Prospect Development Camp Notebook: Ronning Pulls Out Malik Move

Scrimmages at prospect development camp are a chance for players to show management progression and to make a strong first impression by those entering the organization or on a tryout basis.
But they're also the time to have some fun.
Ty Ronning did just that went he pulled out Marek Malik's move from 2005 during the shootout in Thursday's scrimmage, which Ronning's White team won over Blue.

"It was getting late in the rounds and I thought it would be cool, wearing the Rangers jersey. Malik did it a long time ago. I said why not?," Ronning said. "I just kind of stuck with my guns, did a fake and kind of put it between my legs and it went in. It was cool."
Thursday's game had a bit more of an up-tempo style than Wednesday's as players continue to get a feel for the competition, as well as getting their legs back after extensive travel over the weekend and for the fact that many hadn't been on skates since their seasons ended.
"I think the first couple days here with the on-ice training and the off-ice testing, it was tough," Ronning said.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Ronning pulled off Malik's move a day after Gabriel Fontaine mimicked a goal Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov scored in a shootout this season against Bufflo.
The 2016 draft choice added two more goals today, and has been a standout among the forwards in camp.
The 21-year-old is one of the older players invited to camp, and he said he's taking that as a positive and looking to become a leader for the younger players this week.
"I'm trying to show all the things I can do on the ice and off the ice," he said. "I've talked to Jed [Ortmeyer] a little bit coming through here, and he said work on your leadership, and I think that's a good thing for me. I'm going to be a more complete player after this camp, and hopefully I'll be ready to play in the NHL."

Fontaine finished his first season with Hartford of the American Hockey League, where he scored nine goals and nine assists for 18 points. He's at his third development camp with the Rangers and is hoping to use that experience to show management and new head coach David Quinn he should be in consideration for a spot come October.
Director of Player Personnel Gordie Clark said he's seeing a "normal process" in Fontaine, who went in the sixth round two years ago. He praised the French Canadian for his conditioning and compared his game to that of current Rangers forward Jesper Fast.
"He's a player that's going to be good on both sides of the puck," Clark said. "He has to use his speed and if he gets the opportunity, he can score also, but he's really good defensively."
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
In addition to Ronning and Fontaine, the core of this Rangers' prospect pool all performed well on Thursday, with 2018 first round picks Vitali Kravtsov and K'Andre Miller scoring in the scrimmage. Brett Howden had a pair of goals and Lias Andersson chipped in with one of his own, while Filip Chytil had an assist. Free agent signee Ville Meskanen also scored after have two on Wednesday.

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Martin St. Louis being among those chosen to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame in November hit home for Ronning, an undersized player in his own right who said St. Louis was one of his idols growing up.
"My favorite player growing up besides my dad was him," Ronning told NYRangers.com. "Just the way he can build his foundation in his legs and he was so powerful going up against these big guys, I just thought it was incredible. His heart and passion for the game is remarkable."
Ronning said he watches film of St. Louis, looking to add aspects of the Hall of Famer's repertoire to his own skillset.

Ronning, who stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 172, said St. Louis once approached Ronning's dad, Cliff - who was 5-foot-8 during his playing days - to tell him how much he admired him.
"He went up to my dad and said I looked up to you growing up because he was a smaller guy," Ronning said. "There's kind of a little culture among these smaller guys. They love to see people go far that have that drive and always had that knock on their size.
"Nowadays size doesn't matter," Ronning added. "If you can play, you can play, and I think a lot of NHLers are doing that."