Who’s “Out”
A few questions were asked about the last paragraph of Larry Brooks’ column from Thursday, August 2:
The Blueshirts are just under $49 million on the $50.3 million season salary cap. Their 23-player roster includes two goaltenders; eight defensemen (Marc Staal, Jason Strudwick and Andrew Hutchinson in, Thomas Pock out); and 13 forwards (Artem Anisimov, Ryan Callahan, Marcel Hossa, Ryan Hollweg and Colton Orr in, Brandon Dubinsky and Nigel Dawes out.)
All the above paragraph means is that, with the roster looking as described, that the Rangers cap would be at $49M.
Whether Dawes, Dubinsky and Pock play at the start of the season depends on a number of factors, particularly the cap, but also their performances in training camp while they compete for the roster slots most up for grabs. (As well as the brass deciding the line-up for other, less-obvious-to-the-layman reasons.)
I, personally, can’t foresee Pock being demoted to make room for Hutchinson. While my lack of foresight doesn’t mean it wouldn’t happen, Pock (58 games, 7 goals, 14 points, 20 PIM, -11) has repeatedly proved his worth in the Rangers defensive corps and clearly deserves the slot over Hutchinson (95, 10, 33, 52, 0).
[Note: I’m loath to include plus/minus; it’s a misleading statistic. Use Marek Malik as a prime example of the stat’s deceptive nature.]
As for Dawes (65 games, 27 goals, 60 pts, 29 PIM) or Dubinsky (71, 21, 43, 115) over Anisimov (39, 2, 10, 26 — with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv) … it looks, on paper, like no contest.
Why Anisimov would be considered instead of one or the other Wolfpack would factor, at the very least, the difference between playing for Lokomotiv vs. in the AHL. Also, the style of play Anisimov would bring must be a consideration. However, to have only eight assists as a pivot in nearly 40 games doesn’t bode well of his passing touch, nor does his two goals inspire visions of offensive prowess.
Does anyone have anything to offer on the topic? I’ve never seen him play.
Still, we’ll get an idea of what’s ahead when the pre-season begins and, come October, there’s still no saying whether what we see then will be the same by late March.
