Author Archives: Brian Monzo

Update 7:24PM -The deal is believed to be one year at $600,000.

Original Post: According to several sources, the Rangers have agreed to terms with 28-year-old defenseman Alexei Semenov.  Semenov, 28, was at training camp on a tryout basis.  Semenov is 6’6, 235 lbs.  In his career he has played 211 career games with the Oilers, Panthers and Ducks.  He has notched 7 goals and 28 assists.

Monzo: Semenov and rookie Michael Del Zotto will continue to battle for the 6th/7th defenseman role.  Semenov has been good in camp and in preseason and brings size to the backline.  Is he a gamebreaker? Not even close.  But he adds depth to blueline that is heavily relying on youth (Staal, Girardi, Gilroy, Del Zotto…)

Rangers rookie defenseman Matt Gilroy will appear on NHL Live! at 12:45P ET.

Deb Placey and Billy Jaffe will be the hosts.

Tune in on the NHL Network at 12P-2P ET or on Sirius/XM to catch NHL Live!

(Update 1:40P) – Bob McKenzie notes that he will be running the power-play.

According to Steve Zipay via Twitter, rookie defenseman Michael Del Zotto has made the team.

Monzo: This excites me.  He can play nine games before getting sent back to juniors.  This will be based on his play.

Former Ranger, and recently retired netminder Kevin Weekes will be a permanent fixture on the NHL Network.  Weekes had a solid career as a starter and backup goalie.  Weekes played for all three local teams, winning 98 career games and 19 career shutouts.

Monzo: Kevin is one of the nicest guys in the business and will be a great analyst.

A caller on NHL Live! gave the over/under for games played by oft-injured sniper Marian Gaborik.  The line was 40 games.  I have a good feeling, I am going over.  Now I can’t seem to find a way anymore to put polls up, so comment with what you think. 

Will Marian Gaborik play more or less then 40 games?

Sam Rosen will join Steve Somers on WFAN today at 3:05P ET.

Click here to listen.

They will touch on Artem Anisimov, Matt Gilroy, Marian Gaborik and more.  The interview will be on WFAN.com as a podcast soon after.

You got a good look at what the majority of this team will look like tonight.  Here are are a few thoughts:

-Matt Gilroy continues to impress, despite being a -2.

-Michael Del Zotto can handle minutes and can definitely run the power-play.

-What else can you say about Marian Gaborik?  That is what you hope and expect from him.

-Good showing for Brandon Dubinsky out of the gate.

-Chris Higgins has potential to be a star in this city….fingers crossed.

MSG Network will premiere their 2009-2010 season preview tonight at 6P.  It will include commentary from players, coaches, Sam Rosen, Joe Micheletti, Dave Maloney and John Giannone.

Fewer things are better then a week before hockey season.  There are many topics anyone could blog about the Rangers.  My latest blog for WFAN.com talked about Matt Gilroy, Chris Higgins and Brandon Dubinsky.

Here is an excerpt:

“When the Rangers unveil their roster for the 2009-2010 season, two key players will be a train ride from their hometowns. Chris Higgins (Smithtown, LI) and Matt Gilroy (North Bellmore, LI) will both be vital parts of the Rangers season and will both have family and friends in the crowd every home game (and likely every game out in Nassau).”

Click here to read the entire entry.

It’s still early in his Ranger tenure (five preseason games), but thus far RW Enver Lisin looks like he can be a solid contributor to the Rangers in 2009-2010.  The speedy winger has three goals thus far in the preseason and has earned powerplay time.

His look is a more offensive version of Fred Sjostrom and he has the ability to play at the both ends of the ice.  With his speed, he could be a force on the penalty kill and could definitely force shorthanded opportunities.  Sjostrom lacked the ability to really put the puck in the net.  Lisin, in 78 games NHL games, has scored 18 goals (similar to the season Ryan Callahan had last season).

I was initially disappointed the Rangers gave up Lauri Korpikoski to get Lisin mainly due to the fact that I thought Korpikoski had a knack for scoring goals.  His shots hit the net more often then not and he had a tremendous wrist shot.  As the season went on, Korpikoski was given more of a 4th line/PK role.  Lisin may be able to crack one of the top three lines and play the on the PP.  Speed is also very handy in the shootout, which Lisin may be given chances to participate in throughout the season.

As the Rangers get closer to their final cuts, look for Lisin to be someone to not only crack the lineup, but be given a chance to provide the team with depth goal scoring.

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