Get excited Blueshirt fans!!!! There’s only a month till training camp and many of the Rangers prospects are already playing actual hockey. Some in very impressive fashion which could impact decisions when final roster spots are being debated. So let’s get into it.
1. When Lias Andersson was drafted #7 overall by the Rangers a month and half ago, you could feel the disappointment engulf the fan base: “Did we really trade away Stepan to draft a center with less upside?” We’ve seen this story before. Passing over more talented players for immediate need (*cough* McIlrath *cough*). No one doubted Andersson’s skills, but were there players available with more raw talent? Yep. It felt as if the Ghost of Draft Day Past had paid us another visit.
But it’s funny what a week of playing hockey can do to a fan base’s perception.
Andersson, who served as Sweden's captain in the tournament, ranked second on the team in goals and tied for second on the team in points.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) August 5, 2017
2. The great Alex Nunn put together this highlight video of Andersson’s World Junior Summer Showcase performance…
Aaaaaaaaaaaand I’ve officially gone from disappointed in the pick to worried that expectations might be too high for the kid. Talk about a flip flip.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esUTn6L0UDU&w=560&h=315&start=2]3. Despite all the goals and faceoff wins, my favorite Andersson highlight from the Summer Showcase?
https://twitter.com/aj_ranger/status/893962544846520321
Love, love, LOVE the sandpaper. Hasn’t been enough of that on the Rangers roster in recent years and it would be a welcome addition.
4, Another characteristic Rangers fans should be impressed with are Andersson’s leadership qualities which were touted during the entire showcase. Here’s Andersson’s coach (via NHL.com)…
“Lias was here last year and he was good but he didn’t make the same impression he does now,” coach Tomas Monten said. “Lias is a player that leaves everything on the ice every time. That’s a big key factor for your team. We need the leadership, that kind of work ethic on the ice.”
Yeah, I’d say I loved reading that quote.
5. Now that I’ve gotten all the “fan boying” out of the way, it’s time for a reality check. Despite Andersson’s impressive performance, let’s remember that this was against his peers (aka other teenagers). Playing against grown men for 82 games? A whole other ballgame.
I’m not saying Andersson won’t compete for a roster spot, but it might be time to temper some enthusiasm until we see him lace ’em up against NHL talent.
6. Andersson wasn’t the only Rangers prospect impressing at the Summer Showcase as both Sean Day (2016, 3rd) and Tim Gettinger (2016, 5th) made the final cut and were included on Team USA’s final roster for the last three games of the tournament.  While the talented Day surviving the cut isn’t a huge surprise, the 6’6″, 220lb Gettinger (2g) definitely made a name for himself this week. A potential late round steal for the Rangers? In Gordie We Trust!
7. Meanwhile over in Russia…
https://twitter.com/aj_ranger/status/893853608868970496
The Rangers window will not close when Lundqvist retires. I repeat, the Rangers window will not close when Lundqvist retires.
8. Hell even 2017 Development Camp invitee 21-year old Pavel Poryadin had a show stopping move this week…
Not bad for a 21-year-old, huh? #KHLPreseason pic.twitter.com/qmjt57axws
— KHL (@khl_eng) August 7, 2017
9. Ok, so now that the Rangers have all this talent in the pipeline, who’s going to help new 43-year old Wolfpack head coach Keith McCambridge develop them? His name is Joe Mormina.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgLkdth62eI&w=560&h=315&start=142]10. Another Summer League game, another goal from Ryan McDonagh…
Here is @RMcDonagh27 with a goal!! @NYRangers pic.twitter.com/iAwpNn7peQ
— Da Beauty League (@DaBeautyLeague) August 3, 2017
Damn his skating is DEAD SEXY!!!!
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URQ4gkcySyE&w=560&h=315&start=4]11. Meanwhile Pavel Buchnevich has been working with Chris Kreider on improving his game in tight spaces…
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXQZ7hBhl8h/?taken-by=xdangler_pro
If Buch keeps this up, the Rangers coaching staff will have no choice but to keep him in the Top 9 this season. Right AV…
12. Kreider was also spied setting up Mats Zuccarello for this sweet 2-on-1 goal on a helpless young goaltender during the Rangers recent Junior Rangers camp…
Together #NYR @ChrisKreider and this @JuniorRangers camper celebrate their 🚨! https://t.co/P0u8LJd2HQ
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) August 2, 2017
13. Are we seriously talking about Rangers practice? Not a game, not a game, not a game, we talking about Rangers practice.
14. Remember the old Nike “Bo Knows” ad campaign…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GPxkpjCvWI
We might need an updated version of it with Zuccarello after proving he’s more than just a hockey player last week…
https://twitter.com/aj_ranger/status/892757446292275200
15. So how have the Rangers done this offseason? Just ask Kevin Weekes, who’s obviously used to watching the Rangers from the sidelines…
.@KevinWeekes is ranking his top #5 most improved teams this offseason.
Who clocks in at #5? pic.twitter.com/OSX8OqwXQ0
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 5, 2017
16. While the Rangers might be a top five most improved team, they still haven’t addressed their dearth of quality center icemen. One dark horse contender to win a spot on opening night could be Boo Nieves, who recently had this to say (via NYR.com)…
“I’m trying to make the team,” Nieves said. “I think that’s my goal this year. I think it’s something I’m capable of as long as I’m healthy and I’m playing my best. I think there’s a chance to show what I can really do at this level. I just want to prove that I belong here.”
Injuries prevented Nieves from making a bigger leap with Hartford last year, but, if he can stay healthy, the former Wolverine will absolutely be given every opportunity to earn a spot in camp.
17. Speaking of opportunities, our old friend Brandon Prust will attend Los Angeles Kings training camp this fall on a professional tryout. While I used to be the biggest Prust fan around, after his gutless hit on Stepan during the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals, don’t expect me to root for his return to the NHL any time soon…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BliyU79tFIY
18. Hey Esa, what have you been up to these days?…
Loistavia uutisia rapakon takaa!! pic.twitter.com/2E4lwJ54j5
— Esa Tiki Tikkanen (@tikitalk10) August 3, 2017
Seriously, how the hell did Messier ever understand what Tikkanen was saying?
19. Apparently, the Rangers ticket sales strategy this year is to confuse fans into thinking there isn’t a price increase by offering ELEVEN different pricing tiers….
https://twitter.com/Edmc28/status/894580474143580161
20. And finally, have you seen the Top 10 NHL goaltenders list released by the NHL Network? You know, the one that placed Henrik Lundqvist at #8 behind Cam Talbot, Jonathan Quick and Devan Dubnyk?
I don’t even know where to start with this abomination. The last time I checked, neither Holtby nor Price can beat Hank in the postseason, Bobrovsky has won a grand total of THREE postseason games, Matt Murray has been able to ride Crosby & Malkin’s coattails to two Cups, Jonathan Quick hasn’t had a save % above .920 since the 2011-12 season and do I really need to spell out why Lundqvist should be higher than Talbot and Dubnyk?
Meanwhile, where are Rask and Schneider and how are Rinne or Jones anywhere near the top 10?
Brutal.
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