Matt Gilroy

At the start of hockey season, experts contended that while very talented, the New York Rangers were simply too young and underdeveloped a team to make a statement in an Eastern Conference headlined by superstars Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.

It's not even Halloween yet but that hasn't stopped early speculation as to which NHL players might find themselves on the move, if not now then possibly before the end of the season.

It's a different world, today's NHL, with the salary cap swinging back and forth like a giant blade over some teams. Personnel moves are rarely made with strictly hockey as the reason—the almighty dollar finds its way in there a lot.

What follows are, in no particular order, some NHL players whose addresses could change in the either very-near or not-too-distant future.

A few more New York Rangers are going down to the Whale after Wednesday's game against the Detroit Red Wings.

As proven by the type of players the New York Rangers Drafted this year, it is quite obvious they went into the draft with a game plan, and as usual, the clueless Ranger fans are unhappy.

We need offense they scream, we want goals, goals and more goals. For years, over a decade actually, its been the same chant, the same tears, the same people , with the same boo hoos with the same results. No Cup!

The Rangers General Manager heard all your screams and answered them.

In just seven weeks, 30 NHL GMs and their staffs will hit the draft floor at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. When the Rangers have their turn, it is set to be their highest pick since 2004, when they used the No. 6 overall pick on goalie, and now Phoenix Coyotes property, Al Montoya. In 2001, they also used the No. 10 overall pick on another goalie, the injury riddled, and currently out of pro hockey, Dan Blackburn.

Matt Gilroy's demotion to the Hartford Wolfpack was short—and sweet.

Gilroy was recalled by the Rangers this morning while defensmen Ilkka Heikkinnen and Bobby Sanguinetti were sent back down.

The 25-year-old 2009 Hobey Baker winner was sent to the Wolfpack on Dec. 10 in order to re-establish his game at the NHL level.

Assistant GM Jim Schoenfeld said that Gilroy's play was "chinking down, in small increments," and hoped that the stint with the Wolfpack would help better his ability to win one-on-one battles and finish checks.

"We're workin' our jobs, collect our pay

Believe we're gliding down the highway,

when in fact we're slip sliding away"  - Simon & Garfunkel

The more things change, the more they remain the same.  Let me know if you've heard this one before.  The Rangers, after an amazing start to their season, have cooled off.

After having no real issues on offense, they now find themselves struggling to find the back of the net.  However, there are two players that remain consistently breathtaking night after night.  One is Henrik Lundquist, the other is Marion Gaborik.

The New York Rangers have sent rookie defenseman Matt Gilroy down to the AHL, a sign that GM Glen Sather and coach John Tortorella have no idea how to fix what's wrong with the team.

The Rangers have gradually moved into a more defensive system, as the team has been unable to find scoring beyond Marian Gaborik.

Gilroy's defense could be suspect, but it's hardly surprising given that 1) he's an NHL rookie, and 2) he grew up a forward, converting to defense in college.

More importantly, Gilroy was demoted so that Ilkka Heikkinen could take his spot.

In a somewhat baffling move, the New York Rangers have demoted 25-year old rookie defenseman Matt Gilroy to Hartford of the AHL.  Gilroy, who signed a two-year deal with the Rangers last April, is a stunning casualty in what appears to be a larger roster shakeup.

New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella has been known around the NHL as a bold coach with a fiery temper and an immense passion for the game. He is also known as a coach who holds players accountable for their actions and overall play.

This is the same coach that arrived in Tampa Bay in the 2000-01 season and stripped the captaincy away from star Vincent Lecavalier and later had even benched Lecavalier for a poor defensive performance.