Gargamel Teams up with the Smurfs

Yesterday it was announced that the Rangers have signed 20 year old Kelsey Tessier, drafted in the 4th round in 2008 by the Colorado Avalanche. Tessier has spent the last four seasons in the QMJHL,  most spent with the Quebec Remparts until a late season move to Moncton last season. Tessier has shown some great scoring ability in the QMJHL with an astounding playoff performance last season for the Moncton Wildcats putting up 30 points in 21 games played. 

Now let me wipe the smiles off all of the Ranger fans faces by letting everyone know this move isn't even a good depth move by the Rangers. Tessier is essentially the next Darren Haydar, a player Avalanche fans became familiar with last season, a player who impresses at the lower level but doesn't have enough skill to overcome his small size. The major problem with this acquisition is Tessier is not the only small player on the Rangers. They also signed Mats Zuccarelo Aasen this offseason, the only player who I think can overcome his size, and Tim Kennedy who is also of small stature. Though lets take Tessier out of the equation because he is destined for the AHL, but this still brings up the point of the Rangers size.

If Mats Zuccarelo Aasen makes the team seven Rangers will be under 6' tall: Avery, Callahan, Drury, Kennedy, Prust, White, and Zuccarelo Aasen. To put that in to perspective I will use my favorite team, the Colorado Avalanche, as an example. Die hard NHL fans know how the Avs have been an undersized finesse team for a while and even they are only likely to have 4 guys under 6' tall on the ice for opening night. None of the Rangers small guys have Martin St. Louis or Sidney Crosby talent and the only one who plays considerably bigger than his size is Callahan. Of the top teams in the Atlantic only Pittsburgh ices a team as small as the Rangers but no one will contest that majority of the Pens smaller players would be top line players for the Rangers. 

I recently did my season preview for the Rangers and I did not make an issue of their size and I still feel the Rangers will grab one of the final playoff spots in the east. Though come playoff time I believe the Rangers will be physically worn making for a very easy 1st round for whoever their opponent may be. Oh and my final thought on the day (reason for the title of the article)...when Derek Boogaard is skating around with the other players during pregame who else thinks it's going to look like Gargamel chasing the Smurfs around?

- Stephen