Balej, Dawes to Hartford

Joe Balej had a golden opportunity lat night to show that he can play on one of the Rangers' top two lines, lining up on the right side with Martin Straka and Michael Nylander. And against what amounted to Boston's AHL team, Balej really should have lit it up. Not only didn't he light it up, he didn't even look like he could, which continued a pattern from training camp where all he ever showed was the rare flash of potential. If only his play on the ice was as eye-catching as the shirt he wore after the game, he wouldn't have been sent down to Hartford so quickly after his big audition.

Nigel Dawes was also sent to Wolf Pack training camp, but that was totally expected. Dawes acquitted himself fairly well last night in his only pre-season appearance, skating with Dominic Moore and Chad Wiseman -- he was at least as good as his linemates. But Dawes is one of the few prospects who is truly young and has time on his side, so a full season on Hartford's top line will surely do him more good than a seat on the bench or in the press box at the Garden.

The Rangers still have a dozen defensemen, with the unenviable task of paring that decent collection of blueliners down to seven or eight. Seventeen forwards remain, vying for thirteen or fourteen NHL roster spots, several of them obvious candidates for assignment to Hartford, which will make it easier for Ranger management to settle on the final roster. Al Montoya is the third goaltender at the moment, but he will certainly go to Hartford once he gets his one pre-season test out of the way.

Comments

[stuart arthur]

I was at the game and I thought Balej hustled and generally skated energetically. Was there a mission underlying his behavior ? Yes ! He prented himself as a skater who will react quickly- this is important- and purposefully (sp) to the games circumstances. Did his participation amount to all that much ? No - but give him some time. Maybe his time is up- I do not know. But I think he can contribute in a positive way.

SA

[angry]

So, barring a trade, eight people from the following list:

Ryan Hollweg
Jarkko Immonen
Jamie Lundmark
Dominic Moore
Garth Murray
Jed Ortmeyer
Petr Prucha
Craig Weller
Jason Ward
Chad Wiseman
Blair Betts

[Dubi]

I think you can break it down even further: Lundmark will get first shot at the second line, and Ortmeyer will have to miraculously morph into Woody Woodpecker to lose the third-fourth line slot he earned last time the NHL was in business. And I believe based on everything I've seen and heard (from Renney) that Moore has pretty much won fourth line center.

So what it really boils down to is: Immonen vs. Betts for third line center (which I believe Betts will win, with Immonen in a position to benefit from a bit of AHL seasoning), Hollweg vs. Weller (and maybe Peter Worrell) for enforcer, and Murray, Wiseman, and Ward vying for the final wing and first depth spot -- I see Prucha being kept around as a depth player too so that he can step in immediately if one of the top line wingers falters or gets injured.

If I was a betting man, I'd say Immonen, Weller, and Wiseman to Hartford. The real battle is going to be on defense -- Kaspar, Poti, Malik, and Tyutin are locks, Roszival will play when healthy, and Purinton and/or Strudwick will be the depth D (or two if the team decides to carry 23 players). That leaves one spot for Kondratiev or Pock if they choose to go with skill, or Rullier vs. Grenier if they choose to go with muscle -- I'd wager Kondratiev gets first crack at it, with Pock the odd man out (as well as Lampman, who at this point doesn't seem to have any chance).

[nannyist]

This is just ludicrous. At some point you have to move on ... For instance, Lundmark is awful. With his ice time, both Immonen and Prucha would have solidified a spot. Ortmeyer is another one. He is a perfectly acceptable fourth-line player, but why waste time on someone in their late 20s? I just don't understand. I won't even get into the defense which is loaded with has-beens who should be gone to make room. Kondratiev, Pock and Tutin should all have regular spots.

[nannyist]

This is just ludicrous. At some point you have to move on ... For instance, Lundmark is awful. With his ice time, both Immonen and Prucha would have solidified a spot. Ortmeyer is another one. He is a perfectly acceptable fourth-line player, but why waste time on someone in their late 20s? I just don't understand. I won't even get into the defense which is loaded with has-beens who should be gone to make room. Kondratiev, Pock and Tutin should all have regular spots.