Game 16
Rangers vs. Blue Jackets – 7:00 PM MSG
First a big thank you to ilb, CCCP, James G, and others who have helped operate the blog while I’ve been swamped with work and baby diapers. I’d like very much for more people to help contribute and run this silly place for us to keep talking.
The Rangers come home after a very successful trip to Florida. Starting with the third period against Vegas (which, if it had gone the other way, may have been AV’s last as coach of the Rangers), the Rangers’ effort level has been markedly improved, as has their play on the ice, most notably in their season best performance against Tampa Bay.
So, of course, they are due for a let down, especially on the dreaded first game home after a road trip.
This is the first post I’ve put up since the home opener. Clearly, this isn’t even a HAV. QAV, at best.
Tonight’s lineup for the Rangers via Steve Zipay (@stevezipay):
Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich
Rick Nash-Kevin Hayes-Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey-David Desharnais-J.T. Miller
Michael Grabner-Boo Nieves-Jesper Fast
Ryan McDonagh-Nick Holden
Brady Skjei-Kevin Shattenkirk
Marc Staal-Steven Kampfer
Yes, we live in a world where Nick Holden is playing on our first pair. I guess Ryan McDonagh isn’t happy unless he’s carrying a slug. Still, no surprises here given the winning. Honestly, look at that lineup. Is this anywhere near a Cup contender? Horrible. I’d say more about individual players (Brendan Smith, Kevin Shattenkirk) but the truth is, I haven’t seen enough of the team this year to be qualified to comment.
In other news, Alexei Bereglazov was loaned/returned to the KHL as per the out clause in his contract for staying in the AHL.
Henrik Lundqvist gets the start. He’s been better lately, but he is still nowhere near what this franchise needs him to be, given their salary/roster construction.
For the Blue Jackets, injuries to Matt Calvert and Cam Atkinson will keep them out of the lineup. Sergei Bobrovsky gets the start.
Don’t forget to tell everyone you know about our QAV and to follow us on Twitter @rangersreport2. And don’t forget to vote for your three stars after the game!
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344 responses to “Rangers vs. Blue Jackets… It’s Go Time!”
BDL
rather Chytil stay in minors to delay the clock 1 year in him getting bigger money. We still have Girardi dead money and will likely do the same with Staal unless we can trade him this summer (while eating a sizeable amt of salary albeit for a shorter term than a buyout).
Chytil will also develop more in ahl. Just because we don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not happening.
Who gave all these fading Ranger ‘stars’ all this money over all these years? Find him and call him to account.
Sorry for being incognito for a few days, but I must have had the Boo Flu. The funny thing i was fine until I got my flu shot on Thursday – go figure.
After the pre-game ceremony (and the Rangers do throw a good pre-game ceremony) and listening to Sam and Joe, I think I have the next Poll question. When Rick Nash is elected to the Hall of Fame, does he go in as a Blue Jacket or a Ranger? 🙂 Please note the smiley face.
Interesting haul that Sakic got. I wonder if getting the Hamburglar means the Avs might be looking to move Bernier or Varlamov as the rebuild continues in Colorado.
Carp – I agree with you on an earlier post that the majority of Rangers fans would not sit through a true rebuild of the Blueshirts. It would require multiple years of stinking out the joint combined with fiscal restraint and hitting on draft picks. Even then it isn’t guaranteed unless you can bring in a big-time superstar like the Oilers finally did with McDavid – and it looks like the Oilers might have hit a dry spell in that rebuild (again).
As I have said before, a true rebuild is nearly impossible with the Rangers because a couple of the guys they need to get rid off have NTC/NMC and cap hits/salaries that make it prohibitive to move them.
I am not a Yankees fan by any stretch of the imagination, but you have to give them credit because they were able to “retool”/”rebuild”/pivot the franchise on the fly without too much suffering to the fan base. Of course, the Yankees have it a bit easier because there is no salary cap in MLB so they can cover their mistakes easier than the Rangers can. If the Rangers could dump Staal without any cap implications he would have been gone already and it is possible they might have looked into moving Hank.
Rangers go 0-for-3, 0-for-4 on PP, and It Sucks, Coach Stinks. 3 PP goals for a comeback win… crickets. 6th in the league, PK middle-of-the-pack and improving, not that special teams are important.
Thump away Alex he’s fine after this season. I can score into empty nets too
Anthony
for this year only the Yankees are seeking to go under a certain number which will then reset their luxury tax threshold and allow subsequent years of free spending with far less penalty.
regarding our Rangers yes we have to hit on draft picks. first step is keeping them which we finally did this past year. probably need to let some guys walk or trade at deadline since the price to keep especially in years is often prohibitive. St Louis let some guys walk which makes them a better team going forward.
James
well the empty netters do prevent the 6 on 5 goals against in those games. he’s not scoring them with 2 seconds left. He also scores when lines mixed up or someone double shifted like Miller or Mika.
bottom line. really good Ranger last year and thus far this year.
Alex I’m busting chops to an extent.
He’s definitely been a pleasant surprise as of late. I don’t know that they’ll be able to retain him after this season if he puts up another 20+ goal season.
We did dodge a really bad contract by trading Callahan. 1 g 1 a thus far and last year really off too. he was a very solid ranger but his expiration date as worth it vs high salary passed a couple or 3 years ago.
James
agreed that we can’t afford Grabners next contract and shouldn’t go there.
Watching Tortorella’s face each time the Jackets took a penalty in the 3rd period was priceless.
$5 for each look at Torts after a penalty. Not priceless, but expensive.
Tommy
and he was mad at his players not the refs. at least that’s how i saw it.
Alex, no doubt he was mad with his players. I found it humorous because earlier in the game sam and joe where mentioning how he had mellowed and is enjoying the game more.
Yankees were able to buy assets, then trade them for prospects … whole different ballgame.
Carp asked: But what is 30?
Answer: Overpaid
On Buch: we all knew he had offensive potential – that was not an issue. What was (and still is) an issue is his defensive play and toughness (in the game and over the season). Still think he needs to bulk up a little more.
On Grabs: I would most certainly entertain keeping him on a new contract at a reasonable price. Unless NYR are truly in the tank at deadline I would not move without knowing his demands (and how realistic they are). Recall we poisoned the well with Brian Boyle, who walked for 2M per (correct if wrong). At the end of the day, he would have been well worth keeping at 2. Always amazes me guys crying about what might be a 100 or 300K premium vs *millions* given to the ‘stars’ who then under perform, suck up cap and may even be bought out. Grabs is solid on defense and PK, provides spark to the team and is a threat other teams have to take seriously as long as he can fly.
Drove down with Sparky Lyle to Prospect Park Zoo to find some prospects for the Bronx Zoo.
Wow, just wow. Reducing Grabner to an empty-netter last night? Guy had a great feet-hands goal earlier, and that wasn’t just any empty-netter. How much fun it must be to play with that guy. All Fast had to do was knock the puck forward, job done. Next, Grabner long-passing it to himself off the boards and skating by his guy with ease, not sure what other Ranger makes that play. But, yeah, get rid of this weapon, see if you can get a speculative draftee for him.
Norm, if Grabner could fight, I’d join his bandwagon. 🙂
All this talk of rebuilding on the fly….
Thinking about Gorton’s work so far… (and a nod to the great TP)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5BJXwNeKsQ
If Grabner has a good year, he won’t be giving any home-town discounts.
Anyone could get an empty net goal but not everyone could anticipate Fast sweeping it towards them, passing the puck off the boards, splitting the 2 Dmen, outracing the near side D to the puck and, while getting hooked, shovel the puck toward the net for a ENG against a division rival after a valiant comeback.
I think the 2 most recent deals that really hurt the NYR’s. #1 the Marty st Louis trade results, nice run no cup! And not trading Yandleabra at the deadline for a #1. Set this team back for sure, just my opinion of course. Before those trades were made management should have first consulted “The Hack of all Trades!”
Gave up too much for Marty, but hard to argue the results.
Grabner is proving both sides right. He is scoring goals again, but he is doing it playing on the 4th line. At least it’s the 4th line when the game starts. Like last night, it sometimes ends up as the 3rd.
Not trading Yandle was a bad mistake. Could have restocked some of the draft pick cupboard.
I would be OK with the Rangers extending Grabner. I would not want to wait fior him to hit the open market as he will be too expensive.
You are sort of right Carp but looking back a heavy price for no hardware!
OK, Mr. Steinbrenner. Too bad you didn’t enjoy those four rounds of playoffs.
Agree Bdl not trading Yandle just to kick the can down road into the gutter was dumber than a land war in Asia!
Yeah, it’s never good to try to win a title.
So funny how the bottom line can be: Cup or nothing. But when they try to win a Cup trades to do so were mistakes.
2 firsts for Marty was WAY TOO MUCH; but those were late round picks so no game breakers, most likely solid depth players on, say, defense.
.
They turned out to be:
2014, #28 Josh Ho-Sang (C) Canada Canada Islanders (Rangers via Tampa Bay)
2015, #28 Anthony Beauvillier (LW) Canada Islanders (Rangers via Tampa Bay)
so, both picks are now on the Azzlanders, great.
It’s always good to try and win the cup Carp, but some years you need to have an honest assessment of your team. That last season of Yandle, nobody believed they were true contenders.
no fans believed, you mean?
BDL
Grabner has done his best when at least 1 legitimate player has been on his line even if it’s as a double shift. miler had asst on his 1st goal last night. the game where buch was on 4th line with him and boo the whole line dominated. Gabner actually goes to net well and not jut via breakaways
Maloney was even saying that was not really a 4th line certainly ability wise.
Grabner will disappear except on pk and empty netters when buried on 4th line (think Carey and the like) and better players aren’t rotated or double shifted.
gets zero pp time. I’ve been ok with that as long as he gets legitimate linemates more often than not at even strength.
If Grabner plays well enough that a home-town discount even comes into the conversation, that’s the kind of problem you like to have. Beats the easy decision–get rid of him, he’s not good enough, see if you can get a 7th-rounder–by a mile. And if he plays well, the Rangers are more likely to do well. Sometimes we complicate things too much.
What can smith bring back in “immediate” help in a trade?
He has cost certainty with his new contract so you’d think he’d have value and be worth more than a player with an expiring contract, right?!
Someone in mtl organization brought up kreiders name in a radio interview, and I don’t think they were supposed to.
Lol
Steve ZipayVerified account @stevezipay
Something to consider: Man-games lost to injury. NYR 6 CAL 8 TB 9 DAL 10 SJ 12.
Top 5: ANA 77 BUF 69 STL 66 CHI 53
NJ BOS 50. #thingschange
So tell me where Grabner has been all these years. One good season in 2010, then basically zilch until last year. Something smells, but don’t know of what.
And we bring Smith in for a tidy 17+ million guaranteed and then sit him?
I love it. Smith hasn’t played well at all this season. He should sit. Kudos to AV & Ruff. He’ll get another shot.
Papa Bear – The only problem is that when other players don’t live up to expectations are they going to get the same treatment as Smith? It sure hasn’t been the case in the past.
Smith for Bozak?
Anthony M., good point…. But two differences from then to now:
1) Team was playing like a cellar dweller up until a week ago.
2) AV’s neck may be on the block.
And Lundquist was benched for a time last year when he wasn’t playing well.
While catching up on all things hockey I came across a note that “The Buffalo Kilelr” Mac Skapski signed with the Maple Leafs AHL affiliate. Skapski will not stay with the Marlies, but instead assigned to their ECHL affiliate in Orlando.
Guess than Nash will be benched as well…
Wait, he tries hard and almost scored last night.
and backchecks
and plays pk
and gets good looks
Puegeot
SN, as you know, I would never stand in the way of a Nash benching.
And, I do think he’s a good guy.
But, I don’t love him like Micheletti does.
The accolades that Nash routinely recieves from Sam, Joe and the rest of the MSG propaganda machine are Crosby-like
He must be a really nice person
Just because the GM signed Smith to a nice contract doesn’t necessarily mean the coach has to play him every game. You’d hope the coach had some input into the signing but the GM is his boss. At the end of the day the GM’s job is to put together the coaching staff and the team, it’s the coaches job to win games. AV had Smith in and out of the line-up last year, I don’t know that I’d read anything into him continuing along the same path. It’s not like Smith got better just because he got a raise.
yeah, we all remember Smith getting lost on the bench and the shuffle board champ getting lit up as knock-hockey season had ended in April and the game got physical so the Softserve specials (Staal, Holden, et al) were melting on the ice when ‘tough’ guys like Turris and Peugeot skated through them.
So glad Kamper is there to steady the ship in the back end.
What? He has yet to register a + this year?? Weird.
.
The team has played great without Smith, only giving up 7 goals the last 2 games.
.
Guess AV found a new Son to play over more capable pros.
Speaking of Skapski, did you guys know that he was born the day after the Rangers won the Cup? Useless, but interesting information, I guess.
Grabner’s goals per GP aren’t bad throughout his career. The bad year in TOR was actually the outlier. Always scored prior to his NHL days, too.
I’ve always felt that the offense we’ve gotten out of Grabner is just gravy. As long as he kills penalties effectively and opens the ice up with his speed, the man could score 10 goals a year and be exactly what we brought him in to be.
I remember calling Grabner the 2nd coming of Bobby Bourne when he was with the Islanders and routinely flying past Rangers for breakaway after breakaway
Bourne is a great comp.
https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/g/grabnmi01.html
little known fact: Bourne was Larry Brooks’ best man, IIRC
A few people have criticized or taken exception to fans here being “down” on Grabner. I don’t think it’s being “down” as much as it has been trying to keep the expectation realistic. And it’s certainly not an “in house issue”(like some other criticisms and tid bits that basically only get said here or a site like SB Nation or Fansided).
To the best of my knowledge Grabner’s offense was a surprise to just about everyone last season be them analysts, media or general hockey fans that don’t live and die by their emotional attachment to NYR.
Before last season started most expected him to do what he’s done during his career- chip in some goals here and there and make things happen with his PK ability and speed. I can only think of one person here who felt he could do what he did actually.
No matter how you cut it, the facts remain that with back to back top offensive seasons of his
he’s going to
A) Want to cash in on his last chance for a big pay day kind of contract at 30 years old
B) Have offers from other teams that would love to add his speed and offense to the back end of their lineup
and
C) Keep Vesey (or possibly Buchnevich) from taking on more responsibility on a team that needs to allow both players to develop in top 9 role
I’ll go on record now though, losing his wheels and his offense is going to suck if/when it happens
Bourne to Raise Hell
Nash looks good too SN and he’s one of the best at what he does?
Apparently AV has a number of kids they all get good looks!
Where’s Jimmy Vesey these days? we traded him, right? Haven’t noticed him in a game in quite some time..
Bourne to be wild!!!
Jen @NHLhistorygirl
On this date in 1975, #Bruins traded Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais to #NYR for Brad Park, Jean Ratelle and Joe Zanussi
Sad day in Ranger history Alex I remember it well!
I miss when the window was open….
Real mistake was trading for Yandle in the first place when an offensive defenseman wasn’t a glaring need for that team. Insult to injury that the coach was clearly never on board with the acquisition given how he was used.
—
We overpaid for Smith at the deadline and overpaid to resign him. Not a bad defenseman, but not very good either and certainly not worth locking up at that contract when we had young guys in the wings (like Graves) and being stuck with Staal’s contract.
https://twitter.com/RickCarpiniello/status/928062862207127552
Can only imagine you guys if they stood pat instead of getting Yandle … geez. it was a good move.
Bourne Free
Man, I couldn’t Standle Dandle Yandle.
I especially hated all those hopeless uneccesary stretch passes
Bourne Under a Bad Sign
Carp hates the Rangers!
I was Bourne with a plastic spoon in my mouth
Bourne on the Bayou
Bourne to run
Bourne to be alive
Bourne to Trottier to Bossy. Score!
Unbreakable record….winning 19 consecutive playoff series.
‘Bourne too late for you to notice me –
To you, I’m just a kid that you won’t date –
Oh why was I bourne too late?’
Carp, rangers need scoring up front when they acquired Yandle, not a pass first, second and third offensive defenseman for the 3rd pair at the cost of a 1st round pick and promsing offensive prospect. Don’t think anyone closely following the team thought the rangers chances of winning the cups drastically increased after that move. Sather made a move with a friendly GM who was surely ecstatic to get so much for Yandle
Yandle was unfortunate to be stuck with one of those names that makes you sound frivolous.
‘I’m so young and you’re so old,
This Diana, I’ve been told.’
‘A million to one,
that’s what our folks think
About this love of ours.’
Ever hear of someone named Louie Lunchbox running a huge corporation? Never happen, because his name makes him sound incompetent.
Ever wonder why Ralph Lipschitz changed is name to Ralph Lauren?
Vesey doesn’t look happy in carps post at 7:55
Bourne in the USA
Stillbourne
James – love me some Rebelution
Subbourne perjury.
Bourne Again
Bourneaby Jones
Bourne in a stable
Bourne to lose
My neighbor’s kid got turned down by Harvard and Yale, but he got on the waiting list at Bourne.
Born Identity.
See what I did there?
Bourney Fife
Mel Bourne
Stubbourne.
I seen it.
Miles Bourne
I was bourne at a very early age.
Great article again Carp. Nail, meet head (with force)
Poor old Step, by the time they win the Rasmus Dahlin sweepstakes he’ll be completely bald. Maybe we should send him a sunscreen care package for his noggin?
I was bourne in a crossfire hurricane.
Speaking of step, am I the only one that thinks shattenkirk looks like a mash up of step and brassard?
Not that anyone mentioned it Wick, but there is a NEW POST!