New York Rangers set for another tough year
In 2009-10 the New York Rangers missed the play-offs by a mere point, losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in a shoot-out in the final game of the season.
Next year the Rangers can expect a more difficult campaign, as general manager Glen Sather has done nothing to improve the club from a year ago.
In arguably the most difficult division in hockey the Rangers will struggle to string off wins in the 2010-11 season.
Roster Changes
This off-season the Rangers parted ways with tough guy Jody Shelley, goaltender Alex Auld, and inconsistent sniper Olli Jokinen. The club also traded away enforcer Aaron Voros to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Steve Eminger, and Donald Brasher and Patrick Rissmiller to the Atlanta Thrashers for centre Todd White.
Sather signed back-up goalie Martin Biron, tough-guy Derek Boogaard and volatile forward Alexander Frolov. The squad also took a chance signing Mats Zuccarello-Aasen, formerly of the Swedish Elite League. Aasen was an offensive dynamo out in Sweden last season, however there are questions about the 22-year-old Norwegian's size, as he sits at 5 ft 7in and only 161lb.
Forward
Upfront the Rangers will once again rely on talented sniper Marian Gaborik to put the puck in the net, and hope that Frolov can finally find his game in the Big Apple. Outside of those two forwards New York seriously lack offensive depth.
The first line will be required to do all the scoring and will feature Vaclav Prospal at Centre, flanked by Gaborik and Frolov. The second line will have Chris Drury at centre, surrounded by Sean Avery and Ryan Callahan. The third unit will be centred by the newly acquired White, who is likely to have Brandon Dubinsky on one of his wings. The final four spots will be decided upon after camp. Nevertheless Boogaard is a likely candidate to hold a spot on the fourth line.
The players competing for the final spots will be Aarsen, Erik Christensen, Artem Anisimov, Brandon Prust and Brian Boyle.
Defence
As thin as the Rangers are upfront they are even more slender on the backend. Youngsters will be counted on to play major minutes, and perform well above their pay-grade.
The first unit will once again be Marc Staal, and Daniel Girardi, while the second pairing will house sophomore Michael Del Zotto and Michael Rozsival. The third unit will feature the incredibly overpaid Wade Redden, with one of Eminger and Mat Gilroy.
Goalie
The only position in which the Rangers can breathe easy is in net. Henrik Lundqvist is arguably the best goaltender in the league, and Biron is an experienced back-up, capable of stepping in for extended time is necessary.
Can the Rangers stay out of the basement?
The Rangers offence is centred on Gaborik. Last season the all-star Slovak notched 42 goals, 22 better than the next best Ranger. Unfortunately for Sather and the club, Gaborik is extremely injury prone, and it would not be a surprise if he was to miss time next year.
On defence, it all falls on the shoulders of Staal, Girardi, and Del Zotto. Last season the three were outstanding, and the only reason the Rangers defence could pass for credible. Del Zotto ran the power play and finished fifth on the team in scoring with 37 points. Sather is hoping that the youngster does not succumb to the dreaded sophomore slump.
With all the Rangers deficiencies Lundqvist has been their saviour year-in-and-year-out. The Swedish netminder will have to put up his best numbers to date, if New York is to get close to the post-season.
The Rangers will struggle all season, in a division that is constantly improving, and a conference that has grown, while they have remained stagnated. Expect the Rangers to sit in 12th place when the year ends.
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