tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152316208138615862.post4914922762590569062..comments2023-10-21T05:31:18.318-07:00Comments on The Prospect Park: Monday MusingsJess Rubensteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06086094927046897195noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152316208138615862.post-18511325973921824512008-09-11T16:43:00.000-07:002008-09-11T16:43:00.000-07:00LaurieNot wanting this to go on forever, I have de...Laurie<BR/><BR/>Not wanting this to go on forever, I have defended Cherepanov more than any other person covering Ranger prospects.<BR/><BR/>I never said it was Cherepanov who complained about his being overworked, I pointed the finger at Omsk who is as I have repeatedly said suspect when it comes to be trustworthy.<BR/><BR/>There was no report from anyone that suggested Cherepanov was injured at 4 Nations. However as soon as he reportedly was injured Omsk was quick to blame the national team and the Sarge (who gets a bum rush for his supposed treatment of Cherepanov).<BR/><BR/>Oh and FYI Cherepanov has his doubters because of Cherepanov not because people want to see him fail.Jess Rubensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086094927046897195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152316208138615862.post-43525568331897935132008-09-11T11:41:00.000-07:002008-09-11T11:41:00.000-07:00Jess,Why would anyone have said a word about Chere...Jess,<BR/><BR/>Why would anyone have said a word about Cherepanov's groin injury before it got to the point that he had to miss games? It's not like NHL teams make nagging injuries public knowledge. He tweaked his groin during the Four Nations Tournament and continued playing. He came back to Omsk and in the first game, it got worse. So they opted for caution and sat him out. I don't see why this raises any red flags at all. If this was any other player in any other league, no one would think twice about it. In fact, if it were any other prospect Ranger fans would probably be commending the team for being cautious.<BR/><BR/>For the record, Cherepanov never said a word about being overworked while with the junior team. The finger pointing, as best I can tell, came from the team. I think it was you (forgive me if it wasn't) who speculated that it was part of Omsk setting the stage for trying to withhold him from international tournaments. That's actually far more plausible than the team manufacturing an injury to cover up poor play. The original article that reported the injury even went so far as pointing out that this is the second year running that Cherepanov's returned from the junior team injured.<BR/><BR/>And while I'll certainly concede that Cherepanov's gotten a reputation for having a poor work ethic -- and there have been things I've read from him in the past that didn't exactly make me feel warm and fuzzy -- I also recognize that many of the people who've thrust that label upon him haven't ever seen him play more than a handful of international games and most likely have never spoken to him or anyone who's actually coached him. I would also argue that the "lazy" label has been unfairly given to many, many Russian players who didn't deserve it. <BR/><BR/>By all reports, Cherepanov showed up for camp this season with a far more serious demeanor. He worked with a personal trainer all summer. He's 19 years old coming off a personally disappointing year which he said himself taught him a number of life lessons. It could be he's actually grown up and realized there's more playing hockey professionally than just having the skill. Only time will tell. In the meantime, throwing the kid under the bus because he pulled his groin and you don't like the way the story was presented -- second-hand, mind you -- seems a little hasty.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04724745532369912445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152316208138615862.post-55908997030086949452008-09-10T16:19:00.000-07:002008-09-10T16:19:00.000-07:00Laurie There are a few signs here that make a pers...Laurie <BR/><BR/>There are a few signs here that make a person wonder.<BR/><BR/>An groin injury that until last week was not reported.<BR/><BR/>Pointing a finger at the Russian Under-20 Team claiming they overworked Cherepanov when nobody else complained.<BR/><BR/>The "recovery" of said injury <BR/><BR/>Those are signs of a possible problem. <BR/><BR/>I also think you will concede that Cherepanov also does not have the most stellar of reputations for his work ethicJess Rubensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086094927046897195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152316208138615862.post-8055581095135096662008-09-10T12:32:00.000-07:002008-09-10T12:32:00.000-07:00Cherepanov's demotion to the farm club was a paper...Cherepanov's demotion to the farm club was a paper move to free up roster space while he was out injured.<BR/><BR/>With all due respect, I'm not sure on what you're basing the opinion "nothing we have seen suggests that Cherepanov has his game together". He had 5 goals and 2 assists in 5 pre-season games before he left to join the junior team for the Four Nations tournament. He had a goal and 2 assists in three games there. Prior to today, he'd played a half a game for Omsk, with a groin injury. I'm not sure that's enough time for any conclusions to be drawn.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04724745532369912445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152316208138615862.post-69248956140347905802008-09-09T11:18:00.000-07:002008-09-09T11:18:00.000-07:00exactly. he'd been playing in a men's league for ...exactly. he'd been playing in a men's league for two years, and perhaps needs a reminder of his role on the team. hopefully this demotion will have the same kind of effect it had on nigel dawes and ryan callahan. <BR/>either way, i'm not sweating (other than it still being summer in atlanta) over the demotion, i do believe that the rangers are treading very lightly with this situation, and rightfully so.Amoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03121930777498653812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152316208138615862.post-66401253908390107072008-09-09T10:14:00.000-07:002008-09-09T10:14:00.000-07:00I think because Cherepanov is now where close to b...I think because Cherepanov is now where close to being NHL or even AHL ready that the Rangers do not want him here right now because he would be a PR disaster.<BR/><BR/>As it is being demoted is not a bad thing when you consider he is still just a teenager.Jess Rubensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086094927046897195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152316208138615862.post-59785960280595252102008-09-09T08:25:00.000-07:002008-09-09T08:25:00.000-07:00you might recall that on laurie's blog entry regar...you might recall that on laurie's blog entry regarding cherepanov being sent down, i remarked that it would be hilarious if he showed up in nyr training camp. i still don't think it's going to happen, but it'd be nice. bottom line is however he's doing in the KHL, performing poorly or wowing people, he will be behind in development in the rangers' eyes. people will be starting rumors for sure about him being a bust, but i for one just hold out hope that one day he will be a ranger. in all honesty, there isn't much reason for me not to be hoping that one day, when he least expects it, he can catch brandon sutter with a cross check to the teeth a la christian backman on zack parise. ha! hard to believe that canadians call that dbag a hero for possibly the dirtiest hit i've ever seen.Amoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03121930777498653812noreply@blogger.com