Jan Levine: Staal Gives Clear Indication He Is 100% Great news with training camp two weeks away...

Man could that be the best news we heard all off season?

Staal is a huge piece on that blue line and obviously lots of questions remain until we see him in some game action, but im really encouraged that hes gonna have a strong season.

The D is gonna be even more of a factor this year with what i would expect to be system more focussed on creating offense. We need the entire D at 110%

This is great news! Always hate when a player get injured like that...
That was just awful to watch

Staal, McDonagh, Del Zotto, Moore, Aaron Johnson, Justin Falk all shoot lefty

the right handed shots on the blueline in camp are going to be Girardi, Stralman, Stu Bickel and Dylan McIlrath.

This is great news! I was really scared about Staal's health.

Just a correction Jan, the injury occurred March 5 & was against the Flyers.

This is great news! I was really scared about Staal's health.

Just a correction Jan, the injury occurred March 5 & was against the Flyers.
- B2B76

yep, just as the Rangers seemed to be getting their game going.

Then the Rangers responded by picking up the dazzling Roman Hamrlik and went on to a pathetic month of March that didn't get turned around until the Gaborik trade.

yep, just as the Rangers seemed to be getting their game going.

Then the Rangers responded by picking up the dazzling Roman Hamrlik and went on to a pathetic month of March that didn't get turned around until the Gaborik trade.
- jimbro83

2 weeks, its a coming!

This is great news! I was really scared about Staal's health.

Just a correction Jan, the injury occurred March 5 & was against the Flyers.
- B2B76

Fixed, thanks, brain cramp

Will he be wearing a visor to play from now on? I have to assume he will be. Although I vaguely remember the Staals all saying they were going to wear a visor after the incident? I believe Eric wore one this year? Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Will he be wearing a visor to play from now on? I have to assume he will be. Although I vaguely remember the Staals all saying they were going to wear a visor after the incident? I believe Eric wore one this year? Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
- Khlvalchuk

yeah, they are all wearing them now. And, now Dan Girardi is wearing one too and he never did.

yep, just as the Rangers seemed to be getting their game going.

Then the Rangers responded by picking up the dazzling Roman Hamrlik and went on to a pathetic month of March that didn't get turned around until the Gaborik trade.
- jimbro83

Great news regarding Staal.

Speaking of Gaborik, I really thought when Nash came in it would have given the Rangers a formidable 1-2 punch, that did not happen. Was Torts so focused on defense that he no desire to find a way to make it work? Maybe. Did Gaborik slip because he wasn't the top banana anymore? Maybe. Although the Rangers went on to deal Gabby, I can't help but think Gaborik's downfall was just one of a list of items that ultimately got Torts fired.

Great news regarding Staal.

Speaking of Gaborik, I really thought when Nash came in it would have given the Rangers a formidable 1-2 punch, that did not happen. Was Torts so focused on defense that he no desire to find a way to make it work? Maybe. Did Gaborik slip because he wasn't the top banana anymore? Maybe. Although the Rangers went on to deal Gabby, I can't help but think Gaborik's downfall was just one of a list of items that ultimately got Torts fired.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Nash and gabby had great chemistry. I understand the logic behind splitting them up, but I would've loved to see a nash - stepan - gaborik line given a fair shake.

Fixed, thanks, brain cramp
- airjan23

No problem, I understand with all the Jets & Mets troubles your dealing with.

Nash and gabby had great chemistry. I understand the logic behind splitting them up, but I would've loved to see a nash - stepan - gaborik line given a fair shake.
- rangerdanger94

Right. I think that was at the core of the issue. Torts did not want to play them together, he wanted to spread the scoring potential, made sense, but Gabby was wasn't buying playing on the 2nd line, and I think that started the Torts/Gabby relationship to start to erode.

Great news regarding Staal.

Speaking of Gaborik, I really thought when Nash came in it would have given the Rangers a formidable 1-2 punch, that did not happen. Was Torts so focused on defense that he no desire to find a way to make it work? Maybe. Did Gaborik slip because he wasn't the top banana anymore? Maybe. Although the Rangers went on to deal Gabby, I can't help but think Gaborik's downfall was just one of a list of items that ultimately got Torts fired.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Gaborik's injury in the 2012 playoffs was his biggest problem. He was never right the whole time. Compound that with Richards not being ready to play after the lockout, then the Staal injury, the travesty of Roman hamrlik, it's amazing we made the playoffs and won a round when you think about it.

best news ive heard all offseason...next to the McDonagh signing

Gaborik's injury in the 2012 playoffs was his biggest problem. He was never right the whole time. Compound that with Richards not being ready to play after the lockout, then the Staal injury, the travesty of Roman hamrlik, it's amazing we made the playoffs and won a round when you think about it.
- jimbro83

Very true. Actually, I think the trade of Gaborik help the club make the playoffs. Probably don't make if Slats doesn't make the deal. There was a noticeable energy difference after the deal.

Gaborik's injury in the 2012 playoffs was his biggest problem. He was never right the whole time. Compound that with Richards not being ready to play after the lockout, then the Staal injury, the travesty of Roman hamrlik, it's amazing we made the playoffs and won a round when you think about it.
- jimbro83

stralman was playing his tits off that Washington series

Nash and gabby had great chemistry. I understand the logic behind splitting them up, but I would've loved to see a nash - stepan - gaborik line given a fair shake.
- rangerdanger94

I for one am happy we did not see that.

Very true. Actually, I think the trade of Gaborik help the club make the playoffs. Probably don't make if Slats doesn't make the deal. There was a noticeable energy difference after the deal.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

definitely.

Derick Brassard was the best Ranger player in April, along with Stepan, and the addition of John Moore put Hamrlik back as a scratch until Stralman got hurt in the playoffs.

definitely.

Derick Brassard was the best Ranger player in April, along with Stepan, and the addition of John Moore put Hamrlik back as a scratch until Stralman got hurt in the playoffs.
- jimbro83

I wanted to see McIlrath get a real shot at cracking the top 6, but if Staal is a go to start the season than he will be the healthy scratch IF he makes the team at all. He needs to show something this camp, tired of hearing about him.

I wanted to see McIlrath get a real shot at cracking the top 6, but if Staal is a go to start the season than he will be the healthy scratch IF he makes the team at all. He needs to show something this camp, tired of hearing about him.
- B2B76

yes, we need to see progress from Dylan McIlrath very early this season

yes, we need to see progress from Dylan McIlrath very early this season
- jimbro83

I, as well. Though, keep in mind everyone that last season was his first taste of pro-hockey and is was an injury-shortened season; he only played the second half of the year.

I am not worried about the Reaper. Beukeboom has his hands on him at the Whale and if/when he gets to NY, Ulffie gets the nod.

I wanted to see McIlrath get a real shot at cracking the top 6, but if Staal is a go to start the season than he will be the healthy scratch IF he makes the team at all. He needs to show something this camp, tired of hearing about him.
- B2B76

If he's not playing, he'll be in the ahl. He's gonna play 25 mins a night down there instead of sitting in the press box.

Realistically, I see mcilrath spending half the season down there and coming up only if there's an injury.

Have the Rangers released the Traverse City roster yet?