Bourque, Kreider and Stepan Named to US Team

December 23, 2009 | Posted by Leslie Treff

This morning, Ryan Bourque, Chris Kreider, and Derek Stepan were named to the USA U-20 team that will play in the World Junior Championships that begin this weekend in Saskatoon and Regina.

The final roster was announced by USA Hockey this morning, after the US team dropped a 3-2 exhibition game to the Czech Republic last night. The contest went to a shootout, after Bourque tied the game at 2-2 in the third period. That goal was the second of the night by a Rangers prospect–Kreider scored on a rebound on the PP early in the second period. It was Kreider’s third goal in two exhibition games.  Bourque was named the USA’s Player of the Game last night.

All of the USA’s games in the 2010 WJCs will be televised by the NHL Network this year. In total, the NHL Network will televise 16 games to the US audience over the course of the 11-day tournament. The schedule is listed below.

Happy holidays to all!!!

2010 IIHF World Junior Championship – NHL Network Broadcast Schedule
Dec. 26 – Jan. 5, Regina and Saskatoon, Sask.

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Ilkka Heikkinen–What to Expect

December 3, 2009 | Posted by Leslie Treff

This afternoon, the Rangers recalled Ilkka Heikkinen from Hartford. Wade Redden is not likely to be ready to play against Buffalo on Saturday, so a sixth D-man was necessary. He is not the first blueliner to get the call–last weekend we saw Bobby Sanguinetti try to step in and take Redden’s slot. As I said in my blog earlier this week, I think he was the wrong call-up, but there was no question that he had earned his chance to play in the show. The knock on Sanguinetti was always his defense, which was pretty sorely lacking last week in the three games he played for the Rangers.  His defensive play on Friday and Saturday were just not anywhere near NHL level. So he was returned to Hartford on Tuesday and is not expected to get a re-call for awhile.

So the question is will Heikkinen be any better? What does he bring to the table that makes him different from Sanguinetti? Unlike Sanguinetti, who has been in the system for years, Heikkinen was just signed last summer as a free agent out of Finland. Highly sought after, the Rangers felt like they stole a player when they signed him last May. Plus, he understood and was okay with the fact that he would probably start in the AHL. I remember Gordie Clark telling me about Heikkinen when we were at the NHL Combine last May. His face was beaming.

I was impressed too when Heikkinen reported to development camp and looked like an offensive force. But he came down to earth in training camp this Fall, and actually did not look very good at all against players his own age (Heikkinen was 25 last month). His pre-season in Hartford was not good either, as he struggled on the smaller rink and tried to find his offensive game. Slowly though, over the last six weeks, he began rounding into the player that was advertised.

Honestly, I am not sure that he is NHL ready, but Heikkinen does have a booming shot. And he can play defense. He is left handed on a team with an unusual number of righties, and he can play on the PK. He has one of the best plus/minuses in Hartford and now rarely makes defensive mistakes at that level. He has not been NHL tested though and, because he has not been playing extremely well for that long, its unclear how he will do. Kind of like Chad Johnson, who was called up today to back up Henrik Lundqvist. Both have so little North American professional experience, that real readiness is hard to judge.

One thing is certain though. Heikkinen will have to bring the last six weeks’ accomplishments straight to New York. Because management will have him on a very short leash. Redden should be back within a couple of games, and if Heikkinen does not make a good impression right away, he might languish in the minors for the rest of the season. And he only signed a one year deal (he told me in training camp that he’s in North America trying it out), so we may not see him again if he fails now.

In the final analysis, given his recent history and the situation, it’s very hard to predict how he will do, but Heikkinen definitely has an NHL game. It’s up to him to prove that this time the Rangers got the call-up right.

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Very Busy Wednesday in Rangerland

December 2, 2009 | Posted by Leslie Treff

There has been lots going on today with the Rangers, from the prospects to the NHL team.

Let’s start with excellent news. Derek Stepan, who had an up and down start this season, has been on fire this last week. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, Wisconsin participated in the College Hockey Showcase, in Ann Arbor, and Stepan posted six points in two games, including a five point night on Friday. For this performance, today Stepan was named the WCHA Offensive player of the Week.

It was a great day for Stepan, who was also named to the preliminary USA World Junior Championship roster this afternoon. Rangers prospects Ryan Bourque and Chris Kreider were also named. The three will attend the three-day pre WJC tournament training camp in Grand Forks, ND from December 17-19th, in anticipation of the WJCs in Regina and Saskatoon at the end of the month. Bourque, who already played for the US in the U-18s, and Stepan have to be considered favorites to make the team. Kreider is more of a long shot, but with his speed and size, he does have a real chance to make the team.

There is good news about another prospect too. University of Michigan’s Carl Hagelin now leads the team in scoring. With 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists) in Michigan’s 14 games played, he has recorded 2 goals with the extra man and one short-handed. The shortie was part of a two-goal Friday night, when the Wolverines blanked Minnesota 6-0, and Hagelin was named the game’s first star. This comes only 10 days after Hagelin was named a team alternate captain for the rest of the 2009-10 season.

If this was not already a busy day, there was news on the professional front too. Today the Rangers waived longtime NHL backup Steve Valiquette. The Toronto native has been with the team since the 2003-04 season, is well liked by his teammates and is a Rangers union rep. Vali has not looked good backing up Henrik Lundqvist of late, and it would probably be good for him to get some games in at the AHL level and then come back up. But will he get picked off waivers and never see another game in a Rangers uniform? I think that this is a real possibility, and that at this point, the Rangers are prepared to part with Vali.

Although not yet official, the Rangers are expected to recall Chad Johnson from Hartford tomorrow. After a shaky start early in the regular season, Johnson has been stellar between the pipes  in Hartford since the end of October. In the last twelve games, he has not given up more than three goals in any one game and has three shutouts. It seems to me that its a bit early to call him up, especially if he is going to just sit on the bench while Lundqvist gets all the ice time, but if the plan is to give Johnson time in net over the next week or two, it might not be such a bad idea to see how far he is from being NHL ready.

There is no question that the Valiquette move has been in the works for several days, as Miika Wiikman was removed from the Charlotte Checkers roster over the weekend. He has been practicing with the ECHL team, but if Valiquette is claimed, then Wiikman will be recalled and fight for the number one position in Hartford.

In the other move of the day, the Rangers claimed Erik Christensen off waivers from Anaheim. With no points in nine games thus far this season, he was floundering with the Ducks. But he plays well in an offensive system (like the one in Pittsburgh in 2006 and 2007), and he may be able to win face offs on the fourth line, which this team needs desperately.

All in all, a busy day. Not a big change for the Rangers, and certainly not enough to turn the season around. But it is at least a recognition that something has to be done. Let’s hope that this is a beginning, and not the only moves planned.

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Rangers Strategy a Mystery

December 1, 2009 | Posted by Leslie Treff

The Rangers returned Bobby Sanguinetti to Hartford this morning, which got me thinking once again, why aren’t the Rangers taking the right steps to make the team’s defense better. Very frankly, when Sanguinetti was called up,  my eyebrows were raised.  Its true that Sanguinetti has been having a tremendous year in Hartford, and that he was ready to get a shot in the NHL. You might even say, he deserved it. And when I questioned Gordie Clark about it this weekend, that’s exactly what he said–Sanguinetti deserved the call-up.

I was a little more polite when I spoke to Clark, but my response was and is–so what? Yes, Sanguinetti is tearing up the AHL, but just because someone deserves a promotion does not mean that he gets it; particularly if your team has other needs. And this hockey team really needed someone who was solid in his own zone.

It’s one thing if the Rangers were just showcasing Sanguinetti with the aim of trading him. But I have no evidence that this was the case. So lets assume that the Rangers were just calling up a blueliner to replace the injured Wade Redden for a couple of games.  If you are picking a replacement for an injured worker, you pick the guy that can most closely replace the guy that is out.  You don’t replace him with a worker with skills you already have enough of. And Sanguinetti is too much like two other rookies–Michael Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy–to have been an asset to New York against Tampa Bay or Pittsburgh this weekend.

Sanguinetti does have a good shot and his offensive instincts are good, but defense was never his strong point. While he has made great strides in this area of his game, it looks to always be a weakness. That’s often okay for offensive blueliners, but that’s not what this team needed right now. Personally, I thought that Ilkka Heikkinen should get the call, which actually would have taken some guts to make (given Sanguinetti’s performance in the AHL this season), but he is more solid on defense than is Sanguinetti, has played professionally in Europe, and is NHL-ready. Sure, Heikkinen wasn’t ready a couple of months ago in camp or early season, but he is now, and would have done the team more good.

The Rangers are desperate for a stable defense–guys who can play solid D in their own zone.  Staal used to be one of those guys. So was Girardi. Right now, the only blueliner on the Rangers that has a positive plus/minus is Gilroy. Surprisingly good in his own zone most of the time, Gilroy has not yet been the offensive threat that was expected. But he is the one guy who is fast enough to make up for his mistakes and get back in time to help out his netminder when coverage is blown. Most of the time.

What it has taken me awhile to get to is that I just don’t understand what the defensive plan is. Obviously, if it was once a “No D” plan, it should have been changed by now because it is not working. In fact, it could never work with this personnel, because there just isn’t enough offensive power to win games 6-5 or 5-4. This should be a shock to no-one–the team does not have enough players to populate a second line with any consistency. (Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky are basically third line players, who are not going to give this team 50-60 points per year each).  The early excellent start was very deceptive, and perhaps hid the glaring difficiencies in the roster.

Now its past time for change. But the team should start with letting Staal and Girardi go back to what they were last year.  They were kind of boring, but very reliable. And then when he is healthy, add Mathieu Dandenault as the seventh defenseman. He was able to stabilize the blueline in Hartford, and he may be able to do it in New York too. It’s worth a shot to try those things.  Because as it stands now, the Rangers are just not good enough to win more than about 50-55%  of their games, which will put them out of the playoffs for the first time since the lockout.

Don’t laugh; it’s a very real possibility, and I am stumped as to how this has been allowed to happen. Hopefully, everyone will wake up from the unrealistic start this team had and see the real problems that need to be addressed. The sooner they do, the better.

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Rangers European Prospects Update

November 29, 2009 | Posted by Leslie Treff

This has been a hectic holiday weekend in the United States–the Thanksgiving holiday and lots of games, which have been generally good for the Rangers prospects and not so good for the NHL team.

At this time of year, much of the Rangers scouting staff is on the road, balancing family time with the need to keep up with all the hockey tournaments. Gordie Clark was driving back up to Toronto from Vermont yesterday when we chatted by phone about prospects in general, and the players over in Europe more specifically.

We first talked about David Kveton and his progress while playing with HC Trinec Ocelari (BTW, other players on Kveton’s team include former Ranger Jozef Balej and former Dallas prospect Vojtech Polak).  Clark noted that Kveton had a slow start but was starting to come on this season, after an excellent 2008-09. He said that the Rangers are keeping a close eye on Kveton, and would love to see him come over again and play in North America. But it is unclear whether or not that will happen.

This brought us to a discussion we have often had over the years, not as respects Kveton specifically, but when it comes to bringing European players to North America. The Rangers have a policy, born of experience, that they will not promise a player who is playing professionally in Europe that he will play with the NHL team.  If a player comes to training camp and earns an NHL spot, the Rangers are happy to add him as a roster player. However, if he does not make the NHL team, and is sent to the AHL, most likely he will be paid an AHL salary (generally around $65,000/yr). This is a issue for many Europeans who are supporting extended families on their current salaries which are far above the AHL range.

Whether Kveton is in that financial category or not was not clear from my discussion with Clark, but the lack of guarantee of NHL play appears to be at least somewhat of a stumbling block for him coming over to North America.

Speaking of playing in the NHL, or even the AHL, I asked Clark again about Tomas Zaborsky, and what his status was with Assat Pori, as well as with the Rangers.  Zaborsky was on a tryout with the Finnish team, but there was no announcement as to whether he had signed for a full season with Assat. Clark was unsure what Zaborsky’s status was with Assat, but he was pretty sure that Zaborsky would not be returning to North America to play within the Rangers organization. Clark talked quite a bit about Zaborsky’s good skills with the puck, however, he also mentioned that there were issues with his foot speed, as well as his failure to dominate when he got chances to do so. The organization was looking for him to become a top offensive player, either in junior, the ECHL, or in Traverse City or training camp. But he never seemed to do so on a consistent basis.

The upshot is that, although he may get picked up by another organization, Zaborsky’s return to North America seems far from imminent, and I believe that his days as a Rangers’ prospect are numbered.

I then asked about Pavel Valentenko. I had heard Clark’s recent interview with Jim Cerny and Steven Gelbs on the Rangers radio (check it out here http://rangers.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=57647&navid=DL|NYR|home), and wanted to talk a little more about the young Russian obtained in the trade that sent Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt, and Mike Busto to Montreal for Valentenko, Chris Higgins, and Ryan McDonagh.

Clark told me that he was very hopeful about Valentenko’s return to North America next Fall. With a game more suited to our style, Clark felt that Valentenko would soon find that he would do better here rather than in Russia. He was suspended last season by the Canadiens prior to being traded to New York for signing a three-year contract with Moscow Dynamo, but Clark thinks that this will not be a problem going forward. According to Clark, Valentenko was close to being NHL ready or even NHL ready when he left. Although money appears to be an issue here, Valentenko’s defensive skills are needed by the Rangers, so look for them to make a big push to bring him back for the Fall. This all presupposes that Valentenko makes a good recovery from his shoulder injury.

After we discussed Valentenko, Clark himself brought up Ivan Baranka. The Rangers are apparently very hopeful for his return to North America next Fall. There is also a good possibility that he will be chosen for the Slovak Olympic team, albeit as a sixth or seventh defenseman. I was somewhat surprised, but Clark told me that Baranka has assured the Rangers that he still wants to play in the NHL. I have to wonder though where they will fit him into the organization. Baranka was very close to being NHL-ready when he left, but since the end of the 2008 season, he may have been passed by the likes of Michael Del Zotto, Matt Gilroy, Bobby Sanguinetti, and Ilkka Heikkinen. If all of those blueliners are on the NHL team, where would they put Baranka? He is not a shut-em-down guy, so I just can’t figure how this will all work out without a major trade.

As for defensemen far down the road, Mikhail Pashnin’s name came up. Clark told me that Pashnin told the Rangers that he would like to give the NHL a try at some point, which is why the team took him with their seventh round pick this past summer. Pashnin had come to North America to play in the Super Series against CHL teams in 2008, as well as to Ottawa for the World Junior Championships, and the Rangers loved the way he played. A physical defenseman, the Rangers are still looking for him to mature, but Pashnin is definitely on their radar.

Other notes as the result of our conversation–

* The Rangers are very happy with the development of Ilkka Heikkinen and think that he is close to ready, if not ready, to play in the NHL. Expect an early call-up for him.

* Expect Sam Klassen to remain in Saskatoon for the entire season. The Rangers are looking for Klassen to build on his leap in development last season.

* It was Ryan Hillier who asked for a reassignment to another ECHL team. He is now with the Wheeling Nailers, and since the reassignment he has one assist in three games.

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Rangers Blog Will Be Back After Thanksgiving Weekend

November 24, 2009 | Posted by Leslie Treff

The Rangers blog will be back with more info on prospects after the Thanksgiving weekend.

Enjoy your holidays all!!!

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Rangers Younger Player Performance Reviews @ 19 Games

November 13, 2009 | Posted by Leslie Treff

Okay, I’ll admit that 19 games seems like a strange number after which to do performance reviews, but patterns have certainly emerged, so I decided that now is as good a time as any.

First, the parameters. Only the players through age 26 are included. While this too may sound totally arbitrary, in fact, its the age until which Hockey’s Future covers players that are former collegians and those drafted out of Europe. So, when I began this blog, that is the age I decided to use for NHL coverage. It may change at some point, but for now, 12 players on the Rangers roster during the 2009-10 season will be included in the evaluation.

Second, before I start, I want to let you know how I determined the rating letters. The evaluation in the letter is based upon how the player has performed compared to expectations when the season began (meaning prior to the October 2nd game against Pittsburgh).

Finally, a quick note that PA Parenteau was recalled this morning and Dane Byers returned to Hartford. Neither Parenteau nor Byers has really played with the Rangers enough to evaluate in depth (or give a rating to), but I will start with a quick mention of them. The rest of the players will be discussed alphabetically.

PA Parenteau, LW, Age 26

Parenteau, who was second overall in scoring in the AHL this season, has only appeared in two games for the NHL team this season. He will suit up for his third contest tomorrow afternoon against Ottawa. There is no question that Parenteau has the hands and offensive instincts to be in the NHL. But his skating is only fair at best, which, when combined with bad decision-making makes him a borderline NHLer. So, I don’t see Parenteau being a Rich Peverley or an Andrew Brunette, if only because his decisions on the ice are so questionable. Remember, this is not a 21 or 22 year-old, or even a 25 year-old in his first year as a professional; its his seventh season as a professional.

Dane Byers, LW, Age 23

Byers looked good in three of the five games in which he played for the Blueshirts this season. But the past two games, he has not played well and he just doesn’t have Parenteau’s upside, which is what the Rangers need right now. Basically, Byers looks to be a third to fourth line grinder with some offensive upside, but not a top six forward, which is what the Rangers projected him to be when they drafted him (before Byers showed some unexpected offensive abilities three seasons ago). His overall performance was okay, and he should see more time in a Rangers uniform before the end of the season.

Artem Anisimov, C, Age 21, Rating: B

Anisimov was a top scorer in the AHL last season, and was expected to carry some of that offensive prowess into the NHL this season. He was also known as an excellent two-way player, who could be used in all situations. It was not surprising that Anisimov did start slowly, which was not helped by the fact that his ice time was limited and the minutes he did get were bottom six. It is only in the last six games that Artie has been on the ice for more than ten minutes a game on any consistent basis. The problem is that he still does not play on a consistent basis for 60 minutes. There is no question that Anisimov is still adjusting and learning, but, despite the fact that he is in his third professional season, he is still only 21 years old. With the injuries to Chris Drury and Brandon Dubinsky, Anisimov is expected to get a lot more opportunities. If he can contribute on a more consistent basis during this time, Anisimov will make it alot harder for Head Coach John Tortorella to send him back to the third or fourth line when the team is healthy. But even if he does not, Anisimov will get better and better as time goes on, and will be a top six player in the NHL.

Brian Boyle, C, Age 24, Rating: C-

Boyle has been a disappointment in this, his first, season as a Ranger. He was expected to center the fourth line, add size, some toughness and have a better offensive upside than that which was produced by last year’s fourth liners. However, that has not come to pass. Very poor on face offs, Boyle has not been very effective along the boards, nor has he shown much scoring ability.

Ryan Callahan, RW, Age 24, Rating: B-

Callahan deserved to be given an “A” for alternate captain before the season. Known for giving maximum effort every time he is on the ice, Callahan has been an example of hard work helping a player to exceed his skill level since he joined the Wolf Pack in his first professional season. Generally considered to have third-line player potential prior to last season,  Callahan’s half point per game production made many (including his head coach) feel that more might be possible from the young winger. What has happened since the beginning of the season though is that Callahan has performed in the manner originally expected. He is  a typical third line player in the new NHL–a grinder who can put up 30-40 points a season, a character player who is reliable at even strength and on the PK. As the season moves on, expect him to take on more of that role.

Brandon Dubinsky, C, Age: 23, Rating: C

Dubinsky began the season centering the first line, and for just a little over the first two weeks, the experiment looked like a success. He had 8 points in as many games, but from October 17th through last week, Dubinsky only managed two assists in nine and a half games, and it was clear that Dubinsky was not a first line center. He did contribute in other ways, killing penalties and taking the body, as well as making some plays, but the team had hoped that he would be the first line playmaker that Marian Gaborik and Vinnie Prospal needed to score at even strength. That did not come to pass, and as Dubi recovers from a broken bone in his wrist that he sustained while blocking a shot last week in the game against Calgary, where to play him is still an open question.

Christopher Higgins, LW, Age 26, Rating: C+

When the Rangers traded for Higgins, they were hoping that he would be a solid second line player, a little over a half point per game forward, who might even break out into more. What they have gotten instead is a player who makes some very intelligent plays that don’t show up on the scoresheet, but almost no offensive production. And although its great that he is a smart player, the Rangers needed secondary scoring that they counted on from Higgins. But Higgins has started to turn it around, and, if he can continue, it was make the Gomez trade with Montreal even sweeter for Rangers management.

Enver Lisin, RW, Age 23, Rating: B-

Originally, it was unclear whether Lisin would be a fourth line energy player or a top sixth forward. For the most part, he has played with skill players, and for the first month, he did well in that role.  But with no points in the last six games (despite getting good TOI and lots of opportunities), Lisin may be showing that he is not a top six forward. Time will tell, but unless he shows more consistency, Lisin may find himself relegated to the fourth line permanently.

Michael Del Zotto, D, Age 19, Rating A

Del Zotto is a legitimate early contender for the Calder Trophy for best rookie. Named Rookie of the Month by the NHL, and top candidate for the Calder by Hockey’s Future, Del Zotto has impressed everyone with his vision, passing skills, and confidence. His abilities on the power play are fun to watch as he is the first real quarterback the Rangers have seen in years. He is, however, still learning the defensive game, and often makes costly mistakes. Part of the problem is that his defensive partner Michal Rozsival has not played up to par and is often not there covering, and part is just Del Zotto’s lack of experience. There is plenty of time for him to learn the game though, and, although Del Zotto is not on the scoring tear that he was early in the season, he has been the most pleasant surprise on the Rangers this season.

Matt Gilroy, D, Age 25, Rating: B

With the rise of Del Zotto, folks forget that Gilroy was supposed to be the offensive wizard on the blueline this season. Although that has most definitely not come to pass, he has generally been a steady defensive presence on the blueline. Don’t get me wrong, he makes lots of mistakes, but, given how he looked in his own zone before the season, Gilroy has grown by leaps and bounds in this area. He regularly plays on the PK and generally does a more than adequate job. He is learning his trade, and doing it well, however, it’s not clear that he will be the offensive defenseman that he was touted to be. Gilroy is still adjusting to this level of play and its hard to know now what his career trajectory will be. What we do know is that he will be able to play defense at this level, and its something that was not clear two months ago.

Marc Staal, D, Age 22, Rating: C

Staal has always been a defensive blueliner and at each level, he has excelled at that.  For the past two seasons, Staal has been a pleasure to watch as he developed at the NHL level and became one of the top younger players at his craft. Not so this year, as Coach Tortorella has changed his duties. Under the current system, Staal has been asked to jump into the play more and become a complete two-way blueliner. As a result, Staal has abandoned what he does best and often misses assignments on the ice, fails to properly position himself, and makes some poor decisions that are out of character. What will happen long term is not yet clear–either Staal will adjust or the Rangers coaching staff will direct him back to what he does best–but watching him struggle on the ice right now is very sad.

Dan Girardi, D, Age 25, Rating: B-

At first I left Girardi off, my apologies. I think there was something Freudian about it, because he is the hardest to rate. The most extremes to his performance. He has shown off his good shot and gotten goals, and then completely disappeared in his own zone. Of late, however, he is playing well defensively, and in the final analysis, that is what is the most important. Points will come, but his defense must be reliable for Girardi to be a success.

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Tuesday’s Prospects’ Update

November 10, 2009 | Posted by Leslie Treff

Sorry for the lack of posting last week, but the flu bug had me barely functioning, no less attending games and digging up information. But I am feeling much better and am back to watching and keeping my ears to the ground.

Contract Update

First, this morning it was confirmed that Tyler Arnason, suspended by the Rangers yesterday, has signed with Dynamo Riga of the KHL. Arnason was not going to get a call-up to the NHL team anytime soon, and, in fact, was a disappointment in Hartford, left for greener pastures. He was signed to a one-year two-way contract by the Rangers this past July, and by suspending Arnason and having him sign in Europe, the Rangers remove his contract from the total of 50 that they are allowed. This is different from the situation with Tomas Zaborsky, who signed a 30-day tryout with Assat last month (he currently has four points in five games with the Finnish team). Reassigned by the Rangers in October, Zaborsky’s contract remains in the 50 count.

Pack Update

Hartford won both of their games this past weekend, to raise their record to 8-6-0.   Now on a four-game winning streak, the Wolf Pack have only given up six goals in those four games. It is significant that Chad Johnson has been in net for all four games, and has now established himself as the Pack’s number one netminder. He had some trouble initially adjusting to this level of play, but he seems to feel much more comfortable between the pipes and his confidence has risen accordingly.

Also improving has been the defensive corps. It is no coincidence that since the signing (PTO) of Mathieu Dandenault, Hartford is 6-1. Although according to the scoresheet, Dandenault has only one point in those games, his steady presence on the blueline has changed the dynamic of the group. This was an excellent signing by the Pack, and has really helped the play of some of the Rangers top blueline prospects. Most notable among them are Bobby Sanguinetti and Ilkka Heikkinen,  who for the most part have played together as the first pair at even strength and on the power play. However, Ken Gernander and his coaching staff have been changing up the defensive pairings some, with very good results.  Both Sanguinetti and Heikkinen have played better together, as well as apart.  Michael Sauer has also improved his defensive play in the last few weeks.

Corey Locke and PA Parenteau continue to lead the league in points, and the two play off each other extremely well. However, the biggest improvement in play among the forwards has come from Evgeny Grachev, who is not only third among rookies in total points (12 in 14 games), but looks much more involved in the play on each of his shifts. With the injuries the Rangers have sustained over the last two weeks, Grachev should be considered for a call-up.

NCAA Update

Wisconsin split a weekend series with the University of Minnesota, and Ryan McDonagh was a big part of the positives for the Badgers. McDonagh seems to play better and better in each successive week, and he made a significant contribution to Wisconsin’s offense in both games, while playing more than adequate D in most of each game.

Derek Stepan, however, had a terrible weekend. On the ice for many of the Golden Gophers goals against, Stepan was playing on the third line for the Badgers. After centering a line with freshman Craig Smith (NAS) in earlier games, Smith has been moved to the top line, so Stepan had a new combination. His current linemates are diminutive and just not of NHL prospect calibre, so a drop in production was expected. But Stepan, who is a playmaking center, really needs to skate with finesse players, and this situation will not be good for him or the team. Hopefully, coach Mike Eaves will realize this quickly and move Stepan up to a higher line. If not, it could be a long season for the elite center.

Although Michigan is not having a stellar season, its top line LW, Carl Hagelin, is getting a lot of press for his excellent play. With seven points in eight games, he is tied for second on the Wolverines. Hagelin’s Michigan team was roundly defeated in both games this weekend by Miami University, the number one team in the nation, but Hagelin continues to play an excellent two-way game.

In other collegiate news, Danny Hobbs had a good weekend in Massachusetts games against Niagara. Playing on the wing on the top two lines this past weekend, Hobbs had the game-winning goal on Saturday and the secondary assist on the final goal on Sunday.

More about the CHL performances, the European Update, and a Pack player rating based upon the first month of play over the coming days.

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Rangers NCAA October Review & TV Update

November 5, 2009 | Posted by Leslie Treff

The Rangers have six prospects currently playing NCAA hockey, including two in the WCHA, two playing in Hockey East, and two in the CCHA.

Ryan McDonagh, D, University of Wisconsin, Rating: B–A lot has been expected of McDonagh coming into his junior season, and for the most part, he is off to a good start. He is a team tri-captain, and a first pairing blueliner with fellow top prospect, Jake Gardiner. Not as much of an offensive defenseman as was expected when he was drafted in the first round by the Montreal Canadiens in 2007, McDonagh is a good two-way blueliner, who is strong, for the most part reliable in his own zone, and plays with an edge.

Derek Stepan, C, University of Wisconsin, Rating: A–Sometimes its hard to remember that Stepan is only a sophomore, as he is already a top offensive forward on the Badgers team. Currently the leading forward in points, and second on the team overall, Stepan is speedy, with great hands, and excellent instincts. He plays in all situations for Wisconsin, and looks better and better as each week passes.

Chris Kreider, LW, Boston College, Rating: B+–Collegiate hockey was expected to be a big adjustment for the Rangers first round selection in the 2009 entry draft, and it has been. Coming from prep hockey into Hockey East would not be easy for anyone, and Kreider is not an exception. However, from the first game, Kreider’s speed and presence on the ice have stood out. Although he has played on the third and fourth lines, it is clear that every time he is on a shift that he is something special. It will take time, and he has a lot to learn, but Kreider’s potential is extremely high.

Carl Hagelin, LW, University of Michigan, Rating: A–Currently in the top 20 in CCHA scoring, Hagelin is now one of the leaders of Wolverines hockey. Developing much better than expected when he was drafted by the Rangers in the sixth round of the 2007 entry draft, Hagelin is strong on the puck, with good speed, and finishes well. It does look like he will complete his degree before playing professional hockey, but Hagelin has developed into an excellent prospect, who will fit well into the new Rangers system.

Max Campbell, C, Western Michigan University, Rating: B-–Campbell has continued to improve his game this season, but just has never made the breakout conversion that was hoped for from junior B to collegiate hockey. Campbell does have offensive skills,  but nothing has really stood out, and play in his own end is not his strong point. Although its certainly not too late, the junior needs to break out to be a legitimate candidate for an NHL contract after his four years of eligibility have expired.

Danny Hobbs, C, University of Massachusetts, Rating: C–Hobbs did not get a lot of ice time last season, so his development was hindered. Expected to get more this year, on a competitive team, was promising. However, Hobbs has not been a factor in any of the recent games, despite getting quite a bit of time of the ice. Not looking exceptional in any category, its questionable whether the UMass sophomore will be in the Rangers plans anytime in the near future.

This weekend’s TV Schedule only includes Wisconsin, which plays Minnesota twice this weekend. Both games will be on Fox College Sports Central at 8 pm.

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Sunday Morning Rangers’ Prospects Update–CHL Review for October

November 1, 2009 | Posted by Leslie Treff

It’s November 1, a new month. So let’s go over how the non-professional Rangers’ prospects are performing. To make it simple, I am going to give a quick review and a letter rating for each player, covering the CHL prospects today, and the NCAA players and Euros over the course of this week. BTW, your thoughts are encouraged (there is a comments section below).

CHL Prospects

Later this month, I will be writing up a formal article for Hockey’s Future on the major junior prospects (which will include Rangers’ management quotes). Player performances can certainly change between now and then, but just on the first six weeks of CHL hockey, here is my evaluation of the nine players who are participating in the league. (I am doing this in order of HF’s Top 20 ranking and then alphabetically.)

Tomas Kundratek, D, Medicine Hat Tigers, Rating:B–Kundratek was given a long look professionally this fall, so he joined the Tigers late. The young blueliner has played in only 12 games, but has generally looked very solid. He has recorded nine assists, which is impressive, however, quite a few of them were on goals when the game was no longer a contest. Still learning and developing, it was an excellent decision for Kundratek to return to the WHL.

Ethan Werek, C, Kingston Fronts, Rating: A–After a fantastic rookie season on a terrible team, Werek is continuing to perform at a very high level on the same team that is now leading its division. Werek is a large part of the Fronts success, playing in all situations and coming through on a consistent basis. He was sidelined for several games with hip issues which has hindered his production, but he still is on more than a point per game pace, and developing very nicely.

Ryan Bourque, C, Quebec Remparts, Rating:B-–Currently tied for sixth among rookies in the QMJHL, Bourque has had a big week. An offensive wizard who was expected to charge into major junior play, he has had some adjustment issues to this level of play. After the first game of the season, in which he looked tremendous, his opponents made some adjustments and his production slowed down. He has been working on it, and this past week, especially in Thursday’s game against Moncton where he had four assists and was the game’s second star, he looks to have solved some of his difficulties producing offensively. No question, Bourque is a highly talented playmaker. He is still adjusting though. For a fun player profile of Bourque on the QMJHL website, take a look at http://www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=232&id_nouvelle=2244 (which is in English).

Chris Doyle, C/LW, PEI Rocket, Rating: D–Doyle is the reason I added “on and off the ice” to this month’s evaluations. Doyle’s problems with at least one referee and at least one woman accusing him of attacking her have not played well over the last month. This behavior has overshadowed his play on the ice, which has been very good. Playing on the wing for the Rocket, Doyle is on a point a game pace, and is second on the team in scoring. However, particularly in October, he was not the clutch player that he should be for the team.  This season has not been the best for Doyle, who, at 19 1/2 years old needs to keep his focus on his game and come up big for his team when the game is on the line.

Mitch Gaulton, D, Erie Otters, Rating: C–What the Rangers were hoping for when they drafted him was an excellent puck mover with a better than average shot, the young phenom who was a top prospect before his elbow injury. A lengthy recovery was expected and full return to his former status was not assured. Gaulton has honestly not totally regained his form after surgery yet, and has also lost close to two years of development. There are times when he definitely looks good, and others when its clear that he is behind, but he is not consistently moving forward. It is a sad story, but at this point it is doubtful that Gaulton will be an NHL player.

Roman Horak, C/LW, Chilliwack Bruins, Rating: A-–The Rangers weren’t quite sure what to expect before Horak participated in the Traverse City Rookie Tournament. But the young Czech made an excellent impression there, and he is making another very good impression in Chilliwack. A top scorer on the Bruins, Horak had been playing on the wing (although still more of a playmaker than a goal scorer). For the last couple of weeks, Horak has been a part of critical late game goals that have helped the Bruins win four of their last five contests.

Sam Klassen, D, Saskatoon Blades, Rating: B-/C+–When the Rangers signed Klassen this past summer, they were hoping that he was ready for professional play. But like Tysen Dowzak last year, Klassen was not ready right after signing. So, the blueliner is back in Saskatoon, which is not ideal for the soon to be 21-year-old. He is putting up quite a few points, but shouldn’t be in this league at all anymore.

Daniel Maggio, D, Sudbury Wolves, Rating: B–Like Gaulton, Maggio was a late round pick because of injury issues. Unlike Gaulton, Maggio seems to have recovered well and was back on the ice to start the next season. The Wolves, however, are not exactly the cream of the OHL, so Maggio has had his hands full along the blueline. He is the leading offensive producer among defensemen on the team, but more than half of those points were posted in the first five games of the season. Since the beginning of October, Maggio has been mediocre at best, both in his own zone and contributing to the offense.  There is time to develop consistency though, and the Rangers will certainly be looking for it in their late round high risk pick.

Scott Stajcer, G, Owen Sound Attack, Rating: B-–Although Stajcer has been inconsistent between the pipes this season, he is the victim of facing a whole lot of shots since September. He is facing an average of a little under 36 shots per game, compared to some of the top ranking netminders in the OHL, who are facing closer to 30. Stajcer can have two or three excellent games (like he had this weekend, giving up 3 goals on 75 shots), and then give up 12 on a hundred (like last weekend). Whether he can turn that around or not remains to be seen.

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