Rangers’ handling of Goodrow business as usual

Posted on June 20, 2024 by Derek

When it comes to sports, the business side can be cruel. Such is how things played out for Barclay Goodrow. With three years left on a six-year contract that pays him a cap hit of $3.64 million, he became a former Ranger on Wednesday.

Goodrow’s 15-team no-trade list was used against him. By placing him on waivers, the Rangers opened the door for one of the teams he didn’t prefer to pick him up. That’s precisely what happened yesterday when the Sharks claimed him.

Mollie Walker of the New York Post reported on Tuesday that there was a pre-arranged deal between the Rangers and Sharks. That landed Goodrow back with his first team.

It didn’t matter that the Sharks were one of the 15 teams on his no-trade list. If Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury worked out a deal with Sharks general manager Mike Grier, they worked around that roadblock to send Goodrow back to San Jose.

He reportedly wasn’t happy through his agent with how it went down. I don’t blame him. It isn’t fair. But sometimes, that’s business as usual.

The Sharks are trying to get to the $65 million salary cap floor for 2024-25. By taking Goodrow’s contract, that puts them currently at $56,687,504. That’s over $31 million in cap space.

San Jose also acquired Ty Dellandrea from the Stars for a 2025 fourth round pick. He’s restricted. They have decisions to make on several Group II free agents.

With Goodrow returning to San Jose, he’ll be looked to for veteran leadership on a rebuilding club. Pretty soon, that’ll feature projected top pick Macklin Celebrini and former 2023 first round pick Will Smith. The Sharks should get a jolt from both top prospects.

For Goodrow, it’s a harsh reality. He went from a contending team to a lottery team, looking to restore pride. At 31, it’s gotta be disappointing. That doesn’t mean he can’t be traded to a contender looking for what the gritty Goodrow provides. What if a rival decided to acquire him next year? That’s the worst-case scenario for the Rangers. Don’t rule it out.

Even if it was underhanded, Drury did nothing wrong. He worked within the rules of the salary cap to unload Goodrow’s contract – creating space to make another move this summer.

The Rangers are in desperate need of a scoring right wing that can aid Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Jake DeBrusk checks a lot of boxes. It’ll be interesting to see what Drury does in July. He indicated that he wanted to get stronger and tougher following the six-game series loss to the Panthers.

If Goodrow is the first domino to fall, what else does Drury have planned? Could a Filip Chytil or Kaapo Kakko be on the block? Is there any realistic chance to move Jacob Trouba? Don’t forget he has to submit his 15-team no-trade list in 11 days.

Are they ready to make the kind of impact moves necessary to win a Stanley Cup? Coming close isn’t enough. It’s been 30 years since they won in 1993-94. Had Zibanejad, Kreider, and Artemi Panarin played better against Florida, it could’ve been their time. I don’t know how they would’ve defended the freakish Connor McDavid. He’s something the league’s never seen before.

One thing is certain. The Stanley Cup just got a lot more interesting. As exciting as the possibility of an Oilers’ historic comeback from 3-0 down sounds, there’s no reason for the Cup still to be going. It’s the first day of summer. The schedule has too many breaks during the season. They’ve let ESPN dictate the playoffs.

There are moves being made by other teams. It’s not officially off-season, but things are getting done. That can’t be what the league prefers. Or does it? About as much as Goodrow wanted to leave New York for San Jose.

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Dedicated Wachter won’t return to Devils telecasts

Posted on June 20, 2024 by Derek

While the Devils made headlines with the acquisition of Jacob Markstrom on Wednesday, there also was a bit of disappointing news.

Erika Wachter won’t return to the New Jersey Devils telecasts on MSG Network. In a post on Instagram, she revealed that her contract wasn’t renewed. She handled it with class. Something that obviously isn’t a two-way street when it comes to how MSG operates under CEO James Dolan.

Wachter served as the host of Devils pregame and postgame for six years. She also was front and center on intermission segments covering the team. An area local from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, Wachter is a Syracuse graduate who has a degree in broadcast journalism.

She served as a production assistant for ESPN. Wachter moved on to holding on-air positions for NESN in Boston and CPTV in Connecticut. In 2014-15, she was a sports reporter for the University of Connecticut, covering multiple sports, including basketball, football, and hockey.

Wachter became the host of Devils telecasts in 2018. Prior to that, she worked for two years at Fox 5, winning a New York Emmy Award for her work in Health/Science: Program Special.

Her hard work didn’t go unnoticed. She received a New York Emmy nomination for best sports anchor in 2022.

Considering how good she was on Devils games, it’s disappointing that Wachter was let go. Unfortunately, it’s business as usual for MSG. They lose a quality person by not keeping Wachter. She is also a host on both MLB Network and NHL Network. Something she’ll continue to do.

There’s even a petition online to keep her. I signed it. If there’s one thing Rangers and Devils fans can agree on, it’s that Wachter’s work stood out. She definitely added a lot to the Devils broadcasts. Not only is she knowledgeable, but she also has a good personality. 

For someone with her background, it shouldn’t take too long for Wachter to get a new job working for another team. She’ll be missed on Devils telecasts.

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Devils finally land ‘big fish’ goalie in Markstrom for 2025 1st and Bahl

Posted on June 19, 2024 by hasan4978

After seemingly an entire calendar year of rumors and speculation (if not longer), the Devils finally got their man, announcing a deal for Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom – at just over 30% retained for a top-ten protected first-rounder in 2025 and young defenseman Kevin Bahl. Another lifetime ago – seemingly – Bahl was a headliner in the Devils’ trade of Taylor Hall to the Coyotes, although one of the first-round picks which turned out to be Dawson Mercer wound up being the better long-term asset. It’s been obvious for a while that GM Tom Fitzgerald was looking to upgrade the goaltending position, admitting he was ‘big-game hunting’ this offseason.

Markstrom was an obvious target for multiple reasons – one being he’s used to the workload of a starting goalie and the Devils needed a 1A to slot in over Jake Allen, who is going to be the 1B at least through next season. Another being his contract situation – signed through the next two years at the age of 34, he’s clearly a short-term patch giving kids like Akira Schmid, Nico Daws and Isaac Poulter even more time to develop in the minors rather than forcing them into the fire as the former two have been at different times the last few seasons. And not so insignificantly, franchise legend and current front office employee Martin Brodeur was publicly high on Markstrom, naming him as one of his top five current goalies in the NHL back in February.

Admittedly that probably didn’t help what little bargaining position we had but let’s get real, any goaltending acquisition was going to cost more than people wanted, there’s a reason why most of the other guys rumored to move haven’t moved yet and also why this deal took so long. Full disclosure: I’m not as in love with Markstrom as our franchise legend seems to be given his inconsistency in Calgary the last few seasons.

2020-21 2.66 GAA, .904 save percentage, 43 starts

2021-22 2.22 GAA. .922 save percentage, 63 starts

2022-23 2.92 GAA, .892 save percentage, 58 starts

2023-24 2.78 GAA, .905 save percentage, 48 starts

Not particularly inspiring other than 2021-22, but of course that was when Matthew Thachuk and Johnny Gaudreau were still in Calgary. Since then, they’ve been foolishly trying to patch together a winner without any success and finally cashed out on one of their few assets remaining. And his numbers precipitously dropped after the trade deadline this year, perhaps in part due to some of the defensemen the Flames dealt off – and also perhaps in part due to him being unhappy over not being traded when it seemed as if a deal between us and Calgary was close a few months ago before being reportedly nixed by their ownership.

While I don’t love the player and absolutely see the bust potential here, I also think this was probably the best of a lot of potentially disastrous and uninspiring options. I was hoping we wouldn’t have to give up a first-rounder but at least it’s not this year’s #10 overall and next year’s first-rounder is top ten protected as well. If we’re even on pick watch this season or next, then something’s gone terribly wrong and Fitz’s job security will be pretty tenuous at best. At least there’s some retention on Markstrom’s deal, so we’re paying total just a hair over $6 million for a vet goalie tandem of Markstrom and Allen next year. I’m a bit nonplussed over giving up Bahl, who granted was an asset as a starting NHL defenseman but he was frustrating in being a big guy who never played like it and certainly didn’t have the offensive skill to be a finesse big man on D. He’s definitely got time to improve but the Devils also have younger players on their blueline who are better and ones in the farm who will likely pass him in short order if they’re not also used in trades eventually.

To be honest, I’m actually surprised this deal’s gotten as much ripping as it has from Devil fans online and social media and I’m far from the biggest pompom waver in general about the team, or with this player specifically. I mean, have you all not been paying attention to the goaltending market? Devil fans complain about looking for average goaltending for at least four of the last five seasons, but don’t want to actually pay anything and just keep attempting the same moneyball strategy that largely has failed over those five seasons. If this was the price for an older, inconsistent Markstrom with a NTC after a year of negotiating, what did you think we’d have to give up for a more proven guy like Jusse Saros or a younger goalie like Linus Ullmark? And it’s not like even those guys are slam-dunk locks.

At some point you have to at least attempt to make a move, especially when you’re Fitz looking to rebound from a disappointing year and start putting some consistent winning seasons together – and despite a well-publicized extension in the middle of last season, job security is almost never infinite. Just ask predecessor Ray Shero, who was canned several months after getting a contract extension of his own, leading to Fitz eventually getting the job here. Someone compared this Markstrom trade to Shero’s PK Subban deal – a short-term patch which doesn’t really handcuff you long term but certainly was still high-risk and high-reward. Hopefully for Fitz’s sake – and ours – this one turns out better for him than that one did for Shero.

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Goodrow gets claimed by Sharks

Posted on June 19, 2024 by Derek

It took only a day for Barclay Goodrow to find a new team. He was claimed by the Sharks today.

For Goodrow, it’s a return to San Jose. Originally signed by the Sharks as a 21-year-old rookie free agent, he spent nearly six years wearing the cool teal color jersey.

He didn’t become a regular until he was 24. In 2017-18, Goodrow had seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in 47 games. The following season, he posted seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points over a full 82 games. He added two goals as the Sharks reached the Western Conference Final in 2018-19. They lost to the Blues.

His final year in San Jose lasted 62 games. After achieving new career highs with eight goals, 16 assists, and 24 points, he was acquired by the Lightning on Feb. 24, 2020. It was a great fit.

Goodrow played on the third line with Yanni Gourde and Blake Coleman. They added key secondary scoring along with grit to help the Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.

In three years with the Rangers, he totaled 28 goals, 48 assists, and 76 points. Goodrow helped them reach the Eastern Conference Final in both 2022 and 2024. He performed well this postseason, scoring six goals and adding two assists for eight points. The biggest highlight was his goal in overtime that beat the Panthers in Game 2 of the Conference Finals.

Now, Goodrow will move back out West to play for the rebuilding Sharks. They can use an experienced player like him. Maybe he will be used better than how Rangers coach Peter Laviolette used him. Goodrow can center the third line or shift over to either wing. He’s a versatile player who can be trusted on defensive assignments and the penalty kill.

It might seem like a second guess. But Goodrow probably would’ve fit better on the third line during the playoffs. They got little production from Alex Wennberg, Kaapo Kakko, Will Cuylle, and Filip Chytil, who looked timid. Goodrow performed better than most. Cuylle wasn’t always utilized right either. He spent some time with Goodrow on the fourth line.

Regardless, the Rangers are moving on without Goodrow. By claiming him, the Sharks pick up the remainder of his contract, including the $3.64 million cap hit.

That frees up some space for Chris Drury. With the top line still without a dependable right wing, he could look to fill that void. Jake DeBrusk or Tyler Bertuzzi could be options. I prefer DeBrusk, who’s 27. If they want to go the more affordable route, Anthony Duclair is also unrestricted.

With the Oilers getting a historic performance from the otherworldly Connor McDavid, who became the first player to record eight points in two games of the Stanley Cup Finals, the off-season will have to wait a bit longer. We’ll see if Edmonton can force a seventh game against the Panthers.

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Well-respected Goodrow is first to go

Posted on June 18, 2024 by Derek

On a hot summer day of 90-degree temperatures in the metro area, the Rangers made their first change of the off-season.

They placed Barclay Goodrow on waivers. The 31-year-old forward was deemed expendable due to the $3.64 million cap hit that has three years remaining on.

Despite a good postseason in which he posted six goals with two assists to help the Rangers reach their second Eastern Conference Final in three years, the well-respected Goodrow can either be claimed or unclaimed. If he isn’t picked up, the buyout cost would be $6,666,667 over six years.

According to puckpedia.com, the Rangers would get a cap credit in Year 1. That’s due to the base salary ($5 million) being more than the cap hit ($3.64 million) in one year.

When the Rangers acquired the rights to Goodrow from the Lightning and then signed him back in the summer of 2021, they made the move due to what the versatile forward brought to the table. A gritty player who plays the game hard every shift, he added valuable experience, intangibles, and leadership to a team that needed it.

After hitting double digits in goals and going over 30 points over his first two seasons under former coach Gerard Gallant, Goodrow saw his role diminish under Peter Laviolette. He was used primarily as a checking center and key penalty killer. Laviolette even preferred matching the fourth line up against opponents’ top scoring lines.

However, even with Goodrow performing up to expectations in the Rangers’ run to the Conference Finals, where he scored three goals against the Panthers, his ice time didn’t increase at 5-on-5. That might’ve been a mistake. The fourth line provided more than the third line.

With Goodrow reduced to a fourth line center, the Rangers must’ve felt that the salary was too high to justify keeping him. A good player whose leadership definitely helped them in their two trips to the Final 4, Goodrow should draw some interest around the league. The Flyers and Sabres could be possibilities. They can use a high character locker room leader to help them reach the playoffs.

As far as a replacement goes, perhaps they’ll look in-house. Jonny Brodzinski, Matt Rempe, and Adam Edstrom are early candidates. Brodzinski proved that he could shift to center and play a fourth line role. Maybe he’ll get a closer look in training camp.

Rempe came up and brought a physical presence. His energy and enthusiasm, combined with his size and strength, made him a fan favorite. However, as he showed in limited duty, the 21-year-old forward can do more than deliver hits and fight. He’s a highly intelligent player who wants to stick. If his skating improves as be vowed on breakup day, who’s to say Rempe can’t win the job in September? I wouldn’t bet against him.

Edstrom was the other rookie who came up for a brief stint in 2023-24. For a big man, his skating was solid. He acquitted himself well. Unfortunately, he fell victim to the numbers game. Maybe by waiving Goodrow, it opens up a spot for Edstrom.

Filling the void left by Goodrow isn’t the only concern for the Rangers. They freed up necessary cap space to possibly add a scoring right wing. If the core isn’t changing, then Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury has some more wiggle room to work with. It’s anyone’s guess what he’ll decide.

The off-season will include getting Braden Schneider re-signed. A bridge deal seems likely. Ryan Lindgren is the key restricted free agent who wants to remain a Blueshirt long-term. That’ll be an interesting decision.

It remains to be seen if Jacob Trouba will get moved. His no-movement clause becomes a moderated one on July 1st. That’s when he’ll select 15 teams on his no trade list.

With the Stanley Cup almost certain to end tonight in Florida, then comes the off-season. If the Panthers do close out the Oilers in Game 5, things will move quickly. Even with the scorching hot weather.

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By qualifying Kakko, the Rangers have options

Posted on June 14, 2024 by Derek

It didn’t take long for the Rangers to make a decision on Kaapo Kakko. On Thursday, they re-signed Kakko to the qualifier for one year, $2.4 million.

The 23-year-old Kakko posted 13 goals and six assists for 19 points in 61 games this season. He missed 21 games due to a leg injury. He spent most of his return on the third line.

In the postseason, Kakko had a goal and an assist in 15 games. Similar to what happened two years ago, he was a healthy scratch for one game in the Eastern Conference Final. He voiced his displeasure over being out of the lineup for Matt Rempe in Game 2. It was understandable.

Following Jimmy Vesey sustaining a separated shoulder against the Panthers, Kakko played the remainder of the series. Aside from a brief cameo with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, he was mostly on the third line. Unfortunately, they failed to produce enough.

Kakko is at a crossroads in his career. He’s yet to establish himself as a top six forward. Having failed to score 20 goals in any of his first five seasons, the right wing knows that he must be better.

Peter Laviolette gave him the keys to the first line at the start of 2023-24. However, his failure to establish more offense with Zibanejad and Kreider in the Rangers’ first 11 games led to him being moved down the lineup. A place he’s been throughout his five years as a Blueshirt.

By qualifying him, the Rangers have set themselves up for one of two scenarios. They can try to package Kakko in a deal that would benefit both parties. It hasn’t worked out well. He could benefit from a change of scenery.

If they fail to move him, the Rangers can let Kakko play out the next season. If he can improve his performance, then maybe he stays put as part of another run. If he doesn’t, they have an affordable young player who can be moved at next year’s trade deadline.

The second option feels like the more likely scenario. They don’t have to force a trade this summer. Unless another team offers something worthwhile, they can wait and see how things play out.

Kakko is still a reliable checking forward who can play in the top nine. When they selected him with the number two pick behind Jack Hughes in the 2019 NHL Draft, it was with the hope that Kakko would evolve into a scoring forward. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened.

The Rangers didn’t handle Kakko right in his rookie year. He struggled mightily and probably would’ve benefitted from some time in Hartford. The organization was top stubborn to admit they made a mistake. It hurt his development.

When he achieved career highs in goals (18), assists (22), and points (40) during 2022-23, it looked like he was on the right track. But he couldn’t follow it up.

Instead, Alexis Lafreniere was the breakout player this season by scoring 28 goals with 29 assists for 57 points. Lafreniere grew in stature during the playoffs by tying for the team lead in goals (8) while adding six helpers for 14 points to finish fourth in scoring.

One former high pick looks poised to become a star. The other is still a question mark. Where they go from here is anyone’s guess.

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League hypocrisy a hollow reminder on Player Safety

Posted on June 12, 2024 by Derek

On a quiet Wednesday in June, hockey has only a few games left. That depends on if the Oilers can respond at home starting tomorrow night. They trail the Panthers two games to none, having been held to only one goal.

The Oilers are finding out what the Rangers learned in the last round. Offense is hard to come by against the stingy Panthers. Even boasting Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl hasn’t been enough to beat Sergei Bobrovsky. He was brilliant in Game 1 and strong in Game 2.

Admittedly, I haven’t caught any of the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals. However, I saw enough highlights on both social media and NHL Network. The Panthers cashed in on Oilers’ mistakes to take Game 1. They dominated Game 2. Evan Rodrigues scored twice in the third period to break open a tie game.

That’s not what’s been discussed on the two off days before Thursday’s game. Instead, Draisaitl has been front and center. During the third period of Game 2, he delivered a questionable hit on Aleksander Barkov that forced him to leave the game.

They called it a two-minute minor for roughing. The problem was that Draisaitl made head contact. As he went for the hit, he came upwards due to his foot leaving the ice. It was more of a charge than roughing. By elevating, he delivered an illegal hit that put Barkov at risk.

The second angle shows it better. It easily could’ve been a five-minute major and game misconduct. Earlier in the contest, Warren Foegle was assessed a five and a game for kneeing Eetu Luostarinen. That might’ve affected the call on Draisaitl.

In a high stakes game, the officials are less likely to eject a key player for a dirty play. During the postseason, we’ve seen Sam Bennett get away with injuring Brad Marchand in the second round. His rabbit punch to Marchand went unpenalized. Marchand missed multiple games.

With the Panthers getting encouraging news on Barkov yesterday, the league decided not to even address the Draisaitl hit. There wasn’t even a fine. When it comes to player safety, there’s definitely a double standard. An established star is given a lot more leeway.

Imagine if Matt Rempe had made the same hit. He’d have gotten the gate and been suspended multiple games. His size and strength work against him. Even when he made a conscious effort to deliver clean checks during the playoffs, he was called for some very iffy penalties. The rookie was on a short leash. That impacted how Rangers coach Peter Laviolette used him.

Too much of how the Department of Player Safety operates depends on whether a targeted player suffers an injury. If they were good at their job, Draisaitl would be out for Game 3. Instead, he didn’t even have a phone hearing.

George Parros is the current man in charge. A former enforcer who made his living using his fists, he has a Princeton education. It doesn’t seem to be being put to good use. There’s still too much inconsistency when it comes to disciplining players for their actions.

It’s almost like the league plays politics. Certain players can get away with more. That’s part of the hypocrisy. It frustrates fans of the sport. Judging from some of the responses on the Draisaitl hit, many felt that he deserved to be suspended a game.

The Rangers employ Jacob Trouba. He could’ve been suspended for an elbow that grazed Rodrigues’ chin and neck last round. He was lucky that it didn’t make head contact. Trouba was fined $5,000. Otherwise, he’d have gotten the rest of the series for that elbow.

Trouba plays on the edge. Even when he doesn’t make contact on some of his attempted big hits, it causes a reaction. He nearly decapitated Martin Necas in the second round. He ducked out of the way at the last moment.

Trouba’s risky play finally caught up to him during the winter. During a game against the Golden Knights on Jan. 26, he elbowed Pavel Dorofeyev in the head on a faceoff. He was suspended for two games and forfeited $83,333.34 to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Making a player accountable for their actions is the best way to keep them in line. It didn’t stop Trouba from taking some dangerous risks. If he remains a Ranger, he’ll have to be more careful moving forward.

By the same token, when the league turns a blind eye to its other stars, it reflects poorly. There must be more consistency. Draisaitl will play in tomorrow’s crucial third game for Edmonton. They need both him and McDavid to figure out the Panthers’ defense and solve Bobrovsky.

Of course, it’s better to have Draisaitl in for such a pivotal game. Will the Panthers seek retribution? Boasting Matthew Tkachuk and Bennett, they aren’t shy about taking liberties. Ask McDavid about some of the scrums so far.

Panthers coach Paul Maurice is keeping things close to the vest regarding Barkov. He returned to practice earlier today. Maurice wouldn’t divulge anything.

The Panthers are two wins away from delivering the franchise’s first Cup. Winning should be the priority. A win in Game 3 would probably finish off the Oilers. It’ll be interesting to see what happens.

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Tough decisions ahead for Drury and Rangers

Posted on June 8, 2024 by Derek

On Friday, Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury answered questions about a successful season. He was also asked about whether the core is capable of winning a championship.

Drury chose his words carefully. A calculated executive who never reveals much to the press, he didn’t divulge anything substantial. When it comes down to how the team is run, Drury is very good at keeping things close to the vest. Nobody really knows what he’s thinking.

“We’re looking at a lot of different things and there are different ways to get to where we want to go,” Drury said. “To me, really nothing is off the table.”

With the Stanley Cup Finals beginning tonight, it’s an eerie feeling. There’s not much excitement to watch the Panthers take on the Oilers. At least for many fans who support the Blueshirts.

I’m not particularly interested in seeing two other teams battle for the Cup. Coming so close stings. Even if the Panthers were the better team, ultimately defeating the Rangers in six, it doesn’t matter. A record-setting season that included the most wins (55) and points (114) in franchise history ended two victories shy of playing for the Cup.

It wasn’t a failure. They had an outstanding season. Peter Laviolette came in and did a great job. His trust in Alexis Lafreniere paid off. Lafreniere flourished on their best line with Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin – achieving career bests in goals (28), assists (29), and points (57). He followed that up with a good postseason by scoring eight goals with six helpers for 14 points. The eight all came at even strength to lead the team.

Lafreniere’s improvement was the best thing to happen. The former 2020 top pick now looks ready to take the next step in his career. At times during the playoffs, he was the Rangers’ best skater. The highlight reel goal he scored on Sergei Bobrovsky in Game 3 is probably the goal of the playoffs. He played like a star.

Despite Adam Fox being restricted due to re-injuring his knee in the first round, the Rangers got past the Hurricanes in a hard fought six-game series to reach the Eastern Conference Final. Fox was still able to improve his offensive play with four assists against the Panthers. But he didn’t score a goal in the postseason.

Offense from the blue line was an issue. K’Andre Miller and Jacob Trouba had the only two goals from the back end. Both came while shorthanded. There still were moments like Ryan Lindgren setting up Chris Kreider for his natural hat trick that clinched a thrilling come from behind 5-3 win in Game 6 to stun the Hurricanes. It was a great play by the defensive defenseman, who’s been a warrior for this team.

There was the astonishing spin a rama from Fox when his backhand feed set up Lafreniere’s tying goal in Game 4. Unfortunately, they fell in overtime on Sam Reinhart’s power-play goal. That swung the series in the Panthers’ favor.

Igor Shesterkin was unbelievable. He made so many great saves against the supremely skilled Panthers from high danger areas. Shesterkin gave the Rangers every chance to win the series. He set himself up for a big payday. It’ll either come later this summer or sometime next year. The Rangers can’t afford to let him get to unrestricted free agency.

As disappointing as Panarin was against the very detail oriented Panthers, his season ranked as one of the greatest in Rangers’ history. The 49 goals and 120 points were career highs. Only Jaromir Jagr had more points (123) in a single season for the Blueshirts.

Trocheck was their most consistent  forward. It wasn’t just the 25 goals, 52 assists, and 77 points. It was his overall play. He was dominant on faceoffs, winning 58.7 percent. He went 57.8 in the postseason while pacing the Rangers with 20 points (8-12-20).

It was a struggle for Mika Zibanejad in the third round. He didn’t score and only had two assists. That directly impacted sidekick Kreider, who finished with a goal and an assist. If only they received more production from the two senior leaders.

It didn’t help that the right wing became a revolving door. After some early success in the first two rounds, Jack Roslovic was ineffective against Florida. That caused Laviolette to try some different combos. Nothing worked. Eventually, Filip Chytil was moved back to center the third line for Game 6. Alex Wennberg was used on the first line.

If Drury decides to stick with this core that’s come up short, then he must solve the lack of a top line right wing. Ever since trading away Pavel Buchnevich to the Blues, he hasn’t been able to find a suitable replacement. Frank Vatrano was the best fit as a rental in 2022. They even tried Patrick Kane, but he was limited due to his hip.

It still falls on Zibanejad and Kreider to have more of an impact at 5-on-5. They spent far too much time in their zone against Aleksander Barkov. Even if Zibanejad was correct that they didn’t get scored on when matched up, they were dominated. There was hardly any forecheck or offense created.

What if they brought back Mats Zuccarello? As good as he still is, defense isn’t a strength. He also turns 37 in September.

Kaapo Kakko remains an in-house option. But as he noted on breakup day, they weren’t very good when together earlier in the season. They were on for only two goals for and one goal against in the first 11 games. Drury will have to decide whether to keep Kakko this summer. He can be qualified for $2.4 million. It’s a very affordable price for a player who’s still just 23.

There will be a tough decision on Lindgren, who’s a restricted free agent. Do they take him to arbitration or re-sign him to an extension? Lindgren earned $4 million in 2023-24. His average cap hit was $3 million.

The defense partner of Fox is 26. However, the taxing style he plays makes him a risk to sign long-term. He’ll want over $5 million for five to six years. Is it wise to invest in an undersized defenseman who already has played through injuries? If I’m Drury, the most I’d offer is four years at around $5.25 million. That’s fair.

Braden Schneider is also an RFA. He remains a third pair defenseman with second pair potential. They don’t have to sign him long-term. It can be a bridge deal.

A better skater than Trouba, whose play suffered against the Panthers, Schneider fits in well with K’Andre Miller. Miller reads and reacts better when paired with Schneider. However, he still leaves something to be desired. While he’s capable, there are still some decisions he makes that can improve.

Zac Jones is signed for another year. He took a step in the right direction. Jones has the speed and skating to transition the puck well. He improved defensively. It would be a wise decision for Jones to begin next season on the third pair. He definitely could’ve replaced Erik Gustafsson, who wasn’t effective against Florida.

If they were open to making a change to a defense that spent too much time in their end, would Drury entertain a trade? Trouba’s no-movement clause becomes a 15-team no-trade list on July 1. When asked about the captain, he had nothing but praise for him.

“Jacob’s been an excellent captain and leader for us. Comes to play hard every night. It’s hard enough to get through one playoff series, let alone 3, without having players, or a specific player, banged up. He gives us everything he can every single night.”

With two years remaining on a seven-year contract that pays him an average cap hit of $8 million, the 30-year-old Trouba has shown regression. He isn’t very mobile and frequently gets caught out of position. The Panthers applied heavy pressure on him. That resulted in some turnovers. He took a league worst 11 penalties in the postseason.

Some of that can be attributed to playing on a bad ankle that he broke in March. As expected, Trouba made no excuses for his play. He’s very accountable. A high character player who leads with big hits and key blocks, he’s an important part of the core. While the idea of moving him is intriguing, it might not be in the Rangers’ best interest. It could hurt team chemistry.

Maybe if Trouba remains a Ranger, the better question is whether he should have a reduced role. Playing on the third pair with Jones seems like a good idea. He wouldn’t face as much quality competition. Trouba’s still a good penalty killer who logs key minutes. Sheltering him at even strength makes sense. Especially if the skating remains an issue.

I doubt that Drury would move Lindgren. Unless negotiations turn ugly, that remains unlikely. Only he knows what the team’s plans are.

There also is the center question. If Zibanejad and Trocheck are the top two, is Chytil a good number 3? An injury prone player who has a concussion history, nobody knows what Chytil’s future is.

An exciting player who possesses speed, skating, and skill, the 24-year-old was limited to 10 games during the season. He had six assists. He surprisingly returned for the playoffs. But the Rangers were careful not to overplay him. They managed him. Chytil didn’t register a point in six games. He played on the wing for five of those six. An area he’s not accustomed to.

When they extended him during 2022-23 for an AAV of $4.44 million through 2026-27, it was with the hope that he could build on the career best 22-goal, 23 assist season he posted. Chytil turns 25 in September. He still isn’t consistent on faceoffs. However, most of his zone starts are in the offensive zone. A wise way to use him.

What can be expected? That’s hard to predict. If Chytil avoided the injury bug, he certainly could upgrade the Rangers’ offense. But he’s not a big checking center who can match up. That’s why Zibanejad frequently goes against opponents’ best. We saw how much Barkov limited his effectiveness.

Barclay Goodrow again raised his level in the spring. A gritty player who is more than just statistics, which the Corsi community overlooks, Goodrow often starts his shifts in the defensive zone. A strong penalty killer who teamed up with Trocheck to form a strong tandem, he remains a trusted player. A locker room leader that’s won before, Goodrow probably will stay put.

The fourth line definitely missed Jimmy Vesey. He suffered a separated shoulder during Game 2 on a vicious Ryan Lomberg hit. Even though he’s a secondary role player, Vesey plays with edge and wins puck battles. He is a good player who brings energy to his shifts. Vesey was also used on the penalty kill.

If they’re to get heavier, Matt Rempe has a place on the roster. For a former sixth round pick, the 21-year-old handled himself with so much poise. Whether he was in the lineup or not, his attitude never wavered. The quality he has is something that is exciting for teammates, coaches, and fans. He really is a terrific kid.

Rempe’s popularity make him a fan favorite. It isn’t only about the hits or toughness he brings. He knows how to play the game. A solid skater for his size, he knows where to go. He was effective on the forecheck and did a good job screening goalies. An area the Rangers aren’t good at aside from Kreider, who makes his living tipping in shots.

Will Cuylle certainly needs an increased role. He spent too much time on the fourth line against the Panthers. His skating ability and unique combination of grit and physicality should make him a good player. He isn’t shy about shooting the puck, either. Cuylle obviously has to be given more ice time next season. There’s a lot to like about the way he plays.

What about in-house candidates? Brennan Othmann proved he wasn’t ready. In his first full pro season with the Wolf Pack, he scored 21 goals with 28 assists for 49 points. But he finished a minus-24. In the Calder Cup Playoffs, he had a goal and four assists.

At 21, the former 2021 first round pick has to prove himself. We’ll see how he progresses during rookie prospect camp this summer. Maybe a strong training camp can make a difference. Much will depend on the Rangers’ off-season.

Brett Berard also had a good first pro year in Hartford. He had 25 goals with 23 assists  and a minus-23 rating. In the playoffs, Berard had a goal and five assists. A former 2020 fifth round pick, the Providence College product makes up for his lack of size with speed and grit. He could be the classic overachiever. Time shall tell.

Adam Edstrom was a pleasant surprise after being called up. He scored twice in 11 games. Edstrom provided more size and strength to the fourth line with Rempe. He’s 23. Edstrom should definitely be considered for a roster spot next fall.

With $12 million in cap space, the Rangers know that Lindgren will take up a chunk. That’ll leave approximately $7 million for Kakko and Schneider. If they spend a combined $4.3 million on both, there won’t be much wiggle room. They would be able to add a solid depth player.

The ultimate question is, do they want to run it back. I’ve highlighted the flaws of the current roster. There’s room for growth due to Lafreniere, Cuylle, Rempe, and Kakko if he stays.

Are they constructed well enough to end a 31-year drought? That’s an answer only Drury can provide.

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Rangers have interesting decision on Kakko

Posted on June 5, 2024 by Derek

Kaapo Kakko was very candid about his season at breakup day. The 23-year-old right wing indicated that he likes it here. He thinks that the Rangers have a great chance to win.

Considering the year they had, that isn’t debatable. Under Peter Laviolette, they finished with the league’s best record to win the Presidents’ Trophy. For the second time in three years, they advanced to the Conference Finals. Unlike 2022, when they blew a 2-0 series lead before losing in six games to the Lightning, the Rangers were up 2-1 before falling to the Panthers in six.

For Kakko, it was a disappointing season. Year 5 didn’t go as expected. After setting career highs in goals (18), assists (22), and points (40) in 2022-23, the former 2019 second pick wasn’t able to follow it up.

At the start of 2023-24, Laviolette gave him the opportunity to play on the first line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. In the first 11 games, Kakko scored once and had an assist while on the line. There wasn’t enough production from the trio to keep them together. Laviolette shifted Kakko down to the third line.

“All those games we played together never worked out that well. If you’re playing those minutes, you have to score some goals also, and I feel we never scored that much. So, I can’t say I didn’t get the chance with those guys,” Kakko told reporters on Tuesday at the Rangers practice facility in Tarrytown.

He finished a two-year contract that paid him an average cap hit of $2.1 million. A restricted free agent this summer, Kakko said he would like to stay.

“We’ll see about all the things here. I like it. Like the team’s great. Everyone wants to win. I feel here is a chance to win. I think next season, it’s gonna be about the same team. So, I like it here.”

Kakko missed 21 games in the winter due to a lower-body injury. After tallying two goals and an assist in October and November, he posted 11 goals and five assists for 16 points in his last 41 games – totaling 13 goals and six assists for 19 points over 61 games this season.

For the postseason, he played on the third line with Alex Wennberg and either Will Cuylle or Jack Roslovic. He and Filip Chytil were reunited once for the Rangers’ final game against the Panthers. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to produce offensively. He finished with a goal and an assist in three rounds.

When Laviolette opted to dress Matt Rempe for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final, Kakko became the odd man out. He expressed some frustration at being a healthy scratch. He returned to play the last four games of the series. Despite doing some good things in the offensive zone, he wasn’t able to get on the score sheet.

In 2022, as a 21-year-old, he was a key part of the Kid Line with Chytil and Alexis Lafreniere. They provided energy and secondary scoring during that run. Kakko had two goals and three assists for five points. He still was a healthy scratch for Dryden Hunt in Game 6 against the Lightning. It was mystifying.

It probably wasn’t fair that Kakko sat out against the Panthers in Game 2. That’s exactly the decision Laviolette made. Had Jimmy Vesey not gone down with a separated shoulder on a Ryan Lomberg hit, who knows what would’ve happened. Although Roslovic was effective in the previous rounds, he could’ve been the odd man out had Vesey stayed healthy.

I’d like to believe Kakko would’ve played over Roslovic. His size and strength are better attributes when you face a big, tough opponent like the Panthers. Kakko wasn’t shy about finishing checks. He played more physically in his third postseason. It might not be something he’s comfortable with. But he did it.

Still only 23, Kakko has already played 300 career games. He’s totaled 57 goals with 60 assists for 117 points. As disappointing as the offense has been, he’s become a dependable defensive forward. He usually does a good job on the backcheck. There were moments when he came back and cleared the puck away from the front of the net against the Panthers.

The question is what is best for Kakko. In his final press conference of a successful season, Laviolette took some of the blame for not getting more out of Kakko. He feels that Kakko can be a top six forward.

“In my conversation with Kakko, I took my responsibility. As a coach, I didn’t find it with him. I think he’s a good player that we were all hoping would take another step. My responsibility as a coach is to unleash these players as well.

I’ve got to find a better way to get him involved. I think there’s responsibility for him, for what he brings to the table and what he brings to the game. Next year’s a new year. I do think he has the ability to be a top six forward. … I do think he can be that player. And that’s my job and his job to make that happen,” Laviolette stated.

With the off-season ahead, Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury will again have to answer the question about who can fill the hole on the right side of the first line.

If he decides not to make any significant changes to the core, then Zibanejad and Kreider need someone who’s capable of producing consistently at 5-on-5. They can’t have another season like the past one. Their inability to score at even strength eventually cost the team a chance to play for the Stanley Cup.

With a little over $12 million in cap space, the Rangers have some interesting decisions to make on Kakko, Ryan Lindgren, and Braden Schneider. All are restricted free agents with Lindgren a top priority. A year away from unrestricted status, he indicated that he wanted to be here. It’ll be interesting to see what that contract will look like.

If the Rangers decide to keep Kakko, it would probably cost around $2.5 million over one year. The thing is that there might be some interest from other teams. If the two sides mutually decide to move on, it might be in Kakko’s best interest. He could have a more prominent role on a rebuilding team. A lot will depend on the market. You don’t just throw away Kakko for nothing.

Some would argue that they should’ve gone all in on Jake Guentzel. That would’ve meant packaging Kakko and Brennan Othmann along with a first round pick. There was no guarantee. Something the Hurricanes found out in the second round. Guentzel probably would’ve been a rental. It remains to be seen if he’ll re-sign with Carolina.

The Rangers aren’t expected to re-sign Wennberg, Roslovic, or Blake Wheeler. Erik Gustafsson isn’t guaranteed a spot. Zac Jones can easily replace him.

I’d imagine that they’ll want to extend Igor Shesterkin. He’ll be entering the final year of his contract that pays him a bargain,  $5.67 million. The 28-year-old proved that he’s arguably the best goalie. His performance in the second and especially the third round were remarkable.

Shesterkin should be in line to double his salary next summer. He could be looking at a ballpark figure of $12 million per year. That’s an awful lot of money. It doesn’t look like the Rangers have any choice. Long-term deals on goalies are always risky. We saw what happened with Henrik Lundqvist towards the end of his brilliant career.

However, without Shesterkin, the Rangers would be sunk. They can seriously contend for the Cup over the next few years. We’ll see if both sides decide to get it done. There’s plenty of time.

Sooner than later, we’ll have a better idea of Kakko’s future.

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Criticism of banged up Blueshirts misguided

Posted on June 5, 2024 by Derek

On Tuesday, the Rangers held their final day of the season in Tarrytown. Breakup day is always harder after getting eliminated from the playoffs.

Given the special season they had, it isn’t easy to stand at their lockers and answer questions from the media. These close-knit Blueshirts came close to their goal. Unfortunately, they ran out of gas against the Panthers in a closely fought six-game series. It’ll be another tough summer ahead after not winning the Stanley Cup.

As is customary, some key players revealed the injuries they played with during the run to the Conference Finals. Rangers captain Jacob Trouba admitted that he suffered a broken ankle during March, which led to him missing 11 games. He told reporters that a kidney-sized bean chunk came off.

“It’s not an excuse or anything by any means, I was ready to play,” Trouba said after clearly struggling against the Panthers. “It was an interesting one to play with. It was different than other injuries I’ve come back from in the past.”

When he returned, Trouba initially played with regular partner K’Andre Miller. However, his struggles resulted in coach Peter Laviolette having him play with Erik Gustafsson on the third pair. Outside of being reunited with Miller at the conclusion of the second round and part of the Eastern Conference Final, he played with Gustafsson.

Trouba and Gustafsson were both responsible for Sam Bennett’s goal in Game 6. As easy as it is to pin that loss on the captain, the Rangers were shut out by Sergei Bobrovsky until Artemi Panarin scored with 1:40 left in regulation.

The offense failed to deliver in the last two games. In Game 5, the Rangers were held in check by the stingy Panthers’ checking. A missed opportunity on a power play proved costly in a tie game in the third period. Eventually, Anton Lundell scored in transition by using Braden Schneider as a screen to beat Igor Shesterkin with 9:38 left.

It wasn’t until after Bennett scored an empty netter that Alexis Lafreniere banked in a Mika Zibanejad shot pass to make it 3-2 with 50 seconds remaining. An icing on the next faceoff finished them off.

Between the failure of the top players to produce at 5-on-5 and the power play unable to provide any consistency, it was the offense that let down the Rangers.

The glaring mistakes of Trouba, Gustafsson, Schneider, Miller, Ryan Lindgren, and Adam Fox were magnified due to the lack of goal scoring.

It was never more evident than when Zibanejad forced a pass to Blake Wheeler in the first minute of overtime in Game 4. That turnover forced Wheeler to hook Aleksander Barkov from behind, leading to Sam Reinhart’s power-play goal in sudden death. That proved to be the turning point of the series.

Even a brilliant shorthanded goal from Chris Kreider couldn’t ignite the Blueshirts to a win in Game 5. A splendid play started by Kreider led to Zibanejad pushing the puck up for Kreider to move in and fake out Bobrovsky for a sweet backhand finish to give them a 1-0 lead early in the second period.

Gustafsson negated a 5-on-3 when he went after Niko Mikkola for bumping into Shesterkin. They still let a 5-on-4 advantage slip. Eventually, a turnover allowed the Panthers to quickly transition and get the tying goal from Gustav Forsling.

Aside from Trouba playing hurt, Adam Fox confirmed that he reinjured his knee during the first round. It occurred when he took a knee on knee hit from Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen in Game 4. Fox was never the same. His skating suffered. The injury limited his offense and affected him defensively.

“It was a little bit of a tough situation,” he said. “When you’re on the ice, whether you’re 100 percent, 70 percent, 50 percent, you’re not going to make the excuse of, ‘Oh I didn’t play up to the standard because of this and that.’ I think everyone’s always a little banged up this time of year.”

Despite his struggles, he still had a mesmerizing setup for a Lafreniere tying goal in the third period of Game 4. He spun around and sent a backhand pass for Lafreniere to tip in. It was a remarkable play.

Fox looked to be getting better in Game 6. He was much more involved. However, the Rangers found it difficult to get inside on the Panthers. He finished the postseason with eight assists. Half came in the Eastern Conference Final.

Lindgren cracked a rib in Game 6 against the Hurricanes. He used the off days to recover. It was business as usual for the Rangers’ ultimate warrior. Number 55 has a lot in common with a former No. 5. Dan Girardi always played bruised and battered. Lindgren is cut out of the same mold.

Jimmy Vesey confirmed the obvious. The big hit he took from Ryan Lomberg in Game 2 was a separated shoulder. Encouraging is that he doesn’t need surgery. He’ll begin rehabbing it this summer.

“It was tough to miss the last bit of the year,” Vesey said. “Obviously, as a team we start in September and it’s a long regular season and a long journey to get to the playoffs. It was brutal to not be out there with my teammates. … Everything’s fine, it’s going to recover, but unfortunately I just needed some more time to get back into a game.

“When you’re up 2-1 in the series, everything’s like, ‘Take your time.’ And then it flips and you’re facing elimination. As a player you want to be out there. I wanted to try. I was willing to do whatever I had to do to try to play, but trainers and coaches decided that it probably wasn’t worth the risk of me further injuring it.”

Of course, there was criticism from displeased fans on social media. They couldn’t understand why Trouba played if he wasn’t that effective. Calling a player ‘selfish’ for playing through an injury is misguided. Especially when it’s a team leader.

Was it selfish when he sacrificed his body to block shots? It wasn’t a good postseason for Trouba. He took way too many penalties and was culpable on some goals against. Maybe Laviolette and his teammates value him a lot more than any fan who follows the team.

It isn’t easy to play significant minutes. Could they have put Zac Jones in for Trouba? Probably. But would you have trusted Gustafsson with Jones? If there was a move to be made, it was inserting Jones for Gustafsson, who was ineffective against the Panthers. How many pucks did he throw away to avoid contact?

With Fox’s mobility hindered, Jones’ speed could’ve come in handy. Especially with a blue line that wasn’t too fast. There wasn’t enough offense from the defense. Fox led all Rangers’ defesemen with eight points (assists). Trouba was second with seven points (1-6-7). Both he and Miller scored the only goals while shorthanded. Gustafsson had three assists, and Schneider had two assists.

If Laviolette had made the move for Jones, how much would he have helped? Were the Rangers a seventh defenseman away from beating the Panthers? Realistically, the answer is no.

Of the 13 forwards that played, only three had good series. Lafreniere led the Rangers with four goals. Vincent Trocheck paced them with six points (2-4-6). Barclay Goodrow scored three goals, including an overtime winner in Game 2. Panarin finished with a goal and three assists for four points. But he was limited by the Panthers, who took away time and space. Neither Zibanejad nor Kreider recorded a point at 5-on-5.

Shesterkin posted a 2.25 goals-against-average (GAA) and .930 save percentage in a losing effort. He was brilliant. Even with facing more high danger chances, he stood tall to give the Rangers a chance to win.

In 2015, the Rangers lost an eerie Eastern Conference Final to the Lightning in seven games. There was no such thing as momentum.

After getting shut out 2-0 in Game 5, the Rangers went into Tampa and beat the Lightning 7-3 in Game 6. Derick Brassard posted a hat trick and five points in the win. Then came Game 7.

After failing on two power plays in the second period, the Rangers fell flat in the third. Alex Killorn beat Henrik Lundqvist less than two minutes in. Ondrej Palat added some insurance as the Lightning shut out the Rangers 2-0 to take the series.

The Lightning won the last three games at Madison Square Garden. The road team won five of the seven.

Following the series elimination, it was revealed that five defensemen played with injuries. Similar to Trouba, who was blasted, Girardi and Marc Staal were the whipping boys for losses by fools. Ryan McDonagh played with a broken foot.

Unlike the reaction yesterday, they were called warriors. Most people realized that it was the offense that failed to deliver in Games 5 and 7. A lack of adjustments on home ice didn’t help. It was a missed opportunity.

If they had Mats Zuccarello, they likely advance to a second straight Stanley Cup Final. He was skating. We’ll never know what would’ve happened.

Unlike that series, the Rangers were beat by a better team. By going after the organization, it comes off as sour grapes. Every team that makes it this far has players playing banged up. It’s what separates hockey from the other major sports. They should be lauded and applauded.

It doesn’t give enough credit to the Panthers, whose best players were superior to the Rangers. They executed better at 5-on-5, on special teams, and defensively. That’s why they’re playing for the Cup.

More class should be shown by our fans. It was a great season. Let’s try to appreciate what they accomplished.

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