New York Rangers Prospects: Top-10 Prospects To Watch During Traverse City (Finale Edition)
by Joe Fortunato on Sep 9, 2011 10:26 AM EDT
in New York Rangers Prospects
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PrintIt's time to unveil the top-three New York Rangers prospects you should be watching this year at the Traverse City Tournament, which begins tomorrow.
Anyway, let's get back to the rankings.
Number 3: Dylan McIlrath — Rangers fans haven't had any real chances to take a look at the team's 10th overall selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, but Traverse City should change that. We've already gone over what type of competition Traverse City provides (a good one) and that we'll be keeping our eyes on certain players to see how they step up with the increased level of play.
Now we'll get an opportunity to see the overall game McIlrath brings to the table. While he isn't going to make the team this year many fans have been questioning his game, questions which should get some answers during the tournament, although it's a small sample size to make any conclusive assessments.
Still, we'll get an opportunity to see him strut his game, which is something to get excited about.
Join me after the jump for the final two!
Number 2: Christian Thomas — We have been drooling over Thomas for about a year now, and for good reason. You don't score a total of 63 goals in 76 games at the OHL level and not open eyes. As if that wasn't enough, Thomas went on to have a fantastic camp with the Team Canada Development team, a performance he hopes leads to a roster spot on Canada's World Junior team.
You've heard about the quality of his shot, you have heard scouts talk about his very underrated vision. Traverse City is an opportunity to finally see all that first hand. (I feel like I sound like a broken record.) The fact still remains that Thomas is one of the Rangers' brightest stars in the system right now, and although it's a long shot for him to make the team out of camp, he will likely be a major threat next year.
Number 1: Tim Erixon — One of the biggest moves Glen Sather made this offseason, Erixon figures to be one of the only prospects who has a true shot at making this year's team out of camp. That's why he beats out Thomas for the top player to keep an eye on during the tournament.
We've heard about his NHL IQ, and his ability to both quarterback the power play and shut down the game in his defense zone; now we can see it. While Traverse City might be a step up for nearly every prospect involved, it's likely a step down for Erixon.
After playing 20 minutes a night in the SEL with men, I think this tournament will be a good challenge for the young defenseman, but it will also be a chance to really shine. Erixon is expected to make the team out of camp this year, a great Traverse City showing will go a long way in making that happen.
Hockey is right around the corner. Thoughts guys!
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Minor correction
I believe that due to age, C. Thomas cannot be a mid-season call up, he either opens on the big club, (and after a 9 game window then either gets sent back to his OHL team or must then spend the entire season on the Rangers), or plays at the OHL level.
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by Joe Fortunato on Sep 9, 2011 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
He can stay longer than 9 games, but then it eats a year of his ELC
by teknics on Sep 9, 2011 12:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Thomas has got to shine and Erixon has to dominate.
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by RichieToGabbySCORE on Sep 9, 2011 11:08 AM EDT reply actions
Pleasant surprise: I think Blake Parlett will have a good tournament.
Posted a .5 ppg at hartford as a dman… Worked his way up from ECHL where he was an allstar to the AHL with a seamless transition… I’m not trying to hype up a prospect, but look for him to make an impact.
Seeing his development route, it is impossible to get the Girardi comparison out of my head, (right handed Dman, undrafted player working his way up from the very bottom) but he is more of a puck mover.
Another surprise in my opinion will be Yogan. I’ll bet he has a great run. He has a lot to prove, and it has been documented his goal is to make Hartford…. I don’t think he wants to go back to Canada. He had a shaky relationship with coach Robbie Ftorek when he was with the Erie Otters, and I don’t think that helped his development.
Look for Bourque to have an impact, but being experienced in this particular tournament, his expectations are higher than that of a Yogan.
#12 Carl Hagelin
Enough conjecture…I’m ready to see these bitches on the ice and see who has skills and “balls”. The season starts in 30 hours and I frackin stoked.
by Gabby the Gutless Sniper on Sep 9, 2011 1:12 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Is the NHL Network covering the tourney? If so, does anyone have a link to schedule?
My DVR finger is ITCHING to record me some damn hockey. I can’t watch one more f’n game from last years playoffs – it’s become like weak beer or bad weed – just can’t catch a buzz.
Let me know how that works out for you . . .
Why isn’t Kreider playing in this tournament?
"To everybody else we're underdogs, but we go in thinking we can handle any team in the NHL."
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by Joe1969 on Sep 9, 2011 2:03 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I believe so, but they have to pay their own way.
by NTB on Sep 9, 2011 10:43 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Lines as per Zipay
Shane McColgan/Ryan Bourque/Christian Thomas
Hagelin/JT Miller/Randy McNaught
Jason Wilson/Jon Audy-Marchessault/Tommy Grant
Jordan Hickmott/Michael St. Croix/Thomas (double shifted)
Kale Kerbashian/Andrew Yogan/Tayler Jordan
Jyri Niemi-Dylan McIlrath
Tim Erixon-Blake Parlett
Collin Bowman-Petr Ceresnak
Lee Baldwin-Samuel Noreau
I’m hoping they change… You gotta hope that isn’t what they are going with for the tourney.
Observations, not new ones, but a revisit: Carl Hagelin can fly. Christian Thomas has hands. Ryan Bourque, who probably will be named captain, will compete hard.
No surprises there.
Sather said that Gs Scott Stajcer and Jason Missiaen each will get two starts.
Good. I’m excited to see Benoit Allaire’s boy Missiaen.
U of M’s C/LW Matt Rust, added to the roster yesterday, will meet the team there.
Matt Rust’s stats from University of Michigan. Wants to earn an AHL contract. Would play with teammate Kolarik and Hagelin if he doesn’t make the Rangers.
Year GP Goals Assists Points
2007-08 38 12 11 23
2008-09 37 11 11 22
2009-10 45 13 27 40
2010-11 44 5 21 26
Had a strange senior year. Not sure what happened. He was taken by the Panthers 101 overall (4th round). Was later traded to the Blue Jackets for a Dman named Mathieu Roy. I am shocked they didn’t sign Rust to an ELC, even if he did have a mediocre senior year. I know that he is 5’9 and his style resembles a 2 way forward.
#12 Carl Hagelin
Good practice for a 4th line NHL role for Hagelin, having to carry McNaught around.
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by George E. Ays on Sep 9, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Since we're all keeping an eye on McIlrath
Anyone know if there is fighting allowed in this tourny?
Fighting is permitted.
#12 Carl Hagelin
by The Blue Seats on Sep 9, 2011 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
who cares about his stupid and unneeded fighting skills
I wanna see how he plays in his own end, how he clears the crease, and how he controls the point while in the offensive zone
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Since I see his name on the roster, any news on Jyri Niemi? I thought there were good hopes for him right after we got him but I never read about him…..so anyone?
by teknics on Sep 9, 2011 4:11 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
His stats are below. All I can recall is him getting injured and I think there were concerns about him taking a bunch of interference/holding penalties. Need to do some more research.
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by Gabby the Gutless Sniper on Sep 9, 2011 5:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
After digging up some old draft lists, I found that the pick that we gave up to the Islanders was later traded to Atlanta. With that pick, the Trashers picked a kid who went to Detroit Lakes High School, a high school in Minnesota. Tanner Lane is playing with Fargo Force in the USHL.
He got 90 points as a Center in one season when he was a junior in highschool. That might not seem impressive, seeing as though American high school isn’t the same competition as Canadian, but Minnesota high school is as almost as high a level of play as you can find in the US outside of the US developmental program. Ryan McDonagh came from high school in Minny.
#12 Carl Hagelin
by The Blue Seats on Sep 9, 2011 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Changing my cable provider is not really an option.
by DrewDC11 on Sep 9, 2011 6:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
That would be pretty aggressive
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