Different day here at the MSG Training Center. Assistant GM/interim assistant coach Jim Schoenfeld led a split squad with the on-ice session with coach John Tortorella guided the off-ice meetings. Many of Schoenfeld's drills, as he described later, were about breaking down the shooting process to make incremental improvements.
For instance, goalies Steve Valiquette and the local guy from Manhattanville they bring in when Henrik Lundqvist is not on the ice literally lay on their sides along the goal line, pads stacked, gloves extended up, forcing the players to shoot high. Another problem, Schoenfeld said, is it is one thing to say the players have to crash the net. Problem is, too many of the Rangers are actually getting too close to the net, leaving no openings to shoot. So Schoenfeld had them look at the situation from a different perspective. Literally. Lying down to visualize what the puck sees as it travels toward the net.
The groups were broken up by playing time in last night's 2-1 loss to the Panthers. Essentially if you played more than 15 minutes or so, you were off the ice today.
By my count...
On the ice: Nigel Dawes, Petr Prucha, Dmitri Kalinin, Fredrik Sjostrom, Mark Bell, Erik Reitz, Paul Mara, Aaron Voros, Blair Betts, Lauri Korpikoski, Colton Orr, Valiquette, dude from Manhattanville who plays goal when Lundqvist is off the ice.
Off the ice: Lundqvist (hence the dude from Manhattanville...), Dan Girardi, Wade Redden, Michal Rozsival, Marc Staal, Markus Naslund, Nikolai Zherdev, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky.
And when players didn't complete the drill the way Schoenfeld wanted, say by missing the net on a shooting drill, there were pushups to be done.
Also, caught up to Mark Bell for the first time, who joked that he's walked past John Tortorella a few times but still has not really met his new coach, just as Torts had to ask during his pre-game press conference Thursday whether Bell had actually been on the charter flight home.
Bell obviously skated today but has not been given any clue as to whether he'll remain with the Rangers or be put on waivers in an attempt to send him to Hartford (AHL).
"I was hopefuly it would happen and it did," Bell said of the Maple Leafs exposing him to re-entry waivers. "I'm thankful the Rangers picked me up. I just want to make the most of the opportunity given to me, whether it's big or small."
Obviously, it's been a frustrating season for the 28-year-old Bell, who's spent in with the Maple Leafs' AHL squad (also based in Toronto), after being the eighth overall pick in the 1998 draft and playing in the NHL with the Blackhawks, Sharks and Maple Leafs.
"I think the most frustrating part was I trained really hard last summer. But in seemed in training camp I was on the outside looking in. It was a bitter pill to swallow for me. I went to the minor leagues and worked on every part of the game to become a better player."
Bell said he's not sure what his presence means in relation to the Rangers potentially trying to claim Sean Avery, also a left wing, if the Dallas Stars put him on re-entry waivers.
"I try not to think about all that stuff," Bell said. "I'm just kind of looking at myself and what I can do."
Bell is very familiar with Avery. He said they went through repeated battles in their four years of playing junior hockey against each other.
Andrew _ thanks for the update on Bell.
Was curious as to their plans for him, obviously it'll take a few more days to see how it shakes out.
He can't just be insurance if Avery gets claimed, and he's not a re-entry waiver decoy, so I'm curious to see if they give him a shot.
Especially since his $1M remaining counts against the cap as long as he's in the bigs.
Posted by: Scott Levy | February 27, 2009 at 01:04 PM
rob - i think he has less than $ 1 mm remaining. his contact is approx $ 2.5 mm i thought. in any event 1/2 his remaining contract is on toronto with the other 1/2 on us. i think our share might be approx $ 350 k unless we send him down via waivers
Posted by: LI Joe | February 27, 2009 at 01:11 PM
That's just weird that Bell hasn't spoken w/ Torts yet. To me that means he's going down. Maybe he's a Voros replacement if anything
Posted by: Puck Central.net | February 27, 2009 at 01:12 PM
According to several sources, Avery will be placed on re-entry waivers by Monday
Posted by: Puck Central.net | February 27, 2009 at 01:24 PM
You know Andrew, I have a name...
Posted by: The Dude | February 27, 2009 at 02:30 PM
Just watched the nhl.com highlights from last night. Never seen so many open nets missed.
Posted by: Josh | February 27, 2009 at 02:45 PM
Dude,
Yes I know you have a name, just trying to have some fun.
Posted by: Andrew Gross | February 27, 2009 at 03:17 PM
Maybe they should get a few more 'dudes' up there and see if they can get someone who can score!
Posted by: Puck Central.net | February 27, 2009 at 03:56 PM
LI Joe-
great point re: bell's salary. Thanks for the correction.
Was half asleep when i posted - am on the west coast.
That make$ Bell much more palatable whilst he auditions for Torts.
Posted by: rob | February 27, 2009 at 05:02 PM
that practice sounds like a 'holik', no fundamentals.
Posted by: i | February 27, 2009 at 06:45 PM
I say give Bell a shot-and by that I mean three or four games instead of one. It can't hurt to get him in there instead of Voros. It's do or die time now. I know I was blowing off some steam last night but I really don't see NY missing the Playoffs unless they just give up. This losing streak cannot continue indefinitely can it?
Posted by: Keith | February 27, 2009 at 07:06 PM
Andrew-
Have you heard anything at all about possible trades Sather may make? I have been digging but I've found nothing. To me if Pronger is out there NY should try and go get him. He is solid on the PP and he's tough too. They need both-maybe ship Rozy out and some picks? I don't know-I am grasping here-I think they need to make a move somehow if they can
Posted by: Keith | February 27, 2009 at 08:18 PM
Keith,
Did a speculative story for tomorrow's paper, it should be on line in the morning. The Rangers will probably have to move salary to get Avery in. Guessing but I'd say they'd look to move Voros first. As I write for tomorrow, if you look at the contracts of the big four, Drury, Gomez, Redden and Rozsival, all would be very hard to trade.
Posted by: Andrew Gross | February 27, 2009 at 08:29 PM
I could see Toronto dealing for Drury or Gomez. In return the NYR would have to give them a high draft pick. Not sure what the Rangers would get back in return. Burke has already said that he'd be willing to take on contracts that were basically mistakes if he got draft picks in return (if he thought that the player would benefit Toronto).
Posted by: Puck Central.net | February 27, 2009 at 08:42 PM
THanks Andrew, I am adding the Record-love that paper's sports section-to my Favorites right now and I will check out your piece tomorrow.
Posted by: Keith | February 27, 2009 at 08:44 PM
By the way Rangers fans-I'm sure none of you missed 'fatso' sporting a shutout in his return last night. Here's to hoping my number one hated team (the Pittsburgh cindy crosbys) loses tonight-that will make me feel better.
Posted by: Keith | February 27, 2009 at 08:50 PM
Any chance NY has some interest in Nick Boynton who it seems Florida is running out of town?
Posted by: Puck Central.net | February 27, 2009 at 09:34 PM