New York Rangers Daily: Managing passionate Blueshirts Faithful on social media; Hurricanes coach reveals Mikko Rantanen truth
Talking New York Rangers on social media can be a fun and frustrating experience all at the same time. If you love snark and sarcasm, it’s there in spades. Passion? You better believe it. Irrational takes? Absolutely. Smart thoughtful opinions? That too.
It’s not always for the faint of heart, of course. But having been an NHL reporter since before Twitter (now X) was even created, I’m well-versed in the give and take, that often borders on irrational with Rangers fans.
Such was the case when a simple post by me before the Rangers hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday fired up a certain contingent of Blueshirts Faithful. Apparently, it was blasphemous that I agreed with coach Peter Laviolette’s decision to scratch Juuso Parssinen and insert rookie Brett Berard into the lineup one day after New York’s 4-3 overtime loss in Ottawa.
The first snark arrived quickly in my notifications.
“This is Berard not Bedard” it read, sarcastically referring to the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
That was quickly followed by “It’s not the lines dude the team is shot. Berard not going to change anything.”
Then my favorite tweet of the day: “Glad to see we got 2 healthy scratches for Lindgren and Vesey.” That is in reference to Calvin de Haan joining Parssinen in the press box.
That was quickly followed by more vitriol — to be honest, directed more at Laviolette than me — angrily questioning how Parssinen could be a healthy scratch just four games after being acquired in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche! Especially after that great video made the rounds on social showing Parssinen score a sick shootout goal! I mean, this guy’s the next stud! The Rangers are benching a future star! Laviolette doesn’t develop young players!
Well, I guess it was overlooked that Berard is 22 and Parssinen in 24. But that’s not even the point here.
As hysteria mounted over a pretty simple lineup decision, I had a laugh or 10.
Berard brings more speed, energy and grit to the lineup. Parssinen adds more size and many hockey people believe a higher upside that he’s still trying to reach. So, Parssinen played Saturday. Berard played Sunday. Nobody’s locked into a spot here, a little competition is a good thing. That includes Brennan Othmann — the 2021 first-round pick who is getting some run and has been a physical force in the bottom six, but needs to start scoring too. Throw recent healthy scratch Arthur Kaliyev into this mix, as well.
And speaking specifically of Parssinen, he had that fight against the Washington Capitals a few games ago, his most notable Rangers moment. But he’s been largely a non-factor in his first four games. Minimal ice time. Zero shots on goal. On ice for two of Ottawa’s four goals Saturday, largely a spectator on Ridly Greig’s goal midway through the third period that kickstarted the Senators comeback.
The Rangers didn’t exactly scratch Mark Messier here.
But settle down. Parssinen will play some. Berard will play some. The Rangers will find out what they have in their youngsters, while trying to navigate this playoff chase minefield.
See you on X! Look forward to it!
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New York Rangers news
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Here’s an understatement by the Rangers: “Our power play has got to be better.” Yes. Yes, it does.
Another understatement? “This one sucks” — the Rangers take after watching the Blue Jackets skate out of MSG on Sunday with a 7-3 win.
Here’s a look back at the winners and losers from that 7-3 Rangers’ loss to the Blue Jackets.
And our three Rangers takeaways from the defeat, including a breakdown of playing at not-so-even strength.
Our latest Hartford Wolf Pack weekly features updates on Chad Ruhwedel, Jake Leschshyn and two new Rangers: Brendan Brisson and Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
NHL news and rumors
Just as everything appeared to be on track for another Florida Panthers postseason run, word came down Monday that defenseman Aaron Ekblad is suspended 20 games for violating the NHL performance-enhancing drug policy.
Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff has a solid breakdown of why contract talks broke down between Brad Marchand and the Boston Bruins and how exactly the Bruins captain ended up being traded to the Panthers.
Wow. Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour told a local radio station that Mikko Rantanen informed the club he had zero interest in signing with them immediately after they acquired him, and that there were four teams on his wish list to be traded to , if he were to be moved again.
This is how a true pro accepts criticism from his coach. Read here about Jake DeBrusk’s reaction to losing ice time for the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday and then being called out by coach Rick Tocchet — even though the forward’s in the midst of a 22-goal season.
The Athletic reports that the Pittsburgh Penguins never got close to trading Rickard Rackell ahead of the deadline. It’s also reported that they will try to move veteran defenseman Erik Karlsson this summer.
The Seattle Kraken recalled 20-year-old forward Jani Nyman from Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League, where he leads AHL rookies with 26 goals.
James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now believes that by signing defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic to a long-term contract, the Devils have put the futures of Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey with the organization in doubt.
Good and bad in the same for the Rangers in their playoff chase. The Ottawa Senators edged the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 with newcomer Dylan Cozens scoring the game-winning goal. Good news for the Rangers is that the Red Wings lost their sixth straight game and appear to become a non-factor in the playoff race. The bad news is that the Senators moved into the first wild card in the East, three points ahead of the Rangers with a game in hand.
Nathan MacKinnon reached 1,000 points in the NHL with an assist on an Artturi Lehkonen goal, part of a 3-0 win for the Colorado Avalanche over the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Toronto Maple Leafs grinded their way to a 4-3 shootout win against the Utah Hockey Club.
Tage Thompson scored twice and now has 33 goals on the season, tied for fourth most in the NHL, when the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3-2.
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