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| ► OTG POLL
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Previous Polls
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| ► RUMOR MILL
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Friday - February 24th
So it appears the Rangers and Blackhawks are heading to a trade for Kane. Given the most likely path to freeing up money, we should see Jake Leschyshyn on waivers today, which would allow for a trade on March 3rd.
Multiple reports suggest that the Blackhawks have come down on their asking price, with Kane said to have pushed hard for a move to New York.
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| ► INJURY REPORT |
| Patrick Kane |
4/6 |
| Did not practice Tuesday, and sat out Wednesday against the Lightning, though Gallant said he would have played if this was the playoffs |
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| MORE INJURY NEWS... |
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Question Of The Day
August 19th, 2021
Earlier this year the Rangers won by a margin of nine goals as they beat the Flyers 9-0. How many times has the margin been bigger?
Answer...
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| SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 |
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CAPTION THIS
Read the submissions so far and see if you can come up with the best caption
for
Comments so far...
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| ► RANDOM RANGER |
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ALEXANDER KARPOVTSEV
(1993-1999)
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Born: |
Apr 7 - 1970 |
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Position: |
Defense |
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Games Played: |
280 |
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Goals: |
22 |
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Assists: |
75 |
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Points: |
97 |
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Penalty Minutes: |
211 |
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| CAMP ANALYSIS |
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CAMP INFORMATION |
Location
Greenburgh, NY
September 21st
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| PRESEASON RESULTS |
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4 - 1 |
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2 - 3 |
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2 - 5 |
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2 - 1 |
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4 - 5 |
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1 - 3 |
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| ROSTER |
| Invitees: |
66 |
| Remaining: |
23 |
| Maximum Roster: |
23 |
| CALENDAR |
| September |
| 21 |
Training Camp |
| 26 |
NHL Pre-Season Opener |
| October |
| 8 |
Final Pre-Season Game |
| 11 |
NHL Opener |
| 11 |
Rangers Opener |
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| Projected Forwards
- First Line |
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| Chris Kreider |
Mika Zibanejad |
Alexis Lafreniere |
Kreider and Zibanejad seem almost certain locks
for the first line, especially after their year together last
season. The question of course is who will fill in on the
right wing with the departure of Frank Vatrano over the Summer.
That's not to say it was really settled last year either. The
Rangers tried a number of combinations, including Hunt, Goodrow,
Blais and Kakko, even shifting Kreider over to the right for a very
short stint.
This year it still seems unsettled, though the favorite would
seemingly be Lafreniere, who showed a bit of a growth curve last
season, particularly in the playoffs. Lafreniere will need to
show he can play well positionally on the right, and that's one of
the things he's working on this off-season, and so it seems likely
this is where the Rangers will start the year.
If Lafreniere stumbles, then some of those options they used last
season could come back into play, or perhaps even Kravtsov will get
a look...though that seems a long shot without a very strong camp
and preseason, and a stumble by Lafreniere.
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| Projected Forwards
- Second Line |
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| Artemi Panarin |
Vincent Trocheck |
Kaapo Kakko |
Chris Drury used the bulk of his discretionary free agency money to
sign Trocheck to a seven year deal.
The 29 year old comes over from Carolina, and figures to slot into
the space vacated by Ryan Strome, Panarin's partner for the last
three seasons. While there's plenty of questions about whether
he can develop the same chemistry with Trocheck as he did with his
predecessor, the Rangers seem more than committed to giving this
every opportunity to succeed.
Does Kakko slide back into the right side after finishing last year
on the third line, well it seems likely that he is the default
choice, having played a bit with Panarin over the last couple of
seasons. Kakko will be hoping to stay healthy and get his
offense on track after three inconclusive seasons, and with Kravtsov
back in the US, he'll be under a bit more pressure this season.
If Kakko struggles, then one of Kravtsov, Goodrow or Blais would
seemingly be in line to give it a go, perhaps in that order.
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| Projected Forwards
- Third Line |
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| Sammy Blais |
Filip Chytil |
Vitali Kravtsov |
Call them the Contract Line if you like, but
all three players projected to the third line are in contract years,
and none of them are certainties to return if they don't perform
this year. Chytil looks the sure bet, with a chance to prove
that the playoffs were him finding his touch, rather than a fluke of
circumstances.
At 22 years old, Chytil is already a veteran on this team, but has
yet to prove he can stay healthy, and that he can consistently be a
threat offensively. His seven goals in the playoffs caught a
lot of attention, and were second only to Kreider, so this could be
the year that he finally puts together a good campaign.
Likewise, both Blais and Kravtsov have something to prove.
Blais had his season ended by P.K. Subban of the devils, who caught
him awkwardly and caused him to tear his ACL. Despite getting
back on the ice late in the post season, Gerard Gallant elected to
go with the guys who had been playing, rather than risk bringing him
back in after such a long layoff. With just 15 games to his
name as a Ranger, Blais will need to show enough to earn another
contract next year.
By contrast, Kravtsov has returned from Russia after a rocky start
to his professional career in North America. The young Russian
has had multiple run-ins with Rangers management, culminating in a
seemingly terminal move to return to his homeland after being
amongst the last cuts at training camp last year.
Now back in North America, it looks as if Kravtsov is all but
guaranteed a roster spot due to his waiver eligibility, and will
likely start the year either on the team, or in the press box.
Given the Rangers need for secondary scoring, it seems a good chance
that he'll get a shot on the third line to start.
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| Projected Forwards
- Fourth Line |
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| Barclay Goodrow |
Ryan Carpenter |
Ryan Reaves |
While he was used as a utility forward last
season, Goodrow's value is probably best realized as a checking
forward, and Gallant is still searching for a make-up that will
allow him to execute on that ideal. With the top nine
continuing to be more offensively driven, it probably makes the most
sense to use Goodrow on the 4th line, though whether Gallant does
indeed do that remains to be seen. It's possible that Goodrow
and Blais swap, to lend a bit more defensive responsibility to that
third line, or he could indeed come in here on the fourth line.
With Rooney's departure, the role of fourth line center then would
likely fall to either Ryan Carpenter or relative unknown Gustav
Rydahl, who was signed as a 27 year old UFA from Sweden.
Goodrow could also slot into the center and allow Dryden Hunt to
play on the wing, or even slide over to the right to replace Reaves.
Carpenter for his part looks like the first choice if they do go for
a center though, and while he's not the biggest guy, he could
provide them some decent minutes on the fourth line.
As for Reaves, age has been catching up to him, and perhaps this
year we'll see him play fewer games, or maybe even become the second
choice on the fourth line. We're not betting on that yet, so
we'll slot him in the 4th line as the defacto starter there, but as
we saw in the latter part of the season, he could find himself a
casualty as the Rangers look to put together more of a pressure line
than a physical one.
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| Projected Forwards:
Reserves |
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| Dryden Hunt |
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Jimmy Vesey |
It seems likely that the Rangers will only go
with one spare forward this year, providing them a bit more cap
room, but if they do go with two, then the odds on favorites would
appear to be Hunt and Gauthier. Hunt provides utility to play
up the line-up (albeit with only limited effectiveness) as well as
both wings. Gauthier by contrast could well be an early season
trade casualty, all even before that if the Rangers can figure out a
way to move him as he has reportedly requested.
While he has size and speed, Gauthier's lack of creativity and
limited hockey-sense have limited him in his 96 NHL games to date.
A specialist right winger, he also doesn't bring much in terms of
physical play or defensive ability, so could end up being exposed on
waivers prior to being reassigned to Hartford - if unclaimed.
That leaves open a window for former Ranger Jimmy Vesey to win a
spot and perhaps serve as an extra forward. Whether he beats
out Dryden Hunt for a sole forward spot remains to be seen, or
perhaps he doesn't earn a contract at all and parts ways during
camp.
OTHER NOTBALE FORWARDS
Jonny Brodzinski - could be an injury replacement, otherwise AHL
Will Cuylle - might have the best path to a Rangers spot, especially if
there's an injury
Jayden Grubbe - return to WHL
Karl Henriksson - Will play in Hartford or Jacksnoville this season
Ryder Korczak - Expected to return to WHL
Matthew Rempe - Maybe gets a shot in AHL/ECHL
Brennan Othmann - Can't play in AHL this year, so likely will go
back to OHL
Lauri Pajuniemi - Expected to play in Hartford
Gustav Rydahl - Could put some pressure on Carpenter for the 4th
line center spot
Bobby Trivigno - Outside chance of putting pressure on the top guys
Expected to play in Hartford:
Turner Elson
Tim Gettinger
Anthony Greco
Patrick Khodorenko
Austin Rueschhoff
CJ Smith
First Camp:
Maxim Barbashev - 2022 Draft Pick - QMJHL
Adam Edstrom - 2019 Draft Pick - AHL/ECHL
Bryce McConnell-Barker - 2022 Draft Pick - OHL
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| Projected Defense -
1st Pair |
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| Ryan Lindgren |
Adam Fox |
Back again for their fourth season, doesn't
seem like there'll be any big changes here yet
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| Projected Defense - 2nd Pair |
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| Projected Defense - 3rd Pair |
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| Zac Jones |
Braden Schneider |
In the second half of last season, Braden Schneider came in and made
the third pair right side defense his to
lose, and he'll go into camp with a firm hold on the spot. Who
is partner will be is the only question on a Rangers blue line that
looks very settled. Last year's experiment with Patrik Nemeth
proved a failure, and Nils Lundkvist failed to impress as the
preferred choice to start, and ultimately got traded just before
camp.
With Jones also having some experience over the last couple of
seasons, it appears he has the best chance to secure the final spot,
though the Rangers could also elect to go with Libor Hajek in that
role. Hajek has really struggled to cement a spot in the
line-up, but returns for his fifth season with 94 NHL games to his
credit, including 17 last year. Jones appears to have the
higher upside, but both have work to do on their defensive game,
which might provide enough room for Matthew Robertson to sneak past
both of them..
Robertson's rookie pro season in the AHL was steady if not eye
opening, so he'll have work to do if he wants to push past the two
in front of him.
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| Projected Defense -
Reserves |
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| Libor Hajek |
If Hajek wins the starting job, then perhaps
this spot goes to Tinordi, though given his limited abilities as
demonstrated last season, it would seem unlikely at this point.
OTHER NOTBALE DEFENSEMEN
Ty Emberson - acquired in the Nemeth trade, Emberson is a
bit of a reclamation project at 22
Matthew Robertson - As noted, could be a threat to win a spot, but
needs to have a strong camp
Brandon Scanlin - UFA signed out of college, has some work to do to
move up the depth chart
Hunter Skinner - worth keeping an eye on, still has many in front of
him has been quietly effective
Expected to play in Hartford:
Jarred Tinordi
Andy Welinski
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| Projected Goaltending |
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Igor Shesterkin |
Jaroslav Halak |
Shesterkin paid off his big contract and more with a Vezina Trophy
performance and a career season. He'll be joined this year by the 37
year old veteran Jaroslav Halak, who will likely see around 20 games or
so barring an injury to Shesterkin.
OTHER NOTBALE GOALIES
Dylan Garand - Expect big things from Garand in Hartford this year
Expected to play in Hartford:
Louis Domingue
Parker Gerhage
First Camp:
Olof Lindbom - 2018 Draft Pick
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