Rubber Must Meet the Road [Updated Again]

5:00 PM UPDATE: Matt Gilroy has been selected this year's winner of the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award as best rookie in training camp. Marc Staal will sit out tonight's game with continued soreness in his groin.

1:00 PM UPDATE: Well, one shoe has dropped -- Sanguinetti was assigned to Hartford today.

The time has come for John Tortorella to put his money where his mouth is, for him to walk the walk after talking the talk, for the rubber to meet the road, and any other metaphors you care to mix in. This is Rangerland, where much of the discussion since -- well, ever since the ill-fated trade of Mattias Norstrom for Jari Kurri --has been about developing Rangers from scratch, not importing them from elsewhere only after they have seen the top of the hill (actually, you can go back Rick Middleton for Ken Hodge or even back to the dark ages of the 1940s and 50s for other egregious examples). This year is no exception.

Like so many coaches and GMs who preceded him, Tortorella promised a good strong dose of youth in this year's line-up. After all, he said, he doesn't even have any choice in the matter, with roster spots open and no cap space left to sign veterans -- that after the Rangers signed a few of thirtysomething veterans in Vinny Prospal, Ales Kotalik, and Donald Brashear. But even more to the point, Tortorella reiterated his oft-repeated mantra that with him you have to earn your ice time, you don't get it just because of the name on your back or the numbers on your stat sheet (we'll give him a pass for Marian Gaborik, since the whole shebang really does hinge on him being healthy and offensively productive).

So now we'll see. The roster is down to 24, one above the NHL limit and two more than the Rangers will likely carry into the season. But the real test will not be who survives the final cut or two, but what kind of responsibility they will get -- having earned a spot on the team is not good enough if you end up being the seventh defenseman, spare forward, or even lightly used fourth liner, not if you're Artem Anisimov or Matt Gilroy and you have not only won a roster spot, you have already made some lists of Calder Trophy candidates, a potential difference maker as a rookie at key (and vulnerable) positions.

Both of these players came to camp with NHL jobs to lose, not win. And both have held onto their status, resoundingly. Anisimov brings skill and size to center, a position where the Rangers lack a true number one pivot. His competition -- a good two-way center in Brandon Dubinsky who is also still a youngster but who is not a proven point producer, an aging Vinny Prospal who has spent most of his time on the wing, at least in recent seasons, and a veteran earning first line money who may not even qualify as second line center, Chris Drury having been the de facto third center for much of his first two disappointing seasons here in New York.

Curiously, with all the talk swirling around the other candidates, Drury's name has barely been mentioned, certainly not as first line pivot, which he is not capable of, but not even as aging logjam, which he may very well be at this point. Tortorella will earn huge accolades from this observer if he has the guts to tell everyone that Anisimov has earned a more central role as an offensive player than Drury, but we're not taking that bet to our bookie just yet. Sure, it's just pre-season -- Anisimov has to prove he can do it consistently during the regular season. But he needs a chance to prove it, and that will not come if he is relegated to fourth line center or the press box. Blake Wheeler got that chance in Boston last season -- AA has earned that shot as a Ranger this season.

And if AA does get the chance, it should not come at the expense of fellow Russian prospect Enver Lisin, who has also won a long look in the regular season with his pre-season play. He too has to prove his consistency, but he should not have to prove it (or be kept on too short a leash) in favor of a veteran like Kotalik who has proven in his years in the NHL that he is nothing if not inconsistent. When you add up the number of forwards, there is no room for Lisin on the top three lines if Prospal playes the wing. But that equation presupposes that all nine wingers ahead of him on the depth chart are known quantities -- the truth is, at least three (Prospal, Kotalik, and Christopher Higgins) have as much to prove as Lisin does. Or Anisimov, if Lisin gets the spot on the wing with Prospal moved into the middle.

The situation on defense is similar -- two youngsters, maybe even three, have earned a shot, and all three possess a quality that has eluded the Rangers since the departure of Brain Leetch, the ability to quarterback a power play. It remains to be seen whether any of them -- Gilroy, Mike Del Zotto, or Bobby Sanguinetti -- can do it at the NHL level during regular season play, and still take care of business in the defensive end. But again, which veteran has excelled at that position? Certainly not Wade Redden and Michal Rozsival. And even more certainly, not Alexei Semenov, who hasn't shown any reason to still be under consideration for a contract other than his status as a veteran. Hence our concern about the rubber meeting the road. Keeping Semenov as seventh D in case one of the rookies stumbles may be a good idea -- signing him as a starter because you don't trust having a pair of rookies out there is business as usual in Rangerland.

Catching up on the last two days of news: Newsday, Record, Daily News, Post, and NYR.com from today's papers, mostly on Sean Avery as he recovers from a knee sprain, and Newsday, Daily News, Post, NYR.com, and NHL.com here and here from yesterday on a variety of subjects. Also, see Ranger Rants here and here, Blue Notes here and here, and Blueshirts Blog. The Wolf Pack won last night -- see Howlings and Beyond the Blueshirts for game recaps, HF Rangers Blog for a treatise on P.A. Parenteau's chances. Prospect Park worries about some of these same issues in addition to other prospect news here and here.

Comments

[paulinflorida]

John Tortorella really does have some big decisions to make...not only for the upcoming season but for the immediate direction and future of the team. While upper management can't seem to dictate a clear direction with yearly near total make-overs, reclaimation projects, crazy contracts, etc., maybe it's time for Torts to pave the road toward actually winning something in the not so distant future. At this point, maybe taking some chances on some of the younger players can amount to something....if not 100% this season, but for seasons to come. Why not give him a chance and hope his decisions are correct and take it form there.

[rangerbill94]

Just remember one thing; it isn't Torts that puts any players on waivers, it's Sather.

My logic on the last one or two cuts is this:

1) I have Schoeny coaching my defense, so I can have younger players because he is so good with youngsters. Waive Semenov.

2) While I think Grachev is "NHL ready", I'm not so sure that some time in Hartford would not be of great value to him. If he isn't being considered for a spot on any of the first 3 lines, then low ice time will work against his development. Waive Grachev.

3) As things work themselves out over the next 20 games or so; If I don't need the 7 defensemen, then send Sags down and recall Grachev if he is doing well. I may end up trading NHL stints with both of them over the course of the season, just to be sure either could be ready come the playoffs.

4) If the cap can't handle a 23 man roster, then send Sags down, go with 6 defensemen with either of those guys ready to step up in case of injuries.

That leaves Boyle and Voros in NY.

[Chris QCT]

Sanguinetti to Hartford....according to Andrew Gross.

So that's it for now, right? Grachev and Del Zotto made the team?

[Wicky229]

Youth or not, for Hank's sake, it would be a crime to have both redden and rozy in our top six and to not have semenov in our top six would also be a crime, he has earned it!!

[Matty]

I trust Torts to do what's best for the team, although he might have to bow down to the team's salary cap restrictions ... as such I disagree with the negative comments about Kotalik and Prospal .. While I want Anisimov and Lisin to be given every opportunity to succeed at the NHL level and get important playing minutes, I also have to acknowledge that so far Prospal has played very well in the role of #1 center and have no problem with him starting there ... Also Kotalik has played well throughout the pre-season and as such I, so far, have no issue with him being on the team ... If both Anisimov and Lisin make the team, as they should, I think their offensive skill sets are such that they are far more valueable to this team than anything Boyle and/or Voros can bring ... I have very little problem with a rookie starting on the 4th line as long as Torts deploys him on the 2nd PP unit and uses him in other line combinations so that he doesn't just play 4-5 minutes per night ...

I think Gilroy has made the team, how he cannot after the training camp that he's had is beyond me ... I think that Semenov would be the 7th D and if MDZ is kept then he will be the 6th D ... otherwise MDZ will be sent to junior before his 10th game and perhaps Sangs will be re-called ...

Whatever the case may be I'm willing to give Torts the benefit of the doubt specially given the cap issues this team has, with some of the player decisions perhaps driven by said cap and not by what's fair, and then judge if Torts really does reward/punish players based on ice performance when the team has actually played 20-30 games ...

[Matty]

Chris,

I don't think so, remember that it's down to 23 now but Torts said that the roster would need to go down to 22 probably due to cap constraints ... so I'm thinking that one more will go .. Who knows ... as constructed they are over the cap right now by 300K I think

[Craig M]

You have to admit, the future sure looks bright! A lot of quality prospects to look at this year and down the road. Hopefully the vets will also smell what is coming up behind them. The secret for rookies is to maintain that desire. Larry Robinson once said about a promising prospect, John needs to understand that getting an NHL contract is half the battle....the rest is keeping it.

Back in the original 6 days vets would play through anything because they knew as soon as they stepped out of the lineup there was someone who could take his place.

[brian]

Agree with Craig. Future does seem bright for Ranger fans. Considerable depth of high end talent on the defensive side. Oustanding goaltending and finally some young depth. Offensively, the young Russians are all very high end talent. Gaby is only 27. Dubi and Callahan both add relentless work effort with combination of grit and skill. Let go Rangers!

[Matty]

Look at tonight, Torts gave Dubinsky some shifts with Gaborik ... I think people forget that he's still evaluating and he will put with Gaborik the players that work best ... heck Anisimov and Lisin played with Gaborik tonight as well ...

Anisimov played 14:40
Lisin 14:46
Grachev 10:13
Gilroy 19:22
Del Zotto 19:29
Dubinsky 17:43

good deal

Gaborik played excellent tonight ... wonderful vision, and that pass to Dubinsky which then Dubinsky turned around and made a great pass to Higgins for the winning goal was awesome ...

I've missed having a player like Gaborik since Jagr wasn't resigned, it's great to have him on the team and watch him play ...

[NCSteve]

Just got in. Can't wait for Rangers in 60 and checking out the Blueshirts. Is anybody counting down the days? Eight, by my estimation. At Pittsburgh. Great! Perfect bookends. They'll be raising their banner on the first day and we'll be earning our next banner on the last day. Sure is good to be fired up in September! Gabby Dabby Doo! (Sorry. I get like this sometimes.) And, hey, saw the '72 Rangers-BlackHawks on MSG. Great stuff! Can't get enough of watching Brad Park and Rod Gilbert play.

[Chris QCT]

I thought last night's game was very close to an NHL regular season game. The rosters were very close to being the real lineups and the pace looked great. I thought the kids handled themselves pretty well.

I especially liked watching DZ direct traffic on the PP, switch sides with Kotalik, and feed him a one-touch pass for a perfect low one-timer on net. Nice stuff...
I'm thinking Sanguinetti could be dealt if DZ can keep this up and becomes comfortable at the NHL level.