The training roster is set except for four to five late editions from the Traverse City Prospects Tournament, which wraps up tomorrow with the Rangers likely to play for fifth/sixth spot.
Back in New York, Ruslan Fedotenko made his first appearance as a training camp invitee at the informal skates, along with fellow invite goaltender Jordan Parise. While Fedotenko might have a shot at a spot, Parise is going to have a harder time of it.
So with camp set to kickoff Friday, we move onto our 20th installment of Ranger Countdown, profiling defenseman Dan Girardi.
Player Profile
As an undrafted player brought up through the Hartford Wolf Pack, Girardi is already used as a benchmark for other non-drafted players signed by the Rangers. Girardi successfully converted an AHL contract into first an NHL deal, and ultimately the $13M deal he signed this summer.
Well established within the line-up, Girardi saw his role change a little last year as the Rangers entered their first full season with John Tortorella as head coach.
With two rookie defenders on the Rangers blueline, Girardi was ultimately relegated to being Michael Del Zotto‘s steadying influence, a role that took half a season or more to adjust to. The emergence of Del Zotto as a PP threat also curtailed his time on the man advantage, limiting him to just one power play goal.
Even with the challenges, the 26 year old managed to tally 6 goals and 18 assists, matching his career high in assists for the third time. He also tied his career high of 53 penalty minutes, as he continued to show a little more edge to his game.
With his defensive partner a year older, and Wade Redden almost certainly heading somewhere else, the Canadian born blueliner will once again be seen as a reliable defender who can produce at both ends of his ice. It would seem natural for the team to once again pair him with Del Zotto as a second defensive unit, though he’ll still likely be relegated to limited PP duty.
2009-10 Statistics
Team: New York Rangers (NHL)
Stats: 6 goals, 18 assists and 53 penalty minutes in 82 games
Prediction
Team: New York Rangers (NHL)
Stats: 8 goals, 22 assists and 65 penalty minutes in 82 games
Trivia
Since being called up January 27th – 2006 to face the Philadelphia Flyers, Girardi has never missed a regular season game, 280 in all.
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