DECISION TIME FOR RHETT RAKHSHANI
Senior year at Denver or begin his pro career?
Rhett Rakhshani has a big decision to make sometime in the next few weeks, but it’s an enviable one.
He can return to the University of Denver for his final season, when he would likely be named captain and have the opportunity to complete his college degree.
Or he can begin his professional hockey career with the New York Islanders, all but assured of a place on a top line in the AHL with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers but with a chance to make the big club.
Rakhshani, an Islanders 4th round pick in 2006, is one of the organization’s top 5 prospects at the collegiate or junior level. He is a 5-11, 190-pound right wing with strong offensive ability. “Rhett combines ’skill’ with ‘compete,’” NYI assistant GM Ryan Jankowski told the Daily News earlier in the season.
The California native has also shown everything he can the last three years at Denver. His stats have been fairly consistent. As a freshman, he was 10-26-36 in 40 games. In 37 games last season he was 14-14-28. This year he was 15-22-37 in 38 games. The Pioneers were stunned by Miami (Ohio) 4-2 last weekend in the first round of the upset-filled NCAA Tournament.
This week, Rakhshani will watch his teammate Tyler Bozak - along with Matt Gilroy, considered one of the prizes of the college free agent crop - bolt Denver for the NHL (both Bozak and Gilroy could be headed to Toronto). While Rakhshani will not see the riches awaiting Bozak, he could begin his full-time professional development in September at Islanders training camp.
At a Team USA junior evaluation camp in the summer of 2007, he was an equal part of an explosive line with Denver teammate Tyler Ruegsegger and a possible future Islanders teammate by the name of Kyle Okposo. Impressive also in his voluntary appearance at Islanders prospect camp last summer, Rakhshani will make his big decision soon.
TOP 10 NYI PROSPECTS
Not with the big club or in Bridgeport
1. Aaron Ness
2. Corey Trivino
3. Travis Hamonic
4. Kirill Petrov
5. Rhett Rakhshani
6. Mark Katic
7. Matt Martin
8. David Ullstrom
9. Justin DiBenedetto
10. Blake Kessel
Comments.
47 Responses to “DECISION TIME FOR RHETT RAKHSHANI
Senior year at Denver or begin his pro career?”
Please Wait
let him play in the bridge and starting learning the go go system.
CB… ANY, I mean ANY chance that either Bozak or Gillroy sign with the Islanders?
he needs to come out…i’d pass on gilroy too pricey for a 25 year old..
I think its a good idea for him to come play at bridge, to learn the system and get a feel for the big leagues..It worked well with Okposo..But the decision to finish his final year at college is a very big decision, and I totally respect a person who chooses education over money..Its very important for these young kids to finish college and get their degrees, and I think it also helps with their maturity progress…Either way, I would much rather Rhett come to bridge and get a move on with his NHL career…
Hey CB, is Aaron Ness really our NUMBER ONE TOP prospect?? Isnt he smaller then Tambellini? Could you possibly give a run down on each of the TOP 10 prospects? Id be really interested to hear the low down on our prospects..Thanx CB!!!
Anyone know the latest on Petrov? Is he still a year or two from even considering coming stateside?
Aaron Ness is Height: 5-10, Weight: 170. He will easily put on at least another 20 LBS by the time he gets to the pros, making hime plenty big enough to play in the NHL. Thanx
If Toronto signs both Gilroy and Bozak I will be sick to my stomach.
Many selfish hockey fans will say “dump college and start playing in the pros” since it worked for Okposo. I think that that’s a bad decision for any young person. A college degree is essential to “life after hockey,” and living for next year is short-sighted. He can still hone some hockey skills whilest getting his degree in Denver. Why rush it?
Mike Green was awesome last night against the Isles. Makes me hope that the Isles take Hedman with their first pick.
According to the LetsGoDU hockey blog, the Isles are on Bozak’s short list of four teams. CB- any insights on this? Garth has a history of signing college free agents, especially kids from DU. I am not getting my hopes up, but it’s good to see we are in the mix. I think Tyler would be a great fit for us.
Mike Green and Victor Hedman are not even similar type players. Hedman is more of a defensive-defenseman from what I have seen, whereas Green is strictly offensive. Green is good, however, he does give up the puck a fair amount in his own zone because he is trying to skate it out too much. Offensively, he is dynamic, but Poti is a better defenseman defensively for the Caps than Green. Streit, who I feel would be leading the league in points on a better team, is an overall better defenseman than Green in my opinion. Streit next to Hedman would be a phenomenal pairing, considering Streit’s ability to play the offensive game but help his partners flourish defensively.
In response to comment 7, the answer is simply Injury. Players don’t want to risk their careers.
Rhett should start his professional career. What if he endures a career-ending injury while in his senior year in Denver? Then that chance at being apro and making nice money are gone. Go start your pro career and start making money. God knows he has a great shot at making the big club. If he blows it or gets hurt as a pro, he can always go back and finish his one last year to get his degree.
Hey CB, One Isles prospect who is having a nice freshman season is Jason Gregoire, yet we never hear anything about him. He was a top USHL player and has done well for a freshman. Is he just not a good prospect? Does he have huge faults to overcome? Or are the other prospects that much better than him?
shame that toronto seems like it’s the favorite for gilroy but they are going to throw crazy amounts of cash at him. tml is on the right track now under burke. imo Rakhshani should turn pro since he’s probably gotten as much out of the college game as he’s going to get and to prevent a serious injury from happening before he get’s paid. so i think he turns pro.
#7 hits the nail square on the head. Ultimately it is his decision though, and hopefully he is able to make it without any pressure from anyone (aside from his family). It is a tough decision, but I personally feel that going back and finishing college is always the right move, especially with only a year to go.
justin…even stevie wonder can see that tom poti is not a better dman than mike green…is he lidstrom..no but has he improved drastically..yes…and in the o zone their is none better in the league
MikeinRichmondVA: Just looked on the Islanders website, shows Ness as 5′10 157lbs?? Hopefully that is wrong, but that sounds more correct that 170lbs…I hope for the latter, 157lbs is not gonna cut it in the NHL, granted he should put on at least 15-20lbs…thats still small for a DEFENSMAN!!
Rhett can walk if he graduates (a la Blake Wheeler), no?
Trying to figure out some type of magic number for the Isles to clinch 1/2 in the draft.
If Avs accumulate 3 points, we are assured at least a tie for last with the Avs definitly having more wins than us.
Correct guys??
PS Can the Avs put SOME effort in there games left … jeez
#4 he is under contract so it’s not his decision to come here yet.
#8 Isles could end up in the same situation as the Caps in 04,by having a high first and late first round picks.That year Caps took #1 Alex the 8,#27 Schultz and #29 Green.As of right now Isles can do no worse then the #2 and have the #30.Too bad there is no Ovechkin in this one
Magic numbers Col 7, TB 8. Any combination of Avs/TB wins + our losses. In other words if we lose 4 of our last 6 we are guaranteed 30th
If the Isles go 2-3-1, picking up a total of 5 points, they finish 30th even if Colorado or Tampa both do not pick up another point. But they can still pass both teams and finish 28. If Colorado and Tampa were to lose out, a 3-3 finish would put us in the 28th, one point ahead of Colorado and tied with Tampa, who would “win” the tiebreak by virtue of having fewer regulation wins. It’s still all up in the air.
I also would like to know Kiril Petrov’s situation. How is he doing, stats, and prognosis.
CB, if you have a chance, pull some info for us, please.
#23 Scott - look at the schedules. There is a very good chance both Tampa and Col lose out. Lanche -3 wins last 18, Tampa - 1 win last 8. We will see come Saturday as how the Bolts play. I can see the Isles winning that game 5-1, and Colorado just flat out sucks. A “possible” 1 point against Dallas is all I see for them.
I am just hoping the teams were are playing will still be playing for something…That last game in Boston means nothing and I could see them sitting some of their players, other than that Carolina and Philly will be playing for seeding.
As always, I listen to the Toronto post game show and they believe Bozek will sign shortly with some team.
#25 - I totally agree. I think it’s in their hands at this point. I can’t see them getting any more help. The interesting thing is, if Colorado and Tampa lose out, the Isles can’t, under any circumstances, finish 29th. They’d either be 30th or 28th. Assuming Col/Tampa lose out, if the Isles finished with 64 points, they finish 30th. 65 points, the finish 28th. In other words, it might all hang on a single point.
Imagine then the Isles going into the last game of the season with 63 points. Lose or tie, and they take 30th. Win, and they drop all the way to 28th, pending the lottery at risk of losing out of all three of the top guys. Can’t you just see that game going into a shootout? Just the thought of it makes me ill.
CB- It seems that the Isles have are top heavy in the organization from the top line to the college / junior prospects at RW… Is Rakshani a projected 2nd liner? The Isles also have some good mid-level talent up the middle. We need a homerun hitter at center .. shore up the left side and then beef up the blue line with some bangers … is that a good assessment?
**
I don’t expect Tampa or Colorado to get another point this season for obvious reasons… No way the Isles lose to the Bolts on Sat. The Isles can’t obtain more than 5 more points in the final 6 games if we expect them to finish last.
Bridge It
very interesting. great post as always Chris.
TB vs Isles game will go to a SO and both coaches will have D-men as their choices
is RR a projected second-liner? LOL.
the question is: is RR a projected nhl hockey player
this top ten list will look drastically different after the entry draft- with our late first and all of our second rounders
bumping those that don t turn pro…
If that Lightning game on Saturday goes to OT, the Isles should let in an empty net goal.
Isles should either sign bozak or gilroy. We can not let toronto sign both. They will prob both be good nhl players.
Tampa Bay is terrible in OT and shootouts.
The whole draft scenario makes me so sick to my stomach.
I feel sick enough as it is the way I was rooting for us to lose last night!
Speaking of Gilroy and Corey Trivino, BU plays Vermont in the second semi-final game on April 9, 8:30 PM on ESPN-2.
If all of the losers who root for the Isles to lose were to stop commenting, we’d cut CB’s traffic in half. Players learn from losing as well as winning. The learn nothing from laying down. I don’t knkow about anyone else, but I’m proud of these young kids when you here a coach like Bruce Boudreau tell his Caps “you’d better come to play against these guys.”
Also, the team wouldn’t fall from 30th to 28th, that would be climbing. They’ll get whatever pick they get and Garth will do the best he can with it. Deal with it or go find a Ranger site
Very nice of you #39, youre entitled to your opinion but in our opinion getting one of the 2 top picks will do more for the future of this franchise than winning a few meaningless games in April. Nobody is asking the players to tank (They wont they are fighting for jobs) but for you to call us loosers is really lame.
#18 Gophersports.com (Goggle search) shows Ness as Freshman 5′10″ 170 lbs.
Gary bitter much?
Very tough decision for Rhett who is an outstanding person, student and player. He is a very strong leader and there is a good chance he could be captain of Denver next season. He is a credit to his team and school. Given all that if he decides its time to go pro then let the chips fall where they may. He has had three outstanding season so far at Denver and would be an asset to any team he plays for in the future.
I had the opportunity to watch Lethbridge and Saskatoon’s game six and seven. Good thing the Islanders do not consider Niemi a top 10 prospect, as he did not look good in his own end, and had two costly turn overs in game six. Thankfully for him, the turnovers only led to one goal (Lethbridge’s only goal of the game, shorthanded). The Swiss kid Philadelphia drafted Sbisa that grew up idoling our very own Mark Streit looks great though. i guess that is the difference between a late first round pick and a 3rd round pick.
#39 - You hit the nail on the head
#44 - That sucks. Niemi had like 4 assists in Game 6. If he can’t get it together in his own end, that’s an issue. Or, if you look at Mike Green’s season, maybe it’s not.
44, 45 - I always thought Niemi was the most intriguing D prospect. He’s the one with the good shot and some size, right? Hopefully he can be coached to play better in his own end. We have enough 5′ 10″ guys on the team and in the system. It’d be nice to see some 6′+ players come through that are not strictly crease-clearers.
Vinny L is out for the season for Tampa….they, like Colorado have thrown in the towel. We should shut down Streit in order to keep up with the other bottom feeders….need to let KO get the icetime if Healthy. If RR has only 4-5 classes to go…he could knock down 2 each summer and get his degree. If he really sees himself as a NHLer..take the money now….how many entry level jobs (besides doctors and lawyers)pay what he will make at Bridgeport or Long Island(Queens)?