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Some brief observations on Gaborik and Prospal
by Patrick Hoffman on 10/27/09 at 03:25 PM ET
Comments (5)
Many New York Ranger fans, including myself, questioned the off-season free-agent signings of Marian Gaborik and Vinny Prospal. With Gaborik, the issue clearly had to do with injuries while with Prospal, it was more an issue of consistency.
Through the team’s first 12 games, Gaborik has 18 points (10g, 8a) and Prospal has16 (4g, 12a). They’re scoring on the power play, they’re making their linemates better and they’ve shown a tremendous amount of chemistry.
In my eyes, it’s been Prospal that’s been the surprise. We all knew that he could put up points but we also knew that he had trouble with consistency. So far at least, he has shown the team that he has bought into their system and that he can produce at a point-per-game pace.
Last night in the team’s 5-2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes at Madison Square Garden, both Gaborik (2g, 1a) and Prospal (1g, 2a) posted three points and really helped make the team’s power play a threat.
Unfortunately, Gaborik was injured last night after a third-period on-ice collision. Andrew Gross of Ranger Rants had the following to say regarding Gaborik:
Neither Marian Gaborik nor Henrik Lundqvist were on the ice today for the Rangers, Gaborik still recovering from a third-period on-ice collision in last night’s 5-2 win over the Coyotes. The Rangers are not disclosing what type of injury it is, just what it isn’t. It isn’t a hip, groin or - in Gaborik’s words - a torso problem. He was shaking his right leg as he skated off the ice so we’ll go out and call this one a lower-body injury. No word on his availability for tomorrow night’s game against the Islanders but coach John Tortorella said he was not too concerned. However, asked for more specifics, Tortorella retreated to his “I didn’t speak to the trainer yet” position.
Regarding Henrik Lundqvist, Gross reported the following:
As for Lundqvist, he was involved in a one-car collision while driving to practice as his luxury car slid off the slick Saw Mill in today’s rain and hit a guardrail. The goalie was said to be OK but was obviously late getting to practice. No reason he shouldn’t be available tomorrow.
Hopefully, both Gaborik and Lundqvist will be ready to go when the take on the New York Islanders in Long Island tomorrow night.
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Tags: Marian+Gaborik, New+York+Rangers, Vinny+Prospal,
Comments
They’ve really done a lot to help put the Rangers near the top of their division. Gabby’s always been a goal scorer and Prospal’s been a playmaker in the past. It only makes sense that they’re working together so well.
Posted by Eric on 10/27/09 at 04:39 PM ET
This is instant doom if gaborik get’s hurt (which he will…eventually). Prospal is serviceable for the most part unless he has to play with people who can’t score or in a system that is defensive in nature…and he almost always disappears during the playoffs, if the rangers actually make it this year.
The real question is: how successful can the rangers be if Lundqvist keeps playing like crap?
Posted by stoneman from vegas on 10/27/09 at 05:16 PM ET
I think that Lundqvist is just having a bad start to the year. He doesn’t usually play this badly, and even though he’s playing badly, they’re still finding ways to win games. I think the Rangers will be just fine this season.
Posted by Eric on 10/27/09 at 05:18 PM ET
Need I again dredge up the “every other year” theory with Prospal’s point production?
01-02 Tampa Bay: 55 points
02-03 Tampa Bay: 79 points
03-04 Anaheim: 54 points
05-06 Tampa Bay: 80 points
06-07 Tampa Bay: 55 points
07-08 Tampa Bay/Philadelphia: 71 points
08-09 Tampa Bay: 45 points
09-10 New York Rangers: ???
It’s an up year for Prospal. Buy, buy, buy!
Posted by JG on 10/27/09 at 05:58 PM ET
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Patrick has a tremendous passion for hockey. Besides covering the Rangers and the NHL for Kukla’s Korner, you can also find Patrick’s work over at RLD Hockey, Rangers Tribune, and TheGoodPoint.com.
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I watched Prospal a bit in both TB and Anaheim. He’s the ultimate complementary player; in the right situation, he’s a lock for 60+ points and if he doesn’t have chemistry, he’s useless. I’d watch out if his linemates are out for an extended period of time.
Posted by Mike Chen on 10/27/09 at 04:29 PM ET