The New York Rangers are preparing for the journey to capture that elusive Stanley Cup. Here are the top 2015 training camp battles.
By Ernie DeFalco
When you have a team that has made long runs in the playoffs over the last few seasons, you tend to not need major overhauls at the start of the regular season.
A lot of question marks surrounding the Rangers this offseason revolved around how healthy will the Rangers be come the start of training camp.
All reports are positive so far, especially hearing team spark-plug Mats Zuccarello will be fully recovered and ready to go from day one of camp. The Rangers haters can pretend all they want that a team shouldn’t be affected by a guy like Zuccarello, but many of his teammates felt his injury was a key reason this team did not make another Stanley Cup Final.
The main hole was created when Carl Hagelin was traded away. The other vacancy could be at enter where the Rangers are always thin.
Kevin Hayes was the third line center much of last season, but will probably be moved back to his natural position on the wing.
Lets take a look at some of the training camp battles and how they will pan out. The Rangers have one mindset this season and that is Stanley Cup or bust, that all starts today.
Forward Battles
Ryan Bourque
The Rangers third round draft pick of 2009 will challenge for a spot on the wing this season. The young left wing found his offensive game two seasons ago in Hartford scoring 21 goals.
However, he had a major drop off last season scoring only 12. Drafted as a center, moved to the wing, he has some flexibility. But he would need a stellar camp to truly be in the mix.
Prediction: Somewhere in the AHL
Emerson Etem
When the Rangers acquired Emerson Etem from the Anaheim Ducks they acquired a former first round pick, including all his speed and all his skill.
However, they also acquired all of his inconsistencies. If you YouTube him you will see some real highlight reel goals. Although if you look at his numbers you will see a total of 15 goals in over 100 games played at the NHL level. Not good.
Considering the player he was traded for, Ranger fans will not give Etem much of a chance to fail. So he better hope the highlight reel guy is much more visible than the invisible man act he performed much of his years in Anaheim.
Prediction: Third line left wing.
Jesper Fast
Fast had a fine rookie season as a Ranger. He did not show a lot early forcing many fans to question what it was about him that the coaches loved so much. As the season went on and the Rangers progressed into the playoffs, fans began to see what Alain Vigneault saw.
He is an extremely responsible defensive forward and talented penalty killer. There was one point in the season where he was on the ice for only four power play goals against over a 60+ minute span.
He does have a bit of offensive skill too. It remains to be seen if he can score enough to make Ranger fans completely forget about Carl Hagelin. If he does, the Rangers have a real nice piece in young Mr. Fast.
Prediction: Third line right wing.
Tanner Glass
After the Rangers signed Glass to 3 year 4.25 million contract during the 2014 off season many Ranger fans were left scratching their heads. It seemed to be way too much money for a player of Glass’s ability.
He is a tough guy who cannot be counted on to play a regular shift and that showed as Glass was awful during last year’s regular season. No question about it, he’s slow, clumsy, and did not even fight that well.
He was often the focus of the boo birds at MSG and there were reports of him being snubbed by autograph seekers. That all said, he deserves some credit. Through it all he persevered and had actually had a nice playoffs.
He may have changed the Capitals series a bit after his TKO of Tim Gleason. Gleason was never the same after that. All that said, Glass has two things going for him. One is the large contact, the other is the undying affection of his head coach.
Prediction: Fourth line right wing and occasional healthy scratch.
Oscar Lindberg:
Anyone who follows the Rangers has been intrigued by Lindberg and wondering if he could succeed at the NHL level. The young center was originally drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2010 but traded to the Rangers in 2011 was given a two-year 1.3 million dollar contract this off-season.
The contract is a one-way deal which means if he is not kept on the roster he must clear through waivers, which he most certainly will not. Lindberg is a solid two-way center who seemingly found his scoring touch in the North American game last season with the Wolfpack.
Lindberg tallied 28 goals for the Wolfpack and hopes that his offensive ability will earn him on a spot in the Ranger lineup. What he has going for him is he is a pure center.
Guys like J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes may be better suited on the wing, which could open up a center spot for the 23 year old.
Prediction: 13th forward, in and out of lineup, but could move up if he performs and others don’t.
J.T. Miller
An enigmatic forward to start his career, Miller finally seemed to cement his place in the lineup towards the end of last season. Fans forget Miller is only 22 and is not a finished product.
After being sent a not so subtle message from his head coach regarding his poor play and preparation, Miller’s career as a Ranger was in limbo. Miller, a center by trait, played the wing last season for the Rangers. That is a very common occurrence for young players as they learn the speed of the NHL.
There are a lot less responsibilities on the wing, which makes the adjustment easier. Expect that to change. Miller could very well find himself back at center for the 2015-2016 campaign.
Prediction: Third line center
Viktor Stalberg
Stalberg was probably the biggest “huh?” move the Rangers made all off-season. The left wing bounced back and forth between the Predators and their AHL affiliate the Milwaukee Admirals last season, only playing 21 games at the NHL level.
He had his best year back in 2011 with the Chicago Blackhawks, scoring 22 goals and adding 21 assists. But since then has been mostly a disappointment.
What does he have going for him? He is a left wing. It is always nice to have some depth at the left wing position. He has also played on some good hockey teams, which can be considered a nice intangible. Neither of which should have earned him a 1.1 million dollar deal.
Prediction: He will battle Etem for a spot on the third line, but wind up on waivers, then the AHL
Jarrett Stoll
The Rangers decided to give this defensive center a chance, much like they gave Ryan Malone a chance last year. The stories of the two players are very similar, but expect a different ending here.
Stoll is still a serviceable defensive forward in this league. The two time Stanley Cup Champion can fill the spot created when Brian Boyle left. He has a similar skill set to Boyle and will fit in perfectly as the Rangers fourth line center.
His biggest attribute is his face-off ability. The Rangers finished 27th in the league in face-off percentage last season. Which is ironic, because according to Ranger broadcaster Joe Micheletti, no team works on and has more set face-off plays than the Rangers. Why spend so much time on the face-off when they rarely win them?
In either event, Stoll finished over .500 in face-off winning percentage, placed 44th in the league. No current Ranger is even close.
Prediction: Fourth Line Center
Defenseman Battles
The Rangers defense is the strength of the team. The top five are set. Composed of Captain Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, Keith Yandle, and Kevin Klein the Rangers still own one of the top defensive rotations in the league. The much maligned Dan Boyle maybe the only returning starter in danger of his starting spot. The biggest battle will be for the 7th and 8th defense spot. That is a nice problem to have.
Calle Andersson
Certainly the least known player in the group, Anderson comes to the Ranger via the Swedish leagues. He skated for the Rangers in the recent Traverse City Tournament.
Elite prospects describes him as an “all-around, two way defenseman.” Will that translate well to the NHL? Who knows? But he will get the chance to prove his case during camp and then the AHL.
Prediction: AHL all the way
Dan Boyle
Boyle may have had his worst year of his long NHL career last season. He totaled just 20 pts in 65 games. Boyle does not play good enough defense to accumulate only 20 points.
In hindsight The Rangers could have saved the money and used John Moore all season, or maybe came up with a little more money for Anton Straalman.
Instead the Rangers got minimal production and were forced to pay a hefty price to acquire Yandle at the deadline in hopes he could do what Boyle could not. Fix the power play.
At this point in his career there seems to be little chance to rebound. Any increase in production will be minimal.
Prediction: Boyle will get the benefit of the doubt and earn the sixth defensive spot out of camp. But the leash will be shorter this year.
Raphael Diaz
The last time Diaz was on the Rangers roster the Rangers were in the Stanley Cup Finals. He was brought back this season for some depth during camp, and to challenge for the seventh defensive spot.
Diaz makes a good candidate for the 7h spot because he knows the system and would not be better suited playing in Hartford like some of the others.
If one of the younger defenseman in camp step up, Diaz’s role comes into question. But if none show enough to make it to Broadway, Diaz may actually make this team.
Prediction: Seventh defenseman, healthy scratch.
Dylan McIlrath
This is the year for McIlrath. The year he either makes the Rangers or moves on. The one time first round draft has failed to impress in his time with the Rangers.
While physically imposing, he is slow of foot and does not move the puck very well. He is probably a better fit for the NHL of yesteryear than the NHL today.
Getting drafted in the first round was certainly a stretch, but that was not McIlrath’s fault. He did not draft himself, but unfortunately for him he has late round ability, but will always be compared to first round type talent.
At the time he was drafted, Glen Sather knew McIlrath was high risk, high reward. At the time the Rangers sported a very passive group of defenseman. Sather may have made a reactionary pick just because he was sick of watching other teams forwards manhandle his Rangers defense.
McIlrath is out of options. He makes the team, or goes on waivers. Ranger fans hope he makes the team, but the magic 8 ball says otherwise.
Prediction: 8th Defenseman. But may be out of town by the start of the season.
Brady Skjei
Skjei is the most exciting player of the group. The first round pick (28th overall) in the 2012 draft was a standout for the University of Minnesota and his fine play continued in the Traverse City tournament.
He is a solid defender, and a good decision maker. He will probably need time to adjust to the speed of the pro game, but very well could push Dan Boyle and possibly Kevin Klein for the fifth or sixth defensive spot.
But that would take a very strong camp. If Yandle can be the player the Rangers hope in regards to the power play, then Skjei’s skill set will work out extremely well.
Predictions: Starting in the AHL. But could find himself with the Rangers by November.
Chris Summers
Summers was the other guy acquired in the Yandle deal. He stuck with the Rangers with a role of “healthy scratch.” Summers did find himself in two games but never was a serious threat to break into the lineup.
Summers should be viewed solely as depth. Things would have to go very badly for the Rangers for Summers to stick with the big club. Summers is another guy who is out of options. If he does not make the team, he must clear through waivers.
Predictions: Chris Summers will be the forgotten man in the Yandle deal. AHL, but maybe not Hartford.