Gaborik can certainly score if healthy.  Not only can he score but he can score 50+ if he plays all 82 games.  Higgins and Kotalik are 20+ goal scorers.  Lisin is coming off a 13 goals in 48 games season in his rookie year.  Callahan had 20+ last season and will be returning.  There are replacements for each guy that you mentioned as departed.  Way to mention them.

Posted by leetchpic2 on 08/05/09 at 01:20 PM ET

Higgins and Kotalik are 20+ goal scorers.  Lisin is coming off a 13 goals in 48 games season in his rookie year.  Callahan had 20+ last season and will be returning.  There are replacements for each guy that you mentioned as departed.  Way to mention them.

But to replace what’s left, you’re expecting those players to not just meet their outputs of last year, but all improve. And you’re expecting Higgins to return to the form he had a couple seasons ago.

And to top it off, the real problem is that even with all those players that have left, and all those players you mention as “replacements”—even if they fully replace the scoring that’s gone—the Rangers still aren’t scoring anywhere near enough to be a serious playoff threat.

The Rangers do have a little cap space to work with, but the only “big fish” left is Tanguay, and that’s the Tanguay we used to know, not the one that’s been banged up an ineffective the last couple seasons. Despite that, I think the Rangers really should work hard on that, because he’s the only player that really has the pedigree to give them what they are so sorely missing.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 08/05/09 at 01:30 PM ET

Step 1: Pray for a healthy Gaborik
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Profit!

Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 08/05/09 at 01:39 PM ET

I read the headline and my first thought was “everybody”, but then I realized you were talking about which Rangers on the roster are going to score goals for them.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 08/05/09 at 01:42 PM ET

It’s funny how it’s lose lose with anti-ranger fans. If we spend money to get a player then we’re splurging. But if we take a semi-conservative approach and let a money hungry enigmatic player walk, then we get knocked for that too. Cant build a cup team in one off season. Still think sather’s taking steps in the right direction.

Posted by Leetchpic2 on 08/05/09 at 01:55 PM ET

What a disingenuous article.  It’s hard to figure out where to begin.

First, the fact that you lead off with Antropov is confusing, as he was only on the team for 18 games and finished up with 13 points.  To consider him a top scoring player for the Rangers makes little sense.

You talk about Higgins’ 23 point season without mentioning the fact that he was injured, as if that is a normal season for him.  You also fail to mention Kotalik at all.  One would expect Dubinsky to improve on his totals (especially if playing with Gaborik), as well as Avery playing with the Rangers for the full season.  Who knows how Anisimov will perform but he will outscore Betts from last year I’ll guarantee.

Also, probably the biggest omission is the fact that the Rangers will be playing a different system than last year.  The goals per game went up once the coaching change happened and this is without any real time to adjust.  Also one would definitely expect the pathetic total of 25 goals from the defense to increase dramatically.

No one is figuring the Rangers to be an offensive powerhouse, but to think that will score less than last years team implies to me you don’t follow the Rangers at all.

Posted by Chris on 08/05/09 at 02:10 PM ET

The Rangers lack of offense last season was by design. Tom Renney got into the mode where he’d rather lose 1-2 than win 5-3. Torts will have every line pressure the D and golaie. Dubinsky and Callahan are just emerging as bona fide 2-way NHL forwards. Gaborik, Drury, Higgins, Kotalik, with Lisin and Avery, can score their share. And the farm may deliver a regular or 2 among Anisimov, Parenteau, Grachev, Byers, Corey Locke.

Posted by Benny from NJ on 08/05/09 at 02:12 PM ET

The rangers are going to be far better than they appear on paper.  A full season under Tort alone would garantee that.

Gomez wasn’t working out and that probably wasn’t going to change.  Gaborik actually has some potential to do so (and obviously an equal amount of potential to be hurt).

I think the Rangers are a better team this coming season than they were last year.  They’ve got some holes, are missing some obvious pieces, and are build somewhat discordantly, but I think they’re easily a playoff team in the East and could even win a round or two if Lundqvist is healthy and hot.  He’s the kind’ve streak tournament goalie that could carry them a couple rounds before one of the superior teams in the East asserts themselves (just like Cam Ward, who isn’t as good, carried Carolina for a while).

Posted by shanetx on 08/05/09 at 02:16 PM ET

Higgins had Koivu feeding him when he was successful, and I think that accounted for a large part of his success.  His time on ice (on line #1) was another factor.

Last year, Higgins pretty much completely lost his scoring touch, but he excelled in killing penalties and hustling the puck up the ice.  Lots of exciting moments and lots of nearly-empty nets missed.  I think he’ll be good in New York, but he’s a better role player than the go-getter-goal-scorer some are making him out to be.

Posted by CheG on 08/05/09 at 03:28 PM ET

I’m really high on Gaborik as a scorer, so I think the Rags will squeeze out enough goals to do okay if he’s healthy.

But if he has a major injury, I’d expect a long, slow, painful playoff miss.  Pretty much just what happened to Minnesota this past season.

Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 08/05/09 at 04:20 PM ET

The Rangers are in tough to score goals next year.

http://imbroglioh.blogspot.com/2009/08/dont-got-much-throw-away-what-you-got.html

Posted by Rajeev on 08/05/09 at 04:23 PM ET

If you look at their roster, the potential for scoring goals is there.

Line by line going by career high goal totals gives you…

Higgins: 27, Drury: 37, Gaborik: 42
Callahan: 22, Arnasson: 22, Kotalik: 25
Avery: 15, Dubinsky: 14, Lisin: 13
Voros: 8, Ansimov: rookie, Brashear: 11

Obviously, these players aren’t all, if any of them, going to reach or surpass their career highs, but there is always the potential that the Rags could be half decent.

More likely they’re going to suck and score even less goals than last season, but hey, Rags fans can dream.

Posted by Kstewy16 on 08/05/09 at 04:58 PM ET

The Rangers are a borderline playoff team. There is no scoring there. If Gaborik goes down, an already cap-gun offense will get much worse.

Posted by cs6687 on 08/05/09 at 05:49 PM ET

I think Gaborik will score and bump up some of the numbers of the guys who’ll be playing with him this year.

But that’s if he stays healthy.

I’d like to see him play all 82 to see just how productive he could be.

As CheG mentioned a few posts earlier… Higgins played well with Koivu for a couple of years. Although last season was a disappointment for him he still hit quite a few posts and if teamed up with Gaborik his solid defensive play could help get a pass to a speeding Marian (Gaborik).

Higgins could benefit from the change of scenery because the last 2 years his name was practically involved in every possible Habs trade rumor…

Posted by Yves on 08/05/09 at 07:01 PM ET

There are some gaps in everyone’s logic…especially rangers fans.  You’re actually assuming these guys will show up to play every night and not just phone it in.  I can tell you right now that Kotalik, Higgins, Drury, and Gaborik (if not the rest of the offense) have a severe lack of work effort most nights with some flashes of brilliance.  I can also tell you that Kotalik and Higgins will only score on a line with a good center…since the rangers don’t have a good center this probably won’t happen.  And Gaborik (obviously) doesn’t hit, so he isn’t really going to be able to create offense when someone’s not feeding him.

So…usually you say “If you can’t score it’s going to be a trap style defensive scheme (ala Carolina)” except 1)Tortorella can’t coach a defensive team (and won’t) and 2)The Rangers don’t have even a passable defense.  Poor Henrik…

Posted by stoneman from Vegas on 08/05/09 at 07:22 PM ET

Still think sather’s taking steps in the right direction.

It’s ONE step in the right direction, after quite a few steps backward.  So we’re still way behind.

Posted by K24 from NYC on 08/05/09 at 08:07 PM ET

I find it amazing how fans from ALL the other teams always harp on the Rangers WHENEVER they sign a player.  Everyone PRO Athelete see’s dollar signs when they think of the opportunity to play for ANY NY Franchise.

Its even funnier when everyone says the Rangers are a bunch of overpaid donks, but the truth of the matter is:  Nearly every single NHL team is up against the cap, with exception of the few basement dwellers that dont give a crap about the organization at this time.

Even still, if every team is so close to the cap, then every team should be competing on the same level.

Whereas, I agree the NYR spend money to get the BIG name, I prefer to be able to Draft High and Build…..but the fact is, The NYR never SUCK BAD ENOUGH to be able to do just that!

Posted by Chris from LI, NY on 08/08/09 at 03:15 PM ET

Look at Draft Pick Historys….

The Rangers over the last 30 Years, have had ONLY 9 Draft Picks in the TOP 10.
Only 2 were in the Top 5 of the Rangers Top 9.

The Islanders by contrast, have had 16 Picks in the Top 10 over the same period of time.  Thats 16 out of 30 Folks!  With those 16, 9 were in the TOP 5…..
2- #1’s, 2- #2’s, 2- #3’s…and by the way, from 1989-2000 they had only ONE Pick out of the Top 10. 

The NJ Devils, have had 9 Top 10 Picks ( since their move ) and they were all in their first 10 years in NJ.  As Colorado Rockies they had from 1977 to 1981 ( 6 seasons ) 5 Top 5 Picks!

So, do you have an argument that the NY Islanders or the NJ Devils are better organizations.  If they all started on the same page, you would think NOT!  You would actually think that the Islanders would be a pillar in the NHL…...instead, they couldnt even be a pillar in the basement of my house.

( HockeyDataBase.com is the source )

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr000052.html—-NY Islanders
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr000048.html—-NY Rangers
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr000051.html—-NJ Devils

Posted by Chris from LI, NY on 08/08/09 at 03:45 PM ET

Oh, and dont even start with the all mighty Pittsburgh ( oh, theres a franchise player coming up in this years draft so we better tank it…. ) Penguins.  They only go from 4 or 5 years in a row with number 14 or so pick, then Super Mario is in Draft and they fall to dead last.  They get a #1 Pk followed by #2, then #4, #5 and a #4 for 5 years in a row of TOP SHELP shopping. 
  They then go on a run of Playoff Mastery, a Stanley Cup or 2.  They pick at 16 the following year, and then suddenly, they TANK again and pick at number 4, for Jagr!
They now have all the pieces they need to put money in their pockets.
  They do well for the next 8-9 years…then suddenly, scouting tells them we have a few nice players coming up over the next couple of Drafts…..Boom, the bottom falls out again, Super Mario to the rescue…“I will buy the team and invest money, but you better let me tank it and get the best talent available or I crap the bed and fold this team.”
  Whammo, from 2002-2006 ( the next 5 years ) they suck so bad, they Draft at #5-Ryan Whitney, and then #1-Marc Andre Fleaury,#2-Malkin,#1-Crosby,#2- Jordan Staal.  That my friends is how you Whine and Kick like little school girls on the playground.  That is called buying a Stanley Cup at a discount!
 
  The way Pittsburgh has attained the Cup is a bit like, “Well, if we cant win, we dont want to play!”  Be Proud Penguin Fans—-Be Proud!!!!  By the way, I give the Penhuins two more years of playoff hockey, then they will start to tank it again to try and cry poverty and steal the top prospects for a 5 year run.  Not even the lowly Islanders would stoop as low!

Posted by Chris from LI, NY on 08/09/09 at 12:45 AM ET

“The only player acquired who might be able to score next year is Marian Gaborik, who is a significant injury risk, but can score if healthy.”

The only player who can score? Well, what about:

-Ales Kotalik, who has bee consistently scored around 20 goals over the past four years.

-Chirs Higgins, who has scored 20 goals 3 out of his 4 years in the NHL

-They resigned Cally who will up his goal total from last year

Sure they will have trouble scoring, but it isn’t like the Rangers spent no money this off season signing depth players who can produce some goals.

Posted by Dan from New York on 08/09/09 at 11:30 AM ET