A hint of what’s to come

Posted on September 5, 2019 by Derek

On the official first day of school for most people, the first sneak peek of what’s to come was on display at the Rangers practice facility.

Here is 2018 first round pick Vitali Kravtsov showing off the skating and skill that convinced the Rangers to select him 15 months ago. The Russian forward will be part of an exciting young core that’ll include top pick Kaapo Kakko, Adam Fox along with second-year centers Filip Chytil, Brett Howden and Lias Andersson.

Eventually, Igor Shesterkin will be joining them. That all depends on how Henrik Lundqvist performs along with sophomore Alexandar Georgiev. How much of an adjustment will pro hockey be in North America for the top Rangers goalie prospect? The good news is they don’t have to rush him. Not with Lundqvist signed through 2021. Georgiev is a good insurance policy. The goalie position will be interesting to follow.

It’s strange that they’re so close to having the first rookie prospect tournaments while such big restricted free agents as Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor, Mitch Marner, Brayden Point, Mikko Rantanen, Matthew Tkachuk, Charlie McAvoy, Ivan Provorov and Zach Werenski still don’t have new contracts. To be blunt, it’s not good for the league. Especially when the Coyotes overpay Clayton Keller by inking their leading scorer to a big extension worth an average of $7.1 million per season kicking in for ’20-21.

The aforementioned Group II players are more established stars than Keller, who got paid. Arizona has almost $30 million committed to their defense. They also are slightly over the cap with a couple of unproven players making significant money. And you wonder why the current CBA isn’t working. The NHL is perfectly satisfied with it and won’t opt out. The players aren’t due to issues with the escrow. Something Jonathan Toews alluded to recently.

https://twitter.com/johndietzdh/status/1168517638550708224?s=19

Between that problem and the ridiculous nature of how long it’s taking for teams to get key RFA’s re-signed, there are major concerns going forward. Will the players pay back Gary Bettman and the owners by opting out of the CBA next year? Stay tuned.

In the meantime, let’s try to stay positive about the continued infusion of youth coming into the league. Kakko and Jack Hughes enter for the Rangers and Devils, adding much needed spice to what’s been a dull rivalry. Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar are two young defensemen to watch as part of an exciting rookie class.

There is a lot to like about the direction some teams are going. Youth will indeed be served. The Flyers are banking on Carter Hart to be their starter in net while looking for improvement from former number one pick Nolan Patrick. He will not have as much pressure as big addition Kevin, who’ll be asked to provide consistent offense as their number two pivot behind do everything center Sean Couturier. They have plenty of scoring led by Claude Giroux, Couturier and Jakub Voracek. Alain Vigneault has to like the new situation he’s in. On paper, the Flyers look like a playoff team.

The rebuilt Rangers and Devils are hoping they can compete for the postseason thanks to strong offseasons. P.K. Subban and Wayne Simmonds join up with Hughes to strengthen their chances. Plus former MVP Taylor Hall is healthy and motivated in a contract year. Jacob Trouba and Artemi Panarin are the big additions for the Blueshirts along with Kakko, Fox and possibly Kravtsov. Chris Kreider is still on the roster while Tony DeAngelo and Brendan Lemieux must decide whether to accept their qualifying offers. It would help the cap and they could get paid next summer with good seasons.

Which goalie tandem will do better? The Rangers’ duo of Lundqvist and Georgiev or Devils tandem Cory Schneider and Mackenzie Blackwood.

How much will the loss of captain Justin Williams hurt Carolina? He decided at age 37 to take some time off to be with his family. He’s well respected and a real leader who’s had a very good career. I hope it’s not the last time we see him. Congrats to former Cane Cup hero Cam Ward on a good career. He signed a one day contract and retired a Hurricane.

There will be much more to get to in the coming days. The end of the US Open and beginning of football is when you know hockey’s around the corner. Hopefully, some contracts are signed and things clear up.

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The Great Debate: Jack Hughes vs Kaapo Kakko

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Derek

Devils top pick Jack Hughes is the future of the franchise. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

As we finally approach the end of a long August that feels like an eternity, September means hockey is around the corner. After a whole lot of nothing aside from unsigned players and organizations posturing due to the dysfunctional salary cap system, we can now set our sights on the upcoming month that will include Rookie Prospect Tournaments, training camp, preseason and final rosters.

So while other teams and their pricey Group II free agents scramble to get deals done, the primary focus in the metropolitan area is one of great anticipation and excitement. The Devils will feature top pick Jack Hughes while the Hudson rival Rangers will star second pick Kaapo Kakko.

It truly is a new chapter in the Hudson Rivalry. Two franchise players who can change the dynamic for both franchises by making them relevant again. It might not happen right away. Even with the Newark and Manhattan side adding key pieces to their brand new toys, the playoffs are far from a certainty.

Believe me, P.K. Subban adds a lot of pizzazz to what’s been a bland rivalry since Martin Brodeur left New Jersey. There hasn’t been this kind of buzz since Marty battled Henrik Lundqvist in the 2012 Eastern Conference Final. One I’d rather forget. For Hasan, it was a moment the Devils and Brodeur had waited for. Even if it didn’t result in the ultimate prize, they got revenge thanks to Adam Henrique. Ironically, Doc Emrick had the call.

Even though Lundqvist won the Vezina and would later guide the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup appearance in 20 years, it didn’t have a happy ending. They suffered a similar fate to the hated Kings that the Devils did. I think ours was more cruel due to the blown leads and overtime futility at the obnoxious Staples Center. Has there ever been a more annoying arena? I don’t need to hear Cartman scream, “Go Kings Go,” a zillion times.

Fast forward five years later and 2014 feels like a lifetime ago. What’s fitting is the Kings stink and are stuck with an aging Ilya Kovalchuk. That has to bring a smile to Hasan’s face. While our teams have the next generation’s stars ready to unleash a new installment between The Rock and MSG a Path Train ride away, Los Angeles will likely be one of the NHL’s worst teams. It couldn’t happen to a nicer franchise.

So, as we move forward to what’s in store this year, let the great debate begin. As I proposed on our new Twitter account, who would you rather have to build around? If you haven’t already, please give us a follow @BattleofHudson and cast your vote. Not that I expect any objective opinions on the two young kids.

How successful will each be in their rookie season? I feel it largely depends on how quickly both Hughes and Kakko adjust to the best hockey league in the world. It also could hinge on who they play with. Here are a couple of hypotheticals.

If Hughes is the number one center for New Jersey, does he play with Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri, or will he slot in on a second line behind Nico Hischier with Nikita Gusev and Wayne Simmonds/Jesper Bratt?

Assuming Mika Zibanejad is the top center, does Kakko find himself on the right wing with Artemi Panarin on the left side, or will he start on the second line with Chris Kreider and Filip Chytil/Ryan Strome?

These are some interesting questions. What about the size difference? Kakko is approximately 6-2, 180 while Hughes is 5-10, 170. How much weight did they put on? Does Kakko’s physical strength make him more NHL ready? Or does that really matter in today’s speed oriented game geared towards creative players like Hughes?

The Rangers are excited about second pick Kaapo Kakko. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy lohoud.com.

It’s sure to be a healthy debate for years. With both on opposite sides of the spectrum in a heightened rivalry, they’ll be compared. It’s what fans and media do. Even if it is unfair, that’s what happens when two players of this magnitude go 1-2 and get thrown into the fire literally.

Don’t forget they’re teenagers. It might not come right away. Both teams had good offseasons to improve their chances in a very competitive Metropolitan Division. The Capitals, Islanders, Penguins, Hurricanes and Blue Jackets all made the playoffs last season. Only Columbus could suffer a serious drop off due to key departures. The other four teams should all be good. Factor in the expected improvement of the Flyers and it’s a tough division to call.

How much will Subban and Wayne Simmonds add to the Devils? Is Gusev another Panarin? Only time shall tell.

What about Jacob Trouba? How much impact can he have on the Rangers defensively? How good is Adam Fox and what about Vitali Kravtsov? If you go down the line and include Chytil, Brett Howden, Lias Andersson and Libor Hajek, the Blueshirts are the younger roster with more question marks.

The Devils have more proven commodities such as Blake Coleman, Travis Zajac, Andy Greene, Sami Vatanen and Damon Severson. Will Butcher already has two years under his belt too. Questions remain with key role players such as Bratt, Miles Wood, Pavel Zacha, Joey Anderson and Mike McLeod. Adding proven character vets Subban and Simmonds should solidify them.

Both clubs have similar questions in goal. For now, each should go with proven veterans. On Broadway, that’s Lundqvist. In Newark, it’s Cory Schneider, who might have to fend off a serious challenge from Mackenzie Blackwood. Lundqvist can be managed due to Alexandar Georgiev. But Georgiev must perform adequately or perhaps Igor Shesterkin plays himself into the conversation. However, it’s unrealistic to expect a guy who flourished for one of the KHL’s best teams in St. Petersburg SKA to jump right in when the situation is very different along with the game.

If you could select one player, who would it be and why? Is it the American in Hughes with the boyish looks and charm that looks like a home run as a franchise center? Or is it the power forward in the Finnish Kakko, who can dominate shifts by playing a similar style to one of the game’s greats in Jaromir Jagr?

Let the heated debates commence.

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September is almost here! So is hockey.

Posted on August 24, 2019 by Derek

It’s a wonderful Saturday morning in the land of the forgotten borough of Staten Island in the Big Apple. I drove around past Richmond Town to my favorite old bagel spot that I used to frequent some 26 years ago in high school.

Ah. The good old days of Staten Island Tech. When the autumn wind blew the beautifully colored leaves around as they crackled like Rice Krispies as I walked from the S74 bus stop a few blocks to school.

That’s the kind of day it is. Mid 60’s going up to 75 with little humidity. A classic Fall day a month early. It is the final week of what feels like the longest August in recent memory. Maybe it’s due to the long offseason. I have no idea. Or quite possibly the ridiculousness of so many big name restricted free agents still unsigned. Patrik Laine. Kyle Connor. Mikko Rantanen. Matthew Tkachuk. Mitch Marner. Zach Werenski. Charlie McAvoy. Ivan Provorov.

You get the silly idea. It’s ludicrous. That’s what the salary cap has done. Teams don’t know how to properly spend money. They are mostly irresponsible and spend recklessly. The cap hasn’t solved anything. The Rangers are banking on Tony DeAngelo and Brendan Lemieux to accept their qualifying offers for the good of the team. If they each do, both can play for better contracts next summer and become arbitration eligible.

So, what should we be looking forward to? That maybe these contract impasses will cease. I still am building in anticipation of what the Maple Leafs plan to do with Marner. Toronto is so easy to mock. They gave John Tavares all that money and still couldn’t escape the first round by falling to pieces in Game Seven at archival Boston. When are the Leafs gonna win a playoff round? There will be lots of pressure.

There hasn’t been much going on. Old buddy Derick Brassard found a new home with the Islanders after passing up the Oilers (shocker). So, Big Game Brass goes to Brooklyn and Long Island on a cheap one-year deal for $1.2 million. Can he get his career back on track? It’s a decent fit. He can slot in behind Mat Barzal and Brock Nelson as the third line center, replacing Valtteri Filppula. Brassard went from a clutch postseason performer with the Rangers to a NHL nomad. He went from Ottawa to Pittsburgh to Florida and then Colorado in record fashion. Now, it’s the Islanders for team number five over two years. Not even.

Remember when the Blueshirts gave him that five-year, $25 million contract? What happened? What about that monster Game Six when he went off in a blowout at Tampa to stave off elimination? It’s hard to believe that was only four years ago. It was a cruel ending to that team and they let Alain Vigneault have one more kick at the can. His infamous words. If only they had beaten Brassard and the Senators in 2016. Mika Zibanejad was in his first year here. Jeff Gorton’s best trade.

So, what is there to get excited about? No. I’m not going Gaga over third jerseys returning to Broadway. Even if it’s Liberty ones. Please not the cheesy white. Did anyone get a look at the awful uniforms baseball teams are wearing this weekend? The oddest color white and by far the ugliest black jersey I’ve ever seen. Complete with nicknames. Unless you’re Brett Gardner. He just wants to let the umpires know who he is. Kidding. Those are hideous.

I never cared much for alternate jerseys. Put me down as a classic home white and road blue for the Rangers. Yes. It’s time to ditch the color jersey back for the more traditional white at home. I know the Ducks are gonna have those cool Mighty Ducks logo jerseys for select games. Are the Sharks gonna rock those awesome road turquoise blue with that fancy logo? Let’s hope so. The Canucks are bringing back their best jerseys. The ultra cool 90’s with the kickass logo. Those were the best. Think Pavel Bure flying down the ice and burying one for a highlight reel goal. Go look at some of his numbers for goal breakdown on even strength and power play in different seasons. There was no one like the Russian Rocket.

It’s a real bummer about Evgeny Kuznetsov. Sure. He won’t face any discipline for testing positive for cocaine at the 2019 World Championships. However, good on the IIHF to suspend him four years from representing Russia in international play. He has sought help from the NHL Substance Abuse and Recovery program. A good step. Let’s hope for his sake, he makes a full recovery. Cocaine is dangerous. Kuzy’s production was way down last year. It didn’t make sense. Now, we might have an idea why. He denied rumors that he did coke. Now, he’s admitted it and taken responsibility. Best wishes to him in his recovery.

It’s weird for me because it takes me back to the Theo Fleury days. Those were chaotic times for the Blueshirts. He punched the Sharks mascot after getting tossed out of a game. I can still remember quite well meeting him at a book signing and reading the heavy details of his epic struggle which stemmed from being sexually abused as a preteen. It’s still disgusting and sickens me. Fleury could have been another statistic, but he didn’t pull the trigger. Instead, he turned his life around and wrote two great books, did multiple interviews and finally spoke out. He truly is someone I admire. It took tremendous courage. I’m glad he is such a great advocate for mental health.

Fleury still belongs in the Hockey Hall of Fame. I know he will probably never get in due to how it derailed. He doesn’t need it. He’s already one in my book. And you know how political those things are anyway. Alexander Mogilny and Jeremy Roenick are still waiting. So is Curtis Joseph. So yeah.

I’m really looking forward to hockey. The excitement of prospect tournaments with both the Rangers and Devils boasting some of the game’s best young players is great. Then training camp and preseason. It’s going to be fun again for the Hudson Rivalry.

That’s all for now. Enjoy the baseball and football. Yes. Football is back tonight. I’m holding out hope for my Hurricanes that they’ll surprise me at Florida. Chop up the Gators!

God bless Michael Irvin! 😁😂

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RIP Rob Zee (LiasTheGoat)

Posted on August 17, 2019 by Derek

The Rangers community has lost another diehard fan. A few months following the passing of Stephen Curatolo (stephennyr89), another passionate fan of the Blueshirts has passed away.

Rob Zee, better known to Twitter as LiasTheGoat, is no longer with us. A good guy who wore his emotions on his sleeves, Rob was truly a pleasure to interact with. His loyalty was unquestioned and when he debated you, he always supported his arguments with the same vigor you would expect.

As recently as July 1, he let everyone know how he was doing. But still tweeted his enthusiasm for a Rangers off-season that included Kaapo Kakko, Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba and as he predicted, Artemi Panarin. I think maybe Curatolo brought them luck along with Steven McDonald in winning the lottery to land Kakko with the number two pick.

What I liked most about Rob is he let you know how he felt. He never pulled any punches. No matter the topic, you always were entertained by @LiasTheGoat. He had a good sense of humor. Something that’s not always common these days on social media. Here is one of my favorites:

Can you only imagine what his thoughts were on Kevin Hayes winding up in Philadelphia under Alain Vigneault? It’s too bad we’ll never get to see his tweet on that subject. But I can only imagine it being hard hitting and full of sarcasm. For that reason, I can’t help but chuckle.

Like everyone on May 10, he sent out his thoughts on the loss of Stephen 🙏. Deep down, I know the both of them are watching above sharing a beer and discussing the palpable excitement for the upcoming Rangers season.

When friend Madison Miller told me about Rob’s loss, I was truly saddened by the news. All I can think of is why. It truly sucks. I feel like Madison summed it up best.

It’s ironic. We all complain about petty nonsense. Compared to what both Stephen and Rob faced, our issues pale in comparison. I guess it’s true what Billy Joel said in his hit song. “Only the good die young.”

That was his take after the President’s Trophy winning Lightning were swept by the eighth seeded Blue Jackets. It couldn’t have been more appropriate. My bracket was extinct by the time the Avalanche eliminated the Flames in the same first round. I laughed about it. He was also right about upsets. They happen. If they didn’t, Virginia wouldn’t have become the first one seed to lose to a 16 in 2018. They bounced back to win their first ever national championship a year later.

It’s hard to believe two of the best Ranger fans have been taken from us. All in just over three months. It’s very mind numbing and shocking. I’m sure the Rangers organization will do something for Curatolo, who was everywhere at MSG despite being in and out of the hospital while battling cancer.

My only hope is that the team honors both by having a good season. How I wish they could be here to see it. I still miss Stephen’s tweets. Likewise for Rob.

You are both sorely missed. But let’s remember one thing. Your fighting spirit isn’t gone. That will last forever. 💜😢

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Realistic Expectations for the New York Rangers

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Derek

The word realistic is something that most Blueshirt fans don’t go by. Of course, there’s a lot of enthusiasm based on an exciting off-season.

Why shouldn’t we be excited? I’m not going to be a Debbie downer here. I’m looking forward to training camp, preseason and of course October 3 at home versus the Winnipeg Jets 49 days away. We all are.

The hot summer has been long and feels even longer for some reason. When your team doesn’t make the playoffs for a second straight year, that means no hockey for six months. Yikes. Sure. I still watched most of the postseason even though it frustrated me. Damn idiotic rule changes leading to controversial rulings. Plus the Blues winning the Cup over the Bruins didn’t really excite me. As nice as it was for St. Louis, eh.

I don’t care. It’s better than a Boston team winning again. The summer has been nice from that standpoint. With the Yankees emphatically sweeping all four games a couple of weeks ago, the Red Sox look cooked like a good summer barbecue. It’s all about October in the Bronx. There could even be meaningful baseball in Queens given the weak state of the wildcard in the Senior Circuit.

Alright. Enough baseball talk. This is a hockey blog covering the Hudson Rivalry. Today, it’s the Rangers side as September draws nearer. What follows will be rookie prospect tournaments, camp and competition for roster spots with exhibition games.

So, what should we expect? We are still waiting on Tony DeAngelo to re-sign and for the Rangers and Brendan Lemieux to reach agreement. If they come cheap, they’ll be able to fit everyone in.

That includes much discussed Chris Kreider. The power forward has a year left on his contract before he can test free agency next July. Team President John Davidson recently commented that he expected Kreider to be in camp. A positive development. Who knows if he’s in their long-term plans?

If they start the season with Kreider behind Artemi Panarin at left wing, that’s encouraging. Especially when the right side will feature Kaapo Kakko and Pavel Buchnevich in the top six. At least, that’s how I am projecting them. I’m not gonna get into lines yet. It’s too early.

We still don’t know who will become the second line center. There’ll be an interesting competition with Filip Chytil and Ryan Strome likely to battle it out. As versatile as he is, I’d prefer Strome on right wing if he isn’t traded.

Most pundits are writing off Lias Andersson. Believing the 2017 first round pick will be part of a numbers game, it’s almost like they’ve already decided that the 20-year old pivot is a bust. It’s way too early for that. Not long ago, DeAngelo looked like a bust before rebounding under coach David Quinn to become a regular on the back end. Now, that trade of Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta doesn’t look so bad. Let’s see what Andersson shows us next month. Rangers brass will decide what’s best for him. Not impatient fans.

Center is crowded. After top pivot Mika Zibanejad, you have Chytil, Strome, Andersson, Brett Howden and Boo Nieves all capable of playing there. If you slide Strome to right wing, then it’s four young players competing for three starting slots. Besides, Jesper Fast isn’t a top nine forward. He’s best suited for the fourth line with Lemieux and whoever centers it.

Left wing still includes Vladislav Namestnikov. He of the immovable $4 million salary that expires in 2020. Truth be told, Namestnikov became a consistent checking forward under Quinn, who used him at even strength, the power play and penalty kill. With an increase of talent coming in, Namestnikov won’t have to play power play.

The interesting dynamic at right wing is what happens if 2018 top pick Vitali Kravtsov is ready. You can’t play him on the fourth line. That would be a total waste. They don’t want to make the same mistake they did with Andersson. Kravtsov has superb skill and a good ceiling as a scoring forward. The key is not to rush him. If he proves he’s ready, fine. It’s a good problem to have.

The defense should improve thanks to key addition Jacob Trouba. Arguably a Top 25 defenseman due to his combination of skating, physicality and offensive capability, he should really help out Brady Skjei on the projected top pair. Don’t expect 50 points. This isn’t Winnipeg. That’s what I mean by realistic.

I don’t want to put too much weight of expectations on rookie Adam Fox. We need to see it first in camp. He definitely has the potential to become a top four offensive defenseman who can play power play. The key word being potential. Remember Matt Gilroy? I know. Don’t compare them. I’m not. I just don’t want to be overly enthusiastic yet.

If the right side is expected to be Trouba, DeAngelo and Fox, the left side remains spotty. After Skjei is veteran leader Marc Staal, who knows how to play the position despite the criticism. He primarily is used five-on-five and on the penalty kill. His minutes can be managed. When the analytics crowd point to his low Corsi, don’t forget his starts. He’s used mostly in the defensive zone. Trouba and Skjei should be counted on more for that. But Staal isn’t going to have his usage increase offensively. It doesn’t make sense. Having a good skating partner in DeAngelo or possibly Fox should help.

Third pair remains a question mark. Assuming it’s Libor Hajek’s to lose, he only has five games of NHL experience. Ryan Lindgren also has five. Yegor Rykov has none with him coming over from Russia. Veteran Brendan Smith is a solid veteran with needed experience if necessary. Nothing wrong with that. They can either keep him up or shuttle him back and forth from Hartford. Don’t forget the kids can be sent down.

I expect the defense to be an area that doesn’t get off to a good start. It could improve as the season goes on. There will be a learning curve. That’s what Kevin Shattenkirk leaves behind. I’m sure he’s extremely happy to be in Tampa. You know he’ll get on the score sheet against the Rangers in one of the three games. It always happens.

As for goalie, it’s status quo for now. Henrik Lundqvist is the starter with Alexandar Georgiev expected to back up. Unless top goalie prospect Igor Shesterkin blows the coaching staff away, he’ll likely start in Hartford. How things play out remains to be seen.

The undeniable fact is at 37, Lundqvist isn’t what he once was. That’s not a criticism. It’s based on recent performance. In order to change the perception, he’ll need to get off to a good start and sustain it. That means consistency. Something that’s been an issue. He can be managed due to Georgiev, who proved to be a good second option in his rookie year. Now, Georgie must show he can do it again. Especially with Shesterkin lurking.

A lot can change in the next two years at the goalie position. Keep a watchful eye on the situation.

Expectations are up due to adding skill types in Panarin and second overall pick Kakko, who projects as a franchise player. The offense should be more fun to watch. Especially if the Bread Man rips it up as he did in Chicago and Columbus. Zibanejad to Panarin should be riveting. The power play could be intriguing. But it’s worth nothing most of the Bread Man’s production has come at even strength. A good thing for a team that’s struggled at five-on-five.

If Kreider is back, you have two scoring lines that should create more balance. Quinn can try both Kakko and Buchnevich on the top line and see what the better combination is. Don’t forget Kreider had instant chemistry with Zibanejad. But he has proven he can play with other centers. Buchnevich hasn’t.

Depending on the maturation of young players like Chytil, Howden and Andersson, that will go a long way to where the Rangers wind up. Especially in a competitive Metro Division where the Flyers and Devils have improved. Only the Blue Jackets look like they could be worse due to the departures of Panarin, Sergei Bobrovsky (Fla), Matt Duchene (Nsh) and Ryan Dzingel (Car).

I won’t get into point total yet. Let’s wait and see where we are in a month. There are still big restricted free agents that remain unsigned. The only thing I’ll conclude is that the Blueshirts should top 80 points. Where they finish I’m still uncertain.

After tonight, 48 days will remain until the home opener. Business is about to pick up!

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Devils Mascot triggers Rangers fans with playful tweet

Posted on August 12, 2019 by Derek

An Agent of Chaos: Like Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight, the chaos has returned to Gotham between Devil and Ranger fans. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy Pinterest.

These days on social media can turn into a complete circus literally. Or a clown show. It doesn’t take much for things to unravel or escalate on Twitter. No matter what the topic is, it can spiral out of control quickly.

As someone who shares a Hudson Rivalry blog with a diehard Devils fan in Hasan, I don’t mind the chaos that comes with it. Besides, my favorite character is the late Heath Ledger’s Joker from the memorable 2008 hit movie The Dark Knight. He was an “Agent of Chaos,” like he told Harvey Dent after visiting him in the epic hospital scene below.

So, yesterday the official Twitter account of the Devils Mascot triggered Rangers fans. Such is chaotic life in a once dead rivalry that’s about to get a huge jolt this Fall.

Ironically, NJDevil was responding to a tweet from the New York Rangers that tweaked former Islanders goalie Robin Lehner after the clowns at the NHL royally screwed up by putting Rangers instead of Islanders on his 2018-19 Bill Masterton Trophy.

Predictably, the Devils Mascot tweaked the Garden Faithful by indicating that is the only thing “you’ve won in a while.”

Well played. Even if the Devils have only made the playoffs once since their run in 2012, they still have bragging rights as far as success this century. Sure. 2003 is in the rear window. But let’s face facts. The goal for the Rangers is to win a Cup. They made runs in the Henrik Lundqvist Era with the sting of 2014 still fresh along with the sour ending to 2015.

If the Devils’ last two championships (’00, 03) are a while ago, then the Rangers’ lone Cup victory in ’94 feels like forever. They commemorated the 25-Year Anniversary last February in a excellent ceremony that included a preclude of John Davidson returning along with a very well stated speech from The Captain, Mark Messier. It was a great night with some nostalgia. The Garden felt like it used to.

Nobody on either side of The Rivalry can predict what will happen. It’s great to have bright young players who should become future stars for each franchise. Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko will be closely watched by everyone. The first and second picks in the 2019 NHL Draft will be under the radar in the backdrop of a unique rivalry that has New York City and New Jersey front and center. Newark and Broadway.

It’s perfect. So too are lightning rod PK Subban and Jacob Trouba with each expected to give a significant boost to the respective rivals’ bluelines. Subban is the larger than life personality the Devils have lacked. He has much to prove after getting moved for a second time over three summers. Hard to fathom. Trouba is the more quiet and younger defenseman who the Rangers are banking on to address their right side. We’ll see how he adjusts from Winnipeg to playing in the Big Apple.

There’s a lot to like about both teams. As we draw closer to September, the excitement on both sides of the Hudson is palpable. With it has come the trash talk we haven’t seen in quite some time.

I’ll admit to amusement seeing this kind of intensity between fans. So much of that had disappeared due to how down the teams have been. Taylor Hall did have a special Hart season in ’17-18 by carrying the Devils back to the postseason before getting eliminated in five games by the Lightning. Then an injury riddled ’18-19 robbed him and turned New Jersey into a very bad team that landed Hughes with the top pick.

Ironically, the Rangers won the lottery by moving up into the top three and landing Kakko at number two. Something very unexpected. Don’t forget the Devils couldn’t drop lower than three. The Rangers have missed the playoffs the past two seasons, going from one of the better teams that made the postseason to a rebuilding club looking to return to respectability. They’re hoping both Trouba and pricey Russian star forward Artemi Panarin can lift them back into contention.

Only time will tell. For now, I’ll reiterate what I said this morning in this tweet response.

https://twitter.com/Kovy274Hart/status/1160923120582234112?s=19

https://twitter.com/Kovy274Hart/status/1160923642374557696?s=19

We have a lot to look forward to. Let’s embrace it!

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Oops! NHL screws up Lehner’s Masterton Trophy

Posted on August 10, 2019 by Derek

There are mistakes and then there are MISTAKES. Robin Lehner received his Masterton Trophy. Unfortunately, there was a big boo-boo by the NHL. Here is the Oops moment of the day.

I’m familiar with jersey fouls. But this right here is a trophy no no. Mixing up the Rangers for the Islanders is flat out disrespect no matter how you slice it. Especially when Lehner helped carry the Islanders to the second round of the playoffs.

He might not be a New York Islander anymore. But Lehner’s perseverance and dedication overcoming off ice issues were recognized at the NHL Awards in June. He also finished third for the Vezina.

It’s hard to believe Lehner’s Masterton Trophy says New York Rangers on it instead of New York Islanders. If you’re on the Long Island and Brooklyn side of the rivalry, you’re probably up in arms.

At least some fans have a good sense of humor about it. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday.

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Upset Shattenkirk lands with Lightning

Posted on August 5, 2019 by Derek

It didn’t take long for Kevin Shattenkirk to wind up with another team. Is it really a surprise that the former Ranger landed in Tampa with the Lightning? It’s where most wind up.

Rangers South has been home to Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi, J.T. Miller, Anton Stralman and is still where Ryan McDonagh plays. With the prior four gone, it was time for the Lightning to refill their allotment. So, they signed the recently bought out Shattenkirk for a year at $1.75 million. A low risk move for the veteran right defenseman, who can slide in on the third pair without any pressure.

He wasn’t happy about being bought out. That’s understandable. But the prideful 30-year old New Rochelle native didn’t blame the Rangers for how he wound up the odd man out off his favorite team. He took responsibility.

He wasn’t pleased with his performance in a short lived two years on Broadway. Injuries didn’t help. After playing in only 46 games in ’17-18 with five goals and 18 assists, Shattenkirk went 2-26-28 over 73 contests in ’18-19. He never found his footing after signing a big four-year contract worth an average cap hit of $6.65 million. The offensive defenseman didn’t produce the way the club envisioned. He struggled defensively going a combined minus-29 over two seasons.

When he was bought out last week, it was due to how much the Blueshirts would save for the upcoming season. They save over five million in ’19-20. That outweighs the six million of dead space for ’20-21. Combined with Girardi and Ryan Spooner, that’s over six million of retained salary for this season.

Citing the rebuild in an interview on The Athletic with Tampa reporter Joe Smith, Shattenkirk admitted that it wasn’t the best fit. Things sure changed. When he arrived, McDonagh was his teammate along with Miller, Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello. But ’17-18 was so bad that the organization committed to a rebuild.

The rest is history. Now, Shattenkirk joins one of the league’s best teams in hopes of winning a Stanley Cup. The Lightning still have yet to re-sign Brayden Point. Once they do, they’ll again be considered the favorites. With a talented nucleus that features Hart winner Nikita Kucherov, Vezina winner Andrei Vasilevskiy, Victor Hedman, Steven Stamkos, McDonagh and Tyler Johnson, the Bolts will look to put last Spring’s bitter first round disappointment behind them.

We’ll see how Shattenkirk does in his new home. It should be a better fit.

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Rangers buyout of Shattenkirk changes things

Posted on July 31, 2019 by Derek

Nobody knew when the buyout period started. Apparently, it’s not until after salary arbitration concludes.

That doesn’t matter now. The Rangers have decided to buyout Kevin Shattenkirk. Hot tip from New York Post beat writer Brett Cyrgalis.

He tweeted it out over an hour ago. We knew that it was a possibility. I wasn’t in favor of doing it. Especially given the dead cap space the Rangers will have moving forward. However, his cap hit of $6.65 million was pricey considering how much he struggled his first two years coming home.

For the upcoming ’19-20 season, the Rangers retain $1.48 million in salary. That becomes over six million for ’20-21 before going back to $1.48 million for ’21-22 and ’22-23. The club still has Dan Girardi on the books with $3.61 million of retained salary this season. It’s $1.11 million the next three seasons.

By buying out Shattenkirk, the Rangers basically are stuck in a dicey situation. Unable to move Vladislav Namestnikov due to his $4 million price tag, it looks like it’s a foregone conclusion that key power forward Chris Kreider could be dealt. His $4.625 million AAV in the final year is a bargain for a capable player, who’ll attract plenty of suitors next summer. Losing him would really hurt. But that’s the cost of doing business the way the Blueshirts have.

If Kreider goes, GM Jeff Gorton should be able to get a good return for one of his most valuable players. But interested teams know it’ll be as a one year rental with no guarantee he’ll sign an extension. I still believe the Avalanche would have interest if they can fit him in. They just went long-term with young defenseman Samuel Girard, investing an average of $5 million over seven years. That doesn’t kick in until 2020-21. They still must sign key restricted free agent Mikko Rantanen. With still over $16 million in cap space, Colorado could be a possible destination for Kreider.

Here’s the thing. With Shattenkirk bought out, Gorton only has to re-sign Tony DeAngelo and Brendan Lemieux. It shouldn’t put them that far over the $81.5 million upper limit. Maybe they can get creative by designating Brendan Smith to Hartford and finding just enough wiggle room to keep Kreider for now.

As far as how I feel, I didn’t want to see Shattenkirk go. I thought the cap hit and dead salary was too much. Plus I would’ve preferred to keep the veteran as insurance. They don’t know how ready Adam Fox is. I guess they figure it’s worth it because it was very likely that Shattenkirk wouldn’t have much of a role due to the Fox addition and big acquisition of Jacob Trouba. Especially if they are keeping DeAngelo after he showed promise in ’18-19 despite some off ice issues that coach David Quinn addressed. Hopefully, he keeps his head screwed on straight.

With K’Andre Miller a year away with prospects Libor Hajek, Ryan Lindgren and Yegor Rykov all competing for roster spots in training camp, the future is bright for New York’s blueline. Nils Lundkvist will need more time. He sustained a lower body injury a few days ago in a game for Sweden in the World Junior Showcase. Hopefully, it’s not serious.

On what’s been a strange day due to the very perplexing baseball trade deadline coming and going with the Yankees predictably doing nothing while the Astros landed Zack Greinke, I’m a little bit frustrated. Oh well. If my baseball team can’t get it done this October, hockey’s around the corner.

Things are looking up for the Devils after their smart move trading for Nikita Gusev. His skill set looks eerily similar to our $11.6 million star Artemi Panarin. If the $4.5 million AAV GM Ray Shero risked over two years is worth it, it’s the Devils who had the best offseason.

There are sure to be many arguments and heated debates in bars and at the games with the Hudson Rivalry renewed. Between who’s better between Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko, along with Trouba vs PK Subban, and now Panarin vs Gusev, both the Devils and Rangers are going to be interesting. They’ve both improved while the Islanders haven’t.

To be honest, the Metro Division should be unpredictable and very exciting. I’ll have more on that in the days to come as we hit August. Only a month to go!

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Devils strike again with Gusev trade

Posted on July 29, 2019 by hasan4978

Last week the Devils formally welcomed offseason acquisition P.K. Subban to New Jersey, and at one of the pressers both coach John Hynes and owner Joshua Harris alluded to more moves still to come.  While adding Subban in trade, Wayne Simmonds in free agency, Jack Hughes in the draft and likely promoting Ty Smith to a starting role on D are all positive things, clearly the Devils needed to add even another big piece or two to really cement this offseason’s work.

Enter highly regarded KHL winger Nikita Gusev, after word came down the pike via the rumor mill this afternoon that the Devils were close to acquiring his rights from Vegas and had already asked permission to work out a contract over the weekend.  Eventually the trade was confirmed as official – Gusev to the Devils for a 2nd round pick (2021) and 3rd round pick (2020), along with the terms of the contract – two years at $4.5 million AAV.  And he’ll be wearing #97, if you care about that.  Credit to The Hockey Writers’ Dan Rice who broke the story first on Twitter and had the details of the trade exactly correct, as it turned out.

While I’ve been paying attention to the Gusev rumors I didn’t really want to look at what this guy was doing unless we actually did wind up trading for him.  Clearly his numbers in the KHL suggest he should be an impact top six forward at the NHL level but it’s always impossible to tell how one league translates to another.  At least the trade and contract cost makes the risk ridiculously low.

Notably absent from Subban welcome weekend a few days ago was GM Ray Shero.  Not that anyone really cared at the time, but guess now we know why – since he was finalizing the Gusev deal, as it turned out.  After years of frustratingly unused cap space and missed opportunities, Shero’s hitting this offseason out of the park making multiple difference-making adds to the team at less than prohibitive cost, adding an entire line and d-pairing to last year’s team with Gusev, Hughes, Simmonds, Subban and including Ty Smith.

What pray tell, does this mean for franchise keystone Taylor Hall?  Understandably he wanted to see what was in store for the franchise in a key offseason after last year’s dissapointing slide.  While clearly Shero subscribes to the Lou school of ‘when you have time, use it’, it would be far more ideal to have the Hall situation resolved before camp in a few weeks.  Extending Hall and recent #1 overall Nico Hischier would make this the ideal offseason for Shero.

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