New York Rangers: Better Know a Ranger on the Bubble - Enver Lisin

Enver Lisin’s $790,000 contract with the New York Rangers has expired. He is now a restricted free agent.

In his first full season with the New York Rangers, Lisin managed 6 goals and 8 assists in 57 games for 14 points. With only 18 minutes in penalties, Lisin did a good job of staying out of the penalty box. The speedy right wing has promise to spare, occasionally dazzling with his blazing pace and stick-handling ability. Some concerns stem from Lisin’s lack of offensive production and his lack of consistency in his most recent big chance on the NHL stage.

Prediction:

The Rangers would like to retain Lisin, if only because the club’s depth chart is so thin at right wing. However, if Lisin and his agent are unwilling to consider a two-way contract (at the tender age of 24, Lisin could benefit from a couple of good years in the AHL), or ask for a significant raise beyond his last contracted salary. Lisin and the Rangers may just as easily decide to part ways. The Rangers possess the bargaining leverage as young Dale Weise seems like he might soon be ready to make the leap to Broadway. Lisin’s agent should be mindful that Weise is not only developing a consistent scoring touch in Hartford, but also has a rugged component to his game that Lisin does not seem to possess.

New York Rangers: Better Know a Ranger on the Bubble - Brandon Prust

Currently a restricted free agent, Brandon Prust made half a million dollars last year playing for the New York Rangers.

At the age of 26, Prust has newly come to the New York Rangers by way of Calgary. The trade sent underachievers Chris Higgins and Ales Kotalik to Alberta in return for Olli Jokinen and Prust.

A developing player with 115 NHL matches under his belt, Prust was given a chance to contribute...and contribute he did.

Prust’s game is simple and has few unnecessary parts in it. He works tirelessly, keeps his feet moving, delivers crunching body checks any chance he gets, and should someone in the lightweight to middleweight divisions get out of hand - keep the peace. Prust was assessed with 25 major penalties for fighting last season. Of those 25 times Prust bested his opponent or held his own 18 times (If you don’t believe me, check it out at hockeyfights.com). Prust took on the job of Sheriff of Rangertown after his predecessor, veteran tough guy Donald Brashear failed to keep the peace on Broadway. Prust sent the message that any grievous offenses against his Calgary and New York teammates would be unacceptable, with severe consequences for offenders.

In addition to the tough rugged game he plays, Prust also actually knows how to play hockey. Yes, hockey - skating, passing, and shooting. In his 26 matches with the Rangers, Prust scored 4 goals along with 5 assists for 9 points. Not bad for a tough guy. In addition, Prust finished +3 in plus minus, on a Ranger team that had a habit of bleeding goals at inopportune times.

Near the end of the season formed a potent checking line with Jody Shelley and rookie center Artem Anisimov that not only stayed the opposition, but also added goals. The Anisimov/Shelley/Prust line experiment was considered a limited success in a season where success often went wanting.

Prediction:

The Rangers opt to retain Prust.

The Rangers would be insane to not resign this player. Prust has proven his commitment to the Rangers, often with his own blood, bumps, and bruises. I believe that Prust would re-sign for a modest to decent raise, which I believe that he has earned. The bargaining leverage is a little bit in Prust’s favor as not only did he do very well in defending his teammates and add a bit of scoring, but that the Rangers don’t necessarily have a replacement enforcer on standby as Kris Newbury and Jody Shelley are also free agents with little organizational depth behind them in the tough guy department.

New York Rangers: Rangers draft for toughness and grit, Sanguinetti traded

NHL Draft day in Los Angeles...The Rangers are on the clock...With the Ranger brass about to select 10th in the first round it seems that Windsor Spitfires and USA World Junior standout Cam Fowler is still available...the breath of collective fans catches...and then the club selects Dylan McIlrath of the Moose Jaw Warriors. A player sometimes called “The Undertaker”, McIlrath was assessed 19 fighting majors last season for the Warriors. My first thought was something along the lines of “What the What!”

At the conclusion of the Draft, it became a bit more clear that it was the Rangers intent to draft for both skill AND toughness. Judging by the way Philadelphia edged the Rangers for a playoff spot this Spring, perhaps this was a good direction to go in. General Manager Glen Sather, Director of Player Personnel Gordie Clark and their entire staff of scouts seem to be making a bold statement that softness will no longer be generally tolerated. The scouting contingent had apparently focused their attention on a handfull of players who had made recent dramatic improvement. This included McIlrath who had won most improved player twice in two years at Moose Jaw.

Perhaps the writing was on the wall when the trade with Calgary that sent Higgins/Kotalik to the Flames for Prust/Jokinen that the Rangers were trying to harden themselves up for the future. The later acquisition of Jody Shelley would seem to show that the Rangers were looking to add toughness without sacrificing skill...a more difficult thing to do than you would imagine.

It remains to be seen what the overall effect this draft class will have on the future of the organization. But it seems like the message to prospects in the Rangers system is a very loud and clear statement of “Play up or we’ll find you another place to play!”

During the draft, defense prospect Bobby Sanguinetti (2006 1st round/21st overall selection by the Rangers) was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for a 6th round pick in this draft and a 2nd round pick in next year’s draft. Sanguinetti, a New Jersey native and lifelong fan of the Manhattan club, was envisioned as a Rangers puck-rushing defenseman of the future with big offensive upside. It has been speculated that Sanguinetti showed up for camp out of shape last year, and had been tagged as a consistent under-performer at the Rangers AHL Hartford affiliate. Time will tell what the impact of this deal will be.

Here are the latest additions to the Rangers burgeoning stable of up and coming prospects:

1st Round/10th overall pick - Dylan McIlrath, D, Moose Jaw Warriors

2nd Round/40th overall - Christian Thomas, RW, Oshawa Generals

4th Round/100th overall - Andrew Yogan, C/LW, Erie Otters

5th Round/130th overall - Jason Wilson, LW, Owen Sound Attack

6th Round/157th overall - Jesper Fasth, RW, HV 71 Jr. (Sweden)

7th Round/190th overall - Randy McNaught, RW, Saskatoon Blades


What all of this might mean:

McIlrath, should he be true to his press, can put a guy through the boards, score a goal, and then defend a teammate with his fists before the horn finishes blowing.

Thomas and Fasth are known as very good skaters and goal scorers.

Yogan and Wilson seem to be gritty pluggers that can put the puck in the net.

McNaught seems to be a straight-up enforcer.


Central Scouting capsules of these players are available for viewing at the following URL:

http://rangers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=532791

If’n you like the fisticuffs, there is a You Tube video of a fight between McIlrath and McNaught that sort of gives you the idea that neither of these gentlemen puts up with much nonsense on any given night. Good times.

New York Rangers: Better Know a Ranger on the Bubble - Brodie Dupont

At the tender age of 23, Brodie Dupont’s career with the New York Rangers hockey club is at a crossroads. He is now a restricted free agent. His salary last year was $62,500.

What he’s done so far for the Rangers organization is to play three yeoman-like seasons for the Hartford Wolf Pack, the club’s AHL affiliate. He has played 225 matches for Hartford in the left wing position (Though he is able to, and has played at center), racking up 44 goals and 59 assists for 103 points. He has logged 311 minutes in penalties, which suggests that he has a reasonable amount of grit.

Prediction: Rangers retain Dupont

Although the Rangers have great depth at the center and left wing positions within the organization, Dupont seems to actually have a shot at making it in Manhattan. In addition, Dupont is a proven player at the AHL level where his contributions are consistent, as befits a professional player.

Dupont is going to want more money, so the Rangers will have to give it to him if they want him to stay. If Dupont demands a 1-way contract, all bets are off and Dupont will likely be cast adrift to be replaced by a forward from the new wave of entry-level talent who might fill in quite well at the AHL level once their amateur preparation is complete.