Without question, the reemergence of the Rangers as a perennial Stanley Cup favorite has happened from within.
Without the scouting staff and leadership that have brought us Henrik, Dubinsky, Callahan, Dawes, Prucha, Girardi, and Staal, we would be nowhere near where we're at, standings-wise. Our youth is the key to Broadway success.
The last few years, I've felt, as have many others, that if the Rangers had any holes in their system, they were on defense. However, with the strong camps had by Corey Potter, Michael Del Zotto, and Bobby Sanguinetti, we look solid on the blue line for years to come.
My concern, for the first time in a few years, is at forward.
With the saddening death of Alexei Cherepanov and the promotion of many aforementioned players, do the Rangers truly have anyone in Hartford at this point that could cause offensive damage in the NHL?
To me, Artem Anisimov might be that lone possibility. However, he's a center, and the Rangers are EXTREMELY deep in that position. Piggybacking on that, he had a weak camp.
Parenteau also looked like a player that'll have a great career in the AHL, and that's all.
Greg Moore has given no real reason for him to be counted on offensively.
We do have Brodie Dupont and Dale Weise, but I'm unsure if they'll be anything different than Callahan or Korpikoski types. Not that's a terrible thing—but isn't it important to have players in your system who can find the net with some degree of consistency?
A player a few years back who opened my eyes was Jarkko Immonen. He's in Europe. I wonder if there's any way that he could be given a second look back here in New York? He had "offensive playmaker" written all over him.
This is a cause for concern. I appreciate that the Rangers have had the talent to promote from within, and I understand that these players have deserved to come to the NHL. I just hope we haven't left ourselves barren.
Guys like Derek Stepan and Evgeni Gratchev might have that ability to fill this void. If not, the Rangers have to find another way to do that. For example, Petr Prucha hasn't done anything in two years. Is that a product of his bad play, or Tom Renney? It doesn't matter. What matters is having value. If he won't be used, let's get rid of him for at least a decent prospect.
Other guys who have floundered, or at least not given an opportunity (like Bobby Ryan) might not be a bad idea to trade for, to at least rebuild the system that's been so good for so long. Could it hurt to see what the price tag might be?
Even with the success that we've had, it's important to always keep an eye on the future. Thank God for Nik Zherdev. If it wasn't for him, what other youthful scoring would we have on the wings?
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about 1 month ago
Dale Weise was a very good junior player. He was used in all situations, PP, PK, even strength, late game spots and he did well. He had a great camp and shouldn't be to far away. Grachev is tearing it up in juniors, and he clearly wants to be in the NHL, thats why he chose to come here without pay instead of staying over there. He had been projected by ISS as a late first rounder, and we got him in the third, which is a steal.
As you said, defensively, we have a good pool of prospects. Defense is very important, mix it with the fact that we already have future blue liners in the lineup already, we should have one of the better defenses in the league in a few years, if not THE best. At forward, we don't have as much immediate talent available, but that's because we've brought everyone up already. The draft this year is said to be very strong, and since there will probobly be an emphasis at forward for us, we shouldn't have to much to worry about.
Also, Bobby Ryan would cost WAY to much. He's up with Anaheim now, and has 4 points in 5 games and is a +5. I think he might be developing in to the forward they hoped he would be when he was taken 2nd behind Crosby
from about 1 month ago
Bobby Ryan's name was only used as an example of a prospect who hasn't quite hit his stride/given a full opportunity. Guys like the Devils' Nicklas Bergfors and Colorado's TJ Hensick seem to fit this mold, just to throw 2 other examples out there.
about 1 month ago
yea I get your point, but I think he is being given that oppurtunity now. Still, I think we have a good pool of prospects. We've brought up a good amount of young guys, but the best part of prospects is that you get some for free every year. If your cupboard is getting low, you get to re-stock for free.
from about 1 month ago
Depending on your ability to draft. Detroit re-stocks, and re-stocks well. A team like us? This is the first time we've brought up serious prospects continuously in... forever! I just hope that the leaving of Don Maloney doesn't hurt us as much as many have thought it might.
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