2007 NHL Season Preview – New York Rangers
Posted by ronlowe1952Ross continued to practice at full speed Thursday, his third practice since returning to action. While the coaching staff has not made any determination about Ross' playing status or whether he will be in the starting lineup, Ross just wants to be playing again.
“I'm happy to be out there and I feel real good,” said Ross, the third-year defensive back out of Texas. “I'm very excited. Whatever the coaches want me to do, I'm ready. I have about three months saved up in me, so I'm ready.
“The plan is that if I'm healthy all the way to Sunday, then I'll be out there and playing,” Ross said.
Coach Tom Coughlin said he's being a little cautious with Ross.
“We are just going to go and watch him practice, let him put a few practices together,” Coughlin said, adding that Ross did “about less than half” of the regular practice regimen.
Ross made his return to the practice field for one day during the bye week and then began practicing regularly and at full speed in preparation for facing the Falcons.
“Last Wednesday, I felt really rusty,” Ross said. “Monday, I felt pretty good and now I feel really good. I have no idea where and when I'm going to play and how they're going to work me in. But if they call No. 31 [Ross' jersey number], then I'm going to be ready.”
Ross said the training staff worked hard to get him back into playing shape.
“The trainers did a great job of holding me back,” Ross said. “Before I could go out there again, I had to strengthen my legs.”
He also went to see a trainer from Switzerland who has helped his fiancee, world-class sprinter Sanya Richards, in the past. Richards is currently the No. 1-ranked runner in the world in the 400-meter dash.
“I don't know his name or how to spell it, but it's probably the reason why I'm doing better now,” Ross said. “It's really helped.”
More than likely, the Giants will stay with Terrell Thomas and Corey Webster starting at cornerback, with Ross perhaps getting chances in nickel and dime formations. But after missing so much time with what was first diagnosed as a hamstring strain that was day to day since training camp, Ross is chomping to be back out there playing.
“I'm rested and my legs are strengthened,” said Ross, who was jumping up and down in the locker room to prove he was healthy. “It's really been an emotional roller coaster. I worked hard in the offseason to get ready for training camp and then I get hurt to start off. I never would have thought it would hold me out for three months. It's been extremely frustrating.
“But now, I know I'm back. I don't want to think about it. I don't want to think I have any limitations. I just want to play,” he said.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
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The pressure is never greater than it is for New York sports. Whether you play for the Knicks, the Giants, the Yankees, or any of the other professional sports franchises in the Big Apple, the pressure to win and be successful is on. Being good is not enough; it's about championships and looking good.
With the Rangers, they took some big strides last season in getting back to the playoffs and getting to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. But in the land of New York, that is simply not enough. The Rangers need to win; so a big spending offseason ensued. Where do the Rangers sit now? Are they at the cusp of a championship or have they once again thrown around money in futile efforts to improve this team?
New York Rangers
2006 Record (W-L-OTL-PTS): 42-30-10-94; 3rd in Atlantic Division
2006 Postseason (if applicable): Lost in Eastern Conf. Semis (4-2 to Buffalo)
Coach Name (record w/team): Tom Renney; 91-71-0 (22 ties; .561)
Key Additions: C Chris Drury (Buffalo); C Scott Gomez (New Jersey); D Andrew Hutchinson
Key Subtractions: G Kevin Weekes (New Jersey); C Michael Nylander (Washington); C Matt Cullen (Carolina)
Offense: The team brought in some names I am sure you've heard of before if you are a big NHL fan: Scott Gomez from division rival New Jersey and Chris Drury from Buffalo. With the addition of those two players, the offensive burden shifts a bit to their shoulders. The Rangers did watch Michael Nylander leave for Washington, so the tandem of Nylander and Jaromir Jagr is no more in Madison Square Garden.
Can either one of these guys, Drury or Gomez, jump in and establish a chemistry with Jagr and help get him the puck? Even with this question mark, there is plenty for the Rangers to be excited about on offense. With either Drury or Gomez, the other offensive players on the team will see immediate results in increased scoring chances and ability to make plays.
Veterans like Brendan Shanahan, Petr Prucha, and Martin Straka will all benefit from the addition of these players. Shanahan was especially effective on offense for the special teams and the new centers could be a boon to him in regular situations. The Rangers have enough talent to throw two legitimate top lines at you and a third line that could be a top line for some of the other teams in the NHL. From the blue line the Rangers have some playmakers but the scoring goals will be difficult from the back line.
Michal Rozsival had 30 assists last season; other defenders like Marek Malik could get some opportunities to see increases with their point production. Teams will have to account for everyone pushing forward and the opportunities for the defenders to make plays will open up. The team should have the ability to put goals on the board in bunches.
Grade: A
Defense: This defense lacks a real top defender to lean on and eat up ice time. Instead, the Rangers will rely on getting the pairings shuffling on and off the ice and finding the right rotation to keep their defenders fresh and working hard. Their top guy is Michal Rozsival; he led the defenders in ice time a season ago and will more than likely do so again. He's able to give the Rangers production offensively while playing solid in front of their net. There will be a platoon of guys coming in to try and eat up ice time and provide bodies in front of opposing attacks.
Names like Marek Malik and Paul Mara will see their fair share of ice time for the Rangers alongside Rozsival. Then the team wants to see the successful recovery of young defender Fedor Tyutin. He is considered to be one of the defenders that the Rangers could lean on in the future and his recovery from injury could prove to be pivotal to his status with the team.
Grade: B+
Goaltending: After having a slow start last season, second-year netminder Henrik Lundqvist showed the talent and ability that everyone seemed to lean on during his first season with the club. There is still a bit of inconsistency, but with the added offensive prowess that the Rangers have should take some of the pressure off Lundqvist. There is no competition behind him, which could be considered a bad thing if something happens to him or he needs rest, but the Rangers are fairly comfortable in putting all of their eggs in one basket. For the second consecutive season, Lundquist was a Vezina candidate and nothing should stop him from having another solid season.
Grade: A
Coaching: Tom Renney has been the coach of the Rangers since 2004 and he has steadily brought this team back to the cusp of the contention in the Eastern Conference. With the people that he has around him and the talent that the franchise has provided him, Renney's biggest problem was getting enough time for everyone on the team and making the right combinations. He struck gold with Michael Nylander and Jaromir Jagr, but Nylander is now gone and Renney will need to find a new catalyst to add to Jagr to keep him optimally productive. Renney will also need to get the defensive unit playing well in front of Lundquist because the offense should provide ample goal support for the team.
Grade: B+
Bold Predictions
Points/Conference Standing: 95 – 110 pts; top of Eastern Conference (1st – 4th in conference)
Team MVP: Henrik Lundqvist
Prediction Notes: This is the year that the Rangers and the Devils go down to the wire; they seem to be close in terms of talent, and the edge on offense will probably be with the Rangers. The offense will have the opportunity to put big numbers up on most of the teams in the Eastern Conference and their goaltending is top-notch with Lundqvist. The biggest question mark is the defense and if they can be solid enough to stop the onslaught of other teams. They should be among the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
