Ranger Rants

Friday, September 20, 2013

Vigneault checks in from Banff

The Rangers were not on the ice today but will resume practice tomorrow in Banff, the second of three practices they’ll conduct in the western Canadian resort town before playing the Flames Monday at Calgary.

Coach Alain Vigneault conducted a quick conference call with the beat writers to give an update on the traveling Rangers.

The highlights:

- Both Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin, recovering from offseason left shoulder surgeries to repair torn labrums, are doing everything in practices but participate in contact drills. Vigneault said he does not have a timetable for when the two forwards can resume contact but, in his opinion and without consulting with the training staff, believes Callahan might be a little bit ahead as far as shooting the puck. Vigneault says it appears Callahan is putting his full weight into the shots while Hagelin is using “more of a controlled motion.”

- Callahan and Hagelin are practicing in a second group consisting of three lines and six defensemen. The other group has four lines and eight defensemen with defenseman Aaron Johnson pulling double duty. While the four-line, eight-defenseman group is comprised mainly of veterans, Vigneault said prospects Oscar Lindberg and Danny Kristo are skating with the veterans. That’s a fairly good indication that, if Vigneault does keep some younger players (that’s not including Chris Kreider) on the roster, those two may have the best shot.

- As for lines, Vigneault said, so far, he’s kept the Chris Kreider-Brad Richards-Rick Nash trio together as well as Benoit Pouilot-Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello.

- Brian Boyle is practicing as a center but Vigneault said he’ll probably use Boyle as a wing in one of the four upcoming preseason games. Whenever Derek Stepan re-signs with the Rangers, that, of course, will be one less center position available so having the flexibility to play Boyle on the wing would be good for the Rangers. Another thought is that in order to squeeze Stepan under the salary cap, the Rangers might have to shed salary and the more versatile Boyle seems, perhaps some team would trade for him.
“I haven’t finalized the lineup for the next two games but there is a strong possibility that, with four games in five nights, I will try him on the wing,” Vigneault said. “I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from Brian in the middle. I would like to see him on the wing. It’s a good chance to see him.”

- Vigneault was asked two things about his defensemen.
The first was his philosophy of creating defense pairs.

“In my estimation, it’s very good to have a shutdown pair, a pair of defensemen who can play against the other team’s top offensive players,” Vigneault said. “I also like to have a pair of defensemen to play with my top forwards, two guys who can move the puck and play with the top offensive players. It’s a combination of different things. If you look at what is considered our top six D, I’ve played Michael (Del Zotto) with Marc Staal, I’ve played Dan (Girardi) with Ryan (McDonagh) and I’ve played John Moore with (Anton) Stralman. That’s worked out well for us. That’s exactly how we practiced and we’ll continue in that fashion for a little bit. There might be some changes but I like the fact that Michael can step into the attac and he’s got Marc Staal behind him, a high percentage, two way defenseman.”

On Wednesday, before leaving for Banff, Vigneault said, salary cap considerations aside, he’d like to carry eight defensemen and 13 forwards. He explained why on the conference call.

“I’ve always felt for practice time it’s better,” Vigneault said. “You get better quality practices when you have four duos back there. I’ve always felt, for whatever reason, if you get short on numbers, it’s easier for a defenseman to play up front than, in my opinion, a forward to play on defense.”

Lastly, from today’s Record, here’s how Staal could flourish offensively under Vigneault.
======================================================
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AGrossRecord
Follow the Record Sports Staff at twitter.com/TheRecordSports

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Goalie situation clearer as Rangers head to Banff; Kreider could be used in front of the net

The Rangers worked more on special teams today at their Westchester, N.Y. practice facility, then loaded up on two planes to move the operation to Banff, Alberta for the next three days to continue their training camp.

The team will conduct a charity golf tournament tomorrow to aid the victims of this summer’s Calgary flood. Then, the team will have three practices before facing the Flames on Monday and the Oilers Tuesday in Edmonton. After a travel day to Vancouver, the Rangers will end their preseason with back-to-back games against the Canucks (hello, John Tortorella) on Thursday and against the Kings Friday in Las Vegas.

Coach Alain Vigneault said the goalie rotation would work like this:
Flames - Henrik Lundqvist full game
Oilers - Marty Biron full game
Canucks - Lundqvist full game
Kings - TBD

And that schedule, Vigneault said, played a major role in Johan Hedberg being released from his professional tryout offer today. Vigneault said the veteran netminder made the decision.

“We talked yesterday after the game with Glen (Sather) and his staff and Benoit (Allaire), thinking how we were going to use Henrik and we figured with four games in five nights the best way to get him ready was to play him the first game in Calgary and the game in Vancouver, not to play him when we travel,” Vigneault said. “If he’s playing those two and I want to give a full game to Marty, then there’s only one game left. So I called Johan this morning to tell him ‘Listen, there’s a possibility you might get a half game but there’s also a possibility you might not get a game depending on how things unfold.’ A veteran player, a guy well-respected across the league, I wanted him to hear it from me and I left the decision up to him. He just decided to stay back.”

Hedberg’s departure leaves Biron competing with Cam Talbot to be Lundqvist’s backup but while Talbot played the second half of each of the first two preseason games, the fact that Biron is getting a full game and will have made two starts in the six preseason games is likely a good indication he’ll remain with the Rangers come opening day.

“It was good to be back in a game just to feel the games, the screens, they had a little power play time so that felt good,” Biron said of his six-save, no-goals allowed performance against the Flyers last night. “It’s a progression you’ve got to take. Games are part of it, practices are part of it, the way you conduct yourself, the way you prepare for these games are part of it. Ultimately, my job when I’m put in games in the regular season is to respond. My focus wasn’t on that (the competition for the backup job), my focus was always on what do I have to do to gain that confidence. It’s not so much who’s here. I really like Moose, he’s a great guy. That son of a gun beat us in 2001 when he was with Pittsburgh (and Biron was with the Sabres). I wished him the best. He’s a great guy, a great teammate, a great goalie.”
======================================================
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AGrossRecord
Follow the Record Sports Staff at twitter.com/TheRecordSports

Roster trimmed by six, Hedberg released from PTO

The Rangers leave for Banff later this afternoon for the next phase of their preseason schedule. Before departing, they have trimmed six more players from their roster, reducing it to 40, which is actually 39 since Derek Stepan’s holdout has reached its eighth day.

Most notably, veteran ex-Devils goalie Johan Hedberg, 40, has been released from his professional tryout. Hedberg, who spent the past three seasons as Martin Brodeur’s backup, agreed to a PTO last Tuesday as incumbent backup Marty Biron took a brief leave of absence to attend to an undisclosed personal matter back home in Buffalo.

But Hedberg did not dress for either of the Rangers’ first two preseason games, Monday’s 2-1 loss at New Jersey or last night’s 3-2 win at Philadelphia. The competition to be Henrik Lundqvist’s backup is now down to Biron and 26-year-old rookie Cam Talbot, who stopped 11 of 12 shots against the Devils and 10 of 12 against the Flyers. But, realistically, the competition should be over as Biron looked very solid in making all six saves against the Flyers. Plus, it makes much more sense for Talbot to continue his development by being the No. 1 goalie for Hartford (AHL) while Biron, in the last season of a contract that counts $1.3 million against the salary cap, continues in his backup role with the Rangers.

The Rangers also assigned the following players to Hartford: forwards Ryan Bourque, Josh Nicholls, Shawn O’Donnell and Michael St. Croix and defenseman Brendon Nash. Of that group, only O’Donnell and Bourque played in either of the first two preseason games.

Here’s the remaining roster:
Gs: Martin Biron, Henrik Lundqvist, Cam Talbot
Ds: Conor Allen, Stu Bickell, Michael Del Zotto, Justin Falk, Dan Girardi, Tommy Hughes, Aaron Johnson, Ryan McDonagh, Dylan McIlrath, John Moore, Marc Staal, Anton Stralman, Danny Syvret
Fs: Arron Asham, Brian Boyle, Derick Brassard, Ryan Callahan, Derek Dorsett, Jesper Fast, Carl Hagelin, Micheal Haley, Marek Hrivik, Michael Kantor, Chris Kreider, Danny Kristo, Oscar Lindberg, Brandon Mashinter, J.T. Miller, Dominic Moore, Rick Nash, Benoit Pouliot, Darroll Powe, Taylor Pyatt, Brad Richards, Derek Stepan, Andrew Yogan, Mats Zuccarello
======================================================
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AGrossRecord
Follow the Record Sports Staff at twitter.com/TheRecordSports

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Rangers 3, Flyers 2: Wrapping up

One of coach Alain Vigneautl’s priorities through the preseason is to determine which player combinations work best.

So while it’s just one preseason game, Derick Brassard with fellow French-Canadian Benoit Pouilot - plus Norwegian Mats Zuccarello - is an early candidate for best chemistry in camp. Brassard got to the net and roofed a shot past Steve Mason for a 1-0 lead at 1:10 of the second period after Zuccarello’s deft feed. And Brassard set up Pouilot to push the puck past Mason at the crease for the winner at 5:30 of the third period.

And to show the Rangers are understanding Vigneault’s message about getting to the crease and scoring from the “hard areas,” Andrew Yogan, playing in his first NHL exhibition game, shot the puck on net from the right boards and Darroll Powe deflected it in at the crease for a 2-1 lead with 33.9 seconds to go in the second period.

“It was one of the things we’ve obviously been talking to our group about,” said Vigneault, who got his first win as Rangers coach after Monday night’s 2-1 loss at New Jersey, even if these games don’t count in the standings. “It’s a tough league to score in. Goaltending on every team is real solid. To score goals you’ve got to want to go in those tough areas and pay the price. I thought tonight for the most part we accomplished what we wanted to. Philly came at us real hard, we moved the puck in a fashion that allowed us to break their forecheck.”

“They both I thought played to their strength,” Vigneault added about Brassard and Pouilot. “They moved the puck, they used their speed, they got some quality chances. They even got some real good chances on the power play. There seems to be a little bit of chemistry and hopefully it continues to improve.”

Brassard was a plus-2 with one shot in 17:49, the most ice time for a forward. Pouilot, also a plus-2, had two shots in 14:16.

Meanwhile, Marty Biron acknowledged he’s in a battle to retain his backup job to Henrik Lundqvist. Biron stopped all six shots he faced in 31:22 but at least were “Grade A scoring opportunities,” per Vigneault. Biron had to slide into position to twice stuff Vincent Lecavalier at the crease. He also ended his night making a toe save on Hal Gill.

“I think the urgency is to the new coaching staff and the new people in here,” Biron said. “I want to show them what I can bring to the team. And find the perfect role for me. And if they can utilize me throughout the season many times then that’s what I’ll do. Regardless if its preseason or practice that’s what I’ll do.”

Cam Talbot, playing for the second time in two nights after making 11 saves on 12 shots against the Devils, stopped 10 of the 12 shots he faced from the Flyers. But he kept the game from going into overtime by getting his left arm on Jakub Voracek’s close-range shot in the waning seconds.
======================================================
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AGrossRecord
Follow the Record Sports Staff at twitter.com/TheRecordSports

Sailing to Philadelphia

Great Mark Knopfler solo album and title track from said album but not necessarily how the New York media crew will be getting to tonight’s preseason Game No. 2 against the Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center.

Coming off last night’s 2-1 loss at New Jersey in the preseason opener, the Rangers will dress nearly an entirely different squad tonight, save for goalie Cam Talbot, Dominic Moore and Darroll Powe. Marty Biron will start in goal and play the first 30 minutes or so. One of his two competitors to be Henrik Lundqvist’s understudy, Talbot, will finish the game after allowing one goal on 12 shots against the Devils.

Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, Danny Syvret, Anton Stralman, Conor Allen and Dylan McIlrath will be the defenseman. The pairs shifted frequently during the morning skate but assume McDonagh-Girardi will be the top pair.

As for the forwards, expect this:
Benoit Pouilot-Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello
Taylor Pyatt-Oscar Lindberg-Jesper Fast
Micheal Haley-Darroll Powe-Derek Dorsett
Andrew Yogan-Dominic Moore-Michael Kantor

Coach Alain Vigneault said he’s noticed some chemistry between Benoit Pouilot, 26, who had eight goals and 12 assists in 34 games for the Lightning last season, and Brassard. And Lindberg and Fast have been successful together at the Traverse City Prospects tournament and through training camp. Lindberg, especially, has been mentioned several times by Vigneault has one of the potential surprises. The 21-year-old is in his first season in North America coming out of the Swedish Elite League.

Vigneault and his staff will make a second round of cuts after getting the initial 66-player training camp roster down to 46 on Sunday (that 46 includes C Derek Stepan (holdout), RW Ryan Callahan (shoulder) and LW Carl Hagelin (shoulder)).

And in review of last night’s loss to the Devils, please check out
- My take on Vigneault’s first game behind the Rangers’ bench and the calming influence that was sorely needed that he’s brought to the organization.
- It may have been just a preseason game but it was still a special night for Dominic Moore.

After the game group skated, the players not dressing tonight came on the ice. That included forward J.T. Miller, skating for the first time since tweaking his hamstring during Thursday’s on-ice conditioning test.

Check below for what Vigneault had to say following this morning’s skate…
======================================================
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AGrossRecord
Follow the Record Sports Staff at twitter.com/TheRecordSports

Devils 2, Rangers 1: Wrapping up

A late night will become an early morning (skate) which will turn into another late night as the Rangers face the Flyers Tuesday night in their second preseason game.

But first, a few more thoughts of the Rangers’ 2-1 loss to the Devils Monday night in their preseason opener.

First, and no doubt foremost in terms of importance to the Rangers’ season, was Marc Staal’s comfort level on the ice. Staal logged 21:56 and took a game-high six shots with one attempt blocked. (Speaking of which, the changing of the guard from John Tortorella to Alain Vigneault can be described in the Rangers blocking eight shots against the Devils, not the 20 or more in past seasons).

Staal said there was no comparison to the way he felt against the Devils (in a good way) compared to the one playoff game he tried to play against the Capitals in the first round, which was the one and only game he played after his right eye injury in March.

“Today was a good step,” said Staal, who will not play against the Flyers but wouldn’t mind getting more game action. “I’d like to get more. I haven’t played in so long. And days off (stink), you just bag skate.

“There’s no animal like a game,” Staal added. “To get that in and to feel as good as I did the first couple of shifts is big for my confidence. I’m just glad it’s over and I got by it.”.

Coach Alain Vigneault said it was obvious to see Staal was “a little anxious, a little nervous.”

“I felt like he didn’t give up on pucks when they were bouncing,” Vigneault said. “He talked to his partner (Michael Del Zotto) all night long. I feel it’s only going to get better for Marc.”
======================================================
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AGrossRecord
Follow the Record Sports Staff at twitter.com/TheRecordSports

Monday, September 16, 2013

Devils 2, Rangers 1: Top line scoreless but with chances; Lineup for tomorrow’s game vs. Flyers

The Devils beat the Rangers, 2-1, at Prudential Center Monday night in the preseason opener for both teams.

Dominic Moore, playing his first game for the Rangers since the 2006 playoffs and after sitting out last season following his wife, Katie, passing away due to live cancer, scored the lone goal.

His reward is the chance to play tomorrow night against the Flyers in Philadelphia. The same goes for backup goalie candidate Cam Talbot (though Alain Vigneault said the plan all along was to dress Talbot in each of the first two preseason games). Talbot stopped 11 of 12 shots in 27:34 after replacing Henrik Lundqvist, who stopped 14 of 15 shots.

Here’s tomorrow’s lineup:
G: Marty Biron, Cam Talbot
D: Dylan McIlrath, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Danny Syvret (who came to the Rangers from the Flyers this offseason in exchange for Kris Newbury), Anton Stralman, Conor Allen.
F: Andrew Yogan, Taylor Pyatt, Micheal Haley, Benoit Pouilot, Darroll Powe (also an ex-Flyer dressing for the second straight game), Oscar Lindberg, Dominic Moore, Derick Brassard, Michael Kantor, Jesper Fast, Derek Dorsett, Mats Zuccarello.

That means Chris Kreider, Brad Richards and Rick Nash, after forming the top line tonight, will not be in the lineup. Nash was a minus-2 in 19:11 with five shots, one behind team leader Marc Staal’s six shots. Richards was a minus-1 in 18:16 with three shots and Kreider was a minus-1 in 15:36.

Even in this nascent stage of figuring out roles for his new players, Vigneault wants to give Richards and Kreider every opportunity to start the season as they started the preseason opener against the Devils.

Not necessarily on the top line together, as they were with Nash, but among the top six forwards with the opportunity to generate offense.

“I thought they did all right considering it was the first game for Brad and Nasher and Kredier, their first game together with me,” Vigneault said. “I saw things I liked and some other areas we’re going to get to.
======================================================
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AGrossRecord
Follow the Record Sports Staff at twitter.com/TheRecordSports

Rangers ticket info

This just in from the Rangers:

“The New York Rangers announced today that individual tickets for the team’s 2013-14 regular season home games at Madison Square Garden will go on-sale to the public on Thursday, September 26 beginning at 12:00 p.m. Limited tickets will be available on Ticketmaster via NYRangers.com, Ticketmaster charge-by-phone, 866-858-0008 and Ticketmaster outlets.

Chase cardholders will have access to a special pre-sale beginning on Wednesday, September 18 at 12:00 p.m. There will also be a pre-sale for Blueshirt fans that follow the Rangers on Twitter (@NYRangers) or like the team on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/nyrangers) beginning on Monday, September 23 at 12:00 p.m. Fans will be limited to a maximum of four (4) tickets per game.

The Rangers home opener at Madison Square Garden is scheduled for Monday, October 28 at 7:30 p.m. against the Montreal Canadiens.”
======================================================
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AGrossRecord
Follow the Record Sports Staff at twitter.com/TheRecordSports

Counting down to tonight’s preseason opener

For the first time in about four months, it’s a game day for the Rangers as they face the Devils at Prudential Center tonight to begin their six-game preseason slate.

So, for the first time in 2013-14, here are the line combinations and defense pairs for the game.

Chris Kreider-Brad Richards-Rick Nash
Marek Hrivik-Brian Boyle-Danny Kristo
Brandon Mashinter-Dominic Moore-Shawn O’Donnell
Ryan Bourque-Darroll Powe-Arron Asham
Marc Staal-Michael Del Zotto
John Moore-Stu Bickel
Justin Falk-Aaron Johnson
Henrik Lundqvist
Cam Talbot

Bickel is expected to play tonight despite missing yesterday’s scrimmage with a back spasm. Dylan McIlrath skated with the game group this morning as a precaution but Bickel said he was good to go, as did coach Alain Vigneault.

While much of the focus on the top line has been on Kreider’s opportunity to play with Richards and Nash, the trio also is a continuation of the faith Vigneault has shown in Richards.

“If they kept me here that’s probably where I’m going to play, in some kind of role like that,” Richards said. “I didn’t expect to be kept here to sit upstairs. I’m smart enough to know my role on this team is to create offense and be that type of player. That’s not going to change. We have three guys that aren’t playing, if you count Step (Derek Stepan, plus Carl Hagelin and Ryan Callahan), plus the other line with (Derick) Brassard. I don’t think I’m here to fight or run people through the glass. But it is nice, it’s been nice since Day 1. It’s brand new, he’s seen enough of me over the years to get going with a fresh and clear mind.”

As for Kreider’s spot on the line, Vigneault said, “I think it’s a combination of that (what Kreider has shown so far in training camp) and the reality is he’s one of the Rangers’ high end prospects. Size, skill, we want to give him every opportunity to show what he can do. By putting him with Brad and Rick, we’re certainly showing our hand a little bit here that you’re getting a good opportunity, let’s see what you can do.”

More from Vigneault below…
======================================================
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AGrossRecord
Follow the Record Sports Staff at twitter.com/TheRecordSports

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Rangers cut 14, set roster for preseason opener

The Rangers have trimmed their roster by 14 players - eight assigned to Hartford (AHL) and six returned to their junior teams - as their five-day training camp wrapped up today with a first scrimmage (won by Blue, 4-3 following a shootout, or, 3-2 after regulation).

The team has also announced its playing roster for tomorrow’s preseason opener against the Devils at Prudential Center:

Gs: Henrik Lundqvist, Cam Talbot (coach Alain Vigneault said after the scrimmage that Talbot was very much in the mix with veterans Marty Biron and Johan Hedberg for the backup goalie’s job).
Fs: Chris Kreider, Ryan Bourque, Marek Hrivik, Brandon Mashinter, Dominic Moore, Darroll Powe, Brad Richards, Brian Boyle, Danny Kristo, Rick Nash, Arron Asham, Shawn O’Donnell
Ds: Marc Staal, John Moore, Justin Falk, Aaron Johnson, Michael Del Zotto, Stu Bickel or Dylan McIlrath (Bickel missed today’s scrimmage due to a back issue. He’ll play tomorrow if he can, if not, McIlrath will be in the lineup.)

As for the cuts…

Players assigned to Hartford (AHL):
Gs: Jeff Malcom, Jason Missiaen, Scott Stajcer
Ds: Charlie Dodero, Samuel Noreau
Fs: J.T. Barnett, Kyle Jean, Jason Wilson

Players return to juniors:
Ds: Troy Donnay (Erie, OHL), Ben Fanelli (Kitchener, OHL, Ryan Graves (Charlottestown, QMJHL), Jimmy Oligny (Rimouski, QMJHL)
Fs: Anthony Duclair (Quebec, QMJHL), Klarc Wilson (Prince George, WHL)

That leaves 46 players on the Rangers’ roster:
Gs: Martin Biron, Johan Hedberg, Henrik Lundqvist, Cam Talbot
Ds: Conor Allen, Stu Bickell, Michael Del Zotto, Justin Falk, Dan Girardi, Tommy Hughes, Aaron Johnson, Ryan McDonagh, Dylan McIlrath, John Moore, Brendon Nash, Marc Staal, Anton Stralman, Danny Syvret
Fs: Arron Asham, Ryan Bourque, Brian Boyle, Derick Brassard, Ryan Callahan, Derek Dorsett, Jesper Fast, Carl Hagelin, Micheal Haley, Marek Hrivik, Michael Kantor, Chris Kreider, Danny Kristo, Oscar Lindberg, Brandon Mashinter, J.T. Miller, Dominic Moore, Rick Nash, Josh Nicholls, Benoit Pouliot, Shawn O’Donnell, Darroll Powe, Taylor Pyatt, Brad Richards, Michael St. Croix, Derek Stepan, Andrew Yogan, Mats Zuccarello
======================================================
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AGrossRecord
Follow the Record Sports Staff at twitter.com/TheRecordSports