Gaborik wants to play last 3 preseason games

No real update on Sean Avery yet. He left the ice and went to have his right knee examined and tested by the Rangers assistant team doctor, Dr. Anthony Maddalo. Avery was to have played tonight. Instead, Aaron Voros will take his place on Artem Anisimov's left wing along with Ryan Callahan.

And now that Marian Gaborik is in tonight's lineup against the Red Wings - his first preseason game after experiencing tightness in his groin prior to training camp - Gaborik said he wants to stay in the lineup for the rest of the preseason schedule (Thursday vs. Capitals and Sunday at Washington).

Gaborik will skate on Vinny Prospal's right wing with Christopher Higgins.

The other lines and defense pairs:
Ales Kotalik-Chris Drury-Enver Lisin
Evgeny Grachev-Brian Boyle-P.A. Parenteau
Alexei Semenov-Matt Gilroy
Michael Del Zotto-Dan Girardi
Bobby Sanguinetti-Wade Redden
G: Henrik Lundqvist (will play the first half), Steve Valiquette

As for Brandon Dubinsky, who skated with the team for the first time since signing a two-year deal worth $3.7 million on Saturday, he won't play tonight but Tortorella is hoping to get him into the lineup on Thursday.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AGrossRecord

Tortorella said he didn't believe he needed to monitor Gaborik in any way during the game, even if Gaborik said he isn't quite at full strength.

"I feel good, I don't think I'm all the way to 100 percent," Gaborik said after going through a morning skate that was heavy on stretching and agility skating. "Games are totally different than practice...I don't think there's something I cannot do."

Tortorella did acknowledge the importance of Gaborik finally playing.

"Just to get into some game situations," Tortorella said. "These next three, you start playing against more NHLers, especially the last two. Just for his timing and just for in the locker room, how we do it, our meetings, because he's new. I think it's important for him and he realizes that."

These next two weeks will be when Tortorella shapes his squad heading into next Friday night's season opener at Pittsburgh. The routine will be set as far as meetings and skates. Tortorella will be doing plenty of instruction as to the details (faceoffs, checking assignments) he wants to see.

And by Thursday's game, Tortorella said he'd like to trim his roster down from its current 25 to "the 21 or 22 range."

Most pressing on the coach's list:

1. The defensemen - Tortorella said there are still three spots among among the seven he's likely to carry.
He has liked what he's seen from training camp tryout Alexei Semenov: "I think he's added some jam to our blue line, he's moved the puck better than I thought he could. He's been great in games as far as demeanor on the bench. He's been a surprise. It's kind of nice seeing a guy not wanting guaranteed money, just coming in and playing."
Tortorella is also still looking for more from Marc Staal and Dan Girardi.
"I'd like to get (Staal) more involved in the offense, I think he has the ability to do that," Tortorella said. "Both of them, I'd like to see a little more bit in their game. It's not running people through the glass and boards, it's just being a little bit harder to play against in certain situations, below the hashmarks."

2. The centers - Brandon Dubinsky's return after a week-long holdout is a big plus but a top-line center to play with Gaborik still needs to be established and there's not much depth. Brian Boyle has been solid in the preseason but can he really handle being the team's fourth-line center? And will rookie Artem Anisimov play consistently enough to keep himself in the lineup?

3. Where does Vinny Prospal play? - He's a natural pivot and has played in the middle in training camp, mainly due to Dubinsky's absence. But the Rangers envisioned him on the wing when they signed him this summer and that's where he played in Tampa Bay under Tortorella.

Comments

[CP (Chris)]

I'm just inferring, but it sounds as if Drury has dropped considerably in Torts depth chart and plans. Has Drury said during training camp how his wrist has felt? I think there is a decent chance Anisimov could play 2nd line center, especially after last weekend.

Finally, I'm happy the Dubi deal is done, but I hope Torts' attitude is to start him on the 3rd line and make him earn a spot on the top 2 lines after missing a good portion of training camp and endurance tests. It's best for him and the team...

[Bryan Kremkau]

Great updates, keep them coming Andrew

[Matty]

Smart of him to not give public evaluations of the play of Redden and Roszival

[graves9]

cp uhh why hurt the team by not playing Dubi with a guy like Gaborik who he might have great chemistry with? Dubi missed all of a week of training camp. It is not hard to catch up on a week of missed camp. If Avery is out for a while hopefully it opens up a spot in the lineup for Parentau or Byers and not Voros.

[Rogan]

Graves, I agree with Chris. You can't flat-out reward him after he sat out most of camp. It doesn't send the right message. Mind you, I'm not sure the contract he signed sends the right message either, but alas. But there's more than enough time for Dubinsky to earn that top line spot for the regular season. But I'm not sure Torts envisions him there. We'll see.

[CP (Chris)]

If he MIGHT have chemistry with Dubi, why not play Dubi tonight and sit Prospal? It's obvious Torts still isn't happy with the arrogance of this kid to holdout for as long as he did. There are only two games left in preseason after tonight, not including scrimmages, for Dubi to prove he is first line-worthy. No, it's not hard to catch up from missing training camp, but the fact of the matter is that the rest of the team is in better shape right now because of it. Dubi played third line last year with the Playstation line, so what's the difference if starts there this year?

[Jess]

Wow Dubinsky is the worst person in Ranger's history based on the way some of you are acting.

Which of course means you same folks think Glen Sather is the poor poor innocent victim here.

After all Glen Sather never has done anything wrong when it comes to handing out contracts right?

But you folks are taking it out on Dubinsky.

I pity Marc Staal next season when his contract is up and Sather lowballs him.

You folks will burn Staal at the stake

[Ian]

Jess,

I think Sather played it right. Originally Dubinsky and is crackhead agent were asking for 4 years 16 MILLION dollars. 4 MILLION a year.

Is Dubinsky WORTH that munch. I dont think so. I hate Sather myself but he played this right by not budging.

In my opinion Sather signed Dubinsky to a great contract and got him for an extra year.

[LI Joe]

staal is a much better player than dubi so its apples and oranges. dubi is a very good 3rd line center on a good team. staal is a 1st pair dman and will be used against the crosbys and Ao's of the world when we have the last change.

[CP (Chris)]

Jess, I'm not sure who you are referring to, but I don't think Dubi is a bad guy at all. I just think when you have all summer to push your demands hard, and then gamble your contract negotiations into training camp like he did, he needs to now play for his position, especially with all of these young, eager kids playing for spots in the depth chart.

No, I still can't stand Sather, and hate him for giving-in to Dubi's demands, especially with all of these young kids who will be in the same position in the next few years. It completely detiorates any power the organiztion has.

As far as Staal, I think even you can agree, Jess, that Staal is more valuable to this organization than Dubi is, and probably will get what he deserves when he is up for a new contract.

[oleosmirf]

i personally feel Dubinsky didnt deserve the money he originally asked for (13 goals for a top 6 forward is very low) but this contract is very fair for both sides.

Im hoping Dubinsky turns into the player that Jess and others think he will but i still have my doubts...

Considering we're a borderline playoff team I think the young guys should get the chance...

[Matty]

CP,

I agree 100%, I think Sather will take the same approach with Staal as he did with Henrik ... Most likely to prevent offer sheets, because unlike Dubinsky he will attract them, he most likely will try to extend Staal after January ... Or they might take Staal to team requested arbitration as with Henrik to, again, prevent offer sheets so that they can work out a deal ...

Also I think you have to realize that some people made this Dubinsky holdout/negotiation personal CP and any kind of comment that even hints at being critical of Dubinsky these people view it as people trashing Dubinsky and praising Sather even if that's far from the case ... just ignore it as there is no point in arguing the point

[graves9]

Dubi imo is a top 6 forward and I think he'll score 20-25 goals this year. A lot of young players break out in their third year as will Dubi imo.

[r4 revolution]

Hi all...
I am playing games on pc and i like to know more about gaming...
I like this article because it's provide lot's of fun and knowledge...