New York Rangers: Storylines for the Traverse City Prospect Tournament
The New York Rangers are taking part in the Traverse City Prospect Tournament for the eleventh straight year. At least one player from the Traverse City roster has played in the regular season in every year since 2006. The Rangers have put together an exciting group and are eager to get a look at some of the their top prospects against high level competition.
The team will play four games from September 8th and 15th. The Rangers will be in the Gordie Howe division with the Blackhawks, Red Wings, and Hurricanes. The winner of the Gordie Howe Division will take on the winner of the Ted Lindsay Division in the finals. But the development of the young players is the priority.
One of the biggest storylines was Filip Chytil, but he is unlikely to play after getting injured in the U20 Four Nations. The details are a bit murky, but it appears he tore a muscle in his leg. So we’ll have to wait to get a look at the young Czech on U.S. soil.
That aside, let’s take a look at the intriguing storylines for the Rangers.
The New Goalie Prospects
The Rangers signed Ondrej Pavelec to replace Antti Raanta as the backup to Henrik Lundqvist. But Pavelec only played in eight games for the Winnipeg Jets last season and spent some time in the AHL. They can’t be sure he will be able to handle the workload and provide quality relief for the 35-year old Lundqvist.
The Rangers are confident goaltending guru Benoit Allaire will get the most out of him, as he did with Cam Talbot and Raanta. But the Rangers need a backup plan and will be paying close attention to their young goalies in this tournament.
Alexander Georgiev and Chris Nell are the two goalies on the roster. They are in competition with Brandon Halverson to be the starter in Hartford and emergency call up if Lundqvist or Pavelec goes down.
Georgiev had an impressive season in Finland last season, with a 13-8-4 record and a 1.70 GAA. He has also had international success for Russia. Georgiev was mysteriously terminated from his contract by “mutual consent” and the Rangers scooped him up.
Nell was signed from Bowling Green after his junior season. Nell is known as an aggressive goaltender and led Bowling Green on a surprising run to the WCHA Championship with a .916 save percentage.
Other Forwards to Watch
The Rangers are still deep on the wing, but not as deep as last year. With Jesper Fast’s injury and the possibility of J.T. Miller moving back to center, the team is certain to need reinforcements on the wing. Combined with the lack of depth at center, young forwards will need to develop. Outside of first rounder Lias Andersson, and with Chytil out of the mix, three players to watch are Gabriel Fontaine, Ty Ronning, and Tim Gettinger.
Fontaine is a 19-year old undrafted player with a solid two way game. Though he’s had success as a scorer, his NHL potential is probably as a shutdown center and penalty killer, something the Rangers are lacking on their current roster.
Ronning is a small but talented speedster with a high compete level. He is the son of Cliff Ronning, a quality center who player over 1,000 NHL games. He’s only 19-years old and 160 pounds, but he plays a fast game and led his Western League team in points last season.
Gettinger is a big player with the ability to possess the puck and make passes under pressure. He’s coming off a solid season for the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. The 18-year old is listed at six foot six, 220 pounds, and has good hands, a long reach, and a strong net presence. He kills penalties and could emerge as a quality bottom six winger.
Jeff Gorton has made strides in restocking the system with quality young players. Much of the focus will be on the deep pool of quality young defensemen and the two first round picks. But there are forwards on the roster who have a chance to open some eyes.
Is Lias Andersson Ready for Prime Time?
Lias Andersson is the Rangers’ first round draft choice taken with the pick acquired in the Derek Stepan trade. Andersson is a polished prospect with an NHL pedigree who will be given the chance to make the team right away and fill the gaping hole at center.
Andersson impressed wearing the C for Sweden in the World Juniors this summer and projects to be a quality NHL player. But some scouts think he has a low ceiling. He brings intangibles, work ethic, and leadership, but not an abundance of flash.
The Rangers will be watching closely to see if the youngster is ready to make an immediate impact. Jeff Gorton doesn’t have many other options to fill the open center spot. If Andersson plays poorly and looks like a player who needs more time to develop, the urgency for Gorton to make a move will increase. If the Swede acquits himself well, Gorton can be patient.
Andersson is the highest draft pick the Rangers have had in years and eyes will be on him.
Who Will Emerge on Defense?
The Rangers’ glut on defense is well known and there isn’t much room on the current roster. The top four are settled and Marc Staal, Nick Holden, and Anthony Deangelo are jockeying for spots on the third pair.
But Alexei Bereglazov, Neal Pionk, Sean Day, and Vince Pedrie are among the young blue liners who could force the Rangers to clear a spot.
Bereglezov is the physical Russian who can skate and move the puck. He might need time to adjust, but he is close to NHL ready. He also has an opt out clause if he does not make the team.
Day received the “exceptional” designation at 15, but his stock plummeted on conditioning and other concerns. The Rangers landed him in the third round in 2016. The 228 pound Day has dedicated himself to fitness and is in excellent shape.
Pionk is an smallish offensive defensemen signed out of the University of Minnesota Duluth. Pionk may need seasoning, but might not be too far off.
Vince Pedrie broke several records for defensemen at Penn State, and is a vocal leader and a gritty player.
Although there’s not much room on the roster, the Rangers have a promising group of defensemen in this tournament. It will be interesting to see which players rise to the top and push for immediate consideration.
The Rangers will head to Traverse City with the most compelling group of young players they’ve had in many years. The organization is suddenly stocked with young talent and it will be exciting to get a look at some of the team’s top prospects playing together.
Next: Five Players Who Could Regress This Year
The Tournament should be fun to watch.