So the Rangers have reconstructed their flanks by essentially trading in Markus Naslund, Nik Antropov, Nikolai Zherdev, Lauri Korpikoski, Fred Sjostrom and Colton Orr for Marian Gaborik, Christopher Higgins, Vinny Prospal, Ales Kotalik, Enver Lisin and Donald Brashear.
It’s not exactly a cash-for-clunkers deal, but it sure does seem as if the ceiling for the new Rangers wingers is considerably higher than the one the departed could not crash through last season. And this does not take into account the potential impact the young and raw Evgeny Grachev might have at some point during the year if his development exceeds expectations.
Indeed, other than in nets, where Henrik Lundqvist reigns supreme, the Rangers are stronger on the wing than at any other position. This of course is the classic good news-bad news scenario. It’s good news they’re reasonably deep on the flanks, terrible news the Blueshirts are so thin on defense and down the middle.
Freshman defensemen Matt Gilroy, who scored in alone on a nifty backhander during regulation and then got the Blueshirts’ lone goal in a six-round shootout in the Blueshirts’ 3-2 defeat in New Jersey, had another strong game.
Michael Del Zotto wasn’t quite as impressive as the previous night, but remains solidly in the hunt for a job. Corey Potter did well enough so that coach John Tortorella announced the rookie defenseman would remain with the club following today’s roster cut to 29 or 30 players.
Again, good news-bad news: While the three kids acquitted themselves well, Wade Redden and Michal Rozsival were bad. The Blueshirts cannot survive bad seasons from their two most senior defensemen.
The Brandon Dubinsky stalemate is at Day Six and counting, with both the Group II free agent and general manager Glen Sather holding fast to their respective negotiating positions. Minus the club’s best hope to fill the first-line center slot, Prospal shifted to the middle last night, where he played well throughout and earned deserved commendations from Tortorella.
But the issue isn’t whether Prospal can handle that assignment with competence. It’s that sticking his thumb in that hole opens another. It isn’t beneficial to deplete a strength to patch a weakness.
Artem Anisimov, whose projected upside is as a defensively aware third-liner with the ability to chip in on offense, had a rather middling game against the Bruins on Tuesday. The 21-year-old second-year pro, who did not play last night, doesn’t appear ready to grab a spot, though he will continue to get the opportunity.
Brian Boyle, for whom the Rangers inexplicably surrendered a 2010 third-round pick to Los Angeles to acquire this summer — honestly, a team needs new scouts if the best it can do is get a fourth-line center with its third-rounder — seemed to struggle both Tuesday and last night.
As Dubinsky remains unsigned, so too does Dominic Moore, who overplayed his hand last year in rejecting a lucrative multi-year extension from the Maple Leafs. Sather has had conversations with Moore, and does have some level of interest in the one-time Blueshirt who is coming off a 45-point (13-32) year.
But if Moore is signed, it would be to fill the role as either the third- or fourth-line center, not as a potential replacement for Dubinsky.