The Rangers made 5 more roster cuts today, sending goalies Chad Johnson and Matt Zaba, center Paul Crowder, and defensemen Corey Potter and Ilkka Heikkinen to AAA Hartford.
As I previously noted, Johnson and Zaba were never really in competition for a roster spot. They were just providing preseason depth in net to provide Henrik Lundqvist and Stephen Valiquette some rest. Zaba will most likely split stars with Miika Wiikman in Hartford this year, while Johnson will start in AA Charlotte.
Johnson's fellow University of Alaska-Anchorage alum Paul Crowder will be a top center with the Wolf Pack. The Blueshirts are investing a lot in him (almost $1 million) to develop his skills this season.
At the beginning of training camp, I thought there was a good chance that Potter would make the opening day roster. During the 2008-2009 campaign he played great in Hartford. Potter also played very well in his five games with the Rangers, even contributing a goal and an assist. Heikkinen put up high offensive numbers in Finland last season (8 goals, 26 assists in 54 games), but it appears New York wants him to get accustomed to the North American game with some time in the AHL.
The Rangers now left on the roster (including those in Hartford camp) are:
Goal: Henrik Lundqvist, Steve Valiquette
Defense: Michael Del Zotto, Matt Gilroy, Dan Girardi, Wade Redden, Michal Rozsival, Bobby Sanguinetti, Alexei Semenov, Marc Staal
Forwards: Artem Anisimov, Tyler Arnason, Sean Avery, Brian Boyle, Donald Brashear, Dane Byers, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Marian Gaborik, Evgeny Grachev, Christopher Higgins, Ales Kotalik, Enver Lisin, Corey Locke, Jordan Owens, P.A. Parenteau, Vinny Prospal, Patrick Rissmiller, Aaron Voros
It will be interesting to see what roster moves the Blueshirts make before the season starts in October. They are set behind the pipes, and Girardi, Redden, Rozsival, and Staal are locks at the blue line. Although New York did not carry a 7th defenseman for almost all of last season, there is a good chance veteran Alexei Semenov (in camp on a tryout) will fill that role this season. The 5th and 6th defensemen positions will be filled by rookies. Gilroy, Del Zotto, and Sanguinetti will battle it out over the remaining preseason games to fill those holes. My predicition is that Gilroy and Sanguinetti make the team while Del Zotto heads back to the juniors for one more season.
My prediction for the New York forward lines is:
1st Line: Higgins- Dubinsky- Gaborik
2nd Line: Kotalik- Drury- Callahan
3rd Line: Avery- Anisimov- Prospal
4th Line: Brashear-Boyle- Lisin/Voros
This would mean that in addition to the 5 players semi-cut this past week, P. A. Parenteau and Evgeny Grachev will not make the final roster. Parenteau, one of the biggest scoring threats in the AHL last season, should start the year in Hartford but keep his phone on and handy. He and Dane Byers will be the top forwards on the pecking order to be called up if someone gets hurt in New York. Grachev has impressed this preseason but can definitely benefit from another year in the juniors.
As I previously noted, Johnson and Zaba were never really in competition for a roster spot. They were just providing preseason depth in net to provide Henrik Lundqvist and Stephen Valiquette some rest. Zaba will most likely split stars with Miika Wiikman in Hartford this year, while Johnson will start in AA Charlotte.
Johnson's fellow University of Alaska-Anchorage alum Paul Crowder will be a top center with the Wolf Pack. The Blueshirts are investing a lot in him (almost $1 million) to develop his skills this season.
At the beginning of training camp, I thought there was a good chance that Potter would make the opening day roster. During the 2008-2009 campaign he played great in Hartford. Potter also played very well in his five games with the Rangers, even contributing a goal and an assist. Heikkinen put up high offensive numbers in Finland last season (8 goals, 26 assists in 54 games), but it appears New York wants him to get accustomed to the North American game with some time in the AHL.
The Rangers now left on the roster (including those in Hartford camp) are:
Goal: Henrik Lundqvist, Steve Valiquette
Defense: Michael Del Zotto, Matt Gilroy, Dan Girardi, Wade Redden, Michal Rozsival, Bobby Sanguinetti, Alexei Semenov, Marc Staal
Forwards: Artem Anisimov, Tyler Arnason, Sean Avery, Brian Boyle, Donald Brashear, Dane Byers, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Marian Gaborik, Evgeny Grachev, Christopher Higgins, Ales Kotalik, Enver Lisin, Corey Locke, Jordan Owens, P.A. Parenteau, Vinny Prospal, Patrick Rissmiller, Aaron Voros
It will be interesting to see what roster moves the Blueshirts make before the season starts in October. They are set behind the pipes, and Girardi, Redden, Rozsival, and Staal are locks at the blue line. Although New York did not carry a 7th defenseman for almost all of last season, there is a good chance veteran Alexei Semenov (in camp on a tryout) will fill that role this season. The 5th and 6th defensemen positions will be filled by rookies. Gilroy, Del Zotto, and Sanguinetti will battle it out over the remaining preseason games to fill those holes. My predicition is that Gilroy and Sanguinetti make the team while Del Zotto heads back to the juniors for one more season.
My prediction for the New York forward lines is:
1st Line: Higgins- Dubinsky- Gaborik
2nd Line: Kotalik- Drury- Callahan
3rd Line: Avery- Anisimov- Prospal
4th Line: Brashear-Boyle- Lisin/Voros
This would mean that in addition to the 5 players semi-cut this past week, P. A. Parenteau and Evgeny Grachev will not make the final roster. Parenteau, one of the biggest scoring threats in the AHL last season, should start the year in Hartford but keep his phone on and handy. He and Dane Byers will be the top forwards on the pecking order to be called up if someone gets hurt in New York. Grachev has impressed this preseason but can definitely benefit from another year in the juniors.
