Author Archive
Shanahan to Devils, Sanguinetti to Rangers. It’s all too much to process. • 01.10.09
A lot of news today, the big one being that Brendan Shanahan will return to the Devils, “although he has yet to agree to a contract.”:http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=262692&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_nhl
Circle Feb. 9 on your calendar. That’s the next time the Rangers face New Jersey. If nothing else, the move adds some more intrigue to the Atlantic Division.
Then there’s Bobby Sanguinetti getting the call from Hartford for tonight against the Senators, but not getting a chance to play.
A lot to sift through….
Sanguinetti up; could play against Sens • 01.10.09
With Michal Rozsival (facial injuries) in question for tonight, the Rangers have made the unexpected decision to call Bobby Sanguinetti up from Hartford. The New Jersey native and first-round draft pick frm 2006 would make his NHL debut if he plays.
Have to say I’m surprised by this. I know Sanguinetti is Hartford’s leading scorer with 20 points in 39 games, but I always got the sense he needed more time. Then again, why not if he’s played well? He could even be an option for the power play.
The other part to consider: what does it say about Corey Potter that they’ve given Sanguinetti the nod ahead of him?
Jagr hints at NHL return • 01.10.09
In a number of news reports, Jaromir Jagr “has hinted at his willingness to return to the NHL,”:http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/22224-THNcom-Blog-Jagr-says-return-to-Penguins-not-out-of-the-question.html where he said he’d even play for the league minimum salary in Pittsburgh.
Jagr has also been in contact with Rangers coach Tom Renney, which is another sign that he’s unhappy in Omsk. And with good reason: along with the death of good friend and teammate Alexei Cherepanov, Omsk’s coach, Wayne Fleming, was either fired or resigned in between periods of a game this week; and the KHL is said to be in financial turmoil.
Does that explain why they couldn’t afford a roof “for their All-Star Game?”:http://www.universalsports.com
Crucial stretch (Updated) • 01.09.09
The best news for the Rangers yesterday, other than Henrik Lundqvist’s All-Star selection, is that the Thrashers pounced on the Devils, meaning the Rangers hold onto fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
It’s a long way from those heady autumn days when the thought of home-ice through the playoffs wasn’t met with a hearty chuckle.
Either way, tonight is a big one for the Rangers, and it looks like Stephen Valiquette, who needed stitches below his shoulder this week after a Dan Fritsche slap shot in practice tore through his pads, will get the nod.
Why Valiquette tonight and Lundqvist tomorrow? Maybe because of recent history. Lundqvist lost the last time out against Buffalo. Valiquette lost last time against Ottawa. So if you’re Tom Renney, why not flip-flop the two and hope for a better fate?
The game is the first of five straight away from the Garden for the Rangers, although it doesn’t really qualify as a road trip when you consider they’ll be home after the game in Ottawa on Saturday (weather permitting), take the bus out to the Island on Tuesday, then not fly out to Chicago until Thursday.
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On the Faceoff blog, Sam Borden and Rick Carpiniello “debate the biggest rivalries in New York sports”:http://faceoff.lohudblogs.com/, with Rangers-Islanders (but not Rangers-Devils) earning consideration.
Update, 1:30 p.m.: As expected, Marc Staal and Brandon Dubinsky were named to the YoungStars game Jan. 23. And Steve Valiquette is officially in net tonight.
Lundqvist an All-Star (Updated) • 01.08.09
Henrik Lundqvist was “indeed tapped today to represent the Rangers in the All-Star Game later this month in Montreal”:http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=402847&navid=DL|NHL|home.
In other breaking news, the Rangers are wearing skates today at practice.
It will be Lundqvist’s first All-Star appearance after being a Vezina Trophy finalist his first three seasons in the league. He was far and away the team’s MVP to start the season, but has struggled of late, allowing four goals or more in six of his last 11 games.
Update, 12:19 p.m.: Some other notes from practice:
“I didn’t feel that well this morning after a tough game last night, but a thing like this always cheers you up a bit,” Lundqvist said. “It’s going to be fun to play that game with all those great players.”
For the record, Lundqvist said there was no way he could wear a wireless mic while tending goal the way Marty Turco did during last year’s game.
As for any advice from last year’s All-Star representative, Scott Gomez said he didn’t need to say much.
“It’s a little different,” Gomez said. “My first All-Star Game they told me if I got any sleep it’s the wrong way to approach an All-Star Game. Montreal should be great. He should just enjoy it…I’m not sure there’s any advice: Hank knows how to have a good time.”
“We want to win the game. That’s it,” Mara said. “He had his chance. We’re just going to play hockey.”
Then Mara added, “I won’t bite him.”
More later..
Guest post: Rangers lack starpower • 01.08.09
I’m fortunate today to be able to introduce a rare guest post by my friend and colleague Sam Borden, who despite being a former goalie, is actually a pretty sharp guy. Sam laments something many of you have noted as well this year—the conspicuous absence of a go-to-guy on the Rangers’ roster.
Check it out. Then check out the debate he and Rick Carpiniello are having on the Rangers at “their Faceoff blog”:http://faceoff.lohudblogs.com/.
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Sitting and watching the Rangers the other night, something felt weird to me (and it wasn’t just that they were wearing white on the road – which still seems odd, even though they’ve been doing it for five years now).
As I was sitting there, I realized that there wasn’t any one skater I was constantly snapping to attention to watch. There was no one who demanded attention all the time, simply because of the potential he had for doing something special. And that’s a big change for the Rangers – it hasn’t been that way for about 20 years.
Think about it: Over the past two decades, there has always been either Jaromir Jagr, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier or Brian Leetch on the Rangers. If you want to count Mike Gartner as a star – and he scored 11 goals in 12 games after being traded to New York, then had 49 the next year – in 1989-90, you certainly can. In some ways, it’s been even longer – Marcel Dionne was a big-time player and the Rangers got him after 85-86.
My point is this: The Rangers don’t have a player like that right now. Henrik Lundqvist is absolutely a star, but he’s not someone who makes you feel comfortable that, on a power-play late in the game, he’s going to find a way to get you a winner. He’s not the kind of player who can take over a game by himself and turn a deficit into a lead. Only a skater can do that.
Is the lack of a go-to scorer the only reason the Rangers have been so inconsistent this year? Hardly. Stars don’t guarantee Cups, and the fact that the Rangers have only won one during these 20 years is proof enough of that. But I do think it’s a factor. And it’s something that puts even more pressure on Lundqvist and the defense to stand up every night.
Some might say that Nikolai Zherdev could someday become one of those types of players, and that’s fair. Maybe he will. He just isn’t right now. No one is. And for the Rangers, that’s pretty unusual.
Three questions:
1. Do you think the lack of a star is a factor in the Rangers’ inconsistency this season?
2. Do you think the Rangers currently have a star-in-the-making on their roster?
3. What do you think the Rangers are right now? Legit contender? Letdown-in-the-making? Come check out the debate that former hockey writer Rick Carpiniello (an absolute superstar) and I are having at our FACEOFF blog and join in with your opinion.
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Thanks to Sam for chiming in. I’ll have more from practice in a bit…
Familiar story • 01.08.09
Some red-eyed thoughts the morning after a momentum-killing loss to the Habs:
The scrappy wing has been phenomenal, and clearly has regained the confidence that had eroded over the previous few seasons. And that’s part of the problem: As good as Prucha has been, he wasn’t nearly this effective when plugged into the lineup on occasion earlier in the season. What’s apparent now is that Tom Renney should have given the forward more time to play through his struggles.
Meanwhile, I hate to spoil the feel-good vibe when it comes to Prucha, but one would think that in just a few short games, Prucha has made himself significantly more attractive to other teams. If the Rangers were looking to move him earlier in the season but couldn’t fetch anything worthwhile in return, they might be able to do so now. And there’s no question that Glen Sather wants and needs to do something to upgrade this team for the stretch drive.
Rangers say they deserved better • 01.07.09
I’m not a big fan of stories that focus on one-sided officiating, but that was clearly a predominant topic in the Rangers locker room after the game. And that included Tom Renney, who made the rare concession that he probably needs to be more active in complaining to officials.
“Maybe I’ve got to be more vocal and try to get a call or two. It seems to work for other teams,” the coach said. “It’s not an easy game to officiate, but it’s disconcerting when others seem to be able to do that.”
It’s true, the Rangers deserved a few more calls, particularly on the slash on Paul Mara. But it’s not like their power play is a sure thing these days. If this was a game they could have won, the loss came with a reason as well.
On Korpikoski, Fritsche, and donuts…. • 01.07.09
We’re running late, but so is the game (a 7:30 start thanks to TSN), so let’s get on with it.
Some notes:
“He’s certainly demonstrated he can play in the NHL,” Renney said. “It’s as much about the opponent as anything. I like the security of having him around.”
Indeed, Korpikoski is here not only because the Rangers could very well use him again as early as Friday. It’s also to serve as a reminder to someone like Aaron Voros that he could be replaced at any moment. Personally, I think Korpikoski deserves to be playing every night, but it’s at least encouraging to hear the team isn’t shipping him out of town.
On a related note, Lynn Zinser of the Times told me on Monday she saw someone walking around the Garden wearing a Rangers No. 49 Fritsche jersey. What are the odds it was a blood relative?
Renney was asked whether he hated any opponents more than others. The coach responded that he didn’t, that he treats every team with an equal level of respect and disdain.
Then Renney said, “Hate can manifest itself in many different ways…There are my donuts.”
Huh? Donuts?
Turns out right when Renney was speaking, goaltending coach Benoit Allaire was walking down the hallway with a haul from Dunkin’ Donuts.
Credit the News’ Michael Obernauer with the line of the night: “Can I quote you on that?”
More later…
On an off day, talk some football • 01.07.09
Tonight marks the first of a three-game-in-four-day stretch for the Rangers, but tomorrow you should have plenty of time to talk some football with The Journal News’ Mike Dougherty and Sam Borden.
Those two will be hosting a video chat at noon, where they’ll be breaking down the Giants’ playoff opener against the Eagles.
Follow the link “here”:http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/MOGULUS0105/399990027, and make sure to inundate them both with questions. Just don’t ask about the Rangers’ power play.
As for another hockey video chat, we should have one coming up soon, so stay tuned.
More from the Garden in a bit…
