3⃣1⃣ will be back in net vs. BUF tomorrow night. pic.twitter.com/pQE9FRNQXZ

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 2, 2021

Rangers will ride Igor Shesterkin

The Blueshirts beat the Sabres last night in OT thanks to Mika Zibanejad’s great shot. Although not overworked Igor Shesterkin was run into a few times last night and had to stretch his groin muscles after a collision with Steven Fogarty. He picked up the win by making 21 saves for his ninth of the year. Since coming back from injury, Shesterkin is 3-1-0 with a 2.22 GAA and a sparkling .934 SV%. The Czar of New York is 19-10-1 in his young NHL career.

No additional lineup changes are expected. Brett Howden remains in NY after coming off the COVID list and will not be on the road trip.

Former Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky says “F*** Sid” about Crosby and Ovechkin debate

Former Ranger Brandon Dubinsky has caused quite a stir with a recent podcast appearance. “Everyone wants to talk about Sid and Ovi whatever,” Dubinsky began with regard to Crosby vs Ovechkin debate. “F*** Sid! I’ll take Ovi every day of the week.”

Brandon Dubinsky would never ask Crosby for an autographed stick. 🤬#nhl

(Via @TheGarageBeers) pic.twitter.com/Tvaonb4IIy

— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) April 2, 2021

This set off a firestorm on social media with fans and even some journalists going after Dubinsky. That only prompted him to stoke the flames higher by tweeting their stats. “Listen. Crosby is better then me I never said he wasn’t. He’s obviously one of the best ever. It was @ovi8 vs Sid,” he continued. “None of you played in the NHL and know how hard it is to score goals in the NHL. 724 is insane. Sid just whined way too much and Ovi just shut up and played hard.”

Listen. Crosby is better then me I never said he wasn’t. He’s obviously one of the best ever. It was @ovi8 vs Sid. None of you played in the NHL and know how hard it is to score goals in the NHL. 724 is insane. Sid just whined way too much and Ovi just shut up and played hard. pic.twitter.com/rI2aSriYvY

— Brandon Dubinsky (@BDubi17) April 2, 2021

Shot fired folks…many of them. No response from Crosby – yet.

NHL Rumors

Catch up on the latest NHL Rumors here.

This is great for the 20 year-old’s development. When the 2020-2021 season starts, the Rangers can recall him back without issue.

Vitali Kravtsov loan could be signal for future prospects

With Vitali Kravtsov on loan, the question to be asked is who else will the Rangers do this with. I did ask around the team and was told that due to the fluidity of things with COVID-19, that’s difficult to answer.

The question needs to be asked if it makes sense to do this with other prospects on their ELCs. It may not be that far out of the question to have Kaapo Kakko, and Filip Chytil to follow the same path. Of course, that could also be a risk the Rangers don’t want to take.

Former Ranger, Brandon Dubinsky may never play again

Sad news coming out of Columbus has former Blueshirt, Brandon Dubinsky likely to retire due to a chronic wrist injury.

More NY Rangers and NHL news

Yesterday, I wrote about the Rangers need for toughness (and no that doesn’t mean fighters).

Also, check out this story about the debacle that is Mike Milbury.

The Daily Goal Horn wants to be the way you start your day, check it out.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Brandon Dubinsky

With the 60th overall pick of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, the Rangers selected Alaska native Brandon Dubinsky. In his second season, with the Wolfpack, Dubinsky posted 43 points (21G, 22A) in 71 games. He also had a whopping 115 penalty minutes. The next season, he played six games with the Rangers only registering two penalty minutes. The season after, he played all 82 games with the Rangers netting 40 points. Since the 2012 trade, his numbers have stayed around the same compared to his Ranger years.

Artem Anisimov

In 2006, the Rangers drafted Artem Anisimov 54th overall. In his first two seasons with the Pack, Anisimov combined for 124 points, 53 of which were goals. The 6’4″ centerman, in three seasons with the Rangers, had 108 points. Similar to Dubinsky, Artem’s numbers have stayed around the same. His point average with the Rangers was 36, after the trade, his average point total is 34.2. The Rangers have been trying to acquire another centerman, and I would love to have Artem back. He is 29 years old and is currently playing on the cap burdened Blackhawks. The Hawks are over the cap and if they were to move Artem, they would gain around 4.55 million in cap space.

Tim Erixon

Tim Erixon, the 23rd overall pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, never turned into the defenseman the Rangers thought he would be. He spent the last two seasons in the AHL and in 92 NHL games, he has 14 points.

2013 First Round Pick

The Rangers also traded their 2013 first round pick which Columbus used to select Kerby Rychel. The 22-year-old was drafted 19th overall and is now with the Toronto Marlies. In 37 NHL games, Rychel had 12 points.

New York Rangers

Steven Delisle

There isn’t much to say about Delisle. He was drafted 107th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He is a big defender. He played well in the QMJHL but never made it to the NHL. He spent last season in the ECHL.

Rick Nash

Rick Nash was the first overall pick of the 2002 NHL Entry. In his first two seasons in the OHL, Rick teared it up with 138 points in 112 games. Drafted by the Blue Jackets, Rick put up all-star numbers every year with Columbus. In nine seasons with the Blue Jackets, Nash scored 289 goals and 258 assists for 547 points, and won the Rocket Richard trophy for the most goals in the NHL, in his sophomore season.

Since coming to New York, Nash has had injury issues in all but one season. In that season, Rick scored 42 goals. In five seasons with the Rangers, Nash hasn’t quite hit the points pace he had with the Jackets. He did have a larger role in Columbus but his point totals with the Rangers are not worth the $7.8 million he commands, the second largest contract on the Rangers behind Henrik Lundqvist.

This is his last season under contract with the Rangers, after that, he becomes a UFA. If Nash wants to play on Broadway next season, he will have to take a pay cut, which is why I do not see him re-signing with the Rangers. In order for the Rangers to get anything for him, I think the Rangers would have to trade him at the deadline to a team who really wants to make a playoff push. The only problem is, Rick is essential to a Ranger team that wants to make a playoff push themselves, which is why the Rangers will likely get nothing for him. Unfortunately, the Rangers will not really be able to use the cap space to sign another player because they will have ten free agents they have to deal with, most notably J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes, and Brady Skjei. This is Rick’s season to prove what he is worth so that he can command millions on the free-agent market.

Who won this trade? 

The Players Columbus gained surpass the production of Rick Nash. However, Nash is easily New York’s best two-way player. Without Nash, New York is not as scary.

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This is Part Two of a Five-Part series ranking and evaluating Sather’s greatest (and not-so-greatest) decisions during his tenure as NY Rangers’ General Manager. Sather served as Rangers’ GM for 15 years, being hired on May 29, 2000 and stepping down July 1, 2015.

For Part One (#41 to #50), Click Here

Top 50 Greatest Moves (#31 to #40)

#40 – Signing F Vinny Prospal (August 17, 2009):

In the summer of 2009, the Rangers found themselves looking for offenive addition following the retirement of Markus Naslund, the infamous tradeaway of Scott Gomez, the free agency loss of Nik Antropov and the arbitration-baulk of Nik Zherdev. That same summer Prospal found himself bought out of his contract by the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was a smart move for both parties: Prospal had put up his best career numbers in Tampa under coach John Tortorella (whom he was reunited with), while Sather got Prospal cheaply for 1-year, $1.1 million. Prospal would register 30 goals, 52 assists & 82 points in 109 games as a Ranger between 2009-2011.

#39 – Acquiring F Derick Brassard, D John Moore, F Derek Dorsett & a 6th Round Pick for F Marian Gaborik, D Blake Parlett & D Steven Delisle (April 3, 2013):

While this trade certainly left fans scratching their heads at the time, there’s no denying Brassard has worked out fantastically for Broadway. Centering the 2014 Pouliot/Zuccarello line, and then the 2015 Nash/Zuccarello line, Brassard has proven more than worthy since the acquisition. Brassard’s two full seasons in New York have been his #1 & #2 most goals in a season, #3 & #1 most points in a season, and #2 & #1 highest +/- in a season. Oh, and did I mention he’s put up 40 points in 54 career playoff games, including 3 consecutive postseasons with a game-winning-goal? All when he had zero NHL postseason experience at the time of the trade! And on top of all this, Brassard has provided Rangers fans with the best Rangers .gif in recent memory.

#38 – Acquiring D Karel Rachunek for D Greg DeVries & F Alex Giroux (March 9, 2004):

After signing with in New York during the summer of 2003, there was high hopes for DeVries’ place with the Rangers going forward. Unfortunately, symbolic of the 2003-04 Rangers’ season in general, it was overwhelmingly disappointing. The 31-year-old struggled with his teammates and was ultimately traded less than a year into his contract. Rachunek would notch 34 points in 84 games as a Ranger, which could’ve been more not for the 2004-05 lockout and his 2005-06 decision to remain in the KHL. Still though, Rachunek helped anchor the Rangers’ memorable 2006-07 team. Sadly, Rachunek was on the 2011 plane crash that killed 44 people, including nearly all members of the KHL franchise Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.

#37 – Drafting D Fedor Tyutin (June 23, 2001):

When New York won its first playoff series against the Atlanta Thrashers in 2007, guess who was the only Rangers-drafted defenseman on the roster? You guessed it: Fedor “Toots” Tyutin. In fact, of all the players drafted in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Tyutin remains as the sole Russian still remaining in the league (bon voyage, Ilya Kovalchuk!). If Marek Zidlicky cannot find work next year, he will be the lone Ranger draft pick from 2001 still playing in the NHL. Tyutin played 274 NHL games as a New York Ranger, notching 66 points, before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2008.

#36 – Acquiring F Nik Antropov for a 2nd Round Draft Pick (March 4, 2009):

As far as trade-deadline rentals go for the New York Rangers, Antropov was as successful as they got under Sather’s tenure. Antropov score 9 goals, 7 assists & 16 points in his 25 games as a Ranger, which included the heartbreaking 7-game series defeat to the Washington Capitals in the 1st round of the playoffs. He could play either wing or center, and helped galvanize the offensively-struggling 2008-09 Broadway Blueshirts. Unfortunately, salary cap ramifications prevented Sather from extending a competitive offer to Antropov over the summer, where he would go on to sign with the Atlanta Thrashers.

#35 – Drafting F Dominic Moore (June 25, 2000) and signing him in 2003, 2014 & 2015:

There isn’t a particularly rich history of NCAA hockey players going from the ivy-leagued Harvard University to the NHL. However, with the 95th pick of the 2003 Entry Draft, Sather chose Moore, whom was 2nd on the team in points in his freshman year. It turned out to be a wise choice, as Moore has gone on to play nearly 800 NHL games since, even if most were not with Broadway.

Moore scored 3 assists in his NHL debut, becoming the first New York Ranger to notch 3 points in his debut in 65 years (since George Allen). He would be traded to the Nashville Predators in the summer of 2006, and go on to play for 8 different NHL teams over the following 6 years. Eventually Moore would sign a 1-year, $1 million deal with the Rangers after taking a subatical following the tragic passing of his wife, Katie.

In his return to the NHL, Moore would anchor the Rangers’ 4th line to their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 20 years. In fact Moore would score the lone, game-winning goal to clinch the Eastern Conference Finals in Game 6 against the Montreal Canadiens. Moore would re-sign in summer 2014, and once again contribute as 4th line center in the Rangers deep 2015 playoff run.

#34 – Hiring John Tortorella as Head Coach (February 23, 2009):

Tom Renney, Tortorella’s predecessor as head coach, had a more laid-back and personable style of management. He was the bench boss where the 2005-2008 Rangers thrived. He coached veterans like Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, Martin Straka, Michael Nylander, Steve Rucchin, Martin Rucinsky and Petr Sykora. However, once the year 2009 came around, the roster had been transformed from finesse veterans to blue-collar youngsters. This, coupled with the team’s plateaued place in the NHL standings, led Sather to fire Renney and hire Tortorella mid-season.

Tortorella would embody the change of culture following the post-Jagr era of Broadway hockey. The Rangers would make the playoffs four of Tortorella’s five seasons as coach, and we saw the development of players like Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh & Marc Staal.

In 2012, Tortorella would lead the Rangers to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 15 years. For what he lacked in public-relations smoothness, he more than made up for in overall results, as well as some wonderful post-game sound bytes. Next question.

#33 – Drafting F Carl Hagelin (June 23, 2007):

With the relative success we’ve seen the New York Rangers deliver over the past five years, one cannot deny that the team’s wonderful attribute of speed and quickness has been a contributing factor. Enter Hagelin, who was drafted with the 168th overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

He would play in the NCAA (University of Michigan) until 2011 before making the jump to pro in the AHL. Hagelin would then break through to the NHL, alongside minor-league linemate John Mitchell, to join the 2011-12 Rangers as a 3rd line rookie winger. He would stay in the NHL from there onward.

Before being traded last June for salary cap reasons, Hagelin played 339 games with the Rangers, tallying 70 goals, 86 assists & 156 points. He scored the game-winnig overtime goal in Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins to clinch the series of last spring’s first round of playoffs. Of all 30 players players drafted in the 6th round of the 2007 draft, Hagelin leads all in games, goals, assists and points. Farewell, Haggy.

#32 – Signing F Brad Richards (July 2, 2011):

When Sather inked the 31-year old veteran center to a 9-year, $60 million contract in the opening days of the 2011 off-season, it was a clear message:

The Rangers were in it to win it, and were willing to get a reasonable rate on Richards’ early 30’s in exchange for a likely-terrible one for his late 30’s. Well, fast forward to the summer of 2014, and the Rangers were able to use an amnesty buyout on Richards after the first three years of his deal. In other words, Sather reaped the fruits of paying Richards decently for the first part of his deal, and was able to escape all salary cap ramification for the less-fruitful end of said contract.

Sather effectively paying Richards 3-years, $6.67 million/year from 2011 to 2014 was a solid venture. Even with his 2013 struggles factored in.

Richards was reunited with Tortorella, whom had won a Cup together in 2004 with Tampa Bay. Not only that, but Richards would lead the Rangers to 6 playoff series victories in his 3 years as a Ranger center, scoring big goals.

#31 – Drafting Brandon Dubinsky (June 26, 2004):

Dubinsky was the 4th of four forwards drafted by the Sather in the 2nd round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Who were the other three? Darin Oliver, Dane Byers and Bruce Graham. So needless to say, Dubinsky turned out to be the lone success coming out of that round for Sather. In fact, only David Krejci (selected three picks later by the Boston Bruins) tops Dubinsky’s present-day stats as an NHL forward from that round.

Before being one of the pieces involved in the blockbuster trade that landed Rick Nash, Dubinsky performed well while on Broadway. In 424 games, Dubinsky scored 88 goals, 142 assists and 230 points. He is also the 2nd highest scoring Alaskan-born NHL player (behind the infamous Scott Gomez, whom he played with from 2007-2009).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Stay tuned for Part THREE of this series, as we will gradually unveil Sather’s Top 50 BEST moves as Rangers’ General Manager. Follow me on Twitter @HockeyStatMiner, and follow all of Full Tilt’s Ranger coverage at @NYR_FullTilt.

The New York Rangers are an original six team and have therefore seen some changes to their jersey since 1926. Below I will describe the transition of the jersey throughout history, and how it kept pace with a rapidly evolving NHL. Much of the information that I was able to gather came from nhluniforms.com

1926-1927

The Rangers first season they sported a navy blue jersey with the team name “Rangers” displayed diagonally from the shoulder to the hip. On the arm, were three bands, which were white on either side of red.

This pattern was repeated at the bottom of the jersey.

1927-1928

The Rangers changed the letters on the uniform from white to red.

1928-1929

The following season the Rangers add a white outline around the red letters. This made the team name and jersey number jump out.

Red Rangers Pants with white stripe. (Image provided by ebaystatic.com)

1929-1934

The Rangers change the color of the pants to red with a white stripe.

1934-1935

The white stripe seen on the side of the pant leg is removed.

1935-1937

The Pants begin to feature a blue stripe down the sides of the legs as well as a blue stripe around the edge of the pant legs.

1937-1941

The pants undergo yet another change as now the blue stripe added just the season before is outlined in white.

1941-1942

The font of the word Rangers is changed slightly. Instead of long letters the word Rangers is printed out in smaller more defined letters. These letters begin to resemble the Rangers more modern jerseys.

1942-1945

In 42 the Rangers put a white drop in behind the letters and numbers. This added some depth and dimension to the jersey and helped it jump out on TV (still black and white) and to fans in the stands.

1945-1946

The Rangers remove the white drop shadow behind the letters and numbers.

1946-1947

The Rangers begin to televise home games and change their jerseys to feature the word “Rangers” arched across the chest with the player number under it. This style died after one season.

1947-1948

The Ranger jersey changes back to it’s iconic style including the white shadow behind the letters and numbers.

1949-1951

The Rangers make another change to the letters on the front of the jersey letting the letters stand upright rather than tilted.

1951

The Rangers add an away jersey that is similar to the home version aside from white being the base color of the jersey. This meant that the letters of the jersey were blue with a red shadow behind them. One of the new features on the jersey was a neck yoke striping pattern.

1957

Rangers Gloves (Image provided by Ty-Co Memorabilia)

The Rangers become the first team in NHL history to wear colored gloves. The red, white, and blue mitts matched the team attire and gave birth to a new style in the NHL. Shortly after the Rangers transition the Maple Leafs were right behind them in 1958-1959.

Andy Bathgate taping his stick and showing off his number 9 (Image provided by blog.thecanadianencyclopedia.com)

1963

The team adds numbers to the sleeves of the jerseys. This is part of making the players easier to spot on the ice.

1970 Rangers jersey with a newly added name plate. (Images provided by classicauctions.net)

1970

The Rangers add the players last names to the jerseys. This was used to make the players more recognizable to the fans. This was key as hockey is a fast paced game and it could be hard to see a players face. The Rangers were among the first teams to incorporate this style.

1976-1978

The Rangers change their jersey to include a New York Rangers shield rather than the word “Rangers” spelled out across the front of the jersey. The jerseys were a darker shade of blue and the pants even changed from red to the same dark blue. This jersey was not accepted by the Rangers community and was changed shortly after.

1978-1987

The Rangers put “New York” where it once said Rangers, the red pants return.

1979-Current

The NHL makes helmets mandatory in the NHL recognizing that the game is becoming more dangerous. Players were shooting higher and harder and getting faster on their feet as well.

1990-1996

The names on the back of the jersey are arched.

Brian Leetch sporting the Rangers third jersey. (Image provided by nhlalumniproam.com)

1996-1997

The Rangers add a third jersey to their inventory. This jersey is a darker shade of blue and portrays the Statue of Liberty in the Rangers crest with the letters NYR just under her head.

This jersey is used only occasionally and is somewhat popular.

1997-1998

The Rangers blue jerseys begin to feature a tie able collar. This is a shout out to old time hockey jerseys when the sweater used to have to be tied.

 1998-1999

The Rangers change the third liberty jersey to white and use it for the season. The arms have a dark blue diagonal stripe and a white based around the same logo.

1999-2007

The white liberty jersey is changed back to its original dark blue. The white jerseys now have a tie able collar as well.

2007-2010

The Reebok Edge Jerseys become the new template in the NHL. The jerseys were a different fabric and fit more snugly. The changes make the jerseys lighter, and don’t have the fight strap to keep jerseys from coming up while fighting. It was thought that this may reduce fighting as it became harder to grapple.

2010-Current

The Rangers present a new heritage jersey. The jersey features a darker blue, a toned down red and reads “New York” across the front where it would typically read Rangers.

These jerseys say “established 1926” inside the collar and have the numbers of all players retired by the Rangers on the bottom of the inside of the jersey.

Winter Classic

The Winter Classic jersey was a cream colored jersey that followed the theme of the heritage jerseys. they kept the dark blue and faded red look. The Rangers only wore the jerseys once. The jerseys were in this “old time hockey” style to maintain the theme of the game returning outdoors.

Stadium Series

The Stadium Series Jerseys had a more modern look. All the teams involved incorporated a chrome look for the event. They had a Hartford Wolf Pack style but used “New York” instead of a shield or the word “Rangers”.

We have seen jerseys evolve throughout the years, even though some of the changes were slight they all contributed to building the brand that the Rangers know today. It is unlikely that the Rangers will make any changes to their jerseys in the foreseeable future, and that is because trial and error led them to this iconic look.

You can follow me on twitter: @StevenLoffredo

In what many have as the most important game of the year, the Rangers head into Columbus looking to distance themselves from the Blue Jackets, as the season is coming to a wild finish.

Rick Nash Home Coming
Rick Nash missed the first trip to Columbus due to a concussion earlier in the season, as a mix of cheers and boos are to be expected to the man coming home. As we all know a trade request out of Columbus was made during the 2011 trade deadline, expressing Nash’s desire to move away from the Blue Jackets.

It took until the summer for the trade to finally happen, which shipped Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov and Tim Erixon and a couple draft picks to Columbus, and since then every Blue Jackets fan has fallen in love with the Rangers duo.

Nash on the other hand has seen some backlash from Ranger fans who expect him to score every time he touches the puck, but it has been fun seeing some of those goals he has produced for the Rangers.

High Voltage
The Rangers are looking to turn it up into high gear, as they are headed into the final stretch. Scoreboard watching will become key during this time of the year as every team surrounding the Rangers is trying to make a push of their own. The Rangers have to continue to look forward and take everything game by game.

They cannot look ahead, and most importantly they cannot fall behind.

FullTilt Forecast
You want to talk about a crazy game? You want to talk about a game that has so much meaning? Look no further. The Rangers and Blue Jackets will have playoff atmosphere, and playoff implications. But it comes down to who wants it more? Which is why the more seasoned Rangers team will edge the Blue Jackets 2-1. This will be a hard fought game, could even reach overtime, but the Blueshirts will come out victorious.

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