Rangers Make First Cuts

What’s that you say?  Hockey’s back?  Why yes, it is!

Well it’s the preseason.  That’s something right?

Today around 4PM, the Rangers announced the first round of cuts and I can’t say that I’m surprised.

From Dan Akeson of Blueshirt Bulletin:

"

PLAYERS ASSIGNED TO HARTFORD (AHL) ON 9/17/09:

Goal: Miika Wiikman

Defense: Trevor Glass, Brent Henley, Sam Klassen, Mike Sauer, David Urquhart, Nigel Williams

Forwards: Andres Ambuhl, Daniel Bartek, Devin DiDiomete, Brodie Dupont, Dan LaCouture, Matt Maccarone, Justin Soryal, Dale Weise

PLAYERS RETURNED TO JUNIORS ON 9/17/09:

Goal: Scott Stajcer (Owen Sound, OHL)

Defense: Tomas Kundratek (Medicine Hat, WHL)

Forwards: Ryan Bourque (Quebec, QMJHL), Roman Horak (Chilliwack, WHL), Ethan Werek (Kingston, OHL)

PLAYERS STILL IN NEW YORK RANGERS TRAINING CAMP:

Goal: Chad Johnson, Henrik Lundqvist, Steve Valiquette, Matt Zaba

Defense: Michael Del Zotto, Matt Gilroy, Dan Girardi, Ilkka Heikkinen, Corey Potter, Wade Redden, Michal Rozsival, Bobby Sanguinetti, Alexei Semenov, Marc Staal

Forwards: Artem Anisimov, Tyler Arnason, Sean Avery, Brian Boyle, Donald Brashear, Dane Byers, Ryan Callahan, Paul Crowder, Chris Drury, Marian Gaborik, Evgeny Grachev, Christopher Higgins, Ales Kotalik, Enver Lisin, Corey Locke, Jordan Owens, P.A. Parenteau, Vinny Prospal, Patrick Rissmiller, Aaron Voros

"

I’m glad I watched the game against the Devils last night because it allowed me to get my first glimpse of Chad “Nueve Seis” Johnson even if I had to listen to Chico Resch say that Vladislav Tretiak is not well known.  If I didn’t like Vally so much I might even go out on a limb and say that Johnson has a chance to compete for the position of Henke’s back up.  But maybe it would be better for him to actually play games with the Pack.

Hopefully on Monday when Rory and I go to the game, I’ll be able to get a look at both Gaborik and Ilkka Heikkinen.  Unfortunately, I wont get a chance to see the Ambuhlance in action.

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