Crawford's Corner: Rangers Report to Camp Today

Sep 18, 2014

(Photo courtesy of blueshirtsunited.com)

A significant group of players has already been on hand for a while at the parent New York Rangers' practice facility in Tarrytown, NY, and the organization's prospects were in action this past weekend at the NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City, MI, but today marks the official opening of the Rangers' training camp, as the 63 players on the big club's training camp roster undergo their camp physicals.

Tomorrow will be the first day on ice, with the 63 campers divided up into three separate groups.

All 23 players from the Traverse City roster showed enough in the tournament to earn camp invites, and that includes six free-agent tryout invitees.  Those six are forwards Nick Latta, Nathan Burns, Paxton Leroux, Bryan Moore and Logan Nelson, and defenseman Dallas Valentine.  The camp roster also includes Wolf Pack AHL contract-signee Ryan Potulny.

Time is short before the Rangers launch into their preseason schedule, as the group will have only Friday, Saturday and Sunday for workouts before the preseason opener Monday, which is at Madison Square Garden against New Jersey.

Winger Ryan Haggerty and defenseman Sam Noreau were the top statistical performers for a Ranger Traverse City team that went 1-1-2 in its four games.  Haggerty had three goals and an assist for four points and led the team in shots with 14, and Noreau struck for two goals and an assist and was a team-best +3.  Also notching three points apiece for the prospects were Latta, who had a goal and two assists, and defenseman Mat Bodie, fresh off of an NCAA title with Union College, who chipped in three helpers.