Ssh It is a Slow Sleepy Sunday

Normally I would start out with the daily report of how the prospect did but when looking at the early results of this weeks poll I was left scratching my head.

Now I can understand why people think the Rangers need more depth at goalie but at center? If anything I would think people would be leaning more towards the wings so to help I decided to help remind people who the Ranger center prospects are.

That first picture is of Brandon Dubinsky, he is currently centering for the Rangers on a line that has some guy named Jagr on it.

Next up is Artem Anisimov who should be playing for the Rangers by the 2008 season at the latest.

He is a solid center with strong defensive skills and who's offensive side is going to catch up to his defensive skills once he adjusts to life in North America.

Anisimov has size (6'4), very strong skating skills and an excellent on ice vision.

Then our third member of the center prospect party is a young man named Tom Pyatt. Now Pyatt is not the biggest dog in the yard but he is something that neither Dubinsky or Anisimov are and that is a 2 time gold medal winner with Team Canada's World Junior team.

Pyatt is a player who people tend to make the mistake over overlooking because all he does is go out and do his job without flash or headlines. Super strong defensively but has this uncanny ability to score the clutch goal. While Dubinsky and Anisimov are leading the Ranger offensive attack there will be Pyatt protecting the defensive side.

Ah but you thought we was done with our center prospect but not so fast as there are still more to talk about like Max Campbell who may be a few years away as he earns his college degree.

Then there is Billy Ryan who is attending Maine (yes the same place where current Wolfpack Greg Moore is from), and David Skokan who is playing for Rimouski in the QMJHL.

Now can someone please tell me why they think the Rangers need more centers?

Sunday Prospect Action

Tomas Zaborsky's 12th goal of the season helped his Saginaw Spirit to an upset road win in the shoot out over the Kitchener Rangers in OHL action. It was the 10th goal in the last 10 games for Zaborsky as he is now 10-4-14 during that span.

Bobby Sanguinetti had an assist as his Brampton Battalion lost at home 6-2 to the Barrie Colts. The loss allowed the Colts to move into sole possession of first place in the OHL's Central Division.

Ryan Hillier had an assist as well as his Halifax Mooseheads continued to be the hottest team in all of the CHL with a 5-2 win over the Drummondville Voltigeurs. With the win the Mooseheads finished a 4 game road trip undefeated and even better now an 8 game winning streak.

Antoine Lafleur's 3 game winning streak is technically alive as he did not suffer the loss but Lafleur was pulled in the second period after giving up 3 goals on 9 shots. Lafleur's Prince Edward Island Rocket lost to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan 5-4 but I have question the decision to start Lafleur today to begin with.

The Rocket played last night on the road in Moncton (started at 7PM) then returned home to face the Titan in a game that started at 4 PM. I can understand wanting to go with your hot goalie but not here as between traveling on a bus it was too much in our book.

There is Hot then there is being Red Hot

Going back to Ryan Hillier's Halifax Mooseheads who have won 8 straight let us tell you just how hot the "Herd" really are. For starters their record is an impressive 18-3-0-4, a .720 winning percentage that is the best in the QMJHL but that is just getting started.

Since October 5th the "Herd" have only lost 1 game in regulation going 14-1-0-4 during that span. They have won 6 straight on the road and when the new CHL Mosak Mastercard Rankings come out should be the top ranked team in all of the CHL leagues.

Should that happen as expected then it will also be a Ranger prospect first. With Ryan Hillier's Mooseheads ruling the CHL then add Carl Hagelin's Michigan Wolverines at the top of the NCAA polls and you have Ranger prospects on the best teams in prospect hockey.

One last Hillier note as Hillier will be part of Team QMJHL as they face the Russian Selects first Monday in Chicoutimi and then Wednesday in Gatineau. Hillier is expected to start at least one if not both games in this series which helps determine who will represent Team Canada in the World Junior Championships.