Prospecting for Talent at Development Camp

Ranger Prospect Development Camp gets under way Monday when 28 young players convene at the MSG Training Center for instruction and skating. As in past years, the roster includes most of the Rangers' recent draftees, a few players who just completed their first pro season in Hartford, and a larger contingent of try-outs than usual -- the size of the latter group (nine) has left no room for the local area fill-ins that have been used in the past to ensure that there are enough skaters to participate in drills.

Five of the seven players drafted this past weekend will get to show their stuff to the coaching staff for the first time -- defensemen Michael Del Zotto, the team's first selection (20th overall), and potential steal Mitch Gaulton, now healthy enough to participate after recovering from elbow surgery; centers Derek Stepan and Chris Doyle; and winger Dale Weise. Missing will be Europeans Evgeny Grachev and Tomas Kundratek -- both were at the draft in Ottawa, but are not at camp.

Two of last year's draftees are missing too -- first rounder Alexei Cherepanov, who is expected to come over for Ranger training camp in September, and Carl Hagelin (college players have to pay their own way and therefore do not always participate, especially since this guy would have to pay his own way all the way from his home in Sweden). In camp from this draft class will be goalie Antoine Lafleur and forwards David Skokan, Max Campbell, and Danny Hobbs (soon to be a collegian himself).

Two 2006 draftees who are probably no longer on the Rangers' radar screen are also not here -- Eric Hunter, who is now in college in Canada, and Lukas Zeliska, who went home to the Czech Republic last year. That year's top five picks will participate -- first rounder Bobby Sanguinetti and recent signees Tomas Zaborksy and Ryan Hillier, each of the three set to begin his first pro season in Hartford, Artem Anisimov, fresh off a promising first sesaon in Hartford, and in what has to be considered a surprise, Czech forward David Kveton, who appeared to be on the scrap heap a year ago when he returned to his homeland only to have his team fold (he ended up playing a partial season for another team). One would have to believe he is getting one last shot to impress the team that drafted him.

Tommy Pyatt and Brodie Dupont, the only 2005 draftees to remain Ranger property other than Marc Staal, who is already beyond prospect status, and Mike Sauer, who is recovering from knee surgery, will be in camp after completing their first pro seasons, mostly with Hartford -- each will be looking to build on disappointing rookie seasons. Free agent Justin Soryal, who never got a chance to play in Hartford when his OHL season ended after signing an NHL deal last spring, will be there, as will former Harvard captain Mike Taylor, who played eight games with the Wolf Pack last spring on an amateur try-out contract, and Mike Busto, a free agent who had an up and down year with Hartford and Charlotte.

The players here on try-outs are almost all coming out of the CHL at age 20 or 21, with two exceptions. They include a pair of goalies -- Jean-Christophe Blanchard, who split his season between Rimouski and Victoriaville of the QMJHL, and Andrew Perugini, who split his season between Barrie and Sarnia of the OHL. There are also two forwards -- center Oren Eizenman, the only pro in the group who spent most of last season in the ECHL after finishing four years at RPI, and winger Radek Meidl, a Czech native who returned to the WHL after representing his nation in the WJC.

But the bulk of the hopefuls are defensemen, led by Joe Ryan, the only draftee in the group -- he was selected in the second round in 2006 by L.A. but went back into this year's draft after being left unsigned (he was not re-selected). Ryan was a member of the Quebec Remparts' 2006 Memorial Cup winning team -- Quebec GM Patrick Roy personally took Ryan under his wing. He was traded in mid-season after missing games due to injury and due to overage player rules and played 19 playoff games for Gatineau, who went to the Memorial Cup tournament before being ousted by the Kitchener Rangers.

Another interesting player is 6'6-226 pound Justin Wallingford of the Kingston Frontenacs. Aside from being a big boy who likes to hit and fight, Wallingford added offense to his game as part of the Frontenacs' power play. He was also team captain. Rounding out the list are Chad Greenan of the Kootenay Ice (WHL), Nick Pageau of the Belleville Bulls (OHL), and David Urquhart of Canada's McGill University. Wallingford was invited to San Jose training camp a year ago but was cut, as was Greenan after being brought into LA camp in 2006 and Detroit prospect camp last year. Is there another Dan Girardi in this group?

UPDATE: We've learned that the two goalies invited to prospect camp were starters for the teams they were traded to, not back-ups. See Prospect Park for more on the invitees to prospect camp, as well as Howlings. In other reading, see the Post and MSG.com on the Jagr situation. We're off to Greenburgh for the opening of camp -- will have a report this evening. Unfortunately, today is the only day we can attend -- hopefully we can get to talk to some of the new draftees and other prospects after they finish their work-out. If things go according to past experience, we will get to talk to Tom Renney about the draftees and the free agent situation.

Comments

[that guy who loves the rangers]

If I have to put my money on someone it would be that Kid Wallingford. 6'6 he can soot hit and score...Chara look out if this guy makes the team. Everyone in the east has an "Anti-Jagr" well it is about time we get an anti-Briere/Carter, an anti-Crosby/Malkin, an anti-Gionta/Elias, and well no worries with the fish-sticks.

[that guy who loves the rangers]

Have the Rangers made any qualifying offers to their RFA's yet? I would hate to lose some of those guys.

[Colorado Mark]

I wouldn't get too excited about Wallingford. He's a project at best.

Hey, the coolest thing the Rangers did at draft day was draft an Islander! (Prince Edward Islander that is!)

[Nic]

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2008/06/22/avery-free.html`

I hope its just bs....please sather sign him....

[Blaze]

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For Air, hotel (5 nights) & tickets it’s going to run approximately $2,000 - $2,500 depending on what category game tickets you want to get.

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[Blaze]

if we do sign cambell..i hope he brings a little of this with him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD03ut-iUzg

[Jess]

On the flip side of Dubi's coverage on the camp, over at prospect park we are going to be talking to those who know the prospects best like their coaches and broadcasters.

I would kill to see Soryal and Wiese going at it as those 2 were considered the 2 toughest in their respective leagues.

[Blaze]

and a little of this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNGFfSawkXc&feature=related

[Jxmarts]

You gotta remember that Wallingford's 50 points came as an overage player. Overage players (20-21 year olds) are more physically mature than most of their competition in junior, and they often dominate even if they're not legitimate prospects. It's extremely rare that someone makes it to the NHL if they haven't produced in juniors at 17, or 18 at the latest. At 6-6, you'd think if he could play a little, he would've been drafted or signed by before now. I'm glad the Rangers invited him to camp because if nothing else, he could grow into a heavyweight role, but I wouldn't count on him shadowing Crosby or Ovetchkin anytime soon.

[Jxmarts]

I've watched many of Justin Soryal's fights and he reminds me a lot of Darren Langdon in that he's not terribly big or strong, but he somehow manages to win most of his fights with his smarts. Whereas Langdon fought more defensively, Soryal's advantage is that he's quick and ambidexterous. If he can skate a little better than Darren, I think Ranger fans are gonna love him.

As for Dale Weise, I've never seen any of his fights. If he really was the toughest in the WHL, you figure he'd have more than the 3 fights he had last year. (He had 9 the previous year.) The top heavyweights usually take on challengers throughout the season, and they usually have fights totaling double digits. That doesn't mean he can't fight when he needs to, just that he's probably not a heavyweight in the traditional sense like Soryal.

And just a note on Dane Byers. If he ever makes the Rangers, it will be as a grinder and not a heavyweight. Although he's always willing, he comes from the Steve McKenna school of fighting -- throw a punch and fall down before you get hurt. As a fighter, he's less of a heavyweight than even Ryan Hollweg, who at least hangs in there for as long as he can.

[that guy who loves the rangers]

HAHAHAHAHA Barry Melrose is the new coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning according to ESPN.com

[Bones]

Nick Pageau is a tough stay at home defenceman with the Bulls. I believe he didn't play a whole lot owing to some sort of injury. One of those unspectacular yet steady guys which all teams need.

[joeymole]

dubi - had time this weekend to read the latest issue, excellent work! will be quite interested to see how you all cover all the draft picks, the prospects camp and on-going negotiations! maybe you can track down avery for a photo shoot and some questions before he leaves for greener ($$$) pastures?

and if you speak with renney and/or sather can you get us an inkling of an idea on what's going on with the d-men? what i'd like to know, specifically, is backman (former first round pick) a failed experiment or are they giving him another huge opportunity? thanks!

[Blaze]

GEORGE CARLIN R.I.P.

Carlinisms

"Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that."

Ever notice people who drive slower than you are real jerks? And people who drive faster than you are freakin maniacs!

"Our doppler radar shows a cold front coming in from the Midwest. Our radar also shows over 24 inbound ICBMs, so we do not believe that the cold front will last very long."

When cheese gets it's picture taken, what does it say?

Well, if crime fighters fight crime and fire fighters fight fire, what do freedom fighters fight? They never mention that part to us, do they?

Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy.

If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?

If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

Why is the man (or woman) who invests all your money called a broker?

If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted?

"Get on the plane -- F__ you I'm getting IN the plane! Let the daredevils get on the plane"...

If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest drown, too?

Whose cruel idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have a "S" in it?

Is it true that cannibals don't eat clowns because they taste funny?

If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2?

"If we evolved from apes, how come there are still apes?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktIECyzf4YM

[NYRanger4Life]

any chance the Rangers can convince (with the help of Dru I'm sure) Campbell to take a 5yr 30 million contract? I think everyone can agree that a player like him and a physical defensemen (?) are the teams biggest needs. (along with some scoring wingers)
$6m/year puts Campbell near the top of salaries for D....and he'd be playing in the biggest market in the world. A core of Hank/Gomez/Dubi/Campbell/Cherepenov/Staal would look nice in a few years..

If it's true we are letting Avery, Malik, Mara, Roszival, Straka et all WALK, might this be possible with the additions of a few more low priced rookies??

[Chris QCT]

Avery belongs in a Blueshirt. BUT at the same time, Sather is right.... there has to be a limit in today's Cap world. I would have also liked it if Nylander stayed last season too.... but not 5 more seasons and not at the price he wanted.

If a team wants to pay Avery somewhere between $16-$20 million for 4 years, then so be it. It's a dumb move for the NYR to do that, IMHO.

[Paul R _ _ _ _ _ D]

I like Avery, I really do at the comic con day after the devils were eliminated, he signed my jersey and took a pic with me shook my hand and I really want him back on the team but he has to be reasonable, and look at players in similar situations and go from there.

[Paul R _ _ _ _ _ D]

and also he makes fatso a lil crazy, gotta love that.

[MikeA]

George Carlin was the best ever. He will be missed :(
Maybe Avery will return, I don't think anyone would pay him $4 million; definitely not Tampa who has Lecavlier/St. Louis/Boyle and must save room for Stamkos (which will come at the expense of St. Louis) and Dallas has Richards/Turco/etc. If anyone would pay him $4 million, it's the Islanders.

[Matty]

If a team wants to pay Avery somewhere between $16-$20 million for 4 years, then so be it. It's a dumb move for the NYR to do that, IMHO.

ANY Team that pays Avery that kind of money will be making a dumb move ... while Sean's intangibles are things that cannot be accurately measured and put a $$$ price on and are valuable you have to look at the big picture ... Avery wants to help the Rangers reach the ultimate goal to win the Stanley Cup? He bleeds Ranger Blue? Then he should know that in a salary cap world if he wants his team to compete and have all the right parts then he will have to make some sacrifices

The most points he's ever scored are 39 with the Kings 05/06 .. last season with us he scored 33 points and spent half the time he was actually healthy on lines with Jagr and then with Gomez ...

Chris Kelly is a comparable player to Avery who played full seasons in 05/06 and 06/07 and then 75 games last season ... he scored 30 pts then 38 pts then 30 pts ... he resigned with the Senators for 2.125 million per year for 4 years ... this player bleeds Senator Red because he could've gone the FA way but he WANTED to stay in OTT ....

Mike Fisher, also from the Senators, is a comparable player who scored 44, 48 and 47 points for the Senators in the last 3 seasons and almost always played in key situations only makes 1.5 million per year when he resigned last year ...

So Avery at anything more than 3 million per year, specially if his style of play will make him injury prone, is seeking for WAY TOO MUCH money IMHO ... so one can see that if he isn't willing to deal with the Rangers, the team he supposedly bleeds blue for, because they aren't offering over 2.5 million then that means the only color he truly bleeds is whatever gets him the most money, loyalty be dammed ... hey, more power to him but he better not spew that crap about being a heart and soul Ranger and bleeding blue ... that is just him manipulating the fans so that if/when he goes to the highest bidder they won't label him a sellout and predictably turn on Sather for not giving him his due ...

end of rant *breathes*