It wasn’t Game 7, so the Rangers did have some wiggle room. But the pressure was on them to finish off the Canadiens after taking 2-0 and 3-1 leads in the series.

The Rangers already missed an opportunity to eliminate the Canadiens, losing a sloppy Game 5 at Bell Centre 7-4. Then in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden, unheralded Canadiens goalie Dustin Tokarski matched Lundqvist save for save for nearly two full periods.

So, you don’t think the Garden Faithful was on edge with the looming possibility of the Rangers heading back to Montreal for a decisive Game 7?

“The tension in the arena was through the roof. Everyone’s on their feet, scoreless game, a game away from the Finals, first time in 20 years. The tension in the building was just palpable,” Moore recalled in a recent conversation with Forever Blueshirts on the Rink Rap podcast.

If you were inside The Garden as Game 6 moved along on the night of May 29, 2014, you knew that there was a real good chance the first goal might just decide the outcome. So, when Moore buried a Brian Boyle feed at 18:07 of the second period, following an outstanding shift below the dots by New York’s fourth line, it felt like famed spoked ceiling could be blown into outer space.

Yes, the roar was that loud.

“So, to get that goal, when it went in, that tension was just unleashed, and as the goal scorer, it just went right through me,” Moore explained. “I remember turning around and just having this view of the whole side of the arena just going bananas, and I just felt like one with the whole building. Truly unique, special experience.”

Dominic Moore was proud to ‘protect the house’ for Rangers in Game 6 of 2014 ECF

As Moore pointed out, that goal was huge, but “There was still a lot of hockey left in the game.”

In fact, before the second period ended, Brad Richards took a hooking minor at 19:47. Moore played a big part in killing off that penalty. And when the game neared its conclusion, Moore was out there protecting the one-goal lead, something he takes great pride in even to this day.

“I think the other most memorable part of that game was knowing it was my job to close things out, win face-offs at the end of the game, protect the house,” he shared. “What an honor to be able to do that. And to have the seconds tick down and then rush back to Henrik to celebrate, that was a special night.”

You know the rest of the story. The Rangers lost to Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Final that spring. Though the series was over in five games, the Rangers lost twice in double overtime and once in the first OT.

But that doesn’t take anything away from the memorable run the Rangers pieced together, nor the Game 6 heroics of Moore that lifted them back into the Cup Final.

“I remember, first year, just sitting in the training room after practice and I thought I was dressed as well as I could be,” Moore told Forever Blueshirts on the RINK RAP podcast. “But Eric Lindros came into the training room and said ‘Hey, what are you doing this afternoon?’ and I said, ‘I don’t know, nothing.’ I was still living in the hotel at that point, and he said, ‘OK, you’re going to come with me into the city and we’re going to go shopping. You need to get some decent clothes!'”

Moore was 23 at the time, months removed from closing out an excellent collegiate career at Harvard, and with just handful of pro games under his belt with Hartford of the American Hockey League.

Really, what was he to do other than follow the former No. 1 overall pick and 1995 Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP into Manhattan for a bit of a shopping education?

“i think I had like an Old Navy fleece on that I had worn all throughout college. That was my wardrobe. I didn’t know anything different. I think I had one pair of pants that I think got worn pretty much every day,” Moore said through a smile. “So, he took me downtown. We went to some kind of designer, backdoor places where there were some kind of boutique designers, and bought an overpriced tee shirt and pair of jeans, and I was looking much more fashionable the next day!”

The clothes aren’t what Moore remembers most about that experience, however.

“Just for a veteran and Hall of Famer to take the time to do that was pretty awesome.”

Wearing Rangers jersey as rookie didn’t ‘seem real’ for Dominic Moore back in 2003

It likely was already in Moore’s DNA to one day become a respected veteran leader himself, with the Rangers and nine other teams he played for in a 13-year NHL career that spanned 897 regular-season games and another 101 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

But what Lindros did that day certainly made an impression on Moore, even if the memory still makes him chuckle.

On the ice, Moore had quite the NHL debut. He picked up three assists on Nov. 1, 2003 against the Montreal Canadiens, even though he only played 11 shifts and logged 7:38 TOI. That’s what you call an efficient performance.

However, that’s not what Moore chooses to focus on when recalling his debut.

“My first game was in Montreal. It was a memorable game for lost of reasons,” Moore shared. “Obviously, the history that’s in that building in Montreal, and to be able to put on the Rangers jersey, two historic teams going at it, teams that you grew up admiring, knowing the history of both of those teams and the great players that’ve come across the decades wearing those jerseys. To put on that kind of jersey doesn’t even seem real.”

He played four more games and was scoreless, before being sent back to the minors. After the lockout wiped out the 2003-04 season, Moore was a lineup regular, playing all 82 games, in 2004-05. Coupled with his successful return to the organization years later, Moore is one of the best third-round draft picks in Rangers history.

Many more highlights were to come, not only during that second run years later on Broadway, but throughout his different stops in the NHL. Yet Moore never forgot the impression Lindros made on that young player trying to fit in with the Rangers at the start of his NHL journey.

Moore crosses paths with the Rangers again this weekend, this time in Salt Lake City in his role as part of the Utah Mammoth broadcast team. The Rangers close out their three-game road trip against the Mammoth on Saturday night.

Moore will be an analyst along with Nick Olczyk, son of Rangers’ 1994 Stanley Cup champion Eddie Olczyk. Matt McConnell will be the play-by-play broadcaster, moving with the team to Utah after being the TV voice for the Arizona Coyotes.

Ready to deliver every moment of the action. 🎙️

We're so excited to officially announce our inaugural #UtahHC Broadcast Team! pic.twitter.com/dsqTPJoePH

— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) September 4, 2024

This will be Utah’s inaugural NHL season after the team was bought by Ryan Smith and moved from Arizona this past offseason.

“It’s a really special thing to be a part of,” Moore said on NHL Network Radio on Sirius/XM. “The opportunity to be a part of that, to be one of the front-facing figures to unite the team with the community and be on the air every night and bring the game to a new group of fans is an opportunity I could not pass up.”

Moore is already in the Salt Lake City area and said the building excitement is not dissimilar to when the Seattle Kraken joined the League in 2021-22 and the Vegas Golden Knights did so four seasons prior.

“Being a part of the first of a franchise is something truly, truly special,” he explained. “I think all of us can say when Vegas and Seattle came into the League in recent years, i think everyone saw the excitement that went along with that, and the passion of the community to receive their new team. It’s the same thing happening here in Utah.”

Related: Rangers need to upgrade Adam Fox’s defense partner, NHL analyst says

Former Rangers center Dominic Moore excited to work in ‘best kept secret in America’

Moore spent the past three seasons on air with NBC and ESPN as a hockey analyst. In his roles, he worked in the booth and studio, and between the benches during games.

As anyone who ever interviewed Moore during his 13-year NHL career can attest, he is a personable, intelligent, well-spoken communicator. Moving into the broadcast booth is a natural progression for the 44 year old.

Moore had two stints playing for the Rangers. A 2000 third-round draft pick by the Rangers, he played his first five games in 2003-04 and collected three assists with New York. After the following season was canceled by the NHL lockout, Moore played his first full season, helping the Rangers return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2005-06.

After moving on to the Pittsburgh Penguins the following season, Moore eventually found his way back to the Rangers as a veteran player later in his career. He played 235 games with the Rangers over three seasons, beginning in 2013-14 when he helped them reach the Stanley Cup Final, a five-game loss to the Los Angeles Kings. He scored the series winning goal against the Montreal Canadiens in Game 6 of the conference final to lift New York into the Cup Final.

In 2014-15 he played a key role in the bottom-six forward group when the Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy and reached the Eastern Conference Final, losing in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Moore won the Masterton Trophy with the Rangers in 2014 for his dedication and perseverance to hockey after taking a year off from the sport to care for his then-wife, who died from cancer.

In all, Moore played 897 regular-season games for 10 teams in the NHL, and 101 more in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Now, he’s part of a new beginning for the Utah hockey club, though the area is not foreign to him. He and his current wife have family there, so Moore is already familiar with his new surroundings.

And loving it.

“This place, for those who know it, it’s the best kept secret in America. It is a phenomenal place.”

The Rangers host Utah on Saturday, Oct. 14 at Madison Square Garden and then make their first visit to Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 16.

Since 1968, the Masterton Trophy has been awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. The award is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Each individual chapter nominates one player from each team and then the entire PHWA votes on the winner.

The award is named after former NHL forward Bill Masterton, who died from head injuries sustained in a game on Jan. 13, 1968, when playing for the Minnesota North Stars.

Quick has had a career resurgence this season, his first since signing as a free agent with the Rangers last July 1.

The 38-year-old goalie is 17-5-2 with a 2.54 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and two shutouts. He hasn’t had a GAA this low nor a save percentage this high since 2017-18, when he played for the Los Angeles Kings.

Quick started the season 9-0-1 and capably filled in when New York’s No. 1 goalie Igor Shesterkin was hurt early on. The three-time Stanley Cup champion again took the reins around the All-Star break when Shesterkin was working on his game with goalie coach Benoit Allaire.

Inside the Numbers: Jonathan Quick’s historic NHL career

Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick earns Masterton Trophy nomination

Last weekend, Quick earned his 392nd victory in the NHL. He passed Ryan Miller to become the winningest United States-born goalie and grabbed sole possession of 15th place on the all-time wins list in NHL history.

“He stands for everything being done the right way,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette explained recently. “How you live your life, how you practice, how you play, what you say. He’s a great example for everybody.”

So impressed are the Rangers with Quick, that they signed him to a one-year contract extension through 2024-25. Shesterkin and Quick already have formed one of the best goalie tandems in Rangers history, just lacking the longevity shared by Ed Giacomin and Gilles Villemure, for example.

Quick is one of eight goalies nominated for the Masterton Trophy this season, including Connor Ingram (Arizona Coyotes), Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Buffalo Sabres), Frederik Andersen (Carolina Hurricanes), Alex Lyon (Detroit Red Wings), Joey Daccord (seattle Kraken), Ilya Samsonov (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Laurent Brossoit (Winnipeg Jets).

Dominic Moore is the most recent Rangers player to win the Masterton Trophy, doing so in 2014. Jean Ratelle (1971), Rod Gilbert (1976), Anders Hedberg (1985) and Adam Graves (2001) also won the award when playing for the Rangers.

Former Blueshirts who won the Masterton when playing for other NHL teams include Brian Boyle (2018; New Jersey Devils), Jaromir Jagr (2016; Florida Panthers), Ian Laperriere (2011; Philadelphia Flyers), Bryan Berard (2004, Chicago Blackhawks), Jamie McClennan (1998; St. Louis Blues), Tony Granato (1997; San Jose Sharks), Pat LaFontaine (1995; Buffalo Sabres), Tim Kerr (1989; Flyers), Brad Park (1984; Detroit Red Wings) and Don Luce (1975; Sabres).

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang won the Masterton Trophy last season.

Historically, New York has drafted 65 players in the third round, with 32 appearing in an NHL game and 24 suiting up for the Blueshirts. Interestingly, the club’s first third-round pick was Mike Cummins (15th overall) in the 1963 NHL Amateur Draft, and their most recent one was Drew Fortescue (90th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Join us each week to see who makes the cut.

Note: Dates and statistics from Hockey-Reference.com and EliteProspects.com were used to compile this list.

Related: Rangers make be shopping for two centers

Top New York Rangers Draft Picks From Round 3

5. Rob Zamuner – 45th Overall 1989

NHL stats: 798 GP – 139 G – 172 A – 311 Pts

New York stats: 9 GP – 1 G – 2 A – 3 Pts

Rob Zamuner was the 45th pick in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, making his debut during the 1991-92 season, which he sandwiched between two outstanding seasons (155 points) with the Binghamton Rangers in the AHL. His time on Broadway was short, just nine games. He signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992, eventually becoming the franchise’s third captain.

After skating with the expansion Lightning for seven years, he moved on to the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins, finishing his NHL career in 2003-04. During the NHL Lockout in 2005, he went to Europe to play two seasons in Switzerland, Italy, and Great Britain before retiring from professional hockey in 2006. Internationally, he won a World Championship Gold Medal in 1997 with Team Canada.

4. Dominic Moore – 95th Overall 2000

NHL stats: 897GP – 106 G – 176 A – 282 Pts

New York stats: 322GP – 31 G – 50 A – 81 Pts

Dominic Moore was the 95th pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, debuting at 23 during the 2003-04 season. After playing at Harvard and winning two NCAA (EACA) Championships, he skated in five NHL games while playing most of the season with the Hartford Wolf Pack. While staying in the AHL during the lockout, he became a full-time member of the Rangers in 2005-06.

Eventually, New York traded him to the Nashville Predators in 2006 for Adam Hill. After that, he played in Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Toronto, Buffalo, Florida, Montreal, Tampa Bay, and San Jose before returning to the Rangers for a second tour. He won the Bill Masterton Trophy in 2013-14 while playing in the Stanley Cup Final. He would finish his NHL career with Boston and Toronto (again) before heading to Switzerland for a couple of games, retiring in 2019.

3. Don Luce – 14th Overall 1966

NHL stats: 894GP – 225 G – 328 A – 553 Pts

New York stats: 21GP – 1 G – 3 A – 4 Pts

Don Luce became a Rangers prospect through the 1966 Amateur Draft as the 14th pick. After starring with the Omaha Knights in the CHL, he debuted in 1969-70 and played 21 games with the Blueshirts before venturing off to the Detroit Red Wings. Starting in 1971-72, he played 10 years with the Buffalo Sabres, finishing his NHL career with brief appearances with the Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs.

During his career, Luce won the Masterton Trophy in 1975, the same year he played in the NHL All-Star Game. Upon retiring, he joined the Sabres scouting department, serving as the club’s Director of Player Development from 1987 to 2006. Eventually, he moved on to the same role with the Philadelphia Flyers, finishing his career as a scout for the Maple Leafs in 2016.

2. Mike McEwen – 42nd Overall 1976

NHL stats: 716 GP – 108 G – 296 A – 404 Pts

New York stats: 242 GP – 42 G – 92 A – 134 Pts

Mike McEwen is New York’s best third-round pick, joining the franchise as the 42nd overall selection in the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft. After 242 games on Broadway, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies, returning to the Empire State, where he won three Stanley Cup titles with the New York Islanders in 1981, 1982, and 1983.

Once his time in New York ended, McEwen skated with the Kings, Washington Capitals, Red Wings, and Hartford Whalers while rejoining the Rangers for 16 games in 1985-86. When his time in the NHL ended in 1987-88, he played parts of four seasons in Switzerland, where he led the league in goals by a defenceman on two occasions. During his final season of professional hockey, he skated in 51 games with the New Haven Nighthawks in the AHL.

1. Pavel Buchnevich – 75th Overall 2013

NHL stats: 482 GP – 151 G – 224 A – 375 Pts

New York stats: 301 GP – 79 G – 116 A – 195 Pts

Pavel Buchnevich came to the Rangers organization when they selected him with the 75th pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, making his North American debut during the 2016-17 season. After getting drafted, he stayed in his native Russia, splitting time between the KHL (senior) and MHL (junior) leagues and earning back-to-back medals at the U20 World Junior Championships.

During the first five years of his NHL career, he skated with the Blueshirts, collecting 195 points in 301 games before a trade to the St. Louis Blues on July 23, 2021. In exchange for Buchnevich, the Rangers received Sammy Blais and a second-round pick in 2022. While in New York, he produced at a 0.64 point-per-game average, and in just three seasons with the Blues, he’s bumped that number up to 0.98.

What makes Buchnevich number one is the fact he’s in his prime and his stats will continue to go up.

The charitable event pits hockey players against one another in a table tennis tournament to raise money for rare cancer. Moore’s personal tragedy is what moved him to do something to help others dealing with the terrible disease.

“It would have been our ninth annual event last summer, so we’re doing our ninth one this summer,” said Moore, who played 897 regular-season NHL games along with 101 career playoff games. “We’ve held it in Toronto for all of the years we’ve done it. We had been thinking of doing more events at different places, which I mentioned at Smashfest [VIII]. We were waiting to see what would be possible this year  and it didn’t seem like it would be possible to do in Canada  so we thought it might be a good time to do it in the U.S. We’ve got great support from all the people who have helped us every year  the NHLPA, the players, sponsors. It’s going to be awesome.”

NHLPA

Rangers Roundup: Smashfest

This year, current New York Rangers Chris Kreider and Adam Fox are taking part in the tournament. Legendary 1994 Cup winning goalie, Mike Richter is also involved in the event as well as Marty St. Louis.

“There’s a great lineup of current and former players all for the charity benefiting rare cancer research and head injuries in sports,” Richter said. “I hope you can support this as it goes on. Obviously there’s a huge need out there.”

Adam Fox took on Chris Kreider at the event and said he prepared by “working Troubs”, in reference to teammate Jacob Trouba. Word has it, Kreider won that matchup.

Kreider talks about Quinn and Buchnevich

Mollie Walker of the NY Post was at Smashfest and briefly spoke with Chris Kreider. She asked him about the changes this offseason, and his thoughts on the upcoming campaign.

“I had a terrific relationship with him, I learned a ton from him, I really respect him as a coach, as a person,” Kreider said of David Quinn. “Really gonna miss him.”

Kreider also reminisced about lineman Pavel Buchnevich who was traded due to salary cap constraints. “I remember him his rookie year, he didn’t speak a lick of English,” he said. “That’s the nature of the salary cap and I hate to say I’m numb to it, because I’m not, it still stings.”

The Rangers veteran noted that he’s excited about playing for Gerard Gallant whom he called “terrific.” Kreider also confirmed what we all understand these changes that started towards the end of the season are about.

“Everyone just wants to punch their ticket to the dance,” CK20 discussed making the playoffs. “Regardless of what people think of our roster, of what the state of the team is, our goal going into the year is to make the playoffs and that’s obviously at the front of every single players’ mind.”

#NYR Chris Kreider: “Everyone just wants to punch their ticket to the dance… Regardless of what people think of our roster, of what the state of the team is, our goal going into the year is to make the playoffs and that’s obviously at the front of every single players’ mind.”

— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) August 13, 2021

Brennan Othmann contract details

The Rangers signed 2021 first round pick Brennan Othmann to his ELC yesterday. Terms at the time were not disclosed. Per PuckPedia the breakdown is as follows:

• NHL Base 832.5K
• Signing Bonus 92.5K
• Potential “A” Performance Bonuses 450K
• Minors 80K

The #NYR signed 18 y/o F Brennan Othmann to 3 year Entry Level Deal (#16 '21). All 3 years:

NHL Base 832.5K
Signing Bonus 92.5K
Potential "A" Performance Bonuses 450K
Minors 80K

Cap Hit 925K, AAV $1.375Mhttps://t.co/HOSKknVGx6

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) August 12, 2021

Jack Eichel’s complaints against Buffalo get a boost

Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner played with the Sabres. In a recent interview, he just helped Jack Eichel’s cause. Read more.

Mika’s Full Q&A

This was a fun and insightful session where we even learned Chris Kreider can sing and play the piano. Could we be hearing a collaboration off the ice on Mika’s next album? You never know.

John Davidson up next

The Rangers have already set up their next Q&A session and this time it is with team president, John Davidson. Go to Twitter and get your questions in.

Dominic Moore recalls ECF clincher

This weekend MSG Networks replayed all 4 wins of the ECF Championship. It marked the first time since 1994 that the Rangers went to the Stanley Cup Final and only the 2nd time since 1979. Here is Dominic Moore on the series winning goal.

The New York Rangers are an organization seeking excellence in putting together an elite team for the upcoming 2018-19 rebuild season. The entry level draft occurred at the American Airlines Center in Dallas the weekend of June 22-23^rd. Every year, the Rangers organization looks to add new talent to their roster during the NHL Draft hoping to acquire a solid star like Brian Leetch. Over the years, the Rangers have had some of the best draft picks accompanied with some of the worst. Let’s take a look back at the best and worst picks by our adored franchise over the years.

Top 5 Worst Picks

5. Jamie Lundmark: Round 1, Pick 9^th in 1999

Lundmark was identified as one of the most explosive players in the 1999 NHL Draft when he was headed to the Rangers. Lundmark had skills that would have made him an ideal Center for the Rangers long term. However he had trouble being consistent. Lundmark scored 30 points in 114 games as Blueshirt from 2002 to the 2005-06 season. He experienced the shift in atmospheres from the NHL to AHL for approximately three seasons before being traded to the Coyotes. It’s too bad Lundmark couldn’t have blossomed as an elite player with the Blueshirts given his skills and capabilities since he showed promise before the pressure to perform affected him.

4. Dan Blackburn: Round 1, Pick 10^th overall in 2001

There were many expectations for Blackburn’s potential during his first season with the Rangers in 2001-02 season. He had been briefly compared to Mike Richter early on in his career with the hopes of being the next idolized Rangers goalie. Unfortunately, Blackburn did not satisfy or reach those expectations from his inability to stay sharp for the duration of the game and making mental mistakes. To add, Blackburn was forced to retire early as a result of a shoulder injury which eventually led to more disappointment for this first round pick.

3. Dylan McIlrath: Round 1, Pick 10^th in 2010

McIlrath will be known as the enforcer who was drafted for John Tortorella only to be discarded by Alain Vigneault. He had the drive to compete for the Rangers however, he would fall short of being proactive on the ice without obtaining penalties. He was idolized for his quickness to drop the gloves but highly criticized for his playing style. It was disappointing to not see him develop into a player with promise for the future with the Blueshirts. The reason he is so high on this list is that the Rangers passed over Vlad Tarasenko in order to draft him.

2. Hugh Jessiman: Round 1, Pick 12^th in 2003

Hugh Jessiman only played 2 games in the NHL, and that was for the Panthers in 2011. Jessiman struggled to make a name for himself and to keep up with the pace in the AHL since he was drafted. Jessiman was drafted by the Rangers for being a NY native and for his size.The belief at that time in the NHL was bigger is better. His 6’6″ and 234 lbs frame earned him the nickname, “Huge Specimen” but that’s about all he is known for. This pick was an absolute bust for the Rangers.

1. Pavel Brendl: Round 1, Pick 4th in 1999

The 1999 NHL draft had to be one of the top reasons for GM, Neil Smith’s eventual firing in 2000. New York had an abysmal season and with looking for a quick turnaround as they had 2 picks in the top 10 of the draft (4 and 9). We already discussed Lundmark, but Pavel Brendl never played a game for the Rangers and was selected 4th overall. Brendl represents the only top 5 first round pick for the Rangers since they selected Brad Park 2nd overall in 1966. As for his career, he scored a total of 22 points in 78 games.

Top 5 Best Picks

5. Derek Stepan: Round 2, Pick 21^st (51^stoverall) in 2008

Since his NHL debut in 2010, Derek Stepan made a name for himself on the ice from his regular contribution to the Blueshirts. During the seven seasons as a Blueshirt, he had acquired 360 points out of 515 games. He had a level of consistency needed from his position that is missed from Rangerstown given its overlooked consensus when he was a Ranger.

4. Dominic Moore: Round 3, Pick 30^th (95^thoverall) in 2000

Dominic Moore showed some promise in his rookie appearances for the Rangers in 2003-04 and 2005-06 seasons. Within his first two seasons, he acquired 21 points in 87 games. When Moore became a Blueshirt again in 2013, he had a new mission of performing to the utmost standard with making meaningful contribution to the team’s performance during regular season and post season. Throughout his career, Moore has become one of NHL’s most valuable checking forwards to have played for several teams as he perfected his craft since his NHL career start with the Rangers.

3. Chris Kreider: Round 1, Pick 19^th in 2009

Kreider first had the attention of the Rangers from his athleticism and recognition for his contributions to Boston College’s hockey team. He has continued to offer the same perks that made him eye-catching as a powerful forward for the Rangers with his speed and game-breaking skill. Kreider still has the fight that attracted the Rangers in 2009 up to this recent season. I cannot wait to see what else he has in store for the future.

2. Jesper Fast: Round 6, Pick 7^th (157^thoverall) in 2010

Fast has been the most overlooked player on the Rangers roster who has proven his ability to be consistent and has a strong presence on the team. He is a well-rounded player that seeks to contribute as much as possible in any capacity the coach needs of him. Fast is underrated for his abilities but has proven to be an excellent pick made by the Rangers in 2010.

1. Henrik Lundqvist: Round 7, Pick 25^th in 2000

The King of New York! Our beloved goalie is by far one of the greatest picks chosen by the New York Rangers organization. He has been the backbone of the Blueshirts since 2006 and has been the man to make 7 consecutive post season appearances up to last year. Henrik has made history over the last twelve years and will continue to do so until it’s his time to retire. All hail the King!

NHL Draft Feels

This recent NHL Draft had a mixed of emotions with the new additions of players whom are greatly expected to provide value to our organization in the near future. I look forward to seeing what the new kids on the block have to offer to our team and the successes they’ll bring. Which picks were favorable or unfavorable in your book, past or present?

(*) Statistics used were from the Hockey Reference Website and NHL Player Profiles.

NHL Free Agency is only a month away and this summer’s market seems to be a hot one, with players like John Tavares, John Carlson, James van Riemsdyk and James Neal, among others. There are a few former Rangers out there that can be potential candidates for a reunion to New York.

John Moore, Defenseman

This may be outrageous, but it may not be such a bad idea to bring back John Moore. One of the names that went underappreciated during his time here, Moore contributed to a stellar defensive corps that led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014. Paired with Kevin Klein, John Moore was solid in his third line pairing in his time here. Moore was shipped along with Anthony Duclair to Arizona for Keith Yandle.

Moore then signed with New Jersey and solidified himself as a stay at home, slick skating defenseman and contributed to last season’s Devils’ playoff appearance. Although he has stated he would prefer to stay in Jersey, Moore is 27 years old and would provide a stable presence in the back end for the influx of youth this team is incorporating, so if the deal is right, I’m sure he wouldn’t turn it down. Moore is an excellent skater and has vastly improved his defensive abilities, which make him a prime target for a reunion in blue.

Rick Nash, Forward

I am not against a Rick Nash reunion by any means, but personally, I wouldn’t want him to return. Although, if the Rangers are looking for some veteran presence on a discount, I would not be upset if they signed Nash to fill out a bottom six line role. Nash still has a ton of talent to keep up with today’s game, but his age and current skill set has him suited for a more defensive, 2-way role. He can still score with the best of them, but is not the forward he used to be. If the Rangers end up bringing Nash back, he will most certainly be on a team friendly deal and as a vet presence to help the youth acclimate to the NHL.

Michael Grabner, Forward

First off, I want to thank the New Jersey Devils for overpaying on Michael Grabner, it’s even better that he was a non factor for New Jersey, which all but cheapens his value on the market and opens the door even wider for a Rangers return. Before he was dealt, Grabner was the leading scorer for New York and was a top penalty killer for this team. His arrival at the beginning of the previous campaign gave the Rangers the speedy player they sorely missed after losing Carl Hagelin.

Re-signing Grabner would almost certainly help this team in the short run, adding a veteran presence as well as top end speed in a penalty killing role and the eventual goal here and there solely based off his speed.

Dominic Moore, Center

Having done two terms with New York, and the second being his most successful, possibly tossing Dominic Moore a flyer for either a PTO or a one season contract may not be the worst idea. If the Rangers are looking for someone to take faceoffs or fill out a fourth line center role, or potentially a depth role, maybe a reunion wouldn’t be the worst idea. Lets not forget this team did sign Maxim Lapierre, Adam Cracknell, Andrew Desardins and Peter Holland to contracts, so if flyers were thrown to them, I wouldn’t see the hurt in possibly inviting Moore to camp to either fight for a spot, or use his signing to light a fire under a younger player to solidify a spot.

Benoit Pouliot, Forward

I know it seems like I’m going off a trend here, but this is pure coincidence that most of the players mentioned here were all part of the 2013-14 Rangers. The same can be said for Benoit Pouliot. Benny has bounced around from Edmonton to Buffalo after his stint with New York and a reunion wouldn’t be the worst idea.

Although he is older, he still possesses NHL level skill and has familiarity with Mats Zuccarello. The line of Brassard-Pouliot-Zuccarello was arguably one of the better lines the Rangers have boasted in some time, and possibly, by bringing back Benny on a short term deal or a PTO, could potentially spark some kind of fire on the Rangers depth chart. The Rangers are looking for veteran players and are also looking to be cost effective during this time of change.

Lee Stempniak, Forward

I always maintained the thought that Lee Stempniak got a raw deal as a New York Ranger. Signed after Pouliot went to Edmonton, Stempniak was brought in to fill the depth role as a bottom six scorer, but did not live up to that, primarily due to Alain Vigneault crushing on Tanner Glass and his intangibles. Stempniak was able to fill out roles with Winnipeg, Boston, New Jersey and Carolina as a bottom six, depth scorer.

Even if it’s a PTO or a one year deal, signing Stempniak would ensure the Rangers have options and a short term deal would not get in the way of any one young forward’s development, as a player like him would be expendable, but helpful, as you can never have too much depth.

Conclusion

The Rangers are dead set on a change, but they’ve maintained that this rebuild or retool won’t be just throwing the young kids into the pit and seeing what happens. The team wants to surround the youth with veteran leadership and many of the players above, who are former Rangers, can help assist with this development, alongside coach David Quinn. From having already played for New York, whether it was long term or short term, their experiences will almost certainly help out the budding youth this team is boasting. If anyone can help push these kids into becoming solid NHL players, why not?

Many fans blame the New York Rangers struggles on a lack of talent. When a team has pieces worth selling, it’s hard to say they lack talent. However, they are lacking in a key spot, leadership.

Intangibles

In the past three years, the team has lost their captain (Ryan Callahan) and three alternates (Brad Richards, Derek Stepan, and Dan Girardi). In trying to retool and get younger, the team has sacrificed heavy leadership players. If they decide to sell at the deadline, which seems more and more likely, at least one more is likely to go in the person of Rick Nash.

While many desired the buyouts of Richards and Girardi, the effect of their lost leadership is being felt this year. The trade of Stepan paved the way for Mika Zibanejad to be the team’s number one center, yet the void Stepan left as a team leader is apparent.

I get it Henrik Lundqvist, for all intents and purposes, is the leader of the team. Quite honestly he has been for a very long time now. However, at one point, he had a supporting cast that also had this fire. It cannot come down to the goaltender, who was supposed to have the night off, coming into a game and bring passion and fire.

Whole Sale

Selling at the deadline is what every Rangers fan seems to want. Selling makes sense, and depending on how it is done, can actually give Henrik one more chance at a Stanley Cup. Yet, currently, the Rangers don’t have the leadership needed to be a dangerous team. The Blueshirts aren’t suffering from a lack of talent, rather it’s because there is no player, other than Lundqvist, that will come in after a loss and make an impact on the next game.

If, and when, the team begins to sell, youth and talent should be the main focus. Once “rentals” (Nash, Grabner, Holden) are dealt, players like Mats Zuccarello, Ryan McDonagh, and JT Miller will become the focus of trade talks. That is talent, and in the cases of Zuccarello and McDonagh, leaders, gone. The team needs a leader to help mold young talents like Anthony DeAngelo, Vinni Lettieri, Filip Chytil, and Lias Andersson for the future.

Talent vs System

https://twitter.com/4BNYRGameday/status/959225695904952320

Many fans believe that it is the talent level that is a detriment to the team. In reality, it comes down to a team playing as a unit. Look at the Vegas Golden Knights for instance. They were seen as an inferior team coming into this season talent wise. Now they are a top team. Even the worst NHL player has talent. In order for a team to have success, there needs to be a balance of young talent, veteran leadership and a team playing together; following the system put in place by their coach. Either the Rangers are not following their coach’s system or Alain Vigneault’s system is bad. Whichever it is, there is missing leadership via players not making in-game adjustments or coaches not adjusting their game plan.

Lead Us

It is not about talent, the Rangers succeed by having talent throughout multiple lines. What they need is to build around youth with veteran leadership. Look at the Toronto Maple Leafs, a talented team up and down the roster. Yet they have players like Matt Martin, Ron Hainsey, and former Rangers center Dominic Moore. It may be time to tear it down and build it back up. The only way to do this correctly is by making sure there are leaders on the roster. The Rangers don’t lack talent, they lack leadership.