Pierre McGuire's In the Crease

Michael Farber

December 03, 2007

The Rangers have overcome a slow start not so much because of veteran stars but because of the mature play of three youngsters, forward Brandon Dubinsky and defensemen Fedor Tyutin and Marc Staal. At 20, Staal, projected to be a depth player this season, has become one of New York's top four defensemen and consistently makes good decisions with the puck.... After letting forward Dustin Penner go to the Oilers as a restricted free agent last summer, Ducks G.M. Brian Burke last week gave forward Ryan Getzlaf a five-year, $27 million extension. No G.M. is better at identifying his key players; Burke felt Penner was expendable. And the G.M. may get a bonus: The draft choice he got from Edmonton could turn into a lottery pick.