Recalled/Assigned: Mackenzie Skapski returning to the AHL today

[Khelvan]

We should have sent Talbot down instead of Skapski. Look at his career numbers!

 

[McRanger]

Not sure if this was posted:

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...rookie-goalie-cherishes-his-shot-with-rangers

On 11 December 2009, Skapski and his teammates at Fraser Valley Bruins, a midget-level hockey team from his hometown of Abbotsford, British Columbia, were driving to a tournament in Williams Lake. Thomas Spencer, who was the assistant coach at the time, described the conditions as a “typical winter day†on the West coast of Canada. It was cloudy with some light snowfall. The driver was going very fast, Spencer recalled, and eventually lost control when the bus hit some black ice.

Except for a few separated shoulders and bruises, the 20 or so other people in the bus were in okay shape.

Skapski was a different story.

“I broke the left side of my face, broke my nose. I had head surgery. I had a blood clot in the back of my head,†he said. “I missed a year of hockey. It was a crazy, crazy time and then I guess there were a lot of question marks whether I would return or play again.â€

Crazy stuff.

 

[Trxjw]

Kid did everything he needed to do while he was here. Yeah, it was just Buffalo, but he looked solid. Hopefully he has a ton of confidence playing for the Pack. Wonder if we'll see Lindberg get recalled here in the next day or so.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Great job all around. Promising kid. Tear up the AHL now!

 

[Made Dan]

Wish I had the opportunity to give him a crisp dap. Looking forward to him returning with the taxi squad in a few weeks.

 

[Beacon]

Still rough around the edges, but it's fixable if he works hard. Very talented, but goalies bust more than anyone else so he shouldn't take for granted that he'll be back. Needs to work his ass off with Benny.

 

[trilobyte]

Still rough around the edges, but it's fixable if he works hard. Very talented, but goalies bust more than anyone else so he shouldn't take for granted that he'll be back. Needs to work his ass off with Benny.

This is probably a dumb question, but do the goalies in Hartford get the benefit of Allaire's time and instruction on a fairly regular basis?

 

[Mikos87]

This is probably a dumb question, but do the goalies in Hartford get the benefit of Allaire's time and instruction on a fairly regular basis?

Yeah for sure. Benny likes his guys to be of a certain demeanor. Calm, collected, focused and technically sound with a good lean frame. I think we'll see the trend continue.

Don't expect any hotheads in the mold of a Rask or Lehner under Benny's tutelage.

 

[Beacon]

This is probably a dumb question, but do the goalies in Hartford get the benefit of Allaire's time and instruction on a fairly regular basis?

Yes, he worked regularly with Talbot in the AHL and even with Missiaen in the ECHL. Did much better with the former than the latter. Missiaen was just a big guy on skates at first, he couldn't move side to side at all. He got better with time, but not better enough to even make the AHL. According to AV, Benny liked him a lot, not sure why.

 

[trilobyte]

Thanks for the feedback, Mikos87 and Beacon.

I always, from the old days, considered good goaltender tandems to be a core part of the Rangers. Giacomin-Villemure, Richter-Vanbiesbrouck are the most obvious. It's really different now, for all teams not just the Rangers. You have one solid #1 (you hope), and the backup plays a distant second fiddle. I digress.

The Rangers seem to have an embarrassment of goalie prospects, including Talbot who I always suspected got some stabilizing attention when he had to go into starter mode with Henrik out. After a few games, he seemed to become more aware of his position. Made me think he got some just in time expert coaching he needed.
I realize nothing is guaranteed, but there is evidence of some good development going on. Can't just be coincidence. Very nice to see.

 

[Brooklyn Ranger]

Kid did everything he needed to do while he was here. Yeah, it was just Buffalo, but he looked solid. Hopefully he has a ton of confidence playing for the Pack. Wonder if we'll see Lindberg get recalled here in the next day or so.

Doubt there's any room for Lindberg on the roster--Lundqvist was activated off the LT IR and St Louis is getting closer to coming back according to AV.

http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/...enators_st._louis_expected_to_resume_skating/

Plus (also according to Gross), the Rangers are only allowed 2 more call-ups from the AHL (without it being an emergency, I think).

 

[BBKers]

Doubt there's any room for Lindberg on the roster--Lundqvist was activated off the LT IR and St Louis is getting closer to coming back according to AV.

http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/...enators_st._louis_expected_to_resume_skating/

Plus (also according to Gross), the Rangers are only allowed 2 more call-ups from the AHL (without it being an emergency, I think).

The $ space is actually there now as McKenzie is being sent down (Miller and Fast were apparently already sent down and called up as paper transactions if Rangers fall out of POs - God forbid - and Pack still in it). Over 880.000 in annual space left. However, leaving only two roster spots for possible callups might not be advisable until there are only 5-6 games left. I see both Lindberg and McIllraith getting called up then if it is possible. Maybe also Klingberg (not all at once though!).

 

[BoWmEn]

I don't think I've seen him stop smiling since he was brought up. I can totally picture him during a game smiling the whole time while making the save, lol.

 

[TheTakedown]

The $ space is actually there now as McKenzie is being sent down (Miller and Fast were apparently already sent down and called up as paper transactions if Rangers fall out of POs - God forbid - and Pack still in it). Over 880.000 in annual space left. However, leaving only two roster spots for possible callups might not be advisable until there are only 5-6 games left. I see both Lindberg and McIllraith getting called up then if it is possible. Maybe also Klingberg (not all at once though!).

we have 4--that tweet that reported that was wrong, because the 2 call ups prior were before the trade deadline

EDIT: I remain correct:

http://theahl.com/stats/transactions.php?f_season_id=48&f_team_id=307

The last recalled player was Oscar Lindberg on February 24th. He was returned 1 day later. Skapski was pulled up way before the deadline

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

Buffalos are endangered now... No more buffalo hunting for skaps

 

[Brooklyn Ranger]

The $ space is actually there now as McKenzie is being sent down (Miller and Fast were apparently already sent down and called up as paper transactions if Rangers fall out of POs - God forbid - and Pack still in it). Over 880.000 in annual space left. However, leaving only two roster spots for possible callups might not be advisable until there are only 5-6 games left. I see both Lindberg and McIllraith getting called up then if it is possible. Maybe also Klingberg (not all at once though!).

The Rangers are not going to re-call anyone, unless there is an injury. And they certainly aren't going to call up two of their most important Wolfpack players to sit in the stands while Hartford is in a playoff race.

 

[The Mouth]

Farewell to thee Skapman Cruthers, The Ginger Skap, Opie Cunningham. You were solid and provided me with many a smile.