Rangers Daily: Liam Greentree shows fire; Devils look like toast
After watching the New York Rangers sleepwalk through another dreadful loss on home ice Thursday, you just might appreciate what their newest prospect, Liam Greentree, did in his OHL game on the same night.
No, he didn’t score a hat trick nor make a highlight-reel play. In fact, Greentree didn’t land on the score sheet at all, and actually failed to score in the shootout, when his Windsor Spitfires lost 5-4 to the North Bay Battalion.
But what the 20-year-old forward did do was show a pulse. And some fire. Which is something in short supply with the Rangers these days.
Now, granted, taking a 10-minute misconduct penalty for abuse of officials midway through the third period with your team clinging to a one-goal lead is suboptimal. It occurred after the referee already assed him a minor penalty for holding at 10:17.
Greentree is Windsor’s captain. He knows better. And though North Bay didn’t score on the ensuing power play, they did pull even at even strength with Greentree sitting in the box. In fact, Windsor played the rest of the game without Greentree, one of their best players with 23 goals and 45 points in 35 games this season, playing even one more shift. Then he came in cold for the failed shootout attempt.
But let’s circle back to the fact that he showed some fire. Boy do the Rangers need a whole lot more of that. Remember, not too long ago Braden Schneider and Mika Zibanejad called the Blueshirts “fragile.”
J.T. Miller was supposed to set the example for bringing the heat night-in, night-out. Now, he just looks dazed, and like he couldn’t wait to jet off to Milan for Winter Olympics after that 2-0 no-show against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
But importing more players — preferably younger ones — with a healthy dose of skill and fire, as the Rangers did by acquiring Greentree in the Artemi Panarin trade with the Los Angeles Kings? Yes, please.
Most NHL prospects experts see Greentree, a 2024 first-round draft pick by the Kings, as a top-nine forward, maxing out in a top-six role. Perhaps similar to Will Cuylle, who also played junior with Windsor. Detractors note that Greentree is not physical enough given his size (6-foot-3, 216 pounds), but few doubt his skill and ability to get to the net. Playing with high-end talent a year ago, Greentree scored 49 goals and racked up 119 points in the OHL.
Of course, Brennan Othmann was a first-rounder that tore it up in the OHL as a big bruising forward, too. And that’s not exactly working out so great for the Rangers right about now.
But let’s end on a positive note, though. Check out this video of Greentree making the rounds on social media. Enjoy!
New York Rangers news and analysis
We’ve got a slew of key Rangers takeaways from that 2-0 loss to the Hurricanes on Thursday night at MSG.
Speaking of takeaways, here is a detailed breakdown of all that general manager Chris Drury said in his presser with reporters following the Panarin trade Wednesday.
Now that the Panarin trade limbo was finally lifted with a clear resolution, coach Mike Sullivan hopes the Rangers can “move on” without that uncertainty hanging over the team.
ICYMI: our Lou Orlando handed out trade grades for the Rangers and Kings after Panarin moved from Broadway to Hollywood.
Also, check out Pat Pickens’ Top 10 list of greatest Rangers moments for Panarin.
The Athletic ($$): Speaking of Panarin, Eric Stephens breaks down where exactly the former Rangers star fits with the Kings, and what number will he wear moving forward?
NHL news and rumors
New Jersey Hockey Now: You know which NHL team may just be more disappointing this season than the Rangers? Their rivals across the Hudson, that’s who. And James Nichols pretty much tossed in the towel for the Devils after their 3-1 loss to the Islanders on Thursday.
NHL.com: Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis is canceling his trip to Cabo now that he’s replacing the injured Brayden Point on Team Canada’s roster for the Winter Olympics.
The Athletic ($$): How about Leon Draisaitl placing the bullseye of blame on the Edmonton Oilers coaching staff amid their disappointing season?
Sportsnet: Old friend Jeff Gorton has some difficult decisions to make ahead of the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline for his Montreal Canadiens, who hit the break second in the ATlantic Division.
TSN: Calgary Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau will undergo hip surgery and miss the rest of the season.
Florida Hockey Now: Holy hell, the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning really hate one another. George Richards fills you in on the latest, including Panthers coach Paul Maurice getting tossed in 6-1 loss to Lightning.
