Budding teenage hockey prodigies arrive, take the local club to glorious heights, get noticed by pro scouts, are drafted and move to the bright lights and big cities of the NHL. In a perfect world that would happen after four years of yeomen service in the junior ranks. Unfortunately in the world of Junior hockey its fans and its burgeoning stars, it is far from perfect.
Upon further examination of the New Rangers roster it is enough to make you cheer for the Canmore, Alta. native’s chances but it is also evidence enough to make you quietly cringe at the realization that the ‘tender affectionately known as ‘Blackie’ could quite possibly be sitting on the bench for the Broadway BlueShirts this season. Crazy talk, you say? One look at the Rangers sheer lack of depth in goal might make any naysayers change their tune.
Two significant developments out of New York this past week shed some light on the situation. First, All-Star goalie Mike Richter announces that he almost certainly will be ready to resume his place as the Ranger’s number one goalie after recovering from blowing out his knee back in February. His second reconstructive knee surgery in as many years. A collective sigh of relief can be heard throughout Rangerland as any dedicated fan most likely knows that the depth at the goaltender position with the Rangers is at best, somewhat thin.
Second, the media-frenzied announcement that the much maligned Eric Lindros will join the Rangers after being obtained in a trade for Jan Hlavac, Kim Johnsson, Pavel Brendl and a mid- round draft pick likely for next years NHL Draft. Why does this have anything to do with the Rangers goalie situation? Simply because in their failure to land a high-market free agent in this summer’s sweepstakes, the Rangers have focused on landing first Jaromir Jagr and now Lindros (including the real possibility of Bret Hull if Lindros is in the fold), New York has neglected to shore up possibly the most important position in the game – between the pipes.
A look in the system of the Rangers and if you’re considering plucking a proven backup in the very real scenario of Mike Richter going down to injury, the cupboard isn’t exactly full. On the Ranger’s farm in Hartford of the AHL are two quality Europeans ‘tenders in Johan Holmqvist and Vitali Yeremeyev. The two with the best shot at backing up Richter or even supplanting him should he succumb to injury. Deeper in the system are a couple of WHL alumni in former Spokane Chief and Portland WinterHawk Jason Labarbera and ex- ICE and Swift Current Bronco Bryce Wandler who played last season in the ECHL and UHL, respectively. Out of the NCAA the Rangers have St. Cloud State graduate Scott Meyer who could challenge and Union College freshman Brandon Snee who’s still some ways off.
If the aforementioned list maintains the status quo into September’s training camp there is the real possibility of Blackburn playing his way into the number two position of the Rangers.
With Blackburn being 18 obviously restricts the Rangers decision to being up with the big club or back in junior with the ICE. Of course if the Rangers address the needs of an experienced goalie than it will be that much harder for Blackburn to make it and possibly rendering the whole argument moot. All things being equal, the averages say that a goalie needs at least one year of junior development after being drafted and in most cases more. In the case of Dan Blackburn, average isn’t a word that exactly comes to mind. Maturity beyond his years in his focus, preparation and his talent suggest to me that Ranger fans could be facing the future of the club’s goaltending a lot quicker than most think.
