As we sit a day before the Rangers' 2011-12 Season Opener, the team made a myriad of roster moves, line combination and defensive pairing shufflings, while questions still remain on the back end.
I was going to list the moves first, but since everything seems to tie together, I will incorporate them into the line combinations where it makes sense.
The waiving of Sean Avery now makes even more sense with the promotion of Tim Erixon. The $1.9 million cap that Avery took up, as opposed to the 975k Erik Christensen makes, neatly open space for Erixon's $1.75 million. What's interesting is the talk of getting Erixon more experience seems to have been a smoke screen to create time to see if Marc Staal was ready to return from post-concussion syndrome. In addition, for all the talk of Stu Bickel and Brendan Bell making the roster and filling out a d-pairing, Torts decided that those were not ready and they were placed on and passed through waivers. If nothing else, the team now has some depth since they were not claimed, but clearly each - at least for now - are not in the plans if a d-man is needed.
If one is needed, which may be the case as rumors persist that Staal, who per Nick Kypreos, had a cortisone injection in neck week ago, could miss a month as it may take that long for it to help, Staal will continues his rehab/acupuncture treatments in an effort to make it back by then. Right now, the most disconcerting fact is no one really knows what the injury is and how best to treat it. Is it neck, head, both? As a stop gap, the team has reached out and reignited talks with Paul Mara. Part of the problem is cap room. With Bickel and Bell being carried just in case, the Rangers are just $427k under the cap. Bickel is making $600k and Bell $525k, so signing Mara would likely have to be somewhere in the under $1mil range just to save even a minimal amount of room for later; which likely is why the Rangers passed on Campoli, seeing what he got from Montreal, and possibly even Staios.
The cap room issue leads us to the line changes. At practice Wednesday, Torts officially, to start the game Friday, moved Brandon Dubinsky to left wing on the top line with Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik. The Pack line now has AA and Cally with Feds on the left side, Wolski with Steps and Zuccs and Prust-Boyle-Rupp. None of us are shocked by this move as many of us felt that Dubi was well suited to play on the top line, though it seems as if WW didn't get a real fair shot to see if the chemistry he displayed with Richards and Gabby during part of the preseason could be sustained, despite his inconsistencies from shift to shift and game to game. In addition, personally, I would like to see Stepan on the second line with AA moved to wing, but can understand the configuration they have now.
Now for the cap room issue. If WW is not going to play on the top line, and many of us can see him dropping further down as the year wears on, why bother keeping his $3.8 mil hit? Is a third line winger worth that kind of money? Could the cap room be better spent on another d-man, or combination of d-man and different winger? Wolski reportedly came in good shape after working hard on his conditioning this offseason, but he lacks the grit the top line needs. Maybe he would be better suited to skate with AA and Cally, since Cally can provide the grit there, and if so, he might be worth his salary if he ends up and is productive there. The decision on what to do with him may come back to what happens with Staal, in terms of how long he will be out.
The good news is that Michael Sauer took part in Wednesday's full practice, his first since spraining his right shoulder in Philadelphia. Sauer is now paired with MDZ as Torts has moved Ryan McDonagh up to the top line with Dan Girardi, leaving Eminger and Erixon as the third pairing with Staal out.
Del Zotto told NHL.com he's ready to log upwards of 20-plus minutes of ice time. His play, both at even strength and on the PP, could go a long way in determining how good the Rangers this year. If he can back to his offensive form as a rookie while being better defensively, then the team has a better shot at making due with Staal is out. If not, the Blueshirts will be in scramble mode and look for Erixon to possibly assuming both of those responsibilities.
There is thought that McDonagh and Sauer should remain together and be the top-duo, lock-down pair with Staal out. However, that's a ton of pressure for two sophomore blueliners and also, would keep Girardi off the ice in key, late-game situations.
The season hasn't even started and the myriad of moves shows that the Rangers are not a finished product, though the components that are there make the Blueshirt Faithful hopeful.
Ek wrote the following in his Atlantic preview: "My question with the Rangers is all about chemistry. When it comes to talent, they have plenty. I am not sold on their team chemistry, and I am not sold on their team toughness. I could easily be proven wrong of course, but I think Torts is downplaying just how physical this division is." I can agree with team chemistry up to a point. The addition of Richards and all line changes, both offensively and defensively, may take some time to mesh. In terms of team chemistry, I disagree, many of the parts of this team are homegrown and have built up a chemistry while also playing under Torts for several years. In addition, how does one judge chemistry? One of the comonents that are times may have caused ripples in that chemistry is gone. By that I mean, he created issues based on his on- and off-ice issues, though, he was one to have his teammates' back, which is something, subsequent to the Carcillo/Gabby incident, has not bee a question, plus the addition of Rupp, who was brought in due to his focus on team, should help there. In terms of toughness, unsure what he has been watching. To throw your body consistently in front of shots, requires either toughness, stupidity, or at times, both. The Rangers are a tough team, mentally and physically, which is required to play for Torts. Rupp adds to that toughness as does Prust. Do they have a true heavyweight or goon, no, but as seen by the crackdowns by Shanahan, having someone who skirts on the edge may not be the wisest in the world. The back line could likely use someone who can throw his weight around, which eventually will be handled by Dylan McIlrath and it wouldn't shock me if that's an area that Sather adds as the year goes on. But to call this team soft - which is the opposite of tough - is a complete misnomer and inaccurate.
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