Monday, October 4, 2010
Rangers Talk Cuts
Torts on sending McDonagh & Valentenko to Hartford...
“You have to make sure that you don’t force feed as far as their development,” said Tortorella. “The quicker they get down there to play and go through the American Hockey League, that will be the right process to get them up here quicker to play in the National Hockey League. When that will be, I don’t know. But they both had good camps.”
Stepan on making the Rangers...
“It’s a special feeling and I am excited,” said Stepan, 20. “But now the work really begins. You have to work twice as hard to stay up here.”
Sauer on working harder now that he's earned a spot...
“It’s a competitive business,” said Sauer, 23. “You have to show up every day, can’t take days off. But every day is an opportunity to show you belong.”
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Rangers Sign Fedotenko for 1-year $1 million
Andrew Gross at Ranger Rants reports that it's a one-year, $1 million deal.
...i'm definitely on board with this deal, one-year and on the cheap. How could anyone complain? Will be real easy to move him if necessary as well.
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Prospal to Have Season Ending Surgery?
...h/t to reader Kevin H.
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Staal Good to Go for Opener
Torts says says Staal was receiving treatment today and will be fine before opening nightless than a minute ago via TweetDeck
NHL New York Rangers
thenyrangers
While, Jesse Spector tweets that Michal Rozsival says his groin is now fine after treatment & therapy.
...great news on Staal. Not sure if it's great news regarding Rozy.
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Bold Prediction: Rangers Make Playoffs
3. The Rangers will make the playoffs this year.
...thanks Greg, because of you we can expect the Rangers to finish behind the Islanders this season. J/J.
...this is actually the first positive prediction I've seen about the Rangers this off-season. And Wyshynski is a Devils fan.
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This Morning's Lines; No Staal (Updated)
Gross also tweets the d pairs:
Del Zotto-Girardi
Eminger-Rozsival
Sauer-Gilroy
...assuming Eminger is out when Staal comes back. Not sure if Torts will change pairs also.
Original Post:
Andrew Gross at Ranger Rants tweets us this morning's lines from practice...
Frolov-Christensen-Gaborik
Dubinsky-Anisimov-Callahan
Avery-Stepan-Fedotenko
Boogaard-Boyle-Prust
White and Kennedy
...ladies and gentlemen your 2010-11 New York Rangers opening night lineup.
@thenyrangers tweets that Marc Staal is the only player not practicing this morning.
...this obviously has to do with the hip injury he sustained Friday night. Let's hope it's nothing serious.
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Monday Headlines
New York Post - LARRY BROOKS: Righty-filled Rangers D can be left for now
New York Times - Rangers Make Roster Fit, but Forwards Are a Puzzle
Journal News - Rangers still setting roster
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Rangers Interested in O'Brien?
NYR in market for experienced d-man. Could Torts-Shane O'Brien be reunited? SOB may be claimed by another team. Will find out noon Monday.less than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®
Bob McKenzie
TSNBobMcKenzie
O'Brien had 2g, 6a in 65 games with Vancouver last year.
...assuming if the Rangers really do have interest in O'Brien it's because they have no confidence in Eminger as their 7th defenseman.
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Sunday, October 3, 2010
Sauer, Eminger In; McDonagh, Valentenko Out
In addition, forwards Dale Weise and Mats Zuccarello, who were recalled from Hartford yesterday, have been reassigned to the Wolf Pack.
That means, in all likelyhood, that Mike Sauer is #6 and Steve Eminger is #7.
...congrats to Sauer, as he definitely outplayed both Valentenko and McDonagh. Wonder if the fact that Sauer had no options left and had clear waivers before reporting to Hartford had anything to do with the decision.
...while I'm not an Eminger fan, it makes sense to keep him as #7 so that both Valentenko and McDonagh can get valuable minutes in Hartford.
As expected, no forward cuts with injuries to Chris Drury and Vinny Prospal.
...sorry for getting this to you guys late. It's Sunday, and I watch football on Sundays.
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Islanders Release Ortmeyer
...bitter sweet here, glad to see that he won't be in an Islanders uniform, but I'd like to see him back in the NHL. Let's wish him luck catching on with a team.
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Three Teams Interested in Fedotenko
...the guy came to camp on a tryout and has played his way onto an NHL team, whether it's the Rangers or someone else. Maybe the Rangers can sign him to a contract and when Prospal and Drury come back see if they could trade him for a pick or a prospect.
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Sunday Headlines
Daily News - Rangers 2010-11 season preview
New York Post - Cashin' on Yashin
Newsday - Rangers' White has two goals in loss to Ottawa
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Torts Has a Pretty Good Idea What He Wants to Do
“I have some pretty good ideas about what we are going to do, but these are going to be some very difficult decisions,” said Tortorella.
“There are a lot of things for us to consider, not just how a player has played (in preseason) but where he fits in the balance of our club.”
...as I've said, I don't remember a camp this competitive and a final cut this up in the air. The Drury, Prospal and Rozsival injuries make the situation that much more cloudy.
...should be interesting.
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Saturday, October 2, 2010
Senators 8, Rangers 5

Rangers @ Senators (Preseason Finale)
Pregame Notes
TV: MSG
Probable Lines:
Kennedy-White-Fedotenko
Dubinsky-Anisimov-Weise
Christensen-Stepan-Zuccarello
Boogaard-Boyle-Prust
McDonagh-Eminger
Valentenko-Gilroy
Del Zotto-Sauer
Biron, Lundqvist
Opponent Notes:
- Pascal Leclaire is expected to start in goal for Ottawa.
- The Senators will play what should be their opening night lineup.
2009-10 - Rangers vs. Ottawa
Oct. 3 Rangers 5, Senators 2 at MSG
Nov. 14 Rangers 2, Senators 1 (SO) at Ottawa
Jan. 14 Rangers 0, Senators 2 at MSG
March 2 Rangers 4, Senators 1 at Ottawa
Opponent Blog:
Sens Chirp
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Weise, MZA Up for Tonight's Game
Dale Weise and Mats Zuccarello up for tonight's #NYRangers game at Ottawa. Marian Gaborik and Ryan Callahan reportedly will not dress.less than a minute ago via HootSuite
Andrew Gross
AGrossRecord
Gross adds in another tweet that neither Gaborik nor Callahan are injured. They are just being rested.
...nice little opportunity here for MZA to show Torts & Co. that he's made some progress down in Hartford.
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Rangers Scouting Oilers
...assuming Risebrough is at the games speaking with Oilers management as Souray isn't playing in any of the exhibition games.
...like I said yesterday, if the Rangers could get him off of re-entry waivers ($2.7 million per) I wouldn't be totally against it, however, it would mean youngsters such as McDonagh, Sauer and Valentenko will most likely be spending the year in Hartford.
...is Souray's power play prowess worth possibly stunting the growth of those three? Let me hear what you think in the comments section.
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Saturday Headlines
Bergen Record - Gross: Here's Some Advice For NHL As New Season Begins
New York Post - Rangers' Prospal to miss start of season
Daily News - Stepan, Boyle tally in shootout win
Daily News - Prospal iffy for Rangers opener
Journal News - Prospal's knee injury means Rangers open season with kids at center
Newsday - Prospal's knee concerns Rangers
Newsday - What we like / don't like about the Rangers
...going pumpking picking with the family today, I probably won't have a lot of updates throughout the day. Will try to have a game preview for tonight's rematch in Ottawa.
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Friday, October 1, 2010
Rangers Talk Win vs. Senators
John Tortorella on Brian Boyle…“Brian Boyle was much better with face-offs tonight. He’s had a pretty good Camp here and no one tends to talk about it but he’s been a hell of a guy through Camp. A guy who knew where he stood in terms of numbers coming in – he’s handled himself pretty well.”
Derek Stepan on how he has played during the pre-season…“I am happy with what I have done. I have put my best foot forward. Whatever happens, happens. I know I gave it everything I had. We will see from there.”
Brian Boyle on the team…“We have a great team with a lot more depth this year. That is just from guys trying to get better. We have some new faces obviously but we have guys that just want to get better. We all want to move to the top and get better.”
Rick Carpiniello at the Rangers Report has more quotes here and here.
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Prospal Shut Down
Updated: 11:20 p.m.:Carp has these quotes from Torts on Prospal...
Rangers 5, Senators 4 (SO)

Rangers vs. Senators (Preseason Game 5)
Pregame Notes
TV: MSG
Probable Lineup:
Gaborik-Prospal-Frolov
Avery- Stepan-Fedotenko
Dubinsky- Anisimov-Callahan
Boogaard- Boyle- Prust
Staal-Girardi
Del Zotto-Eminger
McDonagh-Gilroy
Lundqvist, Biron
Opponent Notes:
- Brian Elliot is expected to start in goal for Ottawa.
- Former Ranger Alex Kovalev is coming off of off-season knee surgery.
- D Filip Kuba broke his leg on the first day of training camp and is expected to be out until November.
2009-10 - Rangers vs. Ottawa
Oct. 3 Rangers 5, Senators 2 at MSG
Nov. 14 Rangers 2, Senators 1 (SO) at Ottawa
Jan. 14 Rangers 0, Senators 2 at MSG
March 2 Rangers 4, Senators 1 at Ottawa
Opponent Blog:
Black Aces
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Place Your Bets
The Rangers are 40/1 to win the cup, 33/1 to win the conference and 15/1 to win the division.
Marian Gaborik is 30/1 to win the Hart Trophy (League MVP), 35/1 for Art Ross Trophy (league point winner) and 9/1 for Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy (top goal scorer), while Henrik Lundqvist is 8/1 to win Vezina Tropy (top goaltender).
...would have liked to have seen Stepan get some odds for the Calder Trophy (top rookie).
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Kreider Ranked 23rd Best Prospect in NHL
23. Chris Kreider – LW – New York Rangers
Height: 6-2, Weight: 201
A prototypical power forward, with excellent speed and good hands, Kreider was a 2009 first round selection of the New York Rangers. At the time of the draft, Krieder was playing prep school hockey, and in one season his game improved by leaps and bounds. Kreider went from playing prep school hockey to the 2010 World Junior Championships, the 2010 NCAA Championships, and the 2010 Men's World Championships. He has returned to Boston College for his sophomore 2010-11 season, but it is likely that Kreider will become a professional next fall, and compete for an NHL roster spot at that time.
...Kreider will be the Stepan of next year's training camp. As all as fans will be pushing for him big time to make the team. Time will only tell if he'll be ready.
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Morning Practice Cancelled; Possible Lines for Tonight
Zipay also takes shot at tonight's lines...
Gaborik-Prospal-Frolov
Avery- Stepan-Fedotenko
Dubinsky- Anisimov-Callahan
Boogaard- Boyle- Prust
Zipay is unsure about defensive pairings and says Henrik Lundqvist will be in goal tonight.
...big game for Boyle and Fedotenko.
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Can You Give Sather Credit for Making Up for Mistakes?
John Grigg at The Hockey News says it's not all bad when it comes to Glen Sather..."But for all his perceived faults, you have to give Sather credit for at least one thing: he’s sly as a fox when it comes to divesting himself of bad contracts. NHL.fanhouse.com posted a top-five worst Sather signings Wednesday and there are some bad ones. Whether they actually are the worst ones or not (Chris Drury is hardly a world-beater at $7.05 million per year) is up for debate. But take a look at all of those guys; see anything in common? None are still Rangers; all were traded or otherwise taken off the books."
So my question to you Ranger fans, can you give Sather credit for being able to make up for his mistakes (most specifically the Gomez deal)? Let me hear you in comments section.
...my opinion is you could give him some credit if there were only a few bad signings, but the shear volume of mistakes makes it hard for me to give him too much credit. And the biggest thing for me is two, count em two, playoff series wins in nine years. Yikes.
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Messier Drops By Practice
Newsday - Messier will get ice time mentoring Rangers
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Rangers Keeping an Eye on Souray
...for $2.7 million, I'd be in. For his regular salary of $5.4 million for the next two years, not so much.
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Late Start Today (Updated)
As has been the case since the accident, my wife has once again stepped up and took my daughter to therapy, so I'm back.
Again, my thanks to everyone for their concern.
Original Post:
Just a headsup that I'll be starting late today because I have to take my daughter to therapy to help her recover from the accident.
I should be back around 1pm.