Rangers Stuff

Tomorrow, the Rangers report to camp, but Lemieux and D'Angelo are still unsigned. They have no leverage and it was reported that Lemieux was already at the newfangled training center skating with his teammates. So it's unclear whether or no this will be a thing, but both kids are better than most believe and they are probably important to the long term aims of the franchise.  When building a top NHL teams, it better to have some guys like this - who are controllable - but already good, than to have to bring in Tanner Glass types when you're on a run. So let's hope this is not a thing.

It doesn't look like they're trading Kreider, now. That's keeping them pretty cap-strung, but probably making them a better team to start the season.  Most pundits think the Rangers won't make the playoffs.  I'm not sure that's so.  While they will, mostly likely be playing 3-4 rookies every night, there is something being overlooked far and wide.

That's this: creativity. the Rangers are adding Panarin, Trouba, Fox, Kravstov and Kakko.  Of that group, Panarin, Fox, Kravstov and Kakko have tremendous creativity, It's been sort of an afterthought in analysis of Kravstov and Kakko - but when combined with each other, or with Fox, it proved too much for the competition at Traverse City. And Panarin put on a clinic last year. So the Rangers have added two bets and some kids, but really, what they've added is a ton of creativity.  On the last run, the Rangers had more grit than skill.  This time around they might have more skill than grit, but they'd better add grit, and guys like Trouba and Lemieux will help.

Quinn seems like he demands grit. It will be interesting to see how he handles all of this creativity.