Read: Traverse City Day 1 Notes (Update With More Notes)
Update 11:25: Reader Paul sent this in to me, it has more notes from Leslie Treff.
You can count on Ryan Bourque if you want to get things going. Whenever Bourque gets the puck, there is a good chance that something really exciting is going to happen. Highly skilled and as fast as any skater I have seen on the ice in a Rangers uniform for a long while, Bourque gives a good effort on every shift and is always looking for the net. What a pleasure to watch.
Evgeny Grachev can break open a game. Twice in yesterday afternoon’s game, he got the puck for a breakaway and we were able to really see his potential. He did not score yesterday, but if he can finish at the next level, he has the potential to be a superstar.
Michael Del Zotto made a brilliant pass to set up Grachev in the third period yesterday. His offensive instincts are excellent, and Head Coach Kenny Gernander put him on the ice over and over in critical situations. Most of the time Del Zotto was competent to good defensively, but there were occasional big mistakes. This is a big improvement for Del Zotto over development camp in early July, and he told me after the game that he has been working out really hard to get into game shape. One thing I noticed is that he has stopped taking the ill-advised hit (and subsequently himself out of the play). There are three more games for him before training camp, but he looks to be a real competitor for a roster spot.
Original Post: Leslie Treff, of Hockey’s Future, has a report on day 1 from the Traverse City tournament.
Treff notes that goalie Scott Stajcer, 5th round 2009, kept the Rangers in the game. He made 35 saves.
Treff also notes that the Rangers weren’t as sharp as Carolina.
The Rangers, on the other hand, looked weak for most of the game, taking penalties and missing assignments. It was Stajcer’s play that kept it close enough for New York to come back in the third period. After Boychuk put Carolina up by two at 4:08 of the period, during the next minute, it was all Rangers. In a span of 21 seconds, the Blueshirts were able to record two goals, and the game was tied with only a little less than 15 minutes left.
On Evgeny Grachev
Finally, to be successful in this tournament, Rangers top prospect Evgeny Grachev has to be dominant on the ice. However, he did not come anywhere near that level of play, and although he demonstrated some excellent speed and moves twice tonight, he must play that way consistently for the Rangers to be a factor here.
Treff also notes the speed and finesse in Ryan Bourques game.
For a report from Treff on the other three games, click here.
….Solid recap, goalies were not that highly ranked in this past draft and maybe Stajcer can be the next Jason Labarbara for the Rangers. Yes, its only one game, and its a lofty assumption to say that Stajcer will be a top AHL goalie and then an NHL backup, but the Rangers need more depth in the pipes and its nice to see Stajcer play well against, what some people are saying is the top team in the tournament.
