Rangers Sign Tom Pyatt

[Thrillhouse]

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has signed center Tom Pyatt to a professional contract.

Pyatt, 20, has skated in 56 games with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season, registering 42 goals and 38 assists for 80 points, along with a plus-32 rating and 18 penalty minutes. Among league leaders, the OHL Western Conference All-Star is currently tied for first in game-winning goals (nine), tied for third in shorthanded goals (six), tied for sixth in goals (42), and tied for 11th in plus/minus (+32).

Since February 18, Pyatt has notched 12 goals and six assists in 10 games. In addition, he recorded four points (one goal and three assists) in six games at the 2007 World Junior Championships in Leksand, Sweden and helped Team Canada capture its third consecutive gold medal on January 5.

The 6-0, 190-pound center has skated in 238 career games with Saginaw (OHL), registering 93 goals and 106 assists for 199 points, along with 82 penalty minutes. Last season, Pyatt earned Western Conference MVP honors at the 2006 OHL All-Star Classic and was named the best defensive forward in the 2005-06 OHL Western Conference Coaches Poll.

He finished the season third on the Spirit in goals (24), fourth in assists (29) and fourth on the club in scoring with 53 points. In the 2006 postseason, he collected one goal and two assists, along with four penalty minutes in four games.

Aside from his appearance at the 2007 World Junior Championships, Pyatt was also a member of Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2006 World Junior Tournament in Vancouver, registering one goal in six games.

The native of Thunder Bay, Ontario was originally the Rangers’ fourth round choice, 107th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He is the younger brother of Vancouver Canucks forward Taylor Pyatt.

[Orr=God]

this kid will be a great third line center who can kill penalties and score..good signing

[bigjack]

Originally Posted by Orr=God

this kid will be a great third line center who can kill penalties and score..good signing

Being the Rangers he'll get buried in Hartford. Don't you know the team can't survive without the Blair Betts of the world and his TWO ASSISTS in 69 games. Fuc*en Betts makes Mark Janssens look like some playmaker for chrissakes!

[nyr2]

are we really supposed to care that they signed this guy? I mean he should be good, but hes 20 and still in Jr's and then will waste away for a year or 2 in Hartford before either coming up to get 4th line time or being traded and turning into a solid role player/piece to a puzzle on a winning team only to be traded back to or signed by the Rangers 10-15 years from now in a ridiculous deal only to see him bring nothing to the team and eat up cap space.

I could be wrong, but I'd rather be a realist than get let down like I have been with just about every other prospect they have had in the last 15+ years.

[evulmievl]

Originally Posted by nyr2

are we really supposed to care that they signed this guy? I mean he should be good, but hes 20 and still in Jr's and then will waste away for a year or 2 in Hartford before either coming up to get 4th line time or being traded and turning into a solid role player/piece to a puzzle on a winning team only to be traded back to or signed by the Rangers 10-15 years from now in a ridiculous deal only to see him bring nothing to the team and eat up cap space.

I could be wrong, but I'd rather be a realist than get let down like I have been with just about every other prospect they have had in the last 15+ years.

yeah you should care. this kid is the type of player you want to have on your team. ive met him a few times during his stay here in saginaw as my family houses players for the team on occasion, and he is awesome. he has all the skill in the world, and more importantly he has the desire and the heart to make it. he will only make the hartford team better, and thereby i guarantee he will get a shot in the nhl. he is easily as talented if not more so than a guy like mike richards and mike is in the nhl.

[bigjack]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has signed center Tom Pyatt to a professional contract.

Pyatt, 20, has skated in 56 games with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season, registering 42 goals and 38 assists for 80 points, along with a plus-32 rating and 18 penalty minutes. Among league leaders, the OHL Western Conference All-Star is currently tied for first in game-winning goals (nine), tied for third in shorthanded goals (six), tied for sixth in goals (42), and tied for 11th in plus/minus (+32).

Since February 18, Pyatt has notched 12 goals and six assists in 10 games. In addition, he recorded four points (one goal and three assists) in six games at the 2007 World Junior Championships in Leksand, Sweden and helped Team Canada capture its third consecutive gold medal on January 5.

The 6-0, 190-pound center has skated in 238 career games with Saginaw (OHL), registering 93 goals and 106 assists for 199 points, along with 82 penalty minutes. Last season, Pyatt earned Western Conference MVP honors at the 2006 OHL All-Star Classic and was named the best defensive forward in the 2005-06 OHL Western Conference Coaches Poll.

He finished the season third on the Spirit in goals (24), fourth in assists (29) and fourth on the club in scoring with 53 points. In the 2006 postseason, he collected one goal and two assists, along with four penalty minutes in four games.

Aside from his appearance at the 2007 World Junior Championships, Pyatt was also a member of Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2006 World Junior Tournament in Vancouver, registering one goal in six games.

The native of Thunder Bay, Ontario was originally the Rangers’ fourth round choice, 107th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He is the younger brother of Vancouver Canucks forward Taylor Pyatt.

It'd be nice to see if some of these later round picks make it! They already have Prucha and Lundqvist! Callahan, Dawes, Pyatt would be nice also and what about that little guy Ryan Russell. He seems to have some skills!

[nyr2]

Originally Posted by evulmievl

yeah you should care. this kid is the type of player you want to have on your team. ive met him a few times during his stay here in saginaw as my family houses players for the team on occasion, and he is awesome. he has all the skill in the world, and more importantly he has the desire and the heart to make it. he will only make the hartford team better, and thereby i guarantee he will get a shot in the nhl. he is easily as talented if not more so than a guy like mike richards and mike is in the nhl.

it's nothing against pyatt, its the Rangers and how they waste young talent.

[evulmievl]

Originally Posted by nyr2

it's nothing against pyatt, its the Rangers and how they waste young talent.

i know what your saying, i do. but i also know what im talking about. tom is really that good that i feel he will make a big enough impression that will have him landing a job in the nhl someday. if you could watch him here in the ohl, you wouldnt even dispute me on this.

[nyr2]

Originally Posted by evulmievl

i know what your saying, i do. but i also know what im talking about. tom is really that good that i feel he will make a big enough impression that will have him landing a job in the nhl someday. if you could watch him here in the ohl, you wouldnt even dispute me on this.

oh ive read up on him, heard Don Cherry praise him, and I really do hope your right. I've just gotten my hopes up too much with prospects that the Rangers have had over the years that they've let sit in the minors and seemingly broke their spirits. again, I really to hope he comes in and impresses them enough to only spend a short time in Hartford.

[Redtown]

Originally Posted by evulmievl

i know what your saying, i do. but i also know what im talking about. tom is really that good that i feel he will make a big enough impression that will have him landing a job in the nhl someday. if you could watch him here in the ohl, you wouldnt even dispute me on this.

I agree here--solid signing if he continues on his same path this should work out well for the Rags.

[Clutchngrab]

Problem is not the necessarily the Ranger management but the fans. I would love to see the Rangers give more of their kids a chance to play but would the fans be patient.

They are comitted to Straka after extending his contract but Nylander wants 3 years. Is that a wise investment?

I would love to see Callahan, Pyatt or any minor leaguers replace Ortmeyer and Betts as they have no offensive skills despite working hard every night.

Would love to see Liffiton number 55 and Staal in the lineup replacing Rachunek, Pock or Malek. Having a good tough defenseman or two is what the Rangers need desperately.

I hope they keep Prucha, He is fearless.

I think Lundquist is the key. We would still be competitive with a young team because he has proven he is one of the top 5 goalies in hockey.

[nyr2]

Originally Posted by Clutchngrab

Problem is not the necessarily the Ranger management but the fans. I would love to see the Rangers give more of their kids a chance to play but would the fans be patient.

They are comitted to Straka after extending his contract but Nylander wants 3 years. Is that a wise investment?

I would love to see Callahan, Pyatt or any minor leaguers replace Ortmeyer and Betts as they have no offensive skills despite working hard every night.

Would love to see Liffiton number 55 and Staal in the lineup replacing Rachunek, Pock or Malek. Having a good tough defenseman or two is what the Rangers need desperately.

I hope they keep Prucha, He is fearless.

I think Lundquist is the key. We would still be competitive with a young team because he has proven he is one of the top 5 goalies in hockey.

if you are a Ranger fan then you should know that comment is silly. fans of all NY teams are very "what have you done for me lately", but the Rangers fans are the most patient with young talent. free agents are a different story, you have 3-5 games to prove yourself otherwise the team is on you. I dont recall anyone booing Manny Malhotra when he would get on the ice for his few minutes a game because Muckler didnt like him. The fans can get on people for not producing, but the person has to get time for that to happen and the idiots we have now don't seem to like to do that unless the guy proves himself right away. Callahan has showed tonight that he should have been playing alot sooner, but Renney and Sather are smart people and know better.

[bigjack]

Originally Posted by Clutchngrab

Problem is not the necessarily the Ranger management but the fans. I would love to see the Rangers give more of their kids a chance to play but would the fans be patient.

They are comitted to Straka after extending his contract but Nylander wants 3 years. Is that a wise investment?

I would love to see Callahan, Pyatt or any minor leaguers replace Ortmeyer and Betts as they have no offensive skills despite working hard every night.

Would love to see Liffiton number 55 and Staal in the lineup replacing Rachunek, Pock or Malek. Having a good tough defenseman or two is what the Rangers need desperately.

I hope they keep Prucha, He is fearless.

I think Lundquist is the key. We would still be competitive with a young team because he has proven he is one of the top 5 goalies in hockey.

I hear ya and can't speak for other Ranger fans but I'd be patient if I saw progress and great hope for the future. Neil Smith used that bullsh*t excuse for years that being in NY forced him to pay out of his nose for over the hill fatcat players. Smith also always failed to point out how horrible his drafts were and that if his staff had scouted and drafted well the team wouldn't of had to buy fatcat overpriced players!
I remember after 1975 when the Rangers had their run for the Cup with Francis and Francis and Fergie's draft picks rebuilt the team into the 1979 Cup finals club. They missed the playoffs for 2 seasons-76 and 77 and then were back in and many young players were drafted and became young Rangers. The fans embraced: Greschner, Maloney-(Dave and Don), Murdoch, McEwen, Marois, Duguay, Farrish, Johnstone, Deblois and Pat Hickey. All these guys were Ranger draft picks and played on the 1978/79 finals team. We should of also had Rick Middleton but he partied his way out of NY and was in Boston. Fergie kept saying to be patient that his scouts were finding talent and it was only a matter of time before the team gelled. We had some growing pains and partying but the fans embraced the youth and would also today in my opinion!
Just so everybody knows: Fergie found 6 Rangers between 1976 and 1978 who played on the 1979 finals club and it was his scouts who drafted Don Maloney in round 2 of the 1978 draft. Fergie had just been fired and always said he would of picked Maloney if he was still the GM. That is great drafting! A sidebar, his one mistake that he always regretted was not taking Mike Bossy in 1977. He wanted Bossy but his chief scout Tom Savage told him that Bossy was too small and light and so Fergie took the much bigger Ron Duguay! Duguay wasn't bad but was no Mike Bossy!
Imagine if Middleton and Murdoch kept their noses clean and the Rangers had drafted Bossy! Wow!
Oh well!

[Clutchngrab]

I would much rather see the rangers see who wants Jagr and use the money to sign a younger player with leadership skills.

I'm in South Florida and the guy who would be a good fit for the Rangers and is looking for a new home is Nathan Horton.