Clock Finally Strikes: Rangers In Camp

Finally! Training camp has officially opened today for the 2008-2009 New York Rangers. There's been much anticipation as to how this year's version of the roster, that has been dramatically changed from the past 2 seasons, will look. I gotta give Glen Sather credit, 2nd round playoff exits just aren't good enough! Slats has taken control and purged the roster. He definitely has shaken it up remarkably.

Many questions are in store as this camp gets underway:

1) Will Shanny find a spot on the roster?
2) The Mats Sundin Saga... does it help or hurt Shanahan? (I want Shanny back!)
3) How quick do the newcomers blend and get comfortable?
4) What will the 4 lines up front look like?
5) What are the D pairings going to look like? (I'll pay close attention to this)
6) Will any youngster find a way to crack the lineup? (I hope so!)
7) Will the trip to Europe help or hurt the Rangers? (It scares me a bit!)

Those are some of the questions that I feel need to be answered. Some questions that I feel don't need to be answered are as follows:

1) Goaltending: King Henrik is as good as gold.
2) Management: They have done their job assembling the talent!
3) Coaching Staff: They are excellent. They have shown that they can adapt to what the team is... that's not easy!

It will be fun and interesting at the same time keeping and eye on the Rangers. The next few weeks will be more telling and give us a gauge as to where they stand. Over and out!

Picture from the official website of the New York Rangers.

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Tick, Tick, Tick...

Only 6 days until the blades of steel hit the ice at the Rangers training camp facility in Westchester. 70 players in all will show up and it will be an interesting camp to say the least. There will be lots to figure out with this years 2008-2009 version of New York Rangers (Boy, that sounds good).

I am very interested in how the defense will shape up. What will the pairings look like? Hopefully, there will be a surprise or two in store for the Rangers this year. I also hope, somehow, someway, Brendan Shanahan finds a roster spot. He wants to be a Ranger and that’s all I need to hear. Also, what about Nedved? Does he have anything left, or is he finally done? Which player or players will take control and be a true team leader? I could go on and on, but only time can answer all the questions we - as Ranger fans - have. Tick, tick, tick…

I also want to hear your take on E.J. Hradek’s choice of Mark Messier over Rod Gilbert as the best forward in Rangers franchise history. I think this one’s definitely up for debate! My choice is simple - Rod Gilbert. I know the impact Messier had on the Rangers cup run and all, but Gilbert holds all of the team’s offensive records: Goals, Assists, and Points. On top of all that, he was a career Ranger! For those of you that know baseball, Ernie Banks played his entire career with the Chicago Cubs - thus, he’s “Mr. Cub”. Well, Rod Gilbert is “Mr. Ranger” in my eyes and will be for a long time!

Lastly, I just wanted to let you all know that I am now contributing over at TheFourthPeriod.com. Below I’ll give a link to my first contribution - an article about the rise and fall of the 50 goal scorers in the NHL - as well as the main site for TheFourthPeriod.com. But don’t worry, I’ll still be on here blogging about my beloved Rangers & Bobcats! Over and out!

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/columnists/journal/kotsopoulos.html
http://www.thefourthperiod.com/

Images thanks to Google Images & Outside the Garden

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14 Days To Go!

Ah! 14 days to go and this years New York Rangers squad will be in camp. Training camp, in the NHL, is a test of physical and mental wills. I, myself, participated in a few of these in my day and I can tell you that it's no fun. Yeah, it's great to see your teammates, but once camp begins it's almost like you wish the season would start already! No matter how hard you train in the offseason, by the 3rd day of 2-a-days, your body is sore and fatigued. You almost feel like a bruised banana from head to toe.

Today's athletes have progressed so much compared to 20-30 years ago. They have better instruction, monitoring, and off-ice training than we did. One key factor in training camp is your head trainer. In the Rangers case, that would be Jim Ramsey. Jim, I'm sure, will be on the top of everything throughout training camp. Proper off-ice conditioning, stretching, and taking precaution with any minor aches and pains (so they don't become major) is essential. Simply put, training camp in the NHL is tough, long, and boring... but it should be! The season is hard and tiresome, so you need to be prepared physically and mentally. As a former player, I can tell you that it gets you ready for the long haul!

Now, on to the Rangers. It's going to be an interesting camp. I won't go into specifics at this point, but there are some key questions that need to be answered. The Rangers have overhauled this team dramatically over the past 2 seasons and GM Glen Sather has brought in a ton of talented players on this current roster. Glen has done his job, now it's up to coach Tom Renney and his staff to put the pieces together. The coaches and brass must find out who plays with who, what the forward lines are going to look like, who will be the defensive pairings, etc. Also, which player or players will surprise and try to take the job of a veteran? For some players, their job is secure. For others, maybe not. That is why training camp and the exhibition games will give coach Renney a chance to mold the pieces as quickly as possible. I look forward to seeing how things are gonna shape up for the Blueshirts and hopefully they gel quicker this year than last season!

Oh, and by the way, nice to hear that classy Joe Sakic has re-upped for one more year with the Avs (and to think the Rangers almost had him...). He's a star and an auto-matic Hall of Famer. Over and out!

Images thanks to Google Images & NHL.com

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Hockey Season Nears

I just got back from a trip to my hometown of Toronto, Canada. My family and I were visiting old friends and relatives and we had a great time rehashing old stories. While up in Toronto, the Mats Sundin Watch was still a huge topic for the hockey obsessed people of Toronto (not my words, Sean Avery's words, to be exact)... Avery's not far from the truth, I will admit. I personally don't understand the fury it has caused (waiting on Sundin's decision). He's a very good player, but as I've said before; he's not Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Mario Lemieux, Etc... I could go on and on but enough is enough.

The NHL and college hockey season openers are right around the corner. I really am looking forward to this year. I will be the color analyst for the Quinnipiac Bobcats of the ECAC along with my good friend (and voice of the Bobcats), Bill Schweizer, as well as Don Boyle. I had a fantastic time doing radio for the Bobcats last year and this year should be even better. If you are in the area of Hamden Connecticut, check the Bobcats hockey team out... you will not be disappointed! It's a great university and they play in a highly competitive league of Division 1 hockey.

Back to the NHL, specifically the New York Rangers. The Rangers have announced the All-Time Ranger Team as voted by the fans and here were the results:

Goalies
Ed Giacomin
Mike Richter

Defense
Brad Park
Brian Leetch

Forwards
Jean Ratelle
Rod Gilbert (Mr. February!)
Mark Messier

Coach
Emile "The Cat" Francis

Hard to argue with these selections, the fans were dead on with their choices. I would like to see a 20 man roster chosen by the fans as well, though. I know that Harry Howell and Ron Greschner were 3 and 4 in the voting for defense. And what about the other 3 lines of forwards? Hadfield, Vickers, Etc.? Let me know what you think. I am very interested to find out!

Other Ranger news... the dates are set! Adam Graves' jersey induction is February 3rd and the fans get a 2 for 1 with Harry Howell and Andy Bathgate on the same night on February 22nd. Tickets to these nights will be tough to get a hold of, so get cracking on them now or you will be shut-out!

One last thing, my question to Ranger fans: Mats Sundin joining the Rangers... yes or no? Looking forward to your responses. Over and out!

Images thanks to www.oldtimershockey.com and www.quinnipiacbobcats.com

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Rangers Legends' Jersey Retirements

I just received my New York Ranger Alumni Summer Newsletter and the Adam Graves Jersey Retirement Night section really caught my eye. Adam Graves, for those who know him or don't know him, is one of the most honest & genuine gentleman you will ever have the pleasure to meet. I played against Adam and with him when he was in Detroit (Albeit 2 games). His play was tenacious and determined. I knew when he was on the ice, there would be no time to take it easy. His style was one of a skilled, yet physical player that kept you honest. Congratulations go's out to Mr. Graves for who he is and what he means to the Rangers and fans around the league.

I'd also like to congratulate Andy Bathgate and Harry Howell, they too will be honored by the Rangers sometime in the 2008-2009 season. I really love these choices because they too were true legends of the golden age of hockey. I grew up in Toronto when the NHL existed with the original 6 teams. I watched every team play whether it was the Rangers, Leafs, Canadiens, Blackhawks, Red Wings, or the Bruins. With players like Bathgate & Howell visiting the Leafs to play on the historic "Hockey Night in Canada", youngsters all across Canada were in high adulation of these players. They were/are heroes and the reason every kid in Canada wanted to play the game hockey. They played a big part in my dreams of playing in the NHL as well as the following players (and you will have to excuse me for being nostalgic here); Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Dave Keon and many more players. I could go on forever about this, but I'll stop here. Congratulations to Andy Bathgate & Harry Howell. Your time has come and you both are true Ranger legends (Could Ron Greschner be next? He should be)!

It's funny, because at Ron Greschner's golf outing, I had the great pleasure to sit and talk with another Ranger legend: Vic Hadfield. He mentioned Bathgate and Howell as candidates for jersey retirement. Vic, you're getting your wish!

I'll leave you with this: Enjoy the present day players of the NHL, but please don't ever forget about the past. Over and out!

*All images thanks to Google Image Search

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Nedved? Sundin?

Well, it's definitely a slow time for me with no hockey. I just about had enough of baseball (boring)! As I was checking out other sites, I came across a story on the Blueshirt Bulletin that totally took me by surprise. Yes Ranger fans, there's been a Petr Nedved sighting and he's coming to a Ranger training camp near you!

Where do I begin with this revelation? Yeah, we know he's been a Ranger before. He's a nice guy and all that. But, really, what makes anyone believe he has any gas left in the tank to give the NHL one more try (at 36 years old)? Sure, he'd love it if he could find a spot on the Rangers roster... I mean, who wouldn't? However, Nedved himself is a realist and knows that it is a bit of a longshot for him to survive final cuts. I guess the "No Guarantee" that Glen Sather has communicated to Nedved basically gives him the green light to attempt a comeback, where the Rangers are not at all on the hook money wise. All I can say is Good Luck to Nedved and I wish him well.

Another thing that's really getting out of hand is the "Mats Sundin Sweepstakes". As I've said before, I understand that Sundin is a future Hall of Famer, but what gives him the right to hold NHL teams at ransom? Never has an NHL player been allowed the courtesy, time, and effort (not even Wayne Gretzky) that teams have given Sundin so he could hum & haw about playing this upcoming season. And all this for who? Yes, he's still a very good player and will definitely help somebody, but please... Sundin is not bigger than the league itself.

I'll leave you all with this one, much like my with my last blog entry... Who is the all time Rangers penalty minutes king? The answer might surprise you! Over and out!

*Pictures in blog post are taken from Google Images & USA Today.com

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