Comments on: Rangers refuse to release Grachev for World Junior Championship http://www.beyondtheblueshirts.com/2009/12/rangers-refuse-to-release-grachev-for-the-world-junior-championship/ A look beyond the NY Rangers at the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers' Russian prospects, and the KHL. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:53:21 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kovazub94 http://www.beyondtheblueshirts.com/2009/12/rangers-refuse-to-release-grachev-for-the-world-junior-championship//comment-page-1#comment-1880 Kovazub94 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:55:58 +0000 http://www.beyondtheblueshirts.com/?p=9226#comment-1880 akayama, while I agree with your assesment of the situation with the Rangers - I disagree with your argument to bring up Grachev. If you remember Artem Anisimov was donwright dominant during pre-season, however it didn't translate to the same when they started to play "for real". Don't get me wrong, I'm not compaining about AA's current play as a rookie, however it's far from what we saw in the pre-season. The same is with Grachev, he is being given an opportunity to succeed in AHL. However it's a transition from playing against teenagers in the juniors who are generally smaller than Grachev and can be easily dominated physically, compared to playing against much more experienced and physically developed men in AHL in each game. Bring up slumping Grachev to the NHL just doesn't make any sense to me. If Grachev was successful in AHL I'd understand the Rangers management position not to let him go, however based on the current circumstances I agree with Laurie - playing on Russia national team could boost Grachev confidence and help him get over his slump and improve his play with the Pack. akayama,

while I agree with your assesment of the situation with the Rangers – I disagree with your argument to bring up Grachev. If you remember Artem Anisimov was donwright dominant during pre-season, however it didn’t translate to the same when they started to play “for real”. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not compaining about AA’s current play as a rookie, however it’s far from what we saw in the pre-season. The same is with Grachev, he is being given an opportunity to succeed in AHL. However it’s a transition from playing against teenagers in the juniors who are generally smaller than Grachev and can be easily dominated physically, compared to playing against much more experienced and physically developed men in AHL in each game. Bring up slumping Grachev to the NHL just doesn’t make any sense to me.
If Grachev was successful in AHL I’d understand the Rangers management position not to let him go, however based on the current circumstances I agree with Laurie – playing on Russia national team could boost Grachev confidence and help him get over his slump and improve his play with the Pack.

]]> By: akayama49 http://www.beyondtheblueshirts.com/2009/12/rangers-refuse-to-release-grachev-for-the-world-junior-championship//comment-page-1#comment-1876 akayama49 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:08:05 +0000 http://www.beyondtheblueshirts.com/?p=9226#comment-1876 During Rangers training camp and exhibition games, Grachev clearly out-played 4-5 players who inexplicably made the team instead of him. Every player differs on how they react to not making a team that they have earned a spot on. In Grachev's case any lack of confidence in his game at Hartford may simply be a reflection of his frustration at having played well in September and not have been kept in NY for a trial period. His evident skills are desperately needed in NY where at least 5 of the regularly playing forwards are unfortunately skating "corpses" when it comes to creativity, skill and passion in the offensive zone. The lack of production mandates trying Grachev for a 5-10 span to see if his size, shot and passing skill makes a noticeable difference. If not at least he'll gain from 8-10 minutes in NY assuming he plays well. During Rangers training camp and exhibition games, Grachev clearly out-played 4-5 players who inexplicably made the team instead of him. Every player differs on how they react to not making a team that they have earned a spot on. In Grachev’s case any lack of confidence in his game at Hartford may simply be a reflection of his frustration at having played well in September and not have been kept in NY for a trial period. His evident skills are desperately needed in NY where at least 5 of the regularly playing forwards are unfortunately skating “corpses” when it comes to creativity, skill and passion in the offensive zone. The lack of production mandates trying Grachev for a 5-10 span to see if his size, shot and passing skill makes a noticeable difference. If not at least he’ll gain from 8-10 minutes in NY assuming he plays well.

]]>