Three days ago the Rangers opened another year of training camp with first year head coach David Quinn at the helm.
With a motto of the team being built around "We" where the coaches and players must be on the same page, players are wearing shirts at training camp this year that say "fast" and "physical" on the front and "relentless" on the back.
Yesterday the Rangers participated in their first day of conditioning and drills.
Coming out of the first practice behind the Rangers helm, David Quinn described the first day, “It was about conditioning and it was about competing...this game inevitably turns into a one-on-one battle and you've got to win one-on-one battles."
Quinn is looking towards a different philosophy than the previous regim saying "We want to be a fast, physical, relentless hockey team and you can't play that way unless you practice that way. We have to do this together, this is a we thing and that is the message we have been telling the players since we got together and individually but we will reiterate that collectively."
It seems as though guaranteed spots may be a thing of the past as Quinn has said, "nothing like competition, spots are open and good play will reward further play. Our guys get evaluated every day and those who play well will be rewarded."
As far a the Captaincy goes the Rangers may start the season without one, instead looking for that true leader on and off the ice. Quoting the new head coach, "that takes care of itself, a captain emerges from a group, especially when there is a coaching change and there is a lot of dynamics when you have a new team and a bunch of changes and I think the captaincy will take care of itself one way or the other."
Quinn said that it's up to the coaches to "demand a high level" in how the players practice and train and that "the greater the sacrifice from each player, the more each player prospers and the team prospers as a whole."
Henrik Lundqvist spoke with the media following the first practice
On the first practice, "It felt great, I'm excited to be back here, back in New York. Had a great summer in Sweden, enjoyed the weather, friends and family but it's the time of the year where you focus on what is ahead and the new season and new challenge and it's great to see everyone. Some new faces with the coaching staff and players but camp is always fun. It's always the same feeling, you are anxious to get going, nervous, excited. It feels really good to be here."
On Quinn's first practice, "we are going to play differently, these few couple of weeks will be huge for us to pay attention to the new details and how we want to play the game. Skating and strength will come, but the big thing is for s to understand how we want to play and it's a big focus right now in the first couple of days."
On his knee, "it's not the first time, over the years I've bruised my knee a couple of times but you learn how to deal with it. Now it's back to where it needs to be. I feel great. Right now there is nothing really bothering me, I can go 100% and that is a good feeling."
On the team as a whole, "We do have a lot of skill in the room...a lot of hungry players...so that's a great combination."
Player Quotes:
Chris Kreider, "There's a good buzz around the group right now."
Adam McQuaid, “I’m really excited to be here.”
Mika Zibanejad, “I just want to be better than I was last year.”
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