This year has had many ups for the Rangers so far, but year in and year out, every team has it's disappointments. There have been several so far for the Rangers, and I'm going to outline them in the coming paragraphs. Some players have been injured; some just didn't perform. Some didn't perform and now are injured, or vice versa. There have been a few cases where players have proved to ultimately not fulfill the potential that was there when the season began.
Let's get the hardest one out of the way, and that is captain Chris Drury. Drury looked good early in the preseason during training camp, and it was believed that he could be the leader the team needed and also find his scoring touch that was utterly lacking last year. Unfortunately, Drury broke his finger blocking a shot, and came back to play the home opener only to break the finger again and miss a significant chunk of the season. When Drury came back, the Rangers had their top three centers established, as Artem Anisimov, Derek Stepan and Brian Boyle were contributing to the team both offensively and defensively. Drury was relegated to fourth line duty with a host of linemates, and could just never get his game going. Currently, Drury sits with no goals and four assists on the season. To put that in perspective, Henrik Lundqvist has that same offensive stat line. It has been a season to forget for the captain, though he is still contributing defensively at even strength and on the penalty kill. Rumors have made the rounds that the Rangers would buy Drury out over the summer, saving about half of his salary against the cap next season, and only paying around $1.6 million in 2012-13 against the salary cap. It remains to be seen if Drury can ever turn into the two-way player that he once was early in his New York Rangers career and before that in Buffalo, but there is hope among fans that Drury can hit his stride again in the future, as he has had a good NHL career. He is still respected as the captain of the team in the locker room, but a team can only succeed so much with a $7 million fourth line center.
A low risk/high reward signing close to the start of training camp, Alex Frolov had failed to live up to expectations before tearing his ACL and ending his season. Frolov had seen previous success with the LA Kings, including two seasons with over 30 goals. Signed for one year and $3 million, Frolov had expectations to mesh with Marian Gaborik on the first line, or to at least provide some secondary scoring for a club that has lacked just that in recent years. Of course, the team has been scoring by committee this season but Frolov has not been a part of that. His numbers for the season are seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 43 games before his injury. Made infamous for his constant wraparound attempts, Frolov just could not rekindle the play that made him successful in years past. An unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, I highly doubt that Frolov will be brought back next season. He may return home to his native Russia to play in the KHL, as he had deals to return on the table during this past off-season as well.
Derek Boogaard was given probably the most ludicrous contract of the off-season, coming in at four years at $1.65 million per season. This for a player that had two career goals coming into the season and averaged just over four minutes of ice time per game with the Minnesota Wild last year, when he even got to dress for games. Boogaard played in a total of 22 games with New York, scoring his third career goal. That is about the extent of the good from Boogaard for this season, as the rest has been disappointing to say the least. Boogaard is currently out of the Rangers lineup with a shoulder injury and post concussion symptoms, and it is doubtful that he will play again this year. When he was healthy, he was not an imposing player to compete against, and could not be counted on to take a regular shift. One of the most inexplicable free agents to be signed by Glen Sather, it is further proof that the less we do during the summer, the better. Free agent signings over long terms for numbers that are too high have been killing this team, and Boogaard's is no exception.
Sean Avery has been an interesting case this season, and it is hard to consider a player with 18 assists on the year to be struggling. Unfortunately, Avery has been one of the most inconsistent players for the Rangers this year, registering ten of his 18 assists in four games and only scoring two goals. He has also not played with the edge and agitating style that we are so used to seeing from Sean Avery. Maybe coach John Tortorella has finally tamed the wild spirit that is Avery, but it has not worked out well for him as he is not as effective as he used to be when originally acquired. It remains to be seen if Sean can start to contribute more on a consistent basis, as even six goals in the last thirty games would be a welcome contribution to a team that is looking for scoring up and down the lineup. Signed through next season at a reasonable cap hit under $2 million, Avery will look to bounce back next season once all is said and done.
In my next post, I'll talk about moves that I think the Rangers need to make to take the next step to be a playoff contender. Whether those moves occur at the trade deadline or over the summer will be decided over the next few weeks, and there are several interesting names out there to significantly help this team. AW over and out.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Is the All-Star game really a good idea?
With the NHL SuperSkills competition set for tonight and the actual game set for tomorrow, I want to talk a little bit about the usefulness of the All-Star game itself. Does it have a purpose? Is it good to have it during the season? Should there be other factors linked with the game? Well, let's talk about it.
First of all, the All-Star game did something quite interesting this year, which was to make the format of selecting teams a fantasy mock draft. Two teams, lead by Nicklas Lidstrom and Eric Staal, selected players for their team round by round. This was much more interesting than the old East vs. West format, yet still has some problems. Everyone is going to be able to make a mockery of Phil Kessel, the last pick in the draft. Of course for being that pick he receives a new car (does he really need one with his nice fat salary in Toronto?) and a $20,000 donation to charity. Another issue was trying to draft to loyalties, as Team Staal drafted Cam Ward, Jeff Skinner and Eric's younger brother Marc. Team Lidstrom drafted Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and and ex-Blackhawk Dustin Byfuglien. Obviously the Raleigh natives will be rooting for Team Staal's three featured Hurricanes' players, which leads to a rather large bias for the game. Is that bad? I don't think so. It's good for fans to support one team, and maybe if fans from other cities such as Chicago make it to the game they will also know who to root for.
One of the most interesting story-lines of this year's All-Star game will be the Sedin vs. Sedin matchup. The premier set of twins in the NHL (Joel Lundqvist was obviously not available) will play against each other for the first time ever in their careers. This will be interesting to watch, as Henrik will have to prove he can set up players that aren't his brother and Daniel will have to receive and score on passes from someone other than his usual center. What would be even more hilarious was if they dropped the gloves against each other. Usually, physical play and fighting is not one of the skills on display at the All-Star game, but it would add for an interesting twist that this game so desperately needs.
That leads to me another point that I want to talk about, and that is the point of the All-Star game. It doesn't determine home ice for the Stanley Cup Finals like in the MLB's all-star game, and it is about as meaningless as the Pro Bowl, except that game happens once everything else is over after the Superbowl. There are two ideas that I want to suggest to the League, even though they obviously won't listen to me. I wonder why... anyway here we go.
The first idea is to make the All-Star game mean something. Let it determine home ice advantage in the Finals. Let it mean something to the players, instead of being a waste of time for players that rather use the five day break to rest during a long and difficult season. If the game determined home ice advantage then players would care more, especially those playing for teams such as the Canucks (well that would make it complicated for the Sedins, now wouldn't it?), the Flyers, the Blackhawks, the Lightning...yeah just about every team represented would care. It would make for a much more interesting game if the players actually had a reason to perform at their best.
The second idea I have for the All-Star game is to make it after the season, like the NFL's Pro Bowl. This isn't as good of an idea for a sport that is trying to build it's fan base, but if the game is not going to mean something then why not save it for after the season so as to not overwork the stars of the league in a game that doesn't contribute to much during the season. I know that Gary Bettman would never do this, as revenue from the All-Star game's advertising and sponsorships would be much lower and hurt the league. They might even lose enough money that the Phoenix Coyotes might just have to move back up to Canada. Now would that be such a bad thing?
Tell what you think down in the comments section below. Do you have any ideas of your own? Do you agree? Disagree? Really enjoy ice cream cake? Well if any of those apply please let me know. AW, over and out.
First of all, the All-Star game did something quite interesting this year, which was to make the format of selecting teams a fantasy mock draft. Two teams, lead by Nicklas Lidstrom and Eric Staal, selected players for their team round by round. This was much more interesting than the old East vs. West format, yet still has some problems. Everyone is going to be able to make a mockery of Phil Kessel, the last pick in the draft. Of course for being that pick he receives a new car (does he really need one with his nice fat salary in Toronto?) and a $20,000 donation to charity. Another issue was trying to draft to loyalties, as Team Staal drafted Cam Ward, Jeff Skinner and Eric's younger brother Marc. Team Lidstrom drafted Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and and ex-Blackhawk Dustin Byfuglien. Obviously the Raleigh natives will be rooting for Team Staal's three featured Hurricanes' players, which leads to a rather large bias for the game. Is that bad? I don't think so. It's good for fans to support one team, and maybe if fans from other cities such as Chicago make it to the game they will also know who to root for.
One of the most interesting story-lines of this year's All-Star game will be the Sedin vs. Sedin matchup. The premier set of twins in the NHL (Joel Lundqvist was obviously not available) will play against each other for the first time ever in their careers. This will be interesting to watch, as Henrik will have to prove he can set up players that aren't his brother and Daniel will have to receive and score on passes from someone other than his usual center. What would be even more hilarious was if they dropped the gloves against each other. Usually, physical play and fighting is not one of the skills on display at the All-Star game, but it would add for an interesting twist that this game so desperately needs.
That leads to me another point that I want to talk about, and that is the point of the All-Star game. It doesn't determine home ice for the Stanley Cup Finals like in the MLB's all-star game, and it is about as meaningless as the Pro Bowl, except that game happens once everything else is over after the Superbowl. There are two ideas that I want to suggest to the League, even though they obviously won't listen to me. I wonder why... anyway here we go.
The first idea is to make the All-Star game mean something. Let it determine home ice advantage in the Finals. Let it mean something to the players, instead of being a waste of time for players that rather use the five day break to rest during a long and difficult season. If the game determined home ice advantage then players would care more, especially those playing for teams such as the Canucks (well that would make it complicated for the Sedins, now wouldn't it?), the Flyers, the Blackhawks, the Lightning...yeah just about every team represented would care. It would make for a much more interesting game if the players actually had a reason to perform at their best.
The second idea I have for the All-Star game is to make it after the season, like the NFL's Pro Bowl. This isn't as good of an idea for a sport that is trying to build it's fan base, but if the game is not going to mean something then why not save it for after the season so as to not overwork the stars of the league in a game that doesn't contribute to much during the season. I know that Gary Bettman would never do this, as revenue from the All-Star game's advertising and sponsorships would be much lower and hurt the league. They might even lose enough money that the Phoenix Coyotes might just have to move back up to Canada. Now would that be such a bad thing?
Tell what you think down in the comments section below. Do you have any ideas of your own? Do you agree? Disagree? Really enjoy ice cream cake? Well if any of those apply please let me know. AW, over and out.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Flyers flying high with contributions from the entire team
If you are a fan of any team in the Eastern Conference right now, there is one team and one team only that you hope not to match up with both during the season and especially in the playoffs. That team, of course, is the Philadelphia Flyers. The team currently holds the top spot in the East, playing to a 33-12-5 record that has yielded 71 points so far into the season. That is four points more than second place Tampa Bay and five more points than Pittsburgh, the team that is currently second in the Atlantic Division. The Flyers have had contributions up and down the lineup that has lead them to the top of the hockey world. Surprises from a key rookie as well as the usual contributions of veteran leaders have proved to be the recipe for success for the 2010-11 Philadelphia Flyers.
A good team is built from the net out, and the Flyers, surprisingly, have done just that. The team currently sports three NHL-ready netminders, two of which are currently with the team and one that has been sent to the AHL to get playing time. Veteran goalie Brian Boucher has been excellent in 18 starts so far for the Flyers, posting an 11-6-2 record with a .920 save percentage (Sv %) and a 2.41 goals against average (GAA). Even more incredible is the play of rookie sensation Sergei Bobrovsky. Overshadowed in Russia by fellow netminder Semyon Varlamov of the Washington Capitals, Bobrovsky arrived in Philadelphia's training camp as an undrafted rookie and has stood on his head so far. He has a 21-6-3 record with a save percentage identical to Boucher's (.920) and a GAA a fraction higher (2.42). Last year's surprise answer in net, Michael Leighton, came into the season after surgery over the summer. He has since recovered and has made one start in the NHL this year, posting a win while giving up four goals on 36 shots. He has been sent down to the AHL and has played nine games for the Adirondack Phantoms of the AHL, going 2-6-1 with a solid .907 Sv% and a 2.78 GAA. Those numbers don't look impressive, but the Flyers' AHL affiliate is among the worst in the league this year, sitting last in the East division with only 14 wins to their credit. Leighton may be exposed to re-entry waivers later in the season where a team looking for goaltender help (like the Islanders or Red Wings) may claim him for half the price of his remaining salary.
The defense has also been excellent for the Flyers, providing a good mix between offensive support and good coverage and physicality. Headlining the Broad Street Bullies' blueline is the imposing Chris Pronger. In 35 games this season, Pronger has posted four goals and 17 assists while also racking up 32 PIMs along with his usual menacing play. His usual partner, Matthew Carle, has had a successful season so far, assisting on 23 goals and posting 24 points overall. Kimmo Timonen and Brayden Coburn are another common pair for the Flyers, and they are good at both shutting down opposing forwards and starting the rush up ice in transition. Timonen has 25 points, while Coburn has 96 hits and 84 blocked shots. They both sport a +14 rating so far this year. Andrej Mezsaros was acquired from Tampa Bay over the off-season, and the acquisition has made GM Paul Holmgren look like a genius. Meszaros is a league-leading +28, and has posted 18 points along with 103 credited hits. Rounding out the defensive squad for the team is Sean O'Donnell, who was brought in as a veteran free agent signing to shore up the bottom pair. He is good defensively, blocks shots and tough as nails which truly buys in to the old days of the Broad Street Bullies.
Philadelphia's forwards have started off the season with a bang, to say the least. Eight players have scored more than ten goals, contributing to the major depth the Flyers have. Veteran scorers Mike Richards, Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell have played important parts on offense, as have young guns Claude Giroux, Jeff Carter, Ville Leino and James van Riemsdyk. Giroux is currently leading the team with 47 points (along with Mike Richards), including 19 goals so far this year. He has scored three of those goals killing penalties and seven of them with the man advantage. It is Giroux's third season, and he has followed the pattern of Philadelphia forwards truly coming into their own in their third years. Forwards Mike Richards and Jeff Carter did the same, becoming true contributors in their third seasons. Speaking of their captain, Mike Richards has had an excellent season in his own right. Considered one of the best two-way players in the game today, Richards' 47 points put him on pace for a 77 point season. His 11 powerplay assists are among the lead on the team, and he also has 65 hits and 49 blocked shots. Danny Briere has managed to stay healthy so far this season, playing in 47 of the team's 50 games. In those games, he leads the team in goals with 26 and has 45 points overall. Briere's main concern has always been his health, as his scoring abilities have never been questioned. Jeff Carter has returned to his goal scoring ways, and has the potential to score again 40 this year. He currently has 23 goals, second-most on the team. Veteran hard-nosed forward Scott Hartnell is creating havoc in front of the net, allowing linemates Briere and Leino to have more open ice and use their finesse games. Hartnell has 34 points on the year, while Leino is enjoying a breakout season of his own with 11 goals and 36 points. Second year forward James van Riemsdyk is being developed slowly, but his 12 goals and 11 assists are not bad for third line minutes. Of course, enigma Nik Zherdev has managed to score 15 goals and still has ended up sitting seven games in the press box. Role players such as Darrel Powe, Blair Betts, Andreas Nodl and Dan Carcillo have also played key roles throughout the lineup to aid the team in getting to the top of the NHL.
And there you have it, folks. The Flyers season, summed up in four long, statistic-laden paragraphs. Let me know what you think in the comments section down below. Do you agree? Disagree? What other topics in the hockey world would you like me to cover? I'm always open for new suggestions and adding other things! And that'll do it for tonight, everybody.
A good team is built from the net out, and the Flyers, surprisingly, have done just that. The team currently sports three NHL-ready netminders, two of which are currently with the team and one that has been sent to the AHL to get playing time. Veteran goalie Brian Boucher has been excellent in 18 starts so far for the Flyers, posting an 11-6-2 record with a .920 save percentage (Sv %) and a 2.41 goals against average (GAA). Even more incredible is the play of rookie sensation Sergei Bobrovsky. Overshadowed in Russia by fellow netminder Semyon Varlamov of the Washington Capitals, Bobrovsky arrived in Philadelphia's training camp as an undrafted rookie and has stood on his head so far. He has a 21-6-3 record with a save percentage identical to Boucher's (.920) and a GAA a fraction higher (2.42). Last year's surprise answer in net, Michael Leighton, came into the season after surgery over the summer. He has since recovered and has made one start in the NHL this year, posting a win while giving up four goals on 36 shots. He has been sent down to the AHL and has played nine games for the Adirondack Phantoms of the AHL, going 2-6-1 with a solid .907 Sv% and a 2.78 GAA. Those numbers don't look impressive, but the Flyers' AHL affiliate is among the worst in the league this year, sitting last in the East division with only 14 wins to their credit. Leighton may be exposed to re-entry waivers later in the season where a team looking for goaltender help (like the Islanders or Red Wings) may claim him for half the price of his remaining salary.
The defense has also been excellent for the Flyers, providing a good mix between offensive support and good coverage and physicality. Headlining the Broad Street Bullies' blueline is the imposing Chris Pronger. In 35 games this season, Pronger has posted four goals and 17 assists while also racking up 32 PIMs along with his usual menacing play. His usual partner, Matthew Carle, has had a successful season so far, assisting on 23 goals and posting 24 points overall. Kimmo Timonen and Brayden Coburn are another common pair for the Flyers, and they are good at both shutting down opposing forwards and starting the rush up ice in transition. Timonen has 25 points, while Coburn has 96 hits and 84 blocked shots. They both sport a +14 rating so far this year. Andrej Mezsaros was acquired from Tampa Bay over the off-season, and the acquisition has made GM Paul Holmgren look like a genius. Meszaros is a league-leading +28, and has posted 18 points along with 103 credited hits. Rounding out the defensive squad for the team is Sean O'Donnell, who was brought in as a veteran free agent signing to shore up the bottom pair. He is good defensively, blocks shots and tough as nails which truly buys in to the old days of the Broad Street Bullies.
Philadelphia's forwards have started off the season with a bang, to say the least. Eight players have scored more than ten goals, contributing to the major depth the Flyers have. Veteran scorers Mike Richards, Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell have played important parts on offense, as have young guns Claude Giroux, Jeff Carter, Ville Leino and James van Riemsdyk. Giroux is currently leading the team with 47 points (along with Mike Richards), including 19 goals so far this year. He has scored three of those goals killing penalties and seven of them with the man advantage. It is Giroux's third season, and he has followed the pattern of Philadelphia forwards truly coming into their own in their third years. Forwards Mike Richards and Jeff Carter did the same, becoming true contributors in their third seasons. Speaking of their captain, Mike Richards has had an excellent season in his own right. Considered one of the best two-way players in the game today, Richards' 47 points put him on pace for a 77 point season. His 11 powerplay assists are among the lead on the team, and he also has 65 hits and 49 blocked shots. Danny Briere has managed to stay healthy so far this season, playing in 47 of the team's 50 games. In those games, he leads the team in goals with 26 and has 45 points overall. Briere's main concern has always been his health, as his scoring abilities have never been questioned. Jeff Carter has returned to his goal scoring ways, and has the potential to score again 40 this year. He currently has 23 goals, second-most on the team. Veteran hard-nosed forward Scott Hartnell is creating havoc in front of the net, allowing linemates Briere and Leino to have more open ice and use their finesse games. Hartnell has 34 points on the year, while Leino is enjoying a breakout season of his own with 11 goals and 36 points. Second year forward James van Riemsdyk is being developed slowly, but his 12 goals and 11 assists are not bad for third line minutes. Of course, enigma Nik Zherdev has managed to score 15 goals and still has ended up sitting seven games in the press box. Role players such as Darrel Powe, Blair Betts, Andreas Nodl and Dan Carcillo have also played key roles throughout the lineup to aid the team in getting to the top of the NHL.
And there you have it, folks. The Flyers season, summed up in four long, statistic-laden paragraphs. Let me know what you think in the comments section down below. Do you agree? Disagree? What other topics in the hockey world would you like me to cover? I'm always open for new suggestions and adding other things! And that'll do it for tonight, everybody.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
How about those forwards?
Unfortunately due to work, I missed the first two periods of last night's Rangers game. I did get to see the final period between the Rangers and Panthers, and I was impressed with a few things. First was the way we scored the two goals to come back and tie the score at three a piece. The second goal of the night, scored by Brandon Prust, was a deflection off of a point shot from Michael Sauer. The third goal, which was Brian Boyle's 18th of the year, was scored by providing traffic in front and crashing the crease. These are the dirty goals that the team needs to score to be successful. With all of the injuries that this team has suffered and with the lack of pure finesse and skill, a team like the New York Rangers needs to go hard to the net.
A few quick notes:
-Mats Zuccarello had three assists last night, and now has three goals and eight assists for 11 points in 17 games since being called up.
-Brian Boyle saw time on different lines yesterday, including seeing time with Gaborik and Avery. The trio created chances and were very strong together. Boyle scored his 18th goal of the year, which now leads the team. Boyle's previous career high was four goals in a season, which he scored three times in 07-08 and 08-09 with LA, and also last year with the Rangers. His improvement has been one of the best surprises of the season so far.
-Unfortunately, Sean Avery has not been able to produce offense consistently, and a new first line left wing needs to be found. Steve Zipay reports via twitter "Vinny Prospal close to returning from his knee surgery? Rangers activate him off injured reserve". The Rangers have found alternate performers with Prospal out this season, but with Brandon Dubinsky, Erik Christensen and Ruslan Fedetenko out past the All-Star break, Prospal's return will be welcome.
-Finally, Evgeny Grachev has looked very good since being recalled from AHL Connecticut. The big winger showed his strength in the offensive zone, playing hard along the boards and showing improvement from training camp and his previous call-up.
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Lets talk about some of the forwards. In today's post, I'll talk about the surprises of the season. Lets start with...
Brian Boyle, who I just mentioned has the team lead with 18 goals. An RFA after this season, Boyle was acquired two summers ago from LA for a 3rd round draft pick. This has turned out to be one of the best value trades, and it continues to build Glen Sather's reputation as an excellent GM (when it comes to trades, at least). The 6'7" Boyle took skating lessons over the summer, and the results have shown. Boyle has played in all situations, including in front of the net on the powerplay and as a key penalty killer as well. Boyle's line has even become one of Tortorella's favorites before injuries befell the team, and that line was getting second line minutes.
That brings me to Brandon Prust, Boyle's partner in crime. Prust was acquired last season along with Olli Jokinen for free agent mistake signing Ales Kotalik and underperforming winger Chris Higgins. Prust has seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points this season, and is the premier penalty killing forward for the team. Considered a warrior who battles through pain, he recently blocked a shot with his foot in a game against Atlanta yet has not missed either of the two games since while being in noticeable pain. The All-Star break will prove to be a good help to the bumped and bruised Prust, as he can rest what is sure to be a sore body all over. Prust also leads the team in short-handed goals with three this season, proving to be a threat at all ends of the ice.
Rookie Derek Stepan came into this season after playing for Wisconsin in college hockey, and has surprised many with his scoring ability and offensive vision. Stepan currently has 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points, and is the Rangers' third leading scorer. The Rangers couldn't have asked anything more from the young Stepan, 20, as his skills have translated well so far this year. In the coming seasons, Stepan can continue to build upon his strength and conditioning to become a perennial contributor to this roster.
The Rangers leading scorer is surprisingly not Marian Gaborik. Instead, Brandon Dubinsky has broken out at an incredible pace to lead the team in both scoring and effort. The fast-skating and hard-hitting Dubinsky has scored 17 goals and 21 assists for 38 points in only 47 games before finding out about a stress fracture in his leg. Dubinsky has played in all situations for the Rangers and has become one of their most dangerous offensive weapons. An RFA in the off-season, Dubinsky will be seeking a big raise from the $2 million he will make this year.
Considered by many to be a strong candidate as the Rangers next captain, Ryan Callahan has added a scoring touch to his hard-working style of play. Always putting in the extra effort to lay a hit or block a shot, Callahan scored 10 goals and 13 assists in only 32 games before getting hurt. In those 32 games Callahan also has 128 hits, still second on the team. Callahan is expected to come back to the Rangers after the All-Star break where the Rangers can really use his leadership. Another one of the Rangers RFA's in the summer, he is one of the leaders of this team that needs to be re-signed. He is an integral part of the lineup that has been missed with his time out.
Artem Anisimov has seen improvements in his game after his rookie season saw him score 12 goals and 16 assists in all 82 games, he currently has scored 10 times and has assisted on 16 others 52 games through the season. His playmaking abilities have been shown more this season, especially early in the year on a strong line with Dubinsky and Callahan. Anisimov's game has always been skill, and he has used his lanky frame to make plays during the year. He shows flashes of brilliance with an excellent wrist shot that has proved to be lethal at times. Anisimov is the team's fourth and final RFA forward of the year. He should not get as much of a raise as either Callahan or Dubinsky, but is a player that should be retained as he has the potential to center this team's second line.
Well that's it for now. There's a chance I'll post again later tonight, but if not look for me to post about more forwards tomorrow. Let me know what you think about these guys in the comments section below!
A few quick notes:
-Mats Zuccarello had three assists last night, and now has three goals and eight assists for 11 points in 17 games since being called up.
-Brian Boyle saw time on different lines yesterday, including seeing time with Gaborik and Avery. The trio created chances and were very strong together. Boyle scored his 18th goal of the year, which now leads the team. Boyle's previous career high was four goals in a season, which he scored three times in 07-08 and 08-09 with LA, and also last year with the Rangers. His improvement has been one of the best surprises of the season so far.
-Unfortunately, Sean Avery has not been able to produce offense consistently, and a new first line left wing needs to be found. Steve Zipay reports via twitter "Vinny Prospal close to returning from his knee surgery? Rangers activate him off injured reserve". The Rangers have found alternate performers with Prospal out this season, but with Brandon Dubinsky, Erik Christensen and Ruslan Fedetenko out past the All-Star break, Prospal's return will be welcome.
-Finally, Evgeny Grachev has looked very good since being recalled from AHL Connecticut. The big winger showed his strength in the offensive zone, playing hard along the boards and showing improvement from training camp and his previous call-up.
-------------------------------------------------
Lets talk about some of the forwards. In today's post, I'll talk about the surprises of the season. Lets start with...
Brian Boyle, who I just mentioned has the team lead with 18 goals. An RFA after this season, Boyle was acquired two summers ago from LA for a 3rd round draft pick. This has turned out to be one of the best value trades, and it continues to build Glen Sather's reputation as an excellent GM (when it comes to trades, at least). The 6'7" Boyle took skating lessons over the summer, and the results have shown. Boyle has played in all situations, including in front of the net on the powerplay and as a key penalty killer as well. Boyle's line has even become one of Tortorella's favorites before injuries befell the team, and that line was getting second line minutes.
That brings me to Brandon Prust, Boyle's partner in crime. Prust was acquired last season along with Olli Jokinen for free agent mistake signing Ales Kotalik and underperforming winger Chris Higgins. Prust has seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points this season, and is the premier penalty killing forward for the team. Considered a warrior who battles through pain, he recently blocked a shot with his foot in a game against Atlanta yet has not missed either of the two games since while being in noticeable pain. The All-Star break will prove to be a good help to the bumped and bruised Prust, as he can rest what is sure to be a sore body all over. Prust also leads the team in short-handed goals with three this season, proving to be a threat at all ends of the ice.
Rookie Derek Stepan came into this season after playing for Wisconsin in college hockey, and has surprised many with his scoring ability and offensive vision. Stepan currently has 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points, and is the Rangers' third leading scorer. The Rangers couldn't have asked anything more from the young Stepan, 20, as his skills have translated well so far this year. In the coming seasons, Stepan can continue to build upon his strength and conditioning to become a perennial contributor to this roster.
The Rangers leading scorer is surprisingly not Marian Gaborik. Instead, Brandon Dubinsky has broken out at an incredible pace to lead the team in both scoring and effort. The fast-skating and hard-hitting Dubinsky has scored 17 goals and 21 assists for 38 points in only 47 games before finding out about a stress fracture in his leg. Dubinsky has played in all situations for the Rangers and has become one of their most dangerous offensive weapons. An RFA in the off-season, Dubinsky will be seeking a big raise from the $2 million he will make this year.
Considered by many to be a strong candidate as the Rangers next captain, Ryan Callahan has added a scoring touch to his hard-working style of play. Always putting in the extra effort to lay a hit or block a shot, Callahan scored 10 goals and 13 assists in only 32 games before getting hurt. In those 32 games Callahan also has 128 hits, still second on the team. Callahan is expected to come back to the Rangers after the All-Star break where the Rangers can really use his leadership. Another one of the Rangers RFA's in the summer, he is one of the leaders of this team that needs to be re-signed. He is an integral part of the lineup that has been missed with his time out.
Artem Anisimov has seen improvements in his game after his rookie season saw him score 12 goals and 16 assists in all 82 games, he currently has scored 10 times and has assisted on 16 others 52 games through the season. His playmaking abilities have been shown more this season, especially early in the year on a strong line with Dubinsky and Callahan. Anisimov's game has always been skill, and he has used his lanky frame to make plays during the year. He shows flashes of brilliance with an excellent wrist shot that has proved to be lethal at times. Anisimov is the team's fourth and final RFA forward of the year. He should not get as much of a raise as either Callahan or Dubinsky, but is a player that should be retained as he has the potential to center this team's second line.
Well that's it for now. There's a chance I'll post again later tonight, but if not look for me to post about more forwards tomorrow. Let me know what you think about these guys in the comments section below!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Rangers grab two points in Washington; Mid-season evaluations
The Rangers beat the Capitals tonight by a score of 2-1 in a shootout. It was the Rangers second straight shootout win, and it was also the end to their three game road trip. The Rangers ended the roadtrip 2-1-0, winning against both Washington and Atlanta, while losing to Carolina 4-1 last Thursday. It was a very rough outing for the Blueshirts, as the Capitals forwards seemed intent on bringing a physical game. With this showing of brute force, the Rangers could not get much going in terms of offense throughout most of the game. 1:27 into the second period the Caps had made it 1-0 when Marcus Johansson made an excellent pass through the offensive zone that found linemate Matt Hendricks at the goal-side for an easy tip in. The Rangers' lone goal came off of a crazy bounce. Brian Boyle shot the puck at rookie goalie Braden Holtby (28 saves), and it bounced in the air, off of a defender, then off of Marian Gaborik's hand and into the net. That tied the score at 13:19 of the third period. Overtime saw many good chances, but Holtby held strong in net, displaying good reflexes. His rebound control was a little shaky, but the Capitals team in front of him was able to keep any of those mistakes away from the net. Martin Biron had a quiet night in net, making 22 saves in regulation and overtime. In the shootout, the Rangers got contributions from several sources. Wojtek Wolski used a beautiful fake-out backhand move to fool Holtby, Zuccarello scored (now 4-4 in his career) and Artem Anisimov used his speed to power the puck past the rookie goalie. Biron made saves on Alex Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson to preserve the win, while surrendering goals to Matt Hendricks and Nicklas Backstrom.
A few thoughts on the game. Kris Newbury had an excellent game, despite playing just under ten minutes. Both of his shots on goal created chances for the Rangers, and he also showed good hustle and a willingness to hit. If Chris Drury is bought out of his contract this summer like some believe, then Newbury should be given a look in training camp for that fourth line role.
Michael Del Zotto had a very good return after eight games in the American Hockey League. The defenseman logged 15:07 of ice time and was one of the Rangers best defensemen of the night. Del Zotto was sent down to work on keeping it simple, and upon his return did exactly that. He did not try any fancy stick plays, and instead chipped the puck when necessary and played a calm game. He made smart decisions and even created a few offensive chances. In the offensive zone, instead of just passing the puck down the boards, Del Zotto took hard, low shots looking for a tip in front. It seemed that would be the only way to beat Holtby, who stopped every shot that he was facing. Matt Gilroy on the other hand did not have his best game. He was on the ice for the goal against in regulation, where he got lost in coverage. If he had defended Hendricks, that goal would not have happened. It will be interesting to see what John Tortorella, Glen Sather and co. do when Girardi comes back, as there are seven defensemen deserving of ice time on this squad.
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I know we are 51 games into the season, but I figured that I'd give out evaluations today and some more tomorrow for the performance that the Rangers players have put forth so far this season. It is a little late tonight, so I will talk about the defensemen and discuss some of the forwards tomorrow. I'll get to the goalies eventually, of course. And here we go...
Marc Staal is being recognized as one of the up-and-coming stars in the league this year, as he was selected to be a part of the NHL All-Star festivities in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has played in every game so far, scoring six goals and registering 19 points total. He has shown his potential as a shut-down defender as recently as tonight, constantly taking on Alex Ovechkin and shutting him down for most of the game. He laid several big hits on the Russian superstar, and did not allow him to score. To exemplify his importance to the club, one must only look at his ice time for tonight. Staal played 29:09 in the contest, or :51 less than half of the entire game. It is this willingness and dedication to the Rangers that has led him to wear an 'A' on his sweater this season and be one of the true leaders of this team.
Dan Girardi has been a mainstay on the blueline this season. He had played in every game up until tonight, and provided the Rangers with excellent offensive and defensive play. Girardi holds the team lead in scoring among defensemen with three goals and 20 assists, and has skated to a +8. More significant, it seems, are his defensive contributions. He has registered 108 hits and 143 blocked shots, which rank third and first on the team respectively. It is this defensive leadership that has shown Girardi is an important piece to this team now and in the future.
Steve Eminger was just thought to be something nice to get in return for forward Aaron Voros and prospect Ryan Hillier earlier in the season, but he has truly proven his worth this year with New York. Eminger has shown tenacity as a fierce and aggressive defenseman who will not hurt the club with his defensive play. Eminger has played for six teams in the last four seasons, but with this opportunity has cemented himself as an established NHL defenseman. Eminger used to be thought of as an offensive defenseman with a weak defensive game, but those roles have reversed themselves this year and he is proving to be an important part if the Rangers have aspirations to do well in the playoffs.
Mike Sauer has seemingly come out of nowhere as a Rangers prospect to become a regular defenseman with the team. With his emergence as an NHL-caliber defenseman, it was deemed that Michal Rozsival could be traded as he was moved for winger Wojtek Wolski. Sauer has been superb in his rookie season with the Rangers, playing very well defensively and showing that he can play physical as well. While one goal and four assists aren't exactly offensive powerhouse numbers, Sauer is really known for defensive prowess and making smart decisions with the puck. With Girardi out due to injury, Sauer stepped onto the first defensive pairing alongside Marc Staal and the pair did not disappoint. He played 24:22, and the pair effectively shut down the Caps offense. Sauer looks to be an important part of the Rangers' defensive stability going forward.
Michael Del Zotto's season has been a roller coaster so far. Del Zotto's defensive game seemingly got better, but he lost the offensive flair that got him onto the NHL roster as a 19-year old last season. Del Zotto's nine points in 36 games is a big drop off from the 37 points he posted as a rookie. Part of this can be attributed to the lack of a heavy point shot that was supplied by Ales Kotalik last year, but the simple fact is that Del Zotto had been trying to play a finesse game and make plays that had low percentages of being successful. After getting sent down to Connecticut, Del Zotto has been recalled and looks to have improved his game. As mentioned earlier, he played a simpler game that featured better results. Hopefully Del Zotto can get his game together and continue to improve on both sides of the puck.
Matt Gilroy has been another surprise this year, as his offensive awareness has created chances for the Rangers and he has settled firmly into a third pairing role for the Rangers. Gilroy only has eight points, but his speed allows him to join the offensive play and just as easily get back to avoid odd-man rushes. Gilroy seems to have learned from his rookie mistakes as well, becoming better in his own end to get the puck out of the zone. He sometimes gets lost in coverage, but luckily that can be taught. His blazing speed is a gift that can't, and he must utilize it to be successful in the NHL.
Last but certainly not least (cliche I know), Ryan McDonagh is another Rangers rookie who has surprised many and has reassured that the future is bright on Broadway. McDonagh has played excellent for a rookie so far this season, making plays that many would mistake for a veteran defenseman's mode of thinking. McDonagh plays with the poise of a 10-year NHL veteran, and has certainly shown to deserve more ice time with the big club. If he continues to develop, the Rangers may not need to dip into the free agent pool that has bitten them so many times (Wade Redden, who?). We will see once the All-Star break is over if McDonagh or Del Zotto will continue with the team or be sent to the AHL. It is one of those good problems to have, so I am sure Sather is happy either way.
That's it for tonight. Tomorrow, I'll post evaluations for some, if not all of the forwards and the goaltenders. We truly have an exciting team in New York this year, and if the players and coaches continue this level of excellence they can bring playoff hockey back to New York City.
A few thoughts on the game. Kris Newbury had an excellent game, despite playing just under ten minutes. Both of his shots on goal created chances for the Rangers, and he also showed good hustle and a willingness to hit. If Chris Drury is bought out of his contract this summer like some believe, then Newbury should be given a look in training camp for that fourth line role.
Michael Del Zotto had a very good return after eight games in the American Hockey League. The defenseman logged 15:07 of ice time and was one of the Rangers best defensemen of the night. Del Zotto was sent down to work on keeping it simple, and upon his return did exactly that. He did not try any fancy stick plays, and instead chipped the puck when necessary and played a calm game. He made smart decisions and even created a few offensive chances. In the offensive zone, instead of just passing the puck down the boards, Del Zotto took hard, low shots looking for a tip in front. It seemed that would be the only way to beat Holtby, who stopped every shot that he was facing. Matt Gilroy on the other hand did not have his best game. He was on the ice for the goal against in regulation, where he got lost in coverage. If he had defended Hendricks, that goal would not have happened. It will be interesting to see what John Tortorella, Glen Sather and co. do when Girardi comes back, as there are seven defensemen deserving of ice time on this squad.
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I know we are 51 games into the season, but I figured that I'd give out evaluations today and some more tomorrow for the performance that the Rangers players have put forth so far this season. It is a little late tonight, so I will talk about the defensemen and discuss some of the forwards tomorrow. I'll get to the goalies eventually, of course. And here we go...
Marc Staal is being recognized as one of the up-and-coming stars in the league this year, as he was selected to be a part of the NHL All-Star festivities in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has played in every game so far, scoring six goals and registering 19 points total. He has shown his potential as a shut-down defender as recently as tonight, constantly taking on Alex Ovechkin and shutting him down for most of the game. He laid several big hits on the Russian superstar, and did not allow him to score. To exemplify his importance to the club, one must only look at his ice time for tonight. Staal played 29:09 in the contest, or :51 less than half of the entire game. It is this willingness and dedication to the Rangers that has led him to wear an 'A' on his sweater this season and be one of the true leaders of this team.
Dan Girardi has been a mainstay on the blueline this season. He had played in every game up until tonight, and provided the Rangers with excellent offensive and defensive play. Girardi holds the team lead in scoring among defensemen with three goals and 20 assists, and has skated to a +8. More significant, it seems, are his defensive contributions. He has registered 108 hits and 143 blocked shots, which rank third and first on the team respectively. It is this defensive leadership that has shown Girardi is an important piece to this team now and in the future.
Steve Eminger was just thought to be something nice to get in return for forward Aaron Voros and prospect Ryan Hillier earlier in the season, but he has truly proven his worth this year with New York. Eminger has shown tenacity as a fierce and aggressive defenseman who will not hurt the club with his defensive play. Eminger has played for six teams in the last four seasons, but with this opportunity has cemented himself as an established NHL defenseman. Eminger used to be thought of as an offensive defenseman with a weak defensive game, but those roles have reversed themselves this year and he is proving to be an important part if the Rangers have aspirations to do well in the playoffs.
Mike Sauer has seemingly come out of nowhere as a Rangers prospect to become a regular defenseman with the team. With his emergence as an NHL-caliber defenseman, it was deemed that Michal Rozsival could be traded as he was moved for winger Wojtek Wolski. Sauer has been superb in his rookie season with the Rangers, playing very well defensively and showing that he can play physical as well. While one goal and four assists aren't exactly offensive powerhouse numbers, Sauer is really known for defensive prowess and making smart decisions with the puck. With Girardi out due to injury, Sauer stepped onto the first defensive pairing alongside Marc Staal and the pair did not disappoint. He played 24:22, and the pair effectively shut down the Caps offense. Sauer looks to be an important part of the Rangers' defensive stability going forward.
Michael Del Zotto's season has been a roller coaster so far. Del Zotto's defensive game seemingly got better, but he lost the offensive flair that got him onto the NHL roster as a 19-year old last season. Del Zotto's nine points in 36 games is a big drop off from the 37 points he posted as a rookie. Part of this can be attributed to the lack of a heavy point shot that was supplied by Ales Kotalik last year, but the simple fact is that Del Zotto had been trying to play a finesse game and make plays that had low percentages of being successful. After getting sent down to Connecticut, Del Zotto has been recalled and looks to have improved his game. As mentioned earlier, he played a simpler game that featured better results. Hopefully Del Zotto can get his game together and continue to improve on both sides of the puck.
Matt Gilroy has been another surprise this year, as his offensive awareness has created chances for the Rangers and he has settled firmly into a third pairing role for the Rangers. Gilroy only has eight points, but his speed allows him to join the offensive play and just as easily get back to avoid odd-man rushes. Gilroy seems to have learned from his rookie mistakes as well, becoming better in his own end to get the puck out of the zone. He sometimes gets lost in coverage, but luckily that can be taught. His blazing speed is a gift that can't, and he must utilize it to be successful in the NHL.
Last but certainly not least (cliche I know), Ryan McDonagh is another Rangers rookie who has surprised many and has reassured that the future is bright on Broadway. McDonagh has played excellent for a rookie so far this season, making plays that many would mistake for a veteran defenseman's mode of thinking. McDonagh plays with the poise of a 10-year NHL veteran, and has certainly shown to deserve more ice time with the big club. If he continues to develop, the Rangers may not need to dip into the free agent pool that has bitten them so many times (Wade Redden, who?). We will see once the All-Star break is over if McDonagh or Del Zotto will continue with the team or be sent to the AHL. It is one of those good problems to have, so I am sure Sather is happy either way.
That's it for tonight. Tomorrow, I'll post evaluations for some, if not all of the forwards and the goaltenders. We truly have an exciting team in New York this year, and if the players and coaches continue this level of excellence they can bring playoff hockey back to New York City.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Rookies of the New York Rangers
Well first I'd like to thank everyone, because two days and three posts later, I already have 100 visitors to the site! I'm going to take the next post to explain the future of this New York Ranger's organization.
The Rangers have dressed eight NHL rookies so far this season. Derek Stepan and Michael Sauer have been with the team all season, and a few games ago I almost completely forgot they were rookies at all.
Stepan is currently third on the team in points, with 13 goals and 16 assists. He has a +1 +/- rating and only ten penalty minutes. Early on in the season and later as it seems he has been one of the top two centers in New York. He has moved around the lineup quite a bit, even seeing time on the fourth line, but has been a larger factor than most could have expected. He is currently third in rookie scoring behind only Jeff Skinner of Carolina and Logan Couture of San Jose. Most recently, Stepan has been playing on a line with recently acquired Wojtek Wolski and call-up Mats Zuccarello. The trio have provided solid offensive pressure and continue to be one of the most creative and dangerous lines in the New York lineup. It remains to be seen if Stepan can continue this current level of play, as he came from the University of Wisconsin where he is used to seasons of around 40 games. Down the road, the 20 year-old Stepan has great potential to be a first or second line playmaking center, showing the passing, creativity and offensive awareness that is required to be a scorer in this league.
Michael Sauer, 23, has slowly but surely risen through the ranks of the Rangers organization. It is his fourth pro season, playing the previous three for the Ranger's AHL affiliate the Hartford Wolfpack. He had not been able to stay healthy in the American league the past two years, suffering injuries that limited him to 64 and 42 games, respectively. Sauer has played in 44 of the Rangers 50 games, and since November 1st has not missed any games. He has quietly established himself as a solid NHL defenseman who won't hurt you in the defensive zone. Originally it was thought that Sauer was kept on the NHL roster because he would have had to pass through waivers to get to the AHL, while prospect standouts Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko did not. Coach John Tortorella must have seen something that most Rangers fans did not see, and decided to keep him on the roster, rotating him in on the third pairing with Steve Eminger and Matt Gilroy. He has provided an excellent defensive conscious for the more offensively minded Eminger and Gilroy, and has played well with recent call-up Ryan McDonagh. He has truly proven to be a valuable asset to the Rangers, and is slowly becoming a key member of the defense on this team.
Mats Zuccarello was signed out of the Swedish Elite League, where he played for Modo. Last season for Modo he scored 23 goals and 64 points to lead the SEL in scoring. There were many varied opinions of how the 5'9" Zuccarello would perform when coming over to North America. After starting the season in the AHL and producing two points in 11 games, he has gone on to score 25 points total in 33 games, before being called up to the Rangers when injuries started to befall the team. Zuccarello currently has three goals and five assists for eight points in 15 games for the Rangers, and has recently developed chemistry with Wojtek Wolski and Derek Stepan as mentioned above. The 23 year-old from Norway has certainly surprised the Rangers organization after a slow start, and has created many chances in the offensive zone. He is also the only current healthy member of the Rangers with a shootout goal this season. He is currently 3 for 3, and the only other Ranger to score on a shootout this season is the injured Erik Christensen.
Several other rookies, namely Ryan McDonagh, Chad Kolarik, Dale Weise and Evgeny Grachev have played for the Rangers this season. McDonagh has made the most significant impact of any, being recalled after Michael Del Zotto was sent to the AHL to find his game. In nine games, McDonagh has one assist and has a +5 +/- rating. He has certainly surprised with his strong defensive play, and has made many decisions that some veterans don't even make. His poise on the back end has been excellent for this team. Kolarik has played two games so far for the Rangers, starting out on the fourth line and impressing Tortorella enough to move him up to a line with Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust. Kolarik has soft hands and a good offensive sense of the game that can make him a successful player. Weise's effect has been felt on the fourth line alongside Chris Drury and Kris Newbury. He is an energy player who will hit and make good defensive plays. In his first game, the Rangers lost 4-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers. Weise almost scored a goal that would have tied the game through the five-hole of Brian Boucher, but it went just wide. Later in the game, Weise hit the post. Since then Weise has provided energy and has been in and out of the lineup. With the Rangers getting healthier, Weise will more than likely be sent down to help the AHL Whale.
Evgeny Grachev has been an interesting prospect to follow so far this year. He has shown glimpses of brilliance as a strong, powerful forward but has also frustrated many times with his inconsistency. He currently sits at 12 goals and 18 points in 40 AHL games, and was called up to the parent Rangers when Brandon Prust was injured yesterday against Atlanta. Six of Grachev's goals have come in the last three games, most recently scoring a hat trick against the Springfield Falcons. In preseason and during his first call-up, Grachev failed to impress both the Rangers brass and the fans, not creating scoring chances like the player he was thought to be. Hopefully with this most recent streak of excellent play, Grachev can stay consistent the rest of the year, be it in the American League or the NHL.
Michael Del Zotto is not a rookie, but has certainly had an interesting sophomore season, to say the least. Expected to anchor the powerplay for the team this year, he has failed to live up to the expectations set for him after an excellent rookie season in which he scored nine goals and 28 assists. In 35 games this year, Del Zotto had two goals and seven assists for 9 points. Seeing as how Ryan McDonagh has been playing so well in the AHL and how much Del Zotto was struggling, Glen Sather decided to send down Del Zotto and recall McDonagh to the NHL squad. In eight games with the Connecticut Whale, Del Zotto has registered seven assists and an even +/- rating. Some fans do not remember the simple fact that Del Zotto is only 20 years of age and is still developing. A sophomore slump is not uncommon, as better players are suffering worse slumps, such as Buffalo's Tyler Myers or last year with Columbus' Steve Mason. If given time and patience to develop, the Rangers will be rewarded with offensive creativity, a good first pass and surprisingly physical play from Michael Del Zotto. With a recent rib muscle injury to Dan Girardi, Del Zotto has been recalled. If Girardi is unable to play, Del Zotto will draw into the lineup.
The Rangers' future looks bright. The rookies have been excellent when called upon, and show that down the road the Rangers will continue to be a good team. Breakout seasons from Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Artem Anisimov and Brian Boyle have also elevated the Rangers to a 28-19-3 record so far this year. An all-star bid from Marc Staal and excellent two-way play from Dan Girardi have also reassured the Blueshirt faithful that we will have a strong defense for years to come. Add in Michael Del Zotto, Ryan McDonagh, Michael Sauer and future prospects and the Rangers will not have to have perennial superstar Henrik Lundqvist bail them out. With shrewd trades and good drafting, the future of the New York Rangers looks better and better.
The Rangers have dressed eight NHL rookies so far this season. Derek Stepan and Michael Sauer have been with the team all season, and a few games ago I almost completely forgot they were rookies at all.
Stepan is currently third on the team in points, with 13 goals and 16 assists. He has a +1 +/- rating and only ten penalty minutes. Early on in the season and later as it seems he has been one of the top two centers in New York. He has moved around the lineup quite a bit, even seeing time on the fourth line, but has been a larger factor than most could have expected. He is currently third in rookie scoring behind only Jeff Skinner of Carolina and Logan Couture of San Jose. Most recently, Stepan has been playing on a line with recently acquired Wojtek Wolski and call-up Mats Zuccarello. The trio have provided solid offensive pressure and continue to be one of the most creative and dangerous lines in the New York lineup. It remains to be seen if Stepan can continue this current level of play, as he came from the University of Wisconsin where he is used to seasons of around 40 games. Down the road, the 20 year-old Stepan has great potential to be a first or second line playmaking center, showing the passing, creativity and offensive awareness that is required to be a scorer in this league.
Michael Sauer, 23, has slowly but surely risen through the ranks of the Rangers organization. It is his fourth pro season, playing the previous three for the Ranger's AHL affiliate the Hartford Wolfpack. He had not been able to stay healthy in the American league the past two years, suffering injuries that limited him to 64 and 42 games, respectively. Sauer has played in 44 of the Rangers 50 games, and since November 1st has not missed any games. He has quietly established himself as a solid NHL defenseman who won't hurt you in the defensive zone. Originally it was thought that Sauer was kept on the NHL roster because he would have had to pass through waivers to get to the AHL, while prospect standouts Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko did not. Coach John Tortorella must have seen something that most Rangers fans did not see, and decided to keep him on the roster, rotating him in on the third pairing with Steve Eminger and Matt Gilroy. He has provided an excellent defensive conscious for the more offensively minded Eminger and Gilroy, and has played well with recent call-up Ryan McDonagh. He has truly proven to be a valuable asset to the Rangers, and is slowly becoming a key member of the defense on this team.
Mats Zuccarello was signed out of the Swedish Elite League, where he played for Modo. Last season for Modo he scored 23 goals and 64 points to lead the SEL in scoring. There were many varied opinions of how the 5'9" Zuccarello would perform when coming over to North America. After starting the season in the AHL and producing two points in 11 games, he has gone on to score 25 points total in 33 games, before being called up to the Rangers when injuries started to befall the team. Zuccarello currently has three goals and five assists for eight points in 15 games for the Rangers, and has recently developed chemistry with Wojtek Wolski and Derek Stepan as mentioned above. The 23 year-old from Norway has certainly surprised the Rangers organization after a slow start, and has created many chances in the offensive zone. He is also the only current healthy member of the Rangers with a shootout goal this season. He is currently 3 for 3, and the only other Ranger to score on a shootout this season is the injured Erik Christensen.
Several other rookies, namely Ryan McDonagh, Chad Kolarik, Dale Weise and Evgeny Grachev have played for the Rangers this season. McDonagh has made the most significant impact of any, being recalled after Michael Del Zotto was sent to the AHL to find his game. In nine games, McDonagh has one assist and has a +5 +/- rating. He has certainly surprised with his strong defensive play, and has made many decisions that some veterans don't even make. His poise on the back end has been excellent for this team. Kolarik has played two games so far for the Rangers, starting out on the fourth line and impressing Tortorella enough to move him up to a line with Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust. Kolarik has soft hands and a good offensive sense of the game that can make him a successful player. Weise's effect has been felt on the fourth line alongside Chris Drury and Kris Newbury. He is an energy player who will hit and make good defensive plays. In his first game, the Rangers lost 4-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers. Weise almost scored a goal that would have tied the game through the five-hole of Brian Boucher, but it went just wide. Later in the game, Weise hit the post. Since then Weise has provided energy and has been in and out of the lineup. With the Rangers getting healthier, Weise will more than likely be sent down to help the AHL Whale.
Evgeny Grachev has been an interesting prospect to follow so far this year. He has shown glimpses of brilliance as a strong, powerful forward but has also frustrated many times with his inconsistency. He currently sits at 12 goals and 18 points in 40 AHL games, and was called up to the parent Rangers when Brandon Prust was injured yesterday against Atlanta. Six of Grachev's goals have come in the last three games, most recently scoring a hat trick against the Springfield Falcons. In preseason and during his first call-up, Grachev failed to impress both the Rangers brass and the fans, not creating scoring chances like the player he was thought to be. Hopefully with this most recent streak of excellent play, Grachev can stay consistent the rest of the year, be it in the American League or the NHL.
Michael Del Zotto is not a rookie, but has certainly had an interesting sophomore season, to say the least. Expected to anchor the powerplay for the team this year, he has failed to live up to the expectations set for him after an excellent rookie season in which he scored nine goals and 28 assists. In 35 games this year, Del Zotto had two goals and seven assists for 9 points. Seeing as how Ryan McDonagh has been playing so well in the AHL and how much Del Zotto was struggling, Glen Sather decided to send down Del Zotto and recall McDonagh to the NHL squad. In eight games with the Connecticut Whale, Del Zotto has registered seven assists and an even +/- rating. Some fans do not remember the simple fact that Del Zotto is only 20 years of age and is still developing. A sophomore slump is not uncommon, as better players are suffering worse slumps, such as Buffalo's Tyler Myers or last year with Columbus' Steve Mason. If given time and patience to develop, the Rangers will be rewarded with offensive creativity, a good first pass and surprisingly physical play from Michael Del Zotto. With a recent rib muscle injury to Dan Girardi, Del Zotto has been recalled. If Girardi is unable to play, Del Zotto will draw into the lineup.
The Rangers' future looks bright. The rookies have been excellent when called upon, and show that down the road the Rangers will continue to be a good team. Breakout seasons from Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Artem Anisimov and Brian Boyle have also elevated the Rangers to a 28-19-3 record so far this year. An all-star bid from Marc Staal and excellent two-way play from Dan Girardi have also reassured the Blueshirt faithful that we will have a strong defense for years to come. Add in Michael Del Zotto, Ryan McDonagh, Michael Sauer and future prospects and the Rangers will not have to have perennial superstar Henrik Lundqvist bail them out. With shrewd trades and good drafting, the future of the New York Rangers looks better and better.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Rangers pull a win out of Atlanta; Nabokov not going to the Island?
I guess I wasn't expecting to make another post today, but anyways...here we go!
Somehow, someway the Rangers pulled two points out of Atlanta, beating the Thrashers 3-2 in a shootout. Nik Antropov was the first to strike, with a deflection off of a Tobias Enstrom point shot past Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers responded in the second period, when Wojtek Wolski tipped in a Derek Stepan pass over the glove of Ondrej Pavelec. Later in the second period, the Thrashers would score again as Anthony Stewart put a shot off of a rebound right through Lundqvist's pads. The third was full of scoring chances for the Rangers, including a 5-on-3 powerplay. With five forwards on the ice, the Rangers could not put the puck past Pavelec and entered the third still trailing by a score of 2-1. With just over six minutes remaining in the third period, Brian Boyle took the puck hard down the right side, and beat Pavelec with a shot over the glove, tying the game at 2-2. This score would last through the rest of the third period and overtime, leading to a shootout. Henrik Lundqvist stopped all three shooters he faced, and Mats Zuccarello fooled Pavelec to score the only goal of the shootout. Zuccarello is now three for three in shootout attempts. Both goalies were excellent in the game, especially Atlanta's Ondrej Pavelec. He made 29 saves during regulation and overtime, including some excellent saves. The highlight save of the game was in the first period. Mats Zuccarello took a shot from the right circle that went through the legs of Freddy Meyer. The shot was labeled for the top left corner, yet somehow Pavelec found the puck and stopped it with his shoulder and blocker. He is truly blossoming into an excellent NHL goaltender, and I can understand how Atlanta has been so successful this season.
One of the bigger stories of the game is that the Rangers lost both Dan Girardi and Brandon Prust to injury during the game. Prust was hurt blocking a shot by Dustin Byfuglien, while Girardi was injured in a fight with Atlanta captain Andrew Ladd. The Rangers are already down forwards Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Vinny Prospal, Ruslan Fedetenko, Alex Frolov and Derek Boogaard. I was actually discussing with my father how the Rangers were lucky that their defense has not had any injuries, as there isn't much NHL-ready talent in AHL Connecticut for the Rangers to call up and have play in the lineup. Hopefully Girardi proves to be healthy after tonight, as he is a vital part of the Rangers team at even strength, on the powerplay and also while killing penalties. Prust is the Rangers leader with three shorthanded goals and five shorthanded points total. He is another vital piece of the penalty kill that the Rangers cannot afford to lose. Both are currently reported as day-to-day; Girardi has a pulled muscle in his ribcage and Prust with a foot injury.
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Staying in the Atlantic Division, Evgeni Nabokov has reportedly denied to report to the Islanders after the team had claimed him off of waivers earlier today. I recently said that the Islanders would be among the teams putting in a claim for Nabokov, as their goaltending could really use a boost. A ragtag goaltending trio of Rick DiPietro, Nathan Lawson and rookie Kevin Poulin is not proving to be the best formula for the struggling Islanders, so it makes sense why Garth Snow would want Nabokov on his team. Nabokov has been previously quoted as wanting to play for a winning team. He has said that he wants to be in an environment where success is the main focus. Of course, success is the main focus of all 30 NHL clubs, but whether that focus appears now or down the road is the difference between the teams. Obviously, Nabokov wanted to be in a winning environment, where Detroit is looking to be atop the Western Conference once again this year. Chris Osgood has been injured and is expected to be out until March, and Nabokov thought that this would be a good opportunity to come back into the league.
This raises the question as to what the Islanders really saw in an opportunity to grab Nabokov for their team. They are a team in a clear rebuilding mode, and are in no position to succeed. The Isles currently sit 17 points out of a playoff spot, and have not been playing well enough to come back and even make an attempt at a playoff run. They are a young team that needs to develop their players. Nabokov does not fit into that situation, and though he does solve a goaltending issue of an experienced netminder, a veteran back-up goaltender may have served as a better choice. It is also uncertain as to what the plan is for the Islanders. They traded James Wisniewski to the Montreal Canadiens for a second-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and a conditional 2012 fifth-round pick. Wisniewski is only 26 years of age, and is a good player to build around. He is a right-handed defenseman who has a heavy shot and can play well at both ends of the ice. Why they would trade a player like this when they are in a rebuild confuses not only me but many officials and writers around the league. Do the Islanders really have a plan? I'm not so sure.
What will happen with Nabokov? I certainly don't know, but there are options. The Islanders could be courteous and allow Nabokov back on waivers, where another team (including Detroit) claim him to bring him to a new team. Snow can also suspend Nabokov, so that he cannot play anywhere for the rest of the season. As this situation unfolds, it will truly bring a light onto some of the issues with the CBA.
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That's definitely it for tonight, I promise. I hope everyone has a good night. I know I will with a Rangers win. Every two points can and will help the Rangers with the hope for a strong playoff push late in the season. Our acquisitions and rookies have certainly made this an exciting team to watch, as they continue to flourish and prove that they deserve spots in the National Hockey League on the New York Rangers.
Somehow, someway the Rangers pulled two points out of Atlanta, beating the Thrashers 3-2 in a shootout. Nik Antropov was the first to strike, with a deflection off of a Tobias Enstrom point shot past Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers responded in the second period, when Wojtek Wolski tipped in a Derek Stepan pass over the glove of Ondrej Pavelec. Later in the second period, the Thrashers would score again as Anthony Stewart put a shot off of a rebound right through Lundqvist's pads. The third was full of scoring chances for the Rangers, including a 5-on-3 powerplay. With five forwards on the ice, the Rangers could not put the puck past Pavelec and entered the third still trailing by a score of 2-1. With just over six minutes remaining in the third period, Brian Boyle took the puck hard down the right side, and beat Pavelec with a shot over the glove, tying the game at 2-2. This score would last through the rest of the third period and overtime, leading to a shootout. Henrik Lundqvist stopped all three shooters he faced, and Mats Zuccarello fooled Pavelec to score the only goal of the shootout. Zuccarello is now three for three in shootout attempts. Both goalies were excellent in the game, especially Atlanta's Ondrej Pavelec. He made 29 saves during regulation and overtime, including some excellent saves. The highlight save of the game was in the first period. Mats Zuccarello took a shot from the right circle that went through the legs of Freddy Meyer. The shot was labeled for the top left corner, yet somehow Pavelec found the puck and stopped it with his shoulder and blocker. He is truly blossoming into an excellent NHL goaltender, and I can understand how Atlanta has been so successful this season.
One of the bigger stories of the game is that the Rangers lost both Dan Girardi and Brandon Prust to injury during the game. Prust was hurt blocking a shot by Dustin Byfuglien, while Girardi was injured in a fight with Atlanta captain Andrew Ladd. The Rangers are already down forwards Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Vinny Prospal, Ruslan Fedetenko, Alex Frolov and Derek Boogaard. I was actually discussing with my father how the Rangers were lucky that their defense has not had any injuries, as there isn't much NHL-ready talent in AHL Connecticut for the Rangers to call up and have play in the lineup. Hopefully Girardi proves to be healthy after tonight, as he is a vital part of the Rangers team at even strength, on the powerplay and also while killing penalties. Prust is the Rangers leader with three shorthanded goals and five shorthanded points total. He is another vital piece of the penalty kill that the Rangers cannot afford to lose. Both are currently reported as day-to-day; Girardi has a pulled muscle in his ribcage and Prust with a foot injury.
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Staying in the Atlantic Division, Evgeni Nabokov has reportedly denied to report to the Islanders after the team had claimed him off of waivers earlier today. I recently said that the Islanders would be among the teams putting in a claim for Nabokov, as their goaltending could really use a boost. A ragtag goaltending trio of Rick DiPietro, Nathan Lawson and rookie Kevin Poulin is not proving to be the best formula for the struggling Islanders, so it makes sense why Garth Snow would want Nabokov on his team. Nabokov has been previously quoted as wanting to play for a winning team. He has said that he wants to be in an environment where success is the main focus. Of course, success is the main focus of all 30 NHL clubs, but whether that focus appears now or down the road is the difference between the teams. Obviously, Nabokov wanted to be in a winning environment, where Detroit is looking to be atop the Western Conference once again this year. Chris Osgood has been injured and is expected to be out until March, and Nabokov thought that this would be a good opportunity to come back into the league.
This raises the question as to what the Islanders really saw in an opportunity to grab Nabokov for their team. They are a team in a clear rebuilding mode, and are in no position to succeed. The Isles currently sit 17 points out of a playoff spot, and have not been playing well enough to come back and even make an attempt at a playoff run. They are a young team that needs to develop their players. Nabokov does not fit into that situation, and though he does solve a goaltending issue of an experienced netminder, a veteran back-up goaltender may have served as a better choice. It is also uncertain as to what the plan is for the Islanders. They traded James Wisniewski to the Montreal Canadiens for a second-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and a conditional 2012 fifth-round pick. Wisniewski is only 26 years of age, and is a good player to build around. He is a right-handed defenseman who has a heavy shot and can play well at both ends of the ice. Why they would trade a player like this when they are in a rebuild confuses not only me but many officials and writers around the league. Do the Islanders really have a plan? I'm not so sure.
What will happen with Nabokov? I certainly don't know, but there are options. The Islanders could be courteous and allow Nabokov back on waivers, where another team (including Detroit) claim him to bring him to a new team. Snow can also suspend Nabokov, so that he cannot play anywhere for the rest of the season. As this situation unfolds, it will truly bring a light onto some of the issues with the CBA.
-------------------------------------
That's definitely it for tonight, I promise. I hope everyone has a good night. I know I will with a Rangers win. Every two points can and will help the Rangers with the hope for a strong playoff push late in the season. Our acquisitions and rookies have certainly made this an exciting team to watch, as they continue to flourish and prove that they deserve spots in the National Hockey League on the New York Rangers.
Nabokov to the Islanders, European Transfers and a Little More
Well, I don't want to say I told you so, but I told you so! Nabokov was picked off of waivers by the Islanders after Nabby signed a mid-season deal with the Detroit Red Wings.
For those that don't understand why or how this happened, here's a little explanation. Once the season begins, teams cannot just simply add players from Europe or unsigned free agents according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). If a contract is agreed upon, the player must pass through waivers, where every team has the ability to put in a claim and add him to their roster. If he passes through waivers, then the team that signed him gets him. If not, then the team putting a claim in gets him on their squad. Why is this done? When the current CBA was agreed upon, one matter was stashing players overseas. If a team could simply sign players from Europe midway through the year, they would have to pay less for the player and get an instant boost to their lineup. This was seen as unfair, so the waivers rule was implemented.
So far, there have been a few players signed during the season. Garnet Exelby was signed by Chicago and Marc-Andre Bergeron was signed by Tampa Bay. Both passed through waivers unclaimed and were sent to the AHL affiliates. Neither has played in the NHL this year, which could be a reason why no team put in a waiver claim. They are solid NHL players, and I'm sure they will find work in the NHL next year with teams looking for cheap, experienced defensemen.
On to the players that have been claimed. Marek Svatos (Nashville), Kyle Wellwood (Vancouver) and now Evgeny Nabokov (New York Islanders) have been claimed off of waivers after being signed from Europe. Both Svatos and Wellwood were claimed after signing with the St. Louis Blues, and Nabokov from Detroit. I think that St. Louis got a little worked over with the new CBA, as there are pros and cons to having this rule in place. The pro, as discussed above, is not giving teams an unfair advantage when signing players out of Europe. The con is that teams more than likely don't get the effective players they are signing. Instead, they are going to other teams which they did not sign with. The original team signed these players for a reason. For St. Louis, they have TJ Oshie, Andrew McDonald and David Perron injured and need a forward that has the ability to produce. For Detroit, Chris Osgood is hurt until at least mid-March and Jimmy Howard is reported to have a bruised knee, making it difficult to play.
I have an idea to fix this, when the current CBA expires after next season. Instead of a player signed during the season subject to waivers, make the team signing him have the entire value of his contract go against the salary cap, instead of just the pro-rated salary that is determined by how long the player is playing for the team (if he is signed half-way through the year, the team is only responsible for half of his salary). That would control the ability to stash players away in Europe, and also allow players to actually sign and play for the team they negotiated a contract with.
In other news, Peter Forsberg is considering a comeback according to Yahoo! Sports and several other sports sites (link below). We have seen this for the last few seasons, and while Forsberg is one of the elite talents that this league has ever seen, every attempt to come back has not gone well. His most recent with Philadelphia and then Nashville was moderately successful, and you have to show the guy some appreciation with all the hard work he puts in to try and play the game he loves. Its unfortunate that a recurring ankle injury has hindered the career of such a great player
Peter Forsberg considering return to NHL
Well that will be all for today. You can follow me on Twitter at @Alexweinstein1, where I post random NHL tidbits and usually try to have nice conversations with the Rangers beat writers. The Rangers have a very tough game in Atlanta tonight. They need to come out flying and strong to be able to beat them. Marian Gaborik has to play like Marian Gaborik, and Lundqvist needs to be as good as ever in net. Good luck to Brodie Dupont in his first NHL game!
I'll leave you with a Paul Bissonette quote from twitter. He is a Phoenix Coyotes player who is one of the most popular tweeters in the twitter-verse.
@BizNasty2point0: For all the guys chirping my scarf. Ill be at the berrett jackson talking to dimes tonight while u sit at home reading my tweets.
For those that don't understand why or how this happened, here's a little explanation. Once the season begins, teams cannot just simply add players from Europe or unsigned free agents according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). If a contract is agreed upon, the player must pass through waivers, where every team has the ability to put in a claim and add him to their roster. If he passes through waivers, then the team that signed him gets him. If not, then the team putting a claim in gets him on their squad. Why is this done? When the current CBA was agreed upon, one matter was stashing players overseas. If a team could simply sign players from Europe midway through the year, they would have to pay less for the player and get an instant boost to their lineup. This was seen as unfair, so the waivers rule was implemented.
So far, there have been a few players signed during the season. Garnet Exelby was signed by Chicago and Marc-Andre Bergeron was signed by Tampa Bay. Both passed through waivers unclaimed and were sent to the AHL affiliates. Neither has played in the NHL this year, which could be a reason why no team put in a waiver claim. They are solid NHL players, and I'm sure they will find work in the NHL next year with teams looking for cheap, experienced defensemen.
On to the players that have been claimed. Marek Svatos (Nashville), Kyle Wellwood (Vancouver) and now Evgeny Nabokov (New York Islanders) have been claimed off of waivers after being signed from Europe. Both Svatos and Wellwood were claimed after signing with the St. Louis Blues, and Nabokov from Detroit. I think that St. Louis got a little worked over with the new CBA, as there are pros and cons to having this rule in place. The pro, as discussed above, is not giving teams an unfair advantage when signing players out of Europe. The con is that teams more than likely don't get the effective players they are signing. Instead, they are going to other teams which they did not sign with. The original team signed these players for a reason. For St. Louis, they have TJ Oshie, Andrew McDonald and David Perron injured and need a forward that has the ability to produce. For Detroit, Chris Osgood is hurt until at least mid-March and Jimmy Howard is reported to have a bruised knee, making it difficult to play.
I have an idea to fix this, when the current CBA expires after next season. Instead of a player signed during the season subject to waivers, make the team signing him have the entire value of his contract go against the salary cap, instead of just the pro-rated salary that is determined by how long the player is playing for the team (if he is signed half-way through the year, the team is only responsible for half of his salary). That would control the ability to stash players away in Europe, and also allow players to actually sign and play for the team they negotiated a contract with.
In other news, Peter Forsberg is considering a comeback according to Yahoo! Sports and several other sports sites (link below). We have seen this for the last few seasons, and while Forsberg is one of the elite talents that this league has ever seen, every attempt to come back has not gone well. His most recent with Philadelphia and then Nashville was moderately successful, and you have to show the guy some appreciation with all the hard work he puts in to try and play the game he loves. Its unfortunate that a recurring ankle injury has hindered the career of such a great player
Peter Forsberg considering return to NHL
Well that will be all for today. You can follow me on Twitter at @Alexweinstein1, where I post random NHL tidbits and usually try to have nice conversations with the Rangers beat writers. The Rangers have a very tough game in Atlanta tonight. They need to come out flying and strong to be able to beat them. Marian Gaborik has to play like Marian Gaborik, and Lundqvist needs to be as good as ever in net. Good luck to Brodie Dupont in his first NHL game!
I'll leave you with a Paul Bissonette quote from twitter. He is a Phoenix Coyotes player who is one of the most popular tweeters in the twitter-verse.
@BizNasty2point0: For all the guys chirping my scarf. Ill be at the berrett jackson talking to dimes tonight while u sit at home reading my tweets.
First Post!
Well guess who is the latest person to decide to make an NHL blog! If you guessed me, you'd be correct! Let me introduce myself first. My name is Alex Weinstein, and I live about 30 miles northwest of NYC. I have been a Rangers fan since before I can remember, but have been actively following the entire league along with team prospects and rumors from free agents to trades for the last three seasons. I have an avid passion for the game of hockey, having played roughly 15 seasons all together at forward, defenseman and most recently goaltender. I thoroughly love the game of hockey, and I hope that you will enjoy this as much as I do.
So we are a little more than halfway through the 2010-11 NHL season, and there are several things to note. First is just more of the same. The Western Conference appears to be the tougher of the two to compete in, with seven points separating the fourth place team from the eleventh place team. Conversely in the East, the separation between fourth and tenth is 15 points. Detroit and Vancouver are the teams atop the West, as expected. Their combinations of offensive firepower, strong defensive cast and systems and good goaltending has propelled them to the top. In the East, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are as usual the cream of the crop.
But this season has also been one with many surprising headlines. First is that the Dallas Stars, a team on a budget, is leading the Pacific division. With the uncertainty of their ownership situation, this team is still proving that one doesn't need to spend to the salary cap to be successful. Other teams that have surprised this year, in a good way at least, are the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Atlanta Thrashers. The Bolts boast Steven Stamkos, who is vying to become one of the true all-world talents in this league with 37 goals already this year. He has led his team to the top of the Southeast conference. If I asked anyone what place the Thrashers would be in after 49 games, I doubt anyone would have answered eighth. Their play has slipped, but new captain Andrew Ladd and goaltender Ondrej Pavelec have been lights out. They have certainly put the Kovalchuk era behind them, and are moving forward as a team.
On to the bad surprises of the season. As a Rangers fan, it is a guilty pleasure to see the New Jersey Devils season in such disarray. Martin Brodeur has played like Mike Brodeur (Who? Exactly), Ilya Kovalchuk has not played up to the $100-million contract he signed in the off-season, and John MacLean was ultimately axed halfway through the year. I feel sorry for MacLean as it is not his fault the Devils have played so poorly. Injuries to Zach Parise and other key forwards at inconvenient times have ultimately made this season a lost one for the Devils. The glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel may be the train that is the end of their season. Other disappointments include the Islanders, who lost Okposo and Streit to start the season and have started to send off what talent they have in James Wisniewski and Dwayne Roloson in an attempt to acquire picks and prospects for the future. Individually, it is odd to see that Alex Ovechkin only has 16 goals. That ties him for 39th in the league in goals scored, which is very un-Ovechkin-like. Consequently, the Capitals have not been the dominant force we are used to seeing. They are still a good team, but it seems as though when Ovechkin is not at his best, neither are the Caps.
Occasionally I will do in-depth analysis of the league and the current headlines. Tomorrow for starters, I will talk about what becomes of Evgeny Nabokov. I highly doubt that no teams put in a claim for him on a $250,000 pro-rated contract, as there are several clubs that could use the stability in net. Goodnight everybody!
So we are a little more than halfway through the 2010-11 NHL season, and there are several things to note. First is just more of the same. The Western Conference appears to be the tougher of the two to compete in, with seven points separating the fourth place team from the eleventh place team. Conversely in the East, the separation between fourth and tenth is 15 points. Detroit and Vancouver are the teams atop the West, as expected. Their combinations of offensive firepower, strong defensive cast and systems and good goaltending has propelled them to the top. In the East, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are as usual the cream of the crop.
But this season has also been one with many surprising headlines. First is that the Dallas Stars, a team on a budget, is leading the Pacific division. With the uncertainty of their ownership situation, this team is still proving that one doesn't need to spend to the salary cap to be successful. Other teams that have surprised this year, in a good way at least, are the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Atlanta Thrashers. The Bolts boast Steven Stamkos, who is vying to become one of the true all-world talents in this league with 37 goals already this year. He has led his team to the top of the Southeast conference. If I asked anyone what place the Thrashers would be in after 49 games, I doubt anyone would have answered eighth. Their play has slipped, but new captain Andrew Ladd and goaltender Ondrej Pavelec have been lights out. They have certainly put the Kovalchuk era behind them, and are moving forward as a team.
On to the bad surprises of the season. As a Rangers fan, it is a guilty pleasure to see the New Jersey Devils season in such disarray. Martin Brodeur has played like Mike Brodeur (Who? Exactly), Ilya Kovalchuk has not played up to the $100-million contract he signed in the off-season, and John MacLean was ultimately axed halfway through the year. I feel sorry for MacLean as it is not his fault the Devils have played so poorly. Injuries to Zach Parise and other key forwards at inconvenient times have ultimately made this season a lost one for the Devils. The glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel may be the train that is the end of their season. Other disappointments include the Islanders, who lost Okposo and Streit to start the season and have started to send off what talent they have in James Wisniewski and Dwayne Roloson in an attempt to acquire picks and prospects for the future. Individually, it is odd to see that Alex Ovechkin only has 16 goals. That ties him for 39th in the league in goals scored, which is very un-Ovechkin-like. Consequently, the Capitals have not been the dominant force we are used to seeing. They are still a good team, but it seems as though when Ovechkin is not at his best, neither are the Caps.
Occasionally I will do in-depth analysis of the league and the current headlines. Tomorrow for starters, I will talk about what becomes of Evgeny Nabokov. I highly doubt that no teams put in a claim for him on a $250,000 pro-rated contract, as there are several clubs that could use the stability in net. Goodnight everybody!
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