The Rangers Tribune

Player Review: Ryan Callahan

Ryan Callahan is the epitome of New York Rangers Hockey, and that's exactly why he will be the team's next captain. He possesses the perfect mix of skill, desire and grit and is the Blueshirts' best all around player. There are not enough good things you can say about Ryan, but I think there is one thing that sums up his value: every team in the league would love to have Callahan on their team, but only one team has him and that's the Rangers. 

The 26-year-old out of Rochester, New York reached career-highs in all scoring categories this past season, picking up 23 goals and 25 assists for 48 points in 60 games played. You can only imagine what those numbers would have looked like had he not missed any time due to injury. His production this year is arguably what powered the Rangers offense, especially when he played alongside his buddy Brandon Dubinsky with whom he has much success with. 

Head coach John Tortorella worked to help this team establish a new identity this season, and that identity consisted of pure blue collar, hard working mentality. They would outwork their opponents until the final buzzer and that was how they would make up for their lack of skill and be successful. It is no coincidence that their (then) alternate captain played every single game with the exact attitude that Tortorella was trying to instill into the rest of the team. Cally is a lead by example kind of guy, and believe me, all eyes in that locker room were on him - even the coaching staff. 

I think the best way for Torts to teach the system they used this past season would be to simply point to number 24 and say "watch this guy". Ryan is flawless in everything he does, from the forechecking to the penalty-killing, which is why he is the perfect example of what being a New York Ranger is all about. 

I think the most important thing about Callahan is that he cares - he cares with every little bit of his heart. The team is like family to him, and he will do anything for them. That includes giving up the body to block a slapshot from the league's biggest and strongest player, and unfortunately that led to his absence from the playoffs, but it also defined Ryan's character and dedication.

The shot-blocking was not a one-time thing, either. He does it every single night, and he does it darn well. In fact, I can put my money on Cally being one of the best shot-blocking forwards in the entire NHL. Like I've said, it's not something you can necessarily teach, it's something you have to have the desire to just go out and do. It goes without saying that Ryan has that desire and some, because he performs the daunting task to the max. 

Back in April when it was announced that Callahan would be out indefinitely with a broken ankle following an amazing 5-3 comeback against the Boston Bruins the night before, the fan base went from an all-time high to an all-time low in 12 hours. They had lost much of their hope with only two games left on the schedule for the Blueshirts to make the playoffs, and rightly so. This is when it really hit how important Callahan actually is to the team. When that Zdeno Chara slapshot took Ryan down, the fan base went right down with him.

He was always there for us, so in return we were there for him.  There's only one other player in recent memory to have a bond with the Ranger fan base like that, and that individual went by the nickname of "The Captain". If there is one person that can even come close to filling the shoes of Mark Messier here in New York, it's Ryan Callahan. Now it's time to re-sign him long-term and get him that 'C'. 

GRADE: A

Player Review: Marc Staal

Marc Staal's importance to the New York Rangers skyrocketed this season. Don't get me wrong, he has been a valuable part of this team since entering the league in 2007, but this past year was it for him. In a sense, he made the jump from youngster to veteran and established himself as a leader on the blue-line here in New York, especially when he started wearing the alternate captain's "A" on his chest. Staalsy was right up there with Henrik Lundqvis and Ryan Callahan as team MVP in 2010-11. 

The 24-year-old out of Thunder Bay, Ontario recorded seven goals and 22 assists for 29 points in 77 games played. He also picked up 50 penalty minutes and was a plus-8 overall rating on the year. Those are the highest offensive numbers that Marc has posted in a single season to this point in his career, which is a testament to the fact that he has increased contributions outside of the defensive zone each year. But I don't judge Staal on how he performs offensively because it's his play in his own zone that catches my attention. 

Many people may argue with me on this one, but I believe that Marc is one of the best shutdown defensmen in the entire National Hockey League. That's right, he is up there with Nik Lidstrom and Zdeno Chara as far as defensive play goes, because you must admit, he was that good this past season. It's his poise and demeanor that make him so effective, because much like his brothers, Marc is always calm and collected and makes everything he does look easy. 

Constantly matching up against the league's top offensive talents on a nightly basis is no easy task for any defensemen, but Staal is able to do so with apparent ease and again, remains calm at all times. It's near impossible to frustrate him, and there's no shaking  free from his radar;  those two things combined make him extremely difficult to play against as a forward. You wonder why Bruce Bourdreau always double shifts Alex Ovechkin so that he plays against two different defensive pairings when the Caps play the Rangers? Marc Staal's why. 

Staal leads by example, and a lot of the younger defensemen on the Blueshirts will tell you that (i.e. Sauer, McDonagh). This past season especially he picked up his physical play and started to implement more consistent use of the body in his game. That is a result of the great offseason training he goes through to become bigger and stronger heading into training camp, which is something the coaching staff has complimented him on in the past. When the youngsters see a leader like Marc throwing around the body, they become more inclined to do so as well. 

And when you talk about Marc Staal, you also have to mention his partner, Dan Girardi. Together they make a stellar shutdown pairing that head coach John Tortorella uses as his go-to duo on defense. 

I think what Marc told me when I talked to him during All-Star Weekend back in January says it all about his bond with Girardi:

"...I have a good partner in [Dan] Girardi and we've found success playing together, so it's been a lot of fun so far". 

Staal is the Rangers' best defenseman, and when paired with Girardi, he is also one of the best in the league. 'Nuff said. 

GRADE: A

Player Review: Erik Christensen

We have four more player reviews to complete before we have officially graded the entire team (Christensen, Callahan, Staal and Lundqvist) and we have four days to do them before the draft. Let's get to it. 

Erik Christensen is on a long list of players whose roster spots are questionable for next season. Enigmatic play and on and off scoring give mixed emotions when it comes to the 27-year-old forward out of Edmonton, and when looking at his contributions to the club over the past two seasons, you'll realize that he could easily be replaced. While there is still one year remaining on his contract, nothing is set in stone for Christensen for next season. 

In 63 games played with the Rangers this past year, Erik complied eleven goals and 16 assists for 27 points along with 18 penalty minutes. Christensen's scoring came in bunches, and that's why eleven goals is not twenty goals, which I believe he is certainly capable of attaining. The Rangers have enough inconsistency as it is and moving forward they would like to bring in more scoring so that their goaltender has more support. Christensen doesn't seem to fit the bill when you look at it that way. 

The skill is always there, but the mind, on the other hand, is not. Christensen is the type of player who needs to be mentally engaged in order to perform well, and unfortunately the motivation to engage himself is not there a lot of the time. We've seen him dominate games in the past, like on February 25 when he scored two goals and added two assists in a 6-0 Rangers victory over the Washington Capitals. In that instance, obviously he was mentally engaged. 

But then there are the nights where Erik looks like he is in a haze and sort of just glides around the rink aimlessly. There are more of those games than there are the ones where Erik comes to play, and because of this he goes unnoticed for long stretches of time throughout the season. In fact, there were several times during the year where I found myself forgetting he was even on the team. 

And what hurts Christensen's cause even more is that when he isn't scoring, he isn't doing anything. He's nothing special defensively, I think he is a detriment to both special teams units (although he is rarely used on the pk, if ever), and he is as soft as they come when it is time to throw the body around and battle in the dirty areas of the ice. The point that I am trying to make is that he does not play a complete game - far from it actually - and one-dimensional players and John Tortorella often do not mix well together. 

Christensen possesses an amazing set of hands, as we've seen in his repeated shootout success, and he also has speed along with a lethal wrist shot. But as I was saying, we so very rarely get to see them in action because he is trapped in that hazy state of mind and not completely focused as he should be. It's sad that so many talented players in this league suffer from the same problem - lack of motivation. 

Depending on who is brought into the organization by GM Glen Sather this summer or which prospects are ready to make the jump, there is a chance we see Christensen's roster spot handed to someone else in September. Inconsistency is what the Rangers are trying to cut down on, and that may ultimately determine Erik's fate. 

GRADE: D

Player Review: Brandon Dubinsky

Brandon Dubinsky is one of the restricted free agents on GM Glen Sather's "to do" list this offseason, and coming off a career year as far as stats and contribution to the team go, the Alaskan native is due for a decent raise. We saw a different Brandon Dubinsky this season than we have in the past; more mature, more drive, more dedicated to win. He exposed the leader in him this past season, both on the ice and off it. Without him the Rangers likely wouldn't have made the playoffs and also would have been without their leading scorer. 

In 77 games played this season, Dubinsky recorded 24 goals and 30 assists for a total of 54 points. A lot of those points were scored while on a line with his partner-in-crime, Ryan Callahan. During the season I named Dubi and Cally the Rangers' version of the Sedin twins, because that's how well they clicked and were able to play together. From their overtime winner against Pittsburgh to the tying goal in that amazing comeback against Boston, they gave us many memorable moments over the course of the season. Their chemistry was nothing short of magical and it's basically what made this team run offensively. 

What I liked about Dubinsky was that he really stepped up in the absence of Marian Gaborik. When Gaborik went down earlier in the year, Dubi took control of the offense and took the team on his shoulders. He led the way for all to follow, especially when there was a stretch of three games in which Brandon scored five goals. Any team that wants to withstand the ebbs and flows of a season needs a player like this, and when that player is only 25-years-old, it makes it that more impressive. 

But Dubinsky didn't only lead by scoring. It was his persistent effort that caught the attention of his teammates, because unlike in the past, this season he showed up to play in every game. No matter the opponent, the score, or the circumstances, Dubi gave coach Tortorella everything he had night in and night, both offensively and defensively. If you remember when Tortorella first became the coach of the Rangers, he quickly said how he could make something out of Dubinsky. Well, after two full seasons of coaching the kid now, we are finally seeing exactly what the coach meant when he said that. 

Dubinsky is a workhorse; he's not going to be pretty, he's not going to slick, but in the end he gets done what needs to be done. He is one of the team's better grinders on the forecheck and is a fantastic battler in the corners. Those battles in the corners are where the Rangers' offense starts and Dubinsky, along with Callahan, was often the one with the assignment of getting it started. He did that quite well in my opinion. 

Through all of this, Dubinsky's responsibility and role on this team have increased. His heart is in it and his head is in it, and it is beyond important for Glen Sather to get him re-signed for the future. Plenty of teams would love to have this kid on their roster, so the Blueshirts should feel fortunate to possess his rights right now. Quite honestly, I would have signed Dubi to a new contract after that fight with Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals back in December, but that's just me. The bottom line is that the Rangers need him, and he needs the Rangers. That contract needs to get done. 

GRADE: A

Player Review: Steve Eminger

I'll admit it; Steve Eminger grew on me as the year went on. The 27-year-old defenseman out of Ontario, Canada was not a favorite of mine or many other fans at the beginning of the season. He was taking away a roster spot from Matt Gilroy and didn't seem like a good fit on this team or with head coach John Tortorella.

However, Emmy's physical play kept him in the lineup and he eventually would prove that he had some capability of playing the position. Whether that will be enough for GM Glen Sather to want to re-sign the unrestricted free agent this summer is just another question on a very long list that the Ranger brass must address moving forward. 

In 65 games played with the Blueshirts this season, Eminger compiled two goals and four assists for 6 total points. He was also a minus-5 rating during that time, which was the worst among all Ranger defensemen this season. But he wasn't brought to New York to be a first pairing defenseman. Instead, he was acquired as a seventh D, or a spare, and that's what he was. 

Eminger, at times, would be a healthy scratch for long stretches. I did not read anything on him complaining once. When he was re-entered into the lineup, you couldn't tell that he was scratched prior to that night just by watching him play his game. While his game isn't perfect (whose is?), it was always consistent, regardless of whether he played the night before or three weeks ago. 

Another thing that stands out with Eminger is that he is comfortable playing both the left and right sides on defense. That means that he could easily fill any of the top six defensemen's spots when need be, so perhaps he is of more value to John Tortorella than many think. Again, he is not here to drop jaws; he is simply an extra or a replacement. You must keep that in mind. 

Eminger's physical play is definitely a plus because he never wastes an opportunity to line someone up. Not only that, but a veteran like himself throwing around the body sets a good example for his younger mates on the blue-line. However, sometimes Eminger would get caught by trying to make the hit before the defensive play. That often left him out of position and stranded, which is one of many things that Torts often criticizes in his postgame assessments with the media. 

With Eminger you have to take the good with the bad. Again, he is not anything spectacular, but he fills his need on the team. When he was asked to step into a role with greater responsibility, Steve often rose to the occasion. Depending on what happens with Matt Gilroy, who the Rangers will have to make a qualifying offer to keep around, Eminger may find himself re-signed for next season. Although, Glen Sather has many options and may pursue them in the free agent market before locking down with Emmy. 

GRADE: B 

Player Review: Sean Avery

The name Sean Avery brought up much controversial debate among the fan base this past season, including the many arguments that we had right here on this blog. Avery is fancied by some, abhorred by others, and after yet another disappointing season for the pesky forward, his future as a New York Ranger is in definite question for 2011-12. He said last offseason that we would see the "old Sean Avery" back and better than ever, but that we did not. We once again saw the distracted Sean Avery; the Sean Avery that was being held back by the coaching staff for most of the season. 

In 76 games played for the Rangers in 2010-11, Sean recorded three goals and 21 assists for 24 total points. Three goals in 76 games is not what the 31-year-old winger is being paid $1.9 million to produce, nor do I think it's something he is going to be satisfied with looking back on it. Roster spots on this Ranger team are harder to come by each year, especially with all of the young talent coming up through the system, and stats like the ones Avery posted this year are not going to be good enough to remain a Ranger when his spot is being contested by a younger, more talented player. 

Back in March I wrote an article about Avery's future in New York, and at the time he just came off a mentally-poor performance against the New York Islanders. In just over seven minutes of ice time, Avery managed to take three penalties, two of which were in the offensive zone. One came late in the game when it was very clear the Rangers were going to win, but despite the score, Sean two-handed the back of John Tavares' legs and spent the remainder of the night on the bench. 

It's games like those where I, myself, become annoyed and disgusted with the infamous agitator. Sometimes Avery forgets to think before he acts, and that is something head coach John Tortorella seems to never forget and it severely hurts Sean's role on the team because Torts simply doesn't trust him. 

But then there is the Avery that is very effective with what he does and also knows how to contribute in all areas of the ice. We saw that on December 10, also a game against the Islanders, when Avery skated on the first line with Marian Gaborik and finished the night with three assists. So now we have seen the high and low of Sean's game, but the problem is that there seems to be no middle ground. He does not know how to balance agitating and scoring, so basically they cancel each other out and he becomes completely ineffective. 

I do not completely pin this on Avery himself, though. In probably the most debated article I have ever written (unfortunately the comments are no longer there since we've since switched platforms), I addressed the issue of the coaching staff mistreating Avery and not giving him the opportunity he deserves to succeed. This came after the 11-round shootout against the Tampa Bay Lightning on December 23, when Avery was snubbed of a chance to shoot in the shootout. 

In that particular piece I wrote about a trend that was forming, and it mainly consisted of Avery being put on the first line to only later be dropped back to the bottom line despite skating well on that top trio. It was something I could not explain then, and to this day I still cannot explain it now. 

What I can do is speculate and I think that Tortorella's moderate dislike of Avery sometimes gets in the way of his coaching. Often times I have called out Tortorella for putting himself ahead of the team, which should never be the case in professional sports, and I think this is certainly one of those times with the way he treats Avery. 

Do not look at this as an excuse, however. Avery still needs to step it up himself and show that he belongs on this team and that he possibly could regain the trust of his coach. He didn't do that this season and if he is lucky enough to make it to the next, he better do something differently otherwise he will be as good as gone upon becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2012. 

GRADE: D

Player Review: Dan Girardi

I don't think it is out of this world to say 27-year-old defenseman Dan Girardi is one of the most underrated players in the National Hockey League. He isn't flashy, he isn't exciting, but Girardi's contributions are invaluable to the Blueshirts and undoubtedly help to anchor a very young defensive corps. 

In 80 games played with the Rangers this past season, the blue-liner out of Welland, Ontario recorded four goals and 27 assists for a total of 31 points. Girardi was also a plus-7 overall rating, which is an exceptional number considering the amount of ice time he gets each game. Actually, he averages about 28 minutes of playing time per game which, along with Marc Staal, leads the team in time on ice. 

Girardi doesn't bring much offense to his game, but he makes up for that with his defense. He is always out against the top players and top units on the opponent. He is positionally sound and knows where to be almost all of the time. Dan performs the basics of the game near perfectly and that is why he has gained the full trust of the coaching staff, especially head coach John Tortorella. 

If you recall, at the beginning of the 2009-10 season, Tortorella was not Girardi's bigest fan. In fact, he was far from it. The coach called Girardi out for having a horrific preseason and some fans were even wondering if Dan would be used as trade bait by GM Glen Sather later in the year. Of course that never happened, nor do I think it will any time soon, but the fact of the matter is that he turned his game around tremendously and proved to Torts that he can be the player that the coaches want him to be. 

Something you have to understand with Torts is that when he calls a player out in the media, it doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't like them. It means he sees something in them and he believes that they can be a much better player. I truly believe that was the case here with Girardi, and over the past two years, Dan has become that better player because of it. 

Girardi is often referred to as one of the best shot-blocking defensemen in the game. That is incorrect; he is THE best shot-blocking defenseman in the game. It's not something you can teach or something you can learn; it is something that you have to have the will power and desire to do. Girardi sacrifices his body without thinking twice about it, and that speaks volumes to his dedication to his team and goaltender. 

The physical aspect of Girardi's game has come a long way as well. I noticed that he was willing to throw the body around a lot more this season as opposed to the past, and that is probably something he eventually developed from playing with Marc Staal all of the time. 

Speaking of Staal, he thinks very highly of Girardi as his defensive partner. When I chatted with Marc at the All-Star Game in North Carolina back in January, his first response when I asked him about his individual season was how lucky he was to have such a great partner in Girardi. I think that says it all about Dan right there. 

I also cannot leave out Tortorella's quote that came after the Rangers were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, when he said that Girardi was the club's best defensemen in the five-game series against the Washington Capitals. That really brought everything full circle for Dan, especially since I mentioned earlier that he was once singled out by the coach in bad way. 

Girardi is a veteran on this Ranger team now; a leader in many ways. As Ryan McDonagh said, Girardi and Staal lead the way for the younger players on defense and are the top dogs on the Ranger blue-line. To be honest, I think Girardi's contributions to the team this season are immeasurable and that is why he is getting such a high grade from this blogger. 

GRADE: A

Player Review: Martin Biron

With Alex Auld parting ways with the Rangers following the end of the 2009-10 season, the Blueshirts were left without a back-up goaltender heading into free agency last summer. Meanwhile, Islanders GM Garth Snow granted Marty Biron permission to negotiate with other teams prior to the opening of free agency on July 1, because clearly the Isles had no intentions of re-signing the then 32-year-old netminder. The Rangers and Biron crossed paths somewhere in the middle of those two stories, and as the first signing of Free Agency 2011, Glen Sather inked Marty for two years at $875,000 per.

The Rangers now had their back-up goaltender. 

Biron posted a 8-6 record in his first season with the Rangers, along with a 2.13 GAA and a .923 save percentage. He played in a total of 17 games, though, as he came in to relieve Henrik Lundqvist three times over the course of the regular season. In those three games, which he played just over a period in each, Biron allowed a total of five goals. 

When you go back and look at the schedule and you look closely at the games Marty started in, you may see "L" listed several times, but that is no indication of how the Quebec native played in that game. With the exception of the match-up against the Islanders in December, Biron was solid in net against every team he faced this year. The problem was, to no one's surprise, that he lacked offensive support from his teammates and in turn many of his losses were by only one goal. 

Biron signed with the Rangers coming off probably his worst season ever as a member of the Islanders. In a few months time, Marty and Rangers goaltending coach Benoit Allaire fixed up his game so that he would again look like the goaltender who carried the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs just a few years ago. In my opinion, Allaire did a fantastic job. 

Biron, for the most part, looked comfortable in net both physically and mentally. Like Henrik, he is a competitor who wants nothing more than to win. You can see that in the way he guards the net, but as I mentioned above, his stellar performances fell short because his teammates sometimes did not want it as badly as he did apparently. 

One thing I will say, though, is that Marty's teammates were always very willing to stick up for him in and around the goal crease when opposing players got too close. I honestly believe this is a result of the way Marty treats everyone in the locker room. Everyone who is in the Rangers locker room on a daily basis says that Biron is a prototypical "team guy" and he is willing to give words of encouragement to anyone. That is always a great thing to have on a team, and it also shows that he is making the most of his time here in New York since he is not always playing as a back-up. 

And who could forget the many times Biron coached Erik Christensen and Wojtek Wolski from the bench before a shootout? Marty is a very intelligent guy, as most goalies are, and evidently did his scouting when it came to fellow netminders from around the league. His effective advice on how to beat a goaltender in the skills competition earned him the nickname "shootout guru", and again displayed his unselfish team-first traits. 

I personally am a big fan of what Biron has to offer as a goaltender and I think he is the perfect back-up for Henrik Lundqvist. He will push Hank to stay on his game, and when rest is needed, Marty is always ready to go and fill in the spot on any given night. Unfortunately a broken collarbone suffered back on February 28 kept Marty out of the lineup for the final six weeks or so of the season, and honestly, I think the team missed him in many ways. 

Now that the collarbone is all healed up, hopefully Biron can play the full season in 2011-12, because the Rangers are going to benefit greatly from his presence, both in the crease and on the bench. 

GRADE: B

Also be sure to follow Marty on his new Twitter account: @martybiron43

Player Review: Artem Anisimov

Artem Anisimov was not a victim of the redundant sophomore curse in 2010-11, but he did not perform the way he wanted in his second National Hockey League season. The Russian center knows the player he can be, and he knows what he is capable of doing, and this year, although improving in all scoring categories, he did not reach a satisfactory level of achievement, both by his standards and that of the coaching staff and organization. 

Anisimov was one of four Rangers to suit up in all 82 games this season, and in that time tallied 18 goals and 26 assists for a total of 44 points. The 22-year-old also had one goal in five playoff games this past April. Compared to his rookie season, Artem scored six more goals, picked up ten more helpers and totaled 16 more points. In addition to that, he was a plus-3 overall rating this season as opposed to a minus-2 in 2009-10, which means his defensive numbers also showed improvement. 

Those are some pretty good stats from one season to the next, but Anisimov desires to be more than just "good" - he wants to be great. He discussed this in an interview with a Russian reporter earlier in the year, which was translated by Beyond the Blueshirts...

"Could have been even better," Anisimov said when looking back on his sophomore season.  "There are very good examples in the league.  Steven Stamkos, the Sedin brothers, Pasha Datsyuk, Ilya Kovalchuk, Sasha Ovechkin, Zhenya Malkin… I need to improve myself, to raise the level of my play."

Setting the bar as high as "Pasha, Sasha and Zhenya" is asking a lot of himself, but Anisimov knows he can be a much better player than he was with the Rangers this past season. He has the ability to dominate a game, he just needs to bring that skill out of him, which has yet to happen. 

Artie was on a glorious pace in the early months of the season when he skated on a line with Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan. That trio worked very well together and Anisimov flourished in his time with them. One particular goal that sticks out in my head was his overtime game-winner against the Buffalo Sabres back in November. That marked six points in a six-game span for Anisimov, and the kid was really showing off his dominant capabilities at the time. 

He did not stay on that pace for the entire season, though, but I don't entirely pin that on him. Anisimov was one of those players who head coach John Tortorella enjoyed experimenting with. Torts had him on the first line, the second line and the third line. For the entire second half of the season, Anisimov skated on the third line, not with Dubinsky and Callahan. The acquisition of Wojtek Wolski and addition of Vinny Prospal returning from injury both contributed to that, but Artem was no longer in an ideal situation to succeed at that point. 

Anisimov, like many, is most effective when confident, but when he is confident he is able to do things with the puck that many cannot. Anisimov has a slick pair of hands that he knows how to use to his advantage. The problem, though, is that Artie does not yet have the frame and strength to navigate into the high traffic areas of the ice where those hands would be most efficient. 

Often times when Anisimov attempts to work his way into the slot, he ends up on his back after being leveled by the opposing defenseman. If he could put on some pounds (without pulling a Kyle Wellwood), and build up his strength, Anisimov will be wowing fans every night. He is one of those players who can turn nothing into something, such as the players he mentioned above like Datsyuk and the Sedins. 

Once that happens, Anisimov is going to be the Rangers' secret weapon and the goals will come abundantly, I am quite sure of it. And what will make him better than an Ovechkin or Malkin is that Artem plays both sides of the puck, not just one. His coaches in Hartford and now John Tortorella have taught him the 'two-way or no way' mentality, and he has picked it up rather quickly. 

Anisimov has complete control of where his game goes from here, which is a good thing, but he needs to work hard in the offseason in order to enter training camp a stronger and more powerful player in the fall. He is undoubtedly a part of the frequently mentioned "youth core", but it's now time to take his game to the next level and climb closer to becoming the player he aspires to be. 

GRADE: C

Player Review: Brandon Prust

Brandon Prust's reception of the 2010-11 Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award is a great representation of what the fan base thinks of the 6-foot-2, 197-pound spark plug. This year's Ranger team thrived on heart and determination more than anything, and Prust was the epitome of both of those in all 82 games he played in this season. He takes the term "grinding" to a whole new level, and for the Blueshirts, he was one of their most valuable players all year long because of that. And to think GM Glen Sather acquired him for the likes of Christopher Higgins is, well, unbelievable to say the least. 

Prust reached career-highs in goals, assists and points this season, going 13-16-29 in 82 games. Thirteen goals for a grinding forward is an immense plus on any team, especially a team like the Rangers who, at times, heavily struggles to put pucks in the back of the net. Five of those 13 tallies came shorthanded, which was the third-highest total in the entire NHL this season for shorthanded goals. Brandon also amassed 160 penalty minutes, which comes as no surprise considering he was the player who most readily would drop the gloves for New York this year. 

Compare the 27-year-old's stats from this season to that of 2009-10, and you see how colossal of a transformation he has actually made. In 77 games played in 2009-10, Prust recorded just five goals and 14 total points. So Brandon basically doubled his numbers from just a year ago, and those new found offensive contributions were just a bonus to what he already provides night in and night out. 

Of course here I am making reference to the resilient effort that Prust's name has been directly tied to. He never stops going, he never thinks twice about giving up the body, and he will go to all extents to help the club win. Prust is well respected around the league for what he brings to the ice, but the most respect comes from his teammates within the locker room. He gets high marks from his mates and, in a way, makes them want to raise their game as well. You see a guy go out there and bust his rear every shift, and it makes you want to do the same. That's the psychological impact Prust has on the team. 

That's not the only impact, though. When I think of Prust's benefactions to the club, penalty-killing quickly comes to mind. Remember Blair Betts and Fred Sjostrom? Yeah, me neither. Who needs to when you have an even better replacement in Mr. Prust. Along with Ryan Callahan, Prust is the Rangers' best player on the p.k. without a doubt. The willingness to hit the deck and take a puck to the body alone has a massive impact, but then you also have to look at his positioning and how he clogs passing and shooting lanes. When you think about it, penalty-killing is a skill; a skill which Prust has plenty of. 

Also, fisticuffs seems to be a lost art in the sport of hockey, or at least it is slowly becoming that way, but for Brandon Prust, it is still a very big part of his game. Whether it's to defend a teammate or change the momentum of a game, Prust is always willing to go at it no matter how much bigger his opponent may be. And the thing about Prust is that he always knows when and how to pick his fights. He will never drop the gloves knowing that it will put his team at a disadvantage nor will he ever engage in a fight for a selfish reason. As always, it's solely for the benefit of the team. 

And to put the icing on the cake, Prust had such an impressive season all while battling through a nagging shoulder injury for a good chunk of the year. Immediately following the Rangers elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Prust underwent shoulder surgery to get repaired, which means he put it off for months on end just so he could remain in the lineup playing with the Rangers. I don't think you could define the word "dedication" in any better way than that. 

Prust's contributions to the Rangers are immeasurable and quite honestly I truly believe he is one of the best acquisitions of Glen Sather's since the lockout. Prust is signed through next season and comes at an extremely cap-friendly price of $800,000. 

GRADE: A

Also be sure to follow Brandon on his new Twitter account: @BrandonPrust8