Are Blueshirts ready for Prime Time?

October 3, 2008   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

Over the course of a week and a half, the Rangers have played a ton of preseason games trying to make decisions on which players to keep. It can’t be easy. Not when you’ve played as much hockey as they have.

As noted last week, I couldn’t get over how busy they were playing a ridiculous six exhibition games in eight nights before making the trip for a mini-two game series at Switzerland they prevailed in with a spirited three-goal comeback over Russian team Metallurg Magnitogorsk with Ryan Callahan scoring the winner on a nifty deke off a steal with 20 seconds left for an exciting 4-3 win.

While they showed tremendous resolve led by rumored new team captain Chris Drury (two goals including tying tally) scoring three third period tallies to storm back and capture the first ever Victoria Cup, one has to wonder if this new look team is ready for primetime. Based on what I saw and read from disappointing reports about being dominated by an improved Devils team, I’m not sure to what to think.

It’s true that the NHL season is 82 games long and you have to be patient and account for team chemistry. Particularly with key new faces such as Nikolai Zherdev, Markus Naslund and Aaron Voros up front along with Wade Redden and Dmitri Kalinin on the blueline. Will Glen Sather’s baffling moves pay off or will Ranger fans be wondering where Jaromir Jagr is and why they committed six years at six and a half per for what seems to be a declining defenseman?

And what to make of Henrik Lundqvist’s up and down performance? Are his knees an issue due to that collision with Evgeni Malkin last Spring? For the Rangers and fans’ sake, they better hope not because King Henrik is the most important player on the team. I don’t care how well our new forward lines mesh and whether Redden’s first pass is an upgrade. The bottom line is our No.30 has now become as important as the No.30 that occupies the net for the Hudson rival Devils.

I have a feeling goals will be tough to come by early on. So, they’re going to need Lundqvist to be at his absolute best stealing some games. It all begins tomorrow in Prague where they’ll be facing off against Vinny Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and top pick Steven Stamkos for a two-game home and home series this weekend.

Normally, I don’t put much emphasis on preseason but it’s worth noting that the new look high flying Bolts under Barry Melrose beat them twice. A word of friendly advice to the guys in blue. Don’t take too many penalties because that Tampa power play looks like it has the potential to be deadly. Especially with new pickups Matt Carle and Andrej Meszaros manning the points and Ryan Malone up front along with the overlooked Vaclav Prospal. Taking penalties could prove costly.

At worst, Tom Renney’s club wants to come out with a split before making the long trip back to North America where they’ll get a much needed four-day break before the home opener against the improved Blackhawks next Friday.

The big question headed into the weekend is what are Renney’s final roster decisions? It looks like he’s leaning toward including forward Lauri Korpikoski, who was awfully impressive scoring a couple of goals and really showing some fast wheels. Surprisingly, the play of sophomore pivot Brandon Dubinsky has allowed the coach to move Dubi up to center the second line shifting Drury to Scott Gomez’ wing. They had solid chemistry in the big comeback win over Metallurg.

Korpikoski, who turned 22 this past summer is going to start the season centering the third line. The question is who does he play with? Figure Gomez and Drury to have Naslund on their line while Zherdev works with Dubinsky and either Nigel Dawes or Callahan. Korpikoski played with Callahan and Petr Prucha with the trio having excellent chemistry getting rewarded for their hard work.

If Dawes, who had a very quiet camp is on the top line, that means Voros, who was one of the best players could wind up on a grinding fourth line with Blair Betts and the choices of complementary speedster Dan Fritsche, gritty Fredrik Sjostrom, two-way presence Patrick Rissmiller or club enforcer Colton Orr.

Any way you slice it, this team has too many forwards. Why not take either Corey Potter or Brian Fahey as an extra D? Both impressed.

That’s the problem when you go out and sign too many guys who basically fill the same roles. They can’t reassign any of the forwards without having to go through waivers. You have to figure a trade is coming and soon.

I still think Kalinin will drive fans crazy that could’ve been filled by either Potter or Fahey. Oh well.

Maybe we’ll have a better idea of what the final roster decisions are later today. Either way, the Rangers have some tough choices to make with Korpikoski proving he belongs.

I hope they make the right ones for Saturday’s lineup. Don’t forget that MSG’s live coverage starts at 11:30 Saturday morning with faceoff set for noon here on the East Coast due to the time difference. Sunday as well which can be found on Versus. Like they really needed to cover one of these? Ah. I get why but I just don’t like them. Some things never change.

One of these days, I’ll have a preview. Should we work those out? Anyone up for predicting divisions along with who’s in and who’s out plus awards?

Hasan and Adam have been doing an outstanding job with their Devils coverage. I also owe Has big time for his Isles piece. Thanks! We definitely want to get an Islander fan aboard. So, if anyone knows any savvy Isles fans out there who want to contribute their views, it would be very welcome.

It wouldn’t be as fun without one. That’s what makes the rivalry so great.

I’d also like to have some chat sessions occasionally where we discuss our teams, players, league issues, etc. Those can be worthwhile. Differing viewpoints are always great.

Looking forward to a great 2008-09!