Rangers Gear Up For Renewed Hostilities

Chris Simon will not be on the ice tonight as the Rangers and Islanders renew hostilities in their first regular season match of the year. But Tom Renney and the Rangers are expecting a physical battle nonetheless, even though he believed that the Isles would have to control themselves when there were two points on the line. He reiterated yesterday that that was part of his thinking in replacing Paul Mara on the blueline with Jason Strudwick, who is much more of a fighter than the offensive minded Mara, even though Mara has never been afraid to get in there in and mix it up.

There is more to this equation than meets the eye. Although Strudwick is no better than a depth defenseman, the other three players vying with him for ice time on the third pair are all similar. In fact, at this point in Marc Staal's development, he and Mara have almost identical profiles and do not figure to thrive as partners. Renney was clear that he was pariing Strudwick with Staal to give Staal the best chance at staking a claim on a full-time role. To get Mara back in would most likely mean scratching Staal, not Strudwick. For more on Mara, see the Daily News, Journal News, Newsday, and Post.

Meanwhile, Thomas Pock is beyond odd man odd. As the eighth defenseman on the depth chart, he is not even being considered for the round robin taking place among the other three. As a pure offensive defenseman with less experience than Strudwick or Mara, he is an even risker proposition as Staal's partner. So he is understandably unhappy. He told an Austrian web site (translated roughly here) that he has been given no explanation by the coaching staff and that his agent is in discussions with management about his situation, although he stopped short of saying that he wants to be traded (with his girlfriend having just started a teaching job in the Bronx, a trade would probably split them up).

For other reading today, NYR.com has a game preview, the New York Sun takes a look at life without Sean Avery, John Giannone talks to Renney at MSG.com, Kenny Albert chimes in with his take at MSG.com, the Isles (according to Newsday) have signed former Islander (and briefly a Ranger) Bryan Berard, Harry Howell talks to NHL.com about skates of yore, and Prospect Park names Ryan Hillier prospect of the week and introduces us to 2007 draftee Max Campbell.

Comments

[cwgatti]

If I were Sather, I would ask Renney to play Mara and scratch Stall. We all know Stall is going be a Ranger for a long time. That's great. But If Mara is going to sit, then it is killing his trade value. With the intensity of the Isles game, maybe Stall watches the first one and we get Mara some ice time. To showcase Mara if nothing else. Pock I couldn't care less about. I admire that Sather found him on his couch somewhere, and he became a serviceable Dman. But-just like Mara- he isn't impressing anyone in the press box and thus has no trade value.

[bryan]

I would put Pock up on offense and sit Orr or Hollweg (not tonight obviosuly). He has experience at forward, and it would at least get him some ice time, until Avery comes back. We don't need a fighter every single night. Mara on the other hand, is a quagmire. If Renney really wants Staal to learn how to be tougher, he can just as easily send Staal down to Hartford to play with Kaspar. That way you could at least showcase Mara for a trade and teach Staal at the same time.

[lennynyr]

No way, time to find out what Staal has. I am totally confused by Renney's moves and have been since he took over. Strudwick is too slow to play in the NHL and should not have been signed in the first place. I think he will be a good coach someday and the Rangers should consider giving him a minor league coaching assignment.

If Mara is being considered for a trade, then I can understand it but if not, it is puzzling.

Check out this article on Dennis Savard. That's the way you should be coaching a team not the Renney way.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/595763,CST-SPT-hawk10.article

[emscam]

Can the Rangers carry a d man who sits and makes $3 million? Seems kind of limiting to me.

[lennynyr]

That "no way" was resoponding to cwgatti.

[lennynyr]

Ignore typo! :)

[baron34]

Pock is the only true offensive defenseman on the team. He's a better all-around defenseman than Strudwick, Staal (at this point) and Malik, IMO. He demonstrated his usefulness last season, and he's not a green kid any longer.

The fact that he can't buy his way into the lineup when we desperately need an offensive d-man, shows once again the coaching deficiencies of the team.

Square pegs in round holes. Over and over.

[Cuch]

I really can't chime in on this debate thats going on over Mara or Strudwick. Quiet honestly for the 10-12 minutes of ice time either one is going to get out there it isn't going to effect the Rangers that much this year. I am a lot more concerned about Jagr finding chemistry with Drury and the team staying healthy than I am about who is going to be the 6th D-man on the roster. I think this debate that has been raging for 3 days now is pointless.

[Matty]

I really only care that what's happening is to give Staal, one of our future stars, all the time he needs to be comfortable out there. What is the problem with that? You can't have Staal and Pock playing together, Mara is similar to Staal in style and isn't known for being very defensively responsible. Every single time that Renney has been asked why Struds is playing he's always mentioned that it has to do with Staal. So whatev

[lennynyr]

Cuch, disagree, it's a team effort and every aspect should be considered. You are right on point about Jagr and Drury but that isn't the end-all, and you bet 10-12 minutes will make a big difference too.

[Mr. Duck]

I'm with Cuch, the last two games so far were to be won with offense; the defense with either Mara or Strudwick were still letting 30+ shots by.

There's an obvious hole in the defense and it isn't going to be fixed with what we have. So band-aid it for now and focus on scoring goals.

[rangerbill94]

I'm still high on Pock, but because I've not seen enough of him I can't defend my opinion! Now that Girardi has established himself (steady, sound decision making, very few mistakes) I think I would try Staal with Girardi and try Pock with Tyutin.

[Yussuf ibn Mohamed]

I have a prediction for you infidels: the Rangers are going to win tonight! But don't get overly optimistic! The Flyers are going to roll over this team, Tom Renney doesn't belong to the NHL! May the Great Prophet Mohamed bless the the Rangers! Look for my next post after the game!

[zach]

Purely speculation, but has anyone put out the idea that Mara's not worth his $3 mil contract, so Renney and Slats are preparing Staal to work with someone who has a better chance of remaining a Ranger for the rest of the season? I am not trying to feed any "rumors" out there right now, but honestly, it makes sense tht Mara is a cap dump in a trade for a defense man that may give the Rangers a stronger D line. One of the best ways to keep a player growing to his potential would be to keep up some level of consistency. It's a basic practice for a lot of young guys.

[Ted]

baron i disagree, if Pock was such an offensive juggernaut then why did he only score 8 points in 44 games last year? To me Pock is highly over-rated by Rangers fans merely because of his age and his "potential". It's clear to me that guys like Staal, Mara, and Strudwick far exceed Pock in overall defensive play.

As for Mara, I still feel good about him being benched over guys like Staal and Strudwick because frankly i was never too high on Mara to begin with. Good slapshot from the point but usually missed the net > half the time, and his defense was horrendous in the playoffs and during the preseason. No point in showcasing him to potential suitors if he's just gonna struggle and be a detriment to the team.

[wreed]

cwgatti its our best prospect, please spell his name right! It's Staal....too many times I see Stall....sigh.

[ant]

Stall

[Bo]

Leave Stall out of this. LOL I kid I kid Staal. Next oerson to Stall please dont watch hocke anymore its like spelling Mullen wrong or Sutter. GO AWAY!!!
Pock is an ok dman Mara is not he's slow and he's not off. as people think he is. Pock is great carrying the puck. Pock puck ok i got it right. Either way Mara should be traded for anything dum the money 3million is very difficult for me to swallow. Struds is great for the long run and Playoffs he has the ablity to do whatever a utlity Dman does. Either way NONE of us are ready to coach so sit down and let the experts do what they do. RANGERS BABY........LETS GO SMACK SOME SMILANDER ASS!!!!

[Rob S]

These players need to man up, act like adults and just be ready to be called on when you are. Especially Pock, who has proved NOTHING to deserve complaining rights.

[ant]

lol i said that on purpose bo

[Bones]

Renney reminds me of Roger Neilson(nice guy, won't win the big one). Where's Mess when you need him. Oh, BTW, Malik is dreadful!!!

[ivrydov]

If Pock ever wants to play with the Rangers, he can't go off running to papers in Austria complaining about his situation. This is only the third game and it's a long long season. He's there because management thinks he's ready to step in, but if he starts showing attitude problems, then it's better to bring up someone else. As for Mara, he'll get his chance. The defence on balance has been okay. But you can't win many games scoring zero goals.

[rangerbill94]

Two things on Pock. First, his 44 games are only spot and never any consistant length of time. He has never gotten 18 nim. consistantly, game to game. When in Hartford, he lead the defense in points. He deserves a chance. Second, the Rangers owe him some explanation. He has been loyal and never said anything against the organization. If the Rangers want to know if he is any good, just put him on waivers. He'll be picked up in a NY second!

[joeymole]

oh man, too bad all this confusion has to happen, i mean, are we into the season already or what??! we all knew that the ranger - D was suspect on the offensive side now the whole D - arrangement seems to be in turmoil? or am i reading too much into this? watching other teams on the teevee, the ones doing well have the chemistry and confidence factors working. i hope the rangers get all this resolved soon and the team, both offense and defense, solidify and gel. then the good (60 minute) hockey will follow. that being said,

my 2-cents on the D: i like what i saw of both pock and mara at the end of last season. too bad coach can't find a way to work them in and get the D some offensive punch. strudwick (sp?) is an ok D, really not seen enough to form a judgement on his performance. at first glance though, he seems decent but nothing to write home to mom about. why not make him the swing man, he's seen that role before and injuries will occur opening up opportunities for role players.

GO RANGERS - KICK SOME FISH BUTT...!

[emscam]

Comes down to Strudwick vs Mara in the lineup. I will take Mara. Has little to do with Staal because no one knows what he will be. A offensive d man who needs a reliable stay at home partner or a shut down guy who needs a guy who can move the puck. If anyone found out after two games let me know.

[LI Joe]

lenny - big difference between Chi and the Rangers. Chi will be very happy to just make the playoffs and the young players were drafted at the top of the draft. People are expecting the Rangers to go as long way. And Staal is playing at least so far. So if Mara or Pock (almost 26) don't play so what. As someone else said other players like JJ, Shanny and Gomez have to get going. And we've only played 2 games.

[oleosmirf]

The Rangers revolve around Jagr. When Jagr is on his game the Rangers will win 99.9% of the time. Thomas Pock is not defensively ready to play with Staal. Strudwick and Mara will get time until the Rangers decide whether Staal is ready to play at the NHL level. Until that we will see 8 defenseman. If Staal goes down Pock Mara and Strud will share time if not Pock's stay in New York is over.

[Vince Accardi]

We will need alot more than Struds tonight,everyone better get their big boy pants on and act like hockey players and give back more than they get.We will see who has the balls and who wear the dresses tonight.I hope there are more guys with balls than with skirts.Well I've alwasy wanted that from a Ranger team and haven't seen it happen to many times.I hate saying this but thet could learn to back each other up if they this makes me sick saying but if they played like the flyers in that respect.Gotta go wash my mouth out with soap for saying that but it is true eveyone watches everyones back star or not .My eyes are burning reading that.Later go Rangers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Andrea]

Off on a tangent: My nephew noticed that the NHL's link to the Rangers website is back to being newyorkrangers.com, not their rangers.nhl.com.

Any word on whether that was a court injunction, Dubi?

[Matty]

Andrea don't know but I think it's because the rangers.nhl.com site is not really being updated with videos and such while www.newyorkrangers.com is being updated daily with videos from practice and such ...

So the NHL probably thought it best to link the website that is giving that content because the Rangers haven't transferred any of their videos to the nhl's nhl.tv link that they have on the fake Rangers website ...

[Dubi]

I don't have any concrete news to add to the web site dispute. Either the NHL was told to restore the link by the court during their preliminary hearing pending a full hearing, or more likely the NHL was advised by counsel to do so to make themselves look better for the upcoming hearing.

[Jameson]

Cuch,
I'm with you as well, I posted earlier the reason we lost to ottawa was because we couldnt generate enough offense. Thus far we've had near zero chemistry on the first two lines. Our defense will figure itself out soon enough. Our first 2 pairings are good. And I stress again, figuring it out shouldnt and never should have meant bringing in an outside defenseman, at least the ones that have been mentioned (McCabe, Jovanowski, Souray, Kaberle, etc.). Maybe I'm wrong for doing it but I'm banking on Girardi's first full year up here to be a big one and for him to open everyone's eyes with his defensive skills. I think Tyutin benefits from this greatly too.

If Staal doesn't show that he can really contribute on offense yet, I honestly think sending him down to Hartford at least for the time being is the answer. I don't want it to sound like I'm putting down Staal, but the Strudwick V. Mara debate is his fault lol. It's good because Staal earned his spot on the roster. I hate that we feel the need to baby him and pick out a specific guy just because he's more defensive and he's more of a comfortable partner for Staal. If we have to do that, maybe he's not ready yet.

[lennynyr]

As long as Renney makes ridiculous decisions, the Rangers will be even slower getting their game up to speed.

Putiing the slow footed Strudwick in there is just plain stupid as far as I'm concerned. Either Pock or Mara deserves consideration before him.

[imitation]

To add grit, toughness, & offense, Mara should be in & Staal should sit tonight.

[Andrea]

So before I find a place to perch to watch a game that's not televised by my cable provider, I want to share this from today's "Hot List"

"Injury news and notes -- The New York Rangers’ best pest, Sean Avery, is out for at least two weeks..... The Rangers may shift Markus Naslund to Avery’s spot with Scott Gomez and Brendan Shanahan. … "

Naslund, huh? That'd be a neat trick!

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=339642

[czechthemout!!!!!]

to add speed play srubwick and malik up front with orr,that will be a real gritty line.srubwick can be that calming influence on the future star colton orr,malik can make those nifty blind back passes to the opponent and orr can stand still while they skate around him for the score.

[czechthemout!!!!!]

sorry all "srubwick" should be SCRUBWICK!!!!!

[czechthemout!!!!!]

I think Renney should also consider playing Scrubwick in the middle between Jagr and Hossa.He can also be that calming influence on that other developing star,Marcel "the sniper"Hossa.

[lennynyr]

Czech, you are on a roll, don't stop now!

[czechthemout!!!!!]

Maybe these lineup changes will create the synchronicity that Renney is looking to develop.

[czechthemout!!!!!]

thanks lenney! i'm working on some more ideas.

[lennynyr]

The what???? :)))

[czechthemout!!!!!]

How about Renney himself replacing avery.I can just imagine Renney yapping at geurin or dipietro better known to fans as (pee,Pee)and telling them that their game needs some synchronicity.Pee pee would chase renney all over the ice!

[dtaild]

Strud will be fine tonight...Isles don't have a real speedy team past the 1st line..The key here is get a quick goal and take the Isles fans out of the game...One thing Isles have got going for them is the emotions and hard work...Pull a trap on them like we did against Buffalo circa playoffs games 1-4 last year, and we should easily pull a win off tonight

[czechthemout!!!!!]

scrubwick is fine every night as long as he does not play.hey,maybe,renney can get scrubwick to retire and replace him as coach.

[balls to the staalrus]

poor pock. i feel bad for him. last year he shouldve been playing instead of rachunek, especially in the playoffs, and now hes not playing at all. i wish they would just trade the kid so he can find some icetime.

[czechthemout!!!!!]

no one has been more abused in this orginization than tomas pock.I am at a loss as to why.He consistantly outplayed rachunek last year,and played well in the playoffs,yet he cannot get in a game.

[angry]

I'm not sure I can listen to this play-by-play guy for 2.5 hours.

[angry]

Fling it the length of the pond, Renney the bench boss, Jagr hasn't dented the twine...

At least Eddie O is talking like a human.

[Ryan]

Ryan Hollweg - 2 minute minor for breathing.

As much as I hate to say it, I'm kind of thinking we shouldn't even bothering him if the NHL is going to target him so ridiculously.