Blueshirt Boggle

Gaborik Tallies in First Game as a Ranger (UPDATE: Parenteau sent to Hartford)

Sink or swim.

Like many high-priced free agents before him, Marian Gaborik was held to the highest standards before ever stepping foot on Garden ice.

If he succeeded, he would garner the respect of the Garden faithful. If he failed, he would become the latest move in a series of overpaid overrated players to don the red, white, and blue.

But last night he exemplified why he is one of the leagues premier talents, so long as he stays healthy.

Following his first shift when he got knocked down, Gaborik settled in and began to show a lot of resolve with the puck.

While on the power play, Gaborik muscled past the defender in the corner and behind the net. The Red Wing penalty killers followed him leaving newcomer Enver Lisin wide open in the slot.

Gaborik precisely feathered a pass and the rest is history.

It's only the preseason, but Gaborik's presence was surely felt as he collected one of the Stars of the Game accolades. His speed was deceptive as he exhibited the ability to change gears very quickly.

Defenders struggled to keep up with him not just because of his quick hands, but because he used variation in his speeds to make them commit first.

His mannerisms on the ice were surprisingly similar to those of Mario Lemieux. Not comparing the two in skills or notoriety, but rather the style for which they both skated. Last night, on several occasions, the noticeable Slovak became less noticeable, sneaking behind defenders and laying low on the far blueline.

Something that Lemieux was famous for.

How can such a high profile player go unnoticed? In this case, it's skill. The ability to balance being seen and drawing players to you versus going undetected through the neutral zone. It is a scary advantage when used properly.

However, as Head Coach John Tortorella alluded to, Gaborik is not immune to mistakes, particularly in his own end.

Yet, while he did make some mistakes in the defensive zone, that isn't why the Rangers brought him in.

He is here to score goals and add an offensive dimension that was sorely missing last season. And he seems prepared to do that.

More news, notes, and quotes as we finish sorting through last night's post-game chats...

UPDATE: P.A. Parenteau sent to Hartford.

An expected move as Tortorella said he would like to make a couple cuts today. Parenteau had a decent camp, but doesn't seem destined to stay with an NHL club. His play is similar to that of a poor man's Ray Ferraro and with the depth the Rangers have of quicker forwards, it appears that his only chance to make an NHL team will be elsewhere.

Rangers vs. Detroit, More on Dubinsky, Website Update...

We're putting together the first issue of the 2009 - 10 season, but in the meantime, a few updates:

Tonight, the Rangers faceoff at MSG against the Detroit Red Wings. We'll be there to catch the action. Follow us for updates on Twitter.

Speaking of Twitter, for those who follow, we reported the Dubinsky signing moments after it happened. He won't play tonight, but may see game action on Thursday against Washington.

Who will be seeing his first preseason action tonight is Marian Gaborik. The oft-injured winger has recovered (though not 100%) from some groin soreness and will likely play on the first line with Chris Higgins and Vinny Prospal.

However, it is more realistic once the season starts that Dubinsky replaces Prospal on that line.

Many of you have also been asking about our website redesign. We are right on schedule to launch with the beginning of the season. For those less patient BB readers, here is a small snippet of the design to wet your appetites:

Rangers get down to 34 players

The official release:

RANGERS TRIM TRAINING CAMP ROSTER BY 20

34 Active Players Remain With The Club

 

            New York, September 17, 2009 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has assigned the following 15 players to Hartford (AHL): goaltender Miika Wiikman; defensemen Trevor Glass, Brent Henley, Sam Klassen, Mike Sauer, David Urquhart, and Nigel Williams; and forwards Andres Ambuhl, Daniel Bartek, Devin DiDiomete, Brodie Dupont, Dan LaCouture, Matt Maccarone, Justin Soryal, and Dale Weise.  In addition, the Rangers returned five players to their respective junior club: goaltender Scott Stajcer (Owen Sound, OHL); defenseman Tomas Kundratek (Medicine Hat, WHL); and forwards Ryan Bourque (Quebec, QMJHL), Roman Horak (Chilliwack, WHL) and Ethan Werek (Kingston, OHL).

Forwards Tyler Arnason, Dane Byers, Corey Locke, Jordan Owens, and Patrick Rissmiller will continue training camp with Hartford.  Including these five players, the Rangers now have 34 players remaining in training camp, including four goaltenders, 10 defensemen and 20 forwards.  New York continues their exhibition schedule tomorrow, September 18 at 7:30 PM when the team will travel to Detroit to face-off against the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.

Madison Square Garden, L.P. is owned by Cablevision Systems Corporation and includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League); MSG Entertainment, which includes concerts and events at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre, the legendary Chicago Theatre, as well as an exclusive co-booking agreement with the venerable Wang Theatre in Boston; and which manages wholly-owned live entertainment properties including the Radio City Rockettes and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular; MSG Media, which is comprised of television networks MSG and MSG Plus, and MSG Interactive which oversees all company wireless and online initiatives; Fuse, the only national music television network; and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.

 

# # #

 

PLAYERS ASSIGNED TO HARTFORD (AHL) ON 9/17/09:

Goal:                      Miika Wiikman

Defense:                Trevor Glass, Brent Henley, Sam Klassen, Mike Sauer, David Urquhart, Nigel Williams

Forwards:              Andres Ambuhl, Daniel Bartek, Devin DiDiomete, Brodie Dupont, Dan LaCouture, Matt Maccarone, Justin Soryal, Dale Weise

 

PLAYERS RETURNED TO JUNIORS ON 9/17/09:

Goal:                      Scott Stajcer (Owen Sound, OHL)

Defense:                Tomas Kundratek (Medicine Hat, WHL)

Forwards:              Ryan Bourque (Quebec, QMJHL), Roman Horak (Chilliwack, WHL), Ethan Werek (Kingston, OHL)

 

PLAYERS STILL IN NEW YORK RANGERS TRAINING CAMP:

Goal:                      Chad Johnson, Henrik Lundqvist, Steve Valiquette, Matt Zaba

Defense:                Michael Del Zotto, Matt Gilroy, Dan Girardi, Ilkka Heikkinen, Corey Potter, Wade Redden, Michal Rozsival, Bobby Sanguinetti, Alexei Semenov, Marc Staal

Forwards:              Artem Anisimov, Tyler Arnason, Sean Avery, Brian Boyle, Donald Brashear, Dane Byers, Ryan Callahan, Paul Crowder, Chris Drury, Marian Gaborik, Evgeny Grachev, Christopher Higgins, Ales Kotalik, Enver Lisin, Corey Locke, Jordan Owens, P.A. Parenteau, Vinny Prospal, Patrick Rissmiller, Aaron Voros

Rangers fall 2 - 1 in first preseason contest; Cuts to come

Bad penalties and inconsistency.

 Sounds a lot like last season. Well, those bugaboos carried into MSG last night for the start of the preseason as the Rangers fell 2 - 1 to the Boston Bruins.

However, as with most preseason games, you aren't looking for team play so much as individuals that can compete at the highest level. Some players exemplified that. 

 "As the game went on there were some good things," said Head Coach John Tortorella. "I don’t want to name names because I may forget someone but as the game went on I thought we played well. We switched the lines around a little and I think everyone contributed."

Chris Higgins got his first goal, the lone score for the Rangers, assisted by tryout defenseman Alexei Semenov.

"I thought he was one of our strongest players on the puck, especially in the second half of the game," said Tortorella of Higgins. "If we’re going to be a good team and a competitive team, he needs to be a goal-scorer for us, he needs to be a penalty killer for us, he needs to be a top six forward for us and he needs to accept responsibility for that. Tonight was a good sign."

Matt Gilroy, who was interviewed by BB at camp, was a standout.He controlled the puck well, showed some deceptive speed, and never looked out of place.

"I definitely got chills, and to hear that first ‘goal’ song go off was pretty cool too," said Gilroy of his first game. "It was my first taste of this and I want a lot more."

 Tonight the Rangers faceoff in New Jersey against the rival Devils. After the game, the team expects to make upwards of 20 cuts.

Who's on your list?

More to come...

Training Camp Notes

Vinny Prospal said it best about Head Coach John Tortorella's skating drills, "None of them are easy."

The Rangers, split into four squads, took to the ice this afternoon for the second day of conditioning. While it is difficult to evaluate any players on only two days (and without pucks) we'll give it a shot.

The first group, predominantly rookies, had a few skaters that turned some heads.

Ryan Borque exemplified some fine skating and showed that he was very strong on his feet . Dan Girardi, though hampering a little, skated well and seemed in good shape. Michael Del Zotto, though not necessarily ready to make the jump to the NHL, showed a very wide stance that is critical of any successful NHL defenseman.

One player who didn't stand out much was Artem Anisimov. Likely to compete for a spot with the big club, he skated hard, but didn't seem to have the "jump" of some of the other rookies.

The next group had a few more NHL guys, but still composed of mainly rookies. Forward Brian Boyle, acquired from the Kings on draft day, had a very strong outing. His big frame didn't hamper his speed or his stride.

Michal Rozsival, who has something to prove coming off a less-than-impressive 2008 - 09 season, looked in good shape, but didn't reveal much emotion.

Forward Enver Lisin, acquired for Lauri Korpikoski, was very amicable and had terrific speed. He could be a pleasant surprise in the lineup.

Prospect Evgeny Grachev also showed a lot of speed for a big guy. While he may be destined for Hartford initially, he is close to being NHL ready and shows a lot of promise down the road. Liken him to Nik Antropov with a cleaner skating stride.

Donald Brashear and Dan LaCouture both skated well, but were clearly a step behind the rest.

The final two groups had the majority of NHL-ready players.

Sean Avery, who trained hard all off-season, never looked winded and still had time to jaw it up with some of the other players. His conditioning is far better than last season and he may be amongst the most conditioned in camp.

Marian Gaborik missed his second day with some groin soreness and is listed as day-to-day, but did participate in off-ice testing.

Wade Redden, who like Rozsival has something to prove, looked in much better shape and had some confidence in his step. We will see if that can translate into a game.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was rookie defenseman Ilkka Heikkinen, (see interview below) who didn't seem fazed by the intense skating and was able to keep up with the fastest skaters. His time in the European pro leagues seems to have had a positive impact on his approach here.

Alexei Semenov, (see interview below) who is in camp on a tryout basis, also held his own. Tortorella later called his size "intriguing" and there appears to be a legitimate chance for the defenseman to make the squad as a sixth or seventh player.

In the final group, Captain Chris Drury looked a step ahead of last year and skated more similar to his time in Buffalo.

Hobey Baker winner Matt Gilroy, who may need a little refining on his stride, fit in well with the group overall (see interview below).

Bobby Sanguinetti skated well, but overexerted himself towards the end causing him to fight through some pretty intense cramps. But, as Tortorella commended, he did finish the drill. Sanguinetti has filled out a bit physically and looks more ready to handle the physical play of the NHL.

Overall a tough, but effective day. Most of the prospects will get looks in the first two preseason games before any cuts are made.

We will be bouncing between camp and the preseason all week so stay tuned here, on Twitter, and on our new Facebook page.

Tortorella on what he's seen so far: Download Tortorella

Semenov on his chances of making the club: Download Semenov

Sanguinetti on his tough end to Day 2:Download Sanguinetti

Heikkinen talks about coming to the Rangers:Download Heikkinen

Gilroy speaks after the skate:Download Gilroy

On Dubinsky, Training Camp

Training camp began this morning with one unfortunate omission: Brandon Dubinsky.

Dubinsky, a RFA, has been negotiating all summer with Rangers management and has not been able to find common ground on a new contract. While he was listed on the training camp roster, he has chosen to holdout and could miss considerable time with the preseason upon us and the first game this coming week.

While we blog today from homebase (laying out the first issue of the 2009 - 10 season), we expect to be at the practice facility tomorrow with any further updates.

One notable addition is Dan LaCouture, the former Ranger is on the ice on a tryout basis. Camp invitee defenseman Kyle McLaren was injured and will miss the camp.

Blueshirt Bulletin Announces Website Re-Design for the 2009 - 10 Season

All summer, some changes have been brewing at Blueshirt Bulletin headquarters. Today, we are proud to announce, in conjunction with the start of the 2009  - 2010 regular season, Blueshirt Bulletin will be unveiling a brand new website.

This updated web design will allow for further fan interaction, multimedia, and a fresh look to match the outstanding content that readers have come to expect. Content has, and always will be, the driving force behind the Blueshirt Bulletin and a website re-design will only enhance that.

Blueshirt Bulletin Plus subscribers will also benefit.

There will still be a password protected area, free of ads, with expanded content, exclusive offerings, and additional multimedia.

The website will also enhance some of the social networking avenues that Blueshirt Bulletin has begun to explore such as our Twitter page and our newly minted Facebook page. 

Amongst the other features will be some exciting partnerships with other exclusive Rangers groups (those announcements to come) to provide further coverage and ways for fans to interact from all over the globe.

So as the Rangers prepare for training camp in anticipation of another season, Blueshirt Bulletin will be working hard to continue and provide the best independent coverage of New York's hockey team.

Stay tuned!

Rangers advance to third place game at Traverse City

The Rangers rookies will have the chance to finish third in the Traverse City Prospects Tournament after defeating the Red Wings 4 - 3 on Wednesday night.

The third place game is scheduled for tonight against the Minnesota Wild.

Some game highlights straight from the team:

•The Rangers pulled out a four-goal lead through the second period, despite being out-shot, 23-21, over the span.

•The Blueshirts prospects went five-for-six on the penalty kill to improve to 16-for-17 overall in the tournament.

•Defenseman Mitch Gaulton tallied a game-high, two assists, both coming in the middle frame.  Gaulton was the Rangers’ sixth round choice, 171st overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

•Rangers’ 2009 draft picks, Ethan Werek (second round, 47th overall) and Ryan Bourque (third round, 80th overall), teamed up for a second period goal to give the Blueshirt prospects a three-goal advantage.  Werek and Bourque have both registered one goal and two assists apiece in three tournament contests.

•Rangers’ prospects Captain, Dale Weise, recorded a team-high, six shots on net.  Weise was the Rangers’ fourth round choice, 111th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

•Justin Soryal recorded one assist and three shots on net in the contest.  Soryal originally signed with the Rangers as a free agent on March 12, 2008.

•Chad Johnson, acquired from Pittsburgh in exchange for a 2009 fifth round selection (Andy Bathgate) on June 27, 2009, stopped 32 of 35 shots in net for the Rangers.

Director of Player Personnel, Gordie Clark, on Chad Johnson:
“He was excellent once again.  Chad was very sharp tonight, stopping 20 top scoring chances.  One of those saves was a penalty shot by Johan Ryno (of Detroit) that never had a chance of getting by him.”


On Justin Soryal:
“He made the two best passes of the game.  On the first, he hit Ethan (Werek) perfectly on stride driving to the net.  The second sprung (Luke) Walker loose with a rink-wide pass to the right wing.”

Blueshirt on the Radio

Quick note here while we compile a larger post and some exciting announcements: Jess Rubenstein of Prospect Park and the Blueshirt Bulletin will be on Blueshirt Banter tonight at 7 PM. Be sure to tune in as it is a call in show! Be sure to mention Blueshirt Bulletin!

Stay tuned tonight for more...

Sunday Debate (Updated Monday 2:15 pm)

UPDATE ON DUBINSKY: Thanks to wolfgaze for the link. Steve Zipay of Newsday had a chance to speak with Brandon Dubinsky and clarify some of the contract confusion. Assistant GM Jim Schoenfeld was on XM Home Ice last week and said that Dubinsky was under contract, though apparently that is not the case. However, Dubinsky is skating with the team and says he wants to be a Rangers and thinks something will get done. More as it's available...

While enjoying one of summer's final Sundays, a few thoughts come to mind about what the next couple of weeks will hold for the New York Rangers.

There are some obvious gaping holes (first line center?) that need to be addressed and it remains to be seen whether those roles will be filled by rookies, a free agent acquisition, or a trade.

Let's examine a few of these things:

Dany Heatley: So much of a media-circus has been made with the Heatley rumors. If Ottawa is looking for Marc Staal or Brandon Dubinsky, as reported, then there isn't much interest on the Rangers end. While it appears that San Jose is the most likely destination, I wouldn't count out the Rangers at the 11th hour. However, that doesn't address their need for a center to play with all of these wingers.

Speaking of Dubinsky: As I understand it, Dubinsky is under contract for the upcoming season as he accepted the Rangers meager qualifying offer. So no worries about him going elsewhere. However, it is still likely that he signs a larger contract at some point soon.

Is Kessel possible: A report or two broke mid-week that the Rangers were seriously considering an offer sheet or trade with the Boston Bruins for center Phil Kessel. While it would definitely fill the first line center role, I can't see the Rangers and Bruins swapping talent.

Nearing the cap: While the Rangers are nearing the cap as they get closer to filling their roster, is anyone else still angered by the Donald Brashear $1.6 million contract? How can you justify that much money when Vinny Prospal gets $1.1 million. Very poor signing.

Speaking of roster, is anyone else having trouble with line combinations? How's this for a start:

Vaclav Prospal - Brandon Dubinsky - Marian Gaborik

Chris Higgins - Chris Drury - Ales Kotalik

Sean Avery - Artem Anisimov - Ryan Callahan

Donald Brashear - Brian Boyle - Aaron Voros

Could Enver Lisin find a spot on the final roster? How about Tyler Arnason or Evgeny Grachev? Lots of questions, but what it is for certain is that the Rangers have some assets and a lot of similar talent so perhaps that can be packaged for a player like Heatley, Brad Richards, or Kessel.

More this week including some exciting announcements here with Blueshirt Bulletin...