“It’s pretty ugly everywhere at times now.” That was the quote from Brad Richards (on MSG Network), who said several times several different ways that the Rangers: A) survived themselves and a brutal opening schedule and B) are not playing particularly well, even if they are playing hard most of… Read More →
Last year, “It’s Just Pain” was the defining quote from Brandon Prust, the one that said it all about the Rangers. You’d better hope that this year’s mantra isn’t John Tortorella’s “We sucked from head to toe.” I thought that was hilarious, but true. And very, very calculated. Coaches and… Read More →
Told ya. This game was exactly what I expected … except that it really wasn’t very nasty. Come to think of it, other than the fights in the stands, it wasn’t nasty at all; and as I recall, last year the Rangers played better and played tougher in games that… Read More →
Gotta tell you, I’m starting to be fascinated on this No. 1 left-wing thing. I mean, it shouldn’t be that hard to find a winger to play with the two most gifted forwards on the team, right? It could be all types of players, couldn’t it? Could be an offensive… Read More →
John Tortorella: (I asked him what kind of things the Rangers can do now that they’re home): “Practice, practice. Practice, practice. Who used to say that?” Told it was Allen Iverson, then told that Iverson used it in a different vein … “Put it in the opposite vein of him…. Read More →
Forwards The look all changed when Brad Richards signed for $60 million over nine, years. Throw a legit No. 1 center onto any roster and it trickles down mightily. Now the Rangers have an elite playmaking center to play with Marian Gaborik, who had a terrible second season (22 goals,... Read More →
John Tortorella: On the post-practice event in which members of the FDNY and NYPD hockey teams were interspersed with Rangers players for a scrimmage game and a shootout. Tortorella, by the way, was the happiest guy on the ice when some of the firemen and cops scored on Henrik Lundqvist…. Read More →
Better late than never. This is yesterday’s presser. I won’t be around the team today as it skates in the morning and then flies—that’s right, flies—to Albany for the preseason opener. I’ll be back this evening for a Go Time thread. Tortorella noted that there’s a rookie game at 1… Read More →
Before I drive headlong into rush-hour traffic … The Rangers will announce their roster for tomorrow’s game in Albany later on. I’ll put it up as soon as I get it. Chad Kolarik tweaked a knee today and is going to be checked out. Michael Sauer did his fitness (torture… Read More →
The Rangers play hockey for the first time this training camp. We’re going to have to count on our Twitter widget———> for live updates, etc. In the meantime, here are some leftover interviews from the weekend: Wojtek Wolski: Talked about getting past the old “garbage” and starting over. “I started… Read More →
UPDATE: Here is my story on Brandon Prust from The Journal News and LoHud.com today. Sorry this is so late … had some major car snafu Friday. Hope to be able to get to camp for most of the session, if not all, Saturday. We’ll see. No promises. Here is… Read More →
First the news. Marian Gaborik is not on the ice. He attended the funeral service for his friend Pavol Demitra yesterday. Wade Redden is not here; he was assigned to attend Connecticut’s training camp right from the start. And Michael Sauer did not skate today with a tweaked knee. UPDATE:... Read More →
A few items that have been discussed already. But here are the official announcements. From the NHL: NEW YORK RANGERS’ FOUR-GAME EUROPEAN EXHIBITION SCHEDULE INCLUDES GAME AGAINST HC SLOVAN IN BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA, OCT. 2 New York/Toronto (July 20, 2011) – The New York Rangers will play an exhibition game in… Read More →
From the Rangers: RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH FORWARD ARTEM ANISIMOV New York, July 8, 2011 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with forward Artem Anisimov on a new contract. Anisimov, 23, skated in 82 games with… Read More →
MORNING UPDATE: Larry Brooks is reporting that RFA Michael Sauer signed a two-year, $1.25 million contract. AFTERNOON UPDATE: Add Artem Anisimov, who signed on the dotted line today, too (in case you didn’t see it right over there———>). According to Jesse Spector’s blog: “Anisimov’s deal is worth $3.75 million for… Read More →
It’s been pretty hectic around here the last couple of weeks, and I’m not complaining. Had a lot of stuff to talk about and a lot of fun talking about it. And now we go back to the off-season, at least for the moment. I still suspect your heroes might… Read More →
Here is my column about Bruce Boudreau’s whining, etc., from The Journal News and LoHud.com today. John Tortorella: I asked him about what Fedotenko means to the team, for the column I’m writing: “He is a guy that, he’s been good. He’s been good in the series. He does all… Read More →
Not much news. Same lineup. Eminger and Zuccarello prucha’d. Quotes from the coach in a bit, and some from Bruce Boudreau as well. John Tortorella: “Same personnel. Emmy and Zucc will be out.” On whether the Capitals have taken runs at Staal: “Oh, well, I’d do it. That’s part of… Read More →
Looking forward before looking back: Do you know the last time all three metropolitan New York teams missed the playoffs in the same year? How about never? Do you remember 1988? That was the year the Rangers shut out Quebec at the Garden (John Vanbiesbrouck doing the honors) on the… Read More →
I am done. I will no longer try to convince anybody that this team is different than any Rangers team we’ve seen since, 1997, at least; more probably since 1994. That this team works harder, does more little things to win, and does it with a resolve and a resilience…. Read More →
