Steven Stamkos went down this afternoon in Boston with what looks like a serious injury. He was taken off on a stretcher in obvious pain. This is just another top level player taken out by what could be called a borderline play. Looking at the play, it looks as if the Boston player gives a nudge on Stamkos( who was backchecking) into the goalpost causing the injury. It is a play seen many times in a game with players pushing defensemen into their goalies, croscheck a few feet way from the boards, etc..  With all the talk about trying to take fighting out of the game and penalizing fighters for taking off helmets(to save their hands and facial cuts from visors cutting their nose), they should be talking to the players about stopping the "questionable hits" that they put on players without a second thought.  There are a few teams that leave the bench door open longer than needed, and then play the puck in the area which leaves alot of chance for a hit into a sharp area of the open boards. The league has made the goalies equipment smaller, but what about looking into the players equipment on the elbows and shoulder caps? Too man injuries that could be helped and aren't, due to a combination of lack of respect for each other and there is no fear of the league to hand out any real suspension time  more

So far this season, when the Rangers look bad (on the western trip to start the season) they look BAD, and when they look good they look really good, like they have lately and especially against the Penguins last night.  Of course alot has to do with injuries on the Rangers and their opposition, but injuries are part of the game and all teams have to deal with them. For the first time in many years, it would seem that the Rangers actually have the depth to survive injuries and still put a winning team on the ice despite their injuries. The Rangers are alot like Benoit Pouliot's season where he has won a game with a goal and a great assist in an all out effort and then can't be found on the ice the next game  more

Coach A.V.'s push forward system worked well with the Sedin twins. Ryan Kelser, Alex Burrows and crew in VAncouver, but so far THESE Rangers just can't play it without looking pathetic. So far this seasons team looks lost, playing with no heart or leadership, and actually looks like a high school team playing in the NHL.  Some of the personnel choices in the roster raised a few eyebrows as veterans such as Arron Asham, Taylor Pyatt, along with rookie Jesper Fast have played over players with speed and better skillsets that were sent down to the AHL in the likes of Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller, and either of the high intensity 4th liners of Michael Haley or Brandon Mashinter(for Ashams role).  The 12 forwards DO NOT mesh well together, let alone with the defense as a 5 man unit at any time on the ice. This team looks totally ill prepared, out of shape, and look like they don't even know each other, let alone the man they are supposed to be covering in the defensive zone coverage. They always to be on the wrong side of the puck and never take away the other teams players stick with their body always giving the other team the inside track on the puck and net  more

The Rangers open their 2013-14 season this Thursday against the Phoenix Coyotes, the first of nine games on the road to start the season as the MSG rennovations are finally completed.  It's a tough road for a team that appears to be in somewhat disarray following a pre-season where they went 1-5, being outscored to the tune of 9-22  more

The Rangers and Derek Stepan remain about $500,000 apart per year on a two-year bridge contract according to Darren Dreger - TSN.  The 23 year old Minnesota native has no leverage other than to hold out, and he has so far missed the first ten days of camp and two preseason games  more