8/4/17 | Boo Nieves said that he knows what will be expected during training camp this season and that his goal is to make the Rangers. (NYR)
He said that he thinks he is capable of achieving that goal as long as he is healthy and playing at his best.
Nieves added, "I think there's a chance to show what I can really do at this level. I just want to prove that I belong here."
In his NHL debut, Boo Nieves played 11:44, was a minus one, had 1 shot on goal, 1 blocked shot and was 3 and 7 on faceoffs.
He played 3:17 in the first period, 4:09 in the second period and 4:18 in the third period with 5 seconds on the PP in the third period.
Nieves said during the second intermission that he was excited and trying to keep his composure but also said he was focused on just playing a simple game.
Boo Nieves will make his NHL debut tonight for the Rangers and is slated to start on the fourth line between Brandon Pirri and Oscar Lindberg.
Nieves said that "Ken Gernander gave me a call and said pack your bags, you are going to Vancouver" and added that it all felt "sudden."(NYR)
Nieves said that he needs to use his size and speed and that those attributes are things "they love about me."
The Rangers have announced that Boo Nieves has been called up from Hartford.
Nieves impressed Alain Vigneault and the Rangers in his one preseason game after returning from injury.
He has one goal and five assists in 13 games for the Wolf Pack this season
10/10/16 | Alain Vigneault said on Monday that the Rangers liked what they saw with Nieves and that the reports they were given suggested that he was the best player in Hartford's two weekend games. (NYR)Vigneault said that he liked the skating and size that Nieves brought in his one game and added that he is "a young guy that is definitely in the back of my mind and managements mind." (NYR)
While recovering from hip surgery Oscar Lindberg is skating on his own during the first few days of training camp. (NYR)
Lindberg has been skating for the past few weeks.
Lindberg is said to be on schedule to return in November. (Cerny)
While centering the Rangers top line through two games in Traverse City, Boo Nieves has one goal and four shots on goal.
Nieves, who the Rangers named as captain for the tournament after four-years at Michigan, was called "a monster" by Gordie Clark. (NHL)
Clark pointed out that Nieves has always been in shape but has added "proper weight in the upper body" and added that "it's also really awesome" to have a center who wins a lot of faceoffs. (NHL)
1:54PM: Nieves will have a cap hit of $755,000 at the NHL level and could earn bonus money based upon game played. (Cap Friendly)
10:55AM: From the Rangers prospect report on 3/28: "Nieves registered an assist and posted a plus-one rating during the Wolverines' two contests in the NCAA Midwest Regional. The Rangers' second round pick (59th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft completed his senior season with 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) and a plus-nine rating in 35 games."
Here is the video of the previously mentioned goal by @umichhockey forward Cristoval Nieves. #SCTop10 #NCAAHockey https://t.co/GXf2Hyzqkx
- NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) December 12, 2015
After seeing the goal, John Buccigross tweeted "Wow, what a goal my Boo Nieves. Highlight stuff. He should be more cocky with the puck. Lots of game."
He has 4 goals and 6 assists in 12 games this season.
Three Stars of the Week:
1: Adam Tambellini, C, Calgary Hitmen (WHL) ? Tambellini began this past week by registering three points (one goal, two assists) and posting a plus-three rating on December 2 against Red Deer. He followed that performance by tallying a goal and posting a plus-two rating in each of Calgary?s next two contests on December 5 against Edmonton and December 7 against Moose Jaw. He finished the week with five points (three goals, two assists) and a plus-seven rating in three games.
1.?? Cristoval Nieves, C, University of Michigan (NCAA) ? Nieves tied single-game collegiate career-highs with two goals and three points, and registered two power play points (one goal, one assist) in Michigan?s 6-0 victory over RPI on November 29. He has tallied a point in eight of his last 10 games (four goals, six assists), and six of his last seven games (four goals, four assists over the span).
His overall game has improved but his offensive game has not grown to the level that the Rangers had hoped. Nieves shows his offense in flashes but has struggles with consistency which is "troubling" for an upperclassman. (HF)
Nieves can have "great moments" due to his speed and skills but can also be "invisible" for long stretches. (ESPN Insider)
In 34 games as a sophomore this season, Nieves had 3 goals and 19 assists.
Nieves moved from wing to center in his sophomore season and while he had a down statistical year and didn't make Team USA, he is still a good prospect who has the tools to be a good NHL player. He has good playmaking skills, is a good skater and has tools that will translate to the NHL level. (Dobber)
Boo Nieves played in two split squad games and three full squad games for Team USA at the WJC evaluation camp last week.
Chris Peters, at the United States of Hockey, writes that Nieves continued his streak of flashing his talent on one shift and then fading away on the next. Peters says that with the "size, speed and skill" that Nieves has, he should never be a player who fades away but adds that his potential is "off the charts."
Peters adds that Boo is on the verge of being a "special prospect" and that his speed and skill are close to "high end" but he is struggling to finish.
Nieves told SNY's Nick Licalzi that he tries to model his game after Joe Thornton, saying that Thornton is a big, fast center who can move the puck really well. Nieves said that he is a better puck mover than he is a finisher.
Brady Skjei is not in the lineup for Team USA against Finland, he is believed to be closer to locking up a spot and they want to see some other players, but did play against Sweden and SNY's Nick Licalzi said that he had a quiet game with a couple of mistakes.
Skjei spoke with Licalzi and said that Team USA just didn't have the right energy last night. He also noted that he sees himself more as a shooter on the PP than a set up guy.
Skjei was one of the final cuts that USA Hockey made last year prior to the 2013 Tournament.
JT Miller played for Team USA last year and won a Gold Medal.
Nieves had four goals and six assists in six games for Michigan in February.
On the season, Nieves has eight goals and 18 assists in 34 games. He has three power play goals and two game winning goals.
Geoff Chiles of MichiganHockey.net says that Nieves has been one of the best players for Michigan this season, is using his speed and is improving on draws.
He adds that Nieves is now centering the second line for the Wolverines.
Corey Pronman wrote earlier in the year at Puck Prospectus that Nieves has high skating and play making ability and is "a player who on his best shift can simply dazzle with his speed and puck possession abilities." He says that he has the potential to be a top-six player, if he gets stronger, but is a long-term project.
READ MORE about Boo Nieves.
Brady Skjei/ Defense (University of Minnesota): The 2-way defenseman has had a slow start offensively for the Minnesota Gofers thus far. However; he has been very consistent on the defense.
Games????? Goals????????Assists?????? Points
A similarity between the two is the speed that both players possess, as Gary Eggleston says of Central Scouting told Morreale, "he just explodes off the mark and has agility, balance and quickness to break loose from traffic,"
At Syracuse.com, Nieves mother tells stories of how Boo started skating and his "special legs."
"At age 2, he buckled on a pair of rollerblades and steamed down an incline on his driveway. He deftly executed an advanced cross-over stride and jetted into the street.
At Syracuse.com, Nieves former youth coach says that the hockey sense was apparent at a young age, ?The one thing that continues to stick out about him is his unbelievable hockey sense. He found guys that were open. You said, ?Ah, that?s not typically a 9-year-old play."
Jeff Gorton told the?Rangers website that Nieves has the speed and the sense to play, "when you saw him play his speed stuck out. He can make plays, put some weight on and he has some room to grow. He has NHL speed now and hockey sense."
The Rangers used their second round pick this year on Cristoval Nieves, a 6-2, 185 pound forward who played in prep school in New England and is heading off to the University of Michigan in the fall.
Nieves told the Rangers website that he is using that 2009 first round pick as inspiration, "They have a few guys who have gone that route, and Kreider is definitely an inspiration for me."
Boo is from Syracuse, (Baldwinsville) NY and is 6-2, 185 lbs.
Bob McKenzie said "He skates like the wind and is a big physical specimen who is heading to Michigan. There is a lot to like with the physical tools that he has."
