With only four returning veteran defenseman on the roster, the Rangers have two vacant roster spots up for grabs on defense. One of those spots could fall into the hands of last year's first round pick Michael Del Zotto, who turned some heads with an impressive showing at training camp last September. At last year's camp though, Del Zotto knew he had little to no shot at making the club. He knew his fate was another season in the OHL, he wasn't under pressure to make the team. This year is an entirely different story. With the two spots on defense open, DZ will have every bit the opportunity as Matt Gilroy, Bobby Sanguinetti, Corey Potter, Michael Sauer, and Finnish import Ikka Heikenen (yes, yes the one whose last name sounds like that delicious beer) to make the big club.The pressure will be very real this time around.

When Del Zotto was traded along with teammate John Tavares (the second coming of Alexander Daigle - well lets hope so anyways) to the London Knights, he silenced some critics who questioned his conditioning and defensive ability. With the Knights, Del Zotto regularly logged 30 minutes of ice time along with eventual first round pick John Carlson. He also notched 6 goals and 24 points during 28 regular season games with his new team. Former NHLer and London Knights head coach Dale Hunter was impressed with Del Zotto's play.

"You know he's talented but until the trade, you didn't really know how good he was. You'd only see him two times a year and it's hard to get an impression. But he came here and it wasn't just the offence. He hit hard. He did a great job for us and I think he can help a team."

Del Zotto was also more than a point per game player during the Knights playoff run, tallying 19 points in 14 playoff games. Jess Rubenstein ofThe Prospect Park is a big proponent of a Rangers prospect dominating his current league (in this case the OHL) before moving up. Although Del Zotto didn't flat out dominate the OHL because of his pedestrian first half with the Oshawa Generals, he was excellent down the stretch run with the Knights. Rubenstein was on the money when he said that Del Zotto being traded to a playoff team was the best thing that could happen for his development.

In order for Del Zotto to make the Rangers, he's going to have to elevate his play to the point where it makes it impossible for the Rangers to return him to London. He will then have to erase any uncertainty about his ability to compete at the NHL level for a full season during his first 10 games. Since Del Zotto his only 19, he can't play in the AHL. He therefor has 10 games to stick in the NHL before he has to be returned to his OHL club.

The Rangers in the past few years have not rushed their young players. There isn't a whole lot of urgency in the organization for Del Zotto to make the jump to the NHL. With a plethora of young defenseman in their system who already have pro hockey experience, the Rangers can afford to have Del Zotto develop for one more season with the Knights. Then again, it would be great to see Del Zotto force the Rangers to the keep him.

(h/t to NY Rangers blog for the link)

I was wondering what Wild fans had to say about Marian Gaborik and his time in Minny. Would it be described as positive or negative and what kind of chances do you give him staying healthy during his time in New York?

I ask because there has been a heated discussion over at Blueshirt Banter about whether or not its a good signing because of his injury problems.

Personally, I don't think Gaborik was a good idea.

Sources tell TSN Theoren Fleury is attempting a comeback and wants to play in the NHL again.

After playing senior hockey last season, Fleury decided in February he was fit enough to give the NHL another try, so he hired a personal trainer and has been working diligently since.

Those close to him say he didn't leave the National Hockey League the way he wanted, which is fueling his desire to return.

The 41-year-old has been sober for almost four years and has been skating daily in Calgary in the hope that an NHL team is willing to invite him to training camp.

Interest in the former Stanley Cup champion won't be enough to clear the way for Fleury's return.  He remains under indefinite suspension and would first have to be approved by the NHL and the NHLPA's Substance Abuse programs doctors before reinstatement would be considered.

Sources say Fleury recently sent NHL commissioner Gary Bettman a letter acknowledging his comeback bid and has also discussed the possibility with the leagues doctors.

At 5' 6'', Fleury was one of the smallest players in hockey. Intense and fearless, Fleury made a name for himself for more than his stature. He could score, play defensively and lead teams to championships in junior hockey, in the NHL and on the international stage.

I am a big fan of Theo Fleury and would love to see him make like Claude Lemeuix and once again play in the NHL. It would be quite the accomplishment as a 41 year old after being out of the NHL since 2003. He did play a season with the Belfast Giants, but there might be some mens league's here in the states that are more competitive. Fleury was one of those guys that embraced being the smallest guy on the ice and played with an enormous chip on his shoulder. I really enjoyed watching him play. Maybe a team like the 'Yotes can give him a minor league contract, I mean really, what do they have to lose? Here's some food for thought, what if Theo Fleury had began his career in the post-lockout NHL where the skill guys are blanketed in Gary Bettman bubble wrap and coddled by the commissioner's officiating minions? He registered over a point per game in his career at five foot nothin' in the real NHL, pretty incredible.

I wish him the best

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New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Enver Lisin.

Lisin, 23, was acquired by the Rangers from the Phoenix Coyotes, in exchange for Lauri Korpikoski on Monday.  He skated in 48 games with Phoenix last season, registering 13 goals and eight assists for 21 points, along with 24 penalty minutes.  

Official Release

No word yet on contract terms. Makes me wonder whats going on with Brandon Dubinsky. Callahan has his new deal and now Lisin has his after only being a Ranger for a few weeks. It's good they signed Lisin as he was somewhat of a KHL flight risk.

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The Rangers may or may not be shopping for a number one center, but it's been suggested that the Rangers may target Brad Richards. Dallas Stars owner Tom Hicks is learning that owning three pro sports franchises may not be the best idea. With these tough economic times, Hicks is in serious financial trouble and there have been some rumors that the Stars have set their own in-house salary cap in order to keep the payroll low. It's no secret that Brad Richards and John Tortorella have a great relationship going back to their Stanley Cup Championship with the Lightning. During that '03-'04 playoff run Richards played like man possessed posting 26 points in 23 games and winning the Conn Smythe. During the following '05-'06 season (frickin' lockout)  he posted a career high 91 points and followed it up with a 70 point performance the next season.

Sather is doing his best to revamp the roster by adding scoring and players who the fit the Tortorella mold (although I'm not sure where Enver Lisin fits there). With the Stars possibly looking to dump salary and Richards relationship with Torts, it's easy to follow the bouncing ball and come to the conclusion that Richards might be a Rangers target.

Richards has two years remaining on his current deal with a cap hit of $7.8 million per. He uncharacteristically battled injuries last season with Stars, only managing to play 56 games. Despite the injuries, it's difficult to believe Richards won't be healthy this upcoming season. In his first six years in the NHL, Richards missed a grand total of two games. The past two seasons though he's only averaged 55 points, that's Scott Gomez territory. Also, any deal involving Richards would start with Brandon Dubinsky and a Michael Del Zotto or Ryan McDonagh type prospect. Plus the Rangers would have to include Michal Rozsival and/or waive Wade Redden in order to fit Richards under the cap. It would take a mathematical miracle for Richards to be a Ranger.

Sure Richards is a Torts favorite and he would be a nice fit with Marian Gaborik, but it's a bad idea. Acquiring Richards spits in the face of the Rangers NY style youth movement. Brandon Dubinsky deserves a shot at pivoting Gabs, he should be given the opportunity for good of the organization. If it doesn't work out, then next summer the Rangers can look for Marc Savard in free agency. Savard will have a lower cap hit and is arguably be better suited to be Gabs center than Richards is.

There is no reason for the Rangers to even try to take on Brad Richards. Unless of course Sather can grease Joe Nieuwendyk while also changing some mathematic principles..

Just out curiousity, what's your guys take on Jovo? Is he still a viable number one defenseman? I was looking at his stats and he was a minus 15 last season. Was that more because of the circumstances of the 'Yotes as a team?

I'm asking because I wouldn't be all that surprised if he was traded to the Rangers. There have always been rumors of Jovo being traded to NY, Sather and Maloney just LOVE trading with one another and with the Rangers looking to for another defenseman

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Right wing Jed Ortmeyer is among five players who agreed to one-year contracts with the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

Ortmeyer spent the past two seasons in the Nashville Predators' organization after three years with the New York Rangers. The defensive-minded forward played 51 games with Nashville in the 2007-08 season before injuring his knee and spending most of last season in the minors.

The Canadian Press

 

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According to CSN Philly, Brendan Shanahan is only interested in playing hockey for two clubs next season, the Rangers and the Devils. I'll let you take a wild guess which of the two he prefers... If you guessed the Rangers, good for you. If you guessed the Devils, well I can't help ya. Shanny loved his time in New York. The Garden crowd embraced him as one of their own and there's little doubt in my mind he'd jump at the opportunity to once again play in the Big Apple. Shanny brought a tenacity and veteran leadership that the team had previously not had. When Sather decided to let him go last summer (well not really, he yanked his chain for 4 or 5 months and led him to believe the Rangers were interested when he was never actually in their plans, but that's for another time) the team dearly missed his presence in their locker room and on the ice. I was one of, if not the biggest advocate in the Rangers blogosphere when it came to Shanny returning to the team last season. But that was then and this now, things have changed.

Brendan Shanahan is one of the all-time hockey greats. He combined scoring ability and a blue collar attitude that presently is all his own. A perfect example is when he dropped the gloves with Donald Brashear at the Garden. Even at the age of 38, Shanny felt the need to take matters into his own hands when Brashear had taken a few liberties with Jaromir Jagr. It was incredible. One of the most amazing things I've ever seen during a hockey game. Shanny can still play third line minutes effectively and could be a power play specialist. His veteran leadership is also something the Rangers need, but he's no longer the right option.

Signing Shanny would be throwing the New York version of a youth movement to the curb. Although the team might be better off with Shanny this season than say Dane Byers or Jordan Owens, it's sacrificing their development. Unfortunately Shanny is 40 and is quickly skating off into the sunset. The Rangers future is their young talent, not Brendan Shanahan.

The only way Shanny is a viable option in my eyes is if the Rangers feel Byers, Owens, Lisin, or whoever it may be is not ready to play at the NHL level. Otherwise, as difficult as it is for me to say I don't want to see Shanny don a Rangers jersey next season, they need to look from within.

This time though, let Shanny know early you're not interested Sather.

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Sportsnet.ca

The agent for Chris Pronger told Sportsnet that his client has signed a seven-year contract extension that will likely see the defenceman finish his career in Philadelphia.

The confirmation will come down later Tuesday.

The extension is front-loaded to lower the salary cap hit, and is rumoured to be worth $35 million, or five million per season. The deal also includes a no-movement clause.

Wow, signing a 35 year old defenseman to a 7 year deal? Either way, the Flyers are serious contendors for the next few seasons and hopefully Pronger can throw a few beat downs on Sidney Crosby. I think everyone will agree with me that they would like to see that. After all, he does have the most punchable face in the NHL.

Then again, let's hope he doesn't break Marian Gaborik with a flying elbow at some point in his tenure in the Altantic Division. I guess it's good the Rangers have Brashear.. NOT

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There has been some talk circulating that the Rangers should pursue Saku Koivu to be Marian Gaborik's pivot. Just as it's prudent to 'just say no to Redden(or drugs)' please for love of Wayne leave Koivu out of it. The Rangers do not need to pursue a number one center, just as last year they didn't need to pursue an aged Markus Naslund or even worse, well you know.

Larry Brooks got it right (for once) and one of my favorite Rangers beat writers Steve Zipay got it wrong. He doesn't seem to think Dubisnky is capable of centering Gabs and thinks it's a good idea to look at Koivu. C'mon Zip, I know you're better than that. Just for starters, Dubinsky was by far the Rangers most effective pivot for Jaromir Jagr as a rookie. Even with vets like Drury and Gomez on the roster, Dubinsky flourished with Jagr and complimented him beautifully. Fast forward one year and once again Dubinsky was the Rangers best option in the middle for their most talented winger, Nikolai Zherdev.

Dubinsky is a true power forward in the making. He spent much of last season lost in a horrible slump that lasted as long as it did mostly because he lost confidence and was trying too hard. Dubinsky once again stepped his game up though towards the end of the season and in the playoffs, rockin' the same kind of swagger that he displayed when he centered Jagr. There is no reason to go out and bring Saku Koivu or any other center to play alongside Gabs. It's a waste of cap space and is giving the finger to the Rangers new organizational philosophy of youth=success. Not only that, it's a piss poor waste of cap space (even more so than Brashear's contract). because Gabs doesn't need a play making center to put the pucks in the net. Dubinsky is the Rangers best option to play with Gabs as he can play the role of not only body guard, but he can clear the way and create space for him. Dubinsky is big and just fast enough to keep up with the Slovak Rocket and if any liberties are taken with him, Dubi would be more than willing to jump in and drop 'em. Although he should probably consult with Donald Brashear or possibly Kimbo Slice (same difference, both useless street fighters) over the summer b/c he hasn't quite gotten the fighting thing down yet. It is definitely a must that Gabs has somebody big playing with him, you don't want him breaking the first game of the season.

Sign a depth defenseman or two, trade Rozsival, somehow convince Jimmy Dolan to eat Redden's contract (not going to happen),and let the kids play.