It's that time of year again, when Ranger Prospects gather in Traverse City, Michigan for the annual pre-cap prospect tourney.   This year, the Rangers are once again sending a strong team drawn from all levels of the organization.   The roster can be seen over at Rangers.Com http://rangers.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=72740.   Kreider and Fogarty are not there because Kreider is still in school and Fogarty still wants to maintain his eligibility for Notre Dame.    But Thomas, Bourque, Hagelin, Miller, McColgan, St. Croix, Yogan, Wilson and Bruiser McNaught will be there on the forward side.   Of those guys, Hagelin probably has the best chance of making the Rangers this season, while Thomas has the talent to possibly surprise.  Bourque is turning pro, and if he can stay healthy, it wouldn't surprise me at all if he forces his way on if someone goes down.  He has been under the radar, but when he plays, his team scores.  He's similar to some of the smallish Devils forwards from their glory years, and the smaller Hab forwards from years ago.

It will also be interesting to see which JT Miller we get.  As you recall from the draft he was considered to be either a top 9 or top 6 forward.   The reports have gotten better through his work with Team USA this summer, and it will be interesting to see if he plays like a Thomas/Kreider level future star, or more of a scrappy third liner of the future.   Yogan is also interesting.  Like Bourque, when he plays, he scores, and he has all the size you want in a power forward.

On Defense, the big stories are Tim Erixon and Dylan McIlrath.   Erixon has a very good chance to make the team, and,  like Miller, he's either a very solid prospect of any absolutely great prospect.  We'll get our first look at him.  The big question right now is whether or not he can run the point on the power play.   And McIlrath is always a big story.   He's been filling out more and really dominated the prospect camp.   We want to see him keep filling out until he's ready to do to men what he has done to other teenagers.   No rush, as we are loaded on D for the foreseeable future.

Anyway, it's great the games will be on MSG this year, so check for time.  Go Rangers!