Lindberg was the best player on the ice last night

Great game by him. He needs to make this team, and preferably not in a 4th line role. Question will be where does he fit. There was an article in the post yesterday that he's aware he might need to play some wing if he's going to see the ice. Still a possibility we see him at 3C and Hayes bump up to wing.

Diaz was awwwwwwful last night. He'll be playing in Europe very soon. McIlrath with a solid game. Bodie actually surprised me, he looks like he's finally put on some weight.

Need much more out of Etem, but I like his size and physicality.

 

Etem has all the skills but his drive is severely lacking.

 

Agree Prod lindberg needs to make this team period.

 

Lindberg in the lineup again on Thurs for the 3rd straight game. He is getting a real hard look from AV. Will be interesting to see if he plays C or W after spending one game at each.

Henrik Nash Zucc McDonagh Boyle will also make preseason debuts.

Regardless of how he performs (I dont expect it to be pretty), it's awesome to see Zucc back out there.

 

He's excellent on draws also. I'm warming a little to Stoll. Nice to see him win faceoffs easily. Problem is I don't think he's a 3rd line center. Hopefully, Lindberg can take that roll half the time if he matures quickly. Either way, Glass is done.

McIlrath should make the squad. Diaz blows. I stick by my idea that Boyle, Girardi, and Klein will all get some rest this year. Especially Boyle and Girardi.

 

You can't beat the price and experience, not to mention FO's from Stoll so that could be a huge bargain, but hopefully it dosen't cost us keeping OL around.

 

I like what Lindberg brings........he's versatile, he
moves north and south and I love his shot.
Did not like Etem's game.
Big Mac should be on the club. Looks comfortable
and poised.
Loved Miller.
Stepan looked insignificant.

 

According to Andrew Gross, Lindberg will be on the wing again tonight. Interesting. Sounds like they want to get him as much experience there as possible, as that's where the openings on the roster are.

As for his linemates tonight, drumroll please.....



Tanner Glass and Stoll. Yikes. If he scores tonight put him on the roster immediately.

 

Definitely want Lindberg on this team.

 

Etem looks a little sluggish so far though it's only 2 preseason games. The kid Nzejlcheb(sp) looks like he could be another solid mid-rounder Clark steal

 

Tough loss in Beantown. In SO......Bruins 4 Rangers 3

 

Much better game by Skjei last night. He looked very poised. I also loved his joining the rush on his goal (although that doesn't go in against an NHL goalie). He's going to be a great player for this team going forward but will need a little time in Hartford first. I like Staal a lot but if Gorton is able to trade him, resign Yandle and get Skjei in the line up next year we will be sitting pretty.

Still very eh on Etem. I don't think we'd cut him just yet as he was the centerpiece of the Hagelin trade, but he needs to show more. The effort is there but he always seems out of place and trying to make low percentage plays. Hockey IQ was a knock against him in ANH, he needs to figure it out.

Tambellini was a nice surprise. Will be interesting to see what he does in Hartford this year.

 

Andrew Gross: Rangers reassign Malcolm Hrivik Bellemore Hughes Tambellini to Hartford. Roster now at 34.

Bellemore will continue his tryout in the minors. He's been very eh. Clearly outplayed by McIlrath.

Hrivik has gotta be frustrated. He really hasn't looked all that bad. There's just a roadblock in front of him. You gotta think he'd be the first recall; I'd rather see him over Bourque.

Forward lines starting to take shape. Today's lines at practice:
Nash-Brassard-Zucc (1)
Moore-Stoll-Stalberg (4)
Bourque-Adam-Gibbons (AHL bound)
Lindberg-Hayes-Fast (3)
Glass-Megna-Etem (Fighting for 13F)
Kreider-Stepan-Miller (2)

Looks like Etem is the odd man out in the fight for a starting spot right now.

Do you guys like that third line? I would like to see more of a scorer there, Fast and Lindberg on the same line seems kind of redundant to me.

 

Anyone else impressed with the play of Malcolm last night? Thought he looked good even though he let up a couple, reminded me a LOT of early Lundqvist.

Him working with Allaire might produce something here...

 

Nejezchleb has basically played on crap teams his entire career in the WHL. So, it will be interesting to see what he does in the NHL. Tambellini was very, very, raw when they drafted. He has made tremendous strides. However, he needs at least 2 AHL years before they will know what they have with him. No rush. Time is on his side. Same with Graves who will be a part of this team in the future. Needs 2 years in the AHL.

Lindberg is so ready. It's obvious. Just like it is with McIlrath. Etem needs to be very careful. He has the 12th spot just based off of who they traded for him. However, we all know AV loves Glass. Stalberg has some skill.

That being said, the key will be what they do with McIlrath. Said it all summer. They need so sit Boyle, Girardi, Staal and Klein some games. Even McDonagh once in a while. Keep them fresh and get McIlrath games. Yandle is up for a contract so he's playing. The rest of the guys have their contracts. It doesn't matter if they sit games to rest.

 

I'll say one thing about the Rangers this year, I like their forward depth a lot. They will have a 4th line that can score some goals and be a threat. They will have an extra forward that can be a threat. That is a big change from last season when at times the 3rd line was short let alone the 4th line. I have always been a believer in depth being very important in the NHL. The question is do they have enough high end top 6 talent to be a big threat to make that depth extra dangerous.

The other plus is no shot Glass can be on this team to start. He has to be in the AHL when you look at the quality depth we have in the bottom 6. If Glass is up with the big club to start the season then we know he has something on AV...LOL.

And BTW...I agree with dump of Girardi and Boyle (and I say even Staal) getting some games off during the season. As we learned again last season, home ice simply does not mean much. Just get into the playoffs and you have a shot. The Rangers should not go balls to the wall to win every game at all costs and finish 1st. Play to win, but be smart. Rest some of the older guys. Use the depth we have. Play the 7th dman and the 13th forward every couple of games to rest some of the better players. Be strategic about how we handle this season. That's the smart play. Let some other team go all out to finish 1st and win the PT. Be smart, rest some guys with the depth we have, and if we finish 1st so be it, but if we finish 2nd or 3rd that's okay as well.

 

Yep Chuck. Only thing that matters is winning the cup. Taking 12 games off of Girardi's regular season game load is like giving him 2 playoffs series off. It's huge. Boyle is old and he's not a big guy. He shouldn't play more than 60 games. Skjei, McIlrath and Lindberg will be 3 more guys that get no respect from the moron hockey world who will turn out to be very solid pro's. Just like Fast and Miller will be.

 

Once again, you have to laugh at the morons on HF who rate farms. Last year, according to them, our farm sucks. Rangers developed 3 kids who will be very good pro's. Fast, Miller and Hayes. This year, they say our farm sucks. Rangers most likely will develop another 2 players who will be good pro's in Lindberg and McIlrath. Morons just don't get it. Every year I see all these other organizations rated high and they don't produce jack compared to the Rangers.

 

Mcilreith is a lock as 7th D. With the injuries and normal bumps and bruises our right D get alone there will be plenty of playing time for him this year as he learns the nhl and gets ready to take over when boyle is gone next year. I don't see brady here yet as Mcd, yandle and staal are all young unless one of them get injured and then he's just a phone call away. Better he plays at hartford every day until he can get consistent playing time here which will be next year when either yandle leaves or staal gets traded. Toughest move for AV is gonna be letting go of glass finally which it appears based on some of his comments that glass not a lock to make the team (no friggin kidding AV) has a chance to finally happen. This team has a lot of depth up front and a lot of flexibility. Lindberg provides both of that last sentence. Hank is Hank so no problems there. Really looking forward to the start of the season and a cup at the end of the rainbow.