New York Rangers All-Star Break Grades
They've been dubbed the 'Black and Blue' Rangers this season by New York Post reporter Larry Brooks. The amount of injuries the 2010-11 edition of the New York Rangers has been unfathomable. Nearly a half-dozen players have seen extended trips to the IR, but it hasn't seemed to hurt the Rangers nearly as bad as many have expected.
The Rangers' 29-20-3 (61 pts) is good enough for sixth in the east. But what about the players themselves, especially those who have stepped up in the absence of injured stars? Here's an All-Star break evaluation of the Blueshirts.
Artem Anisimov (Forward)
1 of 24
Last season, Artem Anisimov broke through to the big club as a rookie and struggled a bit. He found his best success on the fourth line centering Brandon Prust and Jody Shelley. This season, Anisimov has moved into a more offensive role, spending most of the season centering the second line. He found early success with Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan, but has dipped off recently, aside from a four assist game two weeks ago. He has to be more consistent.
Grade- B
Sean Avery (Forward)
2 of 24
If you're not a Ranger fan, you don't know what type of player Sean Avery really is. He's moved away from his agitating persona this season, and has seemed to focus on playing hockey. Personally, I think he has to find that balance to be most successful. Avery has had the most success when playing with Marian Gaborik, but coach John Tortorella has been hesitant to give the winger more ice time. His work behind the net has been fun to watch.
Grade- B
Derek Boogaard (Forward)
3 of 24
Not much to say about Boogaard. We saw him break his several season goal drought on a beautiful slapshot earlier in the season, but that was it. Known for dropping the gloves, Ranger fans never really saw him dominate anyone. That, coupled with no offensive skill, made people wonder why he was signed to a four-year contract. His season seems to be over after sustaining a concussion during a fight.
Grade- D
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Brian Boyle (Forward)
4 of 24
Penciled out by many, including the coaching staff, Brian Boyle has shocked the hockey world this season. With 18 goals by the All-Star break, Boyle (who finished with four goals last season) has a chance to net 30 goals. His heart and hard work have really personified the style of this team this season. No one worked harder this off-season, and no one deserves the success they've had more than Boyle.
Grade- A
Ryan Callahan (Forward)
5 of 24
It's a shame, really, that Ryan Callahan missed nearly two months of the season. Before breaking his hand blocking a shot in December, Callahan was having the best season of his young career. Although Chris Drury wears the C on his sweater, Callahan is the leader up front for the team. When the team needs a spark, Callahan is the guy. It's been a glaring hole for the team since he's been gone, but is expected back on for the first game after the break against the Penguins.
Grade- A-
Erik Christensen (Forward)
6 of 24
Erik Christensen is an enigma: at times he lets his talent shine, and at others he looks lost. His streaky play shows in his little point production (14 pts in 37 games), but he's money in the shootout. Sadly for him there is no shootout in the playoffs. He's just not a guy you can count on game after game.
Grade- C
Michael Del Zotto (Defenseman)
7 of 24
Aside from Brian Boyle, there's been no bigger shock in change of play from last season than Michael Del Zotto. Unlike Boyle's play, Del Zotto's is for the worse. We've seen him make the same mistakes over and over this season, and it has lead him to a demotion to the AHL with a very uncertain future.
Grade- C-
Chris Drury (Forward)
8 of 24
Chris Drury has had a tough season. After breaking his finger in training camp, and then re-breaking it the third game of the season, it has been one thing after another. Since he returned to the lineup, he's been snake-bitten and has yet to tally a goal. He's seen his ice-time shrink to around 10 minutes a game, most of which on the fourth line playing with rookie call-ups. He doesn't complain about it, and just does his job. For the money, though, you need more production out of him.
Grade- C+
Brandon Dubinsky (Forward)
9 of 24
This was finally the season that Brandon Dubinsky broke out offensively. His 17 goals are still up near the team lead even though he's missed nearly two weeks of games due to injury. He's stepped up as a leader for the team, and is part of the core of the future of the team. He still goes through chunks of games where he's held off the scoresheet, and that has to change if he wants to take the next step to be a star.
Grade- B+
Steve Eminger (Defenseman)
10 of 24
I didn't have many expectations for Steve Eminger going into training camp. I was happy the Rangers had acquired him, especially in exchange for Aaron Voros. He's really surprised me and many fans, and has been one of the most solid defenseman this season, and has been a good veteran presence on a young defensive group. He does have a -8 rating which is a problem.
Grade- B
Rusland Fedotenko (Forward)
11 of 24
Rusland Fedotenko came to the Rangers this season on a try-out contract. Sure enough, he made the team and is having a solid season for a guy who makes $1 million. He's shown great chemistry with Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust on the Rangers' third line this season, and even has a chance to break 20 goals. He's exactly the player that has defined the hardworking reputation of the Rangers this season.
Grade- B
Alex Frolov (Forward)
12 of 24
When the Rangers signed Alex Frolov this summer to a one year contract, I thought it was a great move. A former 30-goal scorer who would be playing with and taking some of the burden off Marian Gaborik is just what the Rangers needed. Worst case scenario, he's traded at the deadline for picks. Boy, was I wrong. He seemed lost on Broadway, akin to Carl Pavano. And, like Pavano, was lost early due to injury. Frolov never seemed to find his game here, and has surely played his final game for the Rangers. He registered just seven goals and 16 points in 43 games.
Grade- D-
Marian Gaborik (Forward)
13 of 24
It is hard to say that a guy who has scored 31 points in 38 games is having a bad season. But, when that player is Marian Gaborik, you can. He's not having a bad season really, but when you consider that 10 of his 16 goals have come against the New York Islanders (3), Edmonton Oilers (3) and Toronto Maple Leafs (4), it makes you wonder. Plagued by injury early in the season, he just hasn't found a rhythm this season. If the Rangers have any chance of making noise in the second half of the season, they need Gaborik to be the scorer from last season, when he finished with 42.
Grade- C
Matt Gilroy (Defense)
14 of 24
After spending much of the start of the season as the team's seventh defenseman, Matt Gilroy has retaken a permanent spot on the blueline after the demotion of Michael Del Zotto. He has stepped up his game defensively, but still hasn't chipped in enough offensively. He's scored just three goals, and they came in back-to-back games.
Grade- C+
Dan Girardi (Defense)
15 of 24
Along with Marc Staal, Dan Girardi has become a top defenseman for the New York Rangers. He's not scared to play against the opposition's top scorers, and has begin to find his game offensively with 23 points. He and Staal's ice-time is through the roof, and they both seem un-effected.
Grade- A
Brandon Prust (Forward)
16 of 24
He's been described as a "warrior" by teammate Brian Boyle. That's just what Brandon Prust is. He won't amaze you with his skill, but he'll give you goosebumps with his heart. He never gives up on a play and will block shots until he can't stand. He's a great penalty killer and currently leads the league with short-handed goals. To think the Rangers gave up Ales Kotalik and Chris Higgins for him. What a steal.
Grade- A
Michael Sauer [Defense]
17 of 24
Not many people saw Michael Sauer making the team right out of camp, let alone see him playing against Alex Ovechkin in January. But hockey is a strange game, and that's exactly what Sauer has done his rookie year. He's a solid shutdown defenseman who isn't scared to drop the gloves in defense of a teammate. He doesn't bring much to the table offensively, and that's he's only flaw so far this season.
Grade- B+
Marc Staal (Defense)
18 of 24
Aside from Henrik Lundqvist in 2000, you can make the cast that Marc Staal is the best Ranger draft pick of the last decade. He's developed into one of the most solid shutdown defenseman in the NHL, and his All-Star selection this season is well deserved. Watching him battle against the Crosbys and Ovechkins of the league should make Ranger fans very proud. Not since Brian Leetch have the Rangers had a defenseman as adored as Staal.
Grade- A
Derek Stepan [Forward]
19 of 24
When you score a hat-trick in your first NHL game, expectations are raised. So, when Derek Stepan netted three in his NHL debut, a lot was expect from him the rest of the way. The weeks following, though, Stepan had trouble finding the net, but was still productive. He's gone through the ups and downs like all rookies do, and he's maturing with every game. The fact that he can break 20 goals in his first season should put a smile on any fan's face.
Grade- B+
Mats Zuccarello [Forward]
20 of 24
Frodo from Modo. The Norwegian Hobbit. The nicknames seem to be as endless as Mats Zuccarello's potential. He has a knack for escaping defenders and scoring huge shootout goals. He's quickly becoming one of the biggest fan favorites at Madison Square Garden. You have to respect a guy who told the coaching staff he'd be better served starting the season in the AHL rather than up with the big club. He has 11 points in 18 games, and appears to have made New York a permanent stay.
Grade- A
Henrik Lundqvist [Goaltender]
21 of 24
After getting off to a slow start this season, Henrik Lundqvist has settled into his dominant self. Although his record (21-16-3) isn't stellar, his .924 save percentage is. He's lost many games due to the Rangers' inability to score. Although he stills lets in soft goals every now and then, there may not be a better goaltender in the NHL today.
Grade- A-
Martin Biron [Goaltender]
22 of 24
A huge hole last season for the Rangers was their backup goaltending (or lack of). So when July 1 rolled around, the Rangers inked Martin Biron to a two-year deal to spell Henrik Lundqvist of 15-20 games. He's been better than the Rangers could have hoped for. Aside from one poor game this season, Biron (8-4-0) has been solid. All you can ask from a goaltender is give the team a chance to win, and Biron hasn't disappointed.
Grade- B+
Others
23 of 24
Ryan McDonagh- He was a guy I had hoped made the team out of camp. It wasn't to be, though, and we had to wait until January for his callup. He's shown that he belongs in the NHL. His speed and view of the ice is that of a veteran. It will be very difficult for Sather and company to send him back to Hartford.
Todd White- It's hard to bash this guy too much considering the Rangers were able to rid themselves of the contract of both Donald Brashear and Patrick Rissmiller, but Todd White just brought nothing to the table. He watched more games than he played in, and when he did dress, it was with very limited ice time. He has since been sent to the AHL.
Dale Weiss- Although he hasn't blown anyone away, Dale Weiss has impressed me. I thought it showed guts dropping the gloves in Philadelphia in his NHL debut. Although he's a point guy in the AHL, his role with the Rangers thus far has been in a checking role. At only 22, he has a very promising future ahead of him.
Wojtek Wolski- Ridding Ranger fans of Michael Roszival and bringing back a player with the caliber of Wolski made fans hate Glen Sather less. In his limited time with the Rangers, Wolski has impressed. He has a knack for scoring, which this team is very deprived of. At just 24, he was a steal for the Rangers.
John Tortorella [Coach]
24 of 24
Throughout his career, John Tortorella has been known for playing his stars and being tough on the media. That has changed this season. He's learned to roll and trust four lines and has found success doing so. He has his players believing in his system and has gotten results. He's been preaching youth and young leadership, and has gotten it. Some are considering him a candidate for coach of the year, and I believe it is well-deserved.
Grade- B+
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