This report comes to you courtesy of my predecessor, Arthur Staple, guys and girls, pinch-hitting today and tomorrah. A round of applause please....and make sure you hop over to his snazzy, must-read Giants blog after this, OK?
Coach Tom Renney had Brad Isbister back with Jaromir Jagr and Michael Nylander today for practice, and dropped Marty Straka down to the second line with Sean Avery and Brendan Shanahan. Ryan Callahan, who had been a second-liner, skated in Jed Ortmeyer's spot with Petr Prucha and Matt Cullen -- Ortmeyer missed practice and is day-to-day with a knee injury from the Montreal game.
It's not the usual Ranger knee injury, though. This was just precautionary.
Renney said he talked with Straka, whose assist on Tuesday in Montreal was his first point in 13 games. "I did sense (some frustration), but our conversation left me at ease," Renney said. The coach added that the lines have been shuffled enough of late so that either today's combinations or the ones that started Tuesday's game could be used Saturday in Philly.
Fedor Tyutin (sprained MCL) participated in the first half of practice and Renney said Tyutin would try a full practice tomorrow. "I'm reluctant to try for Saturday," Renney said of Tyutin. "Maybe (Sunday against the Leafs)." Tyutin has missed 12 straight games.
Comments (17)
The D could really use Tyutin back there. It's nice to see that he is participating in practice.
An interesting article from Today's NY Post has Renny considering shaking up his lines again.
He's thinking about moving Avery back to LW on a line with Cullen and Callahan since that unit played very well.
The problem Renny is facing is what to do after that.
He wants to add a physical winger to the Jagr line so that would bump Straka, but who does he put there, Isbister? Hollweg? Ortmeyer?
Just a thought but how about these line combinations:
Hollweg - Nylander - Jagr
Avery - Cullen - Callahan
Prucha - Straka - Shanny
Ortmeyer - Betts - Orr
Putting Hollweg on the Jagr line (especially against the Flyers) might give Jagr and Nylander some protection against guys like Ben Eager
How can Renney still be putting Isbister on the ice, let alone on the first line? Sure he is big, but thats it, he brings nothign else to the team. I never thought I would say this, but I cant wait for Hossa to get back.
Chip, I'm not sure about putting Hollweg with Jagr and Nylander. Hollweg will be in the zone for a half-hour while Jagr and Nylander dipsy-do with the puck in the neutral zone. I do like the Avery-Cullen-Callahan line though. It brought lots of energy and offense in the past.
Brian, I can't tell you how many times I was screaming at the TV during the Isles game last Sunday - the Euro line especially doesn't seem to realize that drop passes at the blue line never lead to anything good.
Beyond the obsessive passing, keeping Straka - Nylander - Jagr together also means that there is no physical presence on the ice for the Rangers at all...none of them are willing to stick their noses in like even a Prucha does.
sorry to break it to ya, but we go to Staple's blog first and then we hop over here. nice job tho!
Chip, I love it when it works but it drives me crazy too. I hate to say this but I think Isbister (Stone Hands) fits the best with the Jagr-Nylander line because he brings some corner work and physical play to the line. At least until Hossa gets back (sooner rather than late I hope).
The obvious question: When Tyutin comes back who sits? I'm assuming Pock for sure.
Pock will not sit .. Strudwick should sit. he can't play the PP, has no offensive skills, and he cannot play in the playoffs...
easy call strudwick sits....
I think that Renney should rest Straka against Philly. By putting Isbister on the Jagr, Nylander line, it will give them someone who can retreive the puck down low and help with the cycling. That would also allow Callahan, Avery, and Shanahan to build Chemistry, same with Prucha, Ortmeyer, Cullen. It would also allow Renney to keep Holleweg and Orr in the lineup to prevent any crazy physical stuff from Philly.
How anyone can still be second guessing Hossa is beyond me. His puck posession game is as good as Isbisters (if not better), he has much better hands (especially when given the chance to display them), and he is great defensively (one of the most tenacious backcheckers the Rangers have.) He was also starting to drive hard to the net, something that Isbister does very rarely. I can't wait for him to come back! I only hope he can pick up where he left off with his offensive game...not an easy task given how much time he has missed, and that he was just starting to really heat up and become confident around the net.
Is it any wonder why NHL teams try to hide their injuries. Shocker, that the guy in the league with no shame or no pride (no intelligence for that matter either) would try to use it to his advantage. And that gutless ninny is none other than Sean Avery. I thought hockey players were supposed to live by a code that said respect the game. Where was Avery's respect for the game when he knowingly went after DP's head in the last game vs the Islaners. Being tough is different than being dirty. Someone's brain and head are off limits. We're talking about a person's livlihood here. How come Avery has gotten a pass by the media? Everyone was up in arms when Simon hit Hollweg in the head and less damage was done. Hollweg got a cut on the chin. DP got his second concussion which could have far more lingering effects than Hollwegs cut. Players that show no respect don't deserve to receive any respect. Avery has the kind of twisted mentality that invites retribution so every player should give him what he wants. Judging by his personality he'll wear out his welcome soon enough and then his current teammates could be on the other end of his dirty tactics. So everyone in the league should accept his invitation to show him how to respect the unwritten code of the NHL. Be prepared to take what you dish out. Sean Avery's day can't come soon enough. The league doesn't need or want such shameful characters. Pride can be restored to the game when Sean Avery is no longer a part of it.
Charlie,
Your a clown!
Charlie-
I just read the same post from you over at the Islander blog. Listen, you can post here becuase it's a free country but shouldn't you be worrying about the following:
-Your best player is injured because your management rushed him back from "general body soreness" (i.e. concussion) and said he was fine. He then takes a puck off the mask and goes out again. Real class move by a classless organization.
-You are currently out of the playoffs with a killer schedule ahead and your best player, goalie, is out.
-You traded some good young guys plus draft picks for a rent a player.
-Social Security is going to run out by 2031.
Enjoy golf.
Charlie,
Should we send a wambulance over to you.... WAHHHHHHH!!! WAH!!!!!! D.P. should have never been in in the first place. Avery did not do it on purpose. Maybe you & D.P. should take figure skating lessons together if this is the way you are going to react!!!! Lets Go Rangers!!!!!
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