Things I've Learned, So Far

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Written on 9/18/2010 by Jim Cerny

It's been only two days---and keep in mind that not one puck has even been tossed onto the ice yet as the team has focused on conditioning tests instead of actual hockey---but here are a few random observations from the start of Rangers training camp:

Torts is Intrigued with Derek Stepan:
The 20 year-old center was "the best player I saw" at the Traverse City Prospects Tournament last week, according to Rangers coach John Tortorella. And the former University of Wisconsin star has done nothing but impress, so far, in his first NHL training camp, excelling during the conditioning tests and striking an extremely confident---yet not cocky nor arrogant---demeanor. Now Torts has tabbed Stepan to center star wings Marian Gaborik and Alexander Frolov during the camp's first scrimmage on Sunday. Clearly a case of "Let's see what the kid's got". It will make for some interesting decision making for the Rangers if Stepan shows over the next two weeks that he is capable of skipping the minors and heading straight to Broadway. "I only focus on what I can control, play my game. It's great to hear those things (from Tortorella), but in the end you have to still compete to the best of your abilities every day," Stepan told me. His maturity is way ahead of his years. Keep an eye on this kid.

Boyle and Gilroy Got the Message
Center Brian Boyle and defenseman Matt Gilroy had to know that Tortorella was less than thrilled with their play by the conclusion of the 2009-10 season. Boyle, an effective penalty killer, had become of less and less use to the head coach as his four-goal, six-point season was not where Tortorella envisioned his numbers to be. But at least Boyle remained in the lineup as the fourth-line center, except when sidelined by a late-season back injury. Gilroy, the rookie former Hobey Baker Award winner, lost his coach's trust and was a healthy scratch the final eight games of a season in which he tallied 4 goals and 15 points, and struggled in his own end. "I learned that I never want to be in that position again, sitting and watching," said Gilroy. It's obvious that both Boyle and Gilroy worked extremely hard this summer to improve their lot and standing with Tortorella. Boyle has worked extensively with Barbara Underhill, the noted power-skating coach and former Canadian Olympian, and the difference in his skating---and confidence---is quite evident. He looked terrific during the testing, and really stood out in the informal scrimmages the players put together prior to the start of camp. Gilroy also is in terrific shape and his skating---the strength of his game---has been noticeably better than most in camp. These two clearly understand that their jobs are on the line. And, so far, they have answered the bell. Now let's see how they stack up when the scrimmages and pre-season games start up.

Redden's Clean Slate
Tortorella sent the players a letter this summer stating that everyone has a "clean slate" entering this season, no matter their prior track record. If any player needs to wipe the slate clean with Torts it's veteran defenseman Wade Redden. With his sub-par play and salary cap-killing contract, it has been widely speculated that Redden may be sent to Hartford so that his salary comes off the cap. To his credit, Redden---an extremely decent and respectful person caught in an unenviable situation---was a regular at the pre-camp workouts and his conditioning looks solid. Now will he really receive a fair shake during camp? "That's another challenge trying to leave (his posisble demotion) to the side," explained Redden on Friday. "There's nothing that can be done about that. It doesn't help to dwell on those things. They're going to make the best decision they feel is right for the team, and I want it to be with me in the first lineup of the year."

Biron Is Still Talking
No matter when you read this entry, there's a good chance that Marty Biron is still talking. To someone. Anyone. Somewhere. Anywhere. One of the most personable players in the entire NHL, Biron just loves to talk, and laugh, and tell stories. "He almost couldn't breathe he was so out of breath, but yet he was still talking, telling us stories," laughed Chad Johnson, the Rangers No. 3 goalie on the depth chart behind Henrik Lundqvist and Biron, recounting how Marty chatted up his fellow goalies after their brutal 3-lap sprint test Friday afternoon. "He is such a great guy." His locker will be a destination for me all season long, no question about that. Andrew Gross of The Bergen Record said the other day that the annual Good Guy Award should be handed to Biron already. There's no reason to seek out other candidates throughout the season. Amen!

Dylan McIlrath is a Man-Child
The Rangers top pick in the 2010 draft did not look like such a great skater during the club's mini camp for prospects back in July. Gordie Clark, the Rangers Director of Player Personnel, explained that McIlrath had been off skates for weeks, so cut him some slack. Gordie was right. McIlrath has shown a much more fluid skating style so far in this training camp, and he is clearly in outstanding physical condition. He crushed Saturday's sprint tests. As others around him gasped for breath or dropped to their knees from fatigue, it appeared that McIlrath's chest was barely heaving. "Piece of cake," said McIlrath. Ahhh, to be 18 years old! Now let's see how he looks with Gaborik skating full speed at him!! As an aside, prospects Ethan Werek and Tomas Kundratek also absolutely crushed the conditioning tests. Werek was a beast with his intense approach. "I don't know how to pace myself," explained Werek. Sounds like Torts' kind of guy.

Time now for drills, practices, scrimmages, and pre-season games. And some big-time decisions for the coaching staff.

"Now it's time to do what we came here for," said defenseman Marc Staal (photo above).

Follow Me on Twitter at: @jimcerny and @thenyrangers

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NHL Thoughts on a Snowy Day

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Written on 2/10/2010 by Jim Cerny

So as the snow descends here in New York, and I try to figure out how I am getting to The Garden to work tonight's Rangers-Predators game (yes, by the way, officials have confirmed the game is on and will start at 7:05 PM as scehduled), let me share a few random NHL thoughts.

Lehtonen In; Turco Out?

The Dallas Stars made an interesting trade yesterday, picking up injury-prone goaltender Kari Lehtonen from Atlanta for defense prospect Ivan Vishnevskiy and a 4th round draft pick.

My immediate reactions were: Marty Turco (above photo) is playing his final days in Dallas, and Don Waddell better have a game plan for all the young defensemen he is stockpiling in Atlanta because he sure isn't filling the club's biggest need, offensively-capabale forwards.

Turco, at age 34 and with a salary of just under $6 million, is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. His play has declined the past few seasons, though it should be noted he was tremendous in the playoffs just two years ago leading the Stars to the Western Conference Finals. Once a Vezina Trophy-candidate, now Turco is a good goalie who is not considered good enough for a legit contender.

I think Turco will go, but will it be now---prior to the trade deadline---or as a free agent this summer? Not sure the market is hot for Turco right now, especially with cheaper options like Martin Biron available.

And Dallas also has veteran Alex Auld in the mix, too. So Stars coach Marc Crawford will have to find playing time for three NHL goalies, unless someone is moved.

As for Lehtonen, the 26 year-old has missed the entire season following a pair of back surgeries, just the latest in a long line of ailments he has suffered. The second overall pick in 2002---behind Rick Nash---Lehtonen never stayed healthy enough long enough to make an impact in Atlanta. The one year he was healthy, though---in 2006-07---he played a career-high 64 games and led the Thrashers to the playoffs. Of course he was atrocious in that four-round sweep at the hands of the Rangers, and his regular season numbers since have not been good.

Interestingly, I was chatting with Olli Jokinen after Rangers' practice yesterday and Lehtonen's name came up---even though he had not been traded yet, just a coincidence. Jokinen said Lehtonen is "a really good goalie, really good. I enjoyed playing with him (for Finland in international competition)."

Lehtonen will benefit from being on a better defensive team, though. He is a RFA at the end of the season, and the Stars will likely qualify him and begin to build around him moving forward, a somewhat risky proposition considering the myriad of health issues he has had.

As for Waddell, make it two cornerstones traded in the past week, though this one doesn't sting nearly as much as dealing Ilya Kovalchuk to the Devils. Still, another young defenseman? Hmmm. He added Johnny Oduya already to the mix that includes Zach Bogosian, Tobias Enstrom, Ron Hainsey, and Pavel Kubina. That clearly is a strength moving forward. But this club needs offensive help up front to join Evander Kane and Rich Peverley in the years to come. Let's see if Waddell delves into that depth on the back end to help up front.

Gaborik Suffers Cut in Practice

This is why, as a reporter, you go to practice every day. You just never know when a big story could happen.

I'm standing with the other reporters yesterday at Rangers practice, keeping an eye on the rink while also engaging in the banter that is part of our daily routine. Marian Gaborik and other players were finishing practice with some breakaway drills against goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. Just part of the daily norm.

That is until Gaborik leaped over Lundqvist who had come out of his crease and slid to knock the puck away. When Gaborik did not immediately get up, I figured he was playing around. Lundqvist told me later on that he thought the same thing.

"But then I went from thinking he was joking to hoping that he was," Lundqvist told me.

No such luck. Lundqvist's skate lifted in the air and Gaborik did not clear it. As he hobbled off the ice, dropped on the bench, and then eventually limped to the locker room, we all feared the worst. Groin, again. Maybe a knee sprain. Ankle perhaps.

Fortunately for the Rangers and their leading scorer (35 goals, 69 points), none of the above. But frightening nonetheless.

"It's not like a twist to the groin or a knee or anything like that," explained Jim Schoenfeld, the Rangers assistant coach and assistant general manager after practice. "It's a laceration."

Lundqvist's skate blade had cut Gaborik's thigh---though originally thought to be his knee. Gaborik was stitched up, sent home, and we'll see if he can play tonight, blizzard be damned.

Scary moment for the team and the players involved. But as Andrew Gross, Rangers' beat reporter for The Record in New Jersey, pointed out, could have been just as scary for the reporters. In this world of Twitter and blogs and instant access, not being at practice yesterday, and missing this potentially big story, would not have been looked kindly upon by those who employ us reporters.

Happily, though, it looks like disaster averted in all areas.

Good for Marty Biron

It has not been a good year for Martin Biron. A No. 1 goalie for the Sabres and Flyers the past decade, he found out no one really wanted him as a UFA this past summer. So he signed with the Islanders, figured to split time with fellow free-agent signee Dwayne Roloson until Rick DiPietro returned from knee surgery. That plan blew up when Roloson outplayed him and his 3.20 goals against and sub .900 save percentage.

He hadn't been in the Islanders' net since December 27---when he played quite well actually in a loss to his old club in Philly---and had not won a game for the Isles since November 13 in Raleigh, NC.

That is until last night. Brought back from purgatory, what with DiPietro and Roloson unable to get the Isles a win in their previous seven games, the 32 year-old Biron turned aside 24 shots as the Islanders snapped their skid with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Predators.

And I say Good For Him. Biron has been as good soldier this season, despite difficult and disappointing times. And though this is only one game, one moment, for him, he deserved last night, deserved that victory.

Where does it go from here? We'll see. A UFA again this summer, he would seem to be a solid pickup for a contender looking for an experienced No. 2 goalie before the deadline. Would make no sense for the Islanders to carry three NHL goaltenders, though they may have competition in dealing Biron now that the Stars could consider trading either Turco or Auld. Perhaps GM Garth Snow held on to Biron a touch too long? Maybe last night was an audition for possible suitors.

No matter. It was a good night for a deserving Marty Biron.

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Goaltending Solution Sought in Hockey Town

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Written on 12/04/2009 by Jim Cerny


Watching another ugly goaltending performance by the Red Wings during last night's 4-1 loss to the Oilers just makes me wonder how and when Detroit is going to fix this season-long problem.

Jimmy Howard overplayed two shots/passes last night and, as such, allowed a pair of weak goals that helped to undermine his team.

It continues to be a case of one step forward, one step back for Howard during his inaugural NHL campaign. On Monday I thought Howard played one of his best games of the season, positionally-strong and at times outstanding in denying the Dallas Stars during a 4-1 Red Wings triumph. Then last night he looked awkward and allowed a pair of softies.

The numbers bear out Howard's inconsistent play. He has appeared in 14 games, posting a 7-5-1 record with a 2.67 goals against average and .907 save percentage. Howard has been better of late, but he doesn't seem capable just yet of stringing together a slew of solid starts in a row.

Of course this wouldn't matter if veteran Chris Osgood was playing better. Ossie is following up a very mediocre regular season performance from a year ago with another shaky one, so far, this season. Osgood's 2.75 goals against---while better than last year's 3.09 mark---is disappointing, and worse than Howard's. So, too, is his unsightly .897 save percentage.

The thing is, Osgood redeemed himself a year ago by turning in a phenomenal effort during the playoffs, carrying the Red Wings to within a game of another Stanley Cup Championship with a solid 2.01 goals against average.

Just two years removed from his third Cup, a league-best 2.09 regular season GAA, and a ridiculous 1.55 GAA in the post-season, Osgood certainly has the appropriate street cred and quite a bit of cache built up in Detroit. But yet this is the second straight regular season where you scratch your head and wince when you consider his play.

Last season Detroit was fortunate to have Ty Conklin, much more of a proven commodity than Howard, to shoulder some of the load during the regular season. Now the Red Wings have turned to Howard, the 25 year-old goalie of the future who has been apprenticing in the American Hockey League the previous four seasons, and the results are decidedly mixed.

Of course both Howard and Osgood do have somewhat of a built-in excuse for their average numbers, what with how Detroit has been ravaged by injury so far this season.

Still, Wings GM Ken Holland and head coach Mike Babcock are not ones for excuses. So what is their move? And do they have the cap space to make the type of move they may deem necessary?

Anaheim would be willing to unload J.S. Giguere now that Jonas Hiller has emerged as the favored goalie, but his contract is very difficult to move. And I'm not so sure that the Ducks would be eager to send Giguere to a conference rival like the Red Wings anyway.

Perhaps now that Rick DiPietro is closer to returning to the Islanders, New York might consider trading one of its goalies. Dwayne Roloson, who is on a two-year deal, has played better than Martin Biron, who signed a one-year contract this past summer. Likely Roloson and DiPietro, who basically has a lifetime deal to remain on the Island, would stay, and Biron would be shipped somewhere.

The Red Wings could do worse than Biron to split time with Osgood during the regular season, and push him heading into the playoffs.

If such a move would take place, it would not be for amother few weeks, I would think. DiPietro is going to play some games in the minor leagues starting this Saturday, and you'd have to believe that the Islanders want to see him play a few games at the NHL level and see if he can remain healthy, a big IF considering he played only five games a year ago, and has yet to play this season.

In the meantime Howard and Osgood will try and convince Red Wings brass that outside help is not needed.

From my point of view, I disagree. Change is needed in goal for the Red Wings.

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