Ranger Thoughts So Far...

Quite an interesting preseason so far.  Hard to make serious determinations of course, but here are a few thoughts I've had in the past week of nonstop Ranger action:

The unit of Gomez, Naslund and Zherdev looked electric the other day.  However, how many passes will they make?  It reminded me of Roszival-Jagr-Nylander-Straka; too many passes, not enough shots.  BE SELFISH!  As I've said before, I thought Gomez and Dawes had lots of chemistry.  Can they PLEASE be given even an attempt?  Gomez though, looks amazing out there.

As does Dubinsky.  I predicted he would plateau a little bit without his All Star linemates.  Maybe I was wrong.  On any other team, he's a contender for the number 1 center spot.  Does signing BOTH Gomez and Drury look a little haphazard?  Aside from Dubinsky... Anisimov and Korpikoski sure should have something to play for, not just the 4th line center position.

As much as I love Blair Betts, and I do... Korpikoski HAS to get a look at his spot.  An extremely prolonged look.  The kid is Ryan Callahan with a better scoring touch (and was a 1st round Ranger pick to boot).  Korpikoski-Fritsche-Sjostrom could be fast and dynamic... quite a possible 4th line also if Orr and Rissmiller are healthy scratches.

Talking about those 3 players, and with another like the very interesting Aaron Voros, it seems as if the "Ranger Cycling" is back.  Not since Jed Ortmeyer and Dominic Moore have the Rangers worked so hard in the corners, forechecked, and worked the defense.  Gotta love it.

Never thought I'd say this... Nedved's playing great.  Unbelievable.  Let's see how long this fairy tale lasts.

I am completely unimpressed by Wade Redden.  Strong passing, sure... but my God, he was beaten BADLY by both Brad Isbister and Evgeni Artyukin... not the best skaters in the league.  What happens when the likes of Ovechkin and Crosby are bearing down on him?  I'd rather a solid position player than a top notch passer... in other terms: I'd rather Marc Staal and Dan Girardi... than Wade Redden.  No doubt about that.

More about defensemen... I think it's ludicrous that the Rangers' bottom 6 defensemen are Mara and Kalinin.  They aren't bad, don't get me wrong... but I think it's an unnecessary luxury.  Wouldn't one of those spots be better with a developing Corey Potter getting 12 minutes a night?  He's looked solid all preseason.  As has the surprising Brian Fahey.  Would it be that bad to have Thomas Pock playing?  First off, it's a salary cap savings, and second, it again, allows the Ranger system to keep moving and developing.  Corey Potter in the NHL gives Sanguinetti much more room to develop in Hartford.  I think it would have been smarter for those aforementioned players, Michael Sauer and Bobby Sanguinetti to have an all out battle for that last defensive spot. 

And my God... is Del Zotto really this good?  He outshined almost everyone on the backend.  Oh wait... Redden and Roszival are signed til the middle of the next decade.  I guess he'll have to just wait it out for both of those guys to either get bought out or retire.  HAPHAZARD.

So far though, so good.  We'll see how things go for the time being.  Let's go Rangers!