- 13 minutes ago
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00What do you feel like you need to see from him
00:03or that the Rangers need to see from him
00:05to know that he's their guy long-term?
00:07Because let's not forget his 18-no-trade list
00:11kicks in next season.
00:12You want straight lines and you want the edge.
00:15I've seen the edge.
00:17He's played with it.
00:17He's run his mouth.
00:18He's been a pain in the rear end on occasion.
00:23And it's hard to do it every single night,
00:25but make sure you're doing it at home.
00:27But hopefully this summer, he built that engine up
00:29so he can get through it.
00:30He's a grown-up now.
00:31He's a big boy.
00:32He's been around long enough.
00:34And again, he's counted on.
00:36He's going to be counted on.
00:39Welcome back.
00:40Welcome back.
00:41It is finally the season preview episode
00:44of Up in the Blue Seats,
00:45your favorite Rangers podcast from the New York Post.
00:49You guys know the drill at this point.
00:51It's Molly Walker.
00:52I'm the Rangers beat writer for the New York Post.
00:54And it's Brian Boyle,
00:55a beloved former Ranger
00:57and current MSG slash NHL network analyst.
01:01There's a chill in the air, Brian.
01:03And it feels like hockey season.
01:06So I went out and got the microphone.
01:09I don't think it works
01:11because it's plugged into my phone.
01:12My computer's on the fritz again.
01:14We're almost there.
01:15It's still preseason for you boys.
01:17I know.
01:18I'm working at it.
01:19I'm trying not to be underwater.
01:21We heard you.
01:22Loud and clear.
01:22We heard you guys.
01:25Yeah, we're sorry.
01:26Still some technical difficulties.
01:28But yeah, Brian needs to get a hotspot on his phone.
01:32That's the number one thing that he needs to do.
01:35I have to tell you.
01:37But we're working through it.
01:39We're working through it.
01:40So if he sounds like he's underwater,
01:41we apologize.
01:42We're working on it.
01:44Hopefully the next episode will be a little bit better.
01:47But first things first,
01:48big changes to the preseason this year.
01:51Reduced from six games to four.
01:54Less time.
01:55Season begins September 29th in Boston for the Rangers.
01:59Very, very early.
02:01And I think this quote from Sullivan from day one
02:04really captures what these few weeks are like
02:07for the Rangers in particular.
02:09He said,
02:10last year we had three teams.
02:11This year we're going to have two.
02:13When you look at it starting tomorrow to opening night against Boston,
02:16we have 12 days.
02:18Four exhibition games and two days off built into those 12 games.
02:2312 days.
02:24We essentially have 10 practices.
02:26Six when they're not including a game that night.
02:28So time is of the essence.
02:30He said,
02:31how do you see this shortened preseason affecting teams across the league?
02:37Brian.
02:38I'll try not to go too long on this,
02:40but we saw some colorful quotes from Nikita Kucherov last week that I thought
02:44were banging on.
02:45Honest to God.
02:45And there's a lot of people that were kind of celebrating it.
02:48The skill level is off the charts because there's so many skilled coaches and guys
02:53pretty much are on the ice 12 months out of the year.
02:55Now,
02:56when the league sort of changed its rules in terms of you have to play every team
03:01in every building.
03:02Right.
03:03Essentially that just turned into less practices because you have to rest for
03:07games.
03:07Games are worth two points.
03:08Now you have two more games and I get that they're moving things up earlier,
03:12but there's just no time to practice.
03:15There's really less time to implement anything.
03:17How much can you get done with video?
03:20Because I mean,
03:21with adults,
03:22I think you get 12 to 15 minutes of attention and that's it.
03:26And then you got to retain it.
03:27Right.
03:27So it's,
03:30it's difficult.
03:30And I saw Mike Sullivan.
03:32I saw all the Ranger guys last week at the alumni golf outing.
03:37And the whole team goes and I point blank asked him,
03:39I go,
03:39how do you,
03:39I mean,
03:40thank,
03:41thankfully it's a second year,
03:42but,
03:42and you have some veteran guys,
03:43but how do you bring in these new guys that have big roles and get them
03:47to sort of understand.
03:49And,
03:49you know,
03:49one of the guys is Mark Spetterson,
03:51who he played for in Pittsburgh,
03:52but it is hard and you better start fast.
03:57And I think the non-negotiable things,
04:00but start like you started last year,
04:02but just put a couple of pucks inside of the start.
04:07And they should be okay.
04:09Pretty please.
04:10No,
04:11it's,
04:12it's,
04:12it is very interesting.
04:14I,
04:15I,
04:16I feel like the condensed time also,
04:18it affected the,
04:19their initial starting point for a roster.
04:22No PTOs,
04:24no junior level players,
04:26only Albert Smiths as the representative for the 2026 draft class.
04:32And yeah,
04:33that's what Sullivan was saying is it kind of forces them to,
04:36to focus on,
04:37you know,
04:38these are the players that are the closest to making the New York Rangers,
04:42which I think was pretty good for where the Rangers are at right now.
04:46Just to kind of see this revamped group of players that they have now fighting for,
04:53for roster spots,
04:54but for preseason games,
04:56first one was against the Devils on Monday,
05:00a three,
05:01two loss.
05:02It was a primarily AHL looking lineup for the Rangers and a primarily NHL looking lineup for the Devils.
05:10So pretty close in score,
05:12which is a good sign for that AHL group.
05:15But how did the team look in their first preseason,
05:18preseason game to you,
05:19Brian?
05:20Yeah.
05:21I mean,
05:21they were bending a little bit and you saw the shot totals and some possession time.
05:28It's just so hard.
05:29It's chaotic.
05:30You don't even get,
05:31you're playing with different guys and you're going on the road.
05:35You can only play two games if you've played a hundred games in the league.
05:38So it's,
05:40that's what it's going to look like.
05:41If you have home fans buying tickets to the home games,
05:45they're going to want to see the guys that they're going to want to see.
05:47Yeah.
05:48So that's just how it is.
05:50But again,
05:50you can't look at it like that if you're in the lineup.
05:52And I think a number of them did a pretty good job.
05:55We saw a nice play from green tree over to bleed who had a nice finish.
05:59I think Spencer Martin for the most part got some work.
06:04I don't know how that third one went in.
06:07But like Jack,
06:08it was,
06:09it was,
06:09it was grand.
06:10Grand.
06:11Grand,
06:11grand,
06:12grand.
06:13No.
06:13Yeah.
06:13Grand who I'm very like,
06:15I was there.
06:16His,
06:16and that's big for him because in the last year and what we saw,
06:20and he kind of got bypassed earlier in the year,
06:23that's big for him because.
06:24Yeah.
06:25But that last goal,
06:26I mean,
06:27I know that get deflected.
06:28I thought it went off with team escape,
06:30but then it looked like he was just made that play.
06:32Who looks,
06:32he put it in pretty good.
06:34Uh,
06:34by the way.
06:35Yeah.
06:36Yeah.
06:36No,
06:36I,
06:36I watched it a couple of times too.
06:39I could try to figure out because I think the first one went off of a
06:43ranger in front.
06:44Not much you could do about that.
06:46Right.
06:46Um,
06:47second one,
06:48but the third one is kind of where you think,
06:51you know,
06:52and,
06:52and from,
06:53you know,
06:54people that I've talked to in Hartford,
06:55those were the kind of goals that he would give up.
06:58You know,
06:58he would be pretty solid for a majority of the game and then give up a softy
07:04at the end.
07:05And,
07:05and we can get into,
07:07um,
07:07the whole battle for the,
07:08for the number two goalie spot.
07:10Cause I have a lot of thoughts on that later,
07:12but,
07:13um,
07:14yeah,
07:14that was obviously a big game for Dylan Grant.
07:16You're right.
07:16Um,
07:17but I still think he was able to make a decent impression,
07:20um,
07:20especially considering the circumstances of having an AHL lineup in front of
07:24him and facing an NHL lineup.
07:27I mean,
07:28he saw again,
07:30he's I think you get what you get with,
07:31with Rempe.
07:32He looked like he was trying to control the puck a little more.
07:34I thought he had one rush in the third that looked like he was confident.
07:38The puck kind of fell off his stick at the end.
07:41And yeah,
07:41you want,
07:42you want at least a shot on net there.
07:45Um,
07:45was it Sikora?
07:47Yeah.
07:48I,
07:48yeah.
07:48Sikora and Ioreo both exited the game with injuries and Sikora's in
07:53particular did not look good.
07:55Looked like he bent his knee back and he wasn't putting any weight on that.
08:01I think it was his right leg as he was getting helped off the ice.
08:05So sometimes you get squished like that and it's sort of up in the,
08:10getting the pelvis,
08:11your hip can kind of get jammed.
08:13Yeah.
08:13There's some nerves there.
08:14So,
08:14I mean,
08:14you can hope for that and hope for the best where it's not long-term because
08:18yeah,
08:18he was so fun last year.
08:21Let me tell you,
08:23I,
08:23it's like when I was doing,
08:25uh,
08:25if you haven't seen our,
08:26but a bunch of videos for the rookie camp and I was picking,
08:29you know,
08:30the five guys who I felt like were under the radar and you wanted to know.
08:34And one of the guys who I wanted to do was hurt and not playing.
08:38And I was like,
08:39okay,
08:39who am I going to fill in for this fifth guy who's under the radar?
08:42And I feel like they should know,
08:43but I'm like,
08:44he's not even under the radar,
08:45but he's the only guy that I want to talk about because every single year,
08:49year after year,
08:50he comes to training camp and he is just a joy to watch out there.
08:54Like what a hard worker just gives you 110% every shift.
08:59And he was having a nice little camp and obviously he's trying to work his way
09:03into the conversation for that fourth line role.
09:05But this was,
09:06this was a tough blow for him and he was having a pretty good start to camp.
09:10Not that I thought that he was front running for the role or anything,
09:12but just in terms of getting into the conversation for,
09:16if you need help later in the season with injuries and stuff like he,
09:19he's that guy,
09:21I think,
09:21but tough blow for him for sure.
09:24Yeah.
09:24And he made an impression last year,
09:26so they'll give him an opportunity to work himself back regardless of what it is.
09:30This is what happens.
09:31My,
09:31my second year in New York,
09:34Sean A recolided with somebody in a crossing pattern in a,
09:37in a non-contact trail.
09:39Like it was just a passing towards MCL up.
09:42He was out for three or four weeks.
09:43That's why I made the team my second year.
09:45I was going down to Hartford.
09:46So somebody.
09:48Yeah.
09:49Getting a longer leash because of it.
09:51Mm-hmm.
09:52Advantage.
09:53Yeah.
09:54I also thought Drew Fortescue looked good.
09:56He had a nice goal.
09:57Um,
09:58pretty steady.
09:59Looked like he had NHL experience out there.
10:01So I thought it was a pretty good showing for that AHL lineup.
10:05I did.
10:06Um,
10:08all right,
10:08moving on to some new additions to make note of.
10:11If you guys didn't watch our off season recap episode,
10:15but I recommend that you do.
10:16I thought we covered everything pretty well there,
10:19but we got Pavel Dorfeyev,
10:2125 years old,
10:2237 goals last season,
10:24career year,
10:2564 points.
10:27Um,
10:28you know,
10:28seven year,
10:29$11 million extension.
10:31After the trade with Vegas.
10:34Uh,
10:35we got Oliver Bjorkstrand,
10:36one year,
10:374.5 million.
10:38Marcus Patterson,
10:40Sean Dursey,
10:41Eli Tolvanen,
10:43Joe Valino,
10:44Jonas Carposalo,
10:45Paul,
10:46uh,
10:46Baudouin,
10:47and Jenna Chalewoski who was just waived by the way.
10:53Um,
10:54him and Urhovec.
10:55Yeah.
10:55Him and Urhovec and Ina on defense were,
10:58were waived today.
10:59And then Albert Smith's too drafted fifth overall,
11:03uh,
11:03this summer.
11:05Um,
11:06yeah,
11:07so it's a,
11:07it's,
11:07I think I was,
11:09I was looking at it.
11:10I mean,
11:10the lineup that they're putting out there tonight against the Islanders,
11:13a lot of guys were not here last season.
11:17Like a lot of,
11:18a lot of that lineup.
11:19Um,
11:20so it should be interesting to see,
11:22but,
11:22um,
11:22who are you looking forward to seeing most out of the newest additions that
11:26they got this summer?
11:28Well,
11:28you might think I'm crazy,
11:30but it's because of their,
11:32especially the start of the season,
11:33their lack of scoring.
11:35But I think the biggest thing,
11:37the thing that has the potential to really make this team look completely
11:40different is Dursey and Patterson.
11:42Uh,
11:44and if we can click and play well,
11:46they can transition.
11:47Well,
11:48they can break the puck out.
11:49Well,
11:50they can add a little bit of offense.
11:52I think Dursey for sure can add offense.
11:54Um,
11:55you know,
11:55he won't be on the top power play,
11:57but he's,
11:58he can get into plays and keep plays alive and keep things going offensively.
12:03And Patterson can as well,
12:06where the Rangers struggled,
12:07if you kind of can break it down was a lot of times,
12:11their first opportunity to exit a zone last year,
12:14got stuffed out somehow.
12:17And maybe some guys were miscast.
12:18I remember,
12:19you know,
12:20well,
12:20the talk of how great Gavrikov was when Fox went down and even the season
12:24that he had,
12:25he was just kind of him for a while.
12:28And Fox came back at a great year.
12:30You know,
12:30you got your first pair.
12:31If those two are good to go and stay healthy,
12:33and then you have that middle pair,
12:34it's just lightens everyone's load.
12:37You're defending less.
12:39You're out quicker.
12:40The game has more rhythm for you for offense.
12:43I think the subtraction of Panarin and a hundred,
12:49all a hundred points that he put on the table.
12:51I think you're going to get more from Lafreniere.
12:54He looked more comfortable.
12:55He looked more natural at going in straight lines.
12:58Now the loss of Trocek is a loss.
13:00Yeah.
13:01If there was a way you could have kept Trocek,
13:03your top six is legit.
13:05That's a legit top six.
13:08I still think they're stronger.
13:09Their top six is definitely stronger on offense.
13:11I think the transition game will definitely be better.
13:14So that will help these guys get to their offense a little bit quicker in
13:18an 84 game season.
13:21If you're not defending as much and you're more efficient,
13:24it's just wears on you a little bit less.
13:25So those two guys,
13:26I think were huge moves.
13:28Yeah,
13:29I completely agree.
13:30I think that that's was the biggest takeaway for the Rangers.
13:33This summer was overhauling the D a little bit.
13:39And we're not even sure how the third pair is going to shake out right now.
13:42Cause it's looking like Albert Smith is skating in that spot right now.
13:46So we don't know if he's actually going to win the team.
13:49Looks poised from clips.
13:50I've seen it at the training center,
13:53you know,
13:53under pressure to guys barreling down on him,
13:55just makes the play.
13:56You know,
13:57it seems like he's adjusted to the men's game very well.
14:01Yeah,
14:01no,
14:02we'll,
14:02we'll get to him,
14:03but back to Lafreniere.
14:06Lafreniere,
14:06he's starting on the top line with Gabe Perrault and Mika Zibanejad,
14:11which they left off from last season,
14:14had pretty good chemistry at the end.
14:16And he's also starting on the first power play right off the bat year seven for him.
14:24And this is the first time that he is going to be on the power play from day one of
14:31training camp,
14:31which is pretty crazy when you think about it.
14:34But then I mean,
14:35obviously Trochek is the one who's,
14:37who's replacing,
14:39but year seven,
14:40like it's pretty crazy how long he's been around at this point and how much of the same conversations I
14:48feel like we're having going into each season.
14:51Yeah.
14:52But if you think about it,
14:53if he's going to be around the net,
14:56I mean,
14:57Chris Cryer didn't leave a long time ago.
15:00You know what I mean?
15:01He was,
15:02and then you brought in JT Miller.
15:04It's just,
15:05yeah,
15:06Lafreniere is number one overall pick and he gets goals around the net.
15:10All right,
15:11here's your chance.
15:11Get goals around the net,
15:12around the net.
15:13And on that top line,
15:15he's going to be the hunter.
15:16Yeah.
15:17We all have to,
15:18everyone has to,
15:19but it's going to be,
15:21if it,
15:22if it does end up going in the zone,
15:23and it's probably himself to himself on a soft chip,
15:27you know,
15:27these other guys,
15:28Mika's probably going to want to carry it in.
15:29These guys want to carry it in.
15:30That's great,
15:31but he's going to hunt.
15:31He's going to be the grunt work guy,
15:32but then get to the net.
15:33Cause he's been,
15:34he's been known.
15:35I've seen him score some,
15:36they look like garbage goals.
15:39Having been around the net in my life.
15:41They're,
15:41they're things of beauty.
15:42He knows what to do.
15:43He knows sort of how to manipulate the defense and find ways.
15:47He just has to get there more and they have to feed them there more.
15:50And again,
15:52not saying Panarin wasn't an unbelievable player.
15:54And he was,
15:55and he was one of the greatest players that these fans got to watch for a
15:59number of years,
16:01but in terms of how it fits with Lafreniere,
16:03he wanted to bring it out and it kind of,
16:06and then,
16:07you know,
16:08if you can attack and hit seams and stuff,
16:10like,
16:10I think it's just going to play.
16:11Maybe I'm just hopeful it does,
16:13but I think,
16:14but he looked more comfortable after the trade last year.
16:17Hopefully that confidence can continue to grow.
16:20So in the game set up more for,
16:22you know,
16:23you're not putting a round peg in a square hole,
16:25so to speak.
16:27What do you feel like you need to see from him or that the Rangers need to
16:32see from him to know that he's their guy long-term?
16:35Cause let's not forget his 18,
16:37no trade list kicks in next season.
16:41Well,
16:42I mean,
16:42it's a lot of these deals are looking better and better as the summer has
16:45gone through.
16:49Should start training again,
16:50but he's like,
16:53he's like Justin sort of in Washington is almost making what he's making.
16:59It's,
16:59it's wild.
17:00So like,
17:01that's what you have and the potential for him to outkick that is,
17:04I think reasonable for sure.
17:08I just,
17:08you,
17:09you want straight lines and you want the edge.
17:12I seen,
17:12I've seen the edge.
17:13He's played with it.
17:14He's run his mouth.
17:15He's been at a pain in the rear end on occasion.
17:19And it's hard to do it every single night,
17:22but like,
17:22make sure you're doing it at home.
17:24Make sure you're doing it.
17:28But hopefully this summer,
17:29he built that engine up so he can get through it.
17:31He's a,
17:32he's a grownup now.
17:33He's a big boy.
17:33He's been around long enough.
17:35And again,
17:36he's counted on,
17:37he's going to be counted on.
17:38They need him.
17:39Yeah.
17:40Yeah.
17:40They really do.
17:43And then dropping off from the first line,
17:46you got Dorofae of Miller and Bjorkstrand for the second line.
17:50All three guys have been 20 to 30 goal scorers in their careers.
17:54I think I'm personally most excited to see Dorofae of Miller together,
17:58just because when I look back on Miller last season,
18:02I mean,
18:02that man moved around a lot,
18:04a lot,
18:05a lot,
18:06like a multitude of different line mates played both center and wing.
18:10I'd like to see some more consistency for,
18:12for him just in terms of a lineup standpoint.
18:16Cause I feel like that'll be beneficial for him.
18:18And obviously the Rangers are going to need a much,
18:21much better season from their captain.
18:23Yeah.
18:24And,
18:24you know,
18:25definitely not to use it as an excuse,
18:26but health will have to be important.
18:29And he did,
18:31he did deal with some serious stuff last year,
18:33started right out of camp,
18:34pretty much,
18:35you know,
18:35at the lower body.
18:36And then I know he dealt with upper body for most,
18:38if not all the season.
18:40So he's not going to make it an excuse.
18:45But again,
18:46yeah,
18:47I think the spot he's in this,
18:51this is,
18:52it's,
18:53it's go time.
18:53Now you got to show these people why they traded for you.
18:56And,
18:56and I think he's pretty motivated.
18:59I haven't seen him a little bit at that golf thing.
19:02He's,
19:02he's pretty excited and motivated to get it going.
19:05Yeah.
19:06I will say that the vibes around the team,
19:08the team and in the room have been pretty good through the first couple of
19:12days of camp.
19:14Another guy,
19:15Matt Rempe.
19:16It's looking like he's projected to start the season in Hartford right now.
19:21He did play against the Devils with the mostly AHL lineup,
19:24but it's looking like it's between him and Jaros,
19:28Jaroslav Himelos.
19:30Himelos is playing tonight against the Islanders,
19:32but I think at the very least Rempe's stick handling looked a lot better than
19:38he was during all his bum issues last season.
19:40But that's,
19:41I think just because he can actually grip the stick again,
19:43finally.
19:45But it's feeling like that spot is,
19:47is more Himelos is to lose rather than Rempe's and Rempe will,
19:51we'll have to clear waivers if he's assigned to the Wolfpack.
19:54But what do you feel like is the best course of action where Rempe is
19:57concerned?
19:59Yeah.
19:59You know,
20:00it's,
20:01it's such a lightning rod,
20:03right?
20:03Like there's people are so adamant one way or the other about,
20:08you know,
20:08what he,
20:09I just,
20:09I just want to remind everybody what he's capable of doing by being on the
20:15ice.
20:16And maybe the league's changed so much,
20:18whereas people wouldn't be bothered by it,
20:22but there's an intimidation factor there and his skating is good enough.
20:31Is it,
20:31is it going to help the team or is it going to hurt the team?
20:33And that's the,
20:34that's the decision ultimately that they're going to have to make because if
20:36he's,
20:37if he hits someone high,
20:39cause he's bracing himself to go into the,
20:41the boards,
20:42like,
20:42I don't think it's malicious.
20:44I don't think it's something he's trying to hurt somebody with an elbow to
20:47the head.
20:47I think he's trying to catch himself because he's flying around so much.
20:49Being that big developing takes longer.
20:53And I mean,
20:55so much you could do with them.
20:57So I wouldn't want to lose him for nothing.
21:00Exactly.
21:02Yeah.
21:03And I mean,
21:04today we were asking Mike Sullivan about,
21:06you know,
21:07what he wants to see from Himalash and he said he wants to see more of an
21:11impact.
21:11So I feel like the Rangers are also kind of looking that if,
21:15you know,
21:16Yarrow is not going to make the same kind of physical intimidation impact that
21:21Rempe does more of an offensive impact,
21:24you know,
21:24more of a contributing impact.
21:26So I think that that's something that they're looking to see a little bit more
21:29consistency from Yarrow.
21:32But that'll be an interesting roster battle.
21:35So to say what they decide to do,
21:37because I'm pretty sure Yarrow I think is exempt.
21:40So that could also come into play,
21:43you know,
21:44from waivers.
21:44Cause I feel like that always comes into play coming out of training camp.
21:49Cause you know,
21:50I mean,
21:50you have to look at the now,
21:52but you also have to look in a couple of ways.
21:53What if there's injuries?
21:55Yeah.
21:55Yeah.
21:56And do you have enough of that in your lineup?
21:59If you need it and you just gave it away for nothing.
22:02Now you have to go buy it again.
22:04So you have to sort of try to account for everything.
22:08And then ultimately it should be a meritocracy.
22:12Who earns it?
22:13Who played the best?
22:14How does it fit?
22:15But it's,
22:17it's a hard league to make.
22:19Complicated.
22:22Yeah.
22:23And another hot topic guy,
22:26I feel like this summer was Gabe Perrault.
22:29A couple of rankings over at the athletic this summer that caused a stir
22:33amongst the fan base.
22:34A lot of people felt Perrault was unfairly placed,
22:38but it looks like he's starting on the top line.
22:40So I wanted to ask you where you're at,
22:43Brian on Gabe's game and his potential ceiling in this league.
22:47Yeah.
22:48So,
22:48you know,
22:48and I touched on it briefly about what Kucherov said,
22:51not applicable for Gabe Perrault and not a burner,
22:56but anticipates so well,
22:57reads the game so well and has so much plays and traffic.
23:01I've seen him since,
23:02you know,
23:02his days at BC playing and just sort of watched how he calculated the game
23:07and manipulated the game.
23:10I think he continued,
23:12he'll continue to get quicker.
23:13He'll continue to get his mind.
23:15He'll get quicker as well as his offensive skill set is,
23:19is very high,
23:20but I think he's just a really smart player,
23:23but he's still young.
23:24And,
23:24you know,
23:25again,
23:25it's a hard league,
23:26but I think there'll be opportunities.
23:27And Mike Sullivan seems to be wanting to put them in position and get
23:31opportunities for offense.
23:34And again,
23:35if Mika has a year,
23:36like he did last year,
23:37it's going to open up lots of space for a pro to make some plays.
23:40And we saw some chemistry there towards the end of the year.
23:43So take the rankings and throw them in the trash.
23:45Cause it never really matters.
23:46And they're never,
23:47ever,
23:48ever,
23:49ever,
23:50ever,
23:51um,
23:52no.
23:52And Perot is skating on the second power play unit too.
23:55But I mean,
23:55I asked Sullivan today,
23:57if he feels like that second power play group is looking a little bit
24:02deeper for him.
24:03And if that might prompt him to be a little bit more balanced with the
24:08ice time with those groups,
24:10but,
24:11uh,
24:11it sounded like,
24:12no,
24:13affirmative.
24:14No.
24:15Um,
24:15but I do,
24:17I would like to see Perot get some time just cause I feel like that
24:21will help him in terms of developing and his confidence and all that jazz
24:26and stuff like that.
24:27But it's so hard because I don't blame Mike Sullivan necessarily for having
24:32as much faith as he does in that top power play unit,
24:34because they do have history.
24:36They have in the past been a very automatic group,
24:40but I also,
24:42you know,
24:43we're at a point where I also feel like they have to think of these
24:47development decisions too.
24:48And,
24:48and I just would hate to see Gabe's,
24:50uh,
24:51growth stunted cause he's not getting that part of his game worked.
24:57It's just so funny that how far the game has come and,
25:01and,
25:01and,
25:01and for the right reasons,
25:03but like you get called up,
25:04you're a young player.
25:05You got to earn your five minutes to prove that the coach,
25:10you can be trusted for eight to 12.
25:12Then you're on the third line.
25:13Then you might get to the second power play.
25:16And if you get over the course of the games,
25:18a couple of plays on the second unit where it's like,
25:21all right,
25:21you have poise.
25:22Then maybe you get to sniff the top unit,
25:24but now it's like,
25:26well,
25:26this kid's a power play guy.
25:27Why isn't he on the top unit?
25:29And it's,
25:29it's kind of like,
25:30I get it.
25:31Like the more reps he has at a younger age,
25:33he's going to learn faster.
25:34Right.
25:35Cause young,
25:37you know,
25:37we're conditioned to know that young learns quicker and absorbs more and
25:42new tricks,
25:43whatever.
25:43I didn't get on the PowerPoint.
25:44I was 30 and I stayed on it for the next seven years.
25:46So whatever.
25:48So take that.
25:50But I agree.
25:52I also know as you do Molly,
25:54that like,
25:55there's a lot of pressure on these players,
25:57the coaching staff and management to have a good start and make the
26:01playoffs.
26:01Yes.
26:02Oh yeah.
26:03So decisions will be made for the front of the Jersey and certainly for no
26:08one's name on the back of the Jersey.
26:10That's fair.
26:11That's very fair.
26:13Wrapping up the forwards.
26:14We just got worried about a couple of cuts on that front too.
26:17Justin Dowling and you.
26:19So Parson in.
26:20We're waived.
26:20So we'll hear if they clear or not tomorrow.
26:24And then moving on to defense and goaltending.
26:27I feel like we have to start with the backup job.
26:33I have so many thoughts.
26:36And like,
26:36it's so funny because,
26:38you know,
26:38obviously the backup role is very important,
26:40but it feels like kind of funny to be focusing on it as much as we are.
26:46I don't know.
26:47That's just me.
26:48But I mean,
26:48I was having this conversation with someone at the rink the other day,
26:52and I found it so interesting,
26:54this training camp,
26:54you know,
26:54the Rangers have very clearly are trying to do right by their youth right now.
27:00They kept Lafreniere and Perrault together.
27:02They've got Noah Laba in his usual spot.
27:04Rampe and Hamelash are alternating on the fourth line.
27:07And even Albert Smith gets put right into the third pair.
27:14But offseason forward and defensive signs weren't like the,
27:18they weren't roadblocks to the youth.
27:21Like they usually have been in the,
27:22in the past,
27:23but the only person that it didn't apply to was Dylan Garand.
27:29And like,
27:29yes,
27:29as I mentioned,
27:30it's important and experiences is probably the safer option.
27:34But if this was truly the competition that they made it out to be,
27:38when they signed Corpus Allo grand would be in the,
27:42would be the third group would be the third goalie in the first group.
27:46He's been with the second group for the entirety of training camp so far.
27:52Like the first group,
27:53it's been Igor Corpus Allo and Spencer Martin.
27:57And then they put grand with the second group.
28:00And I just feel like it's giving the decision is already made.
28:03And for your homegrown growly,
28:05who's been such a good soldier and,
28:07you know,
28:09he's been marinating in the American league.
28:11He went to Oh,
28:12and one in his first three games,
28:13didn't really give them much of a reason to doubt his potential.
28:16It just feels like a little bit of a,
28:18of a mess on my part and their part.
28:20I feel like I think whichever one is waived grand or Corpus Allo,
28:25I think that there'll be claimed.
28:27So,
28:27you know,
28:28it's,
28:28I feel like I would want it to feel like more of a competition than it
28:33actually is,
28:34you know?
28:35Well,
28:36do you want him to be the third goalie or the second goalie on the ice with
28:40Igor?
28:40Cause you're splitting the net practice,
28:42right?
28:42Or am I wrong?
28:43Yeah,
28:44no,
28:44I mean,
28:45I think it,
28:47I think it,
28:48I think they rotate.
28:49Yeah.
28:49They,
28:49they,
28:50I think it depends on the day.
28:51I think sometimes it's like all rotating.
28:53And then other times it is like today ahead of a game,
28:56you know,
28:56Igor had his own net cause he's playing two,
28:59three periods tonight.
29:02So anyways,
29:03yeah.
29:04The point is like,
29:04I mean,
29:05you could spin it that way.
29:07Yeah.
29:07I think.
29:09And it was Corpus Allo was a trade,
29:11wasn't it?
29:12Yes.
29:12One year left.
29:15Uh,
29:16yes.
29:17Um,
29:17let me double check that.
29:20Either way.
29:21It's,
29:21I mean,
29:22they didn't,
29:22they didn't give up any,
29:23they didn't give up.
29:24I don't think that,
29:25I don't think that like a,
29:27you know,
29:28they did Boston a favor because they have Michael.
29:30Yeah.
29:31It was like,
29:31it's his time now.
29:32Cause he's done.
29:34He,
29:34well,
29:34he's done better than what,
29:35what Dylan Grant has done in the American league,
29:38but they were like,
29:39we,
29:39we have to open up a spot for him behind Swayman because this is what,
29:44this is the natural order of things.
29:45I mean,
29:46we have to move on.
29:47So almost the Rangers do them a favor by taking them on.
29:49but what the Rangers are doing is less about the battle.
29:54I think could be wrong,
29:56but I think it's less about the battle between Corp Salo and grand and more
30:00about what if Igor gets hurt in January again?
30:05Do you know what I mean?
30:07Which,
30:07which is there's a good,
30:08which of course,
30:09like,
30:09and I've said that his track record,
30:11he's good for at least one injury every year.
30:15Basically.
30:16Like he's Garrett.
30:18It's like,
30:18it's just his history at this point.
30:20He's good for at least one every year.
30:22So I get why it is such a big deal,
30:24you know,
30:25and why there's a hesitant hesitancy there to trust such a young goalie who's
30:29so inexperienced in such an important year.
30:32I do see it.
30:33I do.
30:33The Martin and Martin and grand.
30:36But yeah,
30:37you want that to be,
30:38if it's in Corp Salo,
30:40I mean,
30:41he had some good games last year.
30:42He kind of had a little bit of a bounce back resurgence.
30:44And so there's 84 games.
30:47Yeah.
30:48I know that's only two more games,
30:49but the way that the goaltending was trending before that was like 50 to 55
30:55is your number one guy.
30:58Especially if Igor's having,
31:01you know,
31:02once a year,
31:02something happens to Igor.
31:05Oh,
31:05and you know,
31:07we saw,
31:07we saw with Igor,
31:08then we saw with quickie and then someone to take the lion's share.
31:11And I don't,
31:13I don't,
31:13again,
31:14I don't know all the reasons for it.
31:15Maybe it's just because three games is not enough to judge.
31:18And they didn't love what he was doing in Hartford last year.
31:22But,
31:23but my counter to that would then be,
31:25there was no reason why Spencer Martin should have been the recall last season.
31:30And if you want to point at the fact that Garand wasn't doing that well,
31:34I,
31:34you could point the whole fricking team in front of him was a dumpster fire.
31:39Yeah,
31:40exactly.
31:41I mean,
31:41the team was horrific last year.
31:43Like,
31:44I just feel like it's unfair to have,
31:48you know,
31:48to,
31:48to take that as the reason why they went to Spencer Martin over Dylan Garand at
31:53that moment in time.
31:54So they could have had five,
31:57six games to evaluate Garand off of,
32:00but they chose not to,
32:01and they only got three.
32:04And I just,
32:05yeah,
32:06I mean,
32:06I guess I'm more so just coming from a place of,
32:08we've seen the decisions that they make when it comes to their prospects,
32:14their homegrown guys,
32:16you know,
32:16one of the biggest knocks against the Rangers is their lack of development,
32:20their inability to foster confidence.
32:23And,
32:23and that to me was such a simple choice to put Garand with the main group to
32:29let them know,
32:30yes,
32:30it is you in Corpus Allo.
32:32That second group placement to me told me the decisions made.
32:38That's all I'm saying.
32:39And I just,
32:40because I think you want to be a group when you only have 10 practices,
32:43you got,
32:44you got,
32:45but like my,
32:46my counter is like,
32:48you know,
32:48if they were to wave Corpus Allo and go with Garand,
32:51like,
32:51I don't necessarily think it would be the biggest loss ever.
32:56If you were to get claimed just in terms of,
32:58obviously it would for the depth and like the state of the goaltending,
33:01but they only gave up a prospect.
33:04Who's not an AHL or,
33:06you know,
33:06he's not even a prospect anymore.
33:07He was,
33:08you know,
33:08a very low level guy in the organization.
33:10And then a fourth rounder that they basically recouped elsewhere.
33:15So it kind of,
33:16it just,
33:16you know,
33:17it didn't really feel like that big of a,
33:19you know,
33:20you know,
33:20of a sell to get to bring them in.
33:22But I,
33:23I just,
33:23yeah,
33:24I guess I don't know which one I'd,
33:26if I'm the Rangers,
33:27I'd rather lose for nothing.
33:28Cause I feel like one way or the other,
33:30that's what's going to happen.
33:32There's 31 other teams that are going through camp right now that might have
33:35an injury.
33:35You know,
33:36you could have a trade partner.
33:37There's a lot of different things.
33:39There's a lot of moving parts.
33:41You just,
33:42I think you just,
33:43the most important things,
33:44you need to have a backup plan on.
33:46I think that's sort of what they're positioning themselves to do.
33:49Yeah,
33:50no,
33:50I definitely think,
33:51and you know,
33:52this organization has no reason not to have the utmost faith in their
33:57goaltending evaluation.
33:58I mean,
33:59look at their history.
34:00Like they,
34:00I,
34:01you know,
34:01if,
34:02if there's something that they're seeing with Garand,
34:04you know,
34:05like I,
34:05I guess I,
34:06you know,
34:06I wouldn't blame them,
34:07but I guess I just,
34:10I don't know when they signed Corpus Allo,
34:12they made this whole big thing about it is a competition,
34:15you know,
34:16this,
34:16and it just doesn't feel that way.
34:18And I just think that's something that knocks confidence.
34:21It,
34:21you know,
34:22it just,
34:22you want to,
34:23you talk about setting up all your players for success.
34:25And that's the thing that's so fascinating to me is they made that
34:28decision with so many other parts of the lineup,
34:31but him.
34:33So it just,
34:33yeah,
34:34that,
34:34that was the only thing that was,
34:35that was it.
34:36Yeah.
34:37Also,
34:39yeah.
34:39Corpus Allo has two seasons left on his deal,
34:43including this year at 4 million each.
34:46Yeah.
34:47So,
34:48yeah.
34:49So they have an,
34:49another season in there,
34:51you know,
34:51too.
34:51And,
34:52and,
34:52you know,
34:52with Louis Domingue leaving,
34:54being needed,
34:54they did need to bring someone in for sure.
34:57I just kind of thought it would be less of a veteran person.
35:01To kind of give Garand more of,
35:03you know,
35:03make it more feel like a competition,
35:05but yeah,
35:06like I said,
35:06it just hasn't really felt like much.
35:09So I guess we'll see how that,
35:11how that plays out because I feel like that's a,
35:14a very interesting one.
35:15Yeah.
35:19And all right,
35:20let's do some predictions.
35:22Shall we?
35:23Okay.
35:24Where do you think this Rangers team is going to finish,
35:27Brian?
35:29I think.
35:32Washington's a bit scary.
35:34Carolina is Carolina.
35:36And.
35:39You know what?
35:40I'm not as concerned about Philly or Pitt.
35:44Yeah.
35:45Islanders.
35:46I don't know what's happening in Columbus.
35:50I love it.
35:51I don't know what's happening.
36:01I don't know if they're going to be in the top three of the Metro,
36:04but I still think that the players that this Rangers team has with the
36:09additions on the back end and what you have in Adam Fox and Gabrikov as
36:13your top pair and Igor.
36:16Or I don't know if they're going to be in the top three of the Metro,
36:19but I don't.
36:21I think they're in the playoffs.
36:23I think.
36:25And,
36:25you know,
36:25people are counting them out and people are probably thinking I'm crazy or
36:28I'm too close to the situation,
36:29but I think it's a playoff team.
36:30Just.
36:31Yeah.
36:31On paper right now.
36:32If you get a little more,
36:33what if you get more from lava?
36:35Takes a big step.
36:36And Perot does what we think he's,
36:38you know,
36:38capable of doing.
36:39I'm high on Lafreniere again.
36:41Yeah.
36:42And Dorofaev is the finisher that JT needs next to him.
36:46For sure.
36:47And he's.
36:47Yeah.
36:48He didn't think the guy scored 12 goals in the playoffs.
36:51Like.
36:51Yeah.
36:53You know,
36:53you know who was like Miller's,
36:56one of his like number one line mates last year,
36:59Connor Sherry.
37:00Like if you,
37:01it just.
37:03I,
37:03yeah,
37:04I think.
37:05Yeah.
37:05I think this will be really good.
37:07It's a much different looking top six.
37:09It really is.
37:10You're better.
37:11So I'm in agreement with you.
37:12Yeah.
37:13I thought if I were to predict.
37:15I think that they will comfortably be in a wild wild card spot.
37:19I think they'll comfortably be there for,
37:22for a decent amount of time.
37:25That's my definitive prediction.
37:29I'm going to put a comfortably.
37:31Yeah.
37:32That's the Atlantic with,
37:33with,
37:34you know,
37:34with,
37:34with Tampa,
37:35Florida and Montreal,
37:36it looked really good.
37:38And I think Toronto might be a little bit better.
37:39I mean,
37:40so who knows?
37:40Yeah.
37:40It's a wild card situation.
37:42I think you're going to try to battle Jersey.
37:44You're going to try to battle Jersey.
37:46I think your goaltending is better.
37:48To,
37:49to get to that top three,
37:50if you can.
37:51But yeah,
37:53it's,
37:53I think they're a playoff team on paper and top two players.
37:58You're excited to watch this season.
38:02Oh man.
38:03I think it had a box might be a little angry with some people.
38:07That,
38:08that I'm going to work.
38:12Which is great.
38:14Cause then he'll play awesome.
38:17I feel like last season I had a Mika Zibanejad Jersey here and it worked wonders for him.
38:23So maybe I'll get a Fox Jersey here and it could help him a little bit.
38:28Yeah.
38:30Yeah.
38:31I want,
38:31I just,
38:31I just want to see JT Miller do well.
38:33I want him to just,
38:35cause I love how he just is who he is.
38:40And I think he's more like the people,
38:43the great people of New York and the fans of the Rangers than they realize.
38:47There's a lot of similarities there.
38:50Yeah.
38:50I haven't had a chance to say hi to him yet,
38:53but I can't wait to ask him how much crap he got from the Rangers for doing that
38:56spin chicklets.
38:59They couldn't have been happy about that one.
39:02Oh,
39:02you don't think so?
39:04Nope.
39:05Nope.
39:05That's my guess.
39:06I'm going to go with Sean Dursey.
39:09I've been high on Sean Dursey since I,
39:12like since I started watching him in the league,
39:15honestly,
39:15I love,
39:16I've always loved him as a player.
39:17I think he brings such a fire to the game.
39:20He's got a little nastiness to him.
39:23And I feel like this team could use way more of that.
39:26And I'm,
39:27I'm going to go with Lafreniere.
39:28I am excited to see a full season of him being the guy,
39:34at least in terms of usage.
39:36So what he does with it,
39:39very excited to see.
39:41And maybe last question,
39:43will they score in their home opener?
39:47Yeah.
39:48Yeah.
39:49Yeah.
39:50Okay.
39:50You want to put money on that?
39:53I don't bet.
39:55No,
39:56I don't either.
39:57Actually,
39:58I don't.
39:58I don't either.
39:59I don't either.
40:00I hate that.
40:01I can't,
40:01I can't do betting.
40:02I did.
40:03And it was like,
40:04cool.
40:04When you'd win.
40:05And then when you,
40:05when I lost,
40:06I wanted him.
40:07Like,
40:08yeah,
40:09I,
40:10I can't,
40:11I'm not a gambler.
40:11Cause I can't see my money disappear that quickly.
40:14I'd rather.
40:16So like,
40:18I don't need it to go even faster.
40:22All righty.
40:23On that note,
40:24let's let's wrap it up.
40:26But thanks so much for listening.
40:29Give us a thumbs up down below,
40:31comment down below and tell us what your season predictions are for the Rangers
40:36and the two players that you're most looking forward to seeing this season.
40:40And we'll chat again next week.
40:43Looking forward to it.
40:44Bye.