Rangers Report Blog

Not going to have much today, even if there’s big news … which we’re not anticipating.

I have a big family reunion/golf outing upstate, so I won’t be anywhere near a computer or a phone or anything.

I did want to clear up a few things about Zherdev’s July 31 arbitration hearing, and arbitration in general.

1) Yes, it’s true, no team can tender an offer sheet to a player headed to arbitration.

2) The arbitrator can pick the player’s number, the team’s offer, or any number in between.

3) The team can accept the arbitrator’s decision and keep the player if they’re happy with the award.

4) Or the team can accept the decision and attempt to trade him, but that would be risky if the team doesn’t want the player, especially if he “wins” his arbitration case.

5) The team can walk away from the arbitrator’s decision, in which case the player becomes an unrestricted free agent and cannot be traded.

IMHO, the Rangers have been talking to teams about trades involving Zherdev based on certain salaries. If he wins a large contract, though, I think they’ll walk away and let him do the same.
———————
Been delinquent in this: NYRangerscast had Matt Gilroy as a guest on a podcast this week. You can hear the interview here:

NYRangerscast had Matt Gilroy as a guest this week. You can see/hear the interview here.

I hope so, anyway. I had some trouble getting it to play last night.
——————-

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter. We seem to be building some momentum there.

You can find it at twitter.com/rangersreport, or @rangersreport.

In case you missed this, former Rangers tough guy Chris “Knuckles” Nilan was arrested in Massachusetts for stealing a bathing suit.

Here’s the story.
————————————
TWEET, TWEET: 

Your favorite blog is now available on Twitter: You can find it at twitter.com/rangersreport, or, as twitterers know it, @rangersreport.
————————————
MSG Network’s “Fans’ Most Wanted” tonight has highlights from the Rangers-Devils playoff series, at 8:30.

Here it is, from NHL.com:

As expected (sorry for the delay, we had technical problems apparently).

RANGERS NAME MIKE SULLIVAN ASSISTANT COACH 

            New York, July 16, 2009 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has named Mike Sullivan assistant coach.
            Sullivan, 41, begins his first season as an assistant coach with the Rangers after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning.  He served as an assistant coach under John Tortorella with Tampa Bay during the 2007-08 season.  Prior to joining the Lightning, Sullivan served as head coach for the U.S. Men’s team at the 2007 World Championships in Russia.  He also served as assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team at the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, Italy.
            Sullivan began his coaching career in 2002 as head coach of the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League (AHL).  He led Providence to a 41-17-9-4 record and first place in the AHL’s North Division through the team’s first 71 games, before being named assistant coach of their parent NHL club, the Boston Bruins.  The following season, Sullivan was named head coach of the Bruins (NHL), and led the team to a 41-19-15-7 mark and the Northeast Division title.  In two seasons as Boston’s head coach, he posted a 70-56-15-23 record in 164 regular season games.
            Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Sullivan skated in 709 career NHL games in 11 seasons with the San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins, and Phoenix Coyotes, registering 54 goals and 82 assists for 136 points, along with 203 penalty minutes.  The Marshfield, Massachusetts native was originally selected by the Rangers in the fourth round, 69th overall, in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft.  He began his NHL career with San Jose in 1991 after spending one season with the San Diego Gulls of the International Hockey League.  Prior to turning pro, Sullivan attended Boston University, where he skated in 141 career college games and registered 61 goals and 138 points over four seasons.

—————————-
TWEET, TWEET: 

Your favorite blog is now available on Twitter: You can find it at twitter.com/rangersreport, or, as twitterers know it, @rangersreport.

Because I have nothing else at this point in the morning, I’ve been meaning to tell somebody this:

There are a lot of ads I love (Heineken), and a lot I hate (Geico’s pile of money). On WFAN radio there’s now an ad for this lawyer who supposedly gets people out of traffic tickets, speeding, etc. Just give him your license and your credit card, and you don’t even have to show up for court, he says.

The guy’s name is Seth Katz. At the end of the commercial, we’re told that the next time a policeman taps on your window, tell him who your lawyer is.

Can you imagine? What do you suppose would really happen if a state trooper pulls you over for speeding or driving under the influence or whatever, and he taps on your window and you tell him, “Seth Katz is my lawyer ….” ?

Do you think you might get no ticket, or a whole pile of tickets?
—————————
We’ve been telling you since the day that John Tortorella was hired that Mike Sullivan will be his next and only assistant coach this coming season. Sullivan was under contract to Tampa until this month. Now it appears he’s about to be officially signed.
—————————
Here is the latest on the Cherepanov investigation.
—————————
TWEET, TWEET: 
Your favorite blog is now available on Twitter: You can find it at twitter.com/rangersreport, or, as twitterers know it, @rangersreport.

————————-

Also, our last video chat is still available online. Click here to see it.
—————————
If you missed yesterday, here is the Rangers’ 2009-10 schedule.

Oct. 2 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 Ottawa, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 5 at New Jersey, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 8 at Washington, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 11 Anaheim, 5:00 p.m.
Oct. 12 Toronto, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 14 Los Angeles, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 17 at Toronto, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 19 San Jose, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 22 New Jersey, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 24 at Montreal, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 26 Phoenix, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 28 at N.Y. Islanders, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 30 at Minnesota, 8:00 p.m.

Nov. 1 Boston, 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 3 at Vancouver, 10:00 p.m.
Nov. 5 at Edmonton, 9:30 p.m.
Nov. 7 at Calgary, 10:00 p.m.
Nov. 12 Atlanta, 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 14 at Ottawa, 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 17 Washington, 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 21 Florida, 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 23 Columbus, 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 25 at Florida, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 27 at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 28 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 30 Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 5 at Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 6 Detroit, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 9 at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 12 Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 14 Atlanta, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 16 N.Y. Islanders, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 17 at N.Y. Islanders, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 19 at Philadelphia, 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 21 at Carolina, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 23 Florida, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 26 N.Y. Islanders, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 30 Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 31 at Carolina, 8:00 p.m.

Apr. 2 at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Apr. 3 at Florida, 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 6 at Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 7 Toronto, 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 9 Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 11 at Philadelphia, 3:00 p.m.

——————————————————————

TWEET, TWEET: 
Your favorite blog is now available on Twitter: You can find it at twitter.com/rangersreport, or, as twitterers know it, @rangersreport.

Just out:

Click here for the link to the schedules released by the NHL.

Opening night Oct. 2 at Pittsburgh. Home opener the next night against Ottawa.

We’ll post the entire thing here as soon as possible.
————————
In case you missed it, the NHL made it official that the next Winter Classic will be held at Fenway Park (Flyers-Bruins). Also, the NHL and NBC extended their broadcast partnership through 2010-11.

I doubt it. This is pure guess and hunch, but I think Glen Sather has a trade brewing somewhere, because his team is incomplete, and because there are still some UFAs out there who could help but aren’t signed yet.

No idea if this means a Babchuck or another RFA, for whom Sather would have to give up players/prospects/draft picks; or a Heatley—although I think the price is higher now than it was before, now that Ottawa has paid that $4M bonus; or a Brad Richards—which would mean dumping Wade Redden’s contract somehow, or Michal Rozsival’s contract, and probably giving up a good player off the roster.

If some of these trades don’t materialize, then I see them going down the Zubov road. But I don’t think it’s wise to chase Sundin and/or Shanahan.

I know cap space is tight, but it’s not rigid. For example, some of the players whose salaries we are counting against the cap can or will be starting the season in Hartford, and therefore not counting. Arnason comes to mind.

This is all just me thinking aloud. You guys might have your own opinions, perhaps?
——————————
LATE MORNING UPDATE: The NHL will release the 2009-10 schedule this afternoon at 3 p.m. Stay tuned.

I think this guy really figures in their near-future plans.

RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH DEFENSEMAN COREY POTTER

            New York, July 14, 2009 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Corey Potter.
             Potter, 25, made his NHL debut last season with the Rangers on December 7 against Calgary.  He recorded his first NHL point with an assist in his next game on December 27 vs. New Jersey, and finished with two points (one goal and one assist) in five games.  Potter spent most of the season with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL), registering 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points, along with 82 penalty minutes in 67 games.  He established a career-high in goals and tied his career-high in points.  He led all Hartford defensemen in goals, and ranked second among team defensemen in assists and points.  Potter recorded nine multi-point efforts during the season, including his first career multi-goal game on February 13 against Lake Erie.  In addition, Potter finished tied for second on the Wolf Pack in postseason scoring with four points, and ranked second on the club with three assists in six playoff contests with Hartford.
            The 6-3, 200-pounder has skated in 177 career AHL games with Hartford, registering 17 goals and 57 assists for 74 points, along with 205 penalty minutes.  He established career-highs in games played (80), assists (27), points (32), plus/minus rating (plus-33), and penalty minutes (102) during the 2007-08 season.  Potter led the team and ranked second in the league in plus/minus rating.  He also ranked third among team defensemen in points and assists, and tied for third in goals.  In 2006-07, Potter made his AHL debut with Hartford on February 7 at Providence, and collected an assist in the contest.  He began the season with the Charlotte Checkers of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), recording six goals and 13 assists for 19 points, along with 56 penalty minutes in 43 games.  Potter led all team defensemen in goals and points at the time of his recall to Hartford on February 5.  He notched his first professional point with an assist on October 26 at Florida.
            Potter has also skated in 18 career AHL postseason contests with Hartford, recording two goals and eight assists for 10 points, along with 49 penalty minutes.  He collected two assists in his professional playoff debut during the 2007 Calder Cup Playoffs on April 18 against Providence.
           The Lansing, Michigan native was originally the Rangers’ third round selection, 122^nd overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

I don’t want to make a bigger deal of this than it is, but it is big.
So I am reposting a message that was in last night’s thread for the benefit of our morning blogsters. Here it is:
  The tone of this blog has gotten a bit, shall we say, off course lately. You guys know it’s about hockey, and that we stray to include other interests, mostly in good fun. We’ve had some hysterical laughs here, for sure.
  But there are some things that aren’t going right. One of them is the personal stuff. It has happened among a bunch of you lately. It’s not acceptable. It’s not good. Nobody wants to see it or hear it. And I certainly don’t want to ban anybody if I don’t have to … but I will.
  Also, the name calling. Let’s try to be a little more sensitive, OK? It takes a lot more creativity to come up with a point than to simply bash somebody’s race or sexual preference or to simply call him/her a $%&@!. Again, not acceptable.
  And finally, the fraud factor. Don’t post as somebody else. Your screen name should belong to you. I’d hate to go through technical hoops to force everybody to use a working, legit email address and to make it so that it will be impossible for anybody other than the original person to use a screen name. Again, if I have to do it, I will.
  This stuff really makes me lose a lot of my enthusiasm for this blog, and I’m sure it has the same effect on others, our good readers, our Boneheads, the Festivus bunch, Capt. Clutch and everybody else. If I lose my enthusiasm, this thing will suffer. Ditto if our real, loyal blog-folks lose theirs. Let’s clean it up, OK?
  If you have something that needs to be ironed out, you can always email me at rcarpini@lohud.com and we’ll try to fix it. Thanks to all.
———————
Our last video chat is still available online. Check it out here.
———————-

AFTERNOON UPDATE: Here’s the preseason schedule.