Laviolette Showing No Confidence In Rempe

Posted on October 17, 2024 by Derek

When the New York Rangers visit the Detroit Red Wings later tonight to complete a home and home series, it’ll be the same lineup from Monday night’s 4-1 home win. That’ll exclude Matt Rempe. He’ll be a healthy scratch for the third time in four games.

If there’s been something to question Rangers coach Peter Laviolette on, it’s the lack of confidence he’s shown in Rempe so far. The one game he played was against the Utah Hockey Club last Saturday, Oct. 12. The 22-year-old rookie forward received only 3:40 of ice time while playing on the fourth line. When asked about it, Laviolette mentioned that he went down to three lines following the automatic ejection of Adam Edstrom for fighting after Sam Carrick.

In a high scoring game that saw the Rangers chase the game, it was an understandable explanation. Laviolette felt like going with his best nine forwards. It paid off thanks to Will Cuylle, who had an Adam Fox rebound carom off him to force overtime. Utah HC took it in overtime. At least they earned a point.

When Rempe doesn’t play, it’s dependable veteran Jonny Brodzinski, who is more trusted by Laviolette. Brodzinski is a versatile depth forward. He can sub in for Carrick on faceoffs. There’s nothing wrong with him playing on the fourth line. He knows how to play the game.

The question is what kind of checking line is better suited for the Blueshirts over the long haul. A line featuring Edstrom, Carrick, and Rempe is capable of bringing a heavy forecheck along with physicality. Throw in the size factor. They’d be a handful for opponents to deal with next spring.

When Jimmy Vesey becomes eligible to return to the lineup, he’ll likely replace Brodzinski. Unless Edstrom’s play slips, he should remain in. Vesey can play the right side. He also doubles as an effective penalty killer. He’s a good defensive forward who can contribute offensively. Once he’s healthy, a checking line consisting of Edstrom, Carrick, and Vesey should be effective at even strength.

If Rempe isn’t going to play, then why keep him up with the big club? Until Vesey comes off long-term injured reserve (LTIR), Rempe probably will remain with the team. Brett Berard is also an option. The Hartford Wolf Pack just began their season. Berard scored a goal in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Oct. 12. Brennan Othmann recorded two assists in the game. Both are expected to remain in the American Hockey League (AHL) to continue their development. Each is in their second pro season.

The Rangers know what Rempe brings to the table. Even in a reduced role, he’ll get his jersey dirty. The six-foot nine, 255-pound Calgary native parked himself directly in front of Utah HC goalie Connor Ingram. Victor Mancini thought he had his first career NHL goal. However, it was immediately waved off due to interference. Replays showed that Rempe didn’t make contact with Ingram. Rather, Ingram came out and created it. A video review confirmed it was incidental contact with the goalie due to Rempe’s skate being in the blue paint.

If this all seems confusing, join the club. Are we back in 1999 when players weren’t allowed to have any part of their bodies in the crease? Unless your name was Brett Hull in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Incidental contact is in the rulebook. It isn’t used as often. The complex nature of goalie interference remains a gray area. It’s a judgment call. That is up to the referee to determine. There’s two, plus two linesmen. You also have Toronto when coaches challenge calls, like Laviolette did. If the goalie initiates the contact, they don’t get penalized. Similar to NFL quarterbacks, they’re protected at all costs by the NHL.

Rempe only appeared in 17 games last season. He made a name for himself by battling heavyweights around the league and earning respect. But he also showed an ability to get in on the forecheck and wreak havoc. Rempe doesn’t want to be known as anomaly. He wants to become a full-time regular who can take a regular shift. Teammates love his energy. They seemed to feed off it. The Rangers went 14-2-1 with Rempe in the lineup. In the postseason, he appeared in 11 games, including four in the Eastern Conference Final. The Rangers went 8-3.

There’s something to be said for that. If a young player can have a positive impact, why not play him more? It’s a dicey situation. Rempe’s popularity is through the roof. He became a fan favorite in quick fashion. Fans love the underdog story. Rempe is a 2020 sixth round pick who was a longshot. The organization saw enough to bring him up last season.

Rempe didn’t have the best camp. He was outplayed by Edstrom, who earned a starting spot. Edstrom is a different player. He’s a better skater with a bit more scoring touch. However, when he was asked how he learned to fight last week, he playfully pointed at Rempe in the locker room.

Rempe even has a commercial out for Body Armor. His infectious personality is a home run. What’s not to like? He really enjoys what he does.

When will we see Rempe again? That depends on what Laviolette decides. The Rangers also visit Toronto and Montreal as part of a three-game road trip. Maybe he gets to face the Maple Leafs on Hockey Night In Canada. At the moment, it’s game to game. Eventually, he’ll be sent back down. That’ll be best for his development.

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Rangers’ New Banner Makes No Sense

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Derek

When the Rangers visit the Red Wings tomorrow night at Little Caesars Arena, it’ll be their fourth game of the new season.

It’s been exactly a week since they defeated the Penguins 6-0 in the season opener. They followed that up by losing the home opener 6-5 in overtime to Utah HC. A game that saw the teams combine for seven goals in a sloppy second period. Will Cuylle’s tying goal in the third  earned them a point.

Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the only topic of conversation in hockey circles. The Rangers unveiled two new banners at Madison Square Garden. One was the 2023-24 Metropolitan Division Champs. There’s nothing wrong with that. They were the best team in the division.

It’s the other banner that continues to be discussed. The Rangers had the league’s best record to finish with 114 points. They won the Presidents’ Trophy. Although they came up short of winning the Stanley Cup, the organization recognized the achievement. The only problem with the new banner is the wording.

https://twitter.com/spittinchiclets/status/1846538843786256836?t=1sHxq_Rce6pHV_IMIClnjg&s=19

Most teams will have a banner that says Presidents’ Trophy Winner on it. The Rangers decided it was a good idea to have one that reads, “2023-24 Regular Season Champions.”

Whoever decided that should hang their head in shame. It’s an insult to Blueshirt fans. You aren’t crowned champs for winning the regular season. That must be earned. Anything less than a championship is a disappointment.

Past great seasons by the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins were celebrated. Neither won the Cup. The 1995-96 Red Wings lost to the Avalanche in the Western Conference Final. The 2022-23 Bruins lost to the Panthers in the first round. They were bitter endings to special seasons.

In 1991-92, the Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy. They lost to the Penguins in the Patrick Division Final. That banner still hangs from the rafters at MSG. It doesn’t say regular season champions.

It’s been 30 years since the Rangers won the Cup. The 1993-94 team backed up winning the Presidents’ Trophy by becoming Stanley Cup Champions. That is the one banner that is still fondly remembered. It remains their only Cup since 1939-40.

When Mark Messier, Mike Richter, Alex Kovalev, or Stephane Matteau are at The Garden, they get well-deserved loud cheers when they’re shown on the video board. That’s how special 1994 remains. Nobody cares that they had the league’s best record. The only thing that matters is that they won a championship.

Someone should tell Garden CEO James Dolan. If he wants the franchise to be the butt of jokes, he’s succeeded. Even with good players that are part of a roster that made two recent Conference Final appearances. The goal is to win the Cup.

The Rangers could finish third in the division. But if they go on to win it all, that’s all that matters. As recent history has shown, you don’t have to finish first overall to win the Cup. Few Presidents’ Trophy winners back up their regular season success. It becomes much more challenging in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

If I were the Rangers, I’d take down that banner and fix it. 2023-24 Presidents’ Tropby Winners sounds much better. That shouldn’t be so hard. For the time being, they’ll continue to get mocked. Hopefully, the 2024-25 Rangers can add another championship banner next June.

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Devils continue strong start with holiday shutout of Utah

Posted on October 15, 2024 by hasan4978

In some ways, yesterday felt like the start of hockey season to me even though we’re already five games into our regular season (while other teams like the Caps just played their opener on Saturday, against us!). Don’t get me wrong, I did get to watch most of the Sabres games overseas – either live or on tape – and the latter half of the game against the Caps a few days ago but I had to miss the home opener last Thursday. That was just as well, since the Devils threw up a clunker against the Leafs, falling behind by three goals before the first period was over and never really getting back into the game.

Plus there’s the small matter of a surprisingly long Met playoff run that’s still going on, not to mention my Jets’ season being in dire straits (probably pushed over the brink last night) – further splitting my attention over hockey season’s first week and a half. Yesterday however, I was off and I’d already decided to go to the Devils game against Utah in part because I’d missed the home opener.

As a sports fan, yesterday was a rather…unique circumstance with the Devils, Mets and Jets all playing on the same day back to back to back. According to my own research, that particular combination has only happened once before in history on October 18, 2015. And in yesterday’s case, none of the games conflicted – Devils at 1 PM, Mets at 4, Jets at 8:10 (though silly me, I actually thought the Mets game started at 5 so…I missed their whole six run outburst). Perversely, part of me liked the aspect of having all three play yesterday since it is so rare.

Maybe if the Devils had been playing on the road I wouldn’t have bothered to pay as much attention but as it was I’d been pretty blase over following the first four games. As such I won’t recap the latter two, probably the less said about the home opener the better anyway. It was a dud (though probably not as bad as 4-1 late in the second period would suggest), they were probably due to score on every chance they had after being shut out by the Canadiens the night before and we were clearly due for a reality check after two straight comprehensive wins in Prague. At least the stars showed up in that game with Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier getting the goals. From what I heard, it sounded like a…subdued atmosphere at the Rock for the opener. Not a big surprise considering both how quickly the game went south and also the fact the Yankee playoff game was a distraction for quite a number of fans there.

At least Saturday’s game was much better on the ice, with the role players leading the way once again – Seamus Casey scoring the Devils’ first goal after the Caps had opened the scoring, Paul Cotter scoring two more to raise his total to four(!) so far, Tomas Tatar scoring his first of the season which put the Devils back in front for good and Dawson Mercer adding an empty-netter in a game where the Devils were still shaky at times, but at least this game wasn’t a loss like three of our games against the Caps were last year!

In a way yesterday did feel like a different kind of home opener with a ‘sellout’ to boot, although it was clearly a late arriving crowd for a 1 PM game and secondary market tickets were the lowest listable price so it was kind of a soft sellout as far as I could tell…but still a nice crowd for what would normally be an attendance buzzkill if the game wasn’t on a holiday. I certainly didn’t mind going in and out of the arena earlier than normal and having sunlight out, although traffic was clearly of the rush hour variety in and out of Newark both ways because of the odd time of the game and it coming when most people had the day off.

With Brett Pesce still not ready to return, there were no changes to the lineup aside from Jake Allen starting on the front end of a back-to-back (the Devils’ early season odyssey takes them to Carolina tonight for their sixth game against a Canes team who’s only played one so far, go figure). Utah rolled into the Prudential Center with the makings of a high-powered attack after scoring sixteen goals in their first three games – all wins, including a 6-5 OT track meet at MSG on Saturday while the Devils were looking for their first win in New Jersey this year after starting 3-0 away from Newark.

Early on, there wasn’t much action as the two teams combined for only eleven shots on goal, and the best scoring chance for either team was when Bratt got pickpocketed right in front of Allen, but the goaltender stopped Alexander Kerfoot’s point-blank chance in front. Eventually the Devils gained more of a foothold on the contest, and in the second period they came out flying with an early power play, getting on the scoresheet thanks to a rookie who’s personally come out flying early in the season:

Keeping the puck in might have been more impressive than the goal itself, as he used his body for leverage and feeding Nico Hischier before the captain returned the favor on a nice one-two and the rookie did the rest. You could have given Casey a goal and an assist on the same play and not been hyperbolic, but he would assist on someone else’s goal just several minutes later when his point shot got through traffic to Stefan Noesen in front, and the fired-up vet put one in at 8:13, continuing his own strong start to the season:

Through the first five games of the season, Noesen has put up two goals and four assists with a +3 and twelve hits. Showing off their new-found snarl the Devils brought the physicality yesterday, outhitting Utah 28-8 to go along with outshooting them 28-14 in a dominant final forty minutes of the game yesterday. For a long time,the game ground along at 2-0 without much action until another power play in the third period all but sealed it, this time with a vintage tic-tac-toe play from the big names:

Somehow our early success on the power play this season feels infinitely more sustainable than it did last season when we were at 40% before the Dougie Hamilton injury. The puck movement has just been elite on the man advantage though, ironically all it’s been missing to this point have been the Dougie bombs but I’m sure we’ll get that before the season’s over. Ironically the only thing that wasn’t flawless about what turned into a 3-0 shutout was whoever was operating the jumbotron after the game, when it was announced Allen got the first star with twenty saves, someone put up ‘Jacob Markstrom, 33 saves’ on the big board. We happened to have 33 shots on net ourselves, I don’t know what bot or actual human screwed that up as badly as it did but I was so distracted I didn’t even really pay attention to Allen’s on-ice interview, hah.

At least the Devils did what they needed to do in these first five games, get off to a strong start and start to establish good habits in terms of playing within a system and staying disciplined. Once the first line gets clicking, or if changes get made to get production out of more than the 2nd and 3rd lines at even strength, then this team could be a sight to behold. But for now a slight cushion is good, especially with yet another back-to-back trip down to Raleigh from NJ, which seems to be a yearly occurrence. To his immense credit though, coach Sheldon Keefe pooh-pooed the impact of back to backs:

Of course, the back-to-back does mean a likely change in net even off an Allen shutout. Markstrom’s been okay-ish through his first three games but hopefully he can be a wall tonight against a tough opponent.

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Shesterkin Keys Rangers Win Over Red Wings

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Derek

When things break down, the Rangers can count on Igor Shesterkin to cover up their mistakes. In last night’s 4-1 win over the Red Wings at Madison Square Garden, it was the brilliant play of Shesterkin that made the difference. He finished with 31 saves to pick up his second victory of the season in three starts.

If he was a bit off in a high scoring 6-5 overtime loss to Utah HC on Oct. 12, Shesterkin more than made up for it making key saves when the Rangers needed it most. He was particularly strong in a disjointed second period – stopping all 14 shots to keep the game tied entering the third period. That included some critical ones when the Red Wings spent large chunks of time in the Rangers zone, generating scoring chances.

Somehow, the media thought that Shesterkin was the game’s third star. Did they even watch? Without him, the Rangers fall behind in the second period. When the Red Wings pressed the attack, which was aided by a couple of power plays, they forced Shesterkin into some difficult stops. He stood tall on Lucas Raymond and J.T. Compher.

For Detroit, Alex Lyon got the start. The backup to former Ranger Cam Talbot, he was good. But there was at least one goal he could’ve had. Following a couple of Shesterkin saves to prevent the Wings from grabbing an early lead, Zac Jones led Artemi Panarin in transition. As he cruised into the Detroit zone, Panarin set up Alexis Lafreniere for a one-timer that beat Lyon through the wickets to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. He caught Lyon moving. It was his second goal of the season. Lafreniere is up to four points. Every one increases his value.

It looked like they’d take a one-goal lead to the locker room. But the Red Wings had other ideas. After receiving a Patrick Kane feed, Justin Woll pinched down and found a wide open Dylan Larkin for a quick one-timer that beat the buzzer. The goal was scored with less than two seconds left. The Rangers’ top line broke down. Woll made a good move and had enough sense to realize how much time he had to find Larkin for the equalizer. Both Panarin and Lafreniere puck watched. Rookie defenseman Victor Mancini wasn’t in the right position. It was a frustating conclusion to the first period.

The second saw the Blueshirts get into penalty trouble. A Chris Kreider hooking minor led to a strong Red Wings’ power play. Despite having seven shots on it, they were unable to beat Shesterkin. He continued to stifle them when play returned to even strength. He was locked in.

If there’s an area they need to improve, it’s defensively. There have been too many instances during the first three games when they’ve given up dangerous opportunities. Utah HC exposed them. The Red Wings couldn’t due to Shesterkin, who rebounded well from an off start. In the 6-5 overtime defeat this past Saturday, he allowed six goals on 26 shots. It was a sharp contrast on Monday night when he stopped 31 of 32 shots. The goalie is the last line of defense. The Rangers are lucky to have him. Eventually, they’ll find some common ground on a new contract.

With the game still tied, Adam Edstrom drew a high-sticking minor on Holl. It took the Rangers’ top unit only eight seconds to take advantage. After a faceoff win, Panarin moved the puck over to Mika Zibanejad in the left circle. He didn’t hesitate, sending a nice pass past Red Wings defenseman Mo Seider right on Kreider’s stick for a tip-in past Lyon. His specialty. The power-play goal gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead with 2:55 left in the period. Kreider already is up to three goals. He scored twice against the Penguins in the season opener on Oct. 9.

Adam Fox nearly had another one at the buzzer. Following some good attack time from the Zibanejad line, K’Andre Miller sent a shot wide. With time winding down, Fox got to a loose puck and fired a backhand past an unassuming Lyon as the horn sounded. But it was a second too late. It was a smart play by Fox. He almost caught Lyon napping for a goal.

If there was a difference, the Rangers played much tighter defensively in the third period. They also were better offensively. They didn’t spend much time in the Red Wings’ end during the second. That wasn’t the case in the final 20 minutes. It was the Blueshirts who carried the play. They played with more urgency.

Mancini nearly had his first goal again. In the game against Utah HC, he had it negated due to Matt Rempe being in the blue paint, which resulted in incidental contact with Connor Ingram. On an aggressive shift, he made a nice move and fired a good shot that Lyon made a good save on. Mancini continues to impress with his skating and ability to jump into the play. Even though he’ll likely be sent down to the Hartford Wolf Pack, when Ryan Lindgren returns, Mancini has shown a lot of promise. He doesn’t look like a sixth round pick.

On an offensive draw, Zibanejad won it clean back to Reilly Smith. Smith’s quick wrist shot from the circle beat Lyon far side inside the goalpost to put the Rangers ahead by two with 15:09 remaining. Zibanejad has been winning more faceoffs thus far. Any time you can win one like he did for Smith’s first goal as a Ranger, that’s a huge positive. Faceoff plays have become critical in the league. You can create offense off of them. You couldn’t have drawn it up any better.

The Rangers picked up Zibanejad later when he went for taking down Raymond. So far, the penalty kill has been alright. They allowed one power-play goal to Utah HC in four chances. They were a perfect 4-for-4 against the Red Wings. They’ve gone 10-f0r-11 in their first three games. Both Miller and Jacob Trouba continue to excel shorthanded. Braden Schneider has been good so far, getting some shorthanded chances. Sam Carrick has fit in on the penalty killing unit.

The Red Wings lifted Lyon with over two minutes remaining in regulation. They never came close. Instead, the Rangers were excellent defensively. Carrick was used for a shift with Panarin and Vincent Trocheck. On another defensive shift, Trouba moved the puck to Panarin at the Detroit zone. He then dished across for a Zibanejad empty netter that sealed the victory. After going without a point in the first two games, Zibanejad finished with three points, including his first goal of the season. It’s important for his confidence.

Panarin finished with three assists. He is up to seven points. The seven points in the first three games allowed him to become the fourth Rangers player to post multiple points in three straight games to start a season. He joined Mike McEwen (1978-79), Bernie Nicholls (1990-91), and Kreider (2016-17).

Panarin is off to another fast start. It isn’t about what he does now. However, the consistency he’s shown has made him the best Rangers’ free agent signing. He is a dynamic player with remarkable talent. If you subtracted him from the roster, the Rangers would be hard pressed to make the playoffs. He competes extremely hard. His battle level has improved under coach Peter Laviolette. A good example was the strength he showed on a defensive shift with the Rangers protecting a two-goal lead. He warded off a Red Wings’ checker to help kill more time.

Smith got recognized for notching his first as a Blueshirt in the locker room. The Broadway hat looked a little funny on him. You could tell that he was trying to get used to it. He’s a proud veteran and former Stanley Cup champion. If he can score between 20 to 25 goals while playing with Zibanejad and Kreider, then that line should improve from last year. They have to be better at 5-on-5. Hopefully, Smith’s experience can help spark Zibanejad, who is the key to their success.

Brodzinski Replaces Rempe

As expected, Jonny Brodzinski replaced Rempe in the lineup. He took 13 shifts all at even strength, logging 8:11 of ice time. Edstrom received even less getting 7:32 in 11 shifts. Carrick played more because he kills penalties.

If there’s an area I’d like to see Laviolette do a better job on, it’s showing enough confidence in the fourth line. The Rangers must become a four line team. When he cuts down to three lines this early in the season, it’s counterproductive. Carrick looks like a solid replacement for Barclay Goodrow. He knows how to play his role.

Why even play Rempe if he’s going to get less than four minutes? He set an excellent screen on Mancini’s shot that almost was his first career NHL goal. If Rempe’s in for Thursday’s rematch at Detroit, he has to play more than he did against Utah HC.

If Laviolette refuses to play the checking line consistently, he could burn out his best forwards. It’s important to manage the minutes of Panarin, Trocheck, Zibanejad, and Kreider. All four play in every situation. It’s a long season. He shouldn’t overplay his stars.

The third line of Filip Chytil, Will Cuylle, and Kaapo Kakko has shown good chemistry. Along with Lafreniere, Chytil and Kakko don’t receive enough power play time. It can’t be a repeat of the last few seasons. They shouldn’t lean as heavily on the top unit. Finding balance is a key to success.

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Rangers’ Defense Struggles In Overtime Loss To Utah HC

Posted on October 13, 2024 by Derek

The Rangers played their second game of the season in last night’s home opener at Madison Square Garden. Offense wasn’t an issue. They scored five times against Connor Ingram. On the other hand, the defense struggles in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Utah Hockey Club (HC).

Facing a dangerous opponent that possesses great speed and skill, the Rangers fell behind early. They chased the game throughout. It was the explosive speed of Utah HC that took advantage of some mistakes in coverage. They either were tied or led throughout the contest. That more than anything never allowed the Rangers to get comfortable. It was a sharp contrast from the 6-0 drubbing they put on the Penguins on Oct. 9.

Following Rangers PA announcer Joe Tolleson introducing the team, John Brancy performed the national anthem. He really is outstanding. While the late John Amirante will always be fondly remembered by fans, Brancy brings his own energy and passion to the ice before games. He’s become a fixture at The Garden.

If there was a disappointing aspect, MSG Network never aired anything for viewers regarding the tragic losses of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. If you weren’t at the game, you got nothing. That is inexcusable. That wasn’t the case for the Devils home opener, which also aired on MSG on Oct. 10. When it comes to how the Rangers operate, it’s par for the course. It was tasteless.

Coach Peter Laviolette started his top line. Of course, I’m referring to Alexis Lafreniere, Artemi Panarin, and Vincent Trocheck. They are the number one line. I will no longer acknowledge the other line as such. They don’t deserve it. Especially after another lousy performance by Mika Zibanejad. He finished with a minus-4 rating. There won’t be any excuses made in this blog for Zibanejad.

Even the Trocheck line had some issues with the former Arizona Coyotes. It really is a shame that they never could survive in the desert. That’s a failure NHL commissioner Gary Bettman owns. When they played their games at Mullet Arena on the Arizona State campus, that was a sign that they were doomed. It definitely looked like a great atmosphere for games. But it’s for college hockey. Current Utah forward Josh Doan played his games there. The son of former NHLer Shane Doan is a promising rookie for a team that’ll score plenty of goals. In three games (all wins), they’re up to 16.

Less than four minutes into the game, Utah HC struck first. On a play in transition that was started by Nick Schmaltz, he moved the puck up to Clayton Keller. Keller then gained the Rangers zone and found a wide open Barrett Hayton for a goal that Igor Shesterkin had no chance on.

Rangers captain Jacob Trouba got lost in coverage, allowing Keller to set up Hayton for his third goal of the season. It wasn’t a good start on home ice for Trouba. Although he later had a key primary assist on a big Braden Schneider goal, he was on for three goals against. Two were at even strength. With Ryan Lindgren still sidelined with an upper-body injury sustained against the Islanders in a preseason fight with Scott Mayfield, Trouba is playing with Schneider for now. Fortunately, that experiment will be over soon.

Trailing by one, the Blueshirts responded less than five minutes later to tie the game. It was the unique combination of Lafreniere and Panarin who combined on a goal. Lafreniere carried the puck into the Utah zone and made a drop pass for Panarin, who used a defenseman as a screen to beat Connor Ingram for his first of the season. He would add another later. In two games, Panarin has two goals and two assists. Lafreniere has a goal and two helpers.

The game remained tied at one until a wild second period. The teams combined for seven goals on 21 shots. Utah HC beat Shesterkin four times on 11 shots. The Rangers got three past Ingram on 10 shots. A couple were unconventional. That included a goal scored by Jack McBain less than two minutes in to restore a one-goal lead.

Vladislav Kolyachanok threw a puck towards the net that took a carom off Trocheck right to McBain, who put it in. McBain would later be physically involved with Adam Edstrom. The period also featured a pair of fights.

The Blueshirts were put on the power play due to Kevin Stenlund going off for goalie interference on Shesterkin. Panarin got his second of the game to tie the game. After taking a pass from Adam Fox up top, he skated into open space and beat Ingram with a wrist shot from the left circle for the Rangers’ first power-play goal of the season. Trocheck drew the other assist.

A turning point came when they thought Victor Mancini had scored his first NHL goal. He beat Ingram with a good shot. However, it was waved off right away due to Matt Rempe being called for interference with Ingram in the crease. Laviolette unsuccessfully challenged. Rempe didn’t initiate the contact. Ingram came out to get in position with Rempe posting up in the blue paint. By rule, it’s incidental contact. Here was what Fox and Laviolette had to say about the tough call that went against them.

I understand what their argument is. It’s a tough rule. If a goalie comes out and initiates the contact, is it really the skater’s fault? It’s a thin line. Laviolette wants his players to go to that area. Rempe was where he should’ve been. Incidental contact wipes out goals. They don’t use it as often. Wes McCauley should’ve explained it better.

With the former Yotes on the power play, Ingram negated it by holding Chris Kreider. That led to some four-on-four. The advantage went to Utah HC. On a play behind his net, K’Andre Miller made a lousy reverse that resulted in a turnover. Alex Kerfoot quickly fed Keller for a goal in front that made it 3-2. Stenlund doubled up the lead when he surprised Shesterkin with a wrist shot from a sharp angle.

On the next shift, Miller got credit for a goal on a lucky bounce. His dump in banked off the boards and went into an open net with Ingram caught behind the cage. That made it 4-3.

Five seconds later, it was fight night on 33rd and 7th. The fourth line was involved in two scraps. Sam Carrick dropped the gloves with Michael Kesselring. Edstrom then took on McBain in an entertaining bout. He caught McBain flush to get the knockdown. Unfortunately, due to NHL rule, both Edstrom and McBain were ejected for being the second combatants. It’s a bad rule because it hurts teams. Each side loses a skater. That doesn’t make sense.

Another call that left some perplexed was Will Cuylle getting whistled for goalkeeper interference. Ingram came way out of his crease to make a play on a loose puck. Cuylle and Utah HC defenseman Mikhail Sergachev. Both were in a race for the puck with Ingram, who was aggressive on the play. Cuylle made a play on the puck and accidentally bumped into Ingram. It was a bad call. Fortunately, the Rangers killed off the penalty.

A bit later, Miller was sent off for high-sticking Logan Cooley. The bad penalty allowed Utah HC to go back ahead by two. Hayton and Schmaltz combined to set up Dylan Guenther for a laser in the slot. He’s up to five goals.

Trailing by two, the Rangers came back with a crucial goal late in the period. On a good forecheck by the third line, Cuylle moved the puck up for Trouba. He then found an isolated Schneider on the left point. That allowed him to move in and beat Ingram with a snapshot for his first of the season. The Rangers still trailed 5-4 after two periods.

Cuylle had a good game. He was active throughout and got rewarded. The line with Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko has clicked so far. They’ve shown good chemistry and created chances off the cycle. Kakko looks like he fits in well with Chytil. They have familiarity due to playing together. Cuylle provides a combination of size, speed, and grit. His play creates space for both Chytil and Kakko. It’ll be a line to follow closely.

With the Rangers still down by a goal, the work from both Kakko behind the net and Cuylle in front resulted in them tying the game with 7:04 left in the third period. Kakko centered in front for a Cuylle shot that rebounded off Ingram. Both Cuylle and Fox were in the area. Fox poked the loose puck off Cuylle and in to make it 5-5.

It’s that kind of effort that usually gets rewarded. Cuylle finished the game with a goal and assist. He didn’t earn a Star of the Game. But anyone who watched knows he impacted the game. His hard work allowed the Rangers to get a point.

In overtime, nothing was decided until the final minute. On a play behind the net, Keller was allowed to come out in front and whip a backhand past Shesterkin inside the crossbar for the game-winner. Miller was by himself. He had to stay with his man on the other side. Zibanejad got caught napping. He didn’t make the switch onto Keller, who had too much time to get his second of the game. Keller has long been overlooked. He won’t be this season.

It was a disappointing result. Utah HC has a lot of young talent. They should have one of the best offenses in the league. In the postgame, I thought both Henrik Lundqvist and Steve Valiquette were on the money. Valiquette emphasized that when you get into that type of run and gun mentality, it’s better to slow things down. They needed to play more below the hash marks and create more offense off the forecheck. Lundqvist gave some credit to Utah HC. They have talented players. If they get enough goaltending and defense, they have a good chance to make the playoffs.

Undoubtedly, the Rangers will watch video today before getting ready for the Red Wings on Monday. They then have their first road trip of the season. That includes a return trip to Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 17. They will then visit the Maple Leafs next Saturday, Oct. 19. The three-game road swing concludes against the Canadiens on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

In a nice moment, McCauley recognized Sam Rosen by pointing to the broadcast booth before the opening faceoff. This is Rosen’s last season behind the mic as the Rangers TV voice. He was also given the ceremonial puck as a memento. It was a nice touch.

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The Case Of Shesterkin

Posted on October 11, 2024 by Derek

Earlier this week, Igor Shesterkin reportedly rejected the Rangers’ contract extension offer of eight years, $88 million. NHL insider Kevin Weekes broke the story on Twitter.

It isn’t shocking that Shesterkin turned it down. Ever since Mollie Walker of the New York Post speculated that he wanted to be paid as high as $12 million per year back on June 2, it looks like his camp is hellbent on redefining the goalie market. For that reason, they weren’t pleased that the Rangers’ offer on Tuesday was leaked. It happens. The business side of sports can get complicated.

Following making 29 saves to become the first Rangers goalie to record a season opening shutout since Gump Worsley on Oct. 9, Shesterkin declined to comment on his contract status. The time for that was before the season started. Now, it’s all about what happens. There’s an 82-game schedule to play first. The Rangers must still prove they’re one of the league’s best. The playoffs are a long way off.

Shesterkin knows that he must prove he’s worth the contract he wants. The former Vezina winner hasn’t been able to match the gaudy numbers he put up in 2021-22. In his first full season as the starter, he went 36-13-4 with a 2.07 goals-against-average (GAA), .935 save percentage and six shutouts. He followed that up by posting a 2.59 GAA and .929 save percentage in the 2022 postseason – taking the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final. They were a goal or two away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final.

Somewhat predictably, his level came back to earth. In 2022-23, he won 37 games and posted a 2.48 GAA and .916 save percentage. Last season, he won 36 games and had a 2.58 GAA and posted a career worst .912 save percentage. But he was much better in the second half – carrying his hot play into the playoffs. At times, he was impossible to beat. After backstopping the Rangers past the Hurricanes in a closely fought Metropolitan Division Final, he was even better against the Panthers. However, the offense dried up due to the Panthers’ dominance at even strength. Ultimately, his heroic goaltending wasn’t enough. Florida defeated New York in six games – going on to win the Stanley Cup over Edmonton.

How Contemporaries Stack Up

Considered by many to be the game’s best goalie, Shesterkin has some ammunition. A few of his contemporaries received raises.

In the summer, Juuse Saros signed an extension with the Predators that’ll pay him a $7.74 million cap hit thru 2032-33. He’s making $5 million this season. The 29-year-old has been a starter as long as Shesterkin. He took over for Pekka Rinne. While Saros has never won a Vezina, no starting goalie is a bigger workhorse than him. He’s led the league in games played the last three seasons. Saros has finished in the top five for Vezina the past three years. He was third in 2021-22. Due to playing in Nashville, Saros took a little less money. Even so, he’s a bargain.

Most recently, Jeremy Swayman was in a contract dispute with the Bruins. The 25-year-old netminder finally agreed to an eight-year contract worth $66 million. With less experience as a starter, he cashed in. His cap hit is $8.25 million. Swayman’s best season was in 2023-24 when he set personal bests in games played (44), games started (43), and wins (25). He’s won 80 games over a five-year career.

Linus Ullmark won the Vezina as a Boston Bruin in 2022-23. He went 40-6-1 with a 1.89 GAA and .938 save percentage during the Bruins’ record-setting season. He was unable to duplicate that success in a disappointing first round series loss to the Panthers. Ullmark still put up respectable numbers last season. He won 22 games while posting a 2.57 GAA and .915 save percentage. But Swayman was the number one goalie. With the Bruins aware that they couldn’t keep him due to Swayman, they dealt him to the Senators in the off-season for Joonas Korpisalo, Mark Kastelic, and a 2024 first round pick.

In the final season of a contract with a $5 million cap hit, the 31-year-old Ullmark signed a four-year extension for a $8.25 million AAV thru 2028-29. While he isn’t considered in the same category as Shesterkin, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Sergei Bobrovsky, Ilya Sorokin, or Jake Oettinger, he’s won 139 games while posting a 2.50 GAA and .919 over his career. He improved after leaving the Sabres. Doesn’t everyone?

For his career, Shesterkin has 136 wins, a 2.42 GAA, .921 save percentage and 16 shutouts. Excellent numbers that help his case. Some pundits have argued whether or not he’s worth four million more than Swayman. He’s more established and has taken the Rangers to two Final Four appearances. Let’s see how Swayman performs now that he’s the man in Beantown.

Pressure Is A Privilege

They say pressure is a privilege. That’s true. For the world’s greatest athletes, they have the ability to raise their level when the spotlight is on. Shesterkin has done his part in two of the last three postseasons. He also didn’t get much help from teammates in a forgettable seven-game first round elimination to the Devils in 2022-23.

By now, it’s been repeated as much as the scene in Groundhog Day when Phil keeps waking up and slamming the alarm clock at 6 AM. The Rangers are in it to win it. It doesn’t just fall on one player. Shesterkin is the most important one due to the position he plays. Teammates know how much he means to their chances. Without him, it would be unrealistic to think that the Blueshirts can win the Cup. He’s what Henrik Lundqvist was for better than a decade. Mike Richter did it in the 1990s, backstopping the franchise to a championship 54 years in the making.

With so much riding on the line this season, it’s do or die. It isn’t about Shesterkin’s next contract. He knows that. Whether it’s in the Big Apple or God forbid elsewhere, he’ll get his money. How badly does he want to win in New York City? He plays with passion and has an aggressive mindset. All you have to do is watch him come out to play a puck forward for a teammate to catch opponents in a line change. He has an active stick in the crease. He’s a very athletic goalie.

What’s The Scenario?

What if Shesterkin puts together another Vezina season, winning 40 games and leading the league in a few other categories? He’d be worth his asking price. What if the Rangers lose in the second round?

The biggest question is whether or not the Rangers get Shesterkin signed during 2024-25. If he’s fulfilling expectations, then Chris Drury will have no choice but to pony up. Imagine if there really isn’t any negotiations during the season. That would be the definition of insanity. It’s a scenario. Even if unlikely, you never know.

Realistically speaking, the organization knows that they can’t allow Shesterkin to get to free agency. If it ever came to that, they may as well say goodbye.

Panarin Money

When the Rangers signed Artemi Panarin to a seven-year contract that paid him $11.64 million, they made him the highest paid player in franchise history. The Bread Man has certainly been worth the money. In 391 games, he’s produced 149 goals, 314 assists, and 463 points as a Blueshirt. That included a career best 120 points (49-71-120) last season.

Despite performing better last postseason, Panarin struggled against the Panthers. His only goal came with Shesterkin on the bench to give the Rangers one final chance in Game 6. They were unable to force overtime. The knock on Panarin is that he doesn’t score enough in the playoffs. Had he done better along with Mika Zibanejad, the Rangers probably reach the Stanley Cup Final.

It’s no secret that Shesterkin wants Panarin money. He would love to become the highest paid player in Rangers history. He’ll turn 29 on Dec. 30. He’s in the prime of his career. If he was offered eight years at $11.7 million, would that be enough to keep him happy? My guess is we won’t know the answer for a while.

Whatever happens, his play will be a hot topic. At least we have the Mets and Yankees to distract us for a while.

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Rangers and Lafreniere Close To An Extension

Posted on October 11, 2024 by Derek

A day following their first victory of the new season, it looks like the New York Rangers are close to signing Alexis Lafreniere to a contract extension. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the two sides have made significant progress on a deal. They held some discussions during the summer.

The former 2020 top pick is fresh off a career season that saw him achieve personal bests in goals (28), assists (29), and points (57). Lafreniere backed it up in the playoffs by scoring eight goals and adding six assists for 14 points. Playing with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck brought out the best in the just turned 23-year-old. He celebrates his birthday later today.

In the Rangers’ season-opening 6-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, Oct. 9, Lafreniere got off to a quick start. He scored his first goal and had an assist for a two-point game. Considering the confidence he’s now playing with, it isn’t far fetched to see him put up 35 to 40 goals and top 70 points. The sky’s the limit. The skill he possesses makes him a dangerous player. Not considered the fastest skater, he makes up for it with good patience to get around defenders, like he did on his goal against the Penguins.

If the Rangers sign Lafreniere to a long-term extension worth in the neighborhood of $80 million for eight years, it would be a big investment. While he hasn’t reached the level of Seth Jarvis or Lucas Raymond yet, Lafreniere hasn’t had the chance to be featured on the first power play. He’s had to play second fiddle to established veterans.

As they prepare for their home opener against the Utah Hockey Club tomorrow night, Lafreniere begins 2024-25 on the second unit, which includes Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko, Reilly Smith, and K’Andre Miller. If the first unit that features Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Trocheck, and Adam Fox falters, Lafreniere will be the first player tried to give it a jolt. The Rangers went 0-for-2 on the power play in their first game.

Shesterkin Starts Well

Assuming a new contract gets done, the next order of business will eventually be focusing on locking up Igor Shesterkin. He reportedly wasn’t happy that news of him turning down an eight-year offer worth $88 million leaked out. Instead of worrying about becoming the highest paid player in Rangers franchise history, he made 29 saves to shut out the Pens – becoming the first Blueshirts goalie to record a shutout in a season opener since Gump Worsley.

What happens with Shesterkin will be a storyline. He can earn that lofty $12 million number by putting together a great season. It’s doubtful the Rangers would let the 28-year-old Russian reach the market next summer. None of it matters now. The primary focus is the team having success. There are bigger goals they want to reach.

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Rangers Dominate Season Opener

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Derek

The first game went about as well as can be expected. When the puck was dropped at PPG Paints Arena, it was all Rangers. They dominated the Penguins to easily win the season opener 6-0 on Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.

If it were a prize fight, the Pens trainer would’ve thrown in the towel. You wouldn’t have even known that they have one of the game’s all-time greatest players. That’s how easy it was for the Rangers. They made quick work of a flawed opponent that doesn’t look like a playoff team. Sidney Crosby can only do so much.

Before the game was even three minutes old, Jacob Trouba let go of a point shot that Sam Carrick redirected past Tristan Jarry for his first goal as a Ranger. Rookie Adam Edstrom was also parked in front. He played with Carrick and Jonny Brodzinski on the fourth line. Brodzinski picked up an assist on the goal.

A few shifts later, Will Cuylle thought he had his first. He took a nice pass from Kaapo Kakko and snapped a wrist shot from the right circle upstairs. However, the Penguins challenged for offside. In what looked like a very close call, the league ruled that the entry was offside to overturn the goal. It remained a one-goal game.

When the Pens did apply some pressure, they were stopped in their tracks by Igor Shesterkin. Making his first start in a contract year, he was sharp throughout. He made 10 saves in the first period. Shesterkin became the first Rangers goalie to pitch a shutout in a season opener since Gump Worsley in 1956.

With the Rangers still up one, Alexis Lafreniere scored his first of the season. After taking an Artemi Panarin outlet at center ice, he made a great one-on-one move to toe drag around and fire a laser past Jarry for a 2-0 lead.

Adding insult to injury, the Blueshirts struck again with a dozen seconds remaining in the period. Reilly Smith fed Trouba for a one-timer that Jarry couldn’t control. That allowed Chris Kreider to deposit the rebound for his first. That made it 3-0.

If there was any doubt, Filip Chytil erased it. At nearly the halfway mark, he took a Cuylle drop pass and fired home his first goal of the season. It was his first goal since Apr. 18, 2023. That came against the Devils in the first round that season. If it was an early indication, the third line looked good. Chytil had good chemistry with Cuylle and Kakko, who he knows well from the Kid Line days. That line will be a key to the season.

The best part is seeing the big smile on Chytil’s face. He plays the game with joy. His infectious personality can only rub off on teammates. Listening to Trouba who did a postgame interview with the NHL On TNT, they’re happy for him. Chytil has been through a lot. Hopefully, he can have the kind of season he’s always been capable of.

With Smith off for hooking Crosby, Kreider turned Kris Letang into a traffic cone. Catching the Pens veteran defenseman flat-footed, he stole the puck and broke in for a shorthanded goal.

It was the 10th shorthanded goal he’s scored since being put on the penalty kill in 2021-22. Give former coach Gerard Gallant credit for that. He saw something in Kreider to use him in a different role. Given his speed, it’s worked out extremely well. The next shorthanded goal he scores will tie him with Mika Zibanejad and Walt Tkaczuk for fifth on the all-time franchise list. We’ll see if Zibanejad can get one before his sidekick.

With the game winding down, Panarin found Lafreniere wide open in front for a point blank chance. After Jarry made the initial stop on him, Pittsburgh native Vincent Trocheck steered home the rebound for his first to put the finishing touches on the victory.

Shesterkin made a couple of strong stops to preserve a 29-save shutout. It was exactly the way you draw it up. The Rangers took care of an inferior opponent. It’s kind of sad what’s happened to the Pens. But they’re an aging roster.

The Rangers next will face the Utah Hockey Club in Saturday’s home opener. That one will air on MSG. The final season for Sam Rosen. He was named the recipient of the Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. Congrats to one of the good guys. Hopefully, it’ll be a memorable year.

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Rangers Preview: Cup or Bust

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Derek

When the puck drops on a new season against the Penguins later tonight, the Rangers will be under the weight of heavy expectations. After coming close in two of the past three years, it’s Cup or bust for a core that’s been together long enough.

How will they handle the pressure? For an Original 6 franchise that’s won only four championships in its history, it hasn’t been easy. Since 2011-12, the Rangers have appeared in five Conference Finals. Their record is 1-4. The only time they won an Easter Conference Final was in 2014 when they defeated the Canadiens in six games – reaching their first Stanley Cup Final since Mark Messier led them to the Cup in 1994. They lost to the Kings in as close a five-game series as possible. The less said about it, the better.

Two years after coming within two victories of defeating the Lightning, they fell to the Panthers in six last spring. It was another close call. Florida went on to win the Cup. In each series loss, the offense dried up. Despite superb goaltending from Igor Shesterkin, it wasn’t enough. The Blueshirts needed more from a talented core that includes Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Chris Kreider. The trio picked the wrong time to go cold.

Since Panarin signed with the Rangers in 2019, they’ve become one of the league’s best teams. That also includes captain Jacob Trouba, who was acquired from the Jets that summer. He struggled throughout the 2024 postseason. Trouba wasn’t quite the same after returning from a broken ankle. His decline last season made him a trade candidate over the summer. But Chris Drury was unable to move him due to Trouba’s desire to remain in the Big Apple for his family.

Aside from that, now there’s the Shesterkin issue. He rejected an eight-year contract extension worth $88 million that would’ve made him the highest paid goalie in league history. The 28-year-old netminder is determined to get more. It could just be that he wants to become the highest player in Rangers franchise history. Panarin is currently that player with a cap hit of $11.64 million. His contract expires in 2026. If Drury were to offer $11.7 million to Shesterkin, would that get it done? His asking price is said to be $12 million. A figure that was first reported by the New York Post.

For the Blueshirts, none of this matters. They have a job to do. The business side of hockey will take care of itself. Shesterkin can earn that new contract by performing better than he has the last two seasons. That means a better start. It begins against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. Whatever happens in 2024-25 will decide whether or not a close-knit group remains together next summer.

FORWARDS

The core is led by Panarin, whose 49 goals and 120 points were career bests last season. His line with Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere remain together. They carried the offense by dominating at even strength. Lafreniere is coming off his best season, in which he achieved personal bests in goals (28), assists (29), and points (57). If he can continue that trend, he will get a hefty raise next summer. With Lucas Raymond and Seth Jarvis signing big extensions, Lafreniere can put the onus on the Rangers. Trocheck also posted a career high 77 points while becoming one of the game’s best centers on faceoffs (58.7 pct).

Much of why they failed to get further can be attributed to Zibanejad and Kreider. More so Zibanejad, whose scoring slump really hurt. His failure to elevate his level at five-on-five has become a concern. A better season would go a long way to changing the narrative. Kreider remains a beast in front of the net, where he makes his living tipping in shots. Eighteen of his 39 goals came on the power play. He and Zibanejad have been inseparable since being put together. They now have a new right wing in veteran Reilly Smith. A former Golden Knight who was a key part of a Cup in 2022. He’s a good complement who’s defensively responsible. We’ll see if he can add a similar element on the top line.

Filip Chytil is a key to the season. Limited to 10 games due to his fourth concussion, he looked good in preseason. He will center the third line, which includes the gritty Will Cuylle, and Kaapo Kakko. Cuylle supplies the physicality. Kakko has yet to figure out how to score consistently. On a one-year deal, this could be his swansong. He really needs to produce. The health of Chytil is crucial. He must avoid the kind of hits that have plagued him. If he can perform, it would provide better balance than they’ve had. Too often, it’s hinged on the top six. That isn’t a successful formula.

Connor Carrick was brought in to replace Barclay Goodrow. It’s a tall task. But Carrick is a cheaper option who can center the checking line. He should supply energy and grit. Jonny Brodzinski finally starts the season with the big club. It’s well deserved for the 31-year-old vet. A versatile forward, he’s capable of playing all three spots and taking draws. While much of the fanfare continues to surround Matt Rempe, it’s been the play of Adam Edstrom during preseason that earned him a roster spot with Jimmy Vesey sidelined (LTIR). Edstrom’s skating, size, and soft hands make him a good fit. He’ll get to show what he can do. Rempe still must prove he can become a full-time regular. His size and strength make him a fan favorite due to the ferocious style he provides. He wants to be known for more than his fists.

DEFENSE

Adam Fox leads an experienced blue line. One of the game’s premiere defensemen, the former Norris winner remains an exciting player who can jump into the rush and make things happen. A terrific passer, he can find open teammates at even strength. He also doubles as the quarterback of the top power play unit. If there’s an area he’s improved on, it’s shooting the puck. He notched a career high 17 goals last season. The more he thinks shot, the harder it’ll be for opponents to defend him. Fox won’t have partner Ryan Lindgren for at least the first three games. Lindgren supplies the nuts and bolts, making life easier for Fox. He’s on a one-year, $4.5 million deal and can become a free agent in 2025.

Without Lindgren, K’Andre Miller will move up to play with Fox on the top pair. He remains a key to the blue line. He battled with inconsistency last season. Miller wasn’t pleased with 2023-24. Playing for a contract, he’s looking for a better season. At the moment, the Rangers’ matchup defenseman will also be featured on the second power play unit. Considering his responsibilities at five-on-five and on the penalty kill, we’ll see if he can handle the extra workload.

For the time being, Braden Schneider is being asked to shift to the left side. He didn’t look comfortable when tried with Fox in the preseason. He will start with Trouba on the second pair. Once Lindgren returns, Schneider can slide back to his natural side. He has more to give. Whether it’s teamed up with Miller on the second pair, or with Zac Jones, Schneider is another young player who’s being counted on.

All preseason, Jones proved that he’s ready to be a regular. His skating and offensive instincts will help improve team speed. If he can continue to improve, Jones has a shot to put up 30 points. Especially if he eventually replaces Miller on the second power play. He is good at getting his shot through and making things happen.

Victor Mancini was the biggest surprise of camp. He went from barely any pro experience to making the roster. A role opened up due to the Lindgren upper-body injury. However, Mancini had already opened eyes with his superb skating and relative calm with which he plays. How will he handle NHL speed? It isn’t preseason anymore. He’ll work with Jones on the third pair to start the season.

Chad Ruhwedel is a solid journeyman who’s capable of filling in when the situation needs it. He’s good insurance to have.

GOALIES

The Shesterkin stuff has already been examined. How he handles the pressure will determine his future. He turns 29 on Dec. 30. Considered one of the game’s best goalies, he’s looking to cash in. Why shouldn’t he want to get paid top dollar? He sure did his part last spring. He didn’t get any run support.

If he wants to stay a Ranger, then all he has to do is lead them to the promised land. If they broke a 31-year drought, there’s no way the Rangers wouldn’t show Igor the money. They don’t exactly have a heir apparent, either. Unless Dylan Garland suddenly proves he’s ready.

Jonathan Quick played so well last season that he signed on for another year. He’ll be hard pressed to duplicate the 18 wins he had. But he needs seven more to reach 400 victories for his career. Quick is a steady backup at this stage. When Shesterkin slumped last January, Peter Laviolette didn’t hesitate to ride the hot hand. It was Quick’s play that allowed Shesterkin to reset following the All-Star break.

COACH

Laviolette came in and did an outstanding job in his first season on Broadway. He changed the dynamic by making players accountable and adding a defensive system. The Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy by going 55-23-4 with 114 points. A proven coach who’s won 807 games, it’ll be interesting to see what he can do for an encore.

If there’s an area he can improve on, it would be at not being afraid to roll the dice. Former Ranger Erik Gustafsson struggled against the Panthers in the third round. Instead of inserting Jones, he stuck with Gustafsson, who didn’t help Trouba one bit. Laviolette also refused to adjust the power play when it went cold. Lafreniere remains a candidate who should see time if the top unit has issues.

ANALYSIS

The Rangers should remain near the top of the Eastern Conference. They will get more competition from the Devils for the division. The Islanders also should be good and the Hurricanes can’t be discounted. It doesn’t matter if they finish first. It’s all about the playoffs. Anything less than a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals would be underwhelming. It’s a lot to ask from a group that hasn’t proven they can deliver a championship.

They’ll be very good. But things will come to a head. There’s too many dominoes that have to fall in place. I am not expecting it to happen.

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NHL Preview: Cup Winner Hard To Predict

Posted on October 8, 2024 by Derek

Entering the start of a new season, with the Devils and Sabres having already completed a two-game series over in Prague for reasons only known to the league, there isn’t a consensus pick to win the Stanley Cup. At least it doesn’t appear to be on paper. There are plenty of good teams who should be in the mix.

It’s too much to assume that the defending champion Panthers will become only the third team to repeat in the salary cap era. It’s been done by the Sidney Crosby-led Penguins and the Lightning, who said goodbye to franchise great captain Steven Stamkos (Predators). It’s impossible to keep a championship team together. The Bolts still have remaining core pieces Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Andrei Vasilevskiy. They replaced Stamkos with former Pen Jake Guentzel, who helped them win back-to-back Cups.

McDavid, Oilers Top the List

If there is a team that’s expected to seriously compete for the Cup, it’s the Oilers who top the list. Led by the game’s most dominant player Connor McDavid, they are loaded. With a cast that already features McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Ryan-Nugent Hopkins, and Evan Bouchard, they added Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner.

It’ll likely come down to Stuart Skinner and a blue line that relies heavily on Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, and the polarizing Darnell Nurse. McDavid is otherworldly – pulling away from teammate Draisaitl, Lightning’s Kucherov and Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon to put himself into another category. If he can lead Edmonton to their first Cup since Mark Messier captained the franchise to a fifth in 1990, he’ll enter legendary status.

A Red and Black Army

Following a colossal disappointment, in which they failed to qualify for the postseason, leading to Lindy Ruff and Travis Green finding work elsewhere, the Devils made big changes. Former Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe is now in charge of a nucleus that features Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, and Dougie Hamilton.

Tom Fitzgerald made some good additions to beef up the lineup. They include Paul Cotter, and Brenden Dillon. Both have already had an impact in their first two wins over the all too predictable Sabres. Most importantly, they improved in net by trading for Jacob Markstrom. He should solidify the goaltending along with capable backup Jake Allen. A much better tandem than Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid were a year ago. Brett Pesce should be ready for the home opener against the Maple Leafs. He is a key addition to the back end.

If all goes well, the red and black army should be heard from next spring.

Do or Die for Blueshirts

Since they signed Artemi Panarin and acquired Jacob Trouba, the Rangers have become one of the league’s best teams. However, they still have yet to play for the Cup. They came close in both 2022 and 2024. Ultimately, they didn’t have enough to get past Tampa and Florida.

With Igor Shesterkin declining Chris Drury’s offer that would’ve made him the league’s highest paid goalie, it looks like a game of chicken has begun. If Shesterkin performs well, something will likely get done. So much for a ‘hockey insider’ all but assuring Blueshirt fans that there would be a new contract done before Wednesday night’s season opener.

So. There will be some distractions on 33rd and Seventh. It isn’t comparable to what the Messier led Rangers went through to finally erase a 54-year curse to win the franchise’s fourth Cup. It’s 30 years and counting since. The pressure is on for a roster that includes Panarin, Shesterkin, Trouba, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, Vincent Trocheck, and Alexis Lafreniere. They have plenty of talent.

It’s a big year for K’Andre Miller, who can earn a hefty raise if he fulfills his own expectations after a down season. What if Shesterkin gets a King’s ransom and Lafreniere has an even better 2024-25? That isn’t a concern now. The Blueshirts are looking to reach the mountain and end another long drought. It’s do or die.

The Star in Stars

If there’s a very good team that’s been close, it’s the Stars. They certainly have the talent to deliver a second Cup to Dallas. They lost to the Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final in 2021. They lost to the Oilers in the Final Four last spring. They have the pieces to put it altogether.

Roope Hintz remains one of the game’s most underrated top pivots. He is a good playoff performer. Jason Robertson should return to scoring close to 40 goals. Wyatt Johnston might one day score 50. Miro Heiskanen remains an elite defenseman, who’ll probably never win the Norris due to how it’s voted on. Jamie Been is still around to lead a tough team that still features Tyler Seguin. It’s too bad that Joe Pavelski retired. What a career he had.

The Stars have enough scoring depth and balance to make a deep run. Jake Oettinger will determine their fate. Only 25, he’s looking for a big season in a contract year.

Hurricane Season

For half a decade, the Hurricanes have been on the cusp. Rod Brind’Amour remains one of the league’s best coaches. However, he’s never taken them out of the Eastern Conference. They were swept in two Conference Finals and twice lost to the Rangers in crushing fashion on home ice.

Sebastian Aho established himself as one of the game’s best centers. He was heroic in a six-game second round defeat last spring. If they hadn’t collapsed in the third period, they might’ve made history by coming all the way back from a 3-0 series deficit against the Rangers. It would’ve been all the more impressive without Pesce. They lost both Pesce and Brady Skjei (Predators, and let Guentzel go to Tampa.

There’s still a good nucleus. Seth Jarvis is one of the league’s emerging stars. He’s a complete player who plays in every situation. Andrei Svechnikov still hasn’t put together his best season. Neither has Martin Necas. That could change. Jordan Staal remains along with the underrated Jaccob Slavin. Expect Pyotr Kochetkov to supplant Andersen as the top guy in net.

How much will the Canes miss Pesce and Skjei? Sean Walker and Shayne Gostisbehere can help. But they might suffer defensively.

Isle Be Seeing You

The Islanders will have a different look. Cal Clutterbuck is gone. Matt Martin is too. Both were well respected on and off the ice. Martin welcoming Rangers’ neophyte Matt Rempe at the Stadium Series was great. Both were good players who helped the Islanders come within reach of playing for the Cup.

Times change. Lou Lamoriello seems to finally be getting it. He waived Pierre Engvall, who had a ridiculous long-term contract. The arrival of Maxim Tsyplakov made him expendable. The KHL import looks like he can make an impact. Anthony Duclair looks promising with the cohesive duo of Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal. Duclair has been on eight teams. But he is a good skater who can net 25-30 goals.

Brock Nelson remains a consistent 30-goal scorer who provides strength at center, along with Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Kyle Palmieri rediscovered his scoring touch last season. Anders Lee is a shell of himself due to the gritty style he plays.

If Ilya Sorokin is fully recovered from back surgery, he’ll need a big bounce back year. He lost the job to Semyon Varlamov, who Patrick Roy rode. They remain a good tandem. If the defense led by Adam Pelech, Noah Dobson, and Scott Mayfield stays healthy, they’ll be a difficult team for opponents to face.

Rookie Watch

There are plenty of rookies to watch this season. They might not get the fanfare that Connor Bedard received. But there’s considerable young talent in the game. Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith will both be players to watch on the rebuilding Sharks. Plenty of attention will be on Celebrini.

If you like college hockey, Cutter Gauthier should be a familiar name. The former Boston College standout forced his way out of Philadelphia in a trade to Anaheim last spring. He’s expected to be an immediate contributor on a Ducks roster filled with potential. Gauthier should challenge for the Calder Trophy.

Lane Hutson is a Canadien to keep an eye on. Similar to Gauthier, he took the college route by starring at Boston University for two years. He debuted with two assists in two games last season. Both Hutson and Gauthier are 20 entering their rookie campaigns. Along with the Stars’ Logan Stankoven, they should provide plenty of excitment.

Stamkos in Mustard?

It’s still a bit perplexing that Stamkos left the Lightning and signed with the Predators. Barry Trotz went on a spending spree by also adding Jonathan Marchessault and Skjei. All are getting paid big bucks to turn Nashville into a playoff contender.

By keeping Filip Forsberg and Juuse Saros, the Predators should be a formidable team. They play in the toughest division. The Central includes the Stars, Avalanche, Jets, Blues, and Wild. Only Minnesota missed the cut. The division could be even more chaotic with the Utah Hockey Club looking to break through.

The Preds boast Saros in net and Roman Josi on defense. Stamkos and Marchessault will bolster the scoring. Especially on the power play. Skjei is a good five-on-five player with a big shot. Nashville should be in the mix.

Do They Be-Leaf?

In Toronto, they’re banking on Craig Berube to finally do what Keefe couldn’t do. Take a super talented roster that now has Auston Matthews as the captain to the promised land.

Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Morgan Rielly, and John Tavares have never been past the second round. It’s hard to believe that Tavares is in the final year of his contract. Remember when he left the Islanders to come home? That feels like a lifetime ago. A year after scoring the biggest goal the Leafs have had in recent memory, he showed some signs of decline last year. He’s 34. What does the Nylander center experiment signal?

Joseph Woll has been handed the keys in net. Had he not been injured, they could’ve completed the comeback against Boston. Woll must prove he can be the man. Anthony Stolarz is a very capable 1b. It never seems to matter what the Leafs have on the back end. It’ll fall on the stars to deliver. Is this the season?

Emerging From the Pack

There are some teams who are emerging from the pack. One is Utah. And no. I’m not going to keep referring to them as the Hockey Club. Pick a name already. A core that features Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, Lawson Crouse, Nick Schmaltz, Mattias Maccelli, Josh Doan, and Sean Durzi should have no problem scoring goals.

Adding Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino can only help stabilize the back end. Connor Ingram is the starter who delivered last season. Can he duplicate it? If not, Karel Vejmelka will need a better year.

Utah promises to be exciting. Guenther will become their best finisher. Doan looks poised to have a good rookie season. Are they ready to return to the playoffs?

Meanwhile in Philadelphia, the Flyers have 2023 seventh pick Matvei Michkov ready to go. So much for the wait. Another fresh face with a bright future, the 19-year-old Russian looks to take the league by storm. If he lives up to the hype, Michkov will on highlight reels. He doesn’t turn 20 until Dec. 9. He’s super fast and skilled. He’ll also compete for the Calder.

Owen Tippett is capable of scoring 30 goals. Travis Konecny is an established star who does everything. The Flyers will need from captain Sean Couturier. Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink are key players.

Cam York and Jamie Drysdale patrol the blue line. Travis Sanheim is the defensive leader. Can they succeed again with Samuel Ersson and unproven Ivan Fedotov in net? We’ll see how much patience John Tortorella has.

All Apologies

We didn’t cover everyone. Apologies to the Canucks, and Golden Knights. Both are good. They have to play in the Oilers’ division.

As polished as Vegas is, there might be a changing of the guard in the Pacific. Edmonton’s talent is too hard to ignore. This isn’t to say that a Knights team led by Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, William Karlsson, Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, and Noah Hanifin won’t be good enough to challenge for the top spot. I can’t see Adin Hill or Ilya Samsonov preventing McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, and Bouchard from going bonkers. Those will be fascinating matchups.

Vancouver has a good roster. J.T. Miller has become the unquestioned leader. He’s their best forward. What if the Rangers didn’t throw him away in the Ryan McDonagh deal to Tampa? One can only wonder. Miller does it all for that team. They need Elias Pettersson to get back to being the star player he’s supposed to be. He was a no show last postseason.

Quinn Hughes is a remarkable player. He is the best of the Hughes Brothers at this juncture. Thatcher Demko starts again on the injured reserve. Arturs Silovs performed quite well last spring. Kevin Lankinen backs up until Demko is ready. Jake DeBrusk is a good addition up front. Thirty goals is possible for the former Bruin. Brock Boeser should continue to fill the net.

The Canucks must prove last season wasn’t a fluke. Without Demko and key grinder Dakota Joshua, they could start out slow. They should be heard from.

Bold Predictions

Let’s take a gander at the league through our crystal ball. It’s prediction time.

McDavid puts up 160 points. 50 goals and 110 assists.

Bouchard scores 28 goals and adds 70 assists for 98 points to win his first Norris Trophy.

After the Wild miss the playoffs again, Kirill Kaprizov becomes a trade candidate next off-season with a year left on a deal that pays him $9 million.

The Kings learn the hard way that banking on Darcy Kuemper won’t work. They miss the postseason.

Jesper Wallstedt eventually becomes the starter in Minnesota.

Necas sets career highs in goals (33), points (75) and power-play goals (12).

Despite Kucherov putting up another season over 100 points, the Lightning miss the postseason.

Led by Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Shane Pinto, and Jake Sanderson, the Senators reach the playoffs. Linus Ullmark makes a difference.

Guenther scores 28 goals for playoff bound Utah.

Inspired by the loss of Johnny Gaudreau, the Blue Jackets get off to a good start. They become a harder team to play against. They don’t finish last in the Metropolitan Division.

In a close race, Gauthier wins the Calder over Hutson and Michkov.

Adam Edstrom proves to be the better rookie than Matt Rempe for the Rangers.

After again failing to convert on his chances, Kaapo Kakko is replaced by Brett Berard on the third line. He finally gets traded to the Blackhawks for a third round pick.

Alex Ovechkin again struggles to score early on. He rallies to get 28 goals – leaving him 14 shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record. The Capitals finish last in the division.

The Flames become woefully bad, challenging for the lottery.

The Bruins fail to make it out of the first round.

The Maple Leafs fall to the Panthers in seven games to lose a hard fought second round series. Matthews proves he can perform by scoring five goals and adding five assists in the series.

After getting outdueled by Markstrom, Shesterkin shatters his stick in disgust. The Rangers are eliminated in the second round by the Devils in a crushing seven games. Chris Drury and Peter Laviolette are fired.

The Stars defy the odds by upsetting the Oilers in a rematch to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. They defeat the Panthers in five games to win their second Cup. The first in 26 years.

Johnston wins the Conn Smythe with 14 goals and 12 assists.

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