Cristoval “Boo” Nieves re-signed with the Rangers in the summer to a one year, two-way deal. Entering this season, Boo Nieves will be beneficial to Hartford or New York. The 24-year-old forward is more mature than some of the other young prospects in Hartford. He is also a center that can be impactful if New York needs a depth center for the third or fourth lines.

However, no spot is given to a player in sports. Cristoval Nieves must prove that he is ready for a spot with the Rangers. Now is his best time as the club is rebuilding from the ground up. For a mature, but still young forward, Nieves can provide a two-way game that helps the Rangers offensively and defensively. His developmental growth is slower since he is older as opposed to a younger prospect. That should not discount him as a potential forward beginning on the Rangers roster. He would be an attractive option as opposed to a forward such as Matt Beleskey, who was brought into the organization and played in Hartford. He is an older veteran that will go on a decline down the road. For growing purposes, Nieves could enhance his game better with the young guys in New York.

If Nieves starts the season in Hartford, he will be a good addition to the younger forwards. He would play well in the American Hockey League and help Hartford throughout the season on the score sheet. Nieves has a well rounded playing style that would be ideal for certain situations on the ice. The only issue I have with him in Hartford is that he would take a spot from a younger prospect in the organization. I feel that he can make the jump to the National Hockey League.

A one year deal will fly. Cristoval Nieves has to make noise and get attention from the Rangers brass. He should since he could benefit New York next season. The forward needs to have additional experience in a tougher league.

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The boos from Thursday nights 5-2 win versus Arizona had a far different tone than the previous ones from Monday’s loss versus San Jose. These boos had an uplifting tone, as Cristoval “Boo” Nieves, recently recalled from Hartford, registered his first three NHL points in his first regular season game at Madison Square Garden.

Nieves, with his parents in attendance, skated on a line with Pavel Buchnevich and Michael Grabner. It didn’t take long for him to get on the score sheet as he assisted on a first period goal by Buchnevich. Later, he added two more assists on Michael Grabner’s second period goal and another on Buchnevich’s second goal of the night.

“I don’t think every game is going to be like this,” Nieves told NHL.com. “It’s obviously the best league in the world and guys come to play every single night. Time will only tell.” Syracuse.com

The general consensus is that the Nieves recall from the AHL is a smart move. After running 11 forwards and 7 defense-men in previous games, Boo’s addition to the team seems like a welcome one in a place where the Rangers need it most. This allows Alain Vigneault to roll all four lines, along with keeping the defense in the flow of the game. His speed and agility down the middle versus Arizona was a welcoming sight in a season that has certainly not started in the Rangers’ favor.

Born in Baldwinsville, New York Nieves was given the name Cristoval, but was never called that as a kid. His mother Joanne gave him the nickname “Bugaboo” but shortened it to “Boo” and it’s stuck.

Known for his size and speed, Nieves stood out for his local USPHL Syracuse Stars.  In 2005, Boo was named top player of the Bell Tournament in Ottawa, a get together of many of the best teams and prospects in North America.

“The one thing that continues to stick out about him is his unbelievable hockey sense,” said Steve Cibelli, who coached him in the Stars. “He found guys that were open. You said, ‘Ah, that’s not typically a 9-year-old play.’ Syracuse.com

Wherever he played, Nieves always displayed his talents of speed and a strong vision for the game. In his development, one of his main attributes that sets him apart from other forwards is his poise with the puck. Scouts have said that because of this confidence, he rarely ever makes a bad pass.  Now, as an adult, he boasts the height of a burly hockey player, but lacks physicality even though that’s never been a detriment to his play.

Nieves played two years for at Kent School from 2010-2012, Nieves posted 78 points in 48 games; then 10 points in 13 games for the USHL’s Indiana Ice. Seeing the obvious skill and size, the New York Rangers selected Nieves 59th, in the second round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Similar to former Ranger Carl Hagelin, Nieves began his adult hockey career attending the University of Michigan; playing with teammates such as JT Compher, Andrew Copp, and Dylan Larkin. Nieves primarily played wing for the Wolverines and although Nieves only reached 10 goals once at his time in college (scored 10 goals in his final campaign), he seems to have created chances, rather than finishing them by posting 20 plus assists in three out of his four seasons for the Wolverines. Something that I’m sure Rangers scouts payed close attention to.

After wrapping up his collegiate career in 2015-16, Nieves signed a two year entry level deal with the Rangers, who then assigned him to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. In eight games at center, to end the 2015-16 campaign, his first go around at the position, resulted in two goals and three assists. The following season Nieves led the Wolf Pack rookies in offensive production by posting 17 points (5 goals, 12 assists) in 38 games; before being called up for one game with the Rangers.

All throughout his time within the Rangers organization, Nieves has always been overshadowed by players down the middle such as Derek Stepan, Mika Zibanejad, Kevin Hayes, Jesper Fast, Oscar Lindberg, and so forth. Every camp he has participated and left a good impression on the coaching staff with his agility, puck skills, and sound hockey mind. The only problem was, there was no place to put him. With the Rangers trading Derek Stepan and losing Oscar Lindberg this past summer and Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil being a couple years away, Nieves finally finds himself in a position to make an impact on the big club.

The Rangers are taking a hard look at Nieves. His speed, poise and skill is perfect in AV’s fast paced system. Nieves isn’t the caliber player of a Matthews or a McDavid, but what he provides to this team is stability down the middle. He has enough talent to hold his own on an NHL roster. Maybe, just maybe, him anchoring that fourth line with Buchnevich and Grabner sparks something of a domino effect. Where it provides the Rangers a balance that is something the rest of the team can work off of.

Nieves’ debut versus Arizona puts him off to a good start. All of Rangerstown hopes this positive start can continue, and going forward he might just materialize into something great.

Specialty Teams

The penalty kill is one of the consistent areas for this year’s group. They are ranked sixth in the American Hockey League for the penalty kill and third in the Eastern Conference.  Hartford has killed 88.6% of penalties.

The power play has it’s up and down moments, but overall, the performance has been good for the club. They are ranked sixth in the league and fourth in the Eastern Conference, operating at 23.3%. For instance, Friday’s game had six power plays which the Pack could not convert on. On Saturday and Sunday, they notched a total of four power-play goals in six opportunities.

Abundance of Roster Moves

The past few days have been busy for the organization, and the Hartford roster continues to be ever-changing. Saturday had the first move, with forward Matt Puempel being traded to Detriot, in exchange for Ryan Sproul. The Pack lost an offensive forward and gained an extra guy for the blue line. Sproul should debut on Friday against Bridgeport.

The second move was defenseman Garrett Noonan getting sent down to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL. The move put Hartford back at seven defensemen.

Tuesday was active. The Rangers announced that they played Adam Cracknell on waivers.  He cleared and will be joining the Pack. In addition, Tony DeAngelo was sent down by the Rangers to Hartford. Currently, there are eight defensemen with Hartford, but another move is expected to happen soon to bring down the total back to seven. This organization cannot afford to healthy-scratch any prospects.

Later in the evening on Tuesday, the Rangers announced that Cristoval Nieves has been called up. He looks to help the struggling Rangers and provide more help on center.

Notes

1. Filip Chytil had an awkward collision with a Penguins player on Saturday night in the second period and did not return to the game. He was also scratched on Sunday. His injury is considered minor and he should be back over the weekend.
2. Brandon Crawley and Vince Pedrie recorded their first pro goals on Sunday against Bridgeport.
3. Alexandar Georgiev played on Saturday and held down the crease well. He faced 44 shots on net in the shootout loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  The game was his second start of the season.

Upcoming Weekend

Hartford has another three games in three days this weekend. They are home on Friday and are in Pennsylvania on Saturday and Sunday.

• Friday, October 27th vs Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders) at 7:15 pm, XL Center
  • This finishes a home-and-home series with Bridgeport. The first meeting was on last Sunday, which the Pack lost. A fast start with a full effort will benefit Hartford. The Sound Tigers had total control in the previous meeting beating the Wolf Pack 6-3.
• Saturday, October 28th vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Flyers) at 7:05 pm, PPL Center
  • The Phantoms won four straight games after losing their first two. The first meeting between the clubs resulted in a Wolf Pack win, 2-1 in the shootout. The offensively talented Phantoms will test Hartford again.
• Sunday, October 29th vs Hershey Bears (Capitals) at 5:00, Giant Center
  • Hershey is off to a slow start, winning one game out of six they have played this season. The Bears faced a significant roster turnover in the offseason. This is the third game in three days for Hartford, and it will test the prospects again on handling a lot of games in a short amount of time.

After waiving Adam Cracknell and demoting Anthony DeAngelo, the Rangers recalled Cristoval “Boo” Nieves from the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Nieves is a 6’3″, 212-pound center who has 26 points (10G, 16A) in 55 career AHL games. Nieves has dealt with some injury problems, most notably missing 35 games during the 2016-17 Wolf Pack season. This year, he’s tallied two goals and an assist playing in seven games for Hartford.

Nieves played in one game with the Rangers last season and had been given a long look during the Rangers 2016-17 camp. Boo has been selected by the Rangers coaching staff and front office over Adam Cracknell to be the team’s fourth line center.

On a side note, Nieves being called up right before Halloween had to be a calculated move, as one Rangers fan noted.

Nieves is not going to be expected to come in and be an offensive powerhouse. But if he is able to play a solid and consistent 200-foot game, he will be a welcome addition to the Broadway Blueshirts.

Two weeks are in the books for the Hartford Wolf Pack in this young season, and they’ve started off strong. Hartford finished last weekend winning both of their games. The club is 3-1, and could just as easily be 4-0 had they not blown the lead on opening night against Charlotte. The team has scored the first tally in each of their games, something their “parent organization” could start doing, and it has led Hartford to trail for just one minute all season. The addition of Filip Chytil has strengthened the club offensively, and he had an immediate impact over the past weekend.

Filip Chytil Impact

Since joining Hartford, Filip Chytil has made his presence known. The forward notched three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in Saturday’s win against Springfield. He was dominant and felt comfortable as he adopted to the Pack’s style of play, as well as his linemates. On Friday, his assist was removed after they replayed the situation.

But in both games, he helped the team out by doing the little things. He looks to generate offense, stays in proper position and tries to force turnovers when needed. As Filip Chytil plays more games with the group, he will become stronger and will start producing more and more points. If the Rangers need a call up, and we all know they do, Filip Chytil could be a strong candidate.

Streaks

1. Captain Joe Whitney had a three game point streak coming into last weekend. He recorded four points in three games, but had his streak snapped against Springfield.
2. Like Whitney, Adam Tambellini had his three game point streak snapped on Saturday. He had goals in three straight outings, including the shootout deciding goal on October 8th against Lehigh Valley.
3. Scott Kosmachuk’s point streak continues. He has points in three of four outings for Hartford, and has been rewarded with top line minutes. He’s generated multiple offensive chances and can move the puck well. Head coach Keith McCambridge was also satisfied with his playing.
   

   “It’s a matter of keeping it simple, not getting fancy. I think myself, personally, I need to say out of the box. We built off last game and we’re going to do it again tomorrow.” – Kosmachuk

   This is a guy with some potential and so far it is looking good. The forward has five assists in four games and plays the “set up guy” in offensive situations. His point streak is currently at two games.  One highlight from last weekend was his three point night on Friday against the tough Toronto Marlies club.  The forward had three assists in the outing.

4. Cristoval “Boo” Nieves and Cole Schneider also have two game point streaks.  Nieves had three points (2 goals, assist) this past weekend, while Schneider had a goal and an assist.
5. Overall, 15 of 19 skaters have recorded at least a point in four games this season.

Chris Nell’s Hot Start

Chris Nell has been the workhorse in net this season. The goalie started in three straight games, winning all three contests, and has played 184:49 minutes in net. In that span, his goals against average is 1.95 with a save percentage of .935, stopping 86 of 92 shots towards him. His strong play in net has rewarded him time in net. He had terrific saves against Lehigh Valley and Toronto, which are both strong American Hockey League clubs. He also performed well against the Springfield Thunderbirds on Saturday, and head coach Keith McCambridge is riding Chris Nell’s hot streak.

Alexandar Georgiev played one game, and that was the first game of the season on October 6th against Charlotte. He will be anxious to play again and should be practicing hard. He may get a chance to play in the upcoming weekend as there is a three in three coming up.

Upcoming Weekend

Hartford has three games in three days coming up. They are home Friday, then on the road for the remainder of the weekend. This weekend will push the group as they are playing tough opponents:

• Friday, October 20th vs Belleville Senators at 7:15pm, XL Center
  • The Belleville Senators are a gritty team who are not afraid of the rough action, and will wear teams down.  Hartford has to play smart against Belleville as the Senators could get into their opponent’s heads.
• Saturday, October 21st @Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7:05pm, Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
  • Despite the slow start for the Penguins, they are the one of the toughest opponents to play. The Penguins have shown shades of dominance against other teams. Hartford has struggled against the Penguins lately, getting swept by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the 2016-17 season series, 0-8. This will be the biggest challenge of the weekend.
  • Sunday, October 22nd @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 3pm, Webster Bank Arena
  • This is the first of ten meetings against the in state rivals, who Hartford also struggled against last season. The Sound Tigers are a hard working team that will also stir the pot up if needed. The season series against Bridgeport can get interesting depending on how the rivalry builds up throughout the season.

What to Watch For

Filling the Hole in the Middle

One thing the Rangers will be looking for during this camp is another bottom six center. The top two lines will be centered by Mika Zibanejad and Kevin Hayes, but the third and fourth line roles are up for grabs. Jeff Gorton brought in David Desharnais on a one year deal, but the 31-year-old center is not a third line center by any stretch of the imagination. The Rangers are bringing in Andrew Desjardins on a PTO, and like Desharnais, he wouldn’t be the first choice for a third line center on most teams either.

So that leaves room for the Rangers prospects to step in and try and make a big enough impression on Alain Vigneault and the Rangers’ brass to make the roster. Players like Steven Fogarty and Cristoval “Boo” Nieves, who have spent the last two seasons in Hartford, should be getting a long look from the big club. Factor in 2017 first round draft pick Lias Andersson as well, and the Rangers have a few guys who may be serious competitors for a roster spot on opening night.

Determining the Defense

Another thing to look for is how the Rangers will fill out their defense. The Rangers top four is pretty much set in stone with Ryan McDonagh playing alongside free agent signing Kevin Shattenkirk, and youngster Brady Skjei playing next to veteran Brendan Smith. That leaves the bottom pair. Marc Staal will be on one side of the blue line, and the question remains as to who his partner will be. While it is most likely going to be his partner from last season Nick Holden, the Rangers have a bevy of options to choose from. They have 2017 Memorial Cup champion Sean Day, an offensive defenseman with great skating ability who they can bring in, but Day still has plenty of work to do on the defensive side of the puck. They have two Russian defensemen, Sergei Zborovsky and Alexei Bereglazov, both of whom are 6’4″ and are good in their own zone. The one caveat is that Bereglazov has a clause in his contract, much like former KHL teammate Pavel Buchnevich, that allows him to return to the KHL if he doesn’t make the Rangers roster.

Leading the charge is newly acquired Anthony DeAngelo, who the Rangers got from Arizona in the Derek Stepan/Antti Raanta trade. DeAngelo is an offensive defenseman with great skating ability but is lacking in his own zone. And speaking of offensive defensemen, they have 2017 Memorial Cup champion Sean Day, an offensive defenseman with great skating ability who they can bring in, but Day still has plenty of work to do on the defensive side of the puck. They have two Russian defensemen, Sergei Zborovsky and Alexei Bereglazov, both of whom are 6’4″ and are good in their own zone. The one caveat is that Bereglazov has a clause in his contract, much like former KHL teammate Pavel Buchnevich, that allows him to return to the KHL if he doesn’t make the Rangers roster.

Jeff Gorton and Alain Vigneault also have a group of NCAA signings to look at as well. Vince Pedrie and Neal Pionk were both signed out of college by the Blueshirts, and they will be looking to make a good impression as well. And let’s not forget about Steven Kampfer, who played a few games with the Rangers last season and had a little bit of success. Kampfer picked up a goal and an assist in ten games on Broadway and did a solid job in his own zone.

The Rangers have all of these guys competing for the sixth and seventh defenseman roles and hopefully, that pushes everyone to play at their best. The better these guys play, the harder it is for the coaches and general manager, but the players will be getting better trying to outperform the next guy.

These are just a couple of storylines to watch as the Rangers embark on the 2017-18 season. All of these questions will be answered in the coming weeks, and it will be a lot of fun to watch.

This time last year, there was plenty of reason for optimism amongst Rangers fans. They brought their most highly regarded prospect, Pavel Buchnevich over, from Russia. They defied all of the hockey insiders by signing Jimmy Vesey to add to an already talented group of forwards. Trade acquisitions Mika Zibanejad and Nick Holden, along with a full season of another rookie, Brady Skjei, added to the intrigue of a fairly complete, and well-rounded squad. But this year feels different to me.

Too Many Defenseman?

Kevin Shattenkirk is a great addition as a free agent. He has his defensive deficiencies, but his power play prowess, fine skating, and passing abilities should make the Rangers stronger. Trade deadline pickup Brendan Smith was a nice re-sign, considering his solid chemistry to the very important Brady Skjei. I would like to look forward to Anthony DeAngelo’s skill set, along with Neal Pionk’s play. A long look at the more mature Sean Day would be very interesting. But, there are still too many veteran defensemen ahead of those three youngsters.

Marc Staal and Nick Holden were a very good second pairing last year, and then saw a considerable drop in their play. Some whisper that the concussion that Staal suffered hampered his play as the year went along. Either way, bringing back both of those players impedes the possibility of DeAngelo (provided he has grown a whole lot), Pionk, Day, or Russian import Alexei Bereglazov of making a significant impact. While Bereglazov should make the team’s top seven, the other three have the option of playing in Hartford. From an armchair, it’s real easy to say Staal and Holden shouldn’t play if our Russian import and DeAngelo can outplay them. But, NHL general managers aren’t going to just lose their depth on the blue line for the price of nothing. Staal cannot be waived or traded, with his No Movement Clause having one year left. So, much to the chagrin of many, his spot is secure, unless he is somehow traded.

As for Holden, he doesn’t make enough for me to worry about his feelings if he sits in the press box for most of the season. But by the same token, if he were waived, he would surely get snatched up, with his fairly low cap hit at $1.65 million, and ability to play both sides at a decent level. It is also well known that Bereglazov has an out in his contract to return to the KHL if he is sent down to the AHL.

Broken Promises at Center?

Now we return to the position that is truly maddening, center. We all know that the team has lost Oscar Lindberg and Derek Stepan this offseason, and only signed the very marginal David Desharnais to be a 4th line pivot. Incumbents Kevin Hayes and Mika Zibanejad both missed time due to injury last year, as did Desharnais. This position is on thin ice (pun intended) before the puck is even dropped on the 2017-18 season. GM Jeff Gorton very publicly stated that there would be trades and that “his phone rings more now with his team having cap space.” Well, we are still waiting for that center.

But it didn’t end there. In an interview with Dan Rosen, head coach Alain Vigneault says that acquiring a third line center is “definitely a possibility, and could be in the cards.” Again, teasing the media and the fans that a gaping hole could be filled, as well as possibly clearing up a logjam on defense.

The problem with all of this is that when the people that run the team are stating a need to go outside the organization, it puts the team at the mercy of the rest of the NHL. It also sets up the fans and media to jump all over the team if injuries occur to centers or even if there is a losing skid. People will point right to the unfulfilled intentions stated by the GM and head coach.

Bottom Line

The center position is so important in today’s NHL. Without a Crosby, Malkin, or McDavid, a team needs depth down the middle to compete. The Rangers haven’t had a superstar first line center in many years. The team’s success has been attributed to depth rather than the big, go-to guy. Now, they don’t have that depth. Lias Andersson (2017 first round pick, 18 years old) and the oft-injured Cristoval Nieves, are battling for the vacant center spot, with the “loser” providing the only depth. Sorry, that does not inspire confidence. Also, rather than hoping that Hayes and Zibanejad have better years and progress, the team needs them to do just that.

The rumors out of New York and Toronto of Tyler Bozak coming to the Big Apple in a trade have amounted to nothing so far. The Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Matt Duchene talk have been just that. If management can’t fill the obvious glaring need at center, the season could be doomed before it starts. Two years ago, Derek Stepan broke his leg the first time he touched the ice in training camp. Zibanejad missed 26 games last year. Desharnais missed 33. So you see how this can go real bad in a real quick. And if there are no injuries, that third line center spot is not in sure hands by any means.

Trades in September and October have become very rare in the NHL. That’s not to say it’s impossible. But team management faces an uphill battle to clear up some excess at one position and fill a huge hole at another. Until then, be optimistic, but be forewarned.

For the eleventh consecutive year, the Rangers will be participating in the Traverse City prospect tournament.

The roster features 2017 first round picks Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil, as well as 2016 draftees Sean Day, Tim Gettinger, Gabriel Fontaine and Ty Ronning. The Rangers have also invited NCAA free agent signings Vinni Lettieri, Neal Pionk and goaltender Chris Nell to the Michigan tournament.

The tournament will run from September 8th through the 12th and features prospects from the Red Wings, Hurricanes, Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Stars, Wild, Blues, and Rangers. Former participants in this tournament include current Rangers’ sophomores Jimmy Vesey and Pavel Buchnevich, and Blueshirts hopeful Cristoval “Boo” Nieves.

Nieves Looks to Impress

The Rangers spent the off-season stocking up on young talent, and on Tuesday another well-marinated prospect made his way into the lineup, as Boo Nieves made his NHL debut.

Nieves, 22, was chosen by the Rangers in the second round of the 2012 draft. He spent his developmental years in the NCAA, playing for the Michigan Wolverines.

From those who know him best

I spent Monday evening talking to people involved with the U of Michigan ice hockey club, to get a sense of what Nieves brings to the table. The feedback I received about both Nieves the player, and the person, was overwhelmingly positive.

First: Nieves’ best asset is by far his skating ability. The kid can flat-out scoot. One Michigan alumn told me he was the best “stop and go” skater he had seen come through the program since former Ranger Carl Hagelin donned the blue and gold. That’s saying something for sure. Both Nieves and Hagelin posses an uncanny ability to work with their legs behind opposing teams’ goal lines.

Temper Expectations

Now let me temper expectations. Nieves is by no means a world-beater offensively. At Michigan, Nieves did see increased production every season he played in. His best season, senior year, Nieves tallied 10 goals and 21 assists in 35 games. Not exactly all-star offensive numbers. (The team’s leading scorer, Kyle Connor, finished with 71 points that season just to get an idea of where the offensive stars typically come in)

It was said by one former beat writer on the Michigan Daily staff that Nieves has a sneaky-quick shot release, and that he used it to surprise opposing goalies from time to time.

But where young Nieves will earn his pay is on the penalty kill. For most of his junior and senior seasons at UM, Nieves was the team’s primary PK center. He is a prototypical bottom six, shut down center in this regard.

Opportunity Knocks

Injuries to two mainstays, Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnveich, have given Nieves a chance to strut his stuff. While it’s uncertain exactly how he’ll be used, one thing is for sure: Head Coach Alain Vigneault loves his two-way fourth liners. That’s exactly the type of role Nieves will be expected to fill for now.

Nieves’ speed and prowess in the defensive zone is exactly what Vigneualt saw in his game this preseason. Vigneault said that the speed and size of Nieves was intriguing, and that according to scouts, he was the best player on the ice in early games with AHL Hartford. AV added that Nieves would be “in the back of his mind” as the season progressed.

What Nieves brings to the table aligns well with what the bench boss likes in a bottom-six forward. Should Nieves make the most of his opportunity, we’re lead to believe he’ll earn as many chances to become an every day NHLer as any young forward could ask.