Bleacher Report - Articles by Jason Klau

Tom Renney Must Play Dan Fritsche

Jason Klau — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:34:20 -0500

Another loss, and another day of anger for the fans of the New York Rangers. Every fan has a new opinion on what needs to be done for this team to get back to the top of the eastern conference, or at least stay on pace for a playoff spot. But one idea that is not getting much discussion is Dan Fritsche.

One reason his name is not on the minds, of, well anyone really, is that the last time he saw game action was the disastrous Nov. 30th, 4-0 loss on home ice to the panthers, a game I had the pleasure of attending. A game, where he was far from the teams biggest problem.

Why give Fritsche another shot though? Well, why was Petr Prucha given another shot? He hadn't registered a point before he was given another shot against Pittsburgh, when he got his first goal of the year.

He hadn't done anything else, but in the two games he was given another shot, he has two goals. Why isn't Fritsche given the same consideration? There are other players on this team that could use a few games in the press box if you ask me.

So what can Fritsche bring to the Rangers if he is given another shot? Well for starters, desire.

Watching the Rangers trail Washington 2-1 with about a minute and a half to go, I knew it was over. The team couldn't even get out of their own zone. They were getting out-worked when they had the biggest reason to work the hardest.

Not to take anything away from the Capitals, but there is no excuse for the Rangers to not have the ability to break out of their end when they trail in the last minutes. Not only could they not break out, it also looked like they didn't care if they did. Those players that we are supposed to trust in late game situations, our best players, were not playing with any desire at all.

Now add in Dan Fritsche. Here is a guy who hasn't played in over a month, and I'm sure he isn't happy about it. If he is given the chance, he will be out there, working his tail off to keep his spot in the line up. He'd be one of the few actually trying.

So if Danny goes in, who comes out? Could it be the captain, Chris Drury? He hasn't been playing so well lately. He's supposed to be the captain, but he has not lead by example, that's for sure. Still, sitting the captain might not go over so well in the locker room. Maybe Fredrik Sjostrom? While he hasn't been the biggest part of our team, and hasn't done much on the offensive side, he's been vital to the one consistently good part of the team, the penalty kill.

So who else is there? Dare I say it? Okay, here it goes. Brandon Dubinsky should sit for Dan Fritsche. Dubinsky has chipped in some assists, sure, but how often have you thought about a game afterwards and felt that Brandon Dubinsky was very good? He has no goals in his last 16 games, and just one in his last 30.

In Dan Fritsche's last game, he was one of the few players who were not a minus on the game. Dubinsky on the other hand, was a -3. So why is Fritsche the one that sits? Dubinsky has been a -5 in his last 14 games, and in just 15 games this year, Fristche was only a -2.

Now where do we put him? Well if Dubinsky comes out, then maybe Drury moves back as a center on the second line. Maybe he hasn't earned as at his natural position yet, but maybe it will also help him get there.

One line that Fritsche would work well on would be with Korpikoski and Prucha. Those are three players that play with energy, and have a little offensive touch, three guys who are all fighting to keep spots in the line up, and three guys who haven't been given a real chance this year to show their true potential.

What are your thoughts on this idea? Be sure to leave comments on what you think about it, and what ideas you have.

Keys To Success in 2009 For The New York Rangers

Jason Klau — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:23:52 -0500

With 2009 under way, the Rangers will look to find their old form as they start the new year in Washington against the Capitals tonight. They left 2008 with a home win against the Islanders, in a game that they did not play their best.

After a pretty good California road trip, the Rangers came home and blew a 4-0 lead to the Capitals (whom they play tonight) and followed that up by getting out played at home against the rival Devils. The 5-4 victory over the Islanders to end 2008 brought the Rangers up to 49 points, enough to keep them tied for first in the division with Philadelphia, who have two less wins, but one game in hand.

Officially listed as second in the division, and now fourth in the conference, the Rangers have some work to do in 2009, and certain players are key for the Rangers in 2009

Chris Drury

The captain has received lots of scrutiny for being over payed in his time here. But Chris Drury must fight through it and be the captain he is meant to be. With 11 points in 12 games, and four multi-point games in December, maybe he is headed in the right direction.

Henrik Lundqvist

The king ended 2008 on a sour note, giving up 13 goals in his final three games. While he can't be blamed for everything, it is clear, Henrik Lundqvist needs to find the form he brought to the team early this season if this team has hopes of being a serious cup contender.

Last year's shutout leader has yet to record one this year. His GAA in December was a lowly 3.77, and while the teams defensive struggles haven't helped, Lundqvist hasn't been able to steal games as he had earlier in the year. For the Rangers to take back respect, the king needs to take back his throne.

Petr Prucha

Both of his goals this season have come when he gets put back in the lineup. Prucha reminds us why he needs to play, but he needs to do it more. He is a goal scorer, but he isn't scoring enough in games he is given a chance in. With our offense struggling as it is, a good goal scorer like Prucha needs to be more consistent.

Michal Rozsival

Rozsival ended a dismal 2008 on a high note with 4 points in his last four games, without registering a minus rating in 5 games. Previously to those 5 games, he had gone 7 games without a plus rating, going a -9 in those 7 games. Michal has overall been terrible this year, but has shown some good games.

The Rangers will need his offensive touch, and the kind of defensive reliability he had shown in 2006-2007. Thoughts of those days where he wasn't a liability seem like distant memories though. But in order for the Rangers to contend, Rozsival needs a rebirth

The Power Play

A reasonable strategy against the Rangers, if you are up by one goal late, you should take a penalty. Not only will they not score, but you are likely to score a shorthanded goal. 11 shorthanded goals given up on the year is just a disgrace.

Most teams don't give up 11 in a season, yet we have found a way to get there before half of the season is done. I am frankly surprised that they are not the worst in the league, operating at a lowly 14.2 percent. This could prove to be the one thing that keeps the Rangers from being a legitimate cup contender.

Brandon Dubinsky

Dubie had all the fans going nuts after his hot start. But the sophomore slump has hit him, big time. With just one goal in 29 games, Dubinsky's offense has struggled just as the team's has. He has chipped in with a few assists, but it is not enough.

He has gone up to six games in a row without registering a point, and that can't happen from a guy who was expected to take the first line center spot. Dubie still has the support of the fans, he just needs to find the net more to be seen as a legitimate threat in this league.

Scott Gomez

For a guy that was always known as being a responsible 2-way player, a -11 rating is not going to cut it for a guy who learned to play defensively in the most well executed defensive systems in recent memory. Scott Gomez is capable of being an offensive leader on this team, and it its about time he shows it.

Defensive Play

Call it boring, say what you will, but it is damn effective. The Rangers went 10-2-1 in the month of October giving up about 2.4 goals per game. They went 6-5-1 in December giving up an average of 3.5 per game. Obviously a huge drop off.

Let's face it people, maybe you feel it isn't as fun to watch, but this team is at it's best when they can play 2-1. 3-2 games. The simple fact is that this team can't consistently win the back and forth, goal for goal games.

It is easy to blame defensive struggles on guys like Redden and Rozsival and Kalinin, but it is the responsibility of all five skaters to play defense.

The Rangers face a big second half to this season. In a year that at first had many fans dreaming of a Stanley Cup, we are now not sure of a playoff spot. But with a few key players stepping up, 2009 could become a dream year for Rangers fans.

Hits To The Head Should Always Be a Part Of Hockey

Jason Klau — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 06:35:23 -0500

The hot topic in the NHL lately has been the number of serious head injuries sustained because of hits to the head.

As hockey fans, we have all seen some nasty checks, and some scary moments on the ice. Any time you see a player laying motionless on the ice, on your favorite team or your biggest rival, it is always scary to watch. Everyone prays that the player will be OK.

Some people have become so scared of watching these hits though, that it has lead to a league wide discussion on the legality of hits to the head.

Now obviously the league wants to protect the players. Like any company, they have a product, and they don't want to lose any. But making hits to the head illegal will not save the NHL the way some think it will. If that is allowed to go through, the NHL is not only eliminating the risk that makes hockey players some of the most courageous athletes in all of sports, but they are dishonoring the past players that make those big hits a trade mark of their games.

Everyone, no matter which sport they call their favorite, knows the toughness in hockey.

While some aren't fans of the game, they at least recognize that hockey poses a lot of danger, arguably more then all other team sports. Eliminating hits to the head makes the game less dangerous. While most say, "hey, thats good" it is in fact not good at all.

Players know the risk every time they touch the puck. At any moment they can be checked out of nowhere and wake up a few minutes later wondering what state they are in. The best of players, however, power on, and do not hesitate on making a play, knowing full well the risk that it poses.

Play like this is what puts hockey in a league of its own. But if you eliminate hits to the head, you take away that risk. You take some of the skill out of the game, by not just saying it's OK for a player to put their head down, but even encouraging it.

The simple phrase of "keep your head up" has been the first rule of hockey when you start playing in leagues that check. It's the first thing you are told when your a hockey player that turns 12. If you want to keep playing, you have to be able to take a hit. By eliminating hits to the head, you eliminate the un-written rule of keeping your head up. You are daring the other team to hit you as you skate through the neutral zone with your head down, because the major penalty that would follow is sure to help.

Some great players in NHL history have been known for putting an opponent down when they were dumb enough to come through with their heads down. Last year, Scott Stevens was inducted in to the Hall Of Fame, and for good reason. One only needs to search his name on youtube to find some of the best hits ever to be laid upon any soul that was unfortunate enough to be on the ice with him.

While Stevens was not a bad offensive player, it was his hitting that earned him respect among all players in the league. In fact, defensively he was so good, he did not have one season in his career in which he had a minus rating on the year, with a +393 on his career. But is he a Hall of Famer without the hitting? Well, that's a different discussion for a different time, but it is clear, the hard hits he put on his foes made him an automatic first ballot Hall of Famer.

Now, I am not a Devils fan, in fact, I hate them with a passion. I am in fact a huge Rangers fan. As much as I hated Stevens for being such a key to New Jersey's success, I couldn't help but respect him for his great hockey ability, especially defensively.

So if hits to the head are banned, are you saying some of his best hits, some of the hits that are a part of his legacy shouldn't have happened? Was putting Lindros down for the count a bad play? What about sending Paul Kariya to la la land in the Stanley cup finals in 2003? Inducting a great player in to the Hall of Fame, then turning around and saying everything he was known for is now against the rules would be bad PR for a league that is already struggling to increase it's fan base.

And what about those players who have yet to make it to the NHL yet? I'm sure there are many young players out there, who worked so hard to become good defenseman, and who worked their whole lives on perfecting the art of the open ice hit.

Do those players become obsolete? Is an entire life of working to make it to the NHL going down the tube because some rule changes made his role less important? Making hits to the head Illegal may save players from injury, but it will not save their skill. The NHL owes it's future blue line patrolmen more than eliminating their role in the league.

Now let's examine the recent hit that brought about such discussion.

New York Islanders forward Doug Weight's hard hit on young Carolina Hurricanes Forward Brandon Sutter. As seen in the picture of this article, Sutter sure got knocked out pretty good. His unconscious face alone might be enough to make some cringe, and beg for some rule changes. As unfortunate as it was to witness,my reaction was not one of horror, but my exact thought was "keep your head up next time."

I mean no disrespect to Brandon, but he put himself in a vulnerable spot, and payed the price. Doug Weight laid a hard, punishing, destructive, but most importantly, clean hit on him. Brandon Sutter was taught a lesson, one that he should have already learned, but also one he was fortunate not to learn in an even worse way than he just did. Brandon is no stranger to those hits either. At the World Junior Championships, he put a punishing hit on the late Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov.

Now, the hit may have been questionable, but in the end, he was showing one reason that the Hurricanes selected him 11th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. This time Brandon, you live by the sword, and die by the sword. Nobody is immune to being on the receiving end of a big hit. What makes some players so good is that they can showcase their amazing puck skills, without putting themselves at a greater risk by putting their heads down, and lowering their chances of getting hit like that.

Now obviously, an elbow, a forearm, a fist to the head should be penalized. Those kind of hits have always been dirty, and it should not change. But the hit that has always been clean is keeping that arm tucked in, and using the shoulder.

It is not anyone else's fault if a player puts himself in a vulnerable spot. Nobody has the time to make the decision to stop the hit when a player puts his head down. It is impossible to expect these hits to stop, because one player does not know the actions and thoughts of another. How could Doug Weight have known what Sutter thought, and saw. Weight has never been a dirty player, and in that instance, he was lining up a hit in order to stop the other team from advancing with the puck, simple as that.

Obviously, there has yet to be action taken with the NHL regarding this matter, and everyone is exploring ways in which the game could grow, and gain popularity. Everyone wants to make some sort of change, but hits to to head do not need to be one of them.

What New York Rangers Fans Should Be Thankful For

Jason Klau — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:57:59 -0500

First off, happy Thanksgiving to all of the great BR writers who contribute such great articles to this site. One thing we all can be thankful for is this great BR community. The great feedback I have received from all of my readers has made me a better writer.

Today is turkey day, the day we give thanks for things that are important to us. There are some things that Rangers fans definitely should be thankful for this year, and of course, it starts with Henrik Lundqvist...

Henrik Lundqvist

The king of New York has been key for the Rangers this year. He leads the league in wins, and has stolen some games for the Rangers.

He had a bad game against Vancouver, but we couldn't expect him to be amazing the entire season, that would be unrealistic. The king was not bothered by it at all though, following up the poor game with two very good ones against Phoenix and Tampa Bay. All hail king Henrik!

Steve Valiquette

The only real blemish on his season was the game against Toronto, in which he was not far away from getting a shutout. He wound up giving up five goals in what seemed like just a blink, but overall, he's been very good this year, and has filled in when necessary.

The Rangers should be thankful that they can give Henrik a night off when needed.

Scott Gomez

Boy did the Rangers miss him when he was injured. They were 3-2 in his absence, but probably didn't deserve to be, and it showed in the two losses. The two wins against Boston and Ottawa were games in which they didn't play well at all, and escaped with a SO win. The two losses were both horribly played games, and the team lacked the speed that Gomez has become known for.

In the two games since his return, The Rangers are 2-0, beating the Coyotes 4-1, and the Lighting 3-2 in a SO. They have also found the speed that made them look so great earlier in the year.

Tom Renney

Yes, I said it, we should be thankful for Tom Renney. It was only two games ago that many were screaming for him to be fired (and I wrote "Tom Renney Is Screaming at Deaf Ears") but Tom was gotten a response from his team.

Every year that the team has hit its lowest, Tom Renney has been there to lift them up (with the exception of the end of 05-06, but not even Scotty Bowman could have helped them) and get them back on track.

Monday's game against Phoenix was key for him. If they played like they did the previous two games, it might have been the end of the Tom Renney era. Instead, the team has responded the way we all were hoping they would. Tom Renney's system may not be the most exciting to watch, it might not be the most offensive, but it sure is working.

Nikolai Zherdev

He's an elite talent. With five assists in the last two games, "Z" has emerged as a great talent for the Rangers. His amazing dekes and quick skating has given the Rangers an offensive threat. You never know what Zherdev is going to do with the puck.

It won't be long before he's first on sportscenter's top 10 plays.

Markus Naslund

He's quietly been putting up some real solid numbers. I have yet to see a Markus Naslund jersey in the garden. He's on pace for a little bit more then 60 points, and on a team that has struggled to score goals, that is going to be huge.

Markus Naslund hasn't been as flashy as Nikolai Zherdev, but he's been very productive anyway. Good job Naslund!

Dan Girardi

Case in point, he's been the best defenseman on this team all year. I can't remember more then one time this season where I've though, "bad play by Girardi." He's provided steady offense from the blue line, sitting fourth on the team in scoring, which is key for a defensive team. He's not shy about hitting, and is always in the right position. He's quietly become a member of the best defenseman in the league.

No, he's not Lidstrom, or Phanuef, but he's been very good in every aspect of the game.

The Fourth Line

Fredrik Sjostrom-Blair Betts-Colton Orr. The only line that has been kept together all year, and for good reason. They have consistently been good, always doing their job.

Sjostrom was more of an offensive player in Phoenix, but here in New York, he's developed in to a very good defensive forward. He's learning from one of the best in that department in Blair Betts.

Betts has not only been amazing defensively, but he has started to chip in some offense as well. Colton Orr is not only one of the top fighters in the league, but he has really improved his skating, and has done very well on the fore check. He has yet to notch a goal yet, but even so, he's played very well, and has made great strides towards being a much better player.

The PK

Currently second in the league, the PK has been amazing for us. While the PP has struggled, the other aspect of special teams might have won some games for us. Such a good PK gives the team the security that if they need to "send a message" and go after a player on the other team, the PK has got their back, and can keep it from biting them in the arse.

First Place

On a team that was full of question marks going in to this year, sitting in first is a pleasant surprise.

You wouldn't have been crazy to pick them finishing with a high seed, nor would you be crazy if you picked them to be irrelevant this year. Nobody knew what the team would be like this year, but they have come out of the gate fast, and are now first in the east, and second in the NHL.

They have played at least two more games than anyone else in the NHL, but even with some spotty play at times this year, they have been among the best all year. Good Job Rangers

Be sure to leave your comments on what your thankful for this year (Rangers related of course) and have a very happy turkey day.

New York: Tom Renney is Screaming At Deaf Ears

Jason Klau — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:00:04 -0500

It was another bad day for the New York Rangers, and head coach Tom Renney must feel worse then anyone. It almost looks like the New York Rangers' ship has hit an iceberg, and as hard as he tries, the ship just keeps taking on more water, and sinking deeper.

The Rangers have started slowly many times this year. Today's 4-1 loss against the Ottawa Senators was the seventh consecutive game the Rangers have given up the first goal in the game, still somehow going .500 during that stretch at 3-3-1. They were able to keep themselves afloat with some points in those games because of dramatic and late comebacks, plus a pair of shootout wins.

However, anyone could tell you that it wouldn't last forever. For the Rangers, it was either shape up and play 60 minutes, or go down in flames until they figure it out. It seems the Rangers have chosen the latter of the two choices.

Tom Renney has always been a quiet guy. Never a lot of screaming, (at least in public) and never the coach who would grab a stick and smash it on the boards to call the ref over for a chat. Instead, Tom has always been a quiet coach, who knew when he needed to say something, and when to raise his voice (just a little bit) to get his team going.

It seems as though his frustrations may have boiled over this time. In a rare sight, Tom Renney gave his team what he thought might be a kick in the rear end. I'm sure it was something that happened in the locker room. Heck, with the amount of times the Rangers have come back from slow starts to win games this year, he must be saying something. But this time, he called his team to the bench and let them know what he was thinking.

He gave his team the rousing speech, it was the Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday moment his team needed to get their game together. Unfortunately for Tom, they didn't listen to him.

The Rangers played poorly for 99.5 percent of the game. They had a nice little jump to start the third period, but ended up letting Ottawa get it's fore check back. Eventually, this led to giving up a goal that hit off of Paul Mara, (who took a penalty in the first period which led to Ottawa's first goal) then off of Nick Foligno's skate, and then finally off of Rangers' goalie Steve Valiquette. It was the kind of goal that capped off the Rangers' day, a day where nothing went right.

Tom was clearly angry after Ottawa's third goal. According to Renney, Ottawa agitator Jarkko Ruutu interfered with Steve Valiquette. He got the ref over to talk, but alas, nothing would be changed. Renney's blood was boiling by the end of the game, and I'm sure he was happy to see it end.

Tom still had one thing left to do in the day, and that was to face the crazy media, which surely had a lot to ask. One question stood out.

During defenseman Paul Mara's post game interview, he said that the penalty he took in the first period, when he dished out retaliation to Jarrko Ruutu, was something he still felt he needed to do, even with the goal. When Tom Renney was told this by the press, his reply was "Ruutu was doing his job, he's an agitator, and all I saw was a white jersey going to the penalty box."

Renney also said that it was a bad play by a veteran guy. In an effort to ease up on one of his players, he then said that it was the team that messed up, however the message had already been sent. Now, the question is, will it be received?

New York Rangers' The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Nov. 15 Vs. Boston

Jason Klau — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 03:14:24 -0500

In this segment, I will take a look at the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly parts of last night's 3-2 SO win over the Boston Bruins.

The Good

Markus Naslund- The clutch goal in the last minute was huge. He's quietly been really good for us. Now on pace for just under 60 points, Naslund has been a pretty steady producer on a team that is lacking in offense.

Paul Mara- Helped to set up the tying goal. He has always been a steady piece of the blue line, and it showed in this game. He was a +2 on the night, and was part of the reason we were able to win. Paul Mara is also on pace for 32 points this year. His ability to start plays has been key, and last night was a perfect example.

Blair Betts- The fourth line played well. When the team wasn't playing well, Renney used the bottom two lines to get his team back in to it. While Betts did not get on the score sheet, he played a good fore checking game, and even got a little bit physical with Zdeno Chara.

Lauri Korpikoski- His parents flew in from Finland to see him play another great game. He set up the Rangers first goal, notching his first career assist. for two consecutive games, he showed why he made the team out of camp. The little kick in the arse from the trip to Hartford was all he needed.

Ryan Callahan- His battle with Zdeno Chara, who is just a wee bit bigger than he is, got the crowd going. Throughout a game where the crowd was quiet, Callahan got the fans energized.

Dan Fritsche- I was really excited when we got him as a part of the Zherdev deal. He had always been a high energy player who added a good amount of offense. But upon his arrival to New York, it became clear that he would be spending more time in the press box then on the ice. It clearly frustrated Dan, who couldn't make the most of any opportunity that he had.

Now, in the last two games, he has three assists, and his line has been playing with a lot of energy. He has shown great speed, and is finally giving Tom Renney a reason to keep him in the lineup. Renney put his line out to start a PP, and that was the only message the rest of the team needed. Kudos to Dan Fritsche, he deserves it.

Chris Drury- The shootout winner came from the guy who helped make our PK dominant last night. He had two great shorthanded chances in a row, and helped gain back momentum for the team that for the most part, was playing some pretty heartless hockey.

Henrik Lundqvist- While the rest of the team was getting pushed around by the Bruins, Henrik Lundqvist was making great saves, and keeping the team in the game. He stopped 23 of 25 shots, with some great ones in there. Henrik has consistently been our best player, and it didn't change last night.

For a game that they didn't play so great in, there were a lot of players who played good. However, sometimes it only takes one or two other factors to bring a team down

The Bad

Power Play- Our major weak point went 0-6, going multiple power plays in a row without getting a shot. They spent more time chasing the puck down in their own end then setting up in the other end. However, they have the pieces to fix this, they just need to be smarter with the puck.

The Ugly

Michal Rozsival- For the second time this season, you can blame him for every goal the opponent scored. The first was the 2-1 loss to the Islanders, and now he assisted on the two Boston goals, giving him a minus-six on the season.

Fact is, he is just plain awful. He does not know how to handle the puck, is to scared to shoot it, and it just being nervous. He continues to get top pair minutes even when he has been playing worse then the other five on the roster.

Michal Rozsival needs to go, plain and simple.

Michal Rozsival Is Falling Out of the Good Graces of New York Rangers Fans

Jason Klau — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:29:04 -0500

Earlier today, I was coaching my team of six-to-eight-year-old players. We did a simple drill. Pass the puck across, and receive a pass back. We tough the simple mechanics of receiving a puck. Move the stick back a little bit and keep control of the puck. Follow through towards the target with the pass and put it right on your teammates stick. These kids did it flawlessly.

I then get to watch the Rangers, and notice a bit of a common theme lately. Michal Rozsival's inability to hold on to a puck or make a good pass. I laugh inside as I listen to the announcers make excuses for him, time and time again.

Well Mr. Maloney, offer as many excuses as you want, a player doesn't have a minus-eight rating in the last 10 games because of some bad bounces.

Something needs to change with Rozsival. For every time he actually uses his hard shot, he gives the opponent two or three more. The garden crowd finally had enough of Rozsival's "bad luck" and let him know it.

Ladies and gentleman, we have found out who this years Tom Poti is. We have found the defenseman on the team we must boo, and it is the top notch blue liner, Michal Rozsival.

It isn't a rare sight to watch a replay of an opponents goal and see the puck come from the stick of Rozy. For example, the debacle against the Islanders. Rozsival continues to see power-play time, even after being responsible for numerous goals against, including three shorthanded goals, two of which were in the same game against he Islanders, a 2-1 loss.

When you look at our defensive depth, you must ask the question, where does Rozsival fit? Wouldn't one assume that signing Wade Redden makes Rozsival obsolete? We had the defenseman who would run the Power Play (which is another issue, for another time) as well as Paul Mara who also has a shot.

Dmitri Kalinin had at one point been a good offensive defenseman, and Girardi is well on his way to contributing big time on the stat sheet from the blueline. Mix in the potential of Staal, and it is hard to see how Rozsival would add anything to the team.

In the system, Sanguinetti may be just a year away, and Del Zotto is not far behind either. So, Greg Caggiano's favorite defenseman (no, not really), Michal Rozsival offers absolutely nothing to the team, short, or long term.

Yet, Rozsival still continues to consistently see 20 minutes a game. The defensive "slip ups" are nothing new. All of last year, and this year have been mistake after mistake for Michal, yet Tom Renney, whom I have tons of respect for and think is a great coach, does not even think to bench him.

Some of our top players like Zherdev and Dubinsky have both been benched at times this year for far less then what Rozsival has consistently got away with.

Rangers-Penguins: New York Rallies Late, Looks To Carry Momentum Against Isles

Jason Klau — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 06:52:28 -0400

Sidney Crosby had control of the puck as he moved through the neutral zone.

There were just 20 seconds left, and the Rangers had an empty net. He sent the puck towards the Rangers goal.

I was in Section 96, right behind the Rangers empty net, and I was ready to scream something I can't write on here. The puck came down, and went wide.

"ONE LAST SHOT!" I screamed, as the Rangers moved through the neutral zone. I silently thought to myself, "Please boys, do it". Dubinsky passed the puck up to Naslund, who skated with it, then made a nice pass to Nikolai Zherdev. Redden moved towards the net, and Zherdev fired. Time seemed to stop for just a moment.

My view of the play was not very good from my seat—but I could see the shot, and I saw the fans behind the net jump up. Without thought, I jumped up onto my seat in the last row of the section, screaming, giving high fives, and hugging my friends.

Rangers forward Fredrik Sjostrom would later win it for New York, scoring the only goal in an exciting shoot-out, after an overtime that almost killed me. Henrik Lundqvist saved the day with an amazing glove save during the OT period. Even Penguins fans near me had to give me a high-five (the ones that were not trying to fight), because they were so amazed by it.

It was a game that not even a Penguins fan could be mad at. No matter which side you rooted for, or what you paid for your seat, you got your money's worth. It was one of the most exciting games I have ever had the pleasure of attending.

The Rangers entered the third period down 2-0, in what was a pretty even and exciting game. However, the fans were upset after the Rangers failed to capitalize on a two-minute five on three. Something needed to be done, and quick. Just over five minutes into the third period, Naslund delivered with a power-play goal.

The Rangers would go on to control the rest of the period, dominating the Penguins and out-shooting them 18-2, for a game total of 44-29. Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who was named the third star, played a great game. He made 42 saves—but it was one save too little, as the Rangers would take it 3-2.

This win against Pittsburgh may turn out to be a great rallying point for the now 8-2-1 Rangers—but it will mean nothing if they cannot carry this play to their game on Monday against their cross-town rival, the New York Islanders.

The Islanders are coming off of a 4-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Islanders outshot the Canes 60-28. Cam Ward made 57 saves, while Rick Dipietro made 10 saves on 12 shots before being pulled at the start of the second period. It is believed he re-injured himself, and he may not play against the Rangers on Monday.

The struggle that the Islanders faced in their last game is one that the Rangers have tended to have a problem with as well—outplaying, and greatly outshooting their opponent, but not scoring enough. The main difference may be that the Rangers have still found ways to win those games, like the 1-0 win against Toronto or last night's win against Pittsburgh (both in a SO), while the Islanders have not.

The Rangers will look towards two players who will play in this rivalry for the first time. Nikolai Zherdev and Markus Naslund need to keep producing points, and if they do, the Rangers might have the upper hand against the Islanders on Monday. Zherdev, who went four games without a point, has responded well—scoring four points in his last two games, including a three-point-night against his former team on Friday.

Naslund also has five points in his past two games, getting two points in each game and the Rangers' lone goal against Dallas three games ago. Dubinsky currently leads the team with 11 points in 11 games—but it is the first-line center that hasn't been scoring, which is surprising everyone.

Chris Drury definitely needs to step it up against the Islanders on Monday. The new captain has yet to record a goal this year. He is 0-3-3 and has a minus-three rating that is starting to show.

Now, to be fair to Chris, he hasn't played badly. He does more than play offense, and he has been a very good leader—doing everything from getting it into the offensive zone to playing on the PK.

But if he doesn't score soon, this slump may continue for a long time. He is averaging just under three shots per game, so the puck should go in soon. But sometimes, when a player is snake-bitten, nothing seems to work (see Petr Prucha) until you actually get that one goal.

He definitely needs to step it up soon—but in the meantime, it shouldn't be a huge deal if the other forwards like Naslund, Dubinsky, Zherdev, and Voros continue to step up and cover for him the way they have.

The Rangers will also look towards Henrik Lundqvist to lead the charge again. The NHL's current win leader (yes, it is early) has had a very good 1.99 GAA and a .927 save percentage. He will look to continue that play against the Islanders, who have not been able to get the kind of goaltending they were hoping for out of their top two.

So far this year, the not-100-percent Rick Dipietro has just an 0-2 record, playing in just three of the Islanders games and posting only a 3.91 GAA and a .883 save percentage. MacDonald has also struggled in getting both of the 2-5 Isles' wins this year, with a 3.43 GAA and a .887 savepercentage. If the Islanders do not want to be basement dwellers this year (maybe they DO want to draft Tavares/Hedman), then they need to step up in the goaltending department.

Although both teams are at opposite ends of the standings right now, it will still be quite an exciting game. One of the best rivalries in all of sports is ready to be renewed for the first time in the '08-09 Season, as the Rangers take on the Islanders this Monday night, in a game you won't want to miss.

Blair Betts, Fredrik Sjostrom, and Colton Orr of the NY Rangers Show Offense

Jason Klau — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:01:54 -0400

Many New York Ranger fans have complained that the team has not been getting enough offense from their fourth line.

During the 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on October 11th, the Rangers got exactly that.

Fredrik Sjostrom scored a wrap-around goal assisted by Colton Orr and Blair Betts. Betts also scored a goal with a smart play in the offensive zone.

Is this a sign of things to come, or an unexplainable fluke?

The fourth line has always contributed to the team. Playing on the penalty kill, mixed strong defensive zone play has always been an important part of the teams' defensive style.

Sometimes, stats alone cannot give someone a full read on a player’s ability. The same applies to those three players.

Sjostrom and Betts have been very defensively responsible. Orr has improved so much in that area that Tom Renney trusted him enough to put him in with a one-goal lead late in the game. But in a span of just a little more than three minutes, they might have shown the offensive side we've been waiting for.

Sjostrom showed great speed with his wrap-around goal. Betts not only made a nice play to finish, but also had the vision to see that Sjostrom had a jump on Flyers defenseman Luca Sbisa, so he dumped it to Sjostrom's side and just sat back while Freddy finished it off. Colton Orr's strong game was also rewarded with an assist on that play.

While Betts and Sjostrom have shown offense, Orr has not. In his first two full seasons, Betts scored eight and nine goals respectively. Sjostrom also scored 10 goals in Phoenix in 2007-2008 before being traded to New York, where he added two more.

Orr, on the other hand, has just three career goals. But in just four games this year, he's already added a point, and is a plus one, as opposed to last year when he wound up a minus 13. But it is hard to say that he hasn't drastically improved his game this year. He has improved his skating and puck handling skills. That alone should wind up creating a few more points. His improved two-way play can also transition the team in to the offensive zone as well.

While nobody expects these guys to become elite NHL snipers, the offense is there on all lines to provide a good secondary scoring when others are having trouble.

The 4-3 win against the Flyers is a good reminder that the Rangers offense isn't as doomed as many thought it would be.

Jason Klau writes for NHL2Day at www.freewebs.com/nhl2day

New York Rangers' "Playstation Line" Making a Big Impression

Jason Klau — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:36:16 -0400

With a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, the Rangers have started 3-0 for the first time since the 1989-90 season.

But more then the team's record that is creating a buzz among Rangers fans.

Three players—Brandon Dubinsky, 22, Nikolai Zherdev, 23, and Aaron Voros, 27—played a game for the ages. Dubinsky had a goal and two assists, Zherdev had a goal and an assist, and Voros had a goal and as assist.

Not only were they playing great offensively, but all were getting involved physically, and used solid defensive play to transition to offense. It's the kind of energetic, youthful effort that Ranger fans have been wanting for a very long time.

The name "PlayStation Line" is starting to catch on. This started when Dubinsky invited Voros over to play Playstation. They started playing NHL and Aaron told Brandon to put them on the same line. Next day in practice, they were on the same line for real. Apparently video games ARE realistic.

One only needs to see the emotion, energy, and character that these players show, and they will start to love how they play. MSG's broadcast panned to Dubinsky and Voros next to eachother on the bench, only to be caught off-guard as Dubinsky made a funny face at a Blackhawk player.

It doesn't stop there. You just have to look at the way each guy celebrates a goal. Each guy got a chance to show a cool celebration.

Aaron Voros struck first, and his celebration got everyone pumped up. He skated up to the glass and started banging on it the way Alexander Ovechkin does. Fans sitting front row got to see Aaron get that excited, up close.

You couldn't help but smile, to see a guy like Voros, who clearly cherished the moment. A lifelong Ranger fan, hd was very excited to come here, and has made a good early impression.

Dubinsky came next. Not to be outdone by his new friend and line mate Aaron Voros, Dubinsky came around the boards and bent over to try and fist pump, only to slip and fall in the process. As Voros came in to give him a congratulatory hug, he slipped and fell on top of Brandon, causing a mini dog pile filled with the laughter and excitement of two young guys who area really enjoying themselves.

Next, Zherdev finished one—and of course, he had to show Dubinsky how to do it. He did the same move as Brandon did, but didn't fall. He has a little more experience in celebrating, and his goal brought the line full circle.

You could see chemistry that we haven't seen for a while. The 2006-07 Rangers were said to be built around chemistry. While Nylander and Jagr did have some chemistry there, it looked nothing like what we saw last night between these three guys.

It's the kind of play that Ranger fans love to see, the kind of play we've been waiting for.

Jason Klau is a writer at www.freewebs.com/NHL2Day

New York Rangers Prague Trip Could Hurt Them Long Term

Jason Klau — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:33:50 -0400

The New York Rangers have the best record in the NHL after a 2-0 trip in Prague, beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in each game, with strong games each time.

It was a great experience for the American fans (Rangers, and Lightning fans alike) to watch their team play in Europe, and for the people of Prague, it was a great event for them to see the players they can only hear about, in action.

But could it be what eventually tears apart the locker room for the Rangers?

Forget the idea that they might be tired after playing four games in Europe. It's a different discussion for a different time. But three, possibly four players on the Rangers roster have a right to be angry at the way Coach Tom Renney managed the roster.

Dan Fritsche, Patrick Rissmiller and Fredrik Sjostrom were scratched for both games in the city of Prague, and Steve Valiquette did not see any time on the ice.

Last year, when the Ducks and Kings opened the season in London with a two game set, both teams gave both of their goalies a chance to play on such a big stage. Two of which include Johnathan Bernier and Johnas Hiller, who both made their NHL debuts in the European trip.

This year, Tampa Bay gave both Kolzig, and Smith a chance to shine on the big stage. Both teams did what they could to make sure each player got a chance to let their families see them play. The Rangers on the other hand, made no effort to offer up some morale boost to their players.

Now I know, people will say "We're trying to win, put the best players out, who cares" and all of that stuff. While I agree, I want the coach giving us the best chance to win each game, it's still unfair the the four guys who didn't play at all. I think we are all comfortable when Valiquette is in the net. He has proven that he is a very capable backup, and he earned the right to play.

Also, how much did Fredrik Sjostrom, Dan Fritsche, Patrick Rissmiller look forward to playing that game? How much did their friends and family look forward to watching their kids play in such a big game. Those three players definitely earned spots on the roster with good camps. They've all had to work their tails off to get spots on the team, they deserve the right to play.

So now, there it is likely that at least one of the mentioned players is a little bit ticked off about this. All three signed contracts with the team with the thought that they would be a significant part of the team, and now, all three have to battle to be first in line to step in when there is an injury, and all three have been turned on by the team they play for.

The team would not be at any disadvantage if they had dressed those three players for one of the two games, in fact, they arguably could be playing a better set of forwards.

A Trip Down (Not So Great) Memory Lane, a Look at the 1998-99 Rangers Yearbook

Jason Klau — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:51:00 -0400

Digging through some old stacks of magazines in my house, I came across a very interesting discovery. Something that I never thought I would be able to find. The 1998-99 Official Rangers yearbook.

I looked through the pages like a little kid looking at a flip book. So many unforgettable names, so many names I want to forget, and while looking back at some of the players makes one wonder how a team like that could possibly be put together, it still was nice to look back. Here are some of the cool things, and the bad things, I found throughout the pages of the 10 year old yearbook.

First, I'll start with the positive things, because frankly, it'd be a lot shorter of a section.

Looking at the player pages, I remembered some of the autographs I had gotten. While I didn't have a Wayne Gretzky autograph, Adam Graves signed his picture. Other players who signed their pictures were Mike Knuble, Manny Malhotra (he'd be SO much better if then coach John Mucklerhadn't treated him so badly), along with Brent Fedyk, and Kevin Stevens. There also seemed to be some white residue under it, have no idea what that is.

Three players that grabbed my attention, together would make a line that would make Sean Avery look like an angel. Todd Harvey, PJ Stock and Esa Tikkanen. Three players that would never stop talking, never stop annoying you, and frankly, if I had to skate against them, I might just leave the ice and wait for them to leave. Remembering those three guys really gave me a little tickle inside. It's one of the few fun things to think back to in those years.

I think that's about it for some positive aspects of the book. The bulk of the article is some pretty negative thoughts about this, here is a look at those pages I want to forget.

To start the book, their are pictorials about certain words that could be applied to the team, or what they hoped would apply to the team at least. "Achievment. The difference between failure and success is doing things nearly right, and doing them exactly right."

While the pictorial has pictures of Brian Leetch with the cup, the Norris Trophy, and the Calder Trophy among others, the New York Rangers didn't really have much on the achievement radar in the 1998-1999 season.

Next, comes "Preparation. The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital." The pictorial is a bunch of rangers on stationary bikes right by the beach, looking off in the horizon.

This really doesn't make sense. Judging by the picture, they had the will to prepare, but judging by the season, the will to win wasn't there. Guess which proved to be more, well, vital.

Next, you will find a picture of Alexei Kovalev trying a wrap around. The picture is for perseverance. "Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance." I don't think I need to say much about that, other then, it clearly didn't apply.

The pages go on with inspiring words that wound up having nothing to do with the team, and sentences to dramatically describe them, aswell as an advertisement that states that JC Penney is the Rangers apparel headquarters. How times have changed.

Now, what you've all been waiting for, the New York Rangers roster for the 1998-99 season. In alphabetic order, it goes as follows:

Jeff Beukeboom- BEEEEUUUUUUKKKKKKK!!!!!

Dan Cloutier- Aside from the beating he gave to Salo, there weren't many good moments from this one.

Brent Fedyk- His autograph is there. Don't remember much of him, other then an aggressive puck pursuit style. He was also an eighth overall pick by Detroit in 1985.

Jeff Finley- uhhhhh......ummmmm....I guess that says it all.

Scott Fraser- Nope

Adam Graves- Gravey's number will go up to the Garden rafters this season, and it will be a special night. Not one of the best seasons for Ranger fans, but hey, Graves was there right?

Wayne Gretzky- Who???? Only kidding. If Messier was with the team, maybe we'd still be a playoff team.

Todd Harvey- The Rangers Sean Avery of that time, Todd Harvey wasn't the best of fighters, but he never hesitated when it came to getting rough.

Mike Knuble- He didn't produce as much as he is now, but Mike Knuble was never an awful player in his two years.

Alexei Kovalev- Will new Ranger Nikolai Zherdev be Kovy #2? Tons of skill, not enough effort. Could he of made enough of a difference to make the Rangers a contender that year? Probably not.

Darren Langdon- Can't question his effort, but maybe his offensive skill you can. He put up a lot of PIM with the Rangers and would always stand up for teammates. Gotta love Langdon.....or maybe not.

Brian Leetch- HE HAS THE C!?!?! Greatest defenseman in Rangers history. To bad he couldn't lead the team to much that season.

John Maclean- One devil that made the jump over the river, also one of the guys who made that jump that didn't make a great impression

Manny Malhotra- He stepped right in as an 18 year old in 1998, and probably shouldn't have. He showed some promise, but a little bit of Muckler's magic quickly turned him in to an after thought. Neil Smith boldly predicted that he'd eventually be an NHL captain. He has been far from it though.

Manny, who was our 6th overall pick, has gone on to have a respectable NHL career. The one time OHLScholastic player of the year (yes, it says that in the yearbook) has now played 9 NHL seasons and is playing a good depth role in Columbus. Best of luck to you Manny, and thanks for the autograph.

Jan Mertzig- Who?

Peter Popovic- Ranger fans tore Marek Malik apart because he didn't use his size to be Physical. The 6-6, 240 defenseman Peter Popovic played a game, that in an era that his size automatically made him a good defenseman, was the opposite of what you would expect. More or less, a not very effective one.

Mike Richter- His number is already retired in the MSG rafters, and for good reason. The Rangers however, couldn't provide enough support to Mike, who wound up with some pretty sub par numbers that year, to get in to the playoffs

Ulf Samuelsson- A pest on the blue line, this swede played a style that Ranger fans have consistently enjoyed watching. Ulf The Wolf was solid for us, in a year we weren't very good

Mathieu Schneider- One of just four guys on that team still in the NHL (five if you count Cloutier, who was around last year) Mathieu has consistently been a real good defenseman. He was recently traded to the Atlanta Thrashers from the Anaheim Ducks, but he has been playing good hockey his whole career. Why we let him go, I have no idea.

Kevin Stevens- A lot of off the ice issues with this guy, it's tough for him, and he's been trashed a bit on here. Hopefully all goes well with him in the future.

P.J. Stock- Another agitator on that team, P.J. Stock offered a lot of energy to a team that really seemed to lack it, other then a few players

Niklas Sundstrom- The Swedish Olympian was a very solid two-way forward. Unfortunately, it didn't bring the Rangers in to the playoffs.

Esa Tikkanen- Tiki Talk. Need I say more?

Harry York- Barely played here at all. The yearbook was probably made a few days before he was traded.

Last, but, well probably least was the Hartford Wolfpack section of the book. Looking at our system, it is pretty depressing.

There were some players that did play in the NHL though. Most Notably, Marc Savard. It's tough to think about how we could have had him. That's all I have to say about that. Other notable (somewhat) players included Rangers goon, and half lunatic, Dale Purinton, as well as BR Rangers community leader Greg Caggiano's favorite player Christian Dube. Boyd Kane played a few NHL games here and there, and still plays in the AHL with the Phantoms.

Johan Witehallwould play a little bit with the Rangers, and Canadiens before retreating to Europe to play, and now Hartford head coach Ken Gernanderwas also a player with the Pack, whom he played for until 2004-2005. Other then that, there isn't much to remember from the 1998-1999 Hartford Wolfpack.

Obviously, there weren't many happy memories from that year, or any of the next few years either. A team that seemed to have little hope for the future wound up getting rid of all it had, and it was definitely a year that Ranger fans want to forget. So why bring it up? I really do not know.

Rangers Vs. Senators: Petr Nedved Returns to MSG in a Big Way

Jason Klau — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:40:15 -0400

From a few rows behind the Rangers bench—not what my ticket said—I was fortunate enough to catch my first live hockey game since Game Four of the second round against Pittsburgh last year.

And boy, was it a good one!

The Rangers really controlled the play against Ottawa for the second game in a row, but with a better result. A 3-2 loss to the Senators was followed up today with a 2-1 victory against those same Sens in the second preseason game of the year.

Just like last game, the Senators' starting goaltender—this time, Alex Auld—played very well and kept the Rangers from getting much.

On the Rangers side, many fans were excited to see Redden, Naslund, and Zherdev in a Rangers jersey for the first time, and they were all treated to a great show.

Here are my thoughts on the individual performances of each player:

Henrik Lundqvist

In his first appearance of the year, King Henrik did not let anyone down. In the two periods he played, the defense kept his work to a minimum, and he stopped all 12 shots he faced. He made some solid saves, but overall it was an easy game for him.

Nothing to get excited about, but it was a good game to get the rust off for him. We will surely rely upon him to play like that for the whole year.

Matt Zaba

I was excited to see if this kid actually had something or not. He let in one goal on ten shots, and didn't play that badly.

The goal he let in was a result of Wade Redden getting caught flat-footed, but we'll talk more about that later. Zaba barely had much of a shot on it, but he also made some pretty good saves and looked solid.

Artem Anisimov

He made a few nice plays, but really showed that some more time in the minors would be beneficial. He didn't jump out at anyone that much, but was still solid enough to not stand out for the wrong reasons.

The only way he'd make the team is as a fourth-line center, and he'll need to play a lot better to get that spot. Still, he's got tons of potential, and we should see some improvement with a little bit more time.

Brandon Dubinsky

He was the Rangers' best player in the first game, and he played just as well tonight. He didn't notch a goal, but played with some serious speed, and also had an assist on the Rangers' second goal.

He played on the wing on the PP at one time and looked pretty good. He got hit pretty hard with his head down—but still, another really good game for Dubi.

Brian Fahey

Definitely stepped up from his last game. He threw some hits and was noticeable out there—for the right reasons. He joined the rush again, and still looked very confident with the puck, like he really felt he had a shot to make the team.

Dan Fritsche

He played a game similar to what you would expect of Ryan Callahan. He played grittily, he forechecked hard, and gave everything he possibly could on every shift.

He showed a lot of guts out there, which is something that should secure a spot on the big club for him. Zherdev was the marquee guy for us in the trade—but don't underestimate Dan Fritsche.

Dan Girardi

He played a really good, solid defensive game. He threw some really good hits, and led the team in ice time. He played on a pair with Redden, and overall, they looked pretty good—especially on the power play.

Girardi played like he was in midseason form—but hopefully his midseason form will be even better. Redden, who was at one point a second-overall pick, got the big contract—but look for the undrafted Girardi to be our No. 1 if he keeps playing like this.

Scott Gomez

The keystone of what many feel will be our top line, Gomez finally looked comfortable being our top center. He looked refreshed to play with guys who played with a similar speed that he does.

He skated through the neutral zone with ease, and looked like the speedy center he is. While he didn't get a point, he played well enough to deserve one. He got two quality shots on goal, and that really showed that he is ready for this season. Go go Gomez!

Dmitri Kalinin

If you had to pick someone who would become our next Marek Malik—meaning the guy we unmercifully boo even when our coach pleads with us to stop—it would have been fair to pick Dmitri Kalinin. Well if one preseason game is any indication (and it really isn't) and you would probably have been right.

He made some bad mistakes with the puck, and overall just didn't look so good out there. He wasn't setting a great example for Sanguinetti, his defensive partner

Lauri Korpikoski

The game winner was a deflection from Lauri "Korpedo" Korpikoski—and boy did he earn it. He really stood out, showing guts to go down and block a shot, while also playing well in the offensive zone.

Lauri is really competing for a spot, and if you had to pick one player from Hartford to make it, it would be him. He played like he was really confident in his chances, and didn't stand out for the wrong reasons. Good game, Korpi!

Markus Naslund

He was really firing the puck tonight. Six shots on goal, and you could tell he showed good chemistry with Gomez and Zherdev. He was skating well enough to keep up with his linemates, and was looking very creative with the puck.

Naslund seems to be enjoying the freedom of a system that allows him to do a little more then Vancouver's let him do. He really stood out, and did so in a really good way. Expect good things from Markus Naslund this year.

Petr Nedved

The title of this article says it all. The first time he touched the puck there were some boobirds in the stands. Not much later, the chants were "PET-R NED-VED (CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP!)"

His quick wrist shot beat Alex Auld early in the first period, and he showed the quickness that he used to play with when he was younger. He was named the first star, and to see him skate out and throw up a puck was just a nice sight.

He might not have always had the best relationship with the Garden faithful, but he was obviously happy to be back. Nedved at least showed that there is a good reason for him to be invited to camp.

My colleague and Rangers community leader Greg Caggiano said it best—"Give Petr Nedved a chance," while we all yelled that it's embarrassing to even see him there. He proved all the doubters—me included—wrong today with his strong performance. Kudos to Petr.

Colton Orr

While it's clear he's been working really hard on his skating, he's still the slow fighter he always was. He picked up a loose puck to get an offensive chance, only to be caught before he could get anything.

Still, a real good effort. Rangers fans love effort, and Orr gave it his all, while also throwing some good hits. Even though his skating and his offensive output is limited—to put it lightly—his hitting has improved, and he's becoming more then just a fighter.

Rangers coach Tom Renney actually put Orr out on the power play, stationing him right in front of the net as he did battle in the war zone at the top of the crease. He didn't do badly. A good game for Colton.

P.A. Parenteau

He had an assist on the Nedved goal, and played a solid game. He didn't show anything that would make him a favorite for an NHL spot, but he played a solid game. He has put up big numbers in the AHL, showed that there was skill there.

Is he NHL-ready? Most likely, no. But did he play a good game? Yes, he absolutely did. He as pretty solid with the puck, and never drew any unwanted attention from the fans. A good game for Pierre Alexandre.

Thomas Pock

For a guy competing for the seventh defensive spot, he played very well. He had some good shots on goal, and was pretty solid defensively. For a seventh defenseman, you want a guy who won't stand out for the wrong reasons, and do his and be solid in his own end.

Pock really gave himself a better chance of cracking the NHL roster this year. He was good in the '06-07 season with us, and hopefully he can get back up here. Good job, Pock.

Wade Redden

While the PP was still pretty dry, as it went 0-7, you could still see a major difference when Redden was out there. He did get caught flat-footed once, and let Brad Isbister deke around him to set up Ottawa's only goal—but otherwise, he played a really good game.

We all wanted a defenseman that would actually shoot the puck, and we got it. Wade had six shots on goal, and looked pretty solid. When he was out there on the power play, you could see the whole unit moving as one, and they didn't seem predictable.

Wade played very well in his first game as a Ranger, and I hope to see more of the same—well, except that one play.

Bobby Sanguinetti

Overall, he looked pretty nervous out there. He had some bad giveaways, but don't discount the good plays he made. He threw a good hit and played okay in the offensive zone. He'll obviously will need some time in the AHL, but he showed promise.

This camp is the first one where he carried some real expectations. He had good reason to be nervous, and while we'd like our players to be more calm, it's still nice to see him in the preseason games. In a year, we'll forget about any poor performance, because he will be a top offensive defenseman in the game.

Aaron Voros

My one knock on Voros' last game was that he was getting knocked around a lot. Well, he definitely improved on that. He was on his skates all day—and was right where he belonged, which is in front of the net.

He got some power-play time, and deserved it. He played the same hard-nosed style that we saw in the first game, and we expect to see more of it later. A good, solid game by Voros.

Dale Weise

During the national anthems, he looked like he was so nervous that he might pee his pants. The one offensive chance he had, he left the puck behind him—but other then that, he played a good game.

He threw some good hits, and the new draftee will be in Hartford this year, with some high hopes. A solid game for Dale. Hopefully we will see a bit more of him this camp.

Nikolai Zherdev

I was really excited to see him play. At first, he didn't look so comfortable. He was handling the puck too much, and losing control. But he found his groove pretty quickly. His line set him up for some good chances, as he had six shots on goal, all of which were pretty good quality. He also had a few good chances go wide.

The kid has a wicked wrist shot—maybe that's why Nedved was invited?—and it was on display today. It was also refreshing to see him make a really good play—backchecking to stop a Sens offensive chance—and to see him forecheck a good amount of time off the clock in the final minute to secure a victory for the Rangers.

A real good game for Zherdev. Hopefully he takes a liking to New York, and hopefully he's spending a lot of time in Brighton Beach—a Russian area of Queens.

The Rangers outshot the Senators again, getting 15 shots in each of the first two periods, and eight shots in the third to lead that category 38-22.

Again, they controlled the play, but they cut down on key mistakes, and played a solid defensive game that we will have to get used to. Tom Renney's goal is to win every game 2-1, and he got that tonight.

Best Player

There are a lot of options, but I'm going to have to go with the renewed and revived Petr Nedved. It was a nice goal he got, and he really showed why he should be back in the NHL

Worst Player

While nobody played really poorly, the obvious choice would be Kalinin, who seemed to stand out for the wrong reasons. Hoepfully he'll shake it off quickly—that's what preseason is for, isn't it?

Jason Klau is a staff writer for the NHL 2Day's radio show website. To visit the site, click here.

Aaron Voros and Patrick Rissmiller Battle for Spots on the Rangers' Fourth Line

Jason Klau — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:40:41 -0400

With training camp under way, there are some forwards who are pretty much guaranteed a job with the team.

Players like Gomez, Drury, Naslund, and Zherdev—among others—are already guaranteed spots on the big club this season. But other players are battling for spots on the fourth line—mainly Aaron Voros and Patrick Rissmiller.

With a spot on the wing up for grabs, there seems to be little room for error among the players battling for spots. While both players have different upsides, only one of them will earn a consistent spot on the roster with the Rangers this year.

With Betts already penciled in for the fourth-line center spot, and players like Fritsche, Callahan, and Sjostrom already battling to stay off of the fourth line, it is clear that there is only room for one player to split time with Colton Orr.

Patrick Rissmiller

Patrick Rissmiller, who will turn 30 this October, originally went undrafted. The Belmont, Massachusetts native has played just 180 career games since the 2003-04 season, all of which with San Jose.

He has played just two full seasons with the Sharks, and has been known for his defensive style of play. In his first full year, he posted seven goals, 15 assists, and a plus-one rating, but last season, he dropped to eight goals, nine assists, and a minus-eight.

Maybe a change of scenery, and a defensive system can help him get back on track—but even with his solid defensive play, he's not guaranteed a full time spot with the big club. He was signed to a one-year deal, so it's do or die in this camp for Patrick.

Aaron Voros

Aaron Voros, 27 years old, was an eighth round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2001, and has signed a three-year deal with the Rangers.

In 55 games with Minnesota his first NHL season, Aaron posted seven goals, seven assists, and a minus-seven rating. His willingness to fight also helped him notch 141 penalty minutes.

By season's end last year, Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire had used him on the power play at times as well.

Voros is hoping that his willingness to fight and get dirty on the ice will make the Rangers bump him in to their tough-guy role and show Colton Orr the door.

Why Rissmiller?

Rismiller has put up solid offensive numbers in the last two seasons with San Jose, but recently his plus-minus rating has dipped. Most people like to see a good plus-minus in their defensive specialists.

However, Rissmiller did play in a more offensive system in San Jose then he would be playing in here. His offensive side should help his center Blair Betts improve his offensive numbers.

Why not Rissmiller?

The reason the Rangers wouldn't want Rissmiller is the reason they might want Voros. Dressing Rissmiller every day, on a line with Betts and Sjostrom/Fritsche/Callahan, might make New York one of the softer teams in the NHL—and you can bet that other teams will take notice, and advantage.

Why Voros?

As I mentioned, toughness. While New York has Orr, who is one of the better fighters in the league, it's getting clearer that he won't be a normal fixture on the roster this year. (Although in training camp, he and Betts were on a line with Korpikoski.)

While Voros is far from a top heavyweight fighter, he at least would give someone a second thought before they take a run at the other Rangers. He also managed to pick up 14 points, playing for Jacques Lemaire.

He was able to do that while being one of the tough guys on a team that is known for playing a system that is defense first, second, and third, relegating the offense to fourth.

Why not Voros?

While he managed to put up just about the same offensive numbers that Rissmiller did, he also managed to get a minus-seven rating playing in the same defensive-minded system he scored seven goals and seven assists in. While it was his first year in the NHL, its something he must improve on if he hopes to play in the NHL with the Rangers this year.

So who gets the spot?

I have previously said that the older, and more experienced—not really—Patrick Rissmiller seems to be the favorite for the spot, but Aaron Voros, a cancer survivor has slowly started to change my mind.

For a team that desperately needs toughness, Aaron Voros offers a chance to not be bullied around. Aaron Voros is also signed to a three-year deal, while Rissmiller is only signed to a one-year deal, which most likely means that Voros is likely a bigger part of the Rangers long-term plans.

Colton Orr May See Less Time with the New York Rangers in '08-09

Jason Klau — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:23:32 -0400

Colton Orr has gradually become one of the top fighters in the NHL.

Rangers fans saw a side of him last year that we hadn't seen before. At times, he would dominate other fighters. Hockeyfights.com has his record at an impressive 12-4-2 in the '07-08 season.

As well as fighting, we also saw improved play in the defensive zone, and a little bit of good hitting. In one game, he crushed Matt Cullen as he entered the neutral zone, and followed it up by beating down Mike Commodore—yes, I know he isn't really a fighter, he was just standing up for his teammate.

Ever since we saw the misleading headline "Rangers claim Orr from Boston," we have seen Colton (or KOlton) grow into a top 10 fighter.

While he has yet to get to the level of George Laraque or Donald Brashear, Colton has shown that he is among the best, with the way he has manhandled Riley Cote, and with other key wins against guys like George Parros and Wade Belak.

But with some of the acquisitions the Rangers have made so far this off season, it appears that Colton Orr will be seeing a lot less ice time.

According to their website, the Rangers have 14 forwards on their roster. This does not include any possible call-ups from Hartford. While there is a chance Orr might be forward No. 13, ahead of Aaron Voros, it still leaves him out of the lineup.

Since it's doubtful we call up a forward to play on the fourth line full-time, it seems that there are five players who could be realistically put on the fourth line. Blair Betts and Fredrik Sjostrom are most likely to be guaranteed spots, barring a strange turn of events.

That leaves three players for one spot on the wing—Colton Orr, Aaron Voros and Patrick Rissmiller. Colton will have to beat both of them out to keep his spot on the team.

Tom Renney has some tough choices to make. Does he go with the better defensive play of Rissmiller, or the lesser toughness, but much better offensive upside of Aaron Voros?

Colton Orr might wind up only playing in the games that look like he will be needed—such as those against teams that might make it really physical, like the Flyers, or perhaps against other top fighters like Wade Belak in Florida, George Laraque in Montreal, or Donald Brashear in Washington.

Colton Orr has worked really hard to add another dimension to his game. He improved his defensive play and has become more then just a goon for the Rangers. But with the forwards the Rangers have gotten, it seems that the slower Orr is being pushed farther down the depth chart.

Although him being scratched might make us a faster team, there is a huge downside to it as well—taking Orr out of the lineup might make New York one of the softest teams in the league.

If Voros, who is on a two-way deal, is actually on the team, he would be our only tough player, and he is far from being a top fighter in the league. Who else would step up?

We know Brandon Dubinsky is willing to do it, but we also know he's not very good. Dan Fritsche will drop the gloves, but like Dubinsky, he isn't great at doing it.

Looking at the players we lost, it's no suprise that we got a lot softer. We lost Jason Strudwick—who even if he was still a seventh d-man, would add a good fighting to the roster along with good leadership. We lost Sean Avery, who's antics always stirred things up physically.

We also lost Ryan Hollweg. While most people hated him, you can't deny his willingness to do what he at least thought was necessary. He wasn't a great fighter, but at least the other team might think twice about doing something if Hollweg would put them in to the boards from behind afterwards.

We also lost Fedor Tyutin—and although he doesn't fight, we at least knew he would hit. We replaced those players with Wade Redden, a puck-moving defenseman, Dmitri Kalinin, an offensive defenseman, Nikolai Zherdev, a sniper, along with the other two players I mentioned earlier.

They hardly make anyone think twice before taking runs at any of our players.

Colton Orr would give us that comfort though. He'd be the guy to say "If you mess with Gomez, or Drury, or Redden or Naslund, your gonna have to deal with me." This becomes even more necessary after the trip to Prague, when New York plays 11 games in 21 nights.

If the Rangers are going to be tired, they can't be getting knocked around, or they could crumble and fall into a costly losing streak—just because they would be all banged up and injured.

While losing Colton Orr from the roster would be a huge loss, can the Rangers pay Rissmiller $1 million and Voros $1.2 million to sit in the press box and do nothing for most of the year?

They can either sit Orr and be a soft team that gets bullied by everyone, or play him and lose some possible offense and some more solid defensive play—yeah, Colton has improved there, but is still far from being a defensive forward.

It's a tough choice, and Tom Renney will have to make one soon. Either way, there will be some people who disagree with it.

Ryan Callahan Needs to Step It Up in 08-09

Jason Klau — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:19:00 -0400

As the Rangers inch closer to training camp, there are still many questions that need to be answered. One of those questions is, can Ryan Callahan step it up this year? If the answer isn't yes, his time as a Ranger might be coming to an end.

Don't get me wrong, I love Callahan. He plays a real good game, always gives 100 percent, and is not afraid to get dirty. His style has made him a bit of a fan favorite in New York.

Just look at his hard working shifts, like the one with two minutes to go in Game Five against the New Jersey Devils where he fore checked his butt off, and killed off valuable time. The way Ranger fans cheered him during that shift made it seem like the game was at MSG.

Things like that can make a player very valuable, at least among fans. But there is more that Ryan has to do if he wants to get a new contract next summer with New York when he becomes a restricted free agent.

As it stands now, we are likely to see Callahan as a third liner. Last season, a season of injuries and a stint in the AHL, limited him to only 52 games. In that span, he scored eight goals and five assists for 13 points.

He scored in the first game of the season, but got hurt, and then didn't score a point for the next 23 games. That scoring drought earned him a ticket to the Hartford Wolfpack for a bit of time in the minors to gain his confidence.

When he returned, he started playing much better, but still wasn't producing an amazing amount of points, at least not enough to get overly excited about. What he did do well was fore check, hit, and play an up-tempo, fast-paced game.

While those are very important aspects of hockey, the fans do want to see a more consistent game with Callahan.

In Ryan's first call up in 06-07 he was able to register six points in just 14 games. We all saw a lot of potential in him after that. In the playoffs that year, he registered two goals and an assist for three points in 10 games. Both goals however, came in Game Three against Atlanta, a game that they won 7-0.

In 07-08, his offense started to slip. In his first 24 games, he had one point, and was a -1.

After the All-Star break, he stepped it up, getting goals and five assists for 12 points and a +8 rating in just 28 games. He also had four points in 10 games during the playoffs, getting two points in each series the Rangers played in.

While Ryan has shown that he has the potential to be an offensive guy, scoring 52 goals in his last year in the OHL, it has yet to consistently translate to the NHL.

With other forwards in the AHL (like Lauri Korpikoski, Greg Moore, Artem Anisimov, and Dane Byers) looking to take a spot on the roster, Callahan must show that he is ready to add a more offensive dimension to his game, or else one of the Rangers' talented foward prospects might take his place.

If Callahan can add an offensive side, he can definitely make the jump to a second line player. If he doesn't, he might wind up becoming a fourth line guy on New York, or on another team entirely. We have all seen the offense that's been buried deep inside of him.

It's come out a few times, but not enough. This could be a very important year for his career. Hopefully, it will be his first full year as an NHL player, but it's up to him to make sure that he never will see the AHL again.

If he breaks out of his shell and starts to produce more on offense, he could make a big impression during his contract year. If not, he might be seen strictly as a lower line guy who can only hit and fore check. Either way, this is a make or break year for Ryan Callahan.

For New York Rangers Fans, The Offseason Is a B...Oh, You Get It

Jason Klau — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:34:22 -0400

It's the middle of August now, and the offseason is in full swing—which means absolutely nothing is happening.

Us die-hards try to pass the time by in our own constructive ways. Some watch other sports, but for me, nothing has the same appeal as hockey. So I scroll through hockey sites in hopes of finding the least bit of news possible.

When something does happen, though, we all get a bit jumpy. At the time of writing this, there were three Mats Sundin articles at the top of the New York Rangers page, and two of them had the same picture. If mine makes it up there, it will be three.

My previous Mats Sundin article had just been bumped off of the top, so it's really four Sundin articles to be read.

While they are all quality articles, it makes me want to tear out my hair and scream "WE ALL NEED HOCKEY!" And honestly, I think you'd all agree when I say, we need something to fill this void left in our lives the moment coverage of Game Six of the Cup Finals ended.

We got a good taste of hockey during the draft at the end of June, and from July 1 until recently we have been able to get at least a little bit of hockey news every day.

But now the darkest days lay ahead.

Yes, going outside with friends is fun, but it just doesn't seem as good when hockey isn't part of your schedule, when you don't ditch your friends because you need to see the pre-game show, or you can't talk on the phone right now because "we're on the power play."

The warm days of August and early September are the hardest on hockey fans like myself, who have no other sport to offer up so much excitement. The need to cheer for the Rangers when they score just eats away at me inside. I was at a concert the other night, wearing a Rangers t-shirt and hat, and at one point, I did yell "LETS GO RANGERS" like a wolf calling to the rest of its pack.

I did not get a "LETS GO RANGERS" in return, but on the way out, one Ranger fan did high-five me, and I did get a little yelling in with his friend, who was wearing a Buffalo Sabres shirt, but it was all in good fun.

While yes, even the smallest of hockey anything will help keep my sanity—because god knows I am sick of listening to stupid sports radio with idiotic hosts who know nothing—it does not hold me over for long.

Instead, I'm stuck watching youtube videos of the Rangers, as I reflect on the year that should have been. Come on, you all know you've been guilty of that, at least a little bit.

With the Mats Sundin news still in full swing—and still, no sports networks will talk about it—it becomes apparent, that after writing a few Rangers articles here and there, there is just nothing more to talk about. Hell, I'm writing this aren't I?

The inspiration came from me saying the middle (and uncensored) part of my title, out of frustration of nothing to write about.

Anyway, training camp isn't that far away, but any hockey-depraved maniac like myself looks at the few weeks without hockey and can only see an eternity of reading about Mats Sundin, and checking TSN for the faint possibility of something new in the hockey world that isn't Burke vs Lowe ripping each other to threads when it's obvious they have crushes on each other.

However one chooses to make the offseason go by, it's never an easy task. It was reported that one Ranger fan recently cracked and decided to handcuff himself to MSG in protest of the absence of Rangers hockey.

It was a tough sight to see the mind of a comrade break down, especially as he was arrested and thrown in a mental asylum—but hope is still there for him, and all fans of the sport. It's just a short wait, hang in there guys.

Rangers special teams breakdown Part 2: Power Play

Jason Klau — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:29:00 -0400

All season long, assistant coach, and power play coach, Perry Pearn was bashed for the failure of the Rangers to convert on the power play. While many people wanted him gone, it only seems fitting that he run in, I mean, look at his initials. PP, Perry Pearn. Get it?

Anyway, this year might be a make or break year for Perry, who needs to get the power play running if the rangers want to win a cup. Its no coincidence that Detroit and Pittsburgh, the two conference champs, were both ranked among the top five in the power play.

The Rangers on the other hand, were 22nd. With the players that have left this off season, one might think that the power play is doomed.

While yes, it is impossible to replace the overall talent that you lose with the departures of Jaromir Jagr, Martin Straka, and what will likely be Brendan Shanahan, the team is not doomed. While this might seem like it is too much to overcome, the Rangers PP, and Perry Pearn's job, can still be saved.

Jaromir Jagr was the go to guy on the Rangers PP. There wasn't a set play that wouldn't be run through jagr. As bad as that may be, it also can be a good thing. To lose a player that completely runs everything, and has the talent to do it, is huge. It's key for the rangers this year, to have someone else to run the plays through.

A lot of people bashed the Rangers power play, and the players on it, for cycling everything through Jagr. The problem wasn't that he was starting the play, but that he was also expected to finish it.

Rozsival in particular, wouldn't shoot (and its a shame because he has a good shot) because he felt that Jagr should always get the puck. He still somehow managed 13 goals last year. Now imagine him running things from the point, or getting set up instead of feeding it to Jaromir like he always would.

He has the ability, along with Wade Redden, to QB a power play that has the talent(just like last year) to be among the best in the league. With Redden and Rozsival on the same point, it will keep the opponents PK on their toes.

You might look at my analysis of the PK and say, "why would you balance the PK with Betts and Rissmiller on different lines, but put Rozsival and Redden on the same unit?" Well, the Answer is simple. We dont want the PP to last the full two minutes. The PK on the other hand, has to.

If we can score early in the PP, we wont have to use anyone else, and we'd keep our lines fresh. In the likely event that most of the time, it will make it to the second unit, I (or hopefully, Tom Renney) have full confidence that any of our defense man can play the PP.

Dan Girardi scored 10 goals last year, five of which came on the power play. Staal has shown he knows how to shoot the puck, and should assume more offensive responsibility this season. Paul Mara has a very underrated shot.

It's a heavy shot that finds the net. He only scored one goal this past season, but with some time on the power play, those numbers could go up. He also had 16 assists, six of which came on the power play. He might not score many goals with the increased power play time, but he is capable of setting up his teammates.

Dmitri Kalinin is also capable of scoring. He didn't play much on '07-'08, but in seasons before that, he was a very good offensive defense man, tallying 19 goals and 62 assists in the three previous seasons.

Of course, it's not only the pointmen who make a PP. Most of the time, it's the fowards that make or break the man advantage. A good center, like Scott Gomez, is key.
With the departure of Jagr to Omsk, this team has to be carried by someone.

The Jagr era is over, and it's time for the Scott Gomez era to begin. While he probably will not be named captain, he is the guy to lead this team towards a brighter future. He is our marquee player, and what i suspect will be our top line center.

With that responsibility, he will also be the puck carrier for the power play. He is one of the best play making center's in the league, and he will need to keep that up to keep this team going. He has the ability to set up anyone on the ice.

Gomez is a very fast, and smooth skater who will make his teammates better, and if he really needs to, he'll score as well. He played very well in the playoffs, and his experience and his skill are vital to this teams cup chances.

The other center, the highly paid Chris Drury, is also key. Most people saw him as a bad signing, and thought we overpaid for him. Overpayment is a theme in this new NHL to the point where being overpaid isnt even being overpaid anymore.

Drury didn't produce as much as many hoped, but i wouldn't call it a failure. He still has the ability to change games, and he has earned his nickname, Cpt. Clutch. While people were complaining about the signing, Drury still put up an impressive 25 goals and 33 assists. His hockey smarts, along with his leadership qualities could put him in charge of the second unit.

So far, we have lost some key wingers. Jagr, Straka, Shanahan, and Avery(the screen he put on broduer is illegal now, but I'd love him in front of the net every game)are all gone, but there is always a bright side to things.

Petr Prucha lost almost all of his ice time last year. He found himself in a slump that he couldn't get out of, and would not see any more time back on the power play. But a new season brings a fresh new start for the young foward, who scored 52 goals in his first two seasons.

With some more ice time, and hopefully a fast start, Prucha's confidence will soar and he could again, become one of our best forwards.

With the addition of Nikolai Zherdev and Markus Naslund, we are sure to see some new faces on the power play. But I wont keep you in suspense. Instead of breaking down every player, I'll give you my predictions for the lines that Tom Renney will use.

PP No. 1

Prucha-Gomez-Zherdev

Rozsival-Redden

That unit can be gold for the Rangers. There is some great power coming from the point with two very good offensive defense man. Gomez is our top center, and he should be there, setting up two talented goal scorers.

Prucha didn't do much last year, but it wasn't long ago that after 22 goals we were all disappointed, so we know that there is talent there. Playing with some actual ice time will help Prucha(who only makes 1.6mil per year) get back to his old self.

Zherdev is a very talented goal scorer who can also set up his teammates. Hopefully a new start in New York City will motivate him more than Ohio could.

PP No. 2

Naslund-Drury-Dawes

Girardi-Mara/Staal

I list three defense man here, because I think both Mara and Staal are capable of playing on the power play. Both have shown some pretty good shots, and Girardi has shown some great offensive potential.

Even when Girardi was called up for the first time in the middle of the '06-'07 season, he showed potential was there, even without scoring a goal. He is confident with the puck, will shoot, and he will get the puck on net. It's not the best shot ever, but its accurate, and a lot can happen from the point if you just get the puck to the net.

At foward, there are some good finishers. At the start of the season, he didn't even make the team, but everyone knew it was only a matter of time before Nigel Dawes was called up. He was seen as a pure goal scorer, but he has shown the talent to put up assists, and has made some very good plays to set up his line mates.

He's another year older, and more confident then ever. Expect a big year, with some power play time for Nigel Dawes.

With Drury, as I mentioned before, you have the clutch goal. Late in the game, down by one and on the power play, I can't think of many other players that you'd want on the ice. Naslund is also a very good finisher.

He put up 25 goals in Vancouver, where the offensive strategy calls for players to never shoot the puck. Playing in a more open system should give Naslund some real good numbers this year.

Mats Sundin Looming Ominously Over the New York Rangers

Jason Klau — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:26:38 -0400

There's a new Brett Favre on the block, and his name is Mats Sundin.

The only difference is that nobody talks about Sundin.

Time has gone by, and he still remains a controversial issue among hockey fans. While there is much speculation on where Sundin will decide to go, or if he will return at all, the New York Rangers remain among the rumored teams in the running. While many Ranger Fans are rushing to roll out the red carpet for the Sundin, many others, like myself, are praying Sather doesn't.

There isn't one person who thinks Sundin is a bad player. Short term, he might even be pretty good. And if we do wind up signing him, you bet I'll be there cheering for him and eating my words if he scores 40 goals and helps us win a Cup.

But one must look at what New York must do to get Sundin on this roster before declaring that Glen Sather use his magic free-agent powers to bring him in.

One obstacle standing in the way is that little thing called the salary cap. According to Nhlnumbers.com, the Rangers' payroll is currently sitting at $54.697 million, leaving them just barely over $2 million in cap room. Even if Sundin would agree to that deal, the NHL wouldn't.

So New York might have to lose a few players. Some players named in the rumors (and by Ranger fans) are Petr Prucha, Blair Betts, and Ryan Callahan, among others. People might say something like "Sundin is way better then all of those guys, why wouldn't you do that?"

While yes, Sundin is a better player then those three, one must look at the bigger picture. Would you throw away two good young players with loads of potential and ability and one of the best defensive fowards in the game for one year of Mats Sundin?

Everyone seems to want Prucha run out of town. I remember not so long ago, he was going to become an elite player in the league. One bad season and we cast him aside?

It is very possible to rebound. Remember when we signed Fluery? He had 15 goals in his first year—but in his second, he was among the leading scorers in the NHL for most of the season.

While that team did nothing that year, it still shows that one good season doesn't completely kill a player. If he has another bad year, we can easily just let him go. If we trade him, he might just as easily burn us in the future when he goes back to his old self and Sundin retires after one year.

For years, Ranger fans complained every time we traded our youth to get veterans. Everyone complained when we had a team of washed0up players that wasn't getting any younger. Now, we have young talent, and everyone wants to get rid of it to get—can it be?—MORE OLD PLAYERS ON THE DECLINE!

It's one or the other, people. Myself, I'm sticking with the stay-younger route—the better long term decision.

People talk like this is a must-win year for us. Cup teams take loads of time to build, especially starting with the one-line post-lockout team we had that was predicted to finish last.

This is going to be the fourth post-lockout season. If we can win the Cup this year, it would be great, and I am cheering them on all the way. But it is unfair to say that this is the year that they have to win it.

There is no need to stock-up for a cup run that we are already capable of making by giving up our young talent.

One last point. Say we trade Prucha and Callahan for picks, sign Sundin, and we are still under the cap. What is our lineup going to be? I'm not selling our future for one year of this guy to play on the third line, and Gomez and Drury are our top two centers.

What happens to Dubinsky? He's fine at center—why move him to the wing?

I doubt Sundin will sign here if it means he has to change positions. So where does he fit in?

If you have read my earlier post, you would see my possible lines, and see how each line has its own style. Putting Sundin in at center and taking out two important wingers leaves some holes.

It's not worth giving away our future for one season. It's something none of us wanted before we had young talent, so why do it now? Sundin, to anywhere but the Rangers.

Tom Renney Faces Big Year as New York Rangers Head Coach

Jason Klau — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:09:17 -0400

When training camp opens up this fall, Tom Renney and his staff will have a big task on their hands.

After failing to advance past the second round for the second year in a row, Tom Renney must improve this postseason, or face the firing squad that is the New York sports fans.

This just might be the make-or-break year for Tom. You only need to look at recent events to realize this. Ron Wilson—who, like Tom Renney, is a quality coach—was fired from the San Jose Sharks after three straight second-round exits. Tom Renney and the Rangers are on number two.

While I'm no NHL coach, just a mites division coach, there are some things that I think we must see from Renney and the Rangers this year.:

Power Play

The power play last year was just awful at times. In the playoffs, it was a key edge for Pittsburgh—and they took advantage of it.

The Rangers' inability to capitalize on PP chances at an acceptable rate would not only hurt them during the season, but it would spell their demise in the playoffs as well. While it was assistant coach Perry Pearn who ran the power play last season, Renney is still the head coach, and thus should be at least trying to taking care of it.

Last year's power play relied heavily on Jaromir Jagr, even when his numbers were falling. This year, Renney and his staff must come up with a solution—one that will use all the Rangers' offensive weapons to their fullest potential.

One can guarantee that Wade Redden will be quarterbacking the first unit. While he won't score 20 goals from the point, he is sure to be there, passing the puck off to everyone, and hopefully keeping the power play a lot less predictable then it has been in previous years.

They will also need a bigger body in front of the net, as well as flexible wingers who won't always be in the same spot.

The Rangers need to make sure that this year, they keep the enemy penalty kill guessing. Keep guys moving, don't bunch up, and don't stand still. If everyone is in a fixed position, it makes for an easier job on opposing penalty killers—one that doesn't make them tired.

But if the Rangers keep moving, so will their opponents, and a tired unit that's one man short is never a good thing—unless, of course, you are playing against them.

Quick Start

Last season, we saw the Rangers get off to a very slow start. Their 2-5-1 record out of the gate came at a time when there were huge expectations for them.

It seemed like a breaking point when, in those last two games in which they went 0-1-1, they did not score a goal. Henrik Lundqvist only let in one in the two games, but the team literally did could not give him any support. Even the injured Sean Avery wasn't scoring any hot celebs.

This year, things cannot repeat themselves if the Rangers are to be taken seriously. A guick start, maybe something like 7-2-1 in their first 10, would be good—but perhaps would be to much to ask with the European trip to start the year. If they come out of the game at around 6-4, then the trip might not have taken so much away from them.

They need to show that the games in Prague are not going to affect their season long-term. By coming out of the gate hard, or at least above average, they can easily make a big first impression on the rest of the league.

Eastern Conference Finals

Another second-round exit would be tough to deal with. Anything less would be a disaster.

Even with the loss of some key players, there are still great expectations that only get multiplied each time someone writes an article like this one. While this might not be a Cup-or-bust year for them, an improvement is necessary for Renney to stay off of the chopping block.

Home Ice Advantage

Just making the playoffs will not be acceptable. While finishing fifth again wouldn't be catastrophic, it might be key for the Rangers to finish in the top four.

An Atlantic Division title would be great, but there would be no shame in losing the division to Bettman's Baby Birds, the Penguins. Everyone else though, New York must beat.

We haven't seen a playoff series open in the Garden since 1996—but now it's about time to show that the Rangers won't be underdogs in a series

Rangers Preseason Schedule Makes New York Fans Take a Backseat

Jason Klau — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:51:48 -0400

The Rangers recently released their schedule for their preseason games—and as expected, some games will be played in Europe.

The preseason kicks off on September 20—in Ottawa, for some reason. It starts with a home and home with the Senators, with the second half in New York on September 22. The very next day they fly off to Tampa Bay to face off with the Lightning.

On the 24th, the Rangers come to New Jersey before, then play another game with Tampa, this time at home on the 25th.

Four games in four nights. It's safe to expect some players to be kept around longer then necessary.

The Rangers get the 26th off (from games at least) before they finish up their American preseason schedule at home against the Devils.

With that completed, they head off to Switzerland to play SC Bern on September 30, and Russian team Magnitogorsk on October 1.

That means the usual three home games, but two more preseason games then usual. While the two games in Europe are okay, the overall schedule makes no sense at all, and I will explain why:

Jet lag

They will fly to Ottawa and back, then to Tampa and back before flying out to Europe to play four games, when only two of which actually mean something.

Teams

Ottawa? Have we ever played them in a preseason game? Tampa Bay? Don't remember ever playing them in the preseason either.

Maybe traveling by plane once in the preseason is fine. But to make flights to three different places, one of which is on another continent, for nothing more then preseason games is ridiculous.

I want to go to preseason games to get to see some rivals play. I usually go to all the preseason games against the Islanders, Devils, Flyers, and Bruins.

When I was growing up, there would always be a game at the Garden against Boston, every preseason, and I would always go with my father. One year, I remember some hotshot rookie on Boston throwing a big hit on Mark Messier.

Mark didn't take to kindly to it, and when nobody else was looking—and I mean nobody else but me and my father, who told me to watch him—he proceeded to elbow this Boston Bruin hopeful right in the chin, knocking him out cold. The brawl that ensued showed some of the beauty of the preseason games.

Young players at a disadvantage

Every young player, with a real shot of making the club or not, is there to learn as much as possible about the league, without being put in a spot that carries a lot of consequences for their mistakes.

What better spot to learn the intensity and beauty of the Rangers-Islanders or Rangers-Flyers rivalry?

These are rivalries that only gets intensified every preseason game—especially when two rookies in camp are trying to make a big impression by knocking the hell out of each other.

In the 2000-01 season, defenseman (and half lunatic) Dale Purinton earned a spot out of camp, by going out against rival teams and showing that he would stand up for his teammates, whatever the cost.

Without facing the Islanders or Flyers or bruins this year, prospects have less of a chance to prove their worth.

Fans Suffer

How great is it to get into the hockey mood again at preseason rivalry games? It gets you back in the right mindset—ready for hockey season.

More away fans go to the games because its easier to get tickets. You may get cheap tickets on stubhub, you may buy from a scalper for half price—hell, you might get them for free—but there will always be visiting fans from the other local teams trying to invade MSG.

It's fun to argue with Islander fans about hockey and why the Rangers are a superior team, without having to worry about the result too much.

But how many Tampa Bay fans will be at MSG? How many Ottawa fans will be there? I wouldn't imagine too many.

It's also great to expose the game to new fans with more games against rivals. The NHL is already cutting back on those games this year, so why do it even more? The New York Rangers have done a disservice to the fanbase with this preseason.

This article can be read, along with many others at www.nyrinreview.blogspot.com

NYR In Review, Covering the New York Rangers

Jason Klau — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:42:52 -0400

www.nyrinreview.blogspot.com is my new Rangers blog and is affiliated with the more popular site of NHL2Day, with top hockey contributors from this site, Greg Caggiano and Alan Bass. I

'm 17 years old and have hopes of becoming a hockey writer. I hope to use this site as a bit of exposure for my blog, but also to share articles and knowledge with all the other hockey fans out there.

I hope you all enjoy my writing, and feedback is always welcome. Thanks.