Lotto Recap: Terrific Tuesday

Posted on April 9, 2019 by hasan4978

Well I’ve had some interesting birthdays as a Devils fan…the two I remember most vividly until tonight were when we lost to the Rangers ironically enough in Game #1 of the 2008 playoffs at home, a bad birthday to be sure.  My other vivid Devil fan birthday memory was a few years back when we played Fan Appreciation against the Leafs and it was thought to be a passing of the torch from a Czech legend (Patrik Elias) to the prince in waiting (Pavel Zacha) at the end of the 2015-16 season.  Albeit that was a meaningless game, but still a nice memory as one of my all-time favorite Devils went out on a spectacular note.  Tonight’s hilarity – and that’s really the emotion I’m feeling right now – tops all that.

Honestly I was prepared for the worst tonight.  After all, the Devils had already won two lotteries against the odds, in 2011 jumping four spots from #8 to #4 and drafting Adam Larsson, eventually flipping him for the now self-proclaimed lottery ball specialist Taylor Hall.  Why lottery ball specialist?  When he was in Edmonton, they won multiple lotteries to get the top pick in the draft (including Hall himself), and once again in 2017 after joining the Devils when they moved up from #5 to #1 to draft Nico Hischier.  You would think we were due for some bad luck and it certainly seemed that way when first the Hawks, then the Rangers of all teams jumped into the top three.  It seemed we were about to pay the piper in a big way.

But nobody circles the lottery wagons like Taylor Hall!

Once again Devil fans got a last-minute surprise in the lotto when the Kings drew the fifth slot, signaling the Devils had in fact won one of the three lotteries and were now in the top three with the Blackhawks and rival Rangers.  Visions of 2017 started dancing around in my head…was this really going to come down to us and one of our bitter rivals again for the #1 pick?!  Indeed it did as the Blackhawks’ card was drawn first after the commercial break.  Then when the Devils card came up I just broke out laughing, quite literally.  I didn’t even listen to the TV interview with GM Ray Shero, I was too busy texting a couple of friends and just laughing at the absurdity of it all.

And sure you can’t really accuse the lotteries of being fixed, although I’m sure some bitter fans of other NHL teams will wonder why we keep winning lotteries all of a sudden.  Still, it’s interesting that karma was once again rewarded as it seems so often to be during these NHL lottos.  Chicago was in the playoff chase till the final weeks after a bad start that got longtime coach Joel Quenneville fired, and while I’m not thrilled a still talented team will get a top three pick I’ll take it all things considered.  Say what you will about both the Devils’ and Rangers’ seasons, but they played hard most of the time despite talent and experience deficiencies, each winning games down the stretch that could have screwed their odds but in the end actually helped them in this weighted randomness that is the NHL lottery.

I wasn’t kidding a while back when I said in one of Derek’s blogs that I thought the Rangers had a real shot of winning the lottery.  It just seems to be the new norm now that a team outside the bottom three wins.  In fact of the four years of the current lotto system no more than one team in the bottom three has actually wound up with a top three pick in any of those lotteries, and in this lotto it was only the 3rd-worst Devils that wound up with a top three pick.  In the Hischier lottery they finished 5th from the bottom but like this year actually had the best odds of any of the three teams in the bottom three.

With what appears to be a clear top pick in Jack Hughes and a clear #2 in Kaapo Kaako (both forwards), the Battle of the Hudson is set to heat up again in a big way after a dull 2018-19 between the two rivals.  Just like Nico vs. Nolan forever linked the top two picks of the 2017 draft so will Hughes vs. Kaako be linked in 2019, both by their draft position and the fact they’ll be on rival teams for years to come.  I’m not going to get into a full draft preview or comparison even though it’s almost certain both of these players will be in the top two.  As we learned from 2017, the top pick at the beginning of the process isn’t always the top pick at the end of it since if you asked the majority of Devil fans on the night of that lottery win they would have expected to be taking Nolan Patrick, the consensus #1 pick for the previous eighteen months.

And just like 2017 while it stinks the Rangers will also be getting a very good player, the trade-off is worth it.  Not to mention having to wait nearly an hour to find out the result with the lottery ostensibly starting at 8, although unlike most of the viewers I’d gotten a heads up that the first half hour was going to be a playoff preview so I refused to turn on the coverage till 8:30.  Winning the lottery changes everything for the Devils, needless to say.  Having our top two centers for the forseeable future being Nico and Hughes, or adding a guy like Kaako to a top six that could use another power winger is a potential game-changer and yet another enticer for Hall to sign long-term this summer.  Not to mention a potential enticer for free agents, and spur for Shero to make more moves to get this team into consistent contender mode.

 

Posted in Battle Of Hudson, Devils, NYRangers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Rangers hoping to punch their ticket

Posted on April 9, 2019 by Derek

USA prospect Jack Hughes is considered the ultimate prize in this year’s NHL Lottery. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy Sporting News.

Tonight at 8 PM, the NHL Draft Lottery takes place in Toronto. The festivities can be seen on NBCSN. Fifteen teams that missed the playoffs will all have a chance to win it. Of course, the higher you are, the better the odds.

I’m not gonna rehash the whole thing. It’s pointless. The Rangers are sixth with a 7.5 percent chance of punching their ticket. Since the NHL Draft came into existence, they’ve never had the first overall pick.

History hasn’t been kind. See 2005. I still can’t believe they fell from fourth down to number 16 before moving up to take Marc Staal at number 12. The famed Crosby Draft that was gifted to the Penguins, saving their franchise from possibly leaving Pittsburgh for Kansas City.

Even when they had a high draft pick, former GM Neil Smith took Pavel Brendl at number four. A huge bust who at least was packaged to the Flyers for Eric Lindros. He also traded with Calgary to select Jamie Lundmark in the same ’99 Draft that cost Marc Savard. Holy moly.

There have been other swings and misses. Glen Sather took Al Montoya at number six in ’04 when they had Henrik Lundqvist. They didn’t know he’d become great. It was right before the lockout. Hugh Jessiman remains the biggest bust in a deep ’03 Draft that still featured Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf, Brent Burns, Corey Perry, Patrice Bergeron and Shea Weber.

The best first round picks by the Rangers have been Staal, Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller, Michael Del Zotto and Brady Skjei. All taken later. It proves that you can find good players even if you don’t pick in the top three.

Regarding tonight, the Avalanche (18.5%), Kings (13.5%) and Devils (11.5%) have the best chances to win the Lottery that features Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko. Here is the rest of the field:

Red Wings (9.5%)

Sabres (8.5%)

Rangers (7.5%)

Oilers (6.5%)

Ducks (6.0%)

Canucks (5.0%)

Flyers (3.5%)

Wild (3.0%)

Blackhawks (2.5%)

Panthers (2.0%)

Coyotes (1.5%)

Canadiens (1.0%)

It’s important to note that the 2019 NHL Draft isn’t just only Hughes or Kakko. They’re considered can’t miss prospects, who can make a big impact. However, with several good players including Vasili Podkolzin, Dylan Cozens, Bowen Byram, Kirby Dach, Alex Turcotte, Trevor Zegras and Arthur Kaliyev, it has the potential to be a deep draft.

When they go live later, they’ll reveal 15 thru 4 first. Then comes the big drama of the top three. At least it won’t be as late as last year. They did the first part during one intermission and the second following another period in the postseason. It didn’t make sense.

It should be better as a stand alone event before the NHL Playoffs kick off tomorrow with four series getting going.

I’m sure I won’t be the only one with an eye on this silly lottery. Hasan’s team has won it before and they are ranked third best. But as he would point out, winning the lottery doesn’t guarantee anything. Look at Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick so far. At least the Devils chose the right player. It’s hard to fathom how Patrick was considered better than Elias Pettersson.

As you can probably tell, I’m not expecting much. The Rangers have never had much luck. In the second straight year without a postseason that has left Lundqvist miserable, it would be nice to at least move into the top three. They have over a 20 percent chance of that happening. It’s more realistic. As long as they don’t drop, I’ll be fine.

Posted in NHL Draft | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NHL Playoffs: First Round and Beyond

Posted on April 8, 2019 by Derek

Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby are only part of the story for the 2019 NHL Playoffs. AP Photo via Getty Images.

As we already know in this space, there’s no playoffs for either the Rangers or Devils for the first time ever. This is the first time since Colorado relocated to New Jersey that that’s happened. It’ll be a quiet Spring for our blog. There’s still tomorrow’s NHL Draft Lottery to tune into on NBCSN.

The 2019 NHL Playoffs will go on without either Hudson rival. It all begins on Wednesday night. That includes the only area local in action with the Islanders hosting the rival Penguins at Nassau Coliseum. It’s one of the more intriguing first round match ups. The Isles have home ice in a series for the first time since ’93.

Rather than bore you with a long drawn out playoff preview, I’ll cut to the chase and make predictions for the first round and beyond.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

First Round Series

(1) Lightning over (8) Blue Jackets in 5

Observation: Too much firepower from loaded Bolts featuring Kucherov, Stamkos, Point, Hedman, Johnson, McDonagh. Bobrovsky will be under siege.

(2) Capitals over (7) Hurricanes in 7

Observation: The defending champs will get tested by the good skating, pesky Canes led by Aho and Hamilton. The experience of Ovechkin, Backstrom, Carlson, Kuznetsov, Oshie and Holtby get them through.

(A2) Bruins over (A1) Maple Leafs in 6

Observation: Marchand, Bergeron, Pastrnak will dominate a weak Toronto D. Krejci, Debrusk lend support. Tavares and Marner are lethal. But the Leafs need Mathews and Kadri to show up. Andersen must steal two games.

(M3) Penguins over (M2) Islanders in 7

Observation: Tough series to call due to how strange the Pens are. But it’s hard to go against Crosby, Guentzel, Letang, Hornqvist and Murray. Malkin and Kessel will show up. I’m not sure the Isles have enough offense. Their tight checking will frustrate Pens, but they need Barzal, Lee, Bailey, Nelson, Eberle, Cizikas, Filppula and Pulock. Lehner will start.

Division Final

Lightning over Bruins in 7

Observation: It’ll be closer. But unless Boston gets help from deadline disappointments Coyle and Johansson, they can’t match the depth and speed of Tampa. Rask will have to outplay Vasilevskiy.

Capitals over Penguins in 6

Observation: The Pens added solid depth with McCann, Bjugstad and Gudbranson. But they’re beatable. Crosby, Guentzel and Letang have carried them. The Caps are more balanced due to Wilson, Eller, Vrana, Connolly and Orlov.

Conference Final

Lightning over Capitals in 5

Observation: The wear and tear from the last year will start to show for defending champs. The Bolts are better equipped due to Cirelli, Erne and Cernak. McDonagh gives them an edge on the back end.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

First Round Series

(1) Flames over (8) Avalanche in 5

Observation: The Flames are loaded with skill, speed and grit led by Gaudreau, Monahan, Lindholm, Matthew Tkachuk and Giordano. Despite iffy goalies (Rittich and Smith), they should roll over Avs, who still rely too much on MacKinnon, Landeskog, Rantanen. Grubauer could replace Varlamov.

(2) Predators over (7) Stars in 6

Observation: Despite not playing well recently, the Preds are proven. Expect Forsberg, Arvidsson, Josi, Johansen, Ellis, Subban and Boyle to make a difference. Rinne will raise his level. It won’t be a picnic against a Dallas team that played well without Zuccarello. Seguin, Benn, Radulov, Klingberg have help from Faksa, Heiskanen and Lindell. What’s Zucc’s status? Bishop must outplay Rinne.

(P2) Sharks over (P3) Golden Knights in 7

Observation: Arguably the best series, it could hinge on the goalies. Fleury is my Vezina pick. Jones has been to a Stanley Cup Final. But he’ll need to make the big saves. I think San Jose’s superior skill wins out. Hertl, Pavelski, Meier, Kane, Couture, Burns and Thornton are a handful. What about Erik Karlsson? Vegas is tough. Stone adds needed skill to help Wild Bill Karlsson, Tuch, Smith, Marchessault. Pacioretty and Stastny are keys along with Schmidt and Theodore.

(C2) Jets over (C3) Blues in 7

Observation: The hardest series to pick. St. Louis is hotter coming in led by Tarasenko, O’Reilly, Schenn, Pietrangelo, Parayko and Calder candidate Binnington. They’ll need Schwartz, Perron, Bozak and youngsters Dunn and Thomas to play well. Hellebuyck wasn’t as consistent for the freewheeling Jets, who boast elite stars in Scheifele, Wheeler, Byfuglien. Connor, Hayes and Laine are threats along with Ehlers. Trouba is the best D in the series. Winnipeg has more on the line.

Division Final

Flames over Sharks in 7

Observation: This is a tough call. But it could come down to the secondary scoring. I prefer the grit of Calgary. That’s what they got Neal for. Bennett, Jankowski and Ryan are tough to play against. Calgary actually might have the edge on D due to Hanifin, Brodie and Hamonic. First to 40 goals wins. Kidding.

Jets over Predators in 6

Observation: A second round rematch. When push comes to shove, Winnipeg knows how to beat Nashville. I’d feel similarly if it’s the Blues. There’s something off about the Preds.

Conference Final

Flames over Jets in 7

Observation: The top six of Calgary is a problem for Winnipeg. Backlund doesn’t get much ink. Neither does Frolik. Jack Roslovic is the wildcard for Winnipeg. Andrew Copp and Adam Lowry are solid supporting cast members along with Little. Laine has been inconsistent all year. Giordano is my Norris pick. He can dominate games. Tkachuk is your classic playoff guy due to his tenacious style. Imagine how Canada will feel if this is the match-up with one advancing to play for the Cup.

Stanley Cup

Lightning over Flames in 7

Observation: Cue Canadian fans anger here. It would be a 2004 rematch. Insert the controversial Khabibulin save on Gelinas. If the Lightning get through the Bruins, they’ll be here. It’s do or die for them. You don’t win all those games to lose. Vasilevskiy is a top five goalie who can steal games. Point and Johnson are clutch. Stamkos and Kucherov are the deadliest combo on the power play. Hedman can control games. They’ll need help from Miller, who’s never done anything in the playoffs. Palat and Killorn know how to play as do Paquette, Callahan, Girardi and Stralman. If not now, then when?

Conn Smythe: Brayden Point, Lightning

Posted in NHL Playoffs, Stanley Cup | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Game #82: A positive conclusion in Quinn’s rookie year

Posted on April 7, 2019 by Derek

Ryan Strome was one of the bright spots who improved after coming over from Edmonton under David Quinn. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy Rangers.

Last night, the Rangers played their final game of rookie coach David Quinn’s rookie year. Like over a quarter of the games, Game 82 required overtime. The Penguins were still playing for something. A shot at home ice in the first round series against the Islanders. But the Isles shutout the Capitals 3-0 to finish second and clinch home ice for the first round.

All season, the Pens had been a royal pain in the butt for these Blueshirts. Pittsburgh handled them in the first three games with two uncompetitive including an ugly blowout loss at home that sent us home early. I wanted our team to get a win in the final game for that reason. Some might say, ‘At the expense of a worse record for a better chance in Tuesday’s Lottery?’

My reaction to that is you play to win no matter what. As veteran beat writer Rick Carpinello echoed all year for The Athletic, the Rangers didn’t tank. They played hard and were competitive most of the season. That came out in the last two games against two playoff teams.

In the home finale, they made the Blue Jackets earn it by fighting back on Pavel Buchnevich’s 21st goal with 6.1 seconds left to force extras. A game ultimately decided in the shootout by potential future Ranger Artemi Panarin.

Even if I’m in the minority against paying the gifted Russian left wing the kind of big money he’ll command this summer, I’m not oblivious. He very well could wind up on Broadway. Especially if John Davidson returns to take over as Team President for Glen Sather. Carpinello mentioned the ties JD has to Panarin in Columbus. A lot is riding on the line for the Blue Jackets, who are huge underdogs against the Lightning. Let’s just say Sergei Bobrovsky will have to steal it and play better than he ever has before in the postseason. Columbus stands to lose Panarin, Bobrovsky, Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel and Adam McQuaid in July. They could look very different if they’re eliminated early. John Tortorella could lose his job and Davidson could relocate back to Manhattan where he’s a beloved figure.

For now, all that stuff is on the back burner because it’s all speculation. Nobody can predict the future. The only thing that’s guaranteed is no playoff hockey at MSG. However, it’s easy to have a positive outlook based on how this team competed for Quinn. Unlike the other Garden tenant, they didn’t mail it in for more lottery balls.

They proved it by defeating the Pens 4-3 in overtime on Ryan Strome’s 19th goal. He scored 18 with the Rangers after coming over from Edmonton for Ryan Spooner. Another smart move by GM Jeff Gorton, whose best trade remains stealing Mika Zibanejad from Ottawa for Derick Brassard. The Rangers Team MVP, who also was voted by the fans as the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award winner, set new career highs across the board in goals (30), assists (44), points (74), shots on goal (236) and power play points (23). It’s the first time in his career he played a full 82 games. The professional way he handled himself on and off the ice showed maturity. He is the leading candidate to become the next captain.

If there is a unique quality the ’18-19 Rangers possessed, it was their resilience. In a season where not much was expected, they worked hard to stay in games. In fact, just over half their games were decided by one goal. In 42 one-goal games, they went 18-10-14. Had they been able to get at least half the combination of overtime and shootout losses, they would’ve wound up with a respectable 85 points. A talented game breaker like Panarin can get you those valuable extra points. He had four OT winners and went 2-for-3 in the shootout including his wildcard clincher on Friday.

Also interesting is that Saturday was the 23rd overtime game the Rangers played. They finished 9-9-5 by how the NHL keeps track of it. However, six of the nine wins came via the shootout. Eleven games needed the skill competition, which the Rangers went 6-5 in. So really, they were 3-9 in overtime. That’s why it was nice to get a couple of those OT victories over the past month. Beating the Pens yesterday for a 4-3 win gave Quinn one final moment to savor in his first season behind the bench.

Judging by the reaction of the players, it meant plenty. There were all smiles as they celebrated their 32nd win. More importantly, they prevented the rival Pens from a series sweep. Doing it in Pittsburgh made it sweeter.

As I said, I didn’t get to see the game due to a wrestling event we went to at The Garden. The first ever one that didn’t involve the WWE since 1960. They’re having their signature event tonight. WrestleMania is at Met Life Stadium. My brother went over to our friend to watch. I’ll stop by in a bit out of curiosity. Finishing up the wrestling portion, the amount of fans who turned out for Ring Of Honor and New Japan Super G2 was mind blowing. There was more noise for many wrestlers we’ve never heard of than at any Ranger game. It was sold out.

I only reference that due to what happened at the 41 home games. MSG was too often a library. There wasn’t enough energy in the building for most games. Though I do want to point out that the crowd went nuts when Pavel Buchnevich tied Columbus. Nobody cared about the silly loser standings in that moment.

I want to praise Quinn for how he handled his first year. Making the jump from Boston University in college to the Rangers at the NHL level is difficult. He did a good job under tough circumstances. Everyone knew that with a rebuilding team that featured quite a few rookies, there would be major changes by the deadline. It took them a while to recover from the trades of key top six forwards Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes. They even missed Adam McQuaid on the back end.

But the evolvement and maturation of young players like Buchnevich, Tony DeAngelo, Strome and Alexandar Georgiev (36 saves for 14th win) were important steps for the franchise. Players appreciated Quinn’s honesty in communicating why they were scratched. It wasn’t like the cold war under Alain Vigneault, which had guys like Buchnevich and DeAngelo scratching their heads. Carpinello did a good piece on The Athletic about that aspect. There were many telling quotes from players including Henrik Lundqvist, who this year was especially tough on.

Seeing Vladislav Namestnikov get rewarded on Saturday for his hard work is nice. He didn’t score as much under Quinn, but improved into a more responsible two-way player who could be trusted in a checking role and kill penalties. The effort on his shorthanded goal in the third period was superb. He also got the primary assist on Strome’s winner in which Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang couldn’t be bothered. I wonder if the Pens think they can magically flip the switch for the Islanders, who’ll have the comfort of NYCB Live Nassau Coliseum for the first round. They could be in for a rude awakening.

I also liked Brady Skjei, who improved down the stretch. At one point, his third full season was a disaster with the key left skating defenseman they signed long-term looking lost. It wasn’t until McQuaid returned from injury that his play steadied. He scored the tying goal in the third period for his career high eighth. It was a good defensive play by Skjei in his end that started it. He took a Kevin Shattenkirk feed and beat Matt Murray. Skjei finished with 25 points (8-17-25) and a minus-four rating. A marked improvement from where he was. He definitely became more of a leader, speaking to reporters following games while being accountable.

I know I get on Shattenkirk a lot for his defensive issues, but he also was better towards the end finding offense. Sure. He still must do better than two goals. But many of the 26 assists he had came in the final two months. He told Carpinello he needs to be better on the power play. You’ll get no argument here. I’m not sure you can go into next season with Skjei and Shattenkirk as your number one pair. As much criticism as Marc Staal gets for what he can’t do in large part to his contract, he is strong defensively and more consistent in battles. That’s why DeAngelo praised him. They were a solid pair that had good chemistry.

I wonder if Fredrik Claesson will be re-signed. He is a good depth guy who can fill in. He’s best suited as a seventh D. With both Libor Hajek and Ryan Lindgren looking to be part of the NHL roster next Fall, I’m not sure where that leaves Claesson.

You had to smile when Brendan Smith scored on a mini break to beat Murray with a good shot. If ever a guy deserved a goal in the last game, it was him. Somehow, Quinn turned Smith into a serviceable part time forward. Astonishingly, the veteran fit in on the fourth line when he wasn’t asked to play D. He drew the most penalties of any Blueshirt. They still owe him a good chunk of change for two more years. Maybe all is not lost for the prideful veteran who made the most out of a unconventional situation. Give him credit.

I know Jesper Fast won Player’s Player again. But I would’ve given it to Smith for what he did. Talk about unselfish. Speaking of Fast, he had thumb surgery and can resume training in six weeks.

I almost forgot to include Chris Kreider. I’m glad he returned for the final week and looked more like the impactful power forward we love. He was able to match his career best in goals (28) the other night on a great pass from Zibanejad. Kreider is a team leader who played through pain until he needed time off. There was no way the drop off in production was due to him mailing it in or slumping. They must get him re-signed this summer. There are no excuses.

As far as the trio of young centers go, all three made strides in their first year. Filip Chytil showed off the tremendous skill he possesses. He obviously still needs work defensively now that he was shifted back to his natural position.

Lias Andersson finally started to play with more conviction when Quinn gave him more minutes. I know how quick some fans are to rush to judgment. I see a solid player, who will become a tough center for opponents. He definitely doesn’t shy away from anything.

Brett Howden definitely is what Quinn called him. “No nonsense.” He hit the rookie wall going through an awful slump. He never wavered. His strong finish bodes well. I see a active player who can set up teammates by creating chances off hard work.

Time will tell the future of all three. For now, let’s remember they’re 21 and younger entering ’19-20. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Brendan Lemieux was a good addition from Winnipeg in the Hayes deal. He is the kinda gritty and hard nosed forward who could become a fan favorite. He expends a lot of energy during shifts dishing it out and taking it. That kind of yeoman effort is appreciated by fans and teammates. He also had enough skill to contribute offensively. In order to become more consistent, he will have to get in better shape. Especially if he wants to become a top nine forward who Quinn can use regularly.

I’m curious to see what happens with 2018 top pick Vitali Kravtsov. The kind of gifted offensive player who can aid the offense. It all depends on if he’s ready assuming he signs. You also have the interesting Igor Shestyorkin dynamic. Back as the starting goalie for St. Petersburg SKA in the KHL Playoffs, will he finally sign? He’s 23 and the time is now to find out.

Tuesday night is the long awaited NHL Draft Lottery. NBCSN is broadcasting it live starting at 8 PM. Due to Edmonton winning over Calgary last night, the Rangers finished with the sixth worst record. That gives them a 7.5 percent chance of winning it. Colorado (from Senators), the Kings and Devils have the highest winning percentage. Detroit and Buffalo follow with the Rangers sixth. I’ll take my chances.

As for the upcoming NHL Playoffs, there are some intriguing first round match ups. I’ll make predictions for fun in a day or two. Hasan, you’re more than welcome to join me. That’s if he’s not on hockey vacation 😂.

Posted in NYRangers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rangers thank fans with honest effort to make Columbus earn playoffs

Posted on April 6, 2019 by Derek

Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich celebrate Buch’s tying goal in the final Rangers home game. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy Rangers.

Blue Jackets 3 Rangers 2

Game 81 of 82 will just be a footnote in a season without the playoffs. However, the final home game was exactly how I’ll remember the ’18-19 New York Rangers. Playing for nothing but pride for the true fans who showed up that weren’t tourists with no idea what was going on, they gave a honest effort to make the Blue Jackets earn the playoffs.

Sure. MSG isn’t the same loud arena anymore. But the passionate diehards like us and some of our long time favorites who came got to meet former Ranger Nick Fotiu. That was a special treat. Getting to chat with one of the most popular Rangers alumni was pretty cool. Even if it was a mandatory gig for “Nicky” as my father and other older generation fans called him. I enjoyed spending time with him and appreciated his candor on our seats being the best along with other stuff he shared.

Glenn Anderson was also there signing autographs for lucky fans like my brother. So too was Ron Greschner, who like Fotiu posed with fans for the scoreboard and tossed free t-shirts to the crowd. It was nice.

What was nicer is that the team responded the right way to one of their worst games of the season. By earning a point on Pavel Buchnevich’s goal with over seven seconds left which I sarcastically predicted to our regulars who were all standing, the Rangers are up to 76 points with one final game remaining tomorrow at hated Pittsburgh. Wouldn’t it be something if they drove gamblers nuts by taking the Pens to overtime? That would put them right at 77 points with the Over/Under crowd nervously watching.

Yes. Buchnevich getting his 21st by sticking with it to bank one in past a ultra sharp Sergei Bobrovsky, had to drive the Columbus bench crazy. Our friend told us that John Tortorella was going cuckoo. Haha. It was only their playoff livelihood on the line when the three-on-three overtime started. Too bad they didn’t have to sweat it out more in the silly shootout which Artemi Panarin won to help them reach the playoffs. A Bobrovsky save on Tony DeAngelo in the top of the third allowed Tortorella and the Jackets to breathe easier and celebrate eliminating Montreal.

So, the Rangers fell in the skill competition 3-2. But it was the one shootout we stayed for due to it having an impact. Plus I wanted to see the boys a final time before exiting. At least it was quick. Bobrovsky stopped all three Rangers shooters while Alexandar Georgiev went 1-for-2. He couldn’t stop Panarin, who is lethal coming from that left side and unleashing that wrist shot. Outside of that, Georgiev turned in another worthy performance by making 39 saves. He was superb.

Alexandar Georgiev makes one of his 39 saves in tight. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy Rangers.

Bobrovsky was even better. He only finished with 25 saves, but you wouldn’t have known it if you watched. What a sensational goalie. He’s the only reason the Blue Jackets are in the postseason. If not for his brilliance that again included a highlight reel save to rob Brett Howden on a two-on-one, there likely would be no playoffs for Columbus. These are the type of saves the two-time Vezina winner has made over the past two months. He’s a great goalie. I’d love to see him have success when it counts.

I thought Columbus started squeezing their sticks due to how closely fought the first period was. Even though they held a 15-6 edge in shots, they couldn’t beat Georgiev. He stoned them on a couple of point blank chances. The thing I took away is what I’ve been saying. The team plays harder for him and gives Georgiev most of the shots from the outside. If he sees it, he usually stops it. His positioning is very calm and he moves well side to side, taking away the bottom of the net.

A couple of goalposts were hit by both sides. Mika Zibanejad had one on a strong power move around the net. The Jackets probably felt like they created some excellent chances early on. Not capitalizing had to make them nervous.

It showed in the second. They started missing the net a lot. Especially Cam Atkinson. The shooters were trying to go high on Georgiev, which is the adjustment I’d make. But they were unable to get close to scoring on him. He stopped 11 more shots and took a 1-0 lead to the locker room.

Chris Kreider provided it by converting a two-on-one feed from Zibanejad for his 28th. A well executed play from both. Zibanejad got a step and sold the fake shot on Seth Jones, who bit. Mika then passed for Kreider, who blew one by Bobrovsky for the one goal lead. Kreider easily could’ve had more if not for some big saves by the Columbus franchise netminder. If they lose him this summer, oh boy. He’s easily a too five who can carry teams. Florida will come calling.

The pressure was on the Jackets. They didn’t want to have to go to the 82nd game at Ottawa. Montreal was set to host bitter rival Toronto. It sure would’ve been interesting. I wouldn’t have been home anyway due to wrestling we are going to see at MSG. Not WrestleMania. But Ring Of Honor and New Japan. It should be good.

It took a key mistake by the Blueshirts to allow the desperate Jackets to score. A bad pinch led to a three-on-one. Nick Foligno was allowed to pass across for Ryan Dzingel, whose one-timer whizzed by a helpless Georgiev to tie the score at 2:25. Fotiu told me that should never happen. Especially the pass. Always take the open man and give the goalie the shooter. There’s a reason he played in the NHL. I also loved what he said about the instigator. If you’re gonna fight, then fight. Truth spoken!

With the game tied, Columbus still needed something from their top gun. For the most part, Panarin and Atkinson had their hands full with the Zibanejad line. They were forced to play defense more than they’d like. I thought Tortorella made a mistake flipping Pierre-Luc Dubois and Matt Duchene. Duchene has no chemistry with Atkinson or Panarin. Not surprisingly, they weren’t that effective.

It took a great individual effort from the Bread Man to put the Jackets ahead. Taking a David Savard feed in his own zone, he backed up Howden and turned DeAngelo inside out to fire a laser high stick side past Georgiev at 14:27.

Game over? Not so fast. With Georgiev pulled for an extra attacker, the Rangers got their chances due to a few careless Columbus icings. With the Rangers pressing the action, Buchnevich had his initial shot blocked. But he stuck with it by sending another towards the net with Howden in front. Sure enough, it banked in with just over seven seconds remaining in regulation.

I know it didn’t mean a whole lot. But after joking that they should make Columbus sweat it out and kiddingly predicting a goal with two seconds left, you better believe I celebrated the Buchnevich tally. I even low fived a cool MSG security guard I was chatting with about our fun crew who were jokingly pulling for Columbus.

I wanted to see overtime. Even if it meant another point. I don’t care about the logistics of the stupid lottery. Can you believe the Rangers are holding a viewing party at some dive? Gee whiz. Who’s playing at the Theater anyway on Tuesday night? I bet they also bring back the Draft Party with the team having so many picks.

Zibanejad got the best chance in the three-on-three. But Bobrovsky wasn’t having it. Neither was Georgiev, leaving it to a shootout. After Kevin Shattenkirk fanned on his attempt, Georgiev stayed with Atkinson by getting a toe on his forehand deke. It was tremendous. Out came Panarin after Bobrovsky gave Zibanejad nothing. He shot the Blue Jackets to the playoffs. Then Bobrovsky denied DeAngelo to finish matters.

BONY 3 STARS:

3rd 🌟 Artemi Panarin, Blue Jackets (28th of season and shootout winner)

2nd 🌟 Alexandar Georgiev, Rangers (39 saves including 26 of 26 in 1st 2 periods, stellar as usual)

1st 🌟 Sergei Bobrovsky, Blue Jackets (25 saves including a enormous one to rob Howden on a 2-on-1 in the 3rd with the game tied)

Notes: Lias Andersson had another good game. He hit the crossbar during the second when the Rangers had the Blue Jackets on the ropes. He’s looked much more confident the last few games. A good sign moving forward. … Fredrik Claesson sat out. That allowed rookie Ryan Lindgren to dress and pair up with Neal Pionk, who looked more at ease throughout. Lindgren nearly had his first NHL goal in the first. He played sound defense and looks like he can help the team in the future. If both he and Libor Hajek make the roster next Fall, it bodes well. … Mets Noah Syndergaard, Jeff McNeill and Edwin Diaz took in the game on their off day.

Posted in NYRangers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Game #81: Throwback Thursday – Canes 3, Devils 1

Posted on April 5, 2019 by hasan4978

In a lot of ways last night’s penultimate game was a look back at the way things used to be for the Devils.  Specifically, last night’s game in Carolina which clinched a playoff spot for a resurgent Canes team returning to the postseason for the first time since 2009 being eerily similar to our own game #81 last season at home against Toronto, which clinched a playoff spot for an upstart Devils team returning to the postseason after a five-year drought.  Perhaps our own season this year can serve as a cautionary tale for the Canes and their fans…but also as a reminder to enjoy this moment.  You’re certainly not gifted the postseason every year although for the longest time as Devil fans we were spoiled under Lou Lamoriello to believe the postseason was a given, which it was 95% of the time.

This won’t be so much a recap of last night’s game (which I couldn’t watch much of) as it will be a general season rundown.  I have no motivation to even watch tomorrow’s finale at Florida, let alone do one more recap.  What’s the point…it’s a snoozer between two non-playoff teams for draft position only.  I suppose it is one final chance to see the MSG on-air personalities and/or hear Matt and Chico on the radio before the long summer.  So maybe from that standpoint I’ll at least turn on the pre and postgame along with perhaps the final few minutes, even if emotionally I waved goodbye to this season last Saturday with my final home game.  And it’s always tough to watch games when your loyalties are divided anyway.  I admit I was glad that we lost and the Sabres won last night, improving our lotto odds.  With nothing on the line for the Panthers it’ll be that much easier to be ambivalent about the finale as well.

Make no mistake, it’s embarassing it’s come to this – again.  Missing the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years, and having one of the worst years in franchise history the season after showing so much promise.  It’s certainly the most dissapointing season I’ve experienced as a Devils fan given the expectations and anticipation, even more so than missing the playoffs as a defending champion in 1995-96, or the 2014-15 and 2016-17 fiascoes where I didn’t expect much beforehand anyway.   Not that I really expected to build on last season given this offseason’s recent inactivity from Ray Shero, but I was hopeful at least for a more competitive team.  Even last night ticked me off from the standpoint that coach John Hynes seemed really zeroed in on effort and mistakes the way he and the team seemingly hasn’t been for much of the season.  Sure, it was important to see how younger players handled an obvious playoff atmosphere but if we had more nights with this kind of focus from the top down maybe this season doesn’t get out of hand as quickly as it did.

Of course given Hynes’ in-season extension (which came just in the nick of time before the roof completely fell in), he’s not likely going anywhere this offseason and neither is Shero so it’s on both of them in year #5 of this regime to really take the step forward many feel they should have taken this season.  At the very least, another offseason of complete passivity with $20 million of cap space going to waste can no longer be tolerated.  I know, I know, we’re not likely to attract many top-end free agents and you don’t want to overspend on the mediocre ones – I’ve been a fan for 25 years, there’s other ways to use cap space besides on free agents.  Specifically trades with teams that are tight against the cap.  And sometimes you need to take a chance and get the right B and C level free agents anyway, and not rely on filling every single hole from within and through straight trade robberies.

Certainly trying to fill every hole from within this offseason backfired spectacularly.  Even if Taylor Hall missed over half the season and the goaltending went splat until it was too little, too late, they still had a number of dissapointing performances from younger players.  Up front, Miles Wood took a step or two backwards this year after signing a long-term deal this offseason, while Pavel Zacha’s horrendous first half was only partially salvaged by a better second half.  Still it’s telling when you’re touting a 23-point season in 60 games as improvement just because…but the second half.  Next year he’s gotta really take a step forward and for the whole season.  Former first-rounder John Quenneville was a total flop, scoring just one goal (with zero assists) in nineteen games after being handed a job out of camp.  Joey Anderson’s first season got interrupted with a horrible injury but he didn’t show much in his 33 games either with just four goals and two assists.  Brett Seney showed a spark at times, but just didn’t add enough offense to survive with his small frame, producing just five goals and thirteen points in 50 games.  Another former first rounder in Mike McLeod playing twenty games with zero goals?  Child please.

Obviously there were dissapointments with the young guys defensively too, specifically Mirco Mueller and Steven Santini.  Mueller was okay at times but just didn’t add enough offense to be only okay defensively, and again had his season derailed with a freak injury while Santini’s just gone completely backwards defensively and adds even less offense than Mueller with just four points in 38 games.  Damon Severson and Will Butcher were mixed bags.  Severson started his usual maddeningly wild self, seemingly got better down the stretch but still is prone to gaffes.  Can’t really argue with eleven goals and 38 points, but that -26 with those offensive numbers is just woof-worthy.  Yeah, yeah I know plus minus is so 1960’s, but when you have by far the worst plus-minus on the team for multiple years and also have a bad plus-minus with solid offensive numbers those are both pretty good indicators you’re bad and/or derelict defensively.  Butcher stagnated offensively with just four goals and 29 points after a solid rookie season but seemingly did get better defensively in the second half with more responsibility.

Not that the kids were alone cornering the market in dissapointments.  Starting with our vet goaltending tandem in Cory Schneider and Keith Kinkaid, which completely imploded left and right throughout the first 2/3 of the season and was a big reason the season melted down at warp-speed almost before winter got started.  Sure Cory did better down the stretch in junktime but how seriously can I take his post-injury play?  Especially since Cory has gotten hurt left and right and you can’t count on him to stay healthy for any long stretch.  It was somewhat encouraging to see a .920 save percentage post-second injury return but my memory of his horror show 2018 (specifically his first few starts this year off of the first injury return) is still giving me PTSD.  As far as Kinkaid, he went from zero to hero back to zero all in about a calendar year from last February till the time he got unceremoniously dumped to the Blue Jackets’ scratch box for a high school player – a 2022 5th rounder, to be exact.  It was a shame to see it come to an end for Keith this way after he was arguably the second biggest catalyst in getting the team to the playoffs last year but you couldn’t really have expected a career backup to stay on that kind of roll.

Ironically, most of our other vets you can’t really say were dissapointing other than the departed Marcus Johansson (much like some other players, produced too little too late) and Sami Vatanen who had an injury-plagued season and his level of play certainly plummetted this season in general when he was in the lineup.  Maybe he never truly got over last season’s Nikita Kucherov-induced concussion in last year’s playoffs.  Hall certainly followed up his MVP campaign with a similar statistical pace, putting up 37 points in 33 games but his torn meniscus torpedoed his season and he wasn’t seen at all in 2019.  Other vets like Kyle Palmieri, Travis Zajac and Andy Greene basically met expecations for their various roles.  You’d eventually like to find better replacements for Zajac in the top six or Greene on the top defensive pairing but that can’s been kicked down the road for another year, while Palmieri was having an even better year than his 27 goals and 50 points would suggest but he’s gone ice-cold the last few weeks, perhaps either playing hurt or just dispirited from the state of the team.

To find actual bright spots or unexpected you generally have to look far and wide, or stretch the definition of what a bright spot is.  Except for the obvious one in Mackenzie Blackwood, who was surprisingly successful in his first NHL season with a GAA of 2.59, a .917 save percentage and two shutouts in 22 games heading into tomorrow’s finale.  His splits would be spectacular if it wasn’t for the one horrific nine-goal meltdown in Calgary he was unfathomably allowed to give up all nine goals in, but he recovered from that nicely to maintain his solid play down the stretch.  Aside from Blackwood though, you really gotta search for an obvious bright spot.  Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt having solid second seasons?  They didn’t really take a huge leap forward but in the case of Nico, he did maintain his solid level even after Hall’s injury while in Bratt’s case he overcame an early-season injury and was able to maintain his play through the second half unlike last year, until another injury ended his season anyway.  Kevin Rooney and waiver pickup Kenny Agostino showing some flashes of being everyday NHL players in the back six?  Meh.  Blake Coleman with 22 goals and 35 points in a third-line role would qualify as a positive but even his play has deteriorated as of late in a slew of penalties and a second-half slump.

Clearly there were a lot of problems with the 2018-19 season of the Devils, not all of them will go away with better health next season.  Some go away with better goaltending from a presumably healthy Cory and a confident Blackwood splitting the netminder duties in some fashion or other, but Shero is going to have to take care of the rest.  Hoping that recent draft picks Ty Smith and Jeremy Davies can add to the defense is a…hopeful plan I guess.  I do have high hopes for Smith and people talk highly of Davies but it seems like counting on one or both to win spots in the top six is just a inviting rerun of all the young forwards we gave shots to this year dissapointing, only on the blueline.  I’m not sure any of the young guys we’ve seen up front will really take a step forward next year and as far as I can tell, I don’t think any of our juniors/college forwards will be ready to win a spot in 2019-20 either.

Sure, you may think I’ve painted a bleak picture but really there is a way out.  Spend some money in free agency, make a trade or three using some cap space, draft a good, solid prospect with a first-rounder now assured of being in the top six even in a lottery worst-case, and take advantage of having three second-rounders either in trade or to stock the pipeline even more.  Find a way to add a legit top six winger and a legit top two-four defensemen plus hope Ty Smith can develop into one.  This team can get back to at least a 2017-18 level with the promise for more but they can’t have another complacent, passive offseason.  Otherwise the fanbase will start to become more disgruntled with the new regime and passive themselves over extended losing.

For now at least, that’s all from me for a while.  Sure I’ll probably have a draft post next week once the Devils’ spot gets determined but after that I’m going underground for a tbd timeframe.  Like Tommy Lee Jones said at the end of the Fugitive, ‘It’s over now…you know, I’m glad?  I need the rest’.

Posted in Devils | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The final game of the season

Posted on April 5, 2019 by Derek

Tonight, the Rangers wrap up the season at MSG when they host the Blue Jackets. For all intents and purposes, the game means nothing. However, it has is of significant importance to Columbus. A win of any kind clinches the playoffs.

With that the case, there’s something to play for. No. I don’t expect our team to be as desperate as the Jackets should. However, a better effort than the horrible display we got the other night in a uncompetitive loss to lowly Ottawa is required. Coach David Quinn wasn’t happy. He expects better.

For that reason, I do too. Not that I particularly care if they win and potentially ruin former coach John Tortorella’s playoff chances. I never had a problem with how he did here. His tenure included a surprising first place finish in the East with a team that wasn’t expected to wind up there in ’11-12. That’s still one of the best coaching jobs a Rangers bench boss has done. Following the crushing loss in the Conference Final to the Devils, increased expectations cost Tortorella his job the next Spring. That’s ancient history.

All this time later, he’s still around trying to get an all in Columbus team into the big dance. They still haven’t gotten out of the first round. If they somehow lost tonight or got beaten out by the Canadiens, who only have to beat the bitter rival Maple Leafs tomorrow night and get help, it probably will cost Tortorella his job. Likely the final one he’ll have as an NHL coach.

The Blue Jackets rolled the dice by acquiring Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel and former Blueshirt Adam McQuaid at the deadline. They know the situation with potential unrestricted free agents Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin this summer. You can add Duchene and Dzingel to that list. It’s now or never for them. Given how awful they were in a blowout home defeat to the Bruins, you’d expect some urgency later. If not, they’re playing with fire. Tomorrow is the last day of the regular season.

What I do know is that Alexandar Georgiev gets the start. He deserves it. Something Henrik Lundqvist acknowledged following the other day which wasn’t his fault. It sure is sad to look at his record. Since February, he’s 2-11-3 with a 3.19 GAA and .906 save percentage. The fact that he’s still at .906 during the worst stretch of his career speaks volumes. He’s faced an average of 33.8 shots per game.

By comparison, Georgiev is 7-4-3 with a 2.61 GAA and .926 save percentage plus a shutout on his 23rd birthday. Interestingly, the rookie has faced more shots since February, seeing an average of 35.9 over that span. His strong finish has opened Ranger eyes. He’s earned the right to stay as the backup for next season.

Though it’ll be interesting to see how top rated Russian goalie prospect Igor Shestyorkin performs ‘if’ he is signed finally. The Rangers have a good problem in net. It’s also worth noting that there would be virtually no market for Georgiev, who’s much more unproven than either Cam Talbot or Antti Raanta were. That’s why the talk that they should explore a trade is ridiculous. Goalies don’t have much value unless they’ve proven themselves.

When I observe the games that Georgiev starts, the team tends to play harder for him. Even though he’s faced a inordinate amount of shots, they do a good job limiting opponents from getting good looks. By keeping most to the perimeter and taking care of the net front, it allows Georgiev to see most of the shots and get into a rhythm.

I don’t know if it’s a psychological thing. But it always has felt like the team plays differently for the backup than Lundqvist. Maybe it’s due to what the 37-year old future Hall of Famer has accomplished. He’s spoiled us. It’s why seeing him go through all the losing is tough. Those postgame interviews with MSG lifer John Giannone are hard to watch. You can see how much it’s taken a toll. To his credit, he’s acknowledged that this is what he signed up for. Maybe not the miserable performance they gave him on Tuesday.

It’s hard to explain why this team laid proverbial eggs on its two biggest nights. The shutout to now playoff bound Carolina on the 25-Year Anniversary celebration of 1994, and the stinker on Steven McDonald night when Mika Zibanejad won the Extra Effort Award. It doesn’t make sense.

Given how bad they were which they admitted, I don’t see them mailing it in tonight. If the Blue Jackets want to guarantee themselves the playoffs, they’ll have to earn it.

It’s gonna be a bit strange to be at such a nonchalant game. Most of our fans are rooting for a loss. Something I can’t do. Not at least publicly. Though I do get the logic. If they lose this one and get beat once again by the Pens tomorrow in Game 82, it could help the Rangers in next week’s Draft Lottery. Maybe they can finish a spot or two higher to give them better odds at Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko.

When the game starts, all that becomes secondary. I won’t be thinking about it like a few annoying fans who have become fascinated by it. I’m there to enjoy a game and catch up with our extended family. Those are the people who make the game experience still fun. Without them, I don’t think we would still be going to the select number of games that we do.

It’s the end of another season at MSG for the Garden Faithful. A phrase made famous by Adam Graves. Let’s remember that.

Posted in Game Preview | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Official: Sather to step down as Team President

Posted on April 4, 2019 by Derek

Last night, TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported that this could be it for Glen Sather as Team President. Here is the key information.

It wouldn’t be a surprise. Slats is getting up there. Since relinquishing his role as Rangers GM, which went to Jeff Gorton, he hasn’t been as involved in the team’s daily transactions. However, he’s lent a voice to Gorton including signing off on the rebuild that included a public team letter addressing the fans.

UPDATE: Sather confirmed to Larry Brooks of the NY Post that he is stepping aside. He will still be in an advisory role to CEO James Dolan at MSG. Here’s a look back at his 19 years as both Team President and GM:

As much criticism as he’s received over the years, Sather rebuilt the team following the lockout to turn them into one of the NHL’s better clubs. He molded the first roster that got back to the playoffs by surrounding Jaromir Jagr with Czechs Martin Rucinsky, Martin Straka, Petr Prucha, Marek Malik and Michal Rozsival. Brendan Shanahan was signed the following year.

Signing Michael Nylander was a smart move. He centered Straka and Jagr in ’05-06 when No. 68 set new franchise single season marks in goals (54), points (123), power play goals (24) and shots on goal (368). His nine game-winners matched Mark Messier and Don Murdoch for the most in a single season.

Sather also made underrated moves like adding Steve Rucchin and Petr Sykora to help that team succeed. Even though they were swept by the Devils in the first round, a new era was born thanks to former 2000 seventh round pick Henrik Lundqvist. It’s hard to believe at 37, the franchise leader in wins (449) and shutouts (63) is still here. The only Vezina a Ranger goalie has won since John Vanbiesbrouck in 1986. Lundqvist won it in 2012 by winning a career best 39 games with a 1.97 GAA, .930 save percentage and eight shutouts.

Ultimately, the teams Sather constructed fell just shy of their goal. They lost in the Stanley Cup Final to the Kings in 2014 and fell in seven games to the Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final in 2015. He took big risks by going all in on Rick Nash, Martin St. Louis and Keith Yandle. Even though those teams didn’t win the Cup, those were the right moves. Ditto for signing Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards with the latter playing a key role in helping the Rangers rally from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Penguins in 2014. Richards scored and set up big goals in 2012 when the team made its first trip to the Conference Finals since 1997. Gaborik had a huge goal in sudden death set up by Richards, who also had the primary assist on St. Louis’ series clincher versus Pittsburgh two years later.

There were tough decisions like choosing Dan Girardi and Marc Staal over captain Ryan Callahan, who was dealt for St. Louis with two first round picks. Viewed as overpayment. Without St. Louis, there’s no run in 2014. How about that overtime winner he scored to beat the Canadiens in Game 4? Top shelf. It’s too bad they didn’t win in the two years with him.

Key young players like Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov were integral parts of the team becoming a contender. So too were under the radar team guys such as Brian Boyle, Brandon Prust and the controversial Sean Avery. It’s hard to believe that was so long ago.
Chris Drury was brought in one summer with Scott Gomez. Even though it didn’t work out the way they envisioned, Slats made perhaps his best deal when he got Montreal to take Gomez that resulted in the team stealing away future captain Ryan McDonagh. A trade that haunted Montreal, particularly in the ’14 Conference Final when McDonagh dominated them.

There were smart moves like signing former Blackhawks first round pick Kevin Hayes and landing virtual unknown Mats Zuccarello, who only became one of the most popular players in team history. It’s sad to think he’s now on Dallas trying to help lift the Stars to a run. Ditto for Hayes with Winnipeg where he’s formed a dynamic duo with emerging star Kyle Connor.

Meanwhile, McDonagh has been brilliant in his first full season in Tampa. He’s over 40 points and chasing the Bud Light Plus/Minus title. At last check, I think he was plus-38. It’s odd how you have Mac, Cally, Danny G, Anton Stralman and J.T. Miller all chasing a Cup with the President’s Trophy winning Lightning, who have won 60 games. Yikes.

There are always up and downs when you look at what Sather has done since replacing Neil Smith. It’s easy to forget how bad a situation Smith left him. However, hiring Ron Low and Bryan Trottier were unmitigated disasters. The Eric Lindros trade was a calculated risk. It was working in Year One until Lindros had his bell rung in San Jose. Right around the same time I relocated to Bristol at ESPN. I can still recall watching them get pulverized by the Coyotes on New Year’s Eve at the trailer. Wow.

Had Lindros stayed healthy, it could’ve been a different story altogether. Instead, he wasn’t the same following the concussion. However, he still wound up a point-per-game producing 37 goals with 36 assists for 73 points over 72 games in ’00-01. Lindros centered the FLY Line that season flanked by Theo Fleury and Mike York. If only Fleury didn’t have all his off ice issues due to being sexually abused in juniors. Sickening. I’m so glad he was able to survive, make a full recovery and become the strong person he is today. I still have a photo of us saved from meeting him at a book signing.

You can also point towards some of the Sather epic fails during that awful error. I misspelled it intentionally. Signing Vlad Malakhov over Mathieu Schneider. The Bobby Holik disaster. The Mike Dunham (Doneham) trade after Mike Richter got hurt. Drafting Al Montoya. At the time, they didn’t know what they had in Lundqvist. That draft sucked. Bringing back Alexei Kovalev. It didn’t work out for him here. Then, they traded him to Montreal for an awful return of Jozef Balej, Garth Murray and Bruce Graham. Who? Exactly. Dave Karpa (Krappa), Igor Ulanov, Darius Kasparaitis (Kasparminus), Scott Fraser.

It’s too bad Pavel Bure got hurt because he would’ve been great. The explosiveness was still there before Mike Danton ended his career in preseason. So much went wrong with those teams. Even Messier II didn’t work. But he did get a memorable send off which I was at when The Garden rocked. The Dan Blackburn freak injury that finished his career was typical Rangers luck. Stefan Cherneski?

The regrettable Brian Leetch trade without even getting his consent and moving him on his birthday. Holy moly. Jarkko Immonen, Max Kondratiev (became Sykora), and draft picks that became Lauri Korpikoski and Michael Sauer. It didn’t exactly work out. He also gave away Korpikoski for Enver Lisin. What about taking Hugh Jessiman over Zach Parise? Yikes.

I guess had the team won a Cup in the window between ’12-15, Sather would be viewed differently. Derek Stepan, Michael Del Zotto, Callahan and Dubinsky all had success here. So did Fedor Tyutin before he was moved for Nikolai Zherdev. Stralman was one of Slats’ best signings. He also became one of his biggest mistakes, letting him go to Tampa while bringing in Dan Boyle.

Sather’s health is rumored to be declining. Hopefully, he’s getting all the help he needs. On an emotional day for my family where we lost our aunt on my Mom’s side, I can sure relate.

Sather indicated that he wouldn’t be doing this if the organization was in turmoil. He’s happy with the direction under Gorton with assistant GM Chris Drury. He will assist them in the search for a new Team President, which they hope to have in place by the Draft.

His one regret is that they didn’t win the Cup, referencing the three gut wrenching overtimes at Los Angeles.

Adam Fox Update: Correcting one thing I said regarding Hobey Baker finalist Adam Fox, who plans to return for his senior year at Harvard. He has to play it out before he can become a unrestricted free agent next summer.

If at that point he doesn’t sign with Carolina, then he will go on the market in 2020. I still don’t know if I would give up anything for his rights. See the Sabres and Jimmy Vesey. That guaranteed nothing.

Posted in NYRangers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Congrats to Mika Zibanejad on winning the Steven McDonald Award

Posted on April 3, 2019 by Derek

Mika Zibanejad smiles as he poses for a photo after winning the Steven McDonald Award. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy Rangers.

They waited a bit longer to present the Steven McDonald Award. As expected, this year’s winner is Mika Zibanejad. Number 93 has been a consistent force for the Rangers in a down season.

Even though he didn’t add any goals or assists to his team-leading 72 points (30-42-72) in a disappointing 4-1 defeat to the Senators tonight, it didn’t matter. As NYPD sergeant Conor McDonald noted during a heartfelt speech about what his father meant to him, the 25-year old Zibanejad was better than he’d ever been while doing it with a smile on his face.

Congratulations to Zibanejad on winning the 2018-19 Extra Effort Award! He certainly is worthy and should be viewed as the favorite to become the team’s next captain.

The game itself was a letdown. The Rangers never led and didn’t play particularly well. It was yet another depressing reminder of how they are when Henrik Lundqvist starts. He remains stuck on 18 wins. Coach David Quinn had wanted to get him to 20 so he could continue that streak. That’s out. I can’t see him getting the final four games with Alexandar Georgiev sitting out in a back-to-back.

At least Lias Andersson had a good moment at MSG by having his best game as a pro. He became the youngest Blueshirt to score a shorthanded goal since Niklas Sundstrom in 1995. Andersson was all over the ice and showed more confidence offensively throughout.

What I’ll remember most of all was what Conor McDonald said during a emotional speech. It truly was great and had me almost in tears.he sounded a lot like his father, who must be very proud of his son looking down. I’ll just leave this here. Wow!

Posted in NYRangers | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My thoughts on the Steven McDonald Award

Posted on April 3, 2019 by Derek

In about half an hour, the Rangers will introduce Steven McDonald’s family to the crowd at MSG. They’ll get a standing ovation as always on an emotional night. It’ll be loud and what all 41 home games should be, but for a very different reason.

The Steven McDonald Award has been in existence since 1987-88 in honor of former police officer Steven McDonald, who was shot in the line of duty paralyzing him from the neck down.

The former NYPD detective became a true inspiration for this city. Despite needing a ventilator to breathe after becoming a quadriplegic due to the serious nature of his injuries, he stayed strong for nearly 30 years until his death on Jan. 10, 2017.

It’s astonishing to think how much he means to New York City. He forgave the shooter, who was only 15 at the time. Ironically, Shavon Jones died in a motorcycle incident after serving nine years in prison. He called McDonald to apologize.

No matter what, it’s a sad story. The Rangers created the prestigious award over 30 years ago. It recognizes the Ranger who goes above and beyond the call of duty. A check of $25,000 is presented to the winner, which is then donated to the Steven McDonald Foundation.

In 10 minutes, son Conor and wife Patti will carry on the proud tradition. Sergeant McDonald will announce the 2018-19 winner. It’ll be another special moment at The Garden.

It’s expected to be Mika Zibanejad. The team’s leading scorer has had a tremendous season setting careers highs in goals (30), assists (42) and points (72). He’s the first Ranger to register 30 goals and 70 points since Marian Gaborik.

I believe the 25-year old center is a worthy choice. A future captain, he’s certainly put in the work and become a true number one center. However, he’s also the Team MVP.

For that reason, I voted for Vladislav Namestnikov. When I think of what the award symbolizes, it’s not about the most talented player or even the best one. Last year, fans voted for Henrik Lundqvist. I voted for Kevin Hayes because I felt he was the player who gave everything and was the most consistent.

This is a award that once went to Jed Ortmeyer. That’s the kinda player who should win. It’s hard to fathom that Jesper Fast has never won it before. He epitomizes what it’s all about.

That’s how I feel about Namestnikov, who might not have the fancy numbers. He’s just given a consistent effort after his one appearance in the Quinn Bin. I know he won’t win. But he definitely should get votes.

There’s also a game against Ottawa. I may or may not recap it. That doesn’t matter. What’s more important is what’s about to happen on the ice before. That Matters most!

Posted in NYRangers | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment