Monthly Archives: October 2009
Michael Sauer was the 40th pick in the 2005 draft by the Rangers. He is currently with the Hartford Wolfpack, where he has been for most of his time in the Rangers organization since he turned pro in 2007.
Sauer played three games with the Rangers last season.
NYRangerscast caught up with Sauer recently for an interview:
With the log-jam of defenseman on the Rangers, do you at all prefer playing in Hartford where you’re guaranteed time rather than getting limited minutes in New York?
Wherever they want me is fine with me. Obviously right now they prefer me to be in Hartford getting the minutes, so I am making the most of it and getting it a lot of minutes while developing in game situations rather than just in practice.
Both you and Bobby Sanguinetti are back with Hartford, what is your relationship with Bobby and how do you assess his ability as a hockey player?
Bobby and I get along great. He is a talented defenseman and is very composed with the puck. He sees the ice well and has a wrist shot that always finds its way to the net.
For more from Sauer, visit NYRangerscast.
One thing that has been certain since John Tortorella took over as coach last February was that he wants the Rangers to be a very conditioned team.
He spoke openly about the Rangers being tired last season and didn’t want that to happen again this year. That is why Tortorella gets testy when reporters ask if the Rangers slip in play is from being tired:
“It has nothing to do with tiredness,” Tortorella said. “[The media] talk people into being tired. How many games have we played? 13? If they’re tired then we’re in deep [bleep] then. They’re not tired.”
Visit the New York Post, for the rest.
Puck Daddy ha
s part of an excerpt from an upcoming book by Washington Capital’s coach Bruce Boudreau.
In it, Boudreau writes about a little exchange he had with Sean Avery when Avery was coached by Boudreau in Manchester of the AHL.
“He told me I was the biggest, fattest bleeping pig he had ever seen,” Boudreau said in the book.
Read the rest at Puck Daddy.
Mark Herrmann, of Newsday, wrote about how John Tortorella can bring the life back to the Rangers Islanders rivalry.
Still, there is hope. Not just because of Tavares, either. Rangers coach John Tortorella could be just the fuse that this powder keg needs. The guy is one of hockey’s loosest cannons, which never hurts a rivalry.
For more, visit Newsday.
…To me, the Rangers Islanders rivalry is as good as ever. Yes, the Islanders tend to be toward the bottom of the pack, and they will only get better if the Islanders improve, but there is still so much distaste for one-another that their doesn’t need much more added to make this rivalry better.
I doubt Tortorella would ever make a statement about the Islanders that would raise the rivalry to some new standard. Torts only likes to talk about his team, not the opposition.
The NHL, on twitter-by way of Jay Gold, has pointed out that the Rangers Ryan Callahan currently leads the NHL in hits.
Cally has 55 hits this season, six more than Chris Neil who has 49. Brandon Dubinsky has 37 hits, as does Marc Staal, for sixth on the list.
…This is why Cally, even when he isn’t scoring, is still important. His goals will come, but for right now, the hits are there.
Marian Gaborik didn’t skate for a third straight day and according to Andrew Gross, is listing himself as day to day.
“It’s not that serious,” Gaborik said. “I thought it was going to be worse the way it felt. I have to make sure I do the right thing and treat it and take it day by day. It doesn’t feel great but it feels better.”
Gaborik also said, as noted by Gross, that he would be dissappointed not to play in his return to Minnesota.
Also from practice, Sean Avery and Christopher Higgins did not skate today. John Tortorella said that both players were banged up.
After last night’s game, Tortorella spoke about P.A. Parenteau and said that he worried about his skating, Parenteau responded after today’s practice:
“I’m not really worried about it, I know what I can do on the ice,” Parenteau said. “I was a little nervous (last night) and I didn’t want to make mistakes. If I play more games, I’ll have more confidence. I made a few mistakes because I was nervous. It’s getting used to the pace. I know I can play at that pace.”
For more, visit Ranger Rants.
In the midst of the Rangers recent struggle, one player who has gone a little unnoticed in his slipped play, is Sean Avery. Larry Brook’s in today’s New York Post, writes this about Avery, in regards to the Rangers being physical:
The wild card up front, of course, is Sean Avery, but No. 16 now seems to be wearing self-imposed shackles, apparently fearful of incurring the wrath of either the officials or the head coach should he engage in the extra-curricular chippiness that both sets him apart.
For more, read the New York Post.
…Avery just seems a little slow out there. Not in his speed sense, but he doesn’t seem like he is playing the same way as he has previously. With the talk of taking less penalties, Avery may have cut back his aggression or style a little bit. He certainly doesn’t want to get under John Tortorella’s skin and run any risk of not playing. Avery does have six points on the season, but seemingly like everyone else on the Rangers, they haven’t come in recent games.
Avery needs to raise his game in a way that doesn’t have him in the penalty box or the Tortorella dog house.
With the NHLPA having their issues after the removal of executive director Paul Kelly, Craig Custance, of The Sporting News, writes today that former Rangers legend Mike Richter could be a candidate for the position.
…This would be a cool step for Richter to take. I would love for him to run for Congress though. Having Richter down in Washington would be a very cool thing. It could then lead to Senator Richer and dare I say, President Mike Richter.
Its just a dream, and Chris Chelios will probably get the NHLPA gig, but this could be the first step for Richter.
With only two goals, none since October 12th, and three assists, none since October 19th, Ryan Callahan has been struggling offensively so far this season.
Last night against the Islanders, Callahan had six shots on goal:
“The last couple of games I probably wasn’t doing enough to get scoring chances, but tonight I thought I did,” said the alternate captain. “I hit a post, I had a tip that went just wide.
“It’s not the first time in my career I’ve gone a stretch without scoring, but if I continue working to get to the dirty areas of the ice the way I did in this one, goals will come.”
For more, visit the New York Post.
…Cally is one player that I am not worried about, unlike Christopher Higgins who seems lost. Cally played well last night and had many chances to score. I still like him on Brandon Dubinsky‘s line, but can’t help thinking he would score more on the other side of Marian Gaborik with Vinny Prospal at center. Enver Lisin is there now and playing well, but if that falls off, Cally should get the nod.
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