Bye Bye Nikolai
According to Larry Brooks in today’s New York Post, the Rangers could walk away from any arbitration award that Zherdev might get. The Rangers qualified Zherdev at $3.25M to retain his rights, but the Ukrainian born winger filed for salary arbitration. If the arbiter should award more than the qualifying offer, the team may elect to […]
No Help Last Night
The Rangers are finally back in action tonight, at home against the struggling Sabres (7:00pm – MSG2). There’s talk in Sabreland about the possibility that Buffalo might finally bid adieu to Lindy Ruff and Darcy Regier, who’ve been with the team since 1997 – that’s 129 NHL level coaching changes ago for those wondering. It’s an important game for […]
Waiting For Saturday
Quiet day for the Rangers, with their next game not until Saturday night. The team had the day off yesterday, but returned to practice today. The team plays it’s next three games at MSG, but then has five of the final eight games on the road. At least they’ve improved in that regard. They’ve turned around […]
Staal Pots Two
Marc Staal two goals, but last year’s Young Stars MVP Brandon Dubinsky was kept off the board, as the All-Star festivities got under way. Henrik Lundqvist will play 20 minutes tonight in his first All-Star selection as the only Ranger representative. Lundqvist heads up the Daily News report card, and also features in this article from the Times Herald-Record. Former Rangers netminder Mike Richter is […]
Turnover, Speed, and Leadership Void
by Mark Owens Chris Drury and Scott Gomez, along with Henrik Lundqvist, take over as the team’s leaders. Jagr’s offensive production ‘ hopefully ‘ will be replaced by the speedy, enigmatic, underachieving, high first-round pick Nikolai Zherdev (sounds a little like Alex Kovalev, doesn’t it?). Replacing Shanahan’s 23 goals, theoretically, will be Markus Naslund, whose production the past two seasons has […]
Progress Made, Changes Needed
by Mark Owens Despite bowing out in round two again and perhaps wasting their final season with Hall-of-Famers-to-be Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan, the Rangers’ season was mostly successful, due to the development of rookies Marc Staal, Brandon Dubinsky, Nigel Dawes and Ryan Callahan. Lauri Korpikoski scored a goal in his NHL debut Sunday, and is one of several rookies with a chance to make […]
Renney’s Use of 4th Line Leaves Team on Thin Ice
by Mark Owens Simply put, Ryan Hollweg and Colton Orr should only be on the ice when the opponent is pushing the Rangers around, or perhaps when playing two games in two days. The illusion that they along with Blair Betts somehow form a checking line capable of dictating tempo and shutting down the opponents’ best players is just that ‘ […]
The Price is Right?
by Matt Waxman At this point it should be apparent what the Rangers are, and that is a mediocre team. They are not an offensive team, nor are they a defensive team of late. This is a team in limbo. There are several ways this can play out, but first a review. At the start […]
Playing in the House that Ruth Built?
by Pete Robinson Interestingly enough it may happen. After the large success of the winter classic in Buffalo, where the Penguins and the Sabres met outside for the first time, the Rangers may get their shot as well. According to the Daily News, the Rangers may get their own winter classic next season at Yankee […]
Changes Needed As Mediocrity Settles In
by Mark Owens Optimistic Ranger fans are probably satisfied with the Rangers’ current second place standing, patiently watching the Rangers tread water, but changes are needed before mediocrity settles in Need some evidence? – The Rangers are now 26-10-7 with Avery and 7-8-2 without him since his arrival last February. -The Rangers’ anemic offense continues […]