Well first I'd like to thank everyone, because two days and three posts later, I already have 100 visitors to the site! I'm going to take the next post to explain the future of this New York Ranger's organization.
The Rangers have dressed eight NHL rookies so far this season. Derek Stepan and Michael Sauer have been with the team all season, and a few games ago I almost completely forgot they were rookies at all.
Stepan is currently third on the team in points, with 13 goals and 16 assists. He has a +1 +/- rating and only ten penalty minutes. Early on in the season and later as it seems he has been one of the top two centers in New York. He has moved around the lineup quite a bit, even seeing time on the fourth line, but has been a larger factor than most could have expected. He is currently third in rookie scoring behind only Jeff Skinner of Carolina and Logan Couture of San Jose. Most recently, Stepan has been playing on a line with recently acquired Wojtek Wolski and call-up Mats Zuccarello. The trio have provided solid offensive pressure and continue to be one of the most creative and dangerous lines in the New York lineup. It remains to be seen if Stepan can continue this current level of play, as he came from the University of Wisconsin where he is used to seasons of around 40 games. Down the road, the 20 year-old Stepan has great potential to be a first or second line playmaking center, showing the passing, creativity and offensive awareness that is required to be a scorer in this league.
Michael Sauer, 23, has slowly but surely risen through the ranks of the Rangers organization. It is his fourth pro season, playing the previous three for the Ranger's AHL affiliate the Hartford Wolfpack. He had not been able to stay healthy in the American league the past two years, suffering injuries that limited him to 64 and 42 games, respectively. Sauer has played in 44 of the Rangers 50 games, and since November 1st has not missed any games. He has quietly established himself as a solid NHL defenseman who won't hurt you in the defensive zone. Originally it was thought that Sauer was kept on the NHL roster because he would have had to pass through waivers to get to the AHL, while prospect standouts Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko did not. Coach John Tortorella must have seen something that most Rangers fans did not see, and decided to keep him on the roster, rotating him in on the third pairing with Steve Eminger and Matt Gilroy. He has provided an excellent defensive conscious for the more offensively minded Eminger and Gilroy, and has played well with recent call-up Ryan McDonagh. He has truly proven to be a valuable asset to the Rangers, and is slowly becoming a key member of the defense on this team.
Mats Zuccarello was signed out of the Swedish Elite League, where he played for Modo. Last season for Modo he scored 23 goals and 64 points to lead the SEL in scoring. There were many varied opinions of how the 5'9" Zuccarello would perform when coming over to North America. After starting the season in the AHL and producing two points in 11 games, he has gone on to score 25 points total in 33 games, before being called up to the Rangers when injuries started to befall the team. Zuccarello currently has three goals and five assists for eight points in 15 games for the Rangers, and has recently developed chemistry with Wojtek Wolski and Derek Stepan as mentioned above. The 23 year-old from Norway has certainly surprised the Rangers organization after a slow start, and has created many chances in the offensive zone. He is also the only current healthy member of the Rangers with a shootout goal this season. He is currently 3 for 3, and the only other Ranger to score on a shootout this season is the injured Erik Christensen.
Several other rookies, namely Ryan McDonagh, Chad Kolarik, Dale Weise and Evgeny Grachev have played for the Rangers this season. McDonagh has made the most significant impact of any, being recalled after Michael Del Zotto was sent to the AHL to find his game. In nine games, McDonagh has one assist and has a +5 +/- rating. He has certainly surprised with his strong defensive play, and has made many decisions that some veterans don't even make. His poise on the back end has been excellent for this team. Kolarik has played two games so far for the Rangers, starting out on the fourth line and impressing Tortorella enough to move him up to a line with Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust. Kolarik has soft hands and a good offensive sense of the game that can make him a successful player. Weise's effect has been felt on the fourth line alongside Chris Drury and Kris Newbury. He is an energy player who will hit and make good defensive plays. In his first game, the Rangers lost 4-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers. Weise almost scored a goal that would have tied the game through the five-hole of Brian Boucher, but it went just wide. Later in the game, Weise hit the post. Since then Weise has provided energy and has been in and out of the lineup. With the Rangers getting healthier, Weise will more than likely be sent down to help the AHL Whale.
Evgeny Grachev has been an interesting prospect to follow so far this year. He has shown glimpses of brilliance as a strong, powerful forward but has also frustrated many times with his inconsistency. He currently sits at 12 goals and 18 points in 40 AHL games, and was called up to the parent Rangers when Brandon Prust was injured yesterday against Atlanta. Six of Grachev's goals have come in the last three games, most recently scoring a hat trick against the Springfield Falcons. In preseason and during his first call-up, Grachev failed to impress both the Rangers brass and the fans, not creating scoring chances like the player he was thought to be. Hopefully with this most recent streak of excellent play, Grachev can stay consistent the rest of the year, be it in the American League or the NHL.
Michael Del Zotto is not a rookie, but has certainly had an interesting sophomore season, to say the least. Expected to anchor the powerplay for the team this year, he has failed to live up to the expectations set for him after an excellent rookie season in which he scored nine goals and 28 assists. In 35 games this year, Del Zotto had two goals and seven assists for 9 points. Seeing as how Ryan McDonagh has been playing so well in the AHL and how much Del Zotto was struggling, Glen Sather decided to send down Del Zotto and recall McDonagh to the NHL squad. In eight games with the Connecticut Whale, Del Zotto has registered seven assists and an even +/- rating. Some fans do not remember the simple fact that Del Zotto is only 20 years of age and is still developing. A sophomore slump is not uncommon, as better players are suffering worse slumps, such as Buffalo's Tyler Myers or last year with Columbus' Steve Mason. If given time and patience to develop, the Rangers will be rewarded with offensive creativity, a good first pass and surprisingly physical play from Michael Del Zotto. With a recent rib muscle injury to Dan Girardi, Del Zotto has been recalled. If Girardi is unable to play, Del Zotto will draw into the lineup.
The Rangers' future looks bright. The rookies have been excellent when called upon, and show that down the road the Rangers will continue to be a good team. Breakout seasons from Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Artem Anisimov and Brian Boyle have also elevated the Rangers to a 28-19-3 record so far this year. An all-star bid from Marc Staal and excellent two-way play from Dan Girardi have also reassured the Blueshirt faithful that we will have a strong defense for years to come. Add in Michael Del Zotto, Ryan McDonagh, Michael Sauer and future prospects and the Rangers will not have to have perennial superstar Henrik Lundqvist bail them out. With shrewd trades and good drafting, the future of the New York Rangers looks better and better.
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