|
Left Wing:
Locks:
Petr Prucha, Martin Straka
Bubble:
Nigel Dawes, Ryan Hollweg, Marcel Hossa, Colton Orr
Minors:
Zdenek Bahensky, Dane Byers, Lauri Korpikoski, Jakub
Petruzalek, Craig Weller
Skinny: The
Rangers have several options for the left wing this
year, including playing Shanahan there or moving
Cullen to the wing. It remains to be seen who
they'll select as the second line winger, especially
with the recent notes about Prucha perhaps playing
on a line with Blair Betts.
Another option the Rangers might try is to put
Marcel Hossa there to start the season, though the
Slovak winger struggled when given the opportunity
last season.
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|
 |
|
Center:
Locks:
Blair Betts, Matt Cullen, Michael Nylander,
Bubble:
Brandon Dubinsky, Jarkko Immonen
Minors:
Bruce Graham, Dwight Helminen
Skinny:
The one forward spot most likely to be open appears
to be at center ice. While Immonen appears to
have the inside track right now, Dubinsky has done
nothing but receive rave reviews since turning pro
late last season. It is not inconceivable that
the Rangers reward Dubinsky with a chance to make
the opening night roster.
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Right Wing:
Locks:
Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan
Bubble:
Adam Hall, Greg Moore, Jason Ward
Injured:
Jed Ortmeyer
Minors: Ryan Callahan,
Lee Falardeau, Hugh Jessiman, Rick Kozak
Skinny:
The right wing looks to be the most congested for
the Rangers going into camp. Whether the
Rangers will actually move Prucha to the right, or
whether Hossa will play on that side is yet to
be resolved. Greg Moore is a bit of a dark
horse and will likely only beat out Hall and Ward
with a stellar camp or an injury to one of the
starters.
Ortmeyer is expected to be out until December.
|
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Defense:
Locks:
Darius Kasparaitis, Marik Malik, Karel Rachunek,
Michal Roszival, Fedor Tyutin, Aaron Ward
Bubble: Dan
Girardi, Bryce Lampman, David Liffiton, Thomas Pöck,
Martin Richter, Marc Staal
Injured:
Sandis Ozolinsh
Minors: Ivan Baranka,
Marvin Degon, Hannu Pikkarainen, Corey Potter,
Michael Sauer, Jake Taylor
Skinny: The
Rangers appear to be set with six NHL experienced
defenseman to start the season, with Ozolinsh
expected to miss the start of the season with
injury.
The seventh defensive spot appears to be up for
grabs with a number of prospects potentially in line
to win the dubious honor of starting the season on
the bench. Chiefly among them are Pock,
Lampman, Richter and Girardi.
Despite some positive press, Marc Staal appears to
be likely to return to juniors unless there is an
injury.
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|
Goaltender:
Locks:
Henrik Lundqvist, Kevin Weekes
Bubble: -
Minors:
Chris Holt, Al Montoya, Stephen Valiquette, Alex
Westlund
Skinny: Lundqvist won the starting job last
year and Weekes is the designated backup. With
the reacquisition of Valiquette, expect both he and
Montoya to be in Hartford and Holt and Westlund
(signed to an AHL contract) to
be assigned to Charlotte
|
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|
Strengths:
New
York has plenty of depth on the wings this year,
with ten players having had NHL experience and
several players who can play multiple forward
positions. If Ozolinsh comes back soon, the
Rangers will also have seven starting NHL defensemen
in the system, and three additional players with at
least one NHL game behind them.
Goaltending also appears to be strong with Lundqvist
the starter and a very able backup in Kevin Weekes.
|
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|
Weaknesses:
Blueline offense continues to be a problem with the
Rangers, who will likely look to the return of Karel
Rachunek and some increased offense from Tyutin and
Roszival.
Another challenge for the Rangers may be the penalty
killing forwards, with the trading of Moore,
Rucinsky leaving as a UFA and Ortmeyer likely to
miss some time, the team will be looking to see who
might step up.
The center position looks a little weak, with not a
lot of depth in Hartford and one wonders whether
they might try to sign the newly drafted Eric Hunter
to provide some depth in Hartford.
|
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|
Opportunities:
As mentioned
above there is one center position that looks to be
open and there will no doubt be some spirited
competition mainly between Dubinsky and Immonen for
the spot. There's also a couple of bench spots
open, with Colton Orr likely to take the third.
|
|
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|
Threats:
Brandon
Dubinsky and Jarkko Immonen look like the best
chances to break into the line-up, with Nigel Dawes
perhaps a shot if he can out-play Marcel Hossa
through camp and the pre-season.
Other dark horses include Dan Girardi, Bryce Lampman
and Greg Moore.
|
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|
| INJURIES |
|
|
Jaromir Jagr (Shoulder)
- Is practicing, but will likely miss preseason
games
David Liffiton (Unknown)
Al Montoya (Shoulder)
- Is expected to get some play in before the end of
camp
Jed Ortmeyer (Pulm. Emboblism) - Will
be out until December
Sandis Ozolinsh (Knee/Rehab)
- Is skating, but will not play in the preseason
Hannu Pikkarainen (Unknown)
|
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|
|
|
|
| Camp Information |
Location
MSG
Taining Center
Tarrytown, NY
September 14-18
(not open to the public)
Lake George, NY
October 1st - 3rd
Monday and Tuesday sessions open to public
|
Calendar
|
Sep. 8th |
- |
Prospect tourney |
| Sep.
14th |
- |
Training Camp opens |
| Sep. 19th |
- |
1st preseason game |
|
Sep. 23rd |
- |
Puerto Rico game |
| Oct. 1st |
- |
Lake George camp opens |
| Oct. 5th |
- |
Season Opener |
|
|
Date |
Opponent |
TV |
Score |
|
9/19 |
at NJD |
- |
3-1 |
|
9/20 |
v NJD |
 |
2-0 |
|
9/23 |
v FLA (PR) |
|
3-2 |
|
9/25 |
v NYI |
|
2-5 |
|
9/27 |
v BOS |
|
|
|
9/29 |
at NYI |
- |
|
|
9/30 |
at BOS |
 |
|
|
|
| Cut Counter (23 roster spots) |
|
|
|
| Players Remaining |
Cuts Remaining |
|
29 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37 |
Ivan Baranka |
D |
|
19 |
Blair Betts |
C |
|
x |
Zdenek Bahensky |
L |
|
x |
Dane Byers |
L |
|
x |
Ryan Callahan |
L |
|
x |
Marc-Andre
Cliche
● |
R |
|
x |
Ryan Constant
‡ |
D |
|
5 |
Matt Cullen |
C |
|
10 |
Nigel Dawes |
L |
|
x |
Marvin Degon
§ |
D |
|
54 |
Brandon Dubinsky |
C |
|
x |
Brodie Dupont
● |
C |
|
x |
Lee Falardeau |
F |
|
x |
Mike Gabinet
‡ |
D |
|
50 |
Dan Girardi |
D |
|
x |
Bruce Graham |
C |
|
18 |
Adam Hall |
R |
|
x |
Dwight Helminen |
C |
|
x |
Mike Hoffman
‡ |
F |
|
44 |
Ryan Hollweg |
F |
|
x |
Chris Holt |
G |
|
81 |
Marcel Hossa |
W |
|
38 |
Jarkko Immonen |
C |
|
68 |
Jaromir Jagr |
R |
|
x |
Hugh Jessiman |
W |
|
6 |
Darius
Kasparaitis |
D |
|
x |
Lauri Korpikoski |
L |
|
x |
Rick Kozak |
W |
|
x |
David Kveton
● |
F |
|
x |
Bryce Lampman |
D |
|
x |
Francis Lessard
‡ |
W |
|
30 |
Henrik Lundqvist |
G |
|
8 |
Marek Malik |
D |
|
x |
Al Montoya |
G |
|
87 |
Greg Moore |
F |
|
x |
Ivan Novoseltsev
‡ |
F |
|
92 |
Michael Nylander |
C |
|
28 |
Colton Orr |
W |
|
24 |
Sandis Ozolinsh
 |
D |
|
x |
Hannu
Pikkarainen
|
D |
|
x |
Jakub Petruzalek |
L |
|
22 |
Thomas Pock |
D |
|
x |
Corey Potter
§ |
D |
|
25 |
Petr Prucha |
W |
|
x |
Dale Purinton
‡ |
D |
|
x |
Tom Pyatt
● |
W |
|
23 |
Karel Rachunek |
D |
|
x |
Martin Richter |
D |
|
3 |
Michal Rozsival
|
D |
|
x |
Ryan Russell
● |
C |
|
x |
Bobby Sanguinetti
● |
D |
|
14 |
Brendan Shanahan |
F |
|
67 |
Marc Staal |
D |
|
82 |
Martin Straka |
F |
|
x |
Jake Taylor |
D |
|
51 |
Fedor Tyutin |
D |
|
40 |
Stephen
Valiquette |
G |
|
4 |
Aaron Ward |
D |
|
16 |
Jason Ward |
W |
|
80 |
Kevin Weekes |
G |
|
x |
Craig Weller |
W |
|
x |
Alex Westlund
§ |
G |
|
§
AHL contract
‡
tryout
●
unsigned
x cut
injured
|
|
|
|
|
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|
