Ranger Rants

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

It begins anew?

So Dany Heatley has refused to waive his no-trade clause and accept a deal to the Oilers.

Here's a good analysis of the situation by TSN's Bob McKenzie.

Does this mean the Rangers could get back into it? Or are they done, as in done, with this? Most likely, tomorrow will bring the answers. Then again, we all thought today would bring the answers to the Heatley situation.

Also out the door

Tick, tick, tick...Getting closer to July 1 and the the later, and closer, it gets, the less likely it appears Dany Heatley will be a Ranger. Still, the Senators are looking to move him tonight and the focus is now on the Oilers (hello, Tom Renney), who are said to be sending underachieving but talented Dustin Penner back to Ottawa if, indeed, that deal goes down.

As for the Rangers, before we focus on who might be coming in the door tomorrow, let's quickly review who'll be walking out the door for the last time.

There seems to have been little discussion in bringing back veteran defensemen Paul Mara and Derek Morris.

It appears enforcer Colton Orr will be allowed to hit the market. In fact, the entire fourth-line combination of Orr, center Blair Betts (unrestricted free agent) and left wing Fredrik Sjostrom (restricted free agent, not qualified) aren't likely to be back.

Aaron Voros will no doubt likely wind up in Hartford (AHL) next season unless GM Glen Sather can get something in trade for him.

And, of course, right wing Nik Antropov, acquired at the trade deadline, will indeed be a rental as the Rangers are unwilling to meet (or even consider) his asking price of five seasons at $5.25 million.

Last thoughts on Gomez

Before we let Scott Gomez leave for Montreal, some final words on the man who was supposed to be a leader of this team for a long, long time (along with Chris Drury).

It'll be interesting to see how Gomez deals with the crush of media in Montreal. Don't get me wrong, he was a fun guy to talk to, always fast with a quip. Problem was, it was always on his time. Often, after off-day skates or morning skates or games, Gomez was nowhere to be found in the dressing room. Many times, when I or another reporter would track him down, he'd give a shake of the head and ask if he really had to do it that day.

That act just won't go over well in Montreal, where it's hockey, hockey, hockey, 24/7. If Gomez makes himself scarce in the room, it'll be reported tout de suite.

Gomez, speaking on a conference call after the trade, seemed to have a sense of what it will be like to play in Montreal.

"I'm happy to be going to the Mecca of hockey," Gomez said from Alaska, where he interrupted a fishing trip to talk about the trade. "I know there will be some pressure but that's what it's all about. I got some taste of the Montreal tradition playing for Larry Robinson (with the Devils)."

Sather, Higgins on trade (Update)

UPDATE: The sense in Ottawa is that Dany Heatley will be moved tonight. That's not a guarantee the Rangers will get him. But they're still very, very interested. And talking.

ORIGINAL POST: Glen Sather and Chris Higgins were just on a conference call formally announcing the deal that brings Higgins, a Long Island native (he grew up a Canadiens fan, oddly enough) and sends Scott Gomez to Montreal.

Several times during the season, particularly around the trade deadline, Gomez downplayed the inclusion of his name in trade rumors, saying he never paid attention because he's heard his name in trade rumors since he first broke into the NHL with the Devils. He must have bought it this time around, though. The whispers are he had his agent calling Sather on a weekly basis, if not more, asking what was up. Gomez, like everybody else around the NHL, knew the Rangers were looking to move his salary.

Reaction below. And stay tuned. Sather said another trade tonight is definitely a possibility.

Gomez to Montreal (Updated)

The Rangers have just confirmed that they have traded center Scott Gomez to the Montreal Canadiens for Chris Higgins, a 26-year-old left wing who had 12 goals and 11 assists in 57 games last season.

Higgins is a restricted free agent who earned $1.9 million last season. This obviously frees money for the Rangers to go shopping tomorrow.

Click below for the text of the Rangers' press release

Callahan on his invite, other topics

Ryan Callahan just checked in from upstate New York with some thoughts on being one of 34 players invited to the Team USA camp in suburban Chicago, Aug. 17-19, where he'll be joined by Scott Gomez and Chris Drury, along with John Tortorella, who will be an assistant coach to Ron Wilson.

"I definitely wasn't sitting around and expecting it," Callahan said. "But in the back of my mind, I knew it was going to be announced, the evaluation camp roster and I was hoping that I would be on the list. It's an honor to be mentioned with a lot of the guys on the list. It's nice to be recognized by the country.

"I found out last night," he added. "You always think about things like that, even before I was in the NHL, watching the Olympics and how special it would be to represent the country. I'll try to go out and do well at the evaluation camp and we'll go from there."

Three invited to Team USA camp

Team USA veterans Scott Gomez and Chris Drury along with right wing Ryan Callahan were the three Rangers selected today to be invited to the Team USA camp Aug. 17-19 in Illinois.

The fully story is here.

Development Camp Day 2

As promised, the prospects were put through a 45-lap marathon - 36 laps for the four goalies - and no other on-ice activities. As to be expected, some players were completely gassed by the end. But one thing the brass was looking for was a bit of burst on that last lap to cross the finish line. Shows competitiveness. It's the little things that tell a lot.

Waiting to see if we'll be able to talk to either GM Glen Sather or assistant GM Jim Schoenfeld about the start of free agency tomorrow. The Rangers could make their big splash in advance if they acquire Dany Heatley from the Senators, who would like to avoid paying him a $4 million roster bonus tomorrow. Despite Ottawa GM Bryan Murray's insistence that Heatley could be back in a Senators uniform if teams don't offer enough, the sense around the league is that Murray has to deal him. One report today had the Rangers and the Oilers as the only two teams still with an active interest.

One reporter's speculation here but would Ottawa accept a package of a first rounder, Brandon Dubinsky or Ryan Callahan and Scott Gomez or Michal Rozsival? Surely, Murray would have wanted more but his back likely is against the wall and he may be forced to get as much as he can. Other (strong) possibility is that Nik Zherdev is included in the deal.

Meanwhile, ESPN.com is reporting Nik Antropov is seeking a five-year deal worth $5.25 annually. To quote GM Glen Sather from the draft, that's "ridiculous."

Monday, June 29, 2009

The prospects

First, here's a link to the story on John Tortorella being named a Team USA assistant.

And some sights and sounds from Day 1 of the Rangers' development camp...

Tortorella watched from above with assistant GMs Jim Schoenfeld and Mike Barnett. GM Glen Sather was in and out of his office, talking to an agent and fielding other calls. On ice instructors were Adam Graves and the Hartford staff of Ken Gernander, J.J. Daigneault and Pat Boller. Rangers goalie coach Benoit Allaire also was on the ice. At one point, forward Paul Crowder sent a shot that deflected over the net and into the executive box. It looked like it came close to beaning Tortorella. Also, I don't know much about 25-year-old forward Matt Maccarone but I can tell you this, he has an NHL playoff-ready mustache. It definitely stood out amongst the teens. As noted before, the on-ice portion - two half-hour sessions for the split groups and then about an hour for all 26 players - was described by second-rounder Ethan Werek as a "bag skate." That's not necessarilly accurate. Bag skates - or heavy skating, no or limited time with the puck skates - are given to teams as punishment. Tortorella and the Rangers' brass is testing the prospects' conditioning.

Boot camp (Updated)

UPDATE: Rangers coach John Tortorella today was named as an assistant to Team USA coach Ron Wilson for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, along with Islanders coach Scott Gordon.

ORIGINAL POST: Ever seen a "bag skate" in June? That's how second-round pick Ethan Werek described the first day of the Rangers' week-long development camp. It started with timed sprints (with the players wearing a timing device strapped around their skate boot) and, later today, the players will be timed in a three-mile run.

Tomorrow's skate will include 45 laps - three sets of 15. Coach John Tortorella said it's just a preview of what can be expected when the team opens training camp in September.

"I think we're soft," Tortorella said. "Not physically soft. I think we're soft thinkers."

Tortorella said he wants the sense of entitlement he believes many players show - keeping their hands out for more rather than earning it - to disappear. Tortorella is still amazed that some of the Rangers were tired during the first round of the playoffs. "Unacceptable," Tortorella said.

"It's definitely the first time I've been through something like this," Del Zotto said. "It's a new philosophy. It's a good test. Looking at training camp, it's going to be tough. It makes you work that much harder in the offseason."

Defenseman Michael Del Zotto, left wing Evgeni Grachev and defenseman Matt Gilroy are all players in the development camp who have a shot at making the Rangers out of training camp.

More from the players coming soon.