Battle Of Hudson

In case you didn’t know, #StaalsAreBrothers. This became a popular Twitter trend the past couple of seasons thanks to the ridiculous MSG coverage whenever it was Staal versus Staal. Between our very own Marc, Carolina’s Eric and Pittsburgh’s Jordan, it’s enough to drive any Ranger fan cuckoo. All the overhype became a frequent subject between #NYR tweeps as a sorta running satire of how The Garden covers them.

Now, you can add Tim Erixon to the list. As many already knew when he was drafted by Calgary in ’09 (1st Rd-23rd Overall), the Swedish D prospect was the son of ex-Ranger defensive checking center Jan Erixon. Naturally, he was high on their list but the organization selected forward Chris Kreider, who looks on track to be a key part of the club’s future.

In dealing away prospect Roman Horak along with both second round picks this year in exchange for Erixon who immediately signed an entry level contract before the 5 PM deadline, the Blueshirts are banking on the 20 year-old from Portchester, New York’s upside- which could further solidify a young blueline that includes Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Mike Sauer and Mike Del Zotto,who turns 21 right around the Draft. They also got back a fifth rounder for their trouble.

On paper, it sounds good. Erixon was rated in their top 10 Draft Board and has good credentials, having been an integral part of Sweden at the World Junior Championships the past couple of years. He also participated in the World Championships, registering an assist in his country’s run to silver. He’s spent the past three seasons playing for Skelleftea of the Swedish Elite League, developing into a reliable defenseman capable of contributing offensively. This past year, he established career bests in assists (19), points (24), shots (89) and games played (48). In ’08-09 and ’09-10 combined, Erixon registered 27 points (9-18-27). Jan’s son also was a fixture on the man-advantage matching a career high with four power play goals. He does possess a top heavy shot, which could boost one of the scariest looking power plays in all of hockey.

With the acquisition, the Rangers are very deep on D which now makes Del Zotto- once thought to be a crown jewel- vulnerable. Are they about to give up on him already in say a package for a much needed finisher? Who knows. It could spell the end for Matt Gilroy, who never lived up to lofty expectations despite being the odd man out for stretches before winding up back in John Tortorella’s good graces. No chance they qualify Hobey. If they do intend on keeping him, it will be for less.

What are the plans exactly? You still have Tomas Kundratek, Dylan McIlrath, Pavel Valentenko and Sam Klassen.  Kundratek and Valentenko both played for Connecticut while Klassen moved up from Greenville. McIlrath already signed and is expected to be a huge part of the future, adding some much needed snarl to the back end. It’s clearly a numbers game. They’ve stockpiled and barely have anyone legit up front. Outside of Christian Thomas who already signed and Kreider, who’s supposed to stay at BC another year, what else is there? They messed up Evgeny Grachev, swapped Ethan Werek for Oscar Lindberg. Carl Hagelin could be a gem after surprising many. Ryan Bourque should be a solid third liner who’s all around responsible. The organization still needs to add another scorer.

This Erixon deal is not just about improving in one area but about finally setting up for a trade to address the lack of scoring. It’s time for them to go get whoever it is.

Funny, isn’t it – how we hear that the league frowns on any team making news during the playoffs (especially during the Stanley Cup Finals) and yet on the eve of its championship series, the NHL publicly announces that the Atlanta Thrashers are moving to Winnipeg and playing in Manitoba next season. This is hardly replacing a bad market with a good one, if you were doing a tale of the tape between Atlanta and Winnipeg, well the edge in market would go to Atlanta while the edge in passion goes to Winnipeg. Somewhat astonishingly, commissioner Gary Bettman issued a warning to Winnpeg fans on the day that they’re officially getting their team – basically saying they’d better sell out their games or else. Gee, couldn’t the doom and gloom have waited? I didn’t see Bettman warn any other of his ‘chosen’ markets like this when moving teams to areas that didn’t even have hockey beforehand.

Granted, it would have been nice if Quebec had gotten a team back before Winnipeg…of all the markets that had teams taken from them, they’re clearly the most capable of supporting a team, and I don’t say that just because of the 2500 plus fans that showed up en masse to the Rock the last day of the regular season. Not that I really feel sorry for Atlanta either, Atlanta’s never really been a great sports town for its other professional teams, why should I expect it to be a great hockey market despite the size of the city?

I do wonder how my life would have changed if the Devils had moved in ’95 the way the diehard Thrasher fans will no doubt have to come to terms with no longer having a team of their own. Certainly there would have been no great memories from 2000, 2003 or even some of the recent regular seasons. At that point if the Devils had moved, I think I would have switched over to the Isles. After all, I would have still wanted to root for a local team and even at that point as a young hockey fan, there was no way I was going to switch to the Rangers or Flyers. Those days there really wasn’t the type of wall-to-wall internet coverage there is now and I hadn’t heard of Center Ice back then, so I think if the Devils were similarly threatened today I might feel differently. After all, it is getting easier every year to follow a team that’s out of state.

That said, there’s nothing like being at a big home game, and once all the players you rooted for in the uniform are gone a piece of you probably does leave as a fan. Ironically, the Isles have their own arena problems these days so if I ever were to be forced to switch allegiances it’d probably be to Buffalo, especially given they’re usually an underdog that’s easy to root for. Thankfully with the Devils’ new arena and current ownership, moving shouldn’t even be a threat for a very long time and I’ll probably never have to experience that with my other teams (Mets and Jets). For all the grief they cause me, it’s better to have them than not. Everyone needs their life diversion.

I already know one Devils fan who lives in Atlanta (and developed a soft spot for the Thrashers as a result) that’s sworn off the NHL for good because of what happened and how it came about, the fact that the NHL jumped through hoops to save Phoenix while barely lifting a finger for Atlanta. Of course when the NHL locked out, many fans swore off the league then but judging by the increased numbers every year I doubt half the people who said they were going to drop the league followed through on their threat. I don’t always like the league or the people that run it – just see some of my posts from the Summer of Kovy last year – but I’m not going to let the bureaucrats on First Avenue dilute my passion for the Devils either.

And what this means for the league long-term, who knows? It might be too late to re-align the divisions for next year, meaning Southeast teams like Tampa Bay, Florida, Carolina and Washington will all have to make three trips to far-off Winnipeg next season – not to mention other East teams like the Devils and company will have to go twice. After that the landscape could also shift again, if Phoenix finally does go under and either Quebec, Kansas City or another market gets their team. I hope the league at least encourages the team to retain the Winnipeg Jets name but odds seem to favor the team being called the Manitoba Whatevers.

One game to decide who advances and who books tee times. As Gary Thorne once said prior to Ducks-Devils for all the marbles eight years ago, ‘There’s no better theatre than Game Seven.’ Either win or go home.

Opportunity presents both the Lightning and Bruins, who have battled this far for a chance to meet the Canucks for the Stanley Cup. After tonight, only one will move on to challenge the heavy favorite with all of Canada glued to the sets a la ’04 when the Flames took the Bolts the distance before falling in gut wrenching fashion. However, Calgary’s run was as a lower road seed coming as a surprise. Whoever the mighty Canucks draw, they’ll be expected to win the franchise’s first Cup in their third attempt. A Canadian team hasn’t won Lord Stanley since the ’93 Canadiens on the broad shoulders of Patrick Roy.

While that’s a great storyline for another day, tonight it’s Tampa Bay and Boston. Their time to shine. Seventeen years ago today, it was Devils/Rangers in an epic showdown with Stephane Matteau providing a climatic conclusion to an unbelievable series. Will they go that far tonight, digging into resolve for whatever they got left in the second overtime? None of the previous six have reached that point. As a matter of fact, only the Canucks’ bizarre ending in Game Five was the only game that needed sudden death this round after a wild first pair. If there’s any God (aside from frantic fans of both), there’ll be overtime to decide who wins the East. Or as I prefer to say, the Wales Conference. Will either team captain even touch the trophy or will they do what Henrik Sedin did and just take a picture and then skate off?

It’s sure to be exciting. At least we hope. Please don’t let it be an anti-climatic blowout a la Wings-Avs with Dominik Hasek having a day at the beach after Roy’s costly gaffe the prior game almost a decade ago when I was in Bristol. Has it been that long? Crazy. Game Seven is awesome. Let this one be filled with drama that builds all the way up to that final tick. Whether it be regulation or sudden death, a series like this one deserves it.

Who will be the hero? Tim Thomas or Dwayne Roloson? David Krejci or Vinny Lecavalier? Nathan Horton or Martin St. Louis? Zdeno Chara or Mattias Ohlund? Or will it be a grinder like Rich Peverley or Sean Bergenheim? You never know. In ’03, it was Grant Marshall and Jeff Friesen combining on an unlikely winner crushing Ottawa hearts. And in ’94, Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!

Get ready!

Today marks a special anniversary. Seventeen years ago on this date 5/25/94, Mark Messier delivered on his “Guarantee” by scoring a natural hat trick in the third period for a miraculous Game 6 win- leading the Rangers over the Devils at The Meadowlands.

The Rangers avoided elimination and would go on to take the best series I’ve ever seen in dramatic fashion thanks to unlikely hero Stephane Matteau’s double overtime goal in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden when big games still existed. Everyone knows what happened next with Messier, Conn Smythe winner Brian Leetch, Mike Richter, Adam Graves and the rest of a great Blueshirt team, preventing the underdog Canucks from coming back to win the Stanley Cup. All the controversy surrounding Mike Keenan and Neil Smith didn’t matter because Messier and the rest of his focused teammates wouldn’t allow it to overshadow what their goal was. A couple of lucky goalposts and one last dramatic faceoff win by Craig MacTavish following a phantom icing finally allowed the Rangers to celebrate their first Cup in 54 years. No more 1940 ever again!

Without The Captain’s clutch performance in Game 6 with his team’s back to the wall trailing 2-zip, there never is a fourth championship and we’re still talking about Curses and jinxes. The euphoria of it all will never be forgotten by New York City and generations of Ranger fans who finally lived to see a day they never thought existed. Well, that would be June 14, 1994 with the infamous sign after the fireworks:

NOW I CAN DIE IN PEACE

All this time later as I reflect back on the nervous energy expended as a teenager hoping they’d finally win for Dad, who was a season ticket holder that had the misfortune of seeing Bobby Orr skate the Cup when the Bruins won at MSG. I’ll never forget the emotion of it all. Us sitting there in that office room upstairs watching the miraculous comeback started by an Alexei Kovalev late goal in the second. Messier did the rest, taking a Leetch pass off a rush and backhanding one past kid Martin Brodeur to tie the game at two. Then, off another rush started by Leetch, there was No.11 stuffing home a rebound that put the Rangers ahead, stunning everyone. But it wasn’t over. Not when the Devils got a power play and Jacques Lemaire risked pulling Brodeur with over two minutes left for a 7-on-4. But before he could be second guessed, Messier shot all the way down from 120 feet into the open net for the hat trick. The Rangers would win.

Despite all the theatrics, there still was another game to play and it was a beauty just as the series had been with Valeri Zelepukin forcing sudden death with 7.7 seconds left in regulation. I can remember feeling sick. The ups and downs of another overtime. The third of a classic Eastern Conference Final that saw Stephane Richer prevail in Game 1 and Matteau notch the first of his two in Game 3, also in double OT. This was the kind of theatre that comes around every so often. That Zelepukin would find a loose puck Claude Lemieux centered and get it past a screaming Richter, who probably just lost it thinking exactly what every Ranger fan was. It was over. The Devils tied it and now, another dramatic moment would be forever remembered for one side.

Both goalies were unbelievable with Brodeur stacking the pads on Messier and Richter stifling Bobby Holik. It was some of the greatest playoff overtime hockey ever played with each team trading chances. Before Matteau could play hero, the Devils seemed to have won it when a shot through traffic Richter lost sight of. The rebound was sitting right there before Steve Larmer saved the day with Sam Rosen screaming, “Where’s the puck?” I can remember fearing the worst only to be relieved when it was in the corner. Moments later, Slava Fetisov turned the puck over in his end and Matteau pounced. He then went around the net and centered a pass for a cutting Esa Tikkanen but it never got there, instead going off Fetisov past a sliding Brodeur, touching off wild jubilation on one side and total dejection for the other.

It still ranks as one of the greatest series ever. Even if you didn’t have a rooting interest, this was hockey at its pinnacle. Two evenly matched teams who gave it all they had. In sports, there are winners and losers. Neither deserved to lose. But that’s not how it’s written in the record books. The thing that still stands out most was when the puck went in, Dad never realized they scored until I told him saying, ‘It’s in,’ to which he went nuts. The ceiling shook. It was all worth it.

Little did we know that Pavel Bure and Trevor Linden of the Canucks would make us even crazier in another wild series. All this time later, I still think back to that Game 6 and what Messier did. He didn’t do it alone with Richter absolutely standing on his head while having his best friend the post keep our team alive. If I rank those series, Devils-Rangers wins every time. It’s just how it is. That was the ultimate because it told us that they were going to win the whole damn thing!

I even got the Game 7 score right in History class, calling 3-2 after Vancouver had pushed us to the limit. Hell. Mr. Bennett even had a fun pool which almost everyone took part in. I couldn’t because I was afraid I’d jinx them. I just said 3-2 and had a good feeling about it. All they had been through made me believe. And so, Leetch, Graves and Messier (even if he never touched it) would score the fateful goals that finally ended a 54-year drought. Never would’ve happened without May 25, 1994.

Ironically, last night when the Canucks clinched their third Cup appearance on the most unpredictable ending of a great game with Kevin Bieksa the only one who knew the puck was still in play enough to shoot a roller past an unassuming Antti Niemi, it marked another anniversary. Seventeen years ago yesterday was the last time Vancouver made the Final with Greg Adams notching the OT winner. Funny how things work sometimes. The top seeded Canucks will attempt to finally be successful this time. Good thing for them they won’t see a New York opponent. 😛

Another great American born player will call it quits later this week. As expected, Doug Weight will announce his retirement at a press conference on Long Island Thursday.

The 40 year-old has had a brilliant 18-year NHL career playing with half a dozen teams (NYR, Edm, Stl, Car, Ana, NYI). Highlights include a Stanley Cup with the ’06 Hurricanes, an Olympic silver medal (’02 Salt Lake City), four All-Star selections along with reaching 1,000 career points with his final team, the Islanders in ’09-10. He finishes with 1,033 points including 755 assists along with 278 goals over 1,238 games.

One of the best playmaking American centers to play the game, Weight started out on the other side of the Battle Of New York after being selected by the Rangers in the ’90 Draft via the second round (34th overall). The Warren Michigan native lasted less than two seasons on Broadway with ’94 Cup architecht Neil Smith dealing him to trade partner Glen Sather and Edmonton for Esa Tikkanen. While the deal helped his former team break a 54-year drought the following year, it did wonders for Weight’s career, emerging into one of the game’s craftiest passers.

Over the next decade, Weight developed into a superb top line center capable of threading the needle from any angle while also finishing just enough to keep opponents honest. He became a power play fixture, able to work his magic from the boards or behind the net and find open teammates. The unselfish Oiler also was solid all around, capable of playing in his end. However, his main job was to produce and he did just that in ’95-96 going over the century mark for the only time in his career. Weight played in all 82 games, finishing with 25 goals and a remarkable 79 assists totaling a career best 104 points, including 46 power play points (9-37-46). Even though they missed the postseason a fifth consecutive year, that finally changed the following season.

Led by Weight and Curtis Joseph, the Oilers pulled off back-to-back first round upsets over the Stars in ’97 and the Avalanche in ’98 before falling short in the Western Conference Semifinals. However, Dallas soon became their kryptonite ousting them from the first round repeatedly following Todd Marchant’s shorthanded sudden death series clincher. With Weight getting closer to unrestricted free agency, Kevin Lowe knew the club couldn’t afford to keep him. After nine years spent in Alberta, he was traded to St. Louis during the summer of ’01, allowing him more opportunities to try to win.

As a Blue, he wasn’t asked to be the main guy but teamed up with Pierre Turgeon to form a nice 1-2 punch down the middle. A bit older, Weight was still a good enough performer to be near a point-per-game while providing St. Louis with another power play threat aside from Chris Pronger. With Pavol Demitra also part of the core and Joel Queeneville behind the bench, the Blues had some good seasons but only got out of the first round once before the lockout. Following the work stoppage, Weight was dealt near the trade deadline to Carolina where he finally won it all with the Canes. In his 10th try (11th if you count 1 playoff cameo in ’91 w/NYR), the old school center proved he still had it, posting a career best 16 points (3-13-16) with more than half via the PP (2-7-9). On a strong roster that boasted Conn Smythe winner Cam Ward, Eric Staal, Erik Cole, Justin Williams and Ray Whitney, Weight and Carolina won it all, ironically outlasting his former club Edmonton in a hard fought seven games.

Following the success in Raleigh, Weight returned to St. Louis once more where he put up his highest total since pre-lockout, finishing with 59 points (16-43-59). In his second year, he again was dealt this time to the Ducks but the club fell in five games trying to defend its championship.

Weight’s final three years were spent on Long Island with the Islanders where his leadership has allowed a young nucleus including John Tavares, Kyle Okposo and Michael Grabner to grow. Over three seasons, Weight was injury riddled but still a solid citizen who was a good Islander and team captain that led by example. In three seasons, he tallied 13 goals and 51 assists for 64 points over 107 games. Unfortunately, Weight got into only 18 his final year, registering two goals and seven helpers with five power play points.

While he won’t make the Hockey Hall Of Fame, his credentials are certainly worthy of being inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall Of Fame. One of our country’s best who wore the red, white and blue with pride, including during Team USA’s run to the ’96 World Cup championship where he finished with three goals and four helpers for seven points over seven contests. A silver medalist, two-time Olympian and Cup winner who was also a champion off the ice.

In a surprising move, Brian Rafalski is expected to announce his retirement. The All-Star defenseman who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Devils over a decade ago became one of the game’s best blueliners and a premier power play quarterback. His rookie season, he helped lead New Jersey to its second Stanley Cup along with fellow rookies Scott Gomez, John Madden and Colin White.

The former Wisconsin standout spent his first seven NHL seasons with the Devils, teaming with Hall Of Famer Scott Stevens for two championships (’00, ’03). New Jersey also reached Game 7 of the ’01 Cup Final before falling to Colorado. A smooth skating defenseman with great vision, Rafalski was one of the game’s best passers, often able to spring teammates for breakaways up the middle. He also possessed a deflectable low shot that drove opponents crazy while killing penalties. An unselfish player who also was underrated defensively despite his 5-10, 174 pound frame. Rafalski always battled hard and used the body when called upon.

After two Cups, three All-Star selections and an Olympic Silver in Salt Lake City (’02), Rafalski departed New Jersey to play for hometown Detroit where he again got to team with a future Hall Of Famer in six-time Norris winner Nick Lidstrom. It didn’t take long for him to adjust to the Red Wings, matching a career high with 55 points including a career best 13 goals while winning a third Cup in his first season (’07-08). Rafalski added 14 points (4-10-14) during the postseason for Detroit’s fourth championship since ’97. He followed up with a new career high 59 points including 49 helpers during ’08-09. Once again, the Wings reached the Final but fell in a tough seven games to the Penguins.

In 2010, there was Rafalski as one of the leaders of surprising Team USA’s run to another silver in Vancouver where they just fell short in a dramatic overtime loss to Canada. He played two more years with the Red Wings continuing to be productive, following up a 42-point ’09-10 with 48 in what looks to be his final season. If it is indeed the end, Rafalski finishes with 79 goals and 436 assists totaling 515 points over 833 career games in 11 seasons. With two goals and an assist this postseason, it allowed him to reach 100 (29-71-100) in 165 games.

Rafalski never missed the playoffs in a brilliant career. Just imagine if he had been drafted instead of being forced to go overseas where he played in Finland for three years before Lou Lamoriello discovered him. Sometimes, hidden gems exist. A classy man on and off the ice, that’s what Rafalski was.

According to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, Derek Boogaard’s death last Friday was ruled accidental. The cause of death was an accidental mixture of alcohol and oxycodone toxicity. He was only 28 when brothers Ryan and Aaron discovered him at his Minneapolis apartment at 6:10 CT. 

Derek will be buried tomorrow in his hometown, Regina, Saskatchewan. Along with his family, it’s expected that several former teammates and NHL brethren will attend the funeral, including Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold, GM Chuck Fletcher and the club training staff. He is survived by parents Len and Joanne, two brothers, half-brother Curtis and sister Kristen.

The rumors have finally become fact. Earlier today, the Rangers and Christian Thomas made it official, agreeing to a three-year entry level deal. The son of former NHLer Steve Thomas, Christian Thomas was selected by the Blueshirts in the second round (40th overall).

Listed only at 5-9, 164 pounds, the diminutive kid from Toronto who’ll turn 19 next week had a great junior season with the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In 66 games, Thomas scored 54 goals while notching 45 assists for 99 points with a plus-20 rating, 19 power play goals, two shorthanded goals and 38 penalty minutes. The 99 were a 33-point increase from ’09-10 when he registered 66 (41-25-66). He also had a big playoffs, tallying nine goals and 10 helpers for 19 points in just 10 games, which included four PPG and a plus-eight rating.

Dad Steve and Christian are the only father/son combo to hit the 50-goal plateau in the OHL. Thomas’ 95 goals were tops the past two seasons.

The Boogeyman might be gone but his spirit is still carried on in the hockey community. When you lose a player to such an awful tragedy, it’s like losing part of your extended family. As a passionate diehard Ranger fan for nearly 25 years, Derek Boogaard’s death still numbs and makes us ponder life itself, which is so precious. In two days, I’ll pay tribute along with a strong group of friends who will honor the One Year Anniversary of Lyndzay’s death. Considering that his grandma also passed recently and someone else we knew did as well, it seems like there’s been too many of these lately. Unfortunately, life goes on. And so, we must try to deal with death the best we can. By remembering them.

In this third entry devoted to Boogey coupled with our tribute page on the right sidebar and our last brief piece, we flashback to one of the most exciting moments against the Caps on November 9, 2010 this past season. The big man out to protect teammates, surprised everyone in the house when he was the recipient of a breakaway up the left wing. On a two-on-one, there was no doubt what No.94 intended to do, winding up with a classic slapshot from the top left circle that hit twine, popping the Gatorade bottle for his first and only goal of 2010-11. Few players wind up like that these days. So, when Tampa’s Ryan Malone did it with similar success earlier this postseason, it was pretty cool. But it simply doesn’t compare to one of the toughest SOB’s ending a long 234-game goalless span with a moment that had fans in our section chuckling. It reminded of that Marek Malik shootout winner in ’05-06 going between his legs versus ironically enough the same opponent.

There are things that make sports special. These classic moments are what make it fun. The joy of a player doing the unexpected a la Aaron Boone, Bucky Dent, Stephane Matteau, Grant Marshall, Dave Hannan, Dave Volek, etc. Maybe it was supposed to be this way for Boogaard, whose signature breakaway slapper won’t soon be forgotten. The reaction still is priceless. Just replaying it over and over allows us to smile and laugh, seeing the sheer excitement on Boogey’s face with teammates mobbing him as his hands are raised to the roof in jubilation. It makes me want to cry but at least tears of joy. Who doesn’t love seeing Bruce Boudreau’s stunned disbelief as if to say ‘Are you ******* kidding me,’ at 24 seconds? I don’t think there was enough Haagen Dazs for our favorite coach, who stole the show at last year’s HBO 24/7 leading up to the Winter Classic. Speaking of which, it’ll be nice to see the Blueshirts represent the city when they take on the Flyers at Lincoln Financial Field on January 2nd.

Today’s not about that but still focusing on a larger than life athlete who gave his heart to everyone, putting grins on kids faces. I only wish I could’ve met the man and shook his hand. I can’t imagine how hard it’s been on his family as they get ready to bury Derek this weekend. It isn’t fair. Sometimes, life isn’t. I learned it last year and thank my lucky stars for every day I get. You just never know. We cannot forget Derek Boogaard! It simply isn’t an option. That #94 patch should be part of the 86th New York Rangers season. One they don’t start up for quite some time. A new Cup champ hasn’t even been crowned yet and already, all I can think of is 2011-12, which will also be the Third Year Anniversary of Alexei Cherepanov’s death. Counting Roman Lyashenko (’03), our team has lost three players to tragedy. Crazy.

Here’s to you Boogey! Cheers.

A few days have passed since the untimely death of Derek Boogaard. It’s still hard to fathom that the 28 year-old mammoth of a man who gave his heart and soul for his teammates, was discovered dead at his Minneapolis apartment by brothers Ryan and Curtis on Friday The 13th- sending shock waves throughout the hockey community.

The loss of a popular teammate and even better person away from the ice who devoted much of his time to charities helping soldiers and kids, is shocking. True enough, he last played a day after my birthday on Dec.9, 2010 sustaining a concussion and shoulder injury in a fight with Ottawa’s Terry Carkner. The severity of the injuries forced him to miss the last 53 games. A disappointing first year on Broadway had him motivated to get into even better shape as he recovered from a fourth concussion. Boogaard was looking forward to working with Ranger trainer Reg Grant this summer to prove himself after inking a four-year $6.5 million contract last summer, departing Minnesota.

Instead, we’re left with questions as to how The Boogeyman died. With homicide ruled out and no signs of a struggle, who knows what the cause of death was. Out of respect for a good man, we’re not about to speculate. The autopsy should take several weeks along with toxicology reports. I’d rather not even think about it. A good person has left us way too soon and now it’s time to mourn as the Wild organization did over the weekend thanks to a special memorial held in front of the Xcel Energy Center, organized over Facebook by big fans Katie Haag and Shelby Leske that included several former teammates along with the entire Boogaard family.

We devoted a whole page to Derek Boogaard on a six-year career that featured plenty of fisticuffs along with one awesome goal he scored at MSG against the Caps. I’m proud to say I was there along with Dad, Justin and Mike for that cool moment which snapped a 234-game drought. Even though they didn’t win the game, Boogey won. That’s all that mattered.

I wish there could be a moment of clarity. Unfortunately, when something like this happens, it makes you rethink things. The entire hockey community has come together, memorializing Boogaard’s tragic death. Hopefully with his brain donated to BU, something good will come out of this. I’ll always remember that cool No.94 Ranger jersey. The man had a sense of humor till the end.