New York Rangers: Why Mike Rupp is a Perfect Fit for the First Line

Rupp, then a Penguin, fights Prust of the Rangers last season.

I have not watched every single minute of pre-season this year, so forgive me if this line combination has already been tried.

As of right now, the most obvious and likely choice to land the left-wing spot on the first line of the New York Rangers is Wojtek Wolski. With newest acquisition Brad Richards being brought in to hopefully be that elusive star down the middle, and oft-injured Marian Gaborik planning on having a bounce-back year and return to his former greatness, the Rangers would like to compliment their skill with a player who has the potential to come in with a bang. Wolski, however, can join a long list of former players the Rangers have had, both loaded with talent, but equally susceptible to a disappearing act. The former first round pick from 2004 only had 12 goals last season, one he split with the Phoenix Coyotes. While he does add some much-needed size, he lacks toughness and is not much for checking.

To put it bluntly, the Rangers have had too many players act as reclamation projects, and it is already known that the rope Wolski is on is very short, and can be yanked at any time, especially given his $3.8 million price tag. If he clicks with Gaborik and Richards, then by all means, he could put up more than 20 goals, even though that is something he has accomplished only twice in his career. However, given the circumstances, and the fact that I do hold out much hope for players to automatically reverse their bad habits, if Wolski does not find himself cut to free up cap space before the season starts, then by the middle of October, the Rangers will be making that move.

Other than Wolski, another name that could be a fit for the top line wing spot is Brandon Dubinsky, because again, he brings size, and this time, actual toughness and fighting ability. But he also showed great chemistry with Ryan Callahan, and it would not be worth disrupting that just to load up on one line, because secondary scoring is equally as important. So, is there anyone on this team who could excel in that role? Well, how about another one of their free agent signings this summer, Mike Rupp? The enforcer and hard checker could be perfect on the line because he would not be relied on to score goals, just the occasional chip-in. His presence would allow Richards and Gaborik (not as a knock against them, but neither of them are physical players) more room on the ice, as well as acting as protection. Rupp could add size and balance, and be a force to be reckoned with in front of the net. Can Wolski do that?

Bottom-line is, when Wolski does not score, he is absolutely useless–worthless is the better word. He does not check, fight, or do anything aside from take up space. Rupp, on the other hand, can throw that body check to free up room, stand in front of the net to set a screen, and worst comes to worst, fight to stick up for a line-mate in case they are taken advantage of.

The Rangers have not had luck in recent years with enforcers. Donald Brashear was too old and Derek Boogaard experienced a severe injury. Colton Orr was the last good fighter they had, but alas, he did not have much hockey sense aside from rearing back and clocking someone in the head. Rupp has been known to score the occasional goal (ironically enough, he scored too many against the Rangers while a member of the Penguins) and his 22 goals in the last two seasons combined are very good for an enforcer, if not abnormally high. He is not a tremendous skater, but he can get around well enough that he won’t be a detriment. The Rangers should give this combination a shot. We know Wolski is going to be a bust, so lets just forgo the disappointment and give this threesome a shot in exhibition. Gretzky had Semenko, so why not let Gaborik and Richards have Rupp?

Sloppy Defense Dooms Rangers in OT Loss to Leafs

Source: AP Photo

For a long stretch during tonight’s game, the New York Rangers looked just as good as Ace Frehley did during the pregame festivities. After a solid start, a terrible middle that almost cost them, and a strong regulation finish, the Rangers would find a way to get a point against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who handed them their second straight loss by a score of 4-3.

For a home opener that was going to kick off the team’s 85th anniversary, the ceremony beforehand was pretty lackluster. There was no cake presentation by Duff Goldman as initially Tweeted by the Rangers last night. Instead, we got to see a half-baked Kiss singer perform the song “New York Groove”, but not before he was booed off the ice after his voice cracked several times and he never got into a rhythm.

Nevertheless, the Rangers opened their home season with the same high-flying offense that they had in the first two games of the season–unfortunately, that meant the same defense was making an appearance tonight as well. The rangers surged for the first fifteen minutes or so of the first period, and got themselves on the board roughly eight minutes in, when a Michal Rozsival wrist shot from the blue line snuck its way past JS Giguere. Sean Avery and Ruslan Fedotenko would get assists on the play.

But when the Rangers came out for the second period, it was apparent they had spent too much time with Frehley during the intermission. In an overly sloppy and unrefined period, the Rangers gave up three unanswered goals to MacArthur, Komisarek, and Kessel and fell behind 3-1. Now it was the Rangers turn to get booed off the ice.

At this point in time, the Rangers were very sluggish and found themselves being out-shot 30-12. But still, this game did have a nasty edge to it, as there were plenty of hits and even a scrap by Prust and Brown in the first period, one that occurred when everyone was looking at Boogaard and Orr.

The Rangers then went into the third period determined to tourniquet the bleeding and not embarrass themselves in front of their fans. Brian Boyle, who scored four goals in 71 games last season, answered the call with two goals four minutes apart to tie the game. Avery would get his second assist of the game, while Boogaard and Eminger each got their first as a Ranger.

But before regulation would end, tensions would get heated. Fedotenko would get a roughing call as he nearly put Colby Armstrong in a stranglehold by the half boards. Avery would then get into an altercation with Mike Komisarek and blatantly slash him twice in the legs, the second of which was vicious enough to knock him down. This was noticed by the linesman who informed the referee and gave him a penalty. I would not be surprised to see Avery get suspended here, for what was an incredibly stupid move on his part.

And so the Rangers were able to steal a point in this one, as they got it to overtime. But unfortunately, a bad interference penalty by Marc Staal gave the Maple Leafs a powerplay which they would capitalize on and send the Rangers home with a loss.

Once again the Rangers would surge on offense, and get great platoon scoring, but once again Gaborik and Frolov were no-shows, and Gaborik left midway through the second period with what looked like a shoulder injury after he was checked from behind by Armstrong earlier in the period. The Rangers defense, for the third straight game, was a sieve, and not once did they ever have the Leafs under control. Lundqvist also had a poor outing, despite the little amount of support he received.

The Rangers also lost Chris Drury tonight, who was appearing in his first game of the season after missing the last month with a broken finger. After colliding with Rozsival, he headed to the locker room and never returned. The MSG crew later said it was a finger injury, but they were not sure if it is the same one he hurt previously.

The Rangers have now given up 13 goals in three games. With no immediate answer in sight, Glen Sather better start working the phones and get an experienced defenseman in here, or else this will be the story all season long. Also, Frolov was invisible and although I gave him leeway in the last time, if he doesn’t put in a goal in the next game, I would start to worry— same with Gaborik.

EDIT: According to Rangers Report, Marian Gaborik will be out 2-3 weeks with a separated shoulder and Drury will be out 6 weeks after he broke the same finger, only in a different spot as last time.

New York Rangers: Toughness is Contagious

 

Last season the New York Rangers found themselves time and time again being hit and tossed around like a bunch of rag dolls, lacking toughness and a firebrand mentality bent on seeking revenge against those who ran into their goaltender countless times, gave their captain a concussion, or challenged the team’s only offensive superstar to a fight where he was then handily defeated.

To be more specific on the above events, and to refresh one’s memory on an all but forgettable 2009/10 season, how many times was Henrik Lundqvist bumped into and knocked over while the defense just stood there and did nothing? Where were the team’s pugilists who chose to not get even for the duration of a game after Chris Drury was knocked out after a dirty hit against the Calgary Flames? And furthermore, when Marian Gaborik was getting his face pounded by Daniel Carcillo in Philadelphia, why did Dan Girardi not come rushing in to his aid, choosing instead to be a spectator from a mere ten feet away?

The answers to these questions are unknown. The Rangers have been a team soft enough to soothe your face like a moisturized Kleenex since 1999 when Jeff Beukeboom, the last feared hitter that called New York his home, retired after he had a concussion and the ensuing symptoms. The Rangers were never able to properly replace him, though they did bring in a boundless amount of physical impostors who did more harm than good. Darius Kasparaitus, Dale Purinton, Ryan Hollweg and Erik Reitz (I actually laughed as I was typing that last one) all had potential to defend and protect the Rangers top stars and goaltenders, all of which had their own faults.

The Rangers, since the lockout, have lacked any kind of physicality or intimidation, sorely missed when playing the scrappy and corporeal Flyers. Tom Renney’s vision of a physical team included Ryan Hollweg running around taking hit-from-behind penalties, Colton Orr losing his breath climbing over the bench to go out on the ice, and Aaron Voros rivaling his face to an Everlast punching bag.

When John Tortorella first took over, one could have assumed that the team’s identity would change, and the Rangers style of play would mimic the personality of their head coach– feisty and determined. For the first season and change since taking over, we saw absolutely nothing that even came close to that inclination. Donald Brashear was brought in to enforce, but it was clear he would be no answer, as an early season injury and no forgiveness from the Garden Faithful prompted an end to Brashear’s Blueshirt career before it even began.

But now, at the start of John Tortorella’s second full campaign as Rangers coach, the team’s personality is changing. Could it be the youth finally getting a chance to show itself? Could it be that the players here last season are simply down to their last straw with opponents taking liberties against them? Or could it be the simple acquisition of Derek Boogaard?

This preseason, the Rangers have shown more heart and hitting than they did for most of last season. Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko are making Tortorella’s choice a tough one, as the final roster cuts that were supposed to be coming before tomorrow nights game have been put off until Sunday. Personally, after watching the last game, Valentenko would have the edge. He has a better shot than McDonagh, but also did something very subtle that drew my attention– he actually cleared the crease.

Towards the end of the Rangers last game at home against the Red Wings, Valentenko could be seen pushing Justin Abdelkader away from Henrik Lundqvist as his sat crouched down in the crease, trying to see where the next shot was coming from. The last defenseman the Rangers had that truly showed any ability to guard the net was Jason Strudwick, but unfortunately, his off-ice coaching skills were better than his playing skills, and he now has a job in Edmonton.

It is not really fair placing the blame for this on the shoulders of Rozsival, Gilroy, Del Zotto, and Girardi, when it comes to hitting and crease clearing, because that is not their game. However, when Lundqvist gets knocked over, or one of the team’s players knocked out, that does not require something learned in order to gets oneself involved, it is simple reflex-action. A teammate gets hit, and the teammate closest by is supposed to be there.

We have already seen this in the preseason as Derek Boogaard can be seen calmly patrolling the waters like a Coast Guard cutter. He has yet to drop the gloves, but his job is not to fight, it is for protection. At the end of last season, with Brashear gone, the Rangers “enforcer” was Brandon Prust and later Jody Shelley, but let me pose the question; would you knock into Lundqvist if you knew you were going to hear from Boogaard later on, or Brandon Prust? The answer is obvious. There is not a player, who in their right mind, would look to fight the six-foot, eight-inch “Boogie Man” unless they absolutely had to.

Boogaard’s presence will be more than enough, and the Rangers have players like Prust and Avery to drop the gloves on a regular basis, or if need be, Brandon Dubinsky. Perhaps Valentenko fights too, but I have yet to see him drop the gloves.

The Rangers finally lived up to their word this season when they gave the kids a chance to make the team and sent the veterans and unworthy’s packing. What this can do for a young player’s confidence level is immeasurable, and now they see sticking up for one another as not something they have to do, but something they want to do. When the Rangers played the Flyers and other tough teams last season, it was the opponent that set the physical pace. This season, though, the Rangers have the chance to set the tone for themselves.

A little bit of toughness can go along way. It not only inspires fellow teammates and propels them to play better, but it makes for very entertaining hockey. I do believe the Rangers will be better this season than what I originally predicted, and the team’s new mentality has contributed a lot to this change of heart.