May 12 2012; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers right wing Marian Gaborik (10) shoots during the third period against the Washington Capitals in game seven in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Rangers won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

One of the notes coming out of today’s practice is that Marian Gaborik is playing left wing on a line centered by Derek Stepan, and Ryan Callahan is playing right wing.

I’m completely fine with this line as it brings some grit and some goal scoring. I’m also in favor of splitting up Nash and Gaborik.

However, I’m scratching my head as to why Gaborik is playing left wing. He’s a 40 goal scorer and why make him uncomfortable playing a new position? Callahan also plays right wing but I think he would be just as effective down the left. If someone on that line should be switching wings it’s Callahan, and that’s not a knock on him. Gaborik on the right wing at his best is more effective than Callahan on the right wing at his best.

It still is only training camp but these are the lines we’ll most likely see opening night. I guess it isn’t such a bad thing though, when your biggest complaint in training camp so far is which player (who each scored more than 30 goals last year) will be switching wings.

Be sure to follow me on twitter @Bluelinestation

April 28, 2012; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers center Artem Anisimov (42) scores a goal on Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) during the second period in game one of the 2012 Eastern Conference semifinals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

I’m not going to lie, Artem Anisimov right now is one of my favorite Rangers. He is still adjusting a bit to the North American style of play but you know he is trying to improve year in and year out. Last season I thought he was the team’s best defensive forward. His offense is still lacking and he does have his cold streaks but you know eventually he’s going to put it all together. The only question is when.

Personally I think Anisimov eventually puts it together. His biggest comparable I draw to him is actually our very own Rangers captain Ryan Callahan. When Callahan first came to New York people saw after his first few games that he can maybe make it at the NHL level and become a top 9 kind of player over time and maybe even a top 6 player. After three full seasons with ok results people were becoming worried that maybe his scoring touch will never become anything special.

Callahan was around 24 and personally I thought he’d never be anything more than a 15-20 goal guy in the NHL. He’d be a very good third line player but never a top 6 guy because his scoring wasn’t there. Suddenly the 2010-11 season rolls around. It seems like over night Callahan became a bigger offensive threat putting up 23 goals and 48 points in only 60 games. All of which were career highs. He then followed that up with a 29 goal campaign and 54 points in 76 games.

Why did I just write all that? Because that’s what I think ends up happening to Anisimov. I think either this year or next year he ends up breaking out and becomes a legitimate offensive threat on this team. I don’t think this is a “what you’ll see is what you get” thing from Anisimov. Anisimov in his first three full seasons has had 108 points in 243 games while Callahan in his first three full seasons put up 90 points in 210 games. Their point production through their first three years are practically the same with Anisimov registering a 0.44 points per game, while Callahan putting up 0.42 points per game.

Point is the Rangers should wait for Artem Anisimov to break out. I think it’ll be worth it in the end.

Be sure to follow me on twitter @Matt_J1.