Battle Of Hudson covers the Rangers and Devils, who's intense rivalry heated up in the 90's. With fresh faces added, they battle for supremacy in NYC and NJ..
In what can best be described as an eyesore of a game from a Rangers perspective, the play on the ice isn’t too much of a concern. The Devils easily handled an AHL roster with a few exceptions to win handily 7-1 in Newark.
While the young stars shined brightly on future Devils Dawson Mercer and Tyce Thompson, it was a forgettable night for Vitali Kravtsov. The rookie forward who’s expected to make the roster and play on the third line, left the game in the first period. Only playing 5:44, he didn’t return due to a lower-body injury. The dreaded term we’ve come to accept in hockey due to teams being less than forthcoming on the actual injuries.
What that means for Kravtsov who knows. If it’s serious, then he won’t be penciled into the lineup for Opening Night. With three tuneups left before they have to submit a final roster, hopefully the injury to Kravtsov isn’t bad. That would be a tough break for the former ’18 first round draft pick. In 20 games last season, he posted two goals and two assists. There is an opportunity for the 21-year old Russian. With the kind of skating and instincts he possesses, the right wing has a bright future. If he isn’t able to go by season’s start, the organization should make sure he’s back to 100 percent.
In a disjointed performance that saw the Devils do whatever they wanted including burning the tandem of K’Andre Miller and Jacob Trouba for four goals at even strength, Julien Gauthier was a bright spot. Playing with Filip Chytil and Barclay Goodrow, Gauthier had some moments. On a two-on-one rush, he showed a burst of speed and all but setup Chytil for a goal. But he missed. The 23-year old former Carolina first round pick was kept over Colin Blackwell, who the Seattle Kraken selected from the Rangers in the Expansion Draft. If he’s to have a role under new coach Gerard Gallant, now is the time.
There aren’t many lineup openings. With Dryden Hunt looking good so far, that could signal even fewer spots to make the roster. Morgan Barron and Gauthier are competing to make it. At this point, I’d say Gauthier has more upside than Barron. Especially if Kravtsov can’t start the season. Gauthier also can play right wing unlike Barron, who’s a depth center that can win draws and kill penalties. The problem is he’s behind Kevin Rooney, who filled that void on the fourth line and penalty kill in ’21.
In terms of key defensemen, neither Nils Lundkvist or Zac Jones did anything to hurt their chances. However, Lundkvist assisted on a Mika Zibanejad power play goal. Taking a Goodrow feed, he passed across for a Zibanejad one-timer that beat Devils goalie Jonathan Bernier for the Rangers’ only goal in the first period. Lundkvist played with Jarred Tinordi while Jones again teamed with Braden Schneider. Neither pair were as bad as the established one between Miller and Trouba, who had a rough night. He also took a penalty that the Devils converted a power play goal on with Pavel Zacha sniping one home on a pass from big addition Dougie Hamilton (2 assists).
In truth, there wasn’t much to go on. Zibanejad played with Chris Kreider on the right side. A new experiment Gallant wants to give a try due to Alexis Lafreniere being more comfortable on the left side. Kravtsov was supposed to play the right wing on that top line, but his mystery injury finished that. So, they played the rest of the game with 11 forwards. Igor Shesterkin got the first half allowing four goals on 20 shots. Adam Huska came in and gave up three more on 14 shots.
Among regulars included Sammy Blais, Chytil, Goodrow, Kreider, Miller, Trouba and Zibanejad. As already mentioned, Gauthier and Barron are in direct competition while Lundkvist and Jones are. Tinordi had a better game than his first one. Hunt is also in the mix for a spot. We’ll have to wait and see about Kravtsov.
The Devils had Bernier go the whole way. He did well making 24 saves on 25 shots. Aside from Hamilton having a good debut, Tomas Tatar had a goal and helper. Both Zacha and veteran P.K. Subban recorded a goal and assist. Alexander Holtz assisted on a Janne Kuokkanen power play goal. He’s been good so far. Holtz used his quick wrist shot to score in their first preseason game. Both he and Mercer (goal) have looked good. If either makes the club, that’ll give the Jersey side of the Hudson Rivalry a boost.
If you put too much stock in a meaningless exhibition, I feel sorry for you. There are still many players who won’t be playing when it all starts up in two weeks. Take it with a grain of salt. Teams want to avoid injuries. Hopefully, the Rangers get good news on Kravtsov.
All six players cleared waivers to be reassigned to Hartford training camp. That includes Keith Kinkaid, who could be in a numbers game due to Huska and Tyler Wall. Kinkaid is good insurance for Shesterkin and Alex Georgiev. It’s never a bad thing to have goalie depth. Especially over a full schedule. You never know what could happen.
Recent first round pick Brennan Othmann was appreciative of being able to experience his first camp. He took away a lot of positives from team practices and the one game he got into. It definitely will serve as motivation for the 18-year old forward to excel at the OHL level after being assigned to his junior team. He made a nice first impression. So much so that he thinks if he can become one of the best players in the Ontario Hockey League, maybe he can come in next year and make the roster. He acknowledged that he will need to get stronger. A wise observation from a teenager.
Only Will Cuylle is left over who can be assigned to his junior club. They might take another look at him this weekend before sending him back. That’ll do it for this post. I’ll have more either Saturday or Sunday.
After going four periods without a goal in the preseason, the Rangers scored three in a better second to edge the Providence Bruins 3-2 at MSG. Boston hardly played anyone except their fourth line, Mike Reilly and expected new starter Linus Ullmark for the first half. That is part of why it’s exhibition.
In their second tune-up of six, the Rangers got their first glimpse of Artemi Panarin and Kaapo Kakko together with Ryan Strome. It went smoothly. Kakko scored a goal and picked up an assist while Panarin did what he can do by ripping up the young B’s for a goal (breakaway) and a pair of assists. It was nice to see Kakko look stronger. He worked hard in the weight room during the off-season. Gerard Gallant even tried him on the penalty kill. Something we could see more of.
While the main takeaway was the cohesiveness for the new second line (1 line B), Gallant was pleased with what he saw from potential future pair Zac Jones and Braden Schneider. They were good together. Each are only 20. You wouldn’t know it by how they played. Jones was a shining star with his smooth skating and transition. He tallied an assist on Kakko’s rebound goal in the second.
Schneider was strong defensively in his end. The former first round pick used his size and strength to finish with seven hits. It was impressive. The best aspect is the organization doesn’t have to rush the development of Schneider or even Jones, who would crack the top six if they didn’t sign Patrik Nemeth. If he isn’t on the Opening Night roster, it’ll be due to a numbers game with Nils Lundkvist the favorite to play third pair. Both Jones and Lundkvist have similar styles due to their skating, offensive instincts and ability to play power play. It’ll be interesting to see what happens.
Other young prospects that made an impression were Lauri Pajuniemi and recent first round pick Brennan Othmann. Both were good in the two Rookie Prospect games with the Flyers. Othmann due to his aggressive mindset on the forecheck and the older 22-year old Pajuniemi due to his lethal wrist shot. He demonstrated why he might be a steal by clanging iron and getting denied by Boston backup Kyle Keyser on the power play. He finished with three shots in less than 10 minutes. Othmann got a taste of playing at The Garden. I would expect him to be assigned to his Junior team.
Gallant also used Sammy Blais on the penalty kill. Acquired from the Blues for the more gifted Pavel Buchnevich and a second round pick, Blais threw his weight around with eight hits while working effectively with Kevin Rooney. Rooney is likely to center Blais and Ryan Reaves, who made his Broadway debut. He had some interesting things to say during the second period intermission, pointing out that they want to outwork teams. That’s a mantra Gallant wants to see. Of course, it helps that Reaves knows him from their days in Vegas. Look for Reaves to be a key locker room presence.
One other player who pleasantly surprised was backup Tyler Wall. After relieving starter Igor Shesterkin (11 saves on 12 shots), Wall performed well by turning aside 15 of 16 Boston shots. He definitely didn’t hurt himself. Wall was very good in college, but struggled with Hartford. Adjusting to pro level can take some time. At least last night, Wall looked unflappable. He will be with the Wolf Pack.
The first goal was from unlikely source Anthony Bitetto. On a Panarin rush, he missed connection with Kakko on a potential scoring chance. While I was venting at him for waiting too long, Kakko kept the play alive and got the puck back to Panarin. Like a magician, he found a cutting Bitetto for an easy goal past Ullmark. A few minutes later, Kakko was able to bury a rebound from Panarin and Jones for a 2-0 lead.
The Bruins responded with two goals to tie the score. After Jake Studnicka tallied, he won an offensive draw back to Urho Vaakanainen (don’t try pronouncing it) for a quick snapshot past Wall. Face-offs matter. Unless you are a chart person, who stares into the abyss. Hopefully, we won’t see a recurring theme of lost defensive draws leading to goals against. This is a New Era. Gallant has emphasized improving on face-offs as has GM Chris Drury. Let’s hope they move up from dead last with a more respectable win percentage.
The game-winner came with a minute to go in the second period. Who else but Panarin snuck behind the Bruins to take a K’Andre Miller pass and break in and beat Keyser with a wrist shot just past his glove short side. It happened that fast. That’s what makes Panarin so dangerous. He found a dead spot and then scored the breakaway goal that decided this one. Miller looked stronger. He paired with Jacob Trouba, who didn’t have a good night. Let’s leave it at that.
Most touching was the video tribute MSG Network did for Rangers legend and Hall Of Famer Rod Gilbert. The Rangers Ambassador who recently passed away at 80 loved being a New York Ranger. He was always front and center at games interacting with fans while having a smile on his face. Number 7 will be worn on their helmets during the season in remembrance of the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. Sam Rosen definitely sounded emotional when discussing him with Joe Micheletti. Sitting at home, I was on the verge of tears. It’s gonna be a hard season. So many fans met Gilbert including our Dad, who definitely will miss him. It won’t be easy. I hope they can do him proud by returning to the playoffs.
This went a bit longer than I thought. That’s because I wanted to include the details. Particularly Gilbert, who’ll be remembered on Opening Night against the Capitals. He will be honored by the team all season. A moment of silence for a class act. 💜🏒
In some relevant news that Hasan hinted at without mentioning the name of the Devils’ player, Mackenzie Blackwood has confirmed that he’s not yet vaccinated.
Mackenzie Blackwood on the vaccine: “I have a couple health concerns, health reasons why I’m working through it a little slower. I have a couple boxes I want to check off and not just rush to do it.”
When asked by Devils reporters why he hasn’t been vaxxed, Blackwood said, “I have a couple of health concerns, health reasons why I’m working through it a little slower. I have a couple of boxes I want to check off and not rush to do it.”
In February when the Devils had an outbreak of positives for COVID-19, Blackwood was among the list of players who missed time. Following a win at the Rangers on Jan. 19, he didn’t start again until nearly a month later at the Rangers on Feb. 16. Also a win.
The 24-year old is expected to be the starting goalie for the Devils like the shortened ’21 season. In his third year, Blackwood appeared in 35 games (all starts) going 14-17-4 with a 3.04 goals against average (GAA) and .902 save percentage. Thus far over his three-year NHL career, the former Devils ’15 second round pick has won 46 games while posting a 2.83 GAA, .911 save percentage and six shutouts.
Signed for two more years for an average cap hit of $2.8 million through 2023, Blackwood still has time to get vaccinated. However, as Hasan noted, the state of New Jersey hasn’t mandated the vaccine. How that relates to the Devils I don’t know. I would imagine they want all of their players fully vaxxed.
We’ve already seen a few players and coaches who didn’t get the shot, unable to participate in training camp for other teams and the upcoming ’21-22 NHL season. So, it’s an issue. We’ll see what the Devils decide to do. At least Blackwood wasn’t banished like Islanders prospect Bode Wilde was by Lou Lamoriello, who assigned him to a second tier Swedish League.
The New York Islanders announced on Tuesday that they are loaning defenceman Bode Wilde to Vasterviks IK of the second-tier Swedish hockey league.https://t.co/jQ2UVQd5OT
In regards to what Blackwood said, I don’t have a problem with his reasons for being hesitant to get the vaccine. If a person cites health considerations, that’s a valid concern. We don’t know if he has a preexisting medical condition that has been discussed with his doctor or the team doctor. However, I’d imagine those answers are coming.
Should Blackwood get it? Probably. He’s going to be around a lot of people. If you play a sport, you’re at a higher risk of testing positive. Something we saw during last season. We know that even if players and coaches are fully vaxxed, they can still get Covid. However, the cases aren’t as bad. I can’t think of one in a professional sport that wasn’t asymptomatic.
There’s a reason each league have Health and Safety Protocols. To make sure each player quarantines, doesn’t come into contact with anyone and tests negative before being medically cleared. That is smart. Especially with how things now are.
Hopefully, things will go smoother in ’21-22. Don’t forget it’s a full 82-game schedule. I hope there won’t be any postponements that have to be rescheduled. Especially in a potential Olympic year. What they decide won’t be known until next year. There are so many factors that must be considered around the world.
Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald was smart by signing veteran Jonathan Bernier in the off-season to upgrade the backup goalie. He’s being paid $4.125 million AAV over two seasons. So, at least they have a capable netminder to fill in when Blackwood can’t play.
The Devils have been holding player scrimmages at training camp. They will play their first preseason game tomorrow night. They’ll take on the Capitals in Washington DC before returning to Newark to host the Rangers on Friday. In total, they have six exhibition games with the final one concluding against the Islanders at home on October 7. The season opener isn’t until Oct. 15 against the Blackhawks at The Prudential Center.
I’d imagine Hasan will have more on this story. Plus the team.
Some cool items I saved from past years including the Henrik Lundqvist bobble head, Mats Zuccarello and a miniature Stanley Cup commemorating the 1994 Rangers. Photos by Derek Felix
When it comes to autumn, it’s usually hockey time. Even though it begins a bit later due to last season’s July finish, here we are with training camps finally underway. Some opened Wednesday while others such as the Rangers officially opened this past Thursday in Greenburgh at the team’s practice facility.
The ’21 Rangers Yearbook that included top pick Alexis Lafreniere. Photo by Derek Felix
As we follow training camp and preseason with believe it or not, the Rangers’ first game against who else but the Islanders Sunday night (4-0 loss what else is new), this is a good time to look at some storylines. Before we take a glimpse into that, let’s first unveil the training camp roster. I’ve updated the roster with an asterisk indicating the players who have been cut. If they have a * next to their name, they’ve either been assigned to their Junior team or reassigned to Hartford.
The full breakdown went from 60 players to 47 within 72 hours. Undoubtedly, there will be more roster cuts coming. They can keep up to 23 players on the roster when it gets going on October 13 against the Capitals. The breakdown for now is 2826 forwards, 14 defensemen and 5 goalies. Make that 45 with both Matt Rempe and Karl Henrikkson assigned to their respective clubs. For Henrikkson, it’s back to Frolunda for one more year. As we know, it’ll likely become 13 forwards, 7 D and 2 goalies unless Gallant opts to keep 3 netminders. That’ll largely depend on what shakes out between Alex Georgiev and Keith Kinkaid during camp.
FORWARDS
10 Artemi Panarin
13 Alexis Lafreniere
14 Greg McKegg
15 Julien Gauthier
16 Ryan Strome
17 Kevin Rooney
20 Chris Kreider
21 Barclay Goodrow
24 Kaapo Kakko
26 Tim Gettinger
28 Anthony Greco
29 Dryden Hunt
*38 Evan Vierling
47 Morgan Barron
49 Lauri Pajuniemi
50 William Cuylle
*58 James Sanchez
59 Ty Ronning
*62 Alex Whelan
*63 Jake Elmer
*70 Karl Henrikkson
72 Filip Chytil
*73 Matt Rempe
74 Vitali Kravtsov
76 Jonny Brodzinski
78 Brennan Othmann
*82 Patrick Khodorenko
*83 Ryder Korczak
85 Austin Rueschhoff
86 Tanner Fritz
90 Justin Richards
91 Sammy Blais
*92 Michael O’Leary
93 Mika Zibanejad
*96 Jayden Grubbe
DEFENSEMEN
5 Jarred Tinordi
6 Zac Jones
8 Jacob Trouba
12 Patrik Nemeth
22 Anthony Bitetto
23 Adam Fox
25 Libor Hajek
44 Matthew Robertson
45 Braden Schneider
*48 Zach Berzolla
*53 Hunter Skinner
51 Tarmo Reunanen
54 Mason Geertsen
55 Ryan Lindgren
64 Nils Lundkvist
79 K’Andre Miller
*87 Zach Giuttari
GOALTENDERS
31 Igor Shesterkin
32 Adam Huska
40 Alex Georgiev
*56 Talyn Boyko
71 Keith Kinkaid
80 Tyler Wall
*98 Dylan Garand
One of the things I like so far is how candid new Rangers coach Gerard Gallant was with the New York media at his first true press conference. He didn’t say anything he didn’t mean. There was no hesitation. On the subject of naming a captain, Gallant was very forthcoming by indicating that they will have one. Under former coach David Quinn, the team didn’t have one after the trade of Ryan McDonagh to the Lightning. So, they’ve gone two seasons without a captain. Even if the recent ’21 season was abbreviated due to the schedule which was regional due to the pandemic.
That brings me to the top storyline. The time is now for this team. It’s no longer a rebuild. Patience will not be preached. There’s enough experience in that room for players to provide leadership. The question for Gallant to answer is who will the next Rangers captain be. The candidates are Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox. While a good portion of the fan base wants Fox to be named, the truth is he’s only been in the league two years. Neither were normal. But then again, is anything ever going to be again? Not with teams disallowing unvaccinated players and coaches to participate. You don’t see that in the NBA. So, they’re telling me that no one will test positive if every NHL personnel is vaccinated? We know better. It is what it is. Be prepared for more players on the virus list. Hopefully, it won’t be as bad as the past season. You had games postponed and rescheduled. I’m certain they’ll take no chances.
What about having a short-term captain until either Fox or Alexis Lafreniere grows into the role? The dilemma for the organization is it’s hard to tell a player they’re no longer captain. That’s assuming Kreider, Zibanejad or Trouba aren’t moved. Only one is playing for a contract. That would be Zibanejad, who has had discussions with the team on an extension. If I’m them, I wait. There’s no reason to give him one now. Let Zibanejad earn it. It can always happen next year around February or March if he wants to stay. It will largely depend on how the team is doing along with his performance. They want to make the playoffs. Zibanejad said it on Thursday during a press conference.
If the playoffs are the goal, that has to be the second storyline. Playing in a tough Metropolitan Division which includes the Islanders, Hurricanes, Capitals, Penguins and Flyers, the Rangers know they must earn it. Nothing will be given to them. That means their top players performing at a more consistent level against the division’s upper echelon teams. Something that was a problem for last season’s team. Even Artemi Panarin didn’t produce the way he can against the Islanders in those three critical games. It is about the team honoring their commitment to winning. That’s what it’s all about.
One point Gallant made was that ice time will be earned. That’s a refreshing approach to what we saw. There are going to be opportunities for players. Whether it be someone secondary like Julien Gauthier or Morgan Barron, who both are vying for roster spots, there will be chances for guys to get in the lineup and have an impact. The same can be echoed for rookie defenseman Nils Lundkvist, who must earn a job before anyone anoints him. In NYC, we have this arrogance of penciling young players into a lineup before they’ve done anything. If Lundkvist is ready, then he’ll slot in on the third pair and get power play time.
Don’t forget the Blueshirts signed veterans Patrik Nemeth and Jarred Tinordi. If the top four is set with Fox, Ryan Lindgren, Trouba and K’Andre Miller, that leaves two openings for the top six. Don’t forget Zac Jones, who does have NHL experience and looked good in his brief stint. He was the best player at Rookie Camp. Both Matthew Robertson and Braden Schneider will be given a chance to see what they can do during preseason. So too will the forgotten Libor Hajek and Tarmo Reunanen. In other words, Gallant has plenty of options to choose from. He got a first look at a few with Lundkvist not making any glaring mistakes like Tinordi or Bitetto in a sleep inducing 4-0 shutout to the Islanders. It was more of the same with the Isles’ fourth line dominating. Don’t read too much into it. Ryan Reaves, Kevin Rooney and Sammy Blais didn’t play.
With Gallant, who is nicknamed Turk, he is a different and more experienced coach than David Quinn. He’s had success in the league with both Florida and Vegas. The latter where he did an amazing job taking the expansion Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season. They made the playoffs under him before Vegas pulled the rug out from underneath him. Peter DeBoer replaced Turk and has had similar success, but they were upset by the Canadiens last season. So, no return to the Cup Final since Gallant in Year One. He’s a guy who’s had success as a player doing it mostly as a Detroit Red Wing. He knows the game and has a dry wit which I think the New York media will like. Take his response to a question about how reigning Norris winner Fox. He definitely was impressed and gave a funny reaction and grinned to laughter. His honesty will be refreshing. Early indications is he’s not a yeller like Quinn during practice. That’ll probably help team chemistry.
#NYR Artemi Panarin: "We definitely even could’ve reached the playoffs last year. We have a good team. Well-organized. And now the team is even stronger with a winning coach. So I think going forward there's just a positive outlook on everything."
I don’t want to make a big deal out of Artemi Panarin’s comments to the media about how they now have a winning coach. I don’t look at it as a shot at Quinn. He’s not that kind of player. He was likely being honest and probably is excited about the challenge under Turk. Artemi is 30 and in his prime. He wants to return to the playoffs like Zibanejad and Kreider, who both must be dying to play meaningful hockey again. I’m not referring to a lopsided Play In Series either. There’s also no point in discussing further Panarin’s past issues off the ice last winter. He’s not interested in politics thankfully. I wish it was that way for everyone.
In terms of other storylines, I’m curious to see how much of an impact Barclay Goodrow can have on his new teammates. He’s a two-time Stanley Cup winner with necessary championship experience who brings the grit and intangibles this team lacked. I know Sunday night wasn’t the start he had in mind. But I thought the boarding major and game misconduct was overkill. It was worth a double minor. Refs are also still getting acclimated. Let’s leave it at that. Don’t forget Goodrow’s outlet to Kreider for a shorthanded breakaway Ilya Sorokin stopped him on. He also missed on a pass from Kravtsov in front. Gallant seems to like Goodrow with Chytil and Kravtsov. Keep an eye on that line.
Obviously, adding the tough and physical Reaves should help in the heavyweight department. One thing about him. He has character and understands what he’s been brought in for. No. It’s not just to go after Tom Wilson in the first game. It’s to make other tough players accountable. That means the Identity Line that scored three of the Isles’ four goals even minus Matt Martin. When Ross Johnston is scoring on you, that’s bad. But it’s preseason. Relax. Like Heath Ledger’s Joker said in a classic scene, “Let’s not blow things out of proportion.” Reaves was successful under Gallant and will provide that energy along with Blais and likely Kevin Rooney unless Barron can crack the lineup. He won six of eleven face-offs last night. An area that must improve.
What about the crowd at the World’s Most Vaccinated Arena? I mean it is what it is. With New York in a totalitarian state due to the controversial Vaccine Passports, there’ll be even less fans at these games than before. Not everyone wants to show papers to see games or concerts. I’m fully vaxxed, but think they’ve gone overboard. As someone who suffers from anxiety, the past 18 months haven’t helped me personally. I can’t ever see myself returning to MSG. I don’t view things the same. I dislike the city for personal reasons and don’t feel comfortable in big crowds. For those who go, I would advise you not to hang around too many people. I have avoided hangouts and such. I guess I’m just cautious. Hasan basically noted it in his Devils column. The Garden had already lost its atmosphere due to the renovation. What do you think it’ll sound like now?
I don’t want to harp on Covid after what I mentioned in the previous paragraph. We can’t ever feel right about this. I can enjoy games watching from home whether it be downstairs or from my phone streaming. I feel lucky to have been to so many Rangers games. The last 25 years have been amazing. Even the Dark Ages were special due to all the friends we made in our old Section 411. There’s too many memories to list. I’ll always remember Gretzky and Messier playing for the final time along with all the jersey retirements, and Game Six when they shutout Montreal 1-0 to wrap up the Conference Finals and win the Wales Trophy. I never thought that would happen along with experiencing a Stanley Cup game. The energy in ’14 was incredible. The way they rallied around Martin St. Louis. The Mother’s Day game. The 3-1 comebacks against the Pens and Caps in consecutive years during the second round. And right now, the Mika Zibanejad Five Goal Game remains as the last memory. The best regular season game we ever attended. I hope they can produce more memories for the fans who do go.
How much improvement will we see from Kaapo Kakko in Year Three? There’s no doubt the former ’19 second overall pick improved his overall game and skating last year. If he’s to take the next step, Kakko must score more goals. Consistency will be the key. He’s being given the keys to Pavel Buchnevich’s old spot. It seems that Kakko will start with Panarin and Ryan Strome on the other first line while Lafreniere gets to play with Zibanejad and Kreider. There is pressure for Kakko to perform both at even strength and on the power play. I feel like he needs to match his number 24 in goals and pop six or seven on the man-advantage.
Kravtsov has less games than Kakko. But I like what I saw from the talented Russian in a month’s time. While he only wound up with two goals and two assists, it looked like he belonged. The ability to skate into open space and make plays is apparent. He has a nice touch. This is a unique young player to watch. I think if he can prove himself, maybe Kravtsov could play his way into the Calder race. But he’s likely on the third line and might not get a lot of power play time. He’ll have to earn it.
One thing GM Chris Drury did was bring in former retired NHL linesman Pierre Racicot to help the team’s centers work on face-offs. A sore spot in recent seasons with the Rangers ranking dead last in ’21, they must improve in that area. There were too many instances where a key defensive draw was lost resulting in a goal allowed. Being able to win more face-offs is critical to having puck possession and limiting the opponent’s time. Gallant wants to see them get better. If Sunday was any early indication, it helped as Zibanejad won more than he lost as did Barron. Chytil lost seven of eleven taken. It’s a place the young third center must make strides in.
Gallant said they brought in retired NHL linesman Pierre Racicot to help the team work on face-offs.
"You look at the numbers and you’ve got to get better… We've got good people there, but we want to win more face-offs and we want to have more control with the puck."#NYR
There really isn’t much else to cover from the past few days. The first preseason game was blah. Anytime you lose 4-0 to the Islanders, there’s not much to say. They were sharp while our guys weren’t. The reason Goodrow got ejected for the boarding major is it drew blood. That’s the new rule. It wasn’t the worst hit from behind. It is what it is. He looked to have early chemistry with Kravtsov and Chytil. Regarding boarding, I believe all penalties should be either four or five minutes because it’s dangerous. Two minutes is too light. They’re supposed to be cracking down on crosschecks. We’ll see.
One big update that fans already have huge interest in. Henrik Lundqvist will have his jersey retired against the Minnesota Wild on January 28, 2022. His number 30 will go up to the rafters joining Ed Giacomin and Mike Richter as the only Ranger goalies to have their number retired. It’s hard to believe they never honored Dave Kerr or Chuck Rayner. They don’t do a good job recognizing their past. As has been discussed, Frank Boucher, Bill and Bun Cook haven’t been honored either. The Bread Line that helped the franchise win two Cups. You also could make strong cases for Brad Park and Ron Greschner. Whatever the case maybe, it would be nice to see an Original Six franchise honor their past. Something that’s covered in great detail by Sean McCaffrey in his Rangers book, The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden.
My mom just told me tickets for the Henrik Lundqvist jersey retirement game just jumped from $200 to $1,000 in the matter of four minutes #NYR
As you can see, the demand is high for tickets to witness Henrik Lundqvist take his place among a list of great Rangers. There won’t be any problem selling those tickets. Especially with Lundqvist close friend and former teammate Mats Zuccarello in the building along with ex-backup Cam Talbot, who also played an instrumental role during the ’14-15 season. I can see why they chose the Wild as the opponent. The close relationship between Lundqvist and Zuccarello is a factor. If they didn’t select that game, my guess was the Carolina Hurricanes due to former Blueshirts Jesper Fast, Brady Skjei, Brendan Smith, Derek Stepan and Tony DeAngelo. They’ve replaced the Lightning as the new Rangers South.
As someone who knows I won’t be at the arena for that special night, I’ve been very fortunate to witness the jersey retirements of Mike Richter, Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves, Harry Howell, Andy Bathgate, Jean Ratelle and Vic Hadfield. I have no complaints. It’s time for a new generation of fans to experience such a memorable night. That is one that the building will be packed for.
I can only hope by that point of the season, the Rangers will have gelled into a good team competing for a top four spot in the division. They know what’s at stake. It’s playoffs or bust. I’ll have more tomorrow night following the second exhibition against the Bruins. Expect to see Reaves and Blais with Rooney as the new fourth line gets its feet wet. Plus hopefully Zac Jones, Braden Schneider, Matthew Robertson and first round pick Brennan Othmann. Kakko with Strome and Panarin. Until then.
Although camp opened a couple of days ago for the veteran players on the Devils, it sort of feels more like a real beginning of camp this weekend to me with the team scrimmages starting this afternoon. Media day is more just an appetizer for the fans to get excited when everyone reports to camp in the best shape of their lives and in the best mindset to have career years. I still want to watch a few of the YouTubes of media day anyway – including Fitzy’s above, I’m a little behind on my podcast and YT viewing this week after watching PBS’s terrific mini-series on the boxer/activist Muhammad Ali the last few nights, but that’s neither here nor there.
I can’t claim that I’ll be locked into the scrimmages from whistle to whistle either, it’s hard for me to get motivated to watch games of the team playing each other. What do I root for or against? Scrimmages – and to a large extent the preseason – is for coaches a lot more than fans in my opinion. Coaches need to see how younger players progress and veteran acquisitions fit in and the Devils clearly have a lot of both. GM Tom Fitzgerald, coach Lindy Ruff and their staff will obviously have a lot to do in this preseason with still one of the youngest rosters in the league although supplemented by veteran acquisitions such as the biggest fish Dougie Hamilton and others like fellow d-man Ryan Graves and UFA signings Tomas Tatar and Johnathan Bernier. This isn’t going to be a full season preview, I’ll probably do one closer to the actual start of the regular season when we have a handle on what the lines and roster could look like.
I’m not going to lie, part of me still really wants to go back to the Prudential Center, even for the first preseason game against the Rangers in less than a week and I will be there, make no mistake. I’m just a little more wary of going to games at this point in general though, with the lack of a vaccine mandate to enter the Prudential Center. Granted I got mine a while ago, but as we’ve seen there are still breakthrough infections possible obviously. I’ve pretty much managed to avoid crowded indoor areas for extended periods of time apart from a trip to a local bar with friends here and there the last several months, but finally going back to hockey games again will be a different animal entirely from even that. A preseason game shouldn’t be too crowded under normal circumstances, though Friday night against the Rangers might be closer to a sellout than I’d be comfortable with at this point, especially with the limited number of fans allowed at the Rock last year the first preseason game and first regular season game will be coming out parties for many.
With no restrictions this year (to this point), you’re on top of people and they’re on top of you for extended lengths of time. I’m hopeful at some point early in the season maybe there will be a statewide mandate or arena vaccine mandate instituted, especially if ticket sales are down in part because people are still wary of going to big indoor gatherings. When/if there is a vaccine mandate instituted, I wouldn’t care at all about the indoor crowds or very little after that, aside from trying to avoid the normal wintertime sicknesses. Hopefully people will be smarter and stay home if feeling ill either way, but nobody ever likes to waste the money they drop on tickets. In the meantime I’ll likely try to sell far more pairs than normal though, especially since my friends are even more wary of going to games than I am right now. At least I have an excuse if the Devils ticket department gives me crap about selling more seats than usual, I’m sure I won’t be the only one either.
I don’t really want to spend a whole blog talking about the virus, vaccine mandates and regulations but my own thoughts on attending games kind of dovetail into the other immediate Devil concern on the ice right now – which is the revelation that according to Corey Masisak of the Athletic, the Devils have a ‘prominent’ unvaccinated player, one of only about a dozen in the entire league. Ironically, the league as a whole has really compelled more of its workforce to get the vaccine than I thought it would be able to at this point of camp, given all the public issues the NFL had with some of its players during its preseason. Of course, it would turn out one of our guys is probably the biggest-name holdout at this point. It would have been nice for Masisak to have gotten this right at first since he went on the record saying that all of the Devils’ active roster was vaccinated, then it was found out not to be true later on and he never apologized for having to retract later. You would think reporting would be better for the privilege of being on a pay site, but guess that wouldn’t have changed anything regardless.
If you do some Internet sleuthing one name keeps popping up more than anyone else, I don’t want to believe it or comment on this specific rumor in case god forbid the Internet is actually wrong, except to say this guy would certainly fit the prominent description and it’s hard for me to believe that anyone who was around the team last year when COVID blew up our season (and had the virus himself, as did pretty much the entire team) could possibly be a holdout on getting the vaccine now. Of course you can’t account for stubbornness, which is the most charitable adjective I’ll use. Our COVID break not only compressed our schedule but contributed to a lot of guys’ spotty play post-virus. I’ll have more to say on this specific player if this indeed turns out to be true and the player remains a holdout long enough for it to affect the team one way or another – either another COVID-related absence or this player just missing games because he can’t travel to or play in certain cities with stricter mandates. Not to mention the media and fan reaction spectacle he’ll put himself through when his reticence becomes public.
As much as I and others may not agree with this player’s decision I am glad the Devils are trying to keep his name out of the public record for as long as possible. It buys them some more time to have a good-faith discussion behind the scenes before it becomes the inevitable public spectacle it will become sooner or later if things remain status quo. Plus quite honestly, it’s a little harder to make a public example out of an important roster player than a minor-league/PTO guy like Zac Rinaldo or the bit player the Islanders more or less outed publicly and barred from camp. I’m not sure how much I agree with that but as with all things, the more expendable you are the more you can be made an example of. Hopefully there’ll be a meeting of the minds soon before this becomes an issue on and off the ice, since the player in question will have to miss every road trip to Canada at the very least. Thankfully that won’t occur till December but obviously a decision on the vaccine would have to be made before than for it to take effect.
Hopefully the player will join his teammates and most of the league in getting vaccinated, the team will come to its senses and institute vaccine mandates to enter the Rock and this’ll be the last time I feel compelled to use this blog to discuss it. Hopefully. People can talk about individual rights all they want, of course anyone has the right to not get the shot but in a team setting and a billion-dollar business there are gonna be consequences for that decision, which will ultimately affect more than just the individual. Which is why it’s next to impossible for me to avoid passing judgment on any player who makes that choice in a team sport where such far-reaching consequences exist. Especially for a franchise that had one season so negatively affected by COVID, arguably more than any team in sports.
As NHL training camp nears, rookie prospect games are being played at hockey rinks. With the return of Fall on deck, summer will give way to autumn. That means the end of baseball for both the Yankees and Mets. Yes. I have given up on the Yankees. It also means we get to be tormented by the Jets and Giants. It’s gonna be a long NFL season.
The good news is hockey is coming back. It’ll be starting a bit later, but camps are upcoming along with the batch of six to seven preseason games. Two too many for my taste. Fantasy Hockey Leagues return with drafts. I’m in a keeper league. I look pretty set on my five players. The draft will come before the new season begins. Online like most these days.
The real excitement around this time for fans is being able to keep track of their team’s top prospects in these Rookie Prospect Tournaments. For example, the Devils competed in a three team one hosted by the Sabres at their practice facility. The Bruins were also in it. So, Devil fans got an early glance at young players including Dawson Mercer, Alexander Holtz, Kevin Bahl and Nolan Foote. I believe they split the pair.
While that took place, the Rangers got to see a few of their younger players in a two-game series hosted by the Flyers over the weekend. After losing the first game 6-3 to a good Philadelphia roster that features Cam York, Tyson Foerster, Morgan Frost, Wade Allison and Samuel Ersson, the Rangers team bounced back on Sunday with a 3-2 win to gain a split. After playing ’19-20 for the Flint Firebirds
Among the notables who played for the Kid Blueshirts were Zac Jones, Morgan Barron, Tarmo Reunanen, Nils Lundkvist, Will Cuylle, Lauri Pajuniemi, Dylan Garand, Matthew Robertson, Braden Schneider and recent first round pick Brennan Othmann. Following a loss in which both Barron and the underrated Pajuniemi scored, it was some of those key players who contributed to the one-goal win yesterday at the Flyers practice facility in Voorhes, New Jersey.
In a good comeback, the Rangers’ rookie prospects used a pair of power play goals from Cuylle to respond. A gritty forward who got into a few games for the Wolf Pack during a COVID shortened AHL season, he tipped in both of his goals off good low shots from Jones. Jones stood out as the team’s best player in the game. He was very noticeable throughout and superb running the point on the power play. He tallied two assists.
Another Blueshirt who had a strong game was goalie Dylan Garand. He came on in the second half of the game. When the Flyers made a push at even strength, Garand was there to make some big saves to prevent them from getting on the scoreboard. He’s kind of the forgotten guy in the team’s system. A fourth round pick selected 103rd in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Rangers, the 19-year old from Victoria, British Columbia spent 18 games in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Kamloops Blazers where he posted a 15-3-0 record with a 2.15 GAA, .921 save percentage and three shutouts. Garand also got into two games for Hartford prior. It had to help his development. Obviously, with Igor Shesterkin the top guy in the Big Apple with Alex Georgiev backing up, there’s plenty of time for Garand to continue to develop.
In the third period of a tie hockey game thanks to the two Cuylle power play goals that brought them back following a two-goal Flyers first period, Nils Lundkvist made headlines when he picked a good time to get his first goal. On a Flyers’ defensive breakdown, he took a feed, skated in and ripped a wrist shot from 20 feet past the Philadelphia goalie for the go-ahead tally. It held up as the winner. Obviously, Lundkvist is the favorite to grab the third spot on the right side behind Adam Fox and Jacob Trouba. He’s here to provide the offense Tony DeAngelo once did which can aid Fox. A good skater with skill, Lundkvist produced well back home in Sweden. Now, his job is to make the Rangers out of camp. If he can, he’ll provide another good skating D who can quickly transition from defense to offense. He could also play power play. It was a nice introduction.
Other players who looked good were Reunanen and recent first round pick Othmann. The latter definitely was effective on the power play where he was featured at the right circle as a trigger. Obviously, he’ll go back to juniors and get more experience in what hopefully will be a more normal season up north. After playing ’19-20 with the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he spent ’21 in the Swiss League where he put up seven goals and nine assists for 16 points with 64 penalty minutes in 34 games for Olten EHC. That was enough for the Rangers to take him. I’ll be curious to see if he stays long enough to take part in a preseason game.
The only reason for preseason is to see the younger prospects who could be part of the future. That’s the excitement. Of course, the more established NHL players need three games to get into game shape. The only thing you worry about are injuries. You want a healthy NHL roster entering a new season. Especially with it expected to be a full 82-game schedule. The fun starts on October 13.
Congratulations to Travis Zajac on an outstanding NHL career. To think the Devils took him right after the Rangers moved up to take Lauri Korpikoski. The thing is Korpikoski was a solid NHL player who became a good checking forward that was effective on the penalty kill. The Rangers weren’t very patient with him. The Devils were rewarded after Zajac spent some time at North Dakota, which also produced former Devil Zach Parise. He left the Wild for the Islanders, who also will have Zdeno Chara back where he started before a misguided Mike Milbury dealt him away along with the first round pick that became Jason Spezza for Alexei Yashin. Bill Muckalt was also in the trade.
Zajac spent almost his whole career in New Jersey. He once centered the ZZ Pop Line that featured Parise, him and Jamie Langenbrunner. It was a productive line. Eventually, Zajac became a two-way center who could go up against top scoring lines and kill penalties. He also was solid in the face-off circle. He got one more crack at the playoffs when Lou Lamoriello acquired him to help the Islanders make a second consecutive appearance in the Final Four. But in the rematch, they lost to the Lightning in seven games. Tampa repeated. Their toughest challenge were those Isles.
In a nice touch, the Devils signed Zajac to a one-day contract so he could retire a New Jersey Devil. Please refer to Hasan’s piece on Zajac for more on a good player who for a long time, didn’t miss many games. He appeared in the 2012 Stanley Cup Final they lost to the Kings. Good luck to him in retirement.
With that, and an official press release the Devils announced the signing of Travis Zajac to a one-day contract and formal retirement as a Devil. Zajac will continue to work with the organization on and off the ice in his post-playing career and will be honored for his career at the Prudential Center in March 2022 when the Devils play Zajac’s hometown Winnipeg Jets. At least with fans back in the building this year, Zajac will get a more proper sendoff than he would have over the Spring (the Islanders didn’t play at the Rock in his brief tenure there).
It’s hard to explain to an outsider what Zajac meant to Devils fans, let’s just start with the basics – when you play 1000+ games as a first-round pick for one team, there’s gonna be a deep attachment between player and fanbase. Factor in the fact Zajac was a first-class individual who was always calm, unassuming and polite off the ice while still playing a smart, determined two-way game on the ice and it just deepened the connection that much more from the fans. Finally, there were big moments in big games…none bigger than during the Devils’ 2012 playoff run, which nearly ended before it started in the first round against Florida, but Zajac’s OT game-winner in Game 6 kept the Devils alive long enough for the Game 7 dramatics and further playoff hockey.
In fact the Devils made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2012, unfortunately the closest he would ever get to winning a Cup, though the Islanders gave eventual champion Tampa Bay a real run for their money in the Eastern Conference Finals this year. Zajac had a solid postseason in 2012, with seven goals and fourteen points in 24 games, not bad for a guy who only played fifteen regular season games that year due to a fluke training injury that put an end to Travis’s team record iron-man streak of 401 consecutive games played.
Aside from the consecutive games played record, his biggest individual accomplishments as a player came from 2008-2010 when he had two consecutive 60+ point seasons, centering the PZL line with Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner and reaching his career highs with 25 goals and 67 points in 2009-10. Those scoring numbers wouldn’t be the norm going forward however, Parise’s injury in 2010 and Zajac’s own injury a year later combined with Langenbrunner’s downturn led to the end of the PZL line. By the 2013 season Zajac was the only player remaining from the Devils’ one-time top line and he eventually settled into a later-career role of shutdown checking center who could put up 35-40 points.
Before he – and we – knew it, he became an elder statesman on rebuilding teams, never complaining or dogging it in spite of a lot of lean years. Apart from one five-game cameo in the 2018 postseason, the Devils never made it back to the playoffs again in the decade. When offered a chance to be on a playoff team in the spring of 2020, Zajac used his NTC to turn down a potential trade. On an expiring deal this year however, he approved a trade to the Islanders, who had two obvious pluses – location and once again working for GM Lou Lamoriello…who initially drafted Zajac here in 2004. Current GM Tom Fitzgerald openly rooted for Zajac (and fellow good soldier Kyle Palmieri) to win the Cup at the press conference announcing their trade. It wasn’t meant to be though.
Instead of adding anything more I’ll close this post off with Travis’s own words, as there can be no better ending for this blog or his career:
To his family, friends and fans, Travis released the following statement: “I was drafted in 2004 and played my first game in 2006. As I stand here nearing the end of 2021, I can only be grateful to sign one last time, and retire as a New Jersey Devil.
“As a kid playing hockey on the outdoor rinks in Winnipeg, I dreamt about playing in the NHL. Growing up the oldest of four boys, it was the perfect hockey environment. Thanks to my parents unwavering support in our lives, that dream became a reality. Then, I got to live that childhood goal for 15 years with the Devils.
“I want to thank the New Jersey Devils organization for giving me the opportunity to play in the best league in the world. To the past and present ownership, managing partners, managers, coaches, and trainers, your hard work has not gone unnoticed- thank you. And thanks also to my agent, Kurt Overhardt, for always believing in me.
“I have to acknowledge all my teammates who helped me throughout my career. I will cherish all the memories made and I hope that I’ve impacted your life the way you’ve positively impacted mine.
“Now, to the fans, you are the reason this game is so special, and I leave the game knowing I enjoyed every moment I got to play in front of you.
“Lastly, I want to thank my beautiful wife Nicole and our kids Zenon, Veronika, and Anya. We have deep roots in New Jersey now. My wife went to graduate school at Montclair State, our three children, were born in Jersey and raised right here in this rink at Prudential Center. They know no other home and no other community like the Devils. It’s now time for me to embed myself into this same community where I grew into adulthood. It is where my heart is, my home, and I’ve never felt otherwise.
The images from a meaningful preseason game played between the Devils and Rangers on September 19, 2001 at MSG. It came eight days following one of the worst days in out history.
It’s twenty years later. It still is hard to put into words how I feel about September 11, 2001. 9/11 remains a sad and painful reminder for Americans. For New Yorkers, it stings. The horrifying images still fresh for most of us who were alive that day. One of the worst in our history.
I can recall driving on the Bayonne Bridge when Howard Stern announced that two planes had crashed into the Twin Towers. At first, I didn’t believe it. But when I reached the part of the bridge where I could visibly see the black clouds of smoke to my right coming from the World Trade Center, it was horrifying. What a nightmare. The attacks on our city, the Pentagon and a plane crash in Pennsylvania had brought America to its knees. Nothing was ever the same.
If you worked close enough to NYC, then you know just how chaotic things were. I was headed for the 34th Street Light Rail park and ride to take the train into Jersey City. I worked for SportsTicker at Harborside Financial Center. It was directly across the Hudson from the Twin Towers. That job provided me with a unique opportunity to admire those towers on lunch breaks. The days afterwards when we finally returned felt empty. I’d look over and see nothing. Only leftover clouds of smoke from the rubble. It was mind numbing.
What hurts the most is knowing what happened on that tragic day in the aftermath. Both wings of the Twin Towers collapsed taking the lives of so many. All we could do is stand and watch in horror from a parking lot. The groans were all too real. How could something like this ever happen? I still try to search for the answer. It isn’t an easy question to answer. It’s a difficult topic.
My thoughts remain with every family affected. So many lost loved ones. The real heroes are the FDNY firefighters, NYPD cops and Emergency Medical Workers, who sacrificed for the cause. The same way they do now during another challenging time. If you have the chance today and see a police officer or firefighter or EMT, say hello and thank them. They lay it all on the line every day. Many of those heroes lost their lives too due to the terrorist attacks 20 years ago. It is humbling to think of it all.
Sports are a way for us to escape our daily lives. Whatever we do or deal with, the excitement of watching and rooting for our teams or enjoying an all-time great tennis player Novak Djokovic chasing history at the US Open gives us something to love. The way the New York teams came together to help out people who needed it following 9/11 was amazing. The Yankees visited Ground Zero and the Mets turned Shea Stadium into a place of hospitality of food and supplies for aid. The Giants and Jets were also involved. The way it was handled was all class. In the face of adversity, they went out of their way to make things better for people who needed it.
One of the first games I remember well was a preseason hockey game played between the Devils and Rangers at MSG on September 19, 2001. I’ll admit to being nervous about attending it with my family. That was the anxiety of not knowing. How many of us were scared? I was. But we were there as they honored the victims and heroes before the opening face-off. A game was played. That didn’t matter. I can’t remember a single detail from it other than seeing the Rangers and Devils come together next to each other with their sticks down in salute. That and an American flag are the only images that are vivid. It’s for good reason. Just the teams being back on the ice at a sporting event was significant. It helped us return.
I could say so much more. The Rangers would have their home opener of the ’01-02 season against the Sabres. Maybe that was fate. Another New York team was at The Garden for an emotional opening ceremony. Buffalo wore special jerseys with New York on the front. Mark Messier and Eric Lindros wore FDNY helmets to honor and support New York’s bravest. It was emotional and brought everyone together. Back then, we were closer together. The response was excellent. People were kinder. It would be refreshing if that returned. There isn’t much civil behavior or respect anymore. That must change.
Today is a day of reflection. It’s a time to think. Take a moment to do that. Every day we get is a blessing. Let’s remember that. Appreciate what you have. You never know. Twenty years ago today, nobody knew anything. It was panic. When the Mets and Yankees play later tonight at Citi Field in Flushing, Queens, they will pay tribute to 9/11. Mike Piazza will be on hand. The big Hall of Fame catcher whose dramatic go-ahead two-run home run gave the Mets a win over the Braves in their return following the tragic events. Piazza had a sweet swing. The ball jumped off his bat. That home run was symbolic.
On the back of winning three consecutive World Series titles, the Yankees made another special run that late Fall in 2001. That included the Derek Jeter flip play that is still the defining image for me after he went into Cooperstown on Wednesday. It helped turn the tide and allow the Yankees to come back from a 2-0 series deficit and win the American League Division Series over the Athletics in five games. They would go on to beat the great Mariners in five to again reach the World Series.
Although they fell short of a four-peat, nobody will forget those three middle games at Yankee Stadium. The dramatic tying home runs by Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius. Jeter becoming Mr. November. Even in defeat with the Diamondbacks beating Mariano Rivera, those Yankees were winners. They gave NYC a run it needed. I still look back fondly on that team. What heart they had.
It definitely helped. We were better back then. More united. I feel we can be again. It’s been too long since that fateful day. In a horrible moment of tragedy, we were better people.
Having spoken to my Dad a lot about the sad passing of New York Rangers legend and Hall Of Famer Rod Gilbert, I’ve definitely gotten a new perspective on how much Number 7 meant to the franchise and the loyal older generation of Blueshirt fans. Seeing the outpouring of support and pleasant memories of what made Gilbert so special to so many have been eye opening.
Of course, I knew of the history because it’s been passed down from my father’s generation to the younger Rangers fans. I have always admired what those Emile “Cat” Francis teams achieved. It wouldn’t have been possible without Gilbert, who also keyed Francis in on the great center of what became the GAG Line, Jean Ratelle. He convinced Francis to sign him. Along with rugged power forward Vic Hadfield, the cohesive trio carried those classic Rangers teams as far as they could.
I have never met Rod Gilbert but from the stories I've heard, this video seems to sum him up nicely. RIP #7. pic.twitter.com/WgOo3U6WqF
As MSG paid tribute tonight with four hours of classic images and videos from The Vault, it was special to again watch some games at a newer Garden. Dad attended many games back then. As I mentioned previously, he was there when the ’71-72 team lost the Stanley Cup to the Bruins in six games. The biggest reason they didn’t win was some guy named Bobby Orr. From getting the chance to see most of Game Six, I understood what they were up against. With the game scoreless, Orr took a puck and did a spin a rama before whipping a shot past Gilles Villemure for a 1-0 Boston lead. He’d score another in what became a 3-0 Bruins win to take the series and Cup.
Just spoke to Brad Park about former teammate Rod Gilbert, who died Sunday. Here’s what Park had to say about Gilbert: “He was the most wonderful man I ever met. Ever.”
It definitely was strange to see the Cup already out on the ice as the Bruins and Rangers shook hands in hockey’s best tradition. No over the top presentations. Just the handshake and Stanley Cup at center ice. I’ve always liked the sportsmanship shown and respect factor after a hard fought series. That’s what separates hockey from the other sports. Not that there aren’t good moments in the other major sports. But it pales in comparison to hockey and soccer where you also see similar congrats exchanged following a big game.
Seeing those Rangers teams battle the Bruins, Blackhawks and Flyers was interesting. Of course, nobody wore a helmet except the goalies by then. You still had guys finishing their checks and some of the fisticuffs we’ve seen. But there seemed to be more of a respect factor. Maybe due to the players playing without helmets. No real careless stick swinging which we see too much of these days. Or predatory hits that cause serious injuries resulting in suspension. It was a different game played in a golden era when expansion had just come in.
I really enjoyed the clips from MSG’s The Vault that featured Al Trautwig, Stan Fischler and even Gilbert himself providing unique commentary on those games and series. You could tell from one segment, he and former teammates weren’t pleased about Francis trading away Hadfield to the Penguins in ’74. But what I liked is how carefully Gilbert chose his words. The epitome of class. He definitely wished he and GAG line mates Hadfield and Ratelle, who would later be traded in the infamous Phil Esposito deal with Boston, could’ve had one more crack at it.
They were very close to winning in ’72. It was the broken ankle to Ratelle, who wasn’t as effective when he returned for the Finals, and the performance by Orr that prevented that Blueshirts team from winning the Cup. He also noted how close they were to beating the Flyers in the ’74 Semifinal. They lost by a goal in seven. He felt they would’ve beaten the Bruins after having handled them in ’73.
This is crushing. Rod Gilbert has passed away. I can’t even explain how much he and his teammates meant to me as a young hockey fan, but Rod was the Rangers and vice versa. So involved with the NY community and a huge star in this town back in the day. A wonderful person. RIP.
This is tough to handle. The Ranger crest was emblazoned on Rod’s heart, and if you ever saw him play you know how big that heart was. He seemed about as happy in 1994 as he would have been had he won the Cup as a player. Hall of Famer in every respect. Proud to have known him. https://t.co/1DMHCytUcr
You really could feel those words. It isn’t so much regret as Gilbert was later quoted as saying even though they didn’t win, he didn’t have any regrets. He retired in 1978 and became the first New York Ranger to have their number retired by the franchise in ’79. Of course several former players before his time deserved that same honor and still do. But that’s not the focus of this post. For that, I recommend friend Sean McCaffrey, whose new book, The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the of Rafters of Madison Square Garden can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com.
I appreciated the video of Gilbert being honored by the Rangers from his jersey retirement ceremony in ’79. The legendary Marv Albert emceed it. Who else would it be? It’s hard to believe his legendary broadcasting career finally came to an end when he called the NBA Eastern Conference Final on TNT. I met Marv once on my first real job when I worked in the city on the Upper West Side over by Columbus Avenue. He was respectful. Of course, I’ve met his son Kenny a few times at games. He’s got a great personality. We all met Gilbert at Rangers functions. I can recall a hot summer day in Greenburgh, NY when they held a meet and greet with fans. It was great. I have a photo with the classy Gilbert from that day. Ditto for Stephane Matteau and Glenn Anderson. It was a fun time.
All photos courtesy MSG Network. The Vault.
As hard a loss as this is for so many fans who loved Gilbert due to how he handled himself off the ice as the Team Ambassador, it gives us an opportunity to pay tribute to how special a person he truly was. Even my Mom was upset calling me up late Sunday night to talk about him. I think that goes to show you how largely popular he is. I say is because Rod Gilbert will always be remembered. He’s a legend. Legends Are Forever. Legends Never Die!
In memory of the great Rod Gilbert. 406 career goals, most in #NYRangers history. Rod endured painful physical aliments early in his career and played with a back brace for much of it. His love of hockey and determination to succeed set Rod apart. RIP #nhlgreatspic.twitter.com/p3m5MdLvmF
The NHL family mourns the passing of Jimmy Hayes, who appeared in over 300 games with the Blackhawks, Panthers, Devils and his hometown Bruins. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. pic.twitter.com/j48KHqcNgP
If it seems like it’s a sad time for hockey fans this week, it is. Particularly for local fans, but it’s one thing for a local legend to retire following a long career after accomplishing nearly everything possible in the NHL, even if it was a health issue that compelled Henrik Lundqvist to retire. It’s another when you’re talking about Rod Gilbert passing away, as tragic as that was thankfully he at least made it to 80. I think we’d all sign up to make it to eighty right now, well at least those of us that aren’t AT or much nearer to that age. It seems that much more senseless, and jarring today to hear about the sudden loss of Jimmy Hayes at just 31 years old. Especially hearing he left behind a wife and two small children who’ll never get to know their dad firsthand.
Hayes played in the NHL in 334 total games over seven seasons, with four different teams including his hometown Bruins. His NHL career ended with thirty-three games right here in New Jersey in 2017-18. I’m not going to pretend he was some beloved figure here, at least not from a fan standpoint. Although he did have at least one shining moment early on as a Devil that I forgot about until I saw it on Twitter:
Opening Day 2017 is best remembered for the debuts/performances of Nico Hischier, Will Butcher and Jesper Bratt…
but it was Jimmy Hayes who scored the GWG and got the Devils rolling towards a Stanley Cup Playoff berth. pic.twitter.com/31RrIBFKnK
Hayes certainly was beloved from a teammate standpoint and by everyone in the hockey community, by all accounts a good man with a sense of humor. Seeing some of the tributes on Twitter today are more heartbreaking. Especially coming from places where you don’t realize there was a connection like with PK Subban, who didn’t play with Hayes in New Jersey but did long before that.
to know him, his brother @kphayes12 and father big kevin and many others in the boston and Dorchester area through my career… I’m hurting for all of you today. We know in life we don’t control when we go, but jimmy was taken far too soon. Sending condolences to big Kevin,
Quite honestly there isn’t much more I can say. I obviously didn’t know the man personally or have any real attachment to him as a hockey fan, but the tributes pouring in all over the Internet from those that did can do his memory more justice than I ever could. You may feel old when guys you grew up watching start passing away, but you feel vulnerable when guys who you watched that are younger than you start doing so. No cause of death was given, all any of us can do is send best wishes to his family and celebrate a life well lived, albeit one far too short.
hasan4978
Derek
Battle Of Hudson 
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