Day: October 4, 2010

Traditionally Rangers training camp has been more about getting veterans into shape, than any real competition for spots. Not so in 2010, when the Rangers entered the preseason preparations with an abundance of players looking to rebound, along with several good rookies looking to make their mark.

Certainly not all questions have been resolved, but several players saw their careers turn on their performances over the past sixteen or so days. In this column, I take a look at the winners, losers and those who simply held steady.

The Rangers made it official today, signing Ruslan Fedotenko to a one year, one million dollar deal. The two time Stanley Cup winner came to Training Camp after the Rangers extended a try-out offer to him, and his play since has certainly warranted his addition to the team.

This will mark the second time the Ukrainbian born winger returns to play under John Tortorella, having been with the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2002-03 through to 2006-07 while Tortorella was the head coach.

The Rangers could open the regular season Saturday with as many as eight draft picks on the opening roster, along with two more who were undrafted signees that made their NHL debuts with the team. It’s quite a difference from the teams we saw in the late 90s, when the team was dominated by spare parts and free agents.

One player who is hoping to join that group soon is 2008 4th round pick Dale Weise, and he is the subject of this Rangers Countdown.

In a little over forty hours, the NHL will drop the puck on their 93rd season as Carolina and Minnesota square get the season underway in Helsinki. The Rangers will follow suit a couple of days later when they open up in Buffalo against the Sabres.

The subject of this Rangers Countdown Profile won’t be in Buffalo, but will instead line-up for Hartford on Saturday, but Pavel Valentenko hopes that will be only a temporary situation.