Why Ranger Fans Should Watch The Traverse City Tournament This Year

Every summer the NHL hosts a Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan in which a few teams are selected to play. The catch is the teams are not filled with professional players. Instead, the teams fill their roster with 22 of their top prospects.

This tournament gives prospects a chance to show off their skills and helps them to develop quicker. These players are the future of the NHL, and we (the fans) get an opportunity to watch them seasons before their careers take off.

Once again the Rangers will have a team in the tournament. This year’s tournament will be special for the Rangers organization for more than one reason. Yes, the Rangers now get to see what the future has in store for them, but it also gives a chance for all of their top prospects to play together. Yes, this does happen every season, but the fact that the Rangers are going into a rebuilding stage makes this tourney that much more important.

Players like Evgeny Grachev, Derek Stepan, Christian Thomas, etc. will have an opportunity to play together before they meet up in Hartford next season. That will only boost their development, meaning the Rangers will get to see them sooner than later.

I’ve never really paid much attention to the Tournament, but I do intend to watch the games this season to get to know the future Rangers better (I do believe the games are shown live on NHL Network). There are certain players, though, that deserve more attention than others. Those are the players I will zero in on today (three forwards, two defensemen, one goalie). Here I go, and feel free to leave a response below.

1. Evgeny Grachev

Grachev will try out for the team again this season, and the 20-year-old winger will come out better than last year. The thing that kept Grachev off the roster in 2009-10 was his defensive play being on the downside of his abilities. With that in mind, Grachev grew into a better two-way game during his season in Hartford. He will probably get another season in Hartford and look to increase his 12 goals and 16 assists from last season. Though he has changed to a talented two-way player, he cannot lose the scoring touch he had in Brampton of the OHL. He is definitely a player to watch during the tournament.

2. Derek Stepan

Stepan will be an excellent center for the Rangers some day, but not today (this season). Stepan will need a season in Hartford before he makes the jump to the NHL, unless the Rangers want another Matt Gilroy. After a brilliant season in Wisconsin (12 goals, 42 assists, and 54 points) perhaps he can do the same in Hartford. I would expect him to play on a line with Grachev (development) which will make the tournament that much more important for them. Having them play together in the tournament will, as I said, only help them out.

But back to Stepan—he should definitely be on your radar of players to watch. He is only going to be the Rangers top line center in about five years (at least that’s what he is being made out to be).

3. Christian Thomas

The Rangers 2^nd round draft pick from this year’s draft, Thomas impressed many during the Rangers annual prospect camp. Thomas showed off his speed, shot, and offensive talent. Thomas will most likely spend the next few seasons in the OHL and AHL (Hartford) before playing for the Rangers, but he has a lot of talent to offer when he becomes a New York Ranger. If he is anything like his father Steve Thomas, the Rangers are definitely in for a treat.

4. Ryan McDonagh

Possibly the best prospect the Rangers have, McDonagh has the best chance out of anyone to make the Rangers this season. McDonagh is a well developed prospect who the Rangers stole from Montreal. McDonagh will be at training camp this September, and if the Rangers have a defensive spot, expect him to make the roster. He could spend a season in Hartford, again, to avoid a Matt Gilroy situation. But McDonagh is definitely NHL material at age 21. We won’t have to wait too long to see the future star—just one more month.

5. Dylan Mcilrath

Possibly the weirdest first round pick of this season's draft,  the Rangers got the guy they targeted. Mcilrath is a hard-hitting, rough and tough, crease-clearing defenseman. Dylan will spend the next season in Moose Jaw playing for the Warriors of the WHL. After that, I would expect the Rangers to do the same thing they did for Marc Staal—allow him to grow in the minor leagues and when they feel he is ready, give him a roster spot. If it worked for Staal it should work for Mcilrath. I can’t wait to see him play during the Tournament.

6. Scott Stajcer

Henrik Lundqvist is currently 28 years old, and I’m guessing he plays another 12 seasons until he is 40. In 12 years Scott Stajcer will be 31 yearsold, and ready for the NHL. Will he still be a member of the Rangers organization by then? I do not know the answer to that question. But if he is, then he may be ready to take the starting job.

Stajcer is the top goaltending prospect the Rangers have. But the problem with goalies is that you don’t need a new one every season. Usually a team picks or signs a young goalie, has the goalie grow a few seasons in the minors, and then have him become the starting goalie long term after their previous starting goalie retires or leaves the team. When Lundqvist retires, count on Scott Stajcer to be there, and take over the starting job.

There it is, thanks for the read. Hope you enjoyed, and feel free to leave a response below!