Gropp's speed, size and corner work was evident in the pre-season. I think he has a chance to be a poor man's Miller. In other words, a 15 G, 25 A third line, elite PK a few years down the line who is great in the corners and can fly.
Was hoping to see some news on Gilmour, I thought he had a great preseason. From what I understand he played on the top pairing the other night with McIlrath. Glad to see Nieves playing well.
Halverson got lit up in his first AHL game. Not surprising the Pack suck right now. Rangers use their AHL as a feeder system which is what you are supposed to do. Team has a lot of young players. Other teams put has been vets all over their rosters which is why those teams suck at producing players unless they draft in the top 10 every year.
What Hartford needs is to keep playing the kids until they toughen up and become accustomed with Rangers' system. Only way to get to the parent team.
With each NHL draft the Rangers need two to three good prospects for the team pipeline carousel to help instill a good Ranger squad year in, year out. And, of course, a workable salary cap cannot hurt.
Pack suck right now but Graves has 6 points in his last 3 games. Now 12 points in 18 games. Kid has a chance to be a complete stud and finally give us that howitzer point shot on the PP.
This year's Hartford team is young and will learn as the season goes on. The kids should improve. I agree Graves is the best of the lot. Young forwards have a ways to go (Tambellini, Stromwall, Jensen, Kovacs).
Rangers either need to call up Hrvik or trade him. Kid should get an NHL job and I wasn't a big supporter of him. He has 17 points on a crap team. Jooris to me blows. I don't see any value in this guy. Hrvik would be an upgrade on about 25 NHL teams for their 4th line. I swear, 95% of all GM's like I have said for years are morons. How no other GM has swooped in with a 4th round pick for this guy is beyond me.
Zborovskiy had 2 G, 5 assists, +8 in his teams 12-4 win. He now has 5 g, 23 points in 21 games and is a plus 37. His team is stacked and is 18-2-4 but that is pretty damn good either way. Gropp had 2 goals and is starting to get his head out of his ass. Rangers need to sign back Iverson. 34 points in 27 games. I think they gave up on 6'5 D man Mantha as well who has 26 points in 26 games. Both are overage players in juniors but I don't know why the Rangers aren't getting them back.
Day had a hat-trick in his teams 3-2 win. Now has 10 g, 8 assists this season. His career high in goals for a season was 10. He also was a career best -13 last year. This year he's a plus 8. Looks like he's headed in the right direction.
Nieves is not playing well. No prospect other than Graves is. The head coach needs to be fired. He's incompetent. He should be playing Halverson almost every game and developing him. His offensive system sucks. Young forwards are not developing.
Pack actually won. Jensen with a hat-trick but I don't see him as a pro. Kovac's and Tambellini 2 assists each. Graves with another assist. I'm sure the Rangers will strongly consider moving Staal if he agrees at the trade deadline to make a spot for Graves.
