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Ranger Showing Upside

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 10, 2007

TAMPA - Paul Ranger eyed down Rodney Pelley in the corner as the two bore down on a loose puck along the wall during the season opener against New Jersey. Each player lowered their shoulder in preparation for full-force contact in a 50/50 battle for the puck.

Upon the collision, the 6-foot, 200-pound Pelley wound up airborne and was sent flying into the boards by Tampa Bay's 6-3, 208-pound defenseman. The puck was sitting there for Ranger to collect and send Tampa Bay back the other way in transition.

Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, Ranger was whistled for an interference penalty on the play, likely the result of Pelley getting knocked off his skates. But it was the type of play the Lightning want to see out of Ranger on a regular basis, including tonight when the Lightning host in-state rival Florida in the front end of a home-and-home series, as he begins to add other elements to his game.

As he enters his third full season in the NHL, the 23-year-old is believed to be on the cusp of taking his game to a higher level. In his second season last year, Ranger set career highs with four goals, 24 assists and 28 points despite missing eight games with a partial tear of the MCL in his left knee. He was also named to the NHL YoungStars Game during All-Star weekend in Dallas for rising talents still in their entry-level contract.

In its season preview prior to the start of this year, Sports Illustrated targeted Ranger as the most underrated player in the Southeast Division with the comment that though 'overshadowed on the blue line by offensive-minded teammates Dan Boyle and Filip Kuba, the 23-year-old Ranger is a serious threat himself - and as a superb outlet passer, he has huge upside.'

Though it's only two games into the season, Ranger has certainly shown signs of displaying that upside. And in playing more than 26 minutes in each of the first two games he has done his fair share of trying to fill the void left while Boyle continues to recover from wrist surgery, getting a pair of assists and a plus-four rating.

'He's one of those guys who needs to eat up those minutes with Danny out and he's done a really good job so far, he's played really well,' Lightning coach John Tortorella said.

Ranger said the additional ice time early on has allowed him to get into a good flow and more involved in the action. And it seems the more he has played, the better he has played.

'It's our responsibility as a defense to take on that challenge of added ice time,' Ranger said. 'Basically for me, it's being consistently ready to play, that's the way I see it in my head. I know I can play good hockey but I really just have to stay consistent this year. I want to play 82 games that way, not 80, not 81, 82 games.'

If his first two games are any indication, he could be ready for a breakout season, provided he plays at or above the level displayed early on. One reason for the quick start could be the fact Ranger got a full training camp under his belt this year.

His first season as a pro was the lockout year in 2004-05 when there was no training camp. In 2005-06, he didn't last the first round of cuts and was assigned to the minors after one preseason game. Last season he suffered a hairline fracture in his left foot during camp scrimmages and missed all of the preseason.

This year he didn't miss a day, getting the full complement of practice time.

'Training camps are so important to players, historically you see players who miss training camp, it's a struggle for a while,' Tortorella said. 'In our situation right now with some of the decision we need to make on the blue line, we need his steadiness, we need at the top of his game right away. And he has started the season that way.'

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835 or eerlendsson@tampatrib.com.

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