Sanguinetti Assigned To Hartford (Update 2:50 with Analysis and Game Notes)

Just announced. As expected, defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti was assigned to Hartford. While he has improved since his draft year, he still appeared a half-step behind much of the preseason games.

Here is the official release:

RANGERS ASSIGN BOBBY SANGUINETTI TO HARTFORD

23 Active Players Remain With The Club

 

            New York, September 24, 2009 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has assigned defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey  League (AHL).  The Rangers now have 23 players remaining in training camp, including two goaltenders, seven defensemen and 14 forwards.  The Blueshirts’ return to action tonight when they will host the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m.), in the final home game of their 2009-10 pre-season schedule.

****************

UPDATE: As per Steve Zipay of Newsday, the line combinations at practice this morning were the following:

Grachev-Drury-Kotalik

Lisin-Dubinsky-Callahan

Higgins-Prospal-Gaborik

Voros-Anisimov-Brashear

Boyle

Redden-Rozsival

Del Zotto-Girardi

Gilroy-Semenov

Staal-Sanguinetti

A few curious points with these lines. Obviously with Sanguinetti being sent down the Rangers know their top 7 defensemen. It appears, at face value, that Del Zotto will be given an opportunity for at least a few NHL games before being sent back to the OHL. Still not sure if he will stick, but it's worth a look.

The defensive pairings also may need some tweaking. If Semenov is your seventh defenseman, then it would make sense to have an experienced defender with an inexperienced one. Personally, I would like to see Gilroy with Staal.

If Semenov plays in the sixth spot, then Del Zotto sits and the Rangers stick with their top four pairings like last season.

Could Brian Boyle be sent to Hartford? Looking into his contract implications, but with all of the praise that Vinny Prospal has received as center, perhaps the Rangers are toying with the idea of sticking with today's lines for a while.

A Higgins - Prospal - Gaborik line looks good on paper. The line of Lisin - Dubinsky - Callahan could produce a lot of speed and punch. And Grachev - Drury - Kotalik has a little bit of size, a little bit of goal production, and a little bit of defensive play. The fourth line of Voros - Anisimov - Brashear isn't overly appealing only because it may be wasting Anisimov's talents.

Should be interesting!

We will be Twittering live from the Garden tonight so take a look in. We will also have some post-game analysis here including quotes from the locker room and in-game photos on our Facebook page.

Stick around!

Another Update: It appears that the practice lines will stick for tonight's game. Also, a point to debate during the game: With these current lines, the Rangers have a lot of firepower in scoring. One player missing? Sean Avery.

When Avery is ready to jump back in, where would he fit amongst this hodge-podge? Likely in Grachev's place alongside Drury and Kotalik, but is a large scoring winger in Grachev a better fit than Avery?

The Rangers need Avery's grit, but with the abilities that players like Grachev and Anisimov have shown, where does he fit in the top three lines? I don't believe he would be enough of a presence in the game by being placed on the fourth line.

On a side note, amidst all of the Phoenix Coyotes circus, Wayne Gretzky has stepped down as Head Coach. Dave Tippet looks to be named shortly as his successor.

I could see "The Great One" returning to the Rangers in a management capacity, especially since buddy Mark Messier is now in the fold.

Comments

[Derek]

I agree with you mostly, the only couple of things I can say I do disagree with you are:

1. I don't believe Staal should play with Gilroy. Torts has expressed a need for Staal to jump into the offense more. It would not make sense to pair two offensive guys together. Somebody has got to defend Lundqvist.

2. I do believe it is going to end up, Gilroy-Semenov, Staal-Girardi, and the two knuckleheads together.

3. Anisimov will get more then 4th line center duties if he makes the club, Torts has showed that he will play him on the penalty kill, and he has showed more skill then Betts on the 4th line & PK.

4. I like Grachev, but I think he would be better served in the AHL. He is the one that would not benefit from the 4th line. Also, torts is known to run more 3 lines, but maybe if he has more punch on his 4th line he will be more inclined to use it.

[njaco1215]

id rather see the Grachev-Anisimov- Lisin line stick together as the 3rd/kid line. they looked decent together and if left together at their age could gel into a nice scoring line for years to come

[Derek]

I thought that too, but they can't do that either.

If they put Anisimov on the third line that would mean either prospal, dubinsky or drury would have to play the 4th line and I don't think that is going to happen.

[Matty]

Derek,

I agree with you, just because Anisimov is the 4th line center doesn't mean that he will play 4th line minutes ... Torts loves the way he has played in camp and has given him PP and PK minutes and he has done well in both areas ... I see no reason why this wouldn't continue and even why he can't slot Anisimov with other linemates as the game progresses depending on who's playing well, which Torts is prone to do ...