BT's 2009/10 NHL Season Previews: New York Rangers

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

After taking a trip to Long Island to visit the New York Islanders, we swing back around and hit Broadway to check out where the Blueshirts are headed this year.

How's that for scene setting?

The Rangers have done a lot of work over the offseason, but you have to wonder if inconsistent scorers and periodically injured players are really the way to go.

New York Rangers

2008/09 Record: 43-30-9, 95 points, seventh in East—Lost to Washington Capitals in seven games (First Round)

Additions: Vaclav Prospal—F (1 year/$1.1 mil), Enver Lisin—F (Trade w/Phoenix), Donald Brashear—F (2 years/$2.8 mil), Marian Gaborik—F (5 years/$37.5 mil), Christopher Higgins—F (Trade w/Montreal), Ales Kotalik—F (3 years/$9 mil), Tyler Arnason—F (FA)

Subtractions: Derek Morris—D (FA), Paul Mara—D (FA), Colton Orr—F (FA), Fredrick Sjostrom—F (FA), Nik Antropov—F (FA), Scott Gomez—F (Trade w/Montreal), Lauri Korpikoski—F (Trade w/Phoenix), Nikolai Zherdev—F (Europe/Arbitration), Markus Naslund—F (Retired), Blair Betts—F (FA)

All it took was a new head coach in John Tortorella and the re-acquisition of Sean Avery, (and a few other parts) and the New York Rangers were able to get themselves into the playoff picture (but just barely) in the Eastern Conference.

Now, with some interesting moves in the forward ranks and some heavy reliance on young defensemen, the Rangers are forced to compete with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers, while Martin Brodeur and Zach Parise ensure no one forgets about the Devils in the Atlantic.

Gabbing about the prospects of Prospal…

Starting on the front lines, the Rangers almost slid sideways.

While Nikolai Zherdev’s antics left fans in a state of bewilderment (culminating in a big goose-egg during the first round) throughout the season, Marian Gaborik will prove to be equally as frustrating.

I could dance around it by raising pointless questions like “Does Gaborik have the talent? No that’s not it” but I won’t.

Fact is he’s an all-world talent that’s good for about twenty games a year. If he turns that around in New York, he and Vaclav Prospal could vault this team’s offensive attack into the 240/245 goal range (they scored 210 last year) because they’re both that good.

If Gaborik is hurt and Prospal stumbles with inconsistency though, it’s just a whole lot of paychecks for nothing.

Then you have to look at who might be centering that line (if Gabby and Prospal do in fact play together).

The remaining part of the Rangers' "dynamic duo" from a few offseasons ago, Chris Drury, might be a candidate for this line, but Prospal and Gaborik may require a better passer, while Drury hasn’t exactly flourished as a feature forward.

Drury’s line may actually consist of former teammate Ales Kotalik as both experienced career years with the Buffalo Sabres post-lockout (With a best case scenario seeing them combine for 45-50 goals).

Many Blueshirt Believers feel that Brandon Dubinsky may be put up on the first line. Although the abilities of his potential linemates could boost Dubinsky’s production (He’s leveled off in the 40 point neighborhood the past two seasons), Dubinsky would still be miscast in the No. 1 slot, although he remains as one of the most ideal candidates.

The last remaining option with real NHL experience would be Tyler Arnason, but his quick dissension from future star to third-liner is troublesome, making him a very silly choice.

The prospects of playing alongside players of that caliber could get the hands working again, but the more likely situation is that Arnason lines up alongside the physical Aaron Voros, Donald Brashear, or even Enver Lisin as the former Coyote tries to move his way up the lineup.

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