IN THE NEWS

In a move that many saw coming, Ryan McDonagh has decided to forego his college senior year and decided to come out and be a professional. Depending upon how things go in training camp, McDonagh is seen as having NHL ready skills. We don’t really comment on players that we haven’t seen play on more than an occasional basis. We’re big subscribers to the notion that anyone can have a bad/good day and that isn’t fair to the particular player.

However, the consensus seems to be that you are reading about the next young Rangers’ defenseman. Depending upon the signings with the team you’re looking at Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Michael Del Zotto, Matt Gilroy, and then the power houses of Michael Rozsival and Wade Redden as well as McDonagh.

You have to figure that either or both Rozsival and Redden will either be dealt or sent to Hartford or parts beyond. You would think that the Rangers would need to add one, if not two, veteran defenders for the Blueline. It’s hard to imagine that they would bring up a Corey Potter or Michael Sauer and have two, second-year guys in Del Zotto and Gilroy and two rookies in McDonagh and whomever.

Here’s the official release:

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Ryan McDonagh.

McDonagh, 21, skated in 43 games with the University of Wisconsin Badgers this season, registering four goals and 14 assists for 18 points, along with 73 penalty minutes and a plus-22 rating.  He ranked second on the team in plus/minus rating, and ranked third among team defensemen in assists and points, and fourth in goals.  In his third season with the Badgers, McDonagh established career-highs in games played, assists, points and penalty minutes.  He tallied an assist on the game winning goal in the National Semifinal game vs. R.I.T. on April 8 to help Wisconsin advance to the National Championship game vs. Boston College.  McDonagh finished the tournament with two assists, and was named to the All-West Regional Team.  Earlier in the season, he tallied a season-high, four-game point streak from October 30 vs. New Hampshire to November 7 vs. Minnesota, registering four points (one goal and three assists) over the span.

The 6-1, 222-pounder skated in 119 career NCAA games over three seasons with Wisconsin, recording 14 goals and 32 assists for 46 points, along with 174 penalty minutes.  In 2008-09, McDonagh finished fourth among Badger defensemen in assists (11) and points (16), and tied for third in goals (five).  He was named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team and the WCHA All-Academic Team, and was chosen by his teammates as winner of the Fenton Kelsey, Jr. Most Competitive Player award.  As a Freshman in 2007-08, he was named to the 2008 WCHA All-Rookie Team after leading all first year defensemen in the WCHA and tying for first among all Wisconsin defensemen with a career-high, five goals.  He also tied for third in the conference among Freshman defensemen in scoring with 12 points.  McDonagh made his collegiate debut on October 12, 2007 vs. Notre Dame, and tallied his first career point with the game-winning goal on October 19, 2007 vs. Robert Morris.

Prior to his collegiate career, McDonagh was a two-time All-State (Minnesota) and All-Conference high school hockey player.  He was named 2007 Minnesota Mr. Hockey after registering 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points in his Senior year at Cretin-Derham High School.  As a Junior in 2005-06, he helped lead his team to the 2006 Minnesota State, High School title, earning All-Tournament accolades during his team’s title run.

Internationally, McDonagh has represented the United States in several tournaments, including the 2009 World Junior Championship where he registered three assists and tied for the team-lead with a plus-five rating in six contests.  He also captured a Silver Medal with Team USA at the 2007 World U-18 Junior Championship, registering three assists in seven games.

The St. Paul, Minnesota native was acquired by the Rangers, along with forward Christopher Higgins and defenseman Pavel Valentenko, from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forwards Scott Gomez and Tom Pyatt, and defenseman Mike Busto on June 30, 2009.  He was originally Montreal’s first round choice, 12th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

In news from Hartford, the Wolf Pack are spreading their chritable wings just that much further with this announcement released earlier on Tuesday afternoon.

The Hartford Wolf Pack announced today the launch of a new initiative called “Make a Wolf Pack Wish.”

The Make a Wolf Pack Wish program is designed to bring smiles to the faces of Wolf Pack fans facing adversity or whose lives would be brightened by the opportunity to take advantage of a special Wolf Pack-oriented experience.

There will be various opportunities offered throughout the year, with the first being a pair of free registrations to the New York Rangers’ 2010 Youth Hockey Camp in Bridgeport, CT.  The camp is for players between the ages of seven and 15 and takes place during the week of August 16-19 at the Wonderland of Ice, 123 Glenwood Ave. in Bridgeport.  Campers will receive top-level instruction from professional coaches, Rangers alumni, trainers, scouts and others.

The Wolf Pack are currently seeking nominations of young hockey players for consideration for this outstanding opportunity.  To nominate a deserving individual, or individuals, e-mail Wolf Pack community relations manager Kristen Connolly at kconnolly@xlcenter.com. Nominations will be accepted through 4:00 PM on Friday, July 16.  Nominees must have their own hockey equipment in order to attend the camp.

More information about the youth camp, and the entirety of the Make a Wolf Pack Wish concept, can be found on the Wolf Pack’s official website, www.hartfordwolfpack.com.

Season tickets for the Wolf Pack’s 2010-11 AHL season are on sale now. For information on season seats, and all of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or call the Wolf Pack ticket office at (860) 548-2000 to talk with an account executive today.

(Ryan McDonagh photo courtesy of the NY Rangers)