Hockey is back, sort of. The Traverse City tourney begins today with the Rangers facing Columbus at 3:30PM. Games will be streamed on FOX Sports Go, link is (https://www.foxsportsgo.com/program/645544/nhl-prospects-tournament-rangers-vs-blue-jackets), and on the Rangers site, link still to be provided by the team.
Yesterday, the Rangers practiced in New York prior to flying to Michigan. Kaapo Kakko was held out as he was under the weather and he is a game-time decision. The lines from yesterday will be tweaked if he plays with Kakko likely on the top line.
Good morning all. I’m on vacation but had to come for this: Rangers prospects practicing for Traverse City. Kaapo Kakko is “under the weather,… and not practicing today. He is going to Michigan. pic.twitter.com/P3HlluVpri
— Colin Stephenson (@ColinASteph) September 5, 2019
Update: 1:55 - Kaapo Kakko's Rangers debut will have to wait at least one more day as the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft will miss the opener of the NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City because of illness...
Today’s #NYR lineup vs. Columbus: pic.twitter.com/Jx8qDvg1ON
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 6, 2019
Rangers live stream feed link: https://www.nhl.com/rangers/video/live-nyr-vs-cbj/t-277437422/c-68768803
As mentioned by many, there is a significant Russian contingent on the Blueshirts this season. In the tourney, Vitali Kravtsov, Igor Shesterkin and Yegor Rykov all will suit up. Regardless of which one or all make the patent club, they will be join Pavel Buchnevich, Vlad Namestnikov Artemi Panarin. Add in Alexandar Georgiev, who is from Bulgaria, and Chris Kreider, who speaks Russian, and the new faces should hopefully have little issue settling in. This is sort of reminiscent to the 1994 team, which has a distinctly Russian flavor with Karpovtsev, Kovalev Nemchibov and Zubov. Kravtsov and Shesterkin conducted their interviews yesterday mainly in English, especially Kravtsov, with each showing a sense of humor.
Some good comments by Viltali Kravtsov and Igor Shesterkin after the practice:
“I’ve been waiting all summer for this. We’ve worked hard and now I need to show something in Traverse City.…
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 5, 2019
Vitali Kravtsov on what he’s been up to this summer & his expectations for rookie camp: pic.twitter.com/YoYcN1qWVm
You'll love this one. 😂#NYR Igor Shesterkin talks about his friendship with Vitali Kravtsov, what he’s learned from @HLundqvist30 and more â¬‡ï¸ pic.twitter.com/yJPj47oyJM
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 5, 2019