Rangers Roundup: Czar against Devils, Lias update, and trade bait

Anthony Scultore Updated: Jan 9, 2020

The fun never stops lately in Rangers town as the news keeps coming in on a variety of topics. Lias Andersson continues to be a hot topic, while Craig Custance is looking at Rangers trade bait. Finally, we give you some pre game notes for tonight’s contest versus the Devils.

Lias Update

No one has been covering the situations with Lias Andersson better than us. From today’s articles here and here to this latest news. Earlier today, Darren Dreger tweeted that through his agent, Lias wanted to clarify some things. I followed up with a source close to this that said Andersson saw the English translations and wanted it straightened out.

Per source very close to the situation, Lias got wind of the English translations and wanted his agent to clarify. #NYR https://t.co/IhojXTm1RX
— Forever Blueshirts (@4EverBlueshirts) January 9, 2020

Trade Bait

The Athletic did a trade article recently and identified a handful of Rangers as trade bait. They are Chris Kreider, Alex Georgiev, Tony DeAngelo, and Ryan Strome. Aside from Kreider and Georgiev, I don’t even understand naming the other two.

In the pod with @OvertimeScottB and @PierreVLeBrun, we talked a lot about players on our NHL Trade Big Board. You can check that out here: https://t.co/6uqQTIP54o
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) January 9, 2020

Pre-Game Notes:

Igor starting, officially. Lindgren in, officially. DQ said they will talk after the game about a plan for Hajek, who is close to returning.
— Colin Stephenson (@ColinSNewsday) January 9, 2020

All-Time*: 119-93-27-10 (66-32-20-4 at home; 53-61-7-6 on the road) *Note: All-time record includes games against the Kansas City Scouts from 1974-75 – 1975-76 and the Colorado Rockies from 1976-77 – 1981-82
2019-20: Tomorrow’s game is the third of four meetings between the Rangers and Devils, and the first of two meetings between the two teams at MSG. The Rangers have posted a 1-1-0 record (0-0-0 at home; 1-1-0 on the road) and won the last game between the two teams, 4-0, on Nov. 30 at New Jersey.
Igor Shesterkin earned his first career NHL win while making his NHL debut on Jan. 7 vs. Colorado. He became the fifth Rangers goaltender to earn a win in his regular-season NHL debut since 1979-80 (John Vanbiesbrouck, Mike Richter, Dan Cloutier, and Mackenzie Skapski) and he is one of only two Rangers goaltenders over the span who have earned a win in their regular-season NHL debut while playing at MSG (Richter – Oct. 19, 1989 vs. Hartford; note – Richter played in one playoff game before making his regular-season NHL debut). Shesterkin also became the first goaltender who was born in Russia to play in a game for the Rangers in franchise history (Note: Alexandar Georgiev was the first goaltender of Russian nationality to appear in a game for the Rangers). He is the 50th rookie goaltender who has appeared in a game with the Rangers in franchise history. Shesterkin has appeared in 23 AHL games with Hartford this season, posting a 15-4-3 record, along with a 1.93 GAA, a .932 SV%, and 3 SO. He was selected to play in the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic, as he led the AHL in GAA, and ranked second in the AHL in wins and SV% this season when he was recalled by the Rangers on Jan. 6.

Notes courtesy of NYR