N.Y. Rangers: Because Trading Brendan Lemieux is the Off-Broadway Thing To Do

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Nick Fotiu, Nick Fotiu,

Wherefore Art Thow, Nick Fotiu?

You can sum up the last fifty years of Rangers hockey this way: weak up the middle and lacking overall physicality and toughness.

If you're too young to remember the days of The Smurfs on Ice at Madison Square Garden, consider yourself lucky because it's this very condition that has frustrated Rangers fans for many, many decades.  Back in the day, Emile Francis ignored all the clamoring to beef up the roster, and it cost him and the organization at least one Stanley Cup and maybe even two.

History says the Rangers never draft big and refuse to toughen up.  When Mike Keenan arrived in town, he recognized this post-haste and effectively ordered general manager Neil Smith to change it, and he was right!  Of all people, I thought Jeff Gorton (who comes to the Rangers via the Boston Bruins) and John Davidson would understand this.  I thought the exit of Alain Vigneault finally signaled the end of it.  But shame on me.  Finesse still rules the day.

Once again, there goes the little bit of toughness and hard-nosed play the Rangers possessed. 

Extenuating circumstances around Saturday's trade of Brendan Lemieux to Los Angeles make this no less infuriating. 

Was Brendan Lemieux destined to remain with the Rangers beyond this season?  That very likely is a definitive no, thus rendering my words to a mere rant.  I get it; the Rangers wanted to make room for Vitaly Kravtsov who's KHL season just ended.  They come away from this with L.A.'s 2021 fourth-round draft pick.  

Lemieux certainly wasn't going to be protected for the Seattle expansion draft.  But will the Rangers use that pick to draft someone who isn't afraid to mix it up in the corners, win possession, and actually make a decent pass to the more skilled players who should be positioned in front (but can't fight their way through a wet paper bag)? 

And here I wanted to see Lemieux on the third line ...

Regardless, my point still holds true, now and moving forward.

Damn Smurfs!

N.Y. Rangers: Boston Provides Not So Subtle Reminder of Blueshirt History

From the desk: RAISE GRESHNER WITH THE GREATS

Bruins lead Rangers; 3-1

I - BOS 3; NYR 2*

II - BOS 1; NYR 0

III - NYR 6; BOS 2

IV - BOS 4; NYR 1

* overtime

That's Just Boston Being Boston; So What's Our Excuse?

Feeling good about themselves after Friday's convincing victory over Boston, the Rangers received their latest attitude adjustment on Sunday through an assortment of roughing, high-sticking, cross-checking, fights, unsportsmanlike stuff, misconduct, and even goalie squashing.

Brendan Lemieux was the recipient of the misconduct - after the final buzzer!  Someone needed to get after Nick Ritchie, and no later than the clock striking zero, Lemieux was on it.  I'll repeat it: Quinn must give Brendan Lemieux more minutes.

Because this game is a stark reminder, this team is soft.  It's actually rather ponderous that after all these years and decades, physicality is still an issue.  Fans know the deal.  If the Rangers of the early 1970s were just a wee bit tougher, they win a Cup .. Period.  The Cat was hounded over and over about it!  They were called Smurfs by a later generation for a good reason.  More recently, the L.A. Kings ground us into a fine powder.  The thing is, John Davidson was the bridge to the aforementioned eras.  He should know better.  General manager Jeff Gorton came to the Rangers via the Boston Bruins that he personally helped build.  He should know better.  Yet, here we are all these decades later, still waiting for the next Nick Fotiu to walk through the door.  Once again, finesse is losing out over brute force and ignorance.  Just take a look at the division.  These Rangers are indeed young.  But it's the veterans who are no more rugged for the wear than the teenagers.  Who is punishing David Pastrnak for cross-checking Alexis Lafreniere? 

• Alexis Lafreniere posts points in consecutive games for the first time this season; two assists versus Boston.

Thank goodness for Colin Blackwell.  His goal at 10:47 of the third period ruined the shutout for Boston's Tuukka Rask, who faced only 21 shots and made three saves in three power-play opportunities for the Rangers.  Colin Blackwell now has five goals and eight points in just 11 games.  Otherwise, Rangers' centermen joined for eleven shots on goal and just one point.  Ryan Strome, Kevin Rooney, and Brendan Smith joined together for a grand total of one shot on goal.  Mika Zibanejad had three.

Patrice Bergeron did not get off a shot all night, and Brad Marchant was limited to just one shot and an assist.  Five other Bruins centermen joined together for 16 shots on net, three goals, and two assists for five points. 

N.Y. Rangers: Hurricanes Burst Blueshirts Bubble

From the desk of: RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

The #NYR are still a rebuilding team. Oft times winners must first learn how to lose. JD and Gorton still have more work to do. I'm fine with this. #LGR

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) August 5, 2020

At no time are the Rangers ever really in this series.  Thanks to former Blueshirt Brady Skjei, Jesper Fast is knocked out of action in the first period of game one and never returns.  Coach Quinn says losing Fast changes the whole complexion of the Rangers' approach.  I, on the other hand, do not completely buy into that notion.  However, I agree that not having Fast, and Brendan Lemieux, and Igor Shesterkin, on the ice does indeed compromise the Rangers.

Otherwise, eleven New York Rangers make their playoff debut against Carolina.  That speaks directly to the ongoing efforts of John Davidson and Jeff Gorton.  Lest we forget they're only a year and a half into this, and as far as I'm concerned, are going about their business well.  With regards to the players, learning how to lose as a team is part of the process.  Getting outscored by an 11-4 margin over three games is a hard, but necessary lesson learned.  If nothing else, this series demonstrates to the younglings the drastic differences between three regular season victories over the Canes versus three straight losses in the playoffs.  Carolina has been through this before, and it shows throughout all nine periods of hockey.

If the Rangers through three games only score four total goals, going 1 for 14 on the power play is largely to blame.  Otherwise, Artemi Panarin gets off ten shots in three games, but only one SOG in game one.  He scores one goal, but does not score enough; Chris Kreider scores a goal, but does not score enough; Mika Zibanejad scores one goal, but does not score enough.  Kaapo Kakko creates some nice chances for himself, but ultimately concludes the series with no goals and no assists. Circling back to Zibanejad, as a center he assists on just one goal.  And since I'm going there, Carolina wins 95 face-offs versus 85 by the Rangers.  Carolina also out-shoots the Rangers from the field by a 102-88 margin.  Quinn's Rangers are ill prepared to contain Andrei Svechnikov, who tallies a hat trick in game two, and less able to shackle Sebastian Aho, who totals three goals with five assists.

N.Y. Rangers: Big Bucks and Dumb Luck

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

New York Rangers: The Up and Down Week of Chris Kreider.

I wanted Chris Kreider traded.

they should, however painful. Need $$ flexibility, otherwise they'd just be replacing Henrik's prohibitive contract with another. I'd like to think they're still rebuilding.

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) February 24, 2020

Chris is in his eighth season with the Rangers, the present campaign being arguably his best.  However through his first seven seasons I always considered him somewhat of an underachiever.  Jeff Gorton's purge and transformation of the team is proving quite fruitful.  Therefore as a rebuilding club I believed there was yet another appreciable return to be had, potentially another high draft pick.  Instead the parties agree to a seven year contract that pays the veteran left winger roughly $6.5 million per season.  Kreider turns 29-years old in April, which is to say when the deal expires he'll be 36-years old.

With all that being said.  I'm not an enemy of Chris Kreider.  When his head is screwed on right he's a fine player.  There's still every reason to believe the total package is still on the way.

Now that Kreider is signed does he get the C? #NYR

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) February 25, 2020

My answer is, yes indeed.  As the careers of Henrik Lundqvist and Marc Staal wind down, Kreider is the blueshirts' torch bearer moving forward.  If this season is indicative of a mature Kreider entering his mental and physical prime, he'll fill the role well.

Friday against the Flyers he blocks a shot resulting in a fractured foot. 

That's just dumb luck.

N.Y. Rangers: Battle of the Hudson Resumes

From the desks of: 

RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS  &  THE BRICK CITY STYX

BATTLE OF THE HUDSON - I

New York Rangers

vs.

New Jersey Devils

FROM

THE ROCK

It's time I welcomed myself to the 93rd season of New York Rangers hockey.  It's also high time the Rangers hoist Ron Greschner's #4 to the rafters!

Thank you very much ...

Even though the front office hastened the rebuild, I enter this season with few expectations.  But, boy, am I a happy camper!  The triumvirate of John Davidson, Jeff Gorton, and David Quinn, along with this collection of young talent, has elevated my enthusiasm to levels not experienced since 1992 (Roger Neilson withstanding).  Sure, they financially capped themselves like a jar of marmalade, but I don't care.  Everyone I want in a blue shirt is present and accounted for right down to Anthony DeAngelo's last minute signing.

DROPPING PUCKS

• I mean Mika Zibanejad no slight, but I like the idea of entering the season without a captain.  The Rangers are in a good place.  Let some of these players distinguish themselves first.  If everyone takes the ice with the characteristics of a captain in mind then eventually one will materialize.  But make no mistake, Zibanejad has a big fan in me.

• Henrik Lunqvist's playing time is a big concern.  At this stage of his career perhaps less is more.  Two seasons ago Henrik started 60+ games for the eighth time in his career.  Last season he was limited to 52 starts.  In March he turns 38-years old.  Not one bit do I mind him chasing down career milestones.  In fact, I'm rooting for him.  But closer to the point, I just want Alexandar Georgiev receiving representative minutes in net.

• What is Chris Kreider still doing here?  He is the last person I expected to survive Gorton's purge.  But since he still dons a blue shirt, how about some consistent play for a change.  If Kreider ever gets his head screwed on straight could be a top forward of the league ... but it isn't, and he's not.

NYR - Kaapo Kakko

(2019 #2 overall draft pick)

vs.

NJD - Jack Hughes

(2019 #1 overall draft pick)

And let us not forget Nico Hischier, the 2017 first overall pick of the 2017 draft.

Point being, the next ten years of metropolitan area hockey is shaping up to be a lot of fun.  Just don't say that too loud.  Newark is off to a ponderous 0-4-2 start, and giving away multiple goal leads like candy on Halloween.  With the return to full duty of Taylor Hall, and the big acquisitions of P.K. Subban and Wayne Simmonds, no one anticipated such a start as this.  All I'll say for now is that coach John Hynes deserves to see this through.

Raise Gresch With The Greats

N.Y. Rangers: John Davidson Back Where He Belongs

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

JOHN DAVIDSON HAS ENTERED THE BUILDING

New York Rangers: A Marriage Made in Blue Shirt Heaven

I like many fans found myself in a better place when after nearly two full decades of putting up with Glen Sather's crap he finally stepped down as general manager of the Rangers.  I was similarly pleased with the appointment of Jeff Gorton as his successor.  Even better was when both he and Sather together announced the club would be initiating a rebuild.

I've always believed Jeff Gorton to be his own man.  His resume previous to his employment with the Rangers stands on its own.  He partly helped build the Bruins into the team we know today.  As a member of Boston's front office for most of the 1990's and midway through the 2000's he gained practical experience in team building as assistant general manager.  As we've seen throughout these playoffs, Boston is still in the midst of an extended and very successful run.  I care not why Boston let him go, but felt all along the Rangers were fortunate to secure him when they did.  However, for as long as Sather remained every one's superior I remained forever leery of his existence influence over and above Jeff Gorton and his assumed autonomy moving forward.

Due to recent developments, I'm happy to announce that I no longer harbor suspicions regarding Glen Sather's role with the Rangers - not with John Davidson in the house.  J.D. is not coming back to the Garden if it means having Glen Sather looking over his shoulder, or worse, meddling.  Davidson  possesses a far stronger backbone than that.  He was his own man at St. Louis, and his own man at Columbus, and will continue being his own man as the Rangers lead man in charge.

Davidson also arrives at a rather opportune time.  Gorton has assembled a small army of prospects whom still require extensive evaluation.  He's also inheriting significant salary cap maneuverability, and is extremely well positioned heading into the June entry draft.

I'm copacetic with all of it.

All these decades later, watching a young goalie named John Davidson celebrating with his Rangers team mates after helping defeat the Islanders in the 1979 conference finals still feels like yesterday to me.  As an impressionable 11-year old at the time the memory of that game and that night remain  vivid as ever.  As a broadcaster, his game calls and analysis were brilliant, while his "Oh, Baby!" became the catchphrase for the next generation of fans.  Then he left to run hockey clubs.  Throughout his time as an executive with the St. Louis Blues then with the Columbus Blue Jackets I longed for him to be the Rangers chief executive.

Now we got him.

I couldn't be happier.

New York Rangers Secure Second Overall Pick in NHL Draft Lottery

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

2019 DRAFT LOTTERY

New York Rangers Secure Second Overall Pick

New York Rangers: Glen Sather Determined to Screw Us Till The Very End.

Glen Sather may have originally hired Jeff Gorton as a scout, then put him in charge of Player Development, and then promoted him to Assistant General Manager.  Throughout that time, however, Sather remained alpha figure in the room.  So whatever Sather wanted, Gorton made sure to it.

When Sather retired/fired himself as general manager in 2016, and appointed Jeff Gorton as his replacement, I've since questioned whether Gorton indeed has complete autonomy, or if President Sather is really still calling the shots.

Last February, Jeff Gorton stood at MSG's press room podium reading a prepared statement informing the media and fans of the Rangers plans for initiating a full rebuild.  In the background, and in the fine print of said statement one could sense Glen Sather thinking, "... yeah but we wanna compete at the same time."

i.e., doing things half-ass ... like last year's trade deadline in which they didn't nearly go far enough.  Or this year's trade deadline in which they didn't nearly go far enough.

Now Glen Sather recently announces he's retiring as club president and retreating to a more senior advisory role to owner James Dolan.  Notice the timing of it all: he didn't step aside prior to last year's deadline or this year's deadline; nor did he step aside prior to Tuesday's draft lottery.  He'll very likely still be around come the draft as well.  The question which begs asking, then, is when the hell is he going away?

Sather says we will be advising Jame Dolan with regards to his own replacement.  On a recent interview on sports talk radio, he said he prefers the next president not change the existing operating procedures and structure, and somewhat stressed that the next president of hockey operations follow Sather's parting instructions to the letter.

At least that's how I interpret what he says.

Please just go.

The Rangers finished the season with the sixth least points in the NHL.  By sheer luck of Tuesday's NHL lottery, the Blue Shirts move up with the second overall pick in the upcoming entry level draft.  The onus is now on the new/old/whatever administration to not screw up a golden opportunity.

I've said this before, but ponder the following again if you will ...

In 1994, the Rangers snapped what was then a 54-year championship drought.  The Stanley Cup itself was hoisted up in triumph by a legitimate first line center named Mark Messier.  Sadly, another 25-years have elapsed without winning another.  Not coincidentally, the team has likewise remained hopelessly in search of their next first line center ever since, and to no avail.

How do teams go about obtaining one of these so called first line centers?

In the Rangers case, they were fortunate enough in 1991 to trade for a 31-year old future Hall of Fame center from the Edmonton Oilers.  However, previous to Mark Messier fans need rewind all the way back to Phil Esposito - another Hall of Fame, first line, albeit aging center acquired by trade from the Boston Bruins - whom in 1979 led the club to the Stanley Cup finals, only to meet defeat against the dynastic Montreal Canadiens.

Otherwise, first line centers are drafted.  But unless you're selecting first or second overall - outside of the rare wunderkind slipping through the cracks - odds are you're not securing a legitimate two way first line threat.  In order to be in that position, a team must really, really, suck ... and not just for one season, but endure two and three seasons of complete and utter toilet worthy play.

Here are just a few examples:

• Between the years 2003 through 2006, the Pittsburgh Penguins lost upwards of 65% of their games.  In 2004, they selected Evgeni Malkin with the second overall pick of the entry draft.  The very next year, Pittsburgh selected Sidney Crosby with the first overall pick of the entry draft.

• While not a center, Alex Ovechkin was the player selected first overall ahead of Malkin in the 2004 entry draft.  But in order to get themselves in that position, the Washington Capitals in 2003-2004 lost 64% of their games.

• The Chicago Blackhawks are no different.  Jonathan Toews is an example of a top center being selected third overall in the 2006 entry draft.  The very next year, winger Patrick Kane was the first overall selection of the 2007 entry draft.  However, being in position to draft either player, much less both, required the Blackhawks enduring back-to-back seasons of 60% futility.

• Locally speaking, this is how the Islanders got their hands on their former center John Tavares, and how the Devils were able to draft center Nico Hischier.  BTW, the Devils lucked out yet again by securing the first overall pick ahead of the Rangers.

Historically speaking, the Rangers have never allowed themselves to sink to such depths.  That explains the Rangers decades long lack of elite skill up the middle.  There's been just one instance within my lifetime in which the (1984-1985) Rangers lost 62% of their games.  The previous time occurred the year before I was born.  Between the years 1964 through 1966, they lost on average 64% of their games. After which Emile "the cat" Francis would draft the Rangers back into playoff contention and into the 1972 Stanley Cup finals.

The Rangers caught a break this year.  A number two overall pick should be icing on the cake considering the handsome clutch of draft picks amassed by Gorton over the last two trading periods.

Scuttlebutt says the Rangers will likely zero in on Finnish phenom Kaapo Kakko, who plays wing, not center.

N.Y. Rangers: My Kingdom for a Center

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

TRADE DEADLINE:

Jeff Gorton has jettisoned in excess of 15 players within the last year 

in return for 13 players/prospects and a near equal number of draft picks.

• Mats Zuccarello traded to Dallas for two conditional draft picks
• Kevin Hayse traded to Winnipeg for Brendan Lemieux; 2019 #1 pick; 2022 conditional #4 pick.
• Adam McQuaid traded to Columbus for Julius Bergman; 2019 #4 pick; 2019 #7 pick.

New York Rangers: Jeff Gorton wraps up round two of the purge; with newly accumulated assets in hand, he must now seek out, secure, and build around a legitimate first line center.

One championship in 79-years ... Rangers fans know it all too well.  

In 1994, the Rangers snapped what was then a 54-year drought.  The Stanley Cup itself was hoisted up in triumph by a legitimate first line center named Mark Messier.  Sadly, another 25-years have elapsed without winning another.  Not coincidentally, the team has likewise remained hopelessly in search of their next first line center, to no avail.

How do teams go about obtaining one of these so called first line centers?

In the Rangers case, they were fortunate enough in 1991 to acquire by trade a 31-year old future hall of fame center from the Edmonton Oilers.  Previous to Mark Messier, fans need to rewind all the way back to Phil Esposito - another hall of fame, first line, albeit aging center acquired by trade from the Boston Bruins - whom in 1979 led the club to the Stanley Cup finals, only to meet defeat against the dynastic Montreal Canadiens.

Otherwise, first line centers are drafted.  But unless you're selecting first or second overall - outside of the rare wunderkind slipping through the cracks - odds are you're still not securing a legitimate two way first line threat.  In order to be in that position, a team must really, really, suck ... and not just for one season, but two, or three seasons of complete and utter toilet worthy play.

Here are just a few examples:

• Between the years 2003 through 2006, the Pittsburgh Penguins lost upwards of 65% of their games.  In 2004, they selected Evgeni Malkin with the second overall pick of the entry draft.  The very next year, Pittsburgh selected Sidney Crosby with the first overall pick of the entry draft.

• While not a center, Alex Ovechkin was the player selected first overall ahead of Malkin in the 2004 entry draft.  But in order to get themselves in that position, the Washington Capitals in 2003-2004 lost 64% of their games.

• The Chicago Blackhawks are no different.  Jonathan Toews is an example of a top center being selected third overall (in the 2006 entry draft).  The very next year, winger Patrick Kane was the first overall selection of the 2007 entry draft.  However, being in position to draft either player, much less both, required the Blackhawks enduring back-to-back seasons of 60% futility.

• Locally speaking, this is how the Islanders got their hands on their former center John Tavares, and how the Devils were able to draft center Nico Hischier.

The Rangers, on the other hand, have never allowed themselves to sink to such depths.  That, in a nutshell, explains the Rangers decades long lack of elite skill up the middle.  There's been just one instance within my lifetime (1984-1985) in which the Rangers lost 62% of their games.  The previous time before that occurred before I was born, between the years 1964 through 1966, when they lost 64% of their games, on average.  Under Emile "the cat" Francis they would draft themselves back into playoff contention and into the 1972 Stanley Cup finals.

It was one year ago this month when Jeff Gorton (shadowed by Glen Sather) announced the Rangers were embarking on a full rebuild.  A decision I applauded.  But according to the latest NHL standings, the Rangers are presently only the tenth worst team in hockey.  To my point, that's not nearly bad enough in terms of superior draft positioning.

Jeff Gorton has nonetheless amassed a handsome clutch of draft picks to either stock the organization's ranks, or utilize as trade chips.  The latter seems far more likely, particularly if Jeff Gorton decides to accelerate this rebuild.  For example, if the Rangers can not swing a deal for, say, a thirty-something Jonathan Toews, then acquiring a pair of two way/second line centers I guess would be the next best thing.

N.Y. Rangers: The Jeff Gorton Purge Continues

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

New York Rangers: Mats Zuccarello traded to the Dallas Stars in exchange for two conditional draft picks.

Traded in the midst of his ninth season with the Rangers, Mats Zuccarello has always been considered one of off-Broadway's brightest stars, and will forever remain a fan favorite.

An extremely smart player both with and without the puck, he had a knack for being everywhere his line mates needed him to be.  Also never one to shy away from physical play or steer clear of the dirtier portions of ice, Mats continually demonstrated himself to be an explosive player in a small package.  And for the last five-plus seasons he has easily been one of the team's top forwards, and often times their best.

And there's the rub ...

Taking account of Rangers personnel over the last seven years is to know Mats Zuccarello should never have been the team's top scorer; not with the likes of Rick Nash, Chris Kreider, Ryan Callahan, Brad Richards, Keith Yandle, Kevin Hayse, J.T. Miller, Derick Brassard, Derek Stepan, etc., populating the roster.  Yet between 2013 and 2018, Mats Zuccarello did just that, leading the team in scoring four out of five seasons with an average of 56-points - an indictment against the players, if I may, with whom through the years Zuccarello has been surrounded with, including the man who assembled them together, Glen Sather, whose cap-consuming win now business model inevitably proved ruinous.  This is why the Rangers find themselves in this present condition of tearing it down and rebuilding from the ground up.

I liked MatsZucs as much as the next fan.  But if it's change that you seek, well then things must get worse before getting better.  As such, many of life's best decisions usually start out being the most unpopular ones.  So touche to Jeff Gorton for picking up where he left off last year insofar as trading away players of value for draft picks and prospects; the more, the merrier.  My only gripe is that Gorton has still not gone far enough (last year included). 

But there's still time to jettison more players before Monday's deadline.

N.Y. Rangers: Sudden Woes Continue in Canada

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Retire Ron Greschner's Number!

Sorry, my baseball withdrawal varies from season to season.  It took me longer to kick it this year than others.  I was over it rather quickly last season, but in a rare instance this year's extended through November.  And so, here I am, 27-games into the season, my loss.

I'm essentially picking up where I left off last season.  Therefore I'll be brief.  

David Quinn is cool with me; I presently have no issues.  In fact, he's already a considerable improvement over the previous administration.  The differences in style and the team's level of grittiness are stark.  His sensibilities are far more in line with my own than those of his predecessor's.

In the bigger picture, I'm more concerned with Jeff Gorton's continuing rebuilding efforts.  How far will he go?  Because if we're really talking rebuild, that entails stripping it down.  Last year's deadline transactions were a great start.  As this season's trade deadline approaches, I plead for more of the same.  I love MatZucs, but he's right to expect a trade.  Zuccarello along with Chris Kreider should be moved.  And by no means should Jeff Gorton stop there (if you know what I mean...).

That being said, there's also a "here and now" element to rebuilding.  Newcomers Ryan Strome and Ryan Spooner are savvy acquisitions, as were bringing Adam McQuaid and Cody McLeod into the fold.

Otherwise, I entered this season with no expectations.  And so far, the Rangers are off to a positive start.  In a recent eleven game stretch (Oct. 30 through Nov. 21), they posted a 9-1-1 record.  But if you've noticed, the Rangers have struggled ever since both McQuaid and McLeod were recently lost to injury.  The Rangers are now 1-4-0 in their last five.  Both their respective absences were clearly evident during one-sided losses against the Flyers and Caps.  Then after splitting a home/home series with Ottawa, Montreal took their turn pushing the Blueshirts around on Saturday, as will other bigger teams when the Rangers play without either McQuaid or McLeod, or in this case minus both.

In support of Jeff Gorton (whom I believe forced Glen Sather's hand thereby releasing his grip on the organization), I like what I see.  My hope is he remains disciplined and committed.  Rangers fans are behind this.  Meaning there's every reason to get this done right.

#LGR

N.Y. Rangers: Teen Night Draft Party

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

New York Rangers: Jeff Gorton Drafts Boy Band of Eighteen Year Olds.

With the ninth overall pick of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the Rangers did not select defenseman Oliver Wahlstrom, nor did they select defenseman Noah Dobson.  Both were taken by the Islanders at eleven and twelve overall, respectively.

I'm sure it wasn't until after laughing out loud that new Isles GM Lou Lamoriello scooped them up with haste.

Instead, with their first selection Jeff Gorton and the Rangers (er .. Glen Sather) opted for Vitali Kravtsov, an 18-year old left-hand shooting right wing.  To say I'm disappointed with this selection is an understatement.  This smallish right winger wreaks of Glen Sather ... again!  Kravtsov is listed at 6'2" and 170lbs., and presently plays in the KHL - a league that doesn't hit, doesn't fight, and plays on Olympic size rinks.

On NHL ice, the game closes in on them, and they wind up getting pushed off the puck.

Likewise with regards to Nils Lundkvist, Olaf Lindbom, and Simon Kjellberg all from Sweden, the Swiss born Nico Gross, and Lauri Pajuniemi from Finland.

By no means am I trying to be disparaging.  I just had something else in mind - kind of like what Lou Lamoriello had in mind.

Otherwise, Jeff Gorton drafted five defensemen with his first seven selections and six overall:

• K'andre Miller - 6'3", 204lbs.
• Nils Lundkvist - 5'11, 180lbs.
• Jacob Ragnarsson - 6'0", 176lbs.
• Joey Keane - 6'0", 184lbs.
• Nico Gross - 6'1", 185lbs.
• Simon Kjellberg - 6'3", 190lbs.

Together, they average 6'1", 184lbs.  If you average all nine position players (because for some ponderous reason the Rangers wasted a draft pick on a goalie when they already have two highly touted prospects in their system) they still only average 6'1", 183lbs.

Smurfs!

I don't get it.  Didn't Gorton watch the playoff final four?  Didn't he help draft the Boston Bruins as we know them today?

Unless Glen Sather is indeed involved, I just don't get it.

Then again, who knows ... I'm not familiar with these kids.  My hockey buddy says K'Andre Miller is pretty tough, and at least his size checks out.

Can't say the same for right wing selections Lauri Pajuniemi and Riley Hughes, who average 178lbs. soaking wet.

Needless to say, I'm not the least bit satisfied with this draft.  The Rangers still don't have a top line center or even a prospective one.

I want to be wrong about Jeff Gorton's decisions.

But we shall see.

N.Y. Rangers: Draft Will Confirm Who's Really In Charge

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Talking Tough Is One Thing; 

Drafting Tough Is Another

New York Rangers: David Quinn Named New Head Coach.

I'm not going to pretend I know anything about David Quinn, because I don't.

Nor do I care ...

I'm more concerned with the upcoming June entry draft.  Because if Jeff Gorton selects another bunch of Smurfs, then David Quinn is going to coach Smurfs.  If Jeff Gorton selects a bunch of gargoyles, then David Quinn will coach gargoyles.  If he drafts big tough two-way players with requisite speed, then Quinn will coach such players in a relative manner.

I will simply say Quinn sports a fine resume, and that I welcome a new start with a fresh face.

He becomes the 20th head coach I remember well.  I came to learn of Emil "the cat" Francis only after the famed coach's run with the Rangers ended.  The very first head coach I care to recall is Jean-Guy Talbot, whom otherwise left no real lasting impression upon me.

Fred Shero was head coach when Ron Greschner and the Rangers advanced by the hated New York Islanders en route to the 1978-1979 Stanley Cup finals.  He only lasted two seasons behind the bench (blame Barry Beck), but is worthy of an honorable mention.

Herb Brooks brought his authoritarian style - not to mention his Olympic gold medal - to Madison Square Garden in 1981 and becomes the first head coach I genuinely rallied behind.  Developing a bunch of college kids into TEAM USA and defeating the mighty Russians in 1980 earned Brooks a ton of respect.  Not unexpectedly, though, his taskmaster tactics wore thin with established NHL veterans and would be replaced by the same person he himself succeeded as head coach, i.e., Craig Patrick.

Seemingly out of nowhere, in steps Ted Sator whom astonishingly takes the original cast of off-Broadway Smurfs all the way to the conference finals.  Just as quickly, though, he also steps through and disappears beyond the Eighth Avenue steam pipes.

Fast forward ... Roger Neilson is the first Rangers head coach to win the President's Trophy.  However, like Mark Messier I couldn't stand the guy nor his system.  The Rangers clearly were in need of a major kick in the posterior, and Mike Keenan was the absolute right guy to administer just that.  But because Rangers head coaches traditionally have the lifespan of a fruit fly, Keenan left after just one (Stanley Cup) season.

Rangers fans were for the most part behind his successor, Colin Campbell.  It's just that general manager Neil Smith started making some ponderously awful trades for sake of prolonging an increasingly futile run for another Cup.

Enter the Glen Sather era ...

His body of work spanning 2000-2004 on its own should have qualified as a fire-able offense.  Unfortunately in the eyes and mind of James Dolan, the omniscient Sather can do no wrong.

John Tortorella's arrival finally marks the first time Sather starts taking seriously actual NHL level player development.  I believe now as I did back then that Tortorella slammed the brakes on Sather's impatience regarding young inexperienced players and prospects.  I'm convinced Torts did indeed hold sway over Sather, by effectively taking charge of an emerging group of players (drafted by Jeff Gorton), letting them develop together, and giving them a sorely needed identity.  If left to his own device, Glen Sather very likely would have traded many eventual endearing players, away.

However, due to his already obnoxious and increasingly erratic behavior, Torts absolutely earned his dismissal.

Shame ... (Rick Nash really let him (us) down).

Tortorella is then replaced with the diametrically opposite Alian Vigneault, whom I wanted fired the minute he was hired.  If the Canadiens didn't want him, and the Vancouver Canucks fired him in an effort to increase toughness, then I certainly didn't want Vigneault coaching the Rangers.  Let's be clear - he took Tortorella's team to the Stanley Cup finals.  But that team then underwent considerable changes to better suit Vigneault's style, of which Glen Sather was all in.  And where did that get Tex's Rangers?

Hence the genesis of today's condition.

Rewind back to the organization's statement announcing a change in direction.  My untrained ears heard Jeff Gorton wanting to gut this pig.  But I also heard Glen Sather in the background whining about wanting to rebuild while staying competitive at the same time (which we know is complete garbage nonsense).  I think Jeff Gorton recognized this as well, and may have gone so far as calling out Sather over his repeated attempts at tomfoolery (as I suspect Tortorella once did).

While serving as both assistant and interim general manager for Boston, Gorton played a large role in building up the Bruins as we know them today.  Yet, he was dismissed from Boston and hired by Sather with haste to replace Don Maloney (whom accepted the general manager's position with the Phoenix Coyotes) as head of scouting and development.  Gorton, therefore, has been a front row witness to Sather's follies for the past twelve years.  And at this juncture in his career I believe he can get an NHL job anywhere there's a need for a qualified general manager.

Therefore, why wouldn't Gorton issue Sather an ultimatum, i.e., either the rebuild goes according to his plan, or he seeks employment elsewhere.  After thinking the situation through, my fantastical scenario says Sather gave Gorton his blessings to proceed forward.

And, he did ...

• February 20: Nick Holden remarkably traded to Boston in exchange for defender Rob O'Gara and Boston's third round pick 2018 draft.  I wouldn't have given the NYR three pucks and a roll of tape ... but that's just me.  Rob O'Gara is 24-years old, 6'4" 215 lbs.

• February 23: Michael Grabner traded to rival New Jersey Devils in exchange for defender Yegor Rykov and Newark's second round pick 2018 draft.  Yegor Rykov is 20-years old, 6'1" 205 lbs.

• February 25: Rich Nash traded to Boston in exchange for three players (Ryan Spooner, Matt Belesky, and prospect defender Ryan Lindgren), plus the Bruins first round pick 2018 draft, and their seventh round pick 2019 draft.  Ryan Lindgren is 20-years old, a stocky 5'11" 203 lbs.

• February 26: Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller traded to Tampa Bay Lighting in exchange for forward Vladislav Namestnikov, prospects Libor Hajek and Brett Howden, the Bolts first round pick 2018 draft, and a conditional second round pick 2019 draft.  Defenseman Libor Hajek is 20-years old, 6'2" 196 lbs.  Centerman Brett Howden is 19-years old, 6'2" 193 lbs.

The 2018 NHL entry draft is less than thirty days away.

With an eye towards the future, Jeff Gorton spoke of becoming a more physical team.

With his mind on the present, David Quinn spoke of being a physical team.

Fine.

Now we find out who's really in charge.

Talking crunch is one thing; drafting crunch is another.  If it turns out being the latter, then Gorton is calling the shots.  If it turns out being the former, then we know Sather is still firmly in charge.

N.Y. Rangers: Far From a Happy New Year

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Bring on the Bruins;

Not like things can get any worse.

New York Rangers: What a Sad State of Affairs ...

So how do the Rangers follow up Saturday's embarrassing display at Nashville?  With another lame loss against the Stars at Dallas.

That makes ten losses in their last fifteen games.  Said another way, they've lost twice as many games as they've won since New Year's Day.  And I'm not talking overtime losses, or the shoot-out variety - at least there are potential points to be earned for such losses.

The Rangers lost these ten games outright - no points.  Moreover,  they got outscored over those ten losses by an alarming 16-46 margin.  That translates into 1.6 goals for, and 4.6  goals against - a full three goal disparity.

I reject the notion injury is solely to blame.  Then how does one explain their poor play back in October?

Let's not be naive about this situation.  The Rangers have been suffering the same recycling deficiencies and inefficiencies long before injuries to Chris Krieider, Kevin Hayes, Jimmy Vesey, Marc Staal, Kevin Shattenkirk, or anyone else who has missed time this season.

I've been saying this ever since Alain Vigneault arrived off-Broadway, and at this point, there's only so many times I can repeat myself: the Rangers are too small, and are one of the league's weakest teams up the middle.  They play with an embarrassing and woeful lack of physicality.  Teams, therefore, know taking liberties against the Rangers comes free of repercussions (aside from NHL discipline, that is).

Look no further than the Nashville Predators game.  At the very least, Alain Vigneault should have been ejected for littering the ice with sticks, pucks, water bottles, gloves, clipboards, rolls of tape, and anything else he could have gotten his hands on.

Throw a shoe at the ref ... something!!

But in response to Nashville's dirty deeds levied upon Marc Staal and Jimmy Vesey, Vigneault did nothing.

That goes back to something else I've said many times - Alain Vigneault's system gets players hurt.

Nothing ...

On Monday, he watched Henrik face another 41-shots against the Stars at Dallas.  But, again, I refuse to put all that on playing shorthanded.  That's simply called not taking the body and protecting the ice between the dots.

I don't need someone making $8.5 million to ensure my goalie is being protected.  Just someone who makes the opposition think twice about their intentions, and isn't afraid to knock rambunctious forwards off the puck, or on their ass.

Just saying ...

The Rangers have 29 games left in the regular season.  They're in last place of the Metropolitan Division, and presently three points out of the playoff picture.

As a great football coach once said, "You are what your record says you are."  That means the Rangers (25-23-5) are presently a sub par team.

I'll take that a step further and say they're the ninth worst team in the NHL.

The trade deadline is fast approaching.  Jeff Gorton already asked Rick Nash to submit a list of teams for which he'd approve a trade.

That sounds promising, but moving him should only be scratching the surface.  Jeff Gorton better be hot on the phone with other GMs looking to reduce this pedestrian population we call the New York Rangers.

And can we finally fire Glen Sather?

Please?

N.Y. Rangers: The Slides of March

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

NEW YORK RANGERS: Cowering Down to the Real Competition.

The Rangers closed out February with a 9-4 record.  But they won't be getting a pat on the back from me.

I refuse to be fooled - not after consecutive losses against the Blue Jackets and Capitals, and another against the Canadiens, all at Madison Soft Garden.

During their 5-2 loss against Columbus, it was the same old story.  In each of their five games against the Blue Jackets, one hit to the body and the Rangers were easily pushed off the puck.

Two nights later, the visiting Caps quite literally left their feet as part of a concerted physical attack upon the Rangers.  Alex Ovechkin clearly took a leap at Jesper Fast.  The refs didn't call the blatant infraction, and of course, Alain Vigneault turned a blind eye.  But the Blueshirts didn't just get pushed around by a bigger, tougher team.  They got down right beat up.  Just ask Adam Clendening, who found himself on the receiving end of a series of upper cuts during a very one-sided fight against Washington's Daniel Winnik.

And don't think I forgot about how Dallas' Cody Eakin barreled through Henrik Lundqvist on Dec. 15, then how Boston's David Backes basically did the same this past Thursday.  Both incidences were ignored by Vigneault.  On Saturday, Montreal's smallish Brendan Gallagher took his turn at Lundqvist, which at least was met with mild exception from Marc Staal.

I've said it a million times: Vigneault's policy of turning the other cheek gets people hurt.

Low and behold, Jesper Fast will miss upwards of two to three weeks with a separated shoulder.

That's all that really matters in my method of accounting.

With the playoffs fast approaching, why do you suppose the Montreal Canadiens focused on getting bigger and tougher at the trade deadline?  They traded several smaller players for beefcake blue liners Brandon Davidson and Jordie Benn (whom average 6'2" 204 lbs.), along with hulking forwards Dwight King (6'4" 232 lbs.) and Andreas Martinsen (6'3" 220 lbs.).

Jeff Gorton?

The Rangers general manager acquired defenseman Brendan Smith from Detroit (for two draft picks), whom doesn't even tip the scale at 200 lbs.

With Kevin Klein missing time, and Dan Girardi now nursing an ankle injury, the move to bring in Smith was necessary.  He even received a favorable scouting report from Ron Duguay, who said on the MSG pregame Smith will protect Henrik Lundqvist.

I hope so, because Vigneault won't.

Coach continues believing speed and finesse will overcome all.

Speed is nice, but it's not the end-all-be-all method of puck matriculation.  Speed can be slowed down, and even be brought to a grinding halt.  Which is to say speed can be neutralized.  Physicality and toughness, however, are near constants.  They come to the ice every night.  If nothing else, what Columbus, Washington, and Montreal, all did was simply weigh down the (Smurfs) Rangers.

If you watched Saturday's game against the Habs, you also figured out there was little Brendan Smith could do against Andreas Martinsen's forechecking.  And just for kicks ... did anyone catch how Steve Ott (another Montreal trade deadline acquisition) towered over J.T. Miller?

Comical ... (sigh).

Come the playoffs, I have little confidence the Rangers can advance by Columbus, or Washington, or Pittsburgh, or even Montreal.  Beyond speed and Henrik Lundqvist, I base that on their record.

Saturday's victory over the Rangers gives the Habs a 3-0 regular season series sweep.  That lowered the Blueshirts record to 5-9 against the aforementioned four teams.  They also lost their season series 2-3 against Columbus.  They are down 1-2 against Pittsburgh with two games remaining, and have one more game against Washington.

I've said this a million times as well: you can pirouette your way through mean competition during the regular season, but you can't do that in short series/playoffs.

N.Y. Rangers: Fast Forward

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

TEX'S RANGERS

90th Season

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

1926  ~  MEMBER  ~  2016

NEW YORK RANGERS: Jeff Gorton Spent Off-Season Appeasing Alain Vigneault's Unyielding Need for Speed.

If in any way Monday's effort against a (usually bigger) Western Conference team served as an early indication, then spending yet another off-season trying to increase team speed may yield Lord Stanley's approval yet.

Fans filed out of Madison Square Garden elated their New York Rangers disposed of the visiting San Jose Sharks by a 7-4 final.  A particularly inspired effort from Chris Kreider, and yes, collective speed, that which coach Alain Vigneault values so much, served as the main impetus for victory.

You must know I'm being kind, because there will be no pom-pom waving from me.  I have little faith in Vigneault, his system, and his preferred style of play to begin with, then seethed over the pre-season scuttlebutt regarding a potential trade of Dylan McIlrath.

So what better way to way to join the fray than on the night Dylan made his first start of the 2016-17 regular season.  

As we know, McIlrath only started as a result of Dan Girardi's injury.  And be sure, this will not be Girardi's last injury of the season.  He's put in a lot of hard and much appreciated time manning the blue line, but it started catching up to him last season, if not earlier.

Then I look at Marc Staal.  Fan favorite, right?  Too bad he never comes out of the corners with the puck.  I'm not trying to be intentionally or overly critical, but let's be honest about his situation.  We all realize Staal is one big hit away from another lost season, or worse, a potential end to his career - and he plays that way.

Dylan McIlrath has played well defensively during his limited ice time, while providing a big, strong, physical presence around the net, and passing the puck back up ice as smartly as Alain Vigneault can expect.

Yet, spanning a few years now, Alain Vigneault continues finding little use for him when the blue line required his presence most.  Coach's bias towards McIlrath is clear.  But the man is a good defenseman, rendering Vigneault's varying justifications indefensible.

It's ponderous to me, though, as Alain Vigneault was a defenseman as a player.  He knows what it's like when forced into turning your back (and retrieving pucks along the boards) with onrushing forwards bearing down.

Don't forget this...

Coach Vigneault tells the media one thing, but then conducts his team in a different manner.

I said it before, and I'll say it again.  His system is great for the regular season.  The Rangers will indeed make the playoffs.  It is then, however, his philosophy, style, and system, all fall apart like wet toilet paper.

N.Y. Rangers: Glen Sather is Still in the Building

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Glen Sather spent wheel barrels of bad money on the likes of

Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Brad Richards, just to name a few.

But, there was no money for Ryan Callahan or Carl Hagelin...

NEW YORK RANGERS: Glen Sather didn't step aside soon enough.  Why can't he just leave, and hand off the team's remaining assets to Jeff Gorton already; please!

It's high time Glen Sather hastened his decision to step away from the office of general manager. Every day he further delays his decision is a detriment to the team and to the mental well being of Rangers fans.

If trading Carl Hagelin was indeed a cap move, (which is was), then who maxed out the cap in the first place?  Hagelin now joins Ryan Callahan as former Rangers Glen Sather couldn't afford.

That's irritating considering all the bad money he's thrown around.

I wasn't averse to trading Hagelin.  He never did maximize his potential here.  He's fast and young, and had opportunities under two different coaches with differing styles to get his game figured out.   He needed to become more than just a PK specialist, and didn't.  It seemed as if he wasn't scoring on a breakaway, his offensive game remained relatively inconsequential.

Fact is, the Rangers were in need of so much more from Hagelin, or in return from this trade, but walk away from this seemingly empty handed (outside of saving a few bucks).  I have a big problem when the player received in return isn't nearly as good, which is exactly what the Rangers are getting in Emerson Etem - a lesser player.  Suffice to say, Glen Sather far from maximized Hagelin's worth.

On another note, trading Hagelin is also an admission by the front office that the team needs to get bigger and tougher.

My same dissatisfaction applies for the trading of Cam Talbot.

Once again, I was not averse to trading Talbot.  The Rangers had a hot commodity.

Clearly, something needed to be done.  The Rangers went without a #1 and #2 pick in the 2013 draft, and were without a #1 pick last year.

I wonder who created that situation...

So, Sather traded Talbot to the Edmonton Oilers for the 57th, 79th, and 184th picks of the recent draft.  Very simply, Glen Sather got ripped off.  After reading around, the common sentiment is that Sather overplayed his hand, and blew it.

By his own semi-admission, it's time, then, for him to finally step down as general manager of the New York Rangers.

His tenure started horribly, and ended well.  That's fair, so let's leave it at that, because the next thing I'll say is the team just took a step backwards.


2015 Draft Selections:
#41 Ryan Gropp-W
#62 Robin Kovacs-W
#79 Sergey Zborovskiy-D
#89 Aleksi Saarela-C
#113 Brad Morrison-C
#119 Daniel Bernhardt-W
#184 Adam Huska-G



Mike