Sorting out the Rangers cuts and keepers...more must go

UPDATED BELOW WITH LIST OF TODAY'S WAIVERS VIA TSN

The 27 still in camp:

Goalies:

Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Biron

Forwards (16):

RWs Marian Gaborik, Ryan Callahan, Ruslan Fedotenko, Brandon Prust; LWs Alex Frolov, Brandon Dubinsky, Sean Avery, Vinny Prospal, Derek Boogaard, Tim Kennedy; Cs Artem Anisimov, Derek Stepan, Erik Christensen, Brian Boyle, Chris Drury, Todd White.

Defensemen (9)

Mark Staal, Dan Girardi, Michael Del Zotto, Michal Rozsival, Matt Gilroy, Steve Eminger, Ryan McDonagh, Pavel Valentenko, Michael Sauer.

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Some of today’s cuts were obvious, to one observer’s eyes and from the hints dropped by the daily assessments from John Tortorella.

On D, with the appealing youngsters and Steve Eminger staying so far, there was no room for tryouts Alexei Semenov, who seemed to have lost a step from last year, and Garnet Exelby, who was prone to bad penalties in Toronto and was out of position often. Did think the experienced Semenov, who was talking with the Rangers all summer, had a shot to stick a little longer.

Eminger, who arrived in the Aaron Voros trade, tweaked a groin and hasn’t played much in camp so far, but assistant coach Mike Sullivan (formerly of the Lightning) is one of his boosters. He could wind up as a seventh man, a rotating $1.25 million worth of insurance for Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko. McDonagh logged 23 minutes against the Wings, FYI. It also appears that second-year pro Matt Gilroy, if he isn’t offered in a trade, will be around for the start of the season.

The Rangers don’t want to lose Michael Sauer: he’d have to clear waivers, and that could be a downside, but in a numbers game, it could happen. Pavel Valentenko brings blueline toughness that the Rangers crave---one exec mentioned that he could develop into an Anton Volchenkov-type player with more offensive upside. Witness his blasts from the point and his relentless, physical approach to Tomas Holmstrom in Detroit. Valentenko and McDonagh, on entry level deals, won’t have to clear waivers, and that could be a factor. Nevertheless, both will see time on Broadway one way or another this season and make that Scott Gomez trade look better and better and better.

Like Eminger, tryout Ruslan Fedotenko also has a history. He played well, most of the time, for Torts in Tampa. He could wind up as the third-line right wing, a position where the Rangers are short behind Marian Gaborik and Ryan Callahan. Of course, when Drury returns, if not as a center, that could be his slot. Brandon Prust is a very capable, willing-to-drop-the-gloves fourth liner.

Tortorella never seemed blown away by the diminutive RW Mats Zuccarello, who has plenty of quickness and offensive skills and needs to adjust to the smaller North American ice surface. To his credit, the 23-year-old regularly said he was more than willing to make that adjustment in Hartford. He may see time on a line with Grachev there, and the Hobbit should be back, too.

On the left side, we have Alexander Frolov, Brandon Dubinsky, Vinny Prospal, Sean Avery, Derek Boogaard and….Tim Kennedy? Maybe. And at center, the mystery remains: Artem Anisimov, Derek Stepan, Erik Christensen, Todd White, Brian Boyle and…Kennedy. All except Stepan, who might be a tad burned out from his summer-long push to make the team, would have to clear waivers. Kennedy seems like he’s in, and Fedotenko, especially if Drury goes on IR. I still think White, who may be the top faceoff man in camp, and Boyle are on the bubble.

Again, and it’s been written here for weeks, I’ve said it in chats and on Twitter, don’t discount a trade to shed a forward for a draft pick (the Rangers have no 6 or 7 in 2011) or used in a trade package.
 

YOUR THOUGHTS?

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Mike Angelidis (TB), Chris Durno (TB), Mitchell Fritz (TB), Blair Jones (TB), Vladimir Mihalik (TB), Juraj Simek (TB), Paul Szczechura (TB), Trevor Smith (AN), Dane Byers (NYR), Kris Newbury (NYR), Jeremy Williams (NYR), Darryl Boyce (TOR), Joey Crabb (TOR), Ryan Hamilton (TOR), Alex Foster (TOR), Ryan Hollweg (PHX), Alexandre Picard (PHX), Garrett Stafford (PHX), Nolan Yonkman (PHX), Matt Climie (PHX), Al Montoya (PHX), Patrick Davis (NJ), Stephen Gionta (NJ), Olivier Magnan-Grenier (NJ) Bradley Mills (NJ), Tim Sestito (NJ), Chad Wiseman (NJ), Mike McKenna (NJ), Brian Willsie (WSH), Kyle Greentree (WSH), Andreas Thuresson (NSH), Teemu Laakso (NSH), TJ Hensick (STL), Brad Moran (EDM), Gregory Stewart (EDM), Hugh Jessiman (CHI), Tyler Weiman (VAN), Triston Grant (FLA), Gord Baldwin (CGY), William Thomas (FLA), Andre Benoit (OTT), Mike Brodeur (OTT), Cliche, Marc-Andre Cliche (LA), Thomas Jordan Trevelyan (SJ), Jay Leach (SJ), Sean Sullivan (SJ), Jon Disalvatore (MIN), Robbie Earl (MIN), Petr Kalus (MIN), Warren Peters (MIN)