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Blog Post

Hockey

MOVING DAY 

Mitch Beck, 14 years ago 9 5 min read  

nyr Pack and CT lottery logo We’ll have our recap of the Wolf Pack Hamilton game up for you Howlers shortly. In the meantime, lots of transactions going on in Ranger-land. Last night the Rangers sent Bobby Sanguinetti and Ilkka Heikkinen back to Hartford and they just announced the recall of Matt Gilroy.

The talk from Tortorella was that the team was going to go with the “young guys” and ride out the “bumps in the road.” Yet, talk was all it was. In yesterday’s game Sanguinetti played slightly under eleven minutes (10:34) and Heikkinen, who if you’ve being listening to Tortorella has been effusive with praise for the recent signee, played even less (6:18). Compare that to Marc Staal who was out for just about every other shift playing 30:45. Michael Rozsival (25:17), Michael Del Zotto (23:34) and Dan Girardi (23:32). Certainly sounds like he rode them all the way, don’t you think?

Gilroy has had four assists in four games since being sent to Hartford but from our perspective was NOT engaged physically and is still doing the kind of things that Tortorella described that had him sent here in the first place. Gilroy is a talented player there is zero doubt about that. But if you’re sending a player to the minors to fix hitches in their game, don’t you think there should be improvement in those areas before recalling them? Otherwise, what’s the point?

Looks like Brian Boyle might miss some time with what is being called a lower body injury. Instead of playing Aaron Voros who’s a known quantity…and not getting much done when he plays, where is this reaching out to Hartford for the players? Dane Byers and Dale Weise are both FAR more deserving of the opportunity. Oh, but wait…they’re younger guys who might cause some bumps in the road…never mind…Voros would do far better since you know how little you get out of him already.

Welcome to the often confusing logic of the New York Rangers organization.

Here are the official releases from the Rangers.

First the Sanguinetti and Heikkinen moves:

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that defensemen Bobby Sanguinetti and Ilkka Heikkinen have been assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Sanguinetti, 21, has skated in five games with the Rangers this season.  He made his NHL debut on November 27 at Tampa Bay.  Sanguinetti returns to Hartford where he has registered six goals and 17 assists for 23 points, along with 10 penalty minutes in 27 games this season.  He was tied for the AHL lead among defensemen in scoring and ranked second overall on Hartford with 23 points at the time of his recall on Wednesday.  He has registered six multi-point efforts on the season, including an AHL career-high four-point performance on October 31 against Providence (two goals and two assists).  Last season, Sanguinetti led Wolf Pack defensemen in points (42) and assists (36), and set a Hartford single-season rookie record for assists by a blueliner.  He also led all Wolf Pack skaters with five points (one goal and four assists) in six AHL playoff contests.

The Trenton, New Jersey native was originally the Rangers first round selection, 21st overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Heikkinen, 25, has appeared in seven games with the Rangers this season.  He made his NHL debut on December 5 at Buffalo.  Heikkinen returns to Hartford where he has recorded five goals and 11 assists for 16 points, along with eight penalty minutes in 24 games this season.  He was tied for fifth among AHL defensemen in goals, sixth in points and ninth in assists at the time of his recall on December 3.  He also ranked second on Hartford overall in shots (54), fifth in points, and was tied for second on the team in shorthanded goals (one), third in assists and seventh in goals.  Heikkinen has recorded four multi-point performances on the season, including two multi-assist efforts.  He tallied a point (assist) in his AHL debut on October 3 at Binghamton, and notched his first career AHL goal on October 11 at Providence.

The Rauma, Finland native signed with the Rangers as a free agent on May 20, 2009.

The Blueshirts return to action on Monday, December 21, when they will face off against the Carolina Hurricanes at RBC Center (7:00 p.m.), to close out their three game road trip.  Prior to the game, the team’s morning skate is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at RBC Center.  This is the first of four meetings with Carolina this season.  The Rangers have tallied seven power play goals in their last five games for a 33.3% (7-21) success rate.  The game will be televised live on MSG Network and can be heard on 1050 ESPN Radio.

Next, the Gilroy release:

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that defenseman Matt Gilroy has been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Gilroy, 25, has recorded four assists in five games with Hartford this season. He made his AHL debut on December 11 against Portland. Gilroy returns to the Rangers where he has skated in 30 games this season, tallying four goals and six points, along with 19 penalty minutes.  He ranked second in the NHL among rookie defensemen in goals and was tied for seventh in points at the time of his assignment to Hartford on December 10.  He made his NHL debut on October 2 at Pittsburgh, and tallied his first career point with the game-winning goal on October 5 at New Jersey.

The North Bellmore, New York native was originally signed by the Rangers as a free agent on April 17, 2009.

The Blueshirts return to action tomorrow, December 21, when they will face off against the Carolina Hurricanes at RBC Center (7:00 p.m.), to close out their three game road trip. Prior to the game, the team’s morning skate is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at RBC Center. This is the first of four meetings with Carolina this season. The Rangers have tallied seven power play goals in their last five games for a 33.3% (7-21) success rate. The game will be televised live on MSG Network and can be heard on 1050 ESPN Radio.

Tags #AHL #Bobby Sanguinetti #Hartford Wolf Pack #Ilkka Heikkinen #Matt Gilroy #New York Rangers #NHL
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Mitch Beck
Mitch Beck was a standup comedian and radio personality for over 25 years. His passion for hockey started with Team USA in 1980 when they defeated the Soviets at Lake Placid. He is now working in the hockey industry full-time as a coach and administrator. Mitch has been reporting on the New York Rangers, and exclusively on the Hartford Wolf Pack / Connecticut Whale since 2005.

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9 Comments

  1. rcm

    Bottom line is King Hank has been winning all the games by himself. Remember the first 10 minutes of the NYI game? Had he not been so good, the Rangers probably would have lost that one also. Ditto the Flyers game. Rangers need defensive players that can contribute offensively and come up with assists and points – not more defensive players like Staal that just measure up on defense. Torts is forcing everyone to contribute immediately or go back to the AHL. They still have a very good chance to make the playoffs if Rangers can put the pieces together. If not, watch these young guys at the NHL level after the trading deadline.

    Saw something on the hockey boards about a Peter Mueller trade for Sanguinetti. Just watching Sanguinetti, I don’t see his immediate impact and Rangers have alot a defensive players to look at.

    14 years ago Reply
  2. Mitch Beck

    RCM,

    You make a few points here. Yes, Henrik has been winning the games by himself…a marked improvement considering the number of games he gave away. He put his actions where his mouth was and has elevated his game. For the Rangers to have ANY sort of a playoff shot, Henrik MUST play that way the rest of the season or they’re sunk.

    But I GREATLY disagree with you about the defenseman. First of all the number one problem that the Rangers have is a pourous defense. Nobody challenges anyone in front of the net. They are also positionally all over the place. They chase pucks they get caught out of position and have left Henrik for dead on FAR too many occassions. What the Rangers need more than anything is a Brendan Witt-esque player that sets the example to the other team that if you come in front of Henrik, you’re going to get hurt. None of the Rangers defenseman do that including Staal. If you’ve been listening, the Rangers are sending that mixed message in that they want Stall to be more defensive and also want more offense out of him. He’s a defensive defenseman but not a physically imposing force. That’s a fact and indesputable.

    What I am concerned about is the fact that Tortorella shot off his mouth all week about how he was making changes and was going to ride young players and all the “Bumps along the way” BS. How is he doing that on defense? Gilroy is his project? I’ve seen Gilroy play all four games down here and every game in NY and I can tell you this, he hasn’t changed a bit. So what was the point in sending him down here if it was for what two weeks? He’s suddenly Jeff Beukeboom? Wade Redden sits two games and now he’s Brian Leetch?

    Ilkka Hiekkinen and Bobby Sanguinetti should be in New York getting solid minutes. Not the 6 and 10 respectively that they got against Philly. Staal got OVER 30 minutes…that’s too much. How is he developing young players and allowing them to make mistakes if they are barely playing?

    Bobby Sanguinetti is a devent two-way defenseman. He has NOT been given the chance to learn at the NHL level as he should. If the team doens’t think he’s ready yet then leave him in Hartford to cook a little longer. As for those Mueller rumors, that’s all they are. I don’t put any stock in any rumor until I hear it from a source myself and I haven’t heard a thing yet. The Rangers are always talking to other teams about trades, that doesn’t mean they’re going to happen.

    Right now in Hartford Heikkinen and Sanguinetti are the only defenseman ready to play at the next level. Up front, Pareneteau, Byers and Weise can play at the next level and that’s it for right now. They don’t have anyone else ready to make the jump.

    But truthfully, if this is how Tortorella is going to handle them…where are Anisimov’s minutes… these kids are better off here playing…

    This is all talk out of Tortorella which is what he’s good at…

    14 years ago Reply
  3. rcm

    The point about sending some down (or making him a healthy scratch) was to focus on the mental part of the game – make him realize that to stay or play he has to elevate his game. I remember a few years ago it looked like Rangers would not make the playoffs. There was a writer who wanted to trade away the captain, Jagr (or as he says, “see what we can get for him”). I bring this up now because Jagr, just at the crucial time in the schedule elevated his game to lead the team to the playoffs.

    I don’t think most players (especially the older ones) can mentally play a full 80 up and down game. The game is too grueling. The writer’s idea was self-destruction. Not only would the Rangers not have made the playoffs, but management would have been washed out of town.

    As for defensive hockey, I don’t think you will see it in the Torts era. He is going to push the envelope – win or lose. Torts thinks he has the best, or one of the best, goaltenders in the league.

    14 years ago Reply
  4. Mitch Beck

    Your points make no sense RCM. The point of sending a player down is to see their game elevate. The mental aspect gets shown in the way they play. In my opinion, Gilroy went through the motions down here and didn’t get the message. To me bringing him up when he hasn’t elevated his game sends the player the wrong message. In my opinion. it is like a time out for a little child and has not long lasting effects unless it’s followed up with and dealt with in changed behavior. To me, Redden did get the message and from the Reports from Zipay and Gross and Obernauer, he really kicked ass in practice. That’s what you want to see from a player when these things happen…not sulking and not giving it your all.

    In terms of Jagr..which I have no idea why you brought that up… but if I am understanding your point, the writer was suggesting that you alwasy listen to what you can do to improve your team. What if Carolina offered the Rangers a package that included Eric Staal or as a wild lark, say Pittsburgh was dangling Malkin? Would you have taken either of them for Jagr? whatif LA had offered Anze Kopitar? Would you have gone for him? I can’t speak for the Rangers organization but I think it’s safe to say that they would have had LOTS of talk about it. The point is that you never stop listening to what another team has to say. They wouldn’t do it, but if Pittsburgh threw say Crosby and Fleury for Henrik and a draft pick would you do it? You’d be crazy not to. So my point, as crazy as these examples are, is you never don’t listen to offers. NOBODY is immovable for the right deal.

    Tortorella wants to play an uptempo offensive minded game with strong defense. You can’t play that kind fo a game if you don’t have the players to do it…and they don’t!

    14 years ago Reply
  5. rcm

    Your looking at it from bringing up players that you personally feel should be elevated. I think you have to be more objective. Does any other team want P.A. etc,etc. No, but you think they belong up here in the NHL.

    On Jagr – dumping him would have been a disaster.

    What you are proposing now – that is giving guys you feel should be up here now more time when the results don’t show it. I believe it would be a disaster. You are giving up on the Rangers too early in the season. Those guys who have been up here didn’t show me or management they belonged here now. The Rangers can’t wait for results. They have to see the results now. I don’t think Jagr could have gone a full 80 like he did the last 20. Mentally he had to step of his game. That is what King Hank has recently done – mentally. He, as he says, sees everything better, visually.

    On on Redden – changing his way for long, let’s see.

    14 years ago Reply
  6. Mitch Beck

    RCM,

    The problem is the Rangers are sending out mixed messages. On the one hand they are saying they are willing to ride out “the bumps in the road” and at the same time, if you’re correct, they didn’t give the kids time to produce or have their, “bumps in the road.”

    The truth is that the Rangers think they’re a playoff team. If they are it’s only because the rest of the division is so bad. Other than the start of the season they have not shown ANY type of play that would indicate that they belong in the playoffs.

    What the Rangers need to do is the very thing that Tortorella SAID but didn’t act on and that is to go with the young kids and develop a team that is better LONG TERM rather than SHORT TERM. Look at how Pittsburgh built their team. There are a ton of other examples that are out there but I’ve got to finish writing up my report from yesterday’s game…too many distractions today with the family that have put it off.

    My point is that if you are going to have a youth movement then youo need to give these kids adequate playing time and not send them back when they are trying to adjust.

    In terms of Jagr, I don’t think you understood my message. You should go back and reread it. The point is that no individual player is immovable in a team sport like hockey FOR THE RIGHT PACKAGE. Would you move Gaborik for Ovechkin? I would. I think Sather and every other GM would too… Nobody is indespensible for the right price…

    14 years ago Reply
  7. Bryan

    Actually, if you look again you will see that the reason Sanguinetti and Heikkinen were sent back down has everything to do with the roster freeze until Dec 27 and nothing to do with anything else. Once the freeze is lifted I suspect you will see more changes to what Torts spoke of.

    Pareneteau is a AAAA player and will not be anything more then that. If a guy like Alexandre Giroux can’t make it then it should come as no surprise that Parenteau can’t either.

    14 years ago Reply
  8. Mitch Beck

    Bryan,

    I’m sure that was factor in the reassignment. But I doubt very highly that they wil lbe called back right away. First of all they can’t unless they send Gilroy back because of the cap issues.

    Next, Tortorella is ALL talk… How do you explain the issuing of TOI the wa that he has given it?

    P.A. and Alex have never been in a situation where they were given enough time to get into the flow at the NHL level. When you are constantly under a score or die scenario and getting few minutes to work with it’s almost impossible. I disagree with you on both players. They are both NHL capable and if they were with the right teams and given the minutes to develop their game both would have success at he NHL level.

    They are not alone mind you…in fact there are a lot of guys in the minors, not just in hockey either, that are good enough to play at he next level but for wahtever reason don’t get the chance… There area lot of factors that we are not privvy to that go into these decisions and to make blanket statements don’t wash.

    14 years ago Reply
  9. rcm

    I have been reading more of what Torts said. I don’t think its all talk on the part of Torts. Gilroy and Redden are movable parts,so are the two defense men sent down. If Redden and Gilroy underperform,then one or both will be moved again. And the guys sent down will be given another chance at the NHL. So far no points for them I believe.

    Lets go back to your column last year on Avery. You said you had not seen much from him(after his return to hockey) and as far as you were concerned, he could spend the rest of the year in the AHL. I looked at his stats and agreed. But he did make a big difference when promoted last year to the Rangers.

    The Rangers are doing the same type of adjustment. Its a big kick in the butt really for all the nonperformers. You have big problems all around – especially scoring. What they did should elevate the whole team!

    Boiled down, the Rangers are in a transition state. The youngsters may be up soon but I haven’t given up on Redden. Contracts are a factor also.

    And as for bringing these guys up too fast -Zel Zotto is a minus 15 : Redden around 0

    14 years ago Reply

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