the next 10 minutes.

agreed on the jerseys. and the bottom white part does look like an spron in fromt and back. dumb.

[Matty]

One can't help but notice the difference between yesterday's first period and tonight's ... Could it be that with a more veteran lineup up in the first two lines in this game that the vets aren't as "up" for the game because it's meaningless as opposed to the kids who were trying to make an impression yesterday so that they would make the team?

[IITH]

ok, question folks, on the flyers third goal, Joe on the MSG broadcast said that it was due to the young d men on the ice for the rangers. Was it me or wasn't it rozy and mara on the ice for the goal?

Just wondering

[Matty]

I'm thinking it's a good thing that I can't watch this game ... the NHL Center Ice thingie says I will get to watch the Islanders game on Monday ... let us hope that they put last night's lineup in that game ...

[IITH]

matty,

good news for you, malik plays for the first time on monday (sorry brother it only gets worse)!!!

[CML]

5-0 ... I'm glad this game doesn't count!

[Matty]

IITH I don't have irrational Malik hate so I don't mind if he's playing on Monday ... He's not in there tonight and they have played dismal so ...

Didn't we go undefeated last pre-season and then had an awful first half?

So now we are clearly going to lose this one so yeah, I am ok with it ... yep, it's preseason but you know ... must look at the positive!

=P

[IITH]

after seeing part of last nights game and all of tonight's, I feel like the line up I wanted a month ago and I thought would give the rangers the best chance to win is way off base! Now I have to re-think the whole thing. Stupid preseason!!!

[IITH]

I think my dislike for malik is purely rational. He is not sensational, nor is he just absolutely dreadful, but at the price of his salary, certainly a disposable piece and an equal if not better option is available.

[Jess]

All those who were -2 or worse should be waived and sent to Hartford.

Seriously it is not the kind of game you wanted to see happen but better to stink now in the preseason so you can work out the bugs than stinking up the regular season.

I have TWO last opening for Fantasy hockey and if I do not get any more interested parties I will go with what we have so leave an email addy if you want to play.

[jason]

is it just me or does jessiman look EXTREMELY weak on his skates? he didn't look that good last night either which makes me wonder how he got this far in the first place

[rangerbill94]

CML

This game did count! The coaches are watching. Game 5 & 6 will be the test for the season squad. All this is "seperation", that is, guys who seem to be fighting for the same positions are putting space between themselves and their competition. Tonights squad of defensemen did not seem to help themselves. The test will be for Renney. Is he going to let the defense become simply all the veterans or will one of the youngsters REALLY step up. We are approaching the time for accountability, both that of the players and the coaching staff. I posted last year that camp was not a place of accountability as it was the previous season. Some players got a pass. That was a mistake then and it will be one again. It took about 4-5 months for the management to hold the players accountable. As soon as that happened, things changed for the better. By the 5th exhibition game we sould see if this management team will hold the players accountable.

[gravey09]

Gotta say that the forwards certainly didn't help the defense at all. So much for "team defense". There was no backchecking to speak of and the forwards seemed to be skating aimlessly around in front of the net on several goals --not to mention the endless giveaways.

"All those who were -2 or worse should be waived and sent to Hartford."

Cute, Jess. If that happens, Czechthemout! might just get his way. Hardly a vet will be left standing, save Betts --who played really wel in both games.

Take THAT you Betts-haters!

[Jess]

Gravey09

I took my normal wander about some of the message boards because unlike the majority of posters here there was a sense of panic about getting whipped like they did.

I am not going to freak out or worry because this was game 2 of the preseason not the 7th game of the cup finals. Yes I do not like losing BUT it gives Renney one heck of an attention getter when they take the tape of this game and use it as a teaching tool.

Let us use what happened tonight as a measuring stick for how they play on Monday against the Fishies. I want to see what kind of efforts, adjustments and play those who are played will give.