Rangers News and Notes: Avery, Valley on deck, Del Zotto and more

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Oct 10, 2009 2:19 PM EDT in Rangers News Comment 12 comments

More photos » Manuel Balce Ceneta - AP

Andrew Gross over at Rangers Rants says that although John Tortorella won't say for sure, looks like Sean Avery and Stephen Valiquette will see their first action this weekend (click here for full story):

Sean Avery confirmed he’ll play against the Ducks and Steve Valiquette was the first goalie off the ice from today’s practice so the two of them will make their season debuts tomorrow at Madison Square Garden. Coach John Tortorella, however, would not confirm either, saying he hadn’t talked to trainer Jim Ramsey yet about Avery, nor does he keep an eye on any specific players during a practice. Asked whether Valiquette would get a game in this back-to-back set (Monday against the Maple Leafs), Tortorella said he wasn’t sure.

Michael Del Zotto's hometown newspaper has a look at the impression MDZ is making with the Rangers.

"Scoring my first NHL goal in front of my family (father Steve, mom Lee and brother David) and a couple of close friends and hearing the fans go crazy is a feeling I won’t forget," the Markham Waxers’ minor hockey product said after practice Wednesday. "I’m glad I got it over with sooner than later.

Although we have beat the Heatley thing to death, Carp makes a good point about it in today's Ranger Report: (click link for full story)

I can’t help but wonder how much worse (or maybe some of you think better) the Rangers would have been if they’d gotten Heatley July 1. Because if they’d gotten Heatley they probably wouldn’t have signed Marian Gaborik, and they probably would have had to give up Brandon Dubinsky plus (Michael Rozsival would have been OK, but it likely would have cost more than that, perhaps draft picks). So two-thirds of the Rangers top line wouldn’t be here, but Heatley would.

more after the jump.....

Mike Obernaeur over at the Daily News said Chris Higgins was second thinking his breakaway shot on Jose Theodore: (click link for full story)

Higgins has yet to score a goal as a Ranger, but the chances have been there. One note on his breakaway against Jose Theodore last night: Higgins told me that if he had 20 minutes to think about it, he might have tried something a little different given that Theodore, Higgins' former teammate in Montreal, is sort of a goaltending southpaw - he catches with his right hand. Higgins was dealing with a rolling puck that wouldn't let him deke, and he wound up shooting straight into Theodore's glove. "I should have scored," Higgins said.

Capitals coach ~~Curly~~ Bruce Boudreau wasn't too happy with his team getting beat by the Rangers the other night. (Sporting News)

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heatley..

100% true but atleast we would not have to see roszival

by kiop900 on Oct 10, 2009 2:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

as bad as he is…i wouldnt give up dubi and gabby just to not watch him…he can ride the bench like he did in the 3rd the other night.

by mleetch352 on Oct 10, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh hell no. Heatley will wear out his welcome every where he goes

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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Oct 10, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup, and A'Rod can't hit in the playoffs.

"It's like the old phrase goes.....The balls in your court now Mr.Church, so you take that ball, you dribble it up the court and....................................... get a layup"
- Keith Hernandez

by nrmax88 on Oct 11, 2009 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed. I’d rather eat Rozsy’s contract.

by DC Ranger on Oct 10, 2009 6:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

same. once we got gabby i was more than happy to pass on heater. and im so glad dubi got his contract stuff settled bc he has been great and has reminded us why we liked him so much in the 1st place.

by Conway on Oct 10, 2009 8:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, Gaborik and Dubinsky are paying dividends. So Heatley had a big game the other night, that doesn’t mean anyone here should start second guessing themselves. He’ll have alot so don’t hit the panic button.

And hopefully Rozy will get dealt sometime this season, which would answer the prayers of many of us, and in the end the Rangers would get Gabby, Dubi, and another player to be named…. instead of just Heatley. Would you trade Gabby, Dubi, and Rozy for Heatley? I wouldn’t… who cares about the money.

"Jaromir Jagr.... it's a POWER PLAY GOAL!"
- Sam Rosen

by rmc235 on Oct 10, 2009 8:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think sathers biggest objective this year is to get rid of rosival and/or reddens contract…i hope he gets this done.

I would take gabby over heater any day for the fact that gabby 1) has more overall talent (I think) 2) is a team player 3) and his nickname is gabby

by nutz_35 on Oct 10, 2009 9:34 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

well heatleys nickname can be heater. thats pretty cool.

but yeah. remember this guys. in ottawa he played with spezza and alfredsson, in san jose hes platying with thorton and setiguchi. look how gaborik has played with compared to that.

i much rather have gaborik dubi roszival than heatley.

plus, at first they wanted staal a 1st and dubi/cally

hopefully we can get rid of rozis contract. were going to need that money to resign staal/girardi and than the other FAs are prospal lisin higgins and vally.

vally can sign for the same money or we can bring someone up.

and than with grachev def. coming up we resign two of the 3 mentioned above. so yeah, we need rozi gone

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

by Moshe52792 on Oct 11, 2009 8:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno about anyone else...

but how clutch Gabby was in that Caps game…I could care less if by the end of the season Heatley leads the league in points and Gabby missed 10 games and ended up with around 80 points..

This dude is a dynamic player. Even that year that Jagr was so good for the Rangers, I don’t think he was as good as Gabby is right now. This guy is also a pest on the defensive end too.

The Rangers most definitely made the right choice by keeping Dubi and signing Gaborik. I can say that with assurance already.

Given the guy’s career, this is always gonna have to be said..but if Gaborik remains healthy, this Rangers squad is an elite one.

..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...

...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 11, 2009 10:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

very true. i wouldnt go as far as saying better than jagr. jags put up 120 points and he should of won mvp that year

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

by Moshe52792 on Oct 11, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I get that Duby has potential and all this

but all he does is skate the puck into the zone, skate into the corner, and make some blind pass into the slot like this is the squirts. He never even tries to take a d-man one on one, which I know he can, he just seems to be so passive when he has the puck in the offensive zone. Skate over the line, take it wide, throw it in front blind. I know he can do more then this. I now await 20 people screaming that I’m an idiot and Dubi is the best player in the history of hockey.

"It's like the old phrase goes.....The balls in your court now Mr.Church, so you take that ball, you dribble it up the court and....................................... get a layup"
- Keith Hernandez

by nrmax88 on Oct 12, 2009 3:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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