Lundqvist will start and presumably play the entire game against the Islanders, and sit against the Flyers in Philly on Saturday in the final exhibition game.
"I thought he had a terrific practice today," Renney said.
As for the d-pairs, Marc Staal was with Thomas Pock, Malik with Rozsival, Tyutin with Girardi and Mara with Strudwick. Unclear who won't dress tomorrow.
After practice, where many of the drills were at even-strength, Renney said:
"From a fitness perspective, we're ready. I think we've got to be a better systems team."
Comments (27)
rangerfansrpouseas:
Next time you post, try to make some sense.
You have the writing skills of a 5 year old.
see thats a more creative name and now we don't see your dumb message on the front page
promise you and the Bridgeport Isles get embarrassed tomorrow night and in a short month or so all the Isles fans disappear just like any night at their 'barn'
Can't we all just get along?
You kids take this internet stuff WAYYYY too seriously.
Just more keyboard tough guys
Hey, you's guys better realize one thing.
A pre-season win only counts as a fore-shadowing of the season if you're an Isles fan.
A lose is just that... a pre-season game, means nothing.
If the Rangers win, Isles fans say, "Losers it's only a pre-season game.
If the Rangers lose, you'll hear, "Losers, can't even win a pre-season game."
it's that funny?
I love to meet one of the keyboard tough guys.
anyone think R.C. would have the balls to put that on a jersey?
here's the latest ranger fan's contribution for our islander blog. thought i'd share it with rest of you:
Duhhhhhh Ricky doesn't have a mellon head. Duhhhhhhh Ted Nolan isn't a stinking rummy. Duhhhhhhhh What is daddy doing to me? Duhhhhhhhh will any of you guys play with me. Duhhhhhhhh The isles won't end up in last place. Duhhhhhhh Garth Snow knows what hes doing.
very impressive, thanks for the contribution ace!
Well what do you expect. It's not like you'd ever listen to his opinions, thoughts or ideas. Good for him. Looks like he was finally heard. He could of kept it, well, a little less perverted, but at least it's funny.
Hi, let's talk hockey for a second...
I REALLY hope the Rangers won't let Thomas Pock go so easily. He really was terrific the second half of last season. He would be a huge loss. Don't send him down!
Thats funny anonymous posted the same looking post yesterday ragging the Rangers then he runs here like a little kid to show us the response. RC has disappeared, coincidence anybody?
Paul68,
I honestly have not been to impressed with Pock. D I want to see this year maybe not in this order but these 6.
Malik-Rosval
Mara-Tyutin
Staal-Girardi
I would even like to see Strudwick too.
Work Pock in there, somewhere. We are going to need his "talent" next season.
I don't see why really.
Staal and Pock are signed next year.
Tyutin and Girardi UFA.
Then all the kids still to come up. Bring back Rosival next year.
So lets just say Rosival, Tyuitn, Staal and Girardi are 4 playing next year. Need two more and one should be a UFA Veteran type player.
Pock is expendable in my eyes. Put him in a package.
Talking D for next year already? LOL, how about we play the 07/08 season first.
Those are good points Blues.
I'm always thinking ahead when there are this many guys are going to be FA or UFA.
I'm going to say this, and catch flak, but I don't like Malik and Rozsival.
Rozy will cost big to keep. Do you really think he's a 4.5m defensemen?
Comment from new goon Andy Sutton: "Our whole organization starts with team toughness". Elbowing guys in head is not toughness, its a cheap shot. There's more to toughness than dropping the gloves. Quoting one Mark Messier, known for delivering an occassional elbow or two, "the toughest player I played with was Brian Leetch". And currently, is there anyone tougher than Brendan Shanahan. Seems like the Islanders, their coach & fans are looking for a season of "Slapshot" hockey. I sure the boys in Blue will more than accommodate them this year-in all respects
Sutton is nothing. He's just a big orange road cone that NYR skated around and over four games straight. He'll be called on that elbow more. His cheap shots will be handled by Orr.
Besides, who the hell can take a player like him seriously when he hits kids in the face during a pre-season game? Sportsmanship is lacking heavily on the island.
Our D did well last year and I am not that worried but, I do agree that it's the weakness of our team. Actually looking now Rozy and Malik are cheaper this year then last. But, last year Mara, Kaspar, Rozy and Malik were 3M or more each. Thats alot of money on those guys.
Rozy to want 4.5 next year more then doubles his pay this year. So that is arbitration for sure. He is not worth 4.5 for that money there will be better out there.
Malik and Rozy are both solid D-man. Have you noticed that since Leetch left this team there has always been a D whipping boy for the crowd/fans. Poti then Malik. I think fans just expect way too much from the D we often have signed.
With being lazy and not wanting to do the research I have to believe there will be FA options out there to fill a spot or two at comparable wages or cheaper.
Rangers salaries next year total around 23M next year. That is with offense pretty much done with Shanny, Straka, Avery UFA's. Hossa RFA and Jagr a option year. Shanny and Straka likely to retire and who knows what will happen with any of those guys. But that is 4 or 5 forward positions opening up.
D we only have like I said above Pock and Staal signed. Tyutin and Girardi RFA. So just say Staal, Tyutin and Girardi are going no where and returning. We will have roughly 25M or more to fill the 4-5 Forward slots and at least 3 D slots. Not to mention that there will be kids arriving next year that need the year in Hartford this year.
All in all the Rangers are not in a bad spot next season.
Mark Sauer turned heads this training camp and you gotta figure he will have a ticket to our blue line next year the same way Marc Staal does this year.
You never know how much Sanguinetti will progress this year and if he does, he has a very good shot next year too.
I have said it before, the contract the Canadiens gave Roman Hamrlik, 4 years 22 million, kills our negotiations with Roszival. Rozy is a much better player than Hamrlik and is going to be looking for the same or even better of a deal.
I do not think Roszival is worth a contract 4.5 million a year or above.
That is crazy. I really don't think that that Hamrlik deal the Habs gave out gets the attention it deserves.
We always hear about the Rangers throwing salaries out of wack, the usual anti-NY bias.
But how about the fact that two canadian teams, the Habs and the Oilers gave out the two contracts this summer that really will blow the salary structure out of the water.
The Habs Hamrlik deal.
The Oilers Penner offer sheet.
I really don't wanna hear about Canadian teams not being able to make ends meet again.
Pock has been nothing but a good soldier. Hes waited patiently, and works hard. The guy can skate, shoot, pass. Why anyone would take Struds over Pock is beyond me ? Struds can fight, but hes a step behind all the time.
I think Strud is actually going to be more of an assistant coach with this team more than being relied for anything he does on the ice.
His teammates love him, if you watched the preseason game vs the Devils, they had a microphone on him and they showed him talking to Staal the entire game.
That is the kind of thing Strud is here for.
My reasoning for Strudwick is more veteran presence and experience.
So say Rozy leaves.
Tytutin, Girardi, Staal, Pock, Sauer, Sanguinetti next year? That is not going to work. In my opinion Pock has not turned heads in a way that guarantees him anything looking forward. Is he a good player? Yes he is I agree but, I think he is the odd man out in the bigger plan. Again, all just my opinions when looking at our team and system.
So If Rozy leaves, you get rid of Pock and bring in a couple of FA vets.
just to add that I know we have a season to watch here and maybe Pock will change my thoughts.
Both of you make great points. Sauer, Staal, Sangiunetti... our future and I trust it. Please don't get me wrong, there are worse things we could be looking at on the blue-line this season. I really do think the team looks great.
Regarding the fans needing, having or just wanting a whipping boy; Rozy is only as good as Jagr’s stats. That's only my opinion. (Passes to Jagr 90%, no one timer from the blue-line. Won't pass down the blue-line to Malik. etc.)
Malik has the size and the talent to clean out the crease in a sticky situation. But he doesn't use his size or strength. He uses his stick. That's a fact. Why won't he hit someone? You guys must be able to agree?
Haisney (sp??) from Columbus would be a nice pick up around the deadline this year.
I do agree.
Slick Willy - look at the tape of game 3 vs Buffalo if you don't like Rozy. Maybe not for huge bucks but for medium bucks he's well worth it.
I doubt Sanguinetti will ever be a good defensemen and certainly not next yr. Terrible and very weak on the defensive end. Maybe good for fantasy stats. He'll make people wish Poti or Ozo were here.
We all better hope Straka is back next yr too. He is playing it 1 yr at a time and to my knowledge has not stated that this is his last yr. If you've seen otherwise please post the link here. He'll reevaluate after the season. He signed a very reasonable contract with us (unlike Shanny who I like but not his $ 5 mm + contract even if some is deferred). The guy would help any of our top 3 lines - both ways - and helps the pp, and pk as well. I don't understand why so many people want him gone. I guess it's the youth brigade that is prevalent on these boards.
If after the new year, =the Rangers announce that they have signed Rozy to an extension of 4 years 16 million, I'd be very happy.
If you took my comment:
"Shanny and Straka likely to retire and who knows what will happen with any of those guys."
Meaning I didn't want Straka around then you misread it. I would like to see him, Shanny and Jagr all here next year.
He was going to retire before last year. Decided to play and signed the extension for this year. So assuming that this is the end of the road for him and Shanny is assumptions but, not that far fetched.
Joe,
As if I didn't see the game. Come on, he'll be looking for a pay day. He'll test the market and get paid. 4 mil is too much for a guy whos numbers mostly come off Jagr. And they do come from Jagr.
If you really want to know what I think, it's high time Tyutin and Pock get some time with that first line, instead of Malik.
It's not all about the youth movement, it's about diversity in game play on the defense.
But hey, like Blues said about Pock, maybe he'll change my mind this year.
6 days.
Up in the blues - I fully expect this to be Shanny's alst yr. Re Straka - if the team comes to himnear end of season like they did last yr and he's reasonably healthy, the team is doing pretty well and JJ comes back, (all pretty likely except can't predict his health), I would expect Marty to sign for another yr at a pretty reasonable number.