PHOENIX – The numbers, pretty good in and of themselves for any freshman, let alone for a sixth-round draft pick given significant responsibility on a struggling franchise, aren’t what’s most impressive about Mike York.
No, what’s most impressive about York is the manner with which he’s gone about his business for the Rangers starting with the first day of training camp and continuing through Sunday’s three-assist performance against the Devils at the Garden.
Adam Graves, who knows something about what it takes to succeed in the NHL, has noticed.
“Mike is mature, low-key and very professional,” Graves, York’s left wing, said following Sunday’s 3-3 draw. “He’s just a good kid; level-headed.
“He comes to the rink and works every day. He wants to learn. What more can you ask from a 21-year-old?”
The Rangers say goodbye to ’99 with a game here tonight against the Coyotes followed by another tomorrow night in Dallas. When they take the ice, the unit that has become their first line will be centered by York, whose work ethics have not only impressed his left wing, but his right wing, as well.
“Mike’s a competitive guy who wants to be a good player in this league,” said Theo Fleury. “He gets his nose dirty. He’s a small guy, so people are going to challenge him his first year.
“I’ll tell you what; he’s going to be a No. 1 center in this league for a long time. It’s fun playing with him.”
Selected 136th overall out of Michigan State in the 1997 Entry Draft, York earned a spot on the Rangers with a training camp performance that opened everyone’s eyes, including two important ones belonging to John Muckler. As do most rookies, York has had his ups and downs – the schedule can be draining, certainly to a player accustomed to playing 40 games a season in college – but he’s brought the same effort to the rink every night.
“He’s been very consistent in his approach,” said Muckler. “There was a time a week or so ago I thought he was a little tired, which is understandable, but he’s been one of our more dependable players right from the start.
“He handles himself extremely well.”
York leads all rookies with 10 goals, one more than Phoenix’ Trevor Letowski. He’s third in the freshman scoring race with 20 points, one behind Colorado’s Alex Tanguay and 14 in arrears of the Devils’ Scott Gomez, with whom York roomed last year for Team USA in the World Junior Championships.
He and with Kim Johnsson have also become the most visible current symbols of a Ranger youth movement that might one day actually become something more than a prayer. The organization has six players competing in this year’s World Juniors, including Manny Malhotra but not including Pavel Brendl, who, according to GM Neil Smith, turned down an invitation from the Czech Republic because he was upset over having been snubbed last year. The six also does not include the Wolf Pack’s Tomas Kloucek or Boston College’s Mike Mottau, considered the organization’s two best prospects on defense.
York’s only 5-10 and 185 pounds in a big man’s conference, so he’s not going to succeed on sheer strength. Rather, he succeeds by using his speed, hands and vision. And desire.
“I know I have to consistently prove myself every night. I can’t afford to take nights off,” York said Sunday following his first multi-point performance since Nov. 11. “I’m obviously going to have some bad games, but I just have to work hard in every game and every practice.
“I just have to keep battling.”