The First Cuts

The New York Rangers made their first real cuts from the training camp roster reducing the training camp roster to 35 after cutting 28. There were only 2 minor surprises on the Ranger roster but first need to remind folks that in some cases these are cuts in name only.

The Rangers can still decide to swap people around prior to leaving for Europe. So here are the cuts and what they mean to the look of the 2011-2012 roster.

PLAYERS ASSIGNED TO CONNECTICUT (AHL) ON 9/24/11:

Goal (3): Chad Johnson, Jason Missiaen, Cameron Talbot

The minor surprise was seeing Chad Johnson sent to the Whale while Scott Stajcer is being kept on the Ranger roster. We are looking to see if the Rangers go with 2 prospect goalies on Monday to decide who makes the European roster,

Defense (7): Lee Baldwin, Collin Bowman, Sam Klassen, Tomas Kundratek, Jyri Niemi, Jared Nightingale, Pavel Valentenko

Only surprise is seeing Collin Bowman still with the Rangers as he has struggled in the games he has played in. Believe the European trip and Marc Staal's injury status is what is buying time for Bowman.

If I am Tomas Kundratek and Jyri Niemi then I had best read the handwriting on the wall and realize that I am being passed over by Blake Parlett.

Forward (11): Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, Tommy Grant, Jordan Hickmott, Tayler Jordan, Kale Kerbashian, Chad Kolarik, Chris McKelvie, Matt Rust, Scott Tanski, Kelsey Tessier, Jason Wilson

Not a single surprise here as the 3 roster invitees remain mainly due to the European trip. We could see Matt Rust accepting a ECHL contract but Tanski and Hickmott both have college scholarships waiting for them.

PLAYERS RETURNED TO JUNIORS ON 9/24/11:

Defense (2): Peter Ceresnak (Peterborough, OHL), Samuel Noreau (Baie-Comeau, QMJHL)

Forward (5): Shane McColgan (Kelowna, WHL), J.T. Miller (Plymouth, OHL), Michael St. Croix (Edmonton, WHL), Christian Thomas (Oshawa, OHL), Andrew Yogan (Peterborough, OHL)

Please when you look at this list, do not think prospects had a bad camp as we have been saying it makes no sense to bring any of these prospects to Europe when they would not play. Sending them back now means they get right back into their junior lineup.

We had thought that Andrew Yogan might have gotten a longer look but the injured shoulder hurt his cause. Now the biggest race is going to be who scores the most points from among Thomas, McColgan, St. Croix and Yogan.

The Rangers made the right moves to insure that they get their prospects into spots where they will be able to continue working on their development. No disappointments at all here

(Ranger logo courtesy of the New York Rangers)