N.J. Devils: Look Who's Number One

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY STYX

Newark Youth Gone Wild

NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Naysayers Be Damned..!

If you didn't know, the rebuilding New Jersey Devils are off to their best start in franchise history.

With Wednesday evening's 2-0 whitewashing of the Canucks in Vancouver, the Devils remain unbeaten through five games on the road, and improved to 9-2-0 overall.

For the moment, they lead the Metropolitan Division by a point over the Pittsburgh Penguins, while their 18 points are second in the Eastern Conference behind the Tampa Bay Lightning.

This all somewhat unexpected, but not that far fetched.

The Devils went 28-40-14 last season, which earned them the number one overall pick in the 2017 entry draft.  The real question is how far away were they away from converting some of last year's 14 overtime losses, which ranked third most in the league?

Between Oct. 17 through the 27th, three of the Devils four games exceeded regulation time.  They emerged victorious in a shoot-out victory over Tampa Bay, then defeated Ottawa two nights later in overtime.  After falling 3-0 to the San Jose Sharks, the Devils took the rematch over the Senators, winning 5-4 in their second shoot-out of the season.

The Devils are presently fifth in the league in scoring.  Their +11 goal differential is likewise second only to Tampa in the conference, and fourth best in the league.

Perhaps, that's the part no one saw coming.

For the moment, all eyes are on 19-year old Jesper Bratt.  The 162nd overall selection in the 2016 draft, the Devils rookie winger has ten points (4 goals, 6 assists) in his first 11 games.

As the number one overall pick of the 2010 draft, Edmonton Oilers fans might have felt shortchanged by winger Taylor Hall, who perhaps did leave something to be desired.  Now in his second season with New Jersey, though, he presently leads the Devils with 15 points.

Circling back to New Jersey's number one overall pick ... centerman Nico Hischier has a pair of goals and five assists in 11 games.  Center Adam Henrique, meanwhile, could possibly be heading towards his first career 60 point season.  And, no, I have no explanation for Brian Gibbons' team leading five goals.

However, I do know defense is really leading the New Jersey Devils' way.  Their 31 goals against are presently second fewest in the conference.

Drafted by Ray Shero in the second round of the 2012 entry draft, and now entering his fourth season, 23-year old Damon Severson is listed at 6'2", 205 lbs.  Shero then selected Steven Santini in the second round of the 2013 draft.  He is 22-years old, similarly listed at 6"2", and 205lbs., and now working full-time after appearing in 38 games last season.

In June of this year, Shero traded the Devils second and fourth round picks to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Mirco Mueller and a fifth round pick.  He is 22-years old, and listed at a somewhat larger 6'3", 210lbs.  In August, Shero then signed 22-year old Will Butcher to an entry level deal.  Somewhat smallish by comparison, he more closely resembles Andy Greene, listed at 5'10", and 199lbs.  Yet, he is second on the Devils with 11 assists so far this season, with seven coming on the power play.

Otherwise, Newark's blueliners come replete with stabilizing veterans.  Senior Devil Andy Greene is now in his 12th season with the club.  Signed as a free agent, the locally familiar John Moore was one of Ray Shero's first transactions after taking over for Lou Lamoriello as general manager.  Moore, listed at 6'3" 200lbs., posted a career high 10 goals, and 22 points last season.  Ben Lovejoy, now in year two of a three-year free agent deal, also brought size (6'1", 205lbs.) and Stanley Cup experience to the fold.

Surely, then, early season victories against Colorado, Toronto, the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay, Ottawa, and Vancouver, must count for something.

Have some courtesy ... give John Hynes and the Devils their due.

N.Y. Rangers: Sizing Up The Blueshirts

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

NEW YORK RANGERS: The Big Blue Glacier Has Melted.

It's time to drop the puck again, but the Rangers will be doing it without Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin, as both are still working back from shoulder surgery.  I wonder how Callahan really feels regarding John Tortorella's departure?  After all, Torts made him the model to follow; the ideal player; and the Captain.  He basically spent three seasons building around Ryan Callahan.  Moving forward, at least Carl Hagelin won't have to play looking over his shoulder anymore.

I guess we need to welcome back center Dominic Moore.  Remember the HMO Line; Halweg, Moore, and Ortmeyer?  You might say Glen Sather outlasted Derek Stepan and his agent, as the Rangers center signed for closer to the club figure than their own proposal.  Two years from now, we'll have to renegotiate all over again.  I'm looking forward to a hefty contribution from Derick Brassard.  I like J.T. Miller and of course it's always good to see Brain Boyle.  Brad Richards is the lone center man with any accompanying baggage.

On the wing, I like Jesper Fast.  I think he can be an effective, physical two-way player, who also skates with speed.  If he and Carl Hagelin can share a line together, their combined speed can create problems for defensemen.  I liked last year's acquisitions of Taylor Pyatt and Derek Dorsett.  Along with Rick Nash, Pyatt in particular gives us good size on the forward line.  I can't get myself to shake pom-poms over Aaron Asham and Benoit Pouliot though.  Lastly, we know the deal regarding Mats Zuccarello.

When Michael Del Zotto has his head screwed on right, the Rangers can skate two defensive lines that rival any in the league.  Of course that also depends if Marc Staal continues to fully recover from a lengthy concussion.  Slowly but surely we started getting back the old Staal last season.  I'm hoping this season, he's back on his game for the entire haul.  I like John Moore.  He and Justin Falk instantly became our two biggest defensemen.  Moore weighs in at 214 pounds, while Falk is listed at 215 lbs.  At 6'5", Justin Falk is also an inch taller than Marc Staal.  Anton Stralman is the littlest blue liner - coming it at 5'11" and only 190 pounds.  The Rangers are going with seven defensemen to start the season.

Henrik is the King.  What more is there to say, other than the club better get him signed to a contract.  On the ice and between the pipes, Coach Alain Vigneault's system is going to create a whole new condition for Lundqvist.  He will see more pucks and they will be coming from more angles than he was used to.  His mates won't be blocking nearly as many shots this season either.  Marty Biron is back to caddy Henrik.  In last year's shortened season, Biron was never able to fully establish himself in his role as back-up.  The schedule didn't allow for very well planned out breaks for Lundqvist.

What I really want to know is, when a member of the opposition takes their first run at Lunqvist, who will be sticking up for him?  Granted, the Rangers added much needed size, but the toughness remains to be seen.  Circling back to John Moore, that's why I like him.  He can take care of himself and doesn't seem hesitant to mix it up.

Two seasons ago, the Rangers led the league in fighting, and in particular, led in fights within the first five minutes of a game.  They dictated the play more back then by imposing themselves and their style.  The key player in all that was Brandon Prust.  In his absence, the Rangers sorely lacked that effect last season, and it showed!  As a team, they spent far too much time getting pushed off the puck.

There's a new sheriff on Broadway, and his name is Alain Vigneault.  His hockey style is western. The Rangers spent three years moving forward with the power of a glacier, then met some resistance last season, and so Glen Sather started changing things up.  Now the plan is to skate with speed like - wind driven snow?

What's done is done.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers: Henrik's Turn To Steal Game Five

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

2012 - 2013

Stanley Cup Playoffs - Quarter Final Round

 

SERIES TIED 2-2

I - WAS 3; NYR 1

II - WAS 1; NYR 0*

III - NYR 4; WAS 3

IV - NYR 4; WAS 3

*overtime

 

GAME FIVE

TONIGHT

 

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

Washington Capitals

FROM

A Place Named After The Phone Company

Washington D.C.

 

 

NEW YORK RANGERS - The King of the Blueshirts Returns to Nation's Capital.

 

The 4-3 final score of Game Four didn't tell the whole story.  The Blueshirts defense was very good.  Without the services of Marc Staal again, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh and John Moore all played excellent games, once again holding Alex Ovechkin to no goals.  Overall bad play from Michael Del Zotto however, and a pair of soft goals allowed by Lundqvist almost conspired against the Rangers.

Otherwise, mission accomplished.  It was important for the Rangers to deflate some of Braden Holtby's confidence these last two games at the Garden.  In the first period when Holtby foolishly came way out of his crease to play a puck, and was forced to scramble back, he slid right past the goal mouth like Wile E. Coyote in Ice Capades.  Unsettled goalies do dumb things like that.  He then was helpless to stop Carl Hagelin's booming second period slap shot from the left circle.  Holtby allowed a PP goal to Dan Girardi inside the opening minute of the third period.  And before the final buzzer, the Blueshirts punctuated Holtby's night with some tic-tac-toe passing around the crease on Derek Stepan's goal.  That is as wide and varied an attack you'd want to confront a goalie with.  Holtby was way too comfortable during the first two games in Washington.  Eight goals and two games later, we now have ourselves a series.

Except for the last ten minutes of the second period, the Rangers played a rather complete game.  Brian Boyle was brilliant on the face off.  The Rangers won 34 face-offs versus 19 for Washington.  They also laid the body all night long - 38 hits to 20 for the Caps.  They kept penalties limited to two, and created quality shots in open ice.  Three or four times, the Rangers made good passes from the dots into the slot - See Matt Zuccarello.


And now, with Braden Holtby on the ropes, perhaps it's time Henrik Lundqvist steals a game for us on the road.  He can't be that snake-bitten, can he?  There is no arguing Henrik has allowed several soft goals this series.  Tonight, the Blueshirts need their Liege.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers: Glen Sather Pedalling A Vicious Cycle

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS


NEW YORK RANGERS - Can't Stop The Dominoes Once They Start Falling.


Hit the music and let's sing an old song...  Welcome to the continuing domino effect born of mindless reactive general managing.  The team's present situation could have been avoided if Glen Sather would have just signed Colton Orr.  There was, and still is no defending the decision not to re-sign Orr - not with the ill-advised deals Sather gave Donald Brashear and Derek Boogaard, etc..  Brandon Prust finally stepped into Colton Orr's old role, and did so admirably.


Many fans still can't grasp the duality of the Rangers fighting ways of last year, with overall physical toughness.  Brandon Prust didn't just fight.  He helped maintain the offensive zone.  He did so with hard work, and a strong physical effort.  Brandon helped possess the puck, while it was the more skilled players responsibility to crash the net, get a shot on goal, and score.  But yeah, fighting helps.  Fists embed doubt in opponents minds.  It sets a tone.  Fighting is an effective way to impose your will on the ice.  Not once, but twice, Glen Sather hardly found those type of unheralded contributions  worth the monetary price, and twice he paid for it.  He is continually having to correct mistakes.  Sather's latest gross miscalculation demanded he replace some of the toughness he let get away.


Last season, this team lurched forward with the power and grace of a big blue glacier, that grinded down all opponents in their path - up until they met the New Jersey resistance.  As recently as this past Tuesday morning, they've been a shell of last year's team.  Even with Rick Nash, the Rangers have somehow managed to score less than last year's team.  Fighting is down, scoring is down, and Marc Staal is down.  Something had to give.  Now that the NHL trade deadline has passed, this team looks even less like the one that went to last year's Eastern Conference finals.


But I've been through all this before.  I just don't want to sound like a skipping record.

January 19 - Four Points of Concern
January 20 - Bruins Expose A Fistful of Problems
January 22 - Not Re-Signing Colton Orr Still A Mistake
January 24 - Getting Pushed Off The Puck, And Getting Pushed Around
January 28 - THE SMURFS ARE BACK!


I knew from the very beginning, that after the Rick Nash trade, this roster needed major reworking.  I've said it many times.  The Marian Gaborik trade was a curious one to say the least.  I just hope it works out.  There were actually more reasons to pull off such a deal, than not.  Big money and paltry results were very troublesome.  Salary cap wise, the Rangers needed the cap space in order to retain some of their current young talent - cap space they would not otherwise have had.  On the ice, Gaborik was increasingly falling more and more out of favor with Coach Torts.  Marian's style, and the Rangers style under Torts became incompatible.  Gaborik was also increasingly being excluded from third period play.  If that is what his situation degenerated to, then why keep him?


Don't ask me to get caught up in what Ryane Clowe, Derik Brassard, and John Moore contributed Wednesday evening against the Penguins during a 6-1 Blueshirt victory.  I was there.  Yeah, it was fun.  At the moment however, being sandwiched in between the Islanders and Devils in the Eastern Conference standings with twelve games left is a bit distressing.  These guys need to learn how to play together quickly.



Mike.BTB