Howlings

FINAL DRAFT DAY ACTIONS

Wolf Pack fans will understand the impact made by New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather’s announcement yesterday that the club has acquired forward Brian Boyle from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a third round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Boyle, 24, was a thorn in the side of the Wolf Pack throughout the season as he pretty much manhandled Pack center Artem Anisimov. With the various New York Rangers' beat reporters stating that ex-Pack center Blair Betts won't be returning to the team, (want to bet he ends up with Tom Renney in Edmonton?) there is now a need for a fourth line center. Ironically enough, Boyle will be competing with Anisimov for that spot on the Rangers roster.

Boyle is a big physical presence at 6’7” and 252 pounds. He was originally Los Angeles’ first round choice, 26^th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.  He appeared in 28 games with the Kings last season, registering four goals and one assist for five points, along with 42 penalty minutes.  Boyle also established career-highs in games played (28) and penalty minutes (42).  He notched three goals in a four-game span from March 28 at Nashville to April 4 vs. Phoenix.  The Hingham, MA native also skated in 42 games with the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League (AHL), recording 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points, along with 73 penalty minutes.  He collected two points (one goal and one assist) in his season debut with the Monarchs on (the high holy day --- my birthday) December 5 vs. Worcester.  In addition, Boyle posted two, four-game scoring streaks – December 13 vs. Providence to December 17 at Manitoba (one goal and four assists) and March 4 vs. Springfield to March 8 at Worcester (two goals and two assists).

The newly acquired center has skated in 36 career NHL games with LA recording eight goals and two assists for 10 points, along with 46 penalty minutes.  He registered two points (one goal and one assist) and a plus-two rating in his NHL debut on February 2, 2008 at New Jersey.  Boyle has also appeared in 114 career AHL contests with Manchester, collecting 41 goals and 42 assists for 83 points, along with 162 penalty minutes.  In 2007-08, he established AHL career-highs in games played (70), goals (31), assists (31), points (62), and penalty minutes (87).  That year, he led the Monarchs in goals, ranked second on the team in points and fourth in assists.  His 31 goals also led all AHL rookies and ranked 10^th in the league overall, while he finished second in the league among rookies with 62 points.  Boyle also tallied three goals and five assists for eight points in 16 postseason contests with Manchester during the 2007 Calder Cup Playoffs.

In another move, the Rangers also acquired goaltender Chad Johnson from the Pittsburgh Penguins, in exchange for a fifth round pick (151^st overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.  Johnson, 23, appeared in 35 games with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks last season, and while his 14-16-5 record was nothing to get excited about, his 1.66 goals against average certainly gets your attention.  The Calgary, Alberta native was originally Pittsburgh’s fifth round choice, 125^th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

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A couple of thoughts for a Sunday afternoon…

Why are the Rangers looking for another high priced veteran like Dany Heatley? Don’t get on me about his level of talent. He’s a supremely gifted player. But you have to take the good with the bad. Heatley does have issues in his past that are unnecessary to rehash here, but they can't be ignored. There's also the fact that this is now the second time that he has  opted out of a team that believed in and stood by him. It's fair to question whether or not he's a team player in a game where that trait isn't a plus, it's a requirement. Does New York really need another selfish person like that?

There is also the issue of Heatley's contract and the $4 million payment that he's due this week. Don't the Rangers have enough bloated contracts on the books already that are hamstringing this team? In case you need reminding, we're talking about the underachieving Scott Gomez, Chris Drury, Wade Redden and  Michael Rozsival. No other team right now is anxious to rid the Rangers of these contractural mistakes, so why bring in another?

The message has finally seemed to get through to the upper towers in MSG HQ that this team needs speed and youth in order to compete for the Silver at the end of the rainbow. Hallelujah! We have been calling for that approach, along with many others including Jess Rubenstein of The Prospect Park, for as many years as we can recall.

Well, here are a couple of suggestions.

How about signing a couple of guys who have paid their dues in the minors and have earned their shot at making it with the big club?

P.A. Parenteau has served the franchise for a couple of season’s now in Hartford. He is an outstanding power play quarterback from the side boards. He plays decent enough defense. He brings energy and fire. He is a terrific passer with great ice vision and can put the puck in the net. At 5’11 and 195 pounds, the speedy right wing has been in the AHL the last two seasons in the organization and notched 63 goals and 96 assists for 159 points with 223PIM in 149 games. He is not an expensive proposition in terms of cap hit and can do what the Rangers so sorely need…score!

We think the Rangers should also bring back a former member of the organization in one, Alexandre Giroux. Giroux can play center or wing and at 6’3” and 190 pounds the 28 year old is coming off a MONSTER season in which he set all sorts of records. In 69 games with Hershey, Giroux notched 60 goals, 37 assists for 97 points and 84PIM. When Giroux was a member of the Wolf Pack for three seasons from '03 to '06, he put up 74 goals and 56 assists for 130 points in 167 games. Giroux did get 12 games in the NHL this past season, including a game against the Blueshirts, with Washington and scored a goal and tallied an assist. Giroux is ready for a full time run in the NHL. He's earned it.

Teamed on a line with Parenteau the duo would be a formidable tandem that wouldn't hit the cap like a deranged Chris Brown on Rihanna. That's something the Rangers should take a serious look at.

There are also a number of names that are banging hard on the door for NHL ice time. There are of course the names that everyone is familiar with, Corey Potter, Matt Gilroy, Bobby Sanguinetti and Michael Sauer on the charge from the D-Line. But we think you should watch out for a dark horse, David Urquhart. The organization has resigned the second year player already. He improved tremendously over the course of the season. As the season wore on, teamed with Sauer, they became the best defensive pairing the team had.

Urquhart can move the puck, can score, and has a hard shot from the point on the power play. He’ll need more time in Hartford but come this time next season to continue his development, but if he continues to improve at the rate he did last season, his star will rise and people will be talking about the undrafted defenseman as the next Dan Girardi.

Up front the names are just as familiar.

Artem Anisimov’s days in a Pack uniform are more than likely over. THe young Russian will graduate to New York for the coming season.

Dane Byers came back from a bad knee injury sustained early last season and played a solid role in the playoffs. He's getting ready for a shot at the bright lights of Broadway and is getting closer by the day.

Mike Ouellette had a slow start to his season but improved steadily all season. He told us however that his days with the organization are more likely than not, over. He said that he will most likely be playing in Europe next season.

Patrick Rissmiller is still under that bad contract the Rangers signed him to. Whether or not he’s in Hartford is still a mystery. He certainly didn’t show enough of anything to warrant a return to New York and his future here is uncertain.

There are two names that need to be watched carefully. One is Jordan Owens. Owens was given a two way deal by the Rangers and earned it. We are willing to bet what little house money we have that he will replace Fredrik Sjostrom in the starting four lines. Owens is a relentless forechecker…not afraid to hit anything that moves…will fight…can score and will probably battle anyone on the roster for fastest skater. 

The other name to watch, Dale Weise.

Dale grew immensely over the course of the season and like Urquhart could be challenging for a spot in the New York line up sooner rather than later. Weise improved exponentially over the season and was one of the Pack’s best players in the playoffs.

Anyone following this franchise would be making a huge mistake in underestimating the Winnipeg, Manitoba native who will turn 21 in August. At 6’2” and 209 pounds Weise is not afraid to get his nose dirty and is a tough right wing who discovered his scoring touch and will work more on that this coming season.

What the next crop of Pack players brings right now is anyone’s guess. But these are a few names to be on the look out for when the Rangers come into training camp.

PROSPECTORS

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club will hold the 2009 Prospect Development Camp, Monday, June 29th – Friday, July 3rd, at the Madison Square Garden Training Center. The camp will bring together the team’s 2009 Draft Picks and other top prospects.

PLAYER	BIRTHPLACE	BIRTHDATE	2008-09 TEAM
FORWARDS:
Bourque, Ryan	Beverly, Massachusetts	1/3/1991	USA U-18 (USDP)
Campbell, Max	Strathroy, Ontario	12/21/1988	Western Michigan Univ. (CCHA)
Chappell, Chris	Pickering, Ontario	3/21/1988	Saginaw (OHL)
Crowder, Paul	Victoria, British Columbia	2/12/1985	Hartford (AHL)
			U. of Alaska - Anchorage (NCAA)
Cunningham, Craig	Trail, British Columbia	9/3/1990	Vancouver (WHL)
Daavettila, Trent	Howell, Michigan	9/3/1984	Kalamazoo (IHL)
Grachev, Evgeny	Khabarovsk, Russia	2/21/1990	Brampton (OHL)
Kreider, Chris	Boxford, Massachusetts	4/30/1991	Andover (HS-MA)
Maccarone, Matt	Whitby, Ontario	3/23/1984	Tulsa (CHL)
Pither, Luke	Burketon, Ontario	4/26/1989	Guelph (OHL)
			Belleville (OHL)
Soryal, Justin	Newmarket, Ontario	6/29/1987	Hartford (AHL)
Stepan, Derek	Hastings, Minnesota	6/18/1990	U. of Wisconsin (NCAA)
Werek, Ethan	Markham, Ontario	6/7/1991	Kingston (OHL)
DEFENSEMEN:
Curadi, Luke	West Point, New York	5/14/1991	Hartford (ATLH)
Del Zotto, Michael	Stouffville, Ontario	6/24/1990	Oshawa (OHL)
			London (OHL)
Dowzak, Tysen	Fergus Falls, Minnesota	3/8/1988	Hartford (AHL)
			Charlotte (ECHL)
			Kelowna (WHL)
Gaulton, Mitch	St. Catharines, Ontario	4/25/1990	Erie (OHL)
Gilroy, Matt	North Bellmore, New York	7/20/1984	Boston Univ. (NCAA)
Heikkinen, Ilkka	Rauma, Finland	11/13/1984	HIFK Helsinki (SM-liiga)
Klassen, Samuel	Watrous, Saskatoon	1/1/1989	Saskatoon (WHL)
Kundratek, Tomas	Jrinec, Czech Republic	12/26/1989	Medicine Hat (WHL)
Maggio, Daniel	Windsor, Ontario	3/4/1991	Sudbury (OHL)
GOALTENDERS:
Kinkaid, Keith	Farmingdale, New York	7/4/1989	Des Moines (USHL), 2007-08
Scrivens, Ben	Spruce Grove, Alberta	9/11/1986	Cornell (NCAA)
Stajcer, Scott	Cambridge, Ontario	6/14/1991	Owen Sound (OHL)
Yonkman, Travis	Saskatoon, Saskatoon	4/17/1988	Swift Current (WHL)

RANGERS SELECT CHRIS KREIDER IN 2009 NHL DRAFT

It’s that time of year again. The time when the hopes and aspirations of young hockey players and their families wait on baited breath to see if their dreams will become a reality, For the teams drafting they are always wondering if they’ve caught lighting in a bottle and found that missing piece that will get them lifting Stanley Silver in the near future.

The New York Rangers are no different. So when President and General Manager Glen Sather introduced Gordie Clark, Director of Player Personnel to make the announcement, Rangers fans everywhere held their breath. Would this be another bad pick or could this be the best player the team has selected since Brian Leetch?

When Clark declared that the club had selected forward Chris Kreider with the 19^th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the immediate reaction based upon the crack team of TSN analysts was that the Rangers had drafted themselves a real player.

His numbers look strong. Kreider is 18 years of age and skated in 26 games with Phillips Academy, Andover of the New England Prep School Ice Hockey Association (HS-MA). There he registered 33 goals and 23 assists for 56 points, along with 10 penalty minutes. He led Andover in goals (33), assists (23) and points (56). He also finished sixth among all high school players in point per game average, scoring at a rate of 2.15 points per game. The 6-2, 205-pounder entered the 2009 NHL Entry Draft as the highest ranked high school player, and 14^th overall among North American Skaters, according to the final Central Scouting Rankings.

Wolf Pack fans will probably not get a look at the Boston College bound Kreider till the end of the season when he can come an an Amateur Try Out contract after his season is completed.

Andrew's Dallas Stars Page has this posted on Kreider.

Central Scouting has this.

For us there is no better source than Jess Rubenstein's The Prospect Park 

Our perspective on what the Rangers should do to build the team should be coming this weekend…

(Photo from thenhl.com)

URQUHART BACK FOR SECONDS

Defenseman Dave Urquhart was resigned to an AHL contract by the Hartford Wolf Pack Friday to patrol the blueline in the 2009-2010 season.

Urquhart was arguably the most improved Wolf Pack player over the course of the season and we have maintained it before and will say it here again, that if he makes the same level of strides that he made this season, he will be an NHL player the following year. Urquhart is a puck mover with a good shot and is not afraid to lay people out. He was superb skating with Michael Sauer as they both led the Pack in plus/minus.

Urquhart, was a rookie last season out of McGill University and played in 58 games last season. He scored six goals and adding eight assists for 14 points, with 36 penalty minutes and a +13 rating.  The 24-year-old, 6-0, 195-pounder was scoreless and +1 in six postseason games.

Prior to joining the Wolf Pack, Urquhart, a native of Thorold, Ontario, registered five assists and 10 PIM in seven games with the Pack’s ECHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.

Urquhart originally signed with the Wolf Pack last July, after totaling 23 goals and 84 assists for 107 points, along with 330 minutes in penalties, in 147 career games at McGill, where he played the previous four seasons.

Urquhart has an excellent work ethic both in game and in practice. He’s vocal and animated and demonstrates a willingness to be coached and that was why he was resigned and why he will continue to improve in his sophomore campaign.

(Photo courtesy of rangers.nhl.com)

BERUBE ON BOARD

Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the team has signed defenseman Mike Berube to an American Hockey League contract.

A 6-1, 215-pound native of Edmonton, Alberta, the 21-year-old Berube skated in 56 games this past season for the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants, notching four goals and 20 assists for 24 points and serving 55 minutes in penalties.  He was also a +33 on the year.  In 17 postseason contests for the Giants, Berube contributed one assist and had 16 PIM.

Berube totaled 317 career games over five WHL seasons, with Prince George, Red Deer and Vancouver.  His career numbers include 15 goals and 63 assists for 78 points, along with 333 penalty minutes.

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Jess Rubenstein of The Prospect Park, Howlings resident expert on the boys in juniors tells us that he, "saw him when Dowzak and Kelowna played Berube's Vancouver Giants in the WHL conference finals. Not sure what the Rangers see in him other than a depth signing."

Rubenstein adds, "Nothing really stands out about the kid, he is not a heavy hitter, not an offensive whiz and while he is a willing fighter at his size in the AHL would be more of a middleweight. I see him more as an insurance policy for the Pack in case they lose defenders and the Rangers decide to send Kundratek back to the WHL."

One thing that is for certain is that there are going to be changes and pretty significant ones between the team the Pack put on the ice last season and the one that will be a part of the 2009 – 2010 season.

Howlings has heard from a few sources that say that some of your favorites will be elsewhere next season. The only confirmed move is that Brock McBride has signed to play next season in Syracuse with the Crunch. There is also talk that another major player up front is looking elsewhere. We’ll confirm that and then report on it after that.

(Photo courtesy of flickr.com)

ZABA BACK FOR MORE

UPDATE: Matt Zaba just got back to us briefly and had this to tell Wolf Pack fans.

"I signed another one year deal. I'm really excited to be back with the Rangers organization. Nothing's better than being part of an Original Six team. I'm hoping to build off last season and hopefully take another step towards making the NHL."

If Zaba grows at the rate that he did this past season, don't be surprised if he doesn't wind up in NY at some point.

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The Rangers have announced that Matt Zaba will be back in Hartford after a terrific rookie campaign last season where he went 25-10-0 with a 2.33 GAA and a .920%. He’ll compete with Miika Wiikman for the top slot in the Insurance Capital.

Here’s the official release.

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with goaltender Matt Zaba.

Zaba, 25, appeared in 41 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL), posting a record of 25-10-0, along with a 2.33 goals against average, a .920 save percentage and two shutouts.  The AHL rookie ranked among the league leaders in several categories, including seventh in goals against average, tied for eighth in save percentage and tied for 12^th in wins.  He made his AHL debut on October 18 at Toronto, and earned his first career AHL win on November 1 vs. Albany.  On January 9, he recorded his first AHL shutout with a 40-save effort at Springfield.  Named the AHL Goaltender of the Month for February, Zaba registered a season-high, seven-game winning streak from February 20 at Lowell to March 4 vs. Worcester, posting a 1.53 goals against average and a .952 save percentage during the stretch.  He closed out the regular season with a 14-2-0 mark, along with a 1.84 goals against average, a .937 save percentage and one shutout in 16 contests.  In addition, Zaba appeared in six playoff games with Hartford, posting a 2-4-0 record with a 3.17 goals against average, a .908 save percentage and one shutout.

In 2007-08, Zaba appeared in 28 games with the Charlotte Checkers and Idaho Steelheads of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), registering a record of 15-8-2, along with a 2.64 goals against average, .915 save percentage and three shutouts.

The 6-1, 185-pounder, appeared in 110 career games in four seasons with the Colorado College Tigers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) prior to signing with the Rangers, posting a 55-42-10 record, along with a 2.42 goals against average.  As a senior in 2006-07, he was named winner of the Thayer Tutt Award as team MVP, and was selected to the All-WCHA Academic Team for the third consecutive season.  In 2005-06, Zaba recorded 20 wins and four shutouts, both collegiate career-highs.  As a freshman in 2003-04, he turned in a 10-10-2 record, along with a personal-best 2.27 goals against average and was selected to the WCHA All-Rookie Team.  He was named National Rookie of the Month after posting a 3-0-2 record, along with a 1.35 goals against average and a .941 save percentage in five starts in November 2003.

The Yorkton, Saskatchewan native signed a professional contract with the Rangers on August 20, 2007

(Photo courtesy of hartfordwolfpack.com)