The first group is done for the day, so here are a couple lunchtime notes…
– Erik Ersberg left the ice during the morning session. Terry Murray said Ersberg got hit by a shot on his glove hand yesterday and was experiencing pain today, but that x-rays were negative. You might remember that Ersberg suffered a similar injury early last season, which was one reason Murray gave for not playing him often early on.
– If Ersberg is healthy, he will play at Colorado on Wednesday in the exhibition opener. Jonathan Quick is scheduled to start Thursday’s game against Phoenix at Staples Center and Jonathan Bernier is scheduled to start Thursday’s game at Phoenix.
– Drills got cut short by about 10 minutes after a piece of plastic broke free from the end boards. Jarret Stoll did the damage, after a hit, and was flexing his hand but appeared to be OK.
Rich – any new news on Stoll’s old arthritis problem in his hand(s)? Last I heard about it was this time last year.
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No training camp injuries!
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the phone’s ringing Erik, caller ID displays a European number. BTW, thank you for being so professional thru this whole thing. and thank you for being white hot at the end of the 07-08 season, the gift of Drew Doughty is something we will always be indebted to you for.
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Who Knows? Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
@jayhay, Loss of Stamkos or gain Doughty.. still did a hell of a job.
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Ersberg’s chance with the team is pretty much over in my opinion, Bernier has no business playing anywhere other than backup to Quick in the NHL.
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Ashley Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
@Sebastian, Unless he surpasses Quick…which could very well happen.
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Sebastian Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
@Ashley, I think Quick will hopefully play well and keep his #1 spot, just maybe play 10-15 less games. One thing is for sure, the competition will be on, and im sure it will be good motivation for both goaltenders.
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He hates those end boards!
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I was at the practice yesterday and saw Ersberg get hurt after the shot. He rolled on his side for a few moments like he had been injured then got up and went back to the net.
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that’s the most grit Stoll has shown since he’s been here! Save it for the ice, killer!
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Off the topic, but… Alexander Frolov scored 3 goals in his first scrimmage with the Rangers – teasing them with glimpses of what he’s capable of. That’s exactly what they’ll get – a glimpse here, a glimpse there. Before they know it, 7 years will have passed and all they’ve seen are glimpses.
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Dan H. Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
@Gerard,
More likely they’ll get treated to 35-45 goals making him one of the steals of the off season.
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rontheking Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
@Dan H.,
Even if frolov has a great year, there will be no way to know if he would have had a great year here–that’s the frustrating part.
For a guy who was in a contract year, he didn’t show much…maybe he wanted a new start somewhere else….
Hopefully the new Russian will make us miss the old Russian less….
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Sebastian Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
@rontheking, There’s a new Russian on the team? Did I miss something?
Dan H. Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
@rontheking,
Seeing as his best scoring years match up with Fro’s worst I doubt that’s going to happen. Fro’s puck posession skills are probably top 5 in the league and I think they’re going to be missed more than they know.
luc20rules Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
@Sebastian, New Russian is Ponikarovsky signed a couple of months ago. It will be interesting to see how the NY media treats Frolov. When I first heard he signed with the NYR, I felt bad for him.
KC23 Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
@Dan H.,
“More likely they’ll get treated to 35-45 goals”
And still manage to have one of the worst plus/minus in the league … again.
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Speaking of off the topic subjects, but practice was cut 10 minutes due to broken glass? Oh nice! Even the glass at the practice facility is getting in shape for the regular season. Is it me or is it every friggin’ game they are replacing broken glass at Staples Center? It just seems like an epidemic over the past few years that wasn’t so bad before. I realize players are getting bigger and stronger, but watching other teams, I don’t see the problem happen in other arenas as much as Staples Center. It not that big of a problem until you have a flow going and you have to stop for 5-10 minutes to replace broken glass.
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@LAfan13 Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
@Mike J.
I was there, it wasnt glass, it was Plastic. Some peice of crap clear thing covering the Mcdonalds advertisement from puck marks.
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By the halfway point in the season Quick will be backing up Bernier! Fro will be the steal of the off season but he probably would not have performed well for TM.
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puck73 Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
@Mucker 99, I will say this..from what I have seen so far in the last 3 days at practice, I agree with you..Bernier looks like he means business.
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Any thoughts of which if any of the walk-ons get a contract?
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Fro playing along Gaborik will be a very dynamic duo. I foresee Frolov scoring 40 goals
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Moondoggie Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
@408Kingfan, Oh pleeeeeaaaassssseeeee…..Only if he wanted to and he doesn’t….
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I love it already, Quick and Bernier will be thinking of each other the whole night against Phoenix.
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Would have rather kept Frolov but agree he was too wishy-washy with his output. EE should be traded for a solid forward or good draft pick if he’s not going to play a part in our future.
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