During all of this, many notable players have passed through wearing the blueshirt, but there are also those who aren’t as notable, so returning with a vengeance, here is another edition of Lesser Known Rangers, sponsored by typewriters. Typewriters, just like clothes, we’ll come back in style soon enough. 

Benn Ferriero, Right Wing

Time with Rangers: 4 games with New York, 23 games with CT in 2012-13

Coming from the San Jose Sharks and WBS Penguins, Benn Ferriero was a gritty, fourth line guy who made a decent impact early on in his career. When the Rangers traded for him in the AHL for Chad Kolarik, New York called him up and threw him out there, in which he seemed like he gave his all.

Problem is, he wasn’t productive, nor did he stay long with the big club. From my hazy memory, he was slated to be an energy guy but that seemed to fade after a game or two under Torts. After only tallying one assist on the big club, he was sent back down to Connecticut where he played a combined 23 games for the Whale, before he bounced around to Vancouver, Utica, Providence and Chicago alongside a trip overseas. He’s also the last guy I remember wearing number 36 before Zuccarello.

I thought this guy was going to be a glue piece for this team. Then again, this is why I’m typing this out and not sitting in a comfy chair in the Rangers front office…

James Sheppard, Center

Time with Rangers: 14 games during 2014-15 season, 13 in playoffs.

Before I go deeper into this, many players during the AV tenure were driven out of town unfairly. Outside of Keith Yandle, James Sheppard was one of those players. Now, before anyone decides to get on my case, Sheppard was active, engaged and competent down the middle as a center. Then again, AV has a history of not using players in the right spots (cough cough ERIC STAAL cough cough). That and scratching him for Tanner Glass really would set me off, since Sather acquired Sheppard to fill out Center depth that the Rangers didn’t really have at the time.

Sheppard was drafted 9th overall by the Minnesota Wild during the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Sheppard was a consistent 40 plus point player, putting up 30 plus goals in his last two seasons in juniors. Sadly, that scoring touch didn’t really translate well to the NHL, but he played well enough to fit as a bottom tier center for the Wild and San Jose Sharks.

As the Rangers made another one of many playoff pushes, they acquired Sheppard during the 2014-15 season for a fourth round pick. Whenever he was on the ice, the team seemed to generate more offense on it’s 3rd/4th lines and seemed to me that James Sheppard was fitting in well along with playing strong hockey. Sadly, he would be scratched on many occasions for Tanner Glass. Whenever Sheppard did play, you noticed him, or at least I did.

Sheppard would play 13 games for New York during the playoff run before leaving the team. If there was a depth player that would’ve fit in with the squad for the following season, it would’ve been James Sheppard. Unfortunately, the Rangers decided not to re-sign him, as he would have tryouts for Columbus and Vancouver before heading off to Austria, then Germany.

Ken Gernander, Right Wing

Time with Rangers: 12 regular season games (95-96, 03-04), 15 playoff games (95-96, 96-97)

Ken Gernander lasted a long time in the hockey world as a player and a coach. A member of both the Binghamton Rangers, Hartford Wolf Pack as a player, then as coach of the Wolf Pack and Connecticut Whale, Gernander was affiliated with the New York Rangers for quite some time. A Calder Cup winner in 2000, Gernander got a few cups of coffee with the big club. In his time in New York, Gernander registered 8 points (5 G, 3 A) and was primarily an injury fill in or short term replacement.

After Gernander’s retirement from hockey, He left his mark by being the AHL’s all-time leader in career playoff games played (123) and is the AHL’s all-time leading scorer among American-born players with 624 points in 973 games. Gernander then went on to be an assistant coach for Hartford before becoming the head honcho behind the bench for 9 plus seasons, overseeing the development of many current and former Rangers, like Ryan McDonagh, Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller and Mats Zuccarello.

Gernander was fired after the 2016-2017 season and is currently a scout for the New York Islanders.

The news we were all dreading was revealed today that Mats Zuccarello is out indefinitely with an upper body injury as per the New York Rangers.

Rangers announce that Zuccarello will be sidelined indefinitely with upper body injury. It is suspected concussion.

— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) April 27, 2015

That means that James Sheppard will be reinserted into the lineup when the Blueshirts open their second round series this week. For more on what that means, read today’s post on Sheppard being a perfect fit versus the Islanders or Capitals.

Kevin Klein says he’s good to go for Game 1, whenever it is.

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) April 27, 2015

The Rangers did get some great news that Kevin Klein is all systems go for the next round.

#NYR defenseman Kevin Klein says he is ready to go in Game One “I am excited for the second round”

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 27, 2015

Today we will hopefully learn the status of Mats Zuccarello‘s availability for round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. If for whatever reason Mats is unable to compete, trade deadline acquisition James Sheppard would fit right in.

The Islanders and Capitals face off in Game 7 at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. tonight. This series has been grueling and hard fought with a dash of nastiness all around. Both teams have gone at it hit for hit and shot for shot. It culminated in a melee at the end of Game 6 in Nassau and is expected to continue tonight.

[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7ynW4fC0NI”]

[su_quote cite=”Jack Capuano via Washington Post” url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2015/04/25/mayhem-breaks-out-at-the-end-of-game-6-of-capitals-islanders-series/”]“Seriously. It’s been a physical series. I’ve watched other hockey, other series, and this one here, there’s no question, the bodies that are flying around, and the scrums in front of the goaltenders, how the game is being played. Everybody’s being hard on their best players, which they should on both sides. They let em play.” NYI Coach, Jack Capuano via Washington Post[/su_quote]

So far both teams have amassed 128 Penalty Minutes (NYI 83, WSH 45). Cal Clutterbuck leads the Islanders with 26 and Matt Martin is second with 12. For Washington, Tom Wilson has 9 PIM’s and is their go to tough guy along with Jason Chimera. In contrast the Rangers had 30 PIM’s while they combined with the Penguins for a total of 76.

Should Zucc be unable to go, Sheppard would line up with Dominic Moore and Tanner Glass to form a solid crash and bang 4th line. Jesper Fast would move up with Carl Hagelin and Kevin Hayes leaving Martin St. Louis to stay on the top line with Derick Brassard and Rick Nash.

Either opponent would be right in Sheppard’s wheelhouse as he plays an in your face physical style. Don’t get me wrong, both the Islanders and Capitals have offensive talent but past their first lines they lean to physical hockey. These two squads are big and are at the top of the league for average height and weight, so they play to this strength.

If Sheppard gets into the lineup, it would bring out the best in him as it did last year when the San Jose Sharks played a grueling 7 game series against the L.A. Kings. In that series Sheppard scored 2 goals and notched 6 points while averaging 12:19 of ice time. More important than the offense was his physical style of play which upset the Kings early in that series.

Even if Zuccarello is able to play, it may make sense to find a way to get Sheppard into the lineup against the likes of Matt Martin of Cal Clutterbuck if it’s the Islanders or Tom Wilson if the Capitals advance. We’ve seen Martin and Clutterbuck run around enough during the regular season to know they will once again continue even harder in the playoffs.

[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DvSnnWwAUk”]

Sheppard has proven that he will answer the bell if he feels that the opposition is taking liberties. The only question is, does Alain Vigneault trust him enough to put him out there if he has options? Tanner Glass is a physical player but adheres to AV’s “whistle to whistle” aka: turn the other cheek philosophy. Should Sheppard get in there and put the Rangers down a man just to try and get at someone, he will surely be benched going forward.

Still, it is hard to ignore that he provides the size and grit required in a series with either the Isles or Caps. Regardless, come game 1 the coach will have an interesting decision to make.

Martin St. Louis is coming back into the lineup tonight and that meant someone needed to be scratched. The choice was obvious right? It was going to be Tanner Glass of course, but alas Alain Vigneault has opted to take out James Sheppard instead. For the record, it’s the right move.

Glass has earned his spot on the current roster over Sheppard. I fully understand that for the season Sheppard statistically belongs in over Glass. Matter of fact, I think that the Rangers would be better off with Sheppard in as well. However, I’m currently sitting on my ass punching keys while Alain Vigneault punches all the right buttons to win.

Both Glass and Sheppard have suited up for the last 8 games together. Sports is all about what have you done for me lately and season long stats aside, Glass has been better than Sheppard during this stretch. Below is a snapshot of what I feel are stats they should be judged by (even CF%)

Tanner Glass currently has it all over James Sheppard in every category except Takeaways vs. Giveaways. Now I’m sure there’s a blogger or two waiting to jump all over me (which is cool if they’re cute). They probably have some other charts or another way to measure effectiveness in the fancy stats realm to hit me over the head with. Still, we are talking about two fourth line grinders here and Glass has simply had more impact in the last 8 games.

Both players are meant to bring a physicality to their roles and they each do. However, Glass is just doing it better and has 11 more hits than Sheppard during this span. On top of it all, Glass has a goal and a -1 rating. Sheppard unfortunately has 0 points and has been on the ice for an extra goal against.

In the flawed world of corsi where you can get a +1 by saucing one on the goalie at the end of a shift, Glass has Sheppard by 1.8! For the record, I’ve noticed Glass has been shooting a lot more than he did in the beginning of the season. Mind you, they’re harmless shots from the boards and blue-line because he probably knows it will make his corsi look better.

Players all around the league know that these metrics and out there and are cognizant how to pad them. I’ve spoken to several in the business off the record and they’ve even given me names of those that do. Don’t get me started on the fact that these numbers are collected and inputted by people who can make mistakes. However, I digress because the bottom line is Glass has been better.

Also, his teammates love him as does the coach. So our blogging and tweeting opinions mean nothing. You can continue to be the old man screaming at the clouds or you can sit back and watch the Rangers possibly clinch the Metro Division tonight in Minnesota.

Imagine if the Rangers didn’t have Tanner Glass this year? Scary to think that they may have been able to be the first team in hockey to go undefeated. Yes, that was dripping hot with sarcasm. Oh well, we’ll just have to settle for the inevitable clinching of the Metro Division, possible President’s Trophy and maybe even the Stanley Cup. All in spite of Tanner Glass….amazing.

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Playing their 5th game in 8 nights and 1st game back after a 4 game road trip, the Blueshirts dug deep and won a game they shouldn’t have. Thanks to the stellar goaltending of Cam Talbot and the 4th line, NY got 2 more points.

RANGERS 2 vs. PANTHERS 1

Tonight, many Rangers fans got what they wanted when James Sheppard was reinserted into the lineup for a sore Tanner Glass. His impact was felt immediately when he put the home team up 1-0. By using his size and quickness to get in front and beat Dan Ellis, it is clear that he is better suited for AV’s system.

In the second period, Cam Talbot would stand on his head stopping all 20 Panther shots hurled his way. The Blueshirts were not sharp for most of this contest and if not for Talbot, the outcome would have been vastly different.

His biggest stop came on a Willie Mitchell shot from behind the net that hopped up on his pad near the goal line. The play went to video review but there was no goal.

Almost midway through the third period, the 4th line got to work again. Buzzing in the Panthers zone for most of the night, Matt Hunwick put home a Dom Moore feed from the blue line. Fast provided the screen in front as the puck changed direction off a Panther. NY had breathing room.

That wouldn’t last long because 2 minutes later Brandon Pirri cut the lead in half. The Rangers now had to focus their minds and apply themselves to pick up this win against a desperate Florida team.

The situation was made harder when Marty St. Louis went down with an apparent knee injury in the final minutes. He could be seen grimacing and told medical trainer, Jim Ramsay that “it popped” before heading to the locker room. Alain Vigneault believes the injury “doesn’t seem serious” but we should learn more tomorrow.

NY made things further complicated by having to kill off a Ryan McDonagh minor with 2:35 to play. Even with the goalie pulled the Rangers PK continued to shine and in the end Talbot stopped 38 of 39 shots on goal. Another impressive performance for the kid from Alabama-Huntsville.

As for the majority of the team? They could use the few days off before Chicago on Wednesday. The night started with the Rangers honoring Dan Boyle for playing his 1000th NHL game, it ended with the coach reminding himself not to critique a win.

“I think we’re going to keep one copy of this game and give it to Boyler (Dan Boyle).” AV joked. As he was walking out of his presser he repeated, “never critique a win.” Tonight, the coach was pretty close to doing so.

NOTES

Here is MSL’s right leg injury. Clearly says “it popped” to #NYR trainer Jim Ramsay on MSG feed. pic.twitter.com/B3JoWzoGqo

— FullTilt Rangers (@NYR_FullTilt) March 16, 2015

AV: “No doubt that tonight it was all about Cam, not only from the start but in the second period where we barely touched the puck” — Steve Zipay (@stevezipay) March 16, 2015

#NYR Injury Update: AV says “it doesn’t seem to be anything serious, but we’ll know more tomorrow” on @mstlouis_26

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 16, 2015

Great line by AV: “We’re going to keep one (video) copy of this game and give it to Boyler.” — Rangers Report (@rangersreport) March 16, 2015

Matt Hunwick gets the #NYR Broadway Hat!! pic.twitter.com/TD89FimCAO

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 15, 2015

HIGHLIGHTS & INTERVIEWS

Make no mistake about it, the Rangers are one of the best teams in the NHL. This should also come as no surprise since these are the defending Eastern Conference Champions.

From top to bottom, Glen Sather and the management have put together one of the finest teams in Rangers history. Led by the calm and cool Alain Vigneault, this team plays an uptempo skill game with a hard work ethic. It is a combination that has put them now in the top of the league’s standings.

Still, there are concerns going forward even with all the winning going on. While they may not be impacting the Rangers now, it could come at the most crucial time of the year – the post-season.

Henrik Lundqvist

Wait, Henrik Lundqvist is a concern? Even so, we have Cam Talbot so what are we worried about you say? Okay, here’s the deal…Henrik Lundqvist is coming back and will be doing so after not playing for well over a month, maybe two.

Now, if you think for a second that once Lundqvist returns he will take a back seat to Talbot, you’re dead wrong. Regardless of Talbot’s stats, it will be Lundqvist who will be given the opportunity in the playoffs. Lundqvist has shown in the last few season’s that he struggles to start. Can the Rangers get him back in enough time to find his game before the first round?

That is my top concern right now with the Rangers and it is a legitimate one. If Henrik comes back with just a few regular season games and is rusty, it could have serious consequences in the playoffs.

Imagine a scenario where Lundqvist isn’t as sharp as he should be and loses game 1 to Boston. Even if he gets blown out, AV will go back to him in game 2. If he continues struggling, being down 2-0 in series to the Bruins, 8th seed or not is a death wish.

Face-Offs

Yes, I am still harping on this. I know that there is some scatter diagram out there showing that there is no direct or tangible correlation between face-offs and possession, but are you really going to put your faith in that fuzzy math? Especially when most hockey experts and coaches talk about their importance.

Forget for a minute that the Rangers are 29th on draws but 1st in the standings. Over the course of a long regular season, you can obviously survive and thrive being bad on draws. Why? Great goaltending, solid defense and an offense that is top 5 in the NHL.

Now, take that into a 7 game series against an equal opponent that is better than you on draws. It’s overtime in game 7 and you are still rocking a 46% on draws. There is a key face-off in your zone and the other guy wins it clean (again), this is called possession. The defenseman rears back a big slap shot as the forwards crash the net. In the blink of an eye, the puck finds its way past Lundqvist and the Rangers amazing season is over.

So what can the Rangers do? Alain Vigneault needs to find a way to make James Sheppard and his 50% on draws and near 52% winning percentage in the defensive zone a permanent fixture. Even if it is at the expense of Jesper Fast.

The fact that the third line of Hayes with Hagelin and Miller are playing so well actually complicates things a bit. Sheppard on Hayes’ wing could actually take all draws for him and slide over to the wing once face-off is won. However, just having Sheppard in the lineup gives AV the option late in a game to put him out there with Hayes to take any important draw.

While this appears to not be a problem now, it could very well kill them in the playoffs.

The Second Line

We all know what an amazing season Rick Nash is having. Along with Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello, they are the Rangers key line. That means in the playoffs they will be facing the opposition’s best defenders.

Now, if the third line with Hayes continues to contribute it will help. However, Derek Stepan along with Chris Kreider and especially Marty St. Louis need to contribute. Over their last 10 games they have 6 goals and and 9 points. St. Louis and Kreider have 3 goals each, while Stepan has only 2 assists (Kreider has the other).

Yes, be very concerned if this continues in the playoffs and the top line is shut down.

Other Concerns

The power play has obviously slipped, but over the last few year’s recent Stanley Cup Champions haven’t exactly electrified the world with the man advantage. Although, imagine what a few PP goals would have done for the Rangers against the Kings.

Another concern is one shared by all teams – injuries. Right now we are waiting for Henrik Lundqvist to get back, but we are also holding our breath on the results of Kevin Klein‘s x-rays.

If he were to miss the 1st round of the playoffs that would be a big blow. Of course, same could be said to an injury to any other defenseman or top 9 forward. The playoffs in the NHL are a war of attrition, so you need a little luck in the health department.

Always Optimistic

Call me a fool, but I really believe the Rangers are going to go all the way this season. I also fully expect Henrik Lundqvist to be cleared soon and return to action in enough time to sharpen his skills for a long post season run.

The injury could also prove to be a blessing in disguise for the Rangers. Lundqvist may be the freshest goalie going into the playoffs, removing any fatigue factor in the Stanley Cup Final this time around.

I also think Alain Vigneault will work out his best lineup before the post season starts and it will include James Sheppard. More importantly, he will figure out how to get him in the face-off circle.

So there you have it! What are you thinking? I’d love to hear it in the comments below.

The big trade deadline moves stole most of the NHL headlines over the past week. The NY Rangers acquired Keith Yandle from Arizona for two young players and future considerations and re-signed fan favorite Mats Zuccarello to an extension. However, the Rangers fortified their bottom six, giving the team more depth for the stretch run and into the playoffs.

The subtle additions can become the biggest assets come playoff time. There’s no doubt the Rangers gave up a lot to get Keith Yandle and they’re a better team for it in the short-term. I wanted to use a post to take a look at what the Rangers bottom six will look like the rest of the 14/15 season as we get closer to the playoffs.

The Rangers have added a solid player to their bottom six

Newly acquired forward James Sheppard brings size, defensive play, physicality, and from what we saw of him in his debut, he makes smart plays with the puck. The Rangers are a more complete four line team with James Sheppard in the lineup. It’s obvious that Tanner Glass was not the answer on the fourth line so anything is an upgrade.

Alain Vigneault doesn’t look for much offense from his fourth line. If he can get offensive zone time from them, they have exceeded their job description. Wearing down the oppositions defenseman with the fourth line is a good trade-off for any team.

The Rangers have had a hard time putting 3 players together for an extended amount of time on the fourth line.

The Rangers fourth line has been a work in progress all season and Dominic Moore is the only constant back there. The fourth line goes as Moore does and fails when he does. Moore is a 45% Corsi for while on the ice. Considering he starts less than 25% of his shifts in the offensive end and played with Tanner Glass (42%CF) much of the time it’s not too bad at all. A well rounded player like James Sheppard will help Dom Moore and the entire fourth line drive puck possession. When the playoffs begin in April, the Rangers will need veteran forwards like Moore and Sheppard to step up and lead the charge.

The Rangers 4th line begins when the opposition starts a shift in the Rangers end.

Newly acquired forward James Sheppard is having his best NHL season. He has a modest 13 points on the year in 58 games between San José and the Rangers. With the Sharks he started only 40% of his shifts in the offensive end yet held a 49.5% Corsi for. Again considering the hard minutes he played those are very solid numbers. With 19 games left in the 14/15 season, it’ll be interesting to see how good the fourth line is with two players that can drive possession. Sheppard, Moore, and Fast will most likely make up the fourth line the remainder of the season. Speaking of Jesper Fast, he is the next player of mention in the Rangers bottom six.

Jesper Fast returns from injury to take over the bottom six right-wing and should help immensely

For much of this season the right side of center on the fourth line has been like musical chairs. Lee Stempniak held it down for parts of the season in a platoon but the defensive oriented minutes were too much for him. There was no room for him in the top nine and as a liability in the defensive end, the Rangers felt they could do better with Fast. Now that the proverbial music has stopped Jesper Fast appears cemented into the lineup. Early on Fast fell victim to the lineup carousel, moving from fourth line to third and now back to fourth.

The Rangers bottom six now becomes a position of strength.

During the month of January Fast led the Rangers forwards with a 56.2% CF playing third line (59.2% Ozone starts) minutes with Carl Hagelin and Kevin Hayes. Fast possesses good defensive instincts and his puck skills are progressing at the NHL level. With Fast now healthy and the left side of Dominic Moore occupied by James Sheppard, the Rangers fourth line might become a strength they can use against opposing teams. A checking line that can play physical, shut down teams in the Rangers end, and own the puck while on the ice. That’s more than anyone could ask for from their bottom line.

Possession Stats are courtesy of Waronice.com

The Rangers third line remains intact after the deadline for a reason!

It was a game in Nashville on February 7th when Jesper Fast suffered a knee injury that caused the right-wing to miss 12 games. Alain Vigneault had been adjusting his lines to find balance for his bottom six. The next night was a home game against Dallas in which J.T. Miller had been given an opportunity to earn a full-time spot in the lineup. Since then Miller has remained with his line mates on the third line and the Rangers have been a better team.

In that stretch of games not only has JT Miller earned Vigneault’s trust but so has the entire third line. AV likes to give his third line some of the lightest minutes on the team. By light I don’t mean easy, they still have to produce. The Rangers coaching staff uses the third line in the offensive end for over 60% of their shifts at even strength. AV tries to keep them out of the defensive zone as much as possible but when needed Carl Hagelin is the possession beast.

Carl Hagelin is one of the Rangers better two-way forwards and Kevin Hayes has progressed into a reliable forward. The Rangers need depth scoring from the third line and this trio has delivered since Miller has been an every day forward. Since February 6th, in 14 games, the Rangers have gotten 23 points from the third line alone. Led by Hayes’ 11 points, Hagelin’s 8 points, and Miller’s 4. Pretty solid contributions from the third line in only a month of work.

The Rangers need the second line to get back to producing!

Of late the Rangers have had to rely on Rick Nash, Mats Zuccarello and the bottom six for scoring. The Rangers have not gotten very much from their second scoring unit made up of Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan, and Martin St. Louis. Of the three players, only Kreider has done much of anything the last 7 games. Statistically Stepan and St. Louis have been pretty bad driving possession. Stepan (46.6%) and St. Louis (48.3%) Corsi for, have gotten into trouble in their zone and to make it worse the scoring has dried up. Neither player has a point since February 22, against Columbus. All three players had the ability to take over a game but as a group they haven’t contributed to the score lately.

McKenzie clarifies comments on Lundqvist’s return to Rangers.

Can the Rangers continue to win without their second scoring line and starting goaltender?

This may become problematic for the Rangers who are one of the top 3 offensive teams in the NHL. They have had to win a lot of high scoring games with backup netminder Cam Talbot in for Henrik Lundqvist.

The Rangers as a team are shooting above league average with a team wide shooting percentage of 9.7%. It’s possible they hit a rough patch of low scoring games in the next week or so. It’s impossible to know for sure but the Rangers need their bottom six forwards to play well in low scoring games. Cam Talbot has to continue his recent strong play but the Rangers also need depth scoring from their second and third lines. Strong defensive play and puck possession from the fourth line will be equally imperative.

After their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 20 years, the New York Rangers emerged as a team to beat in the NHL after their 2013-14 campaign.

So far in the 2014-15 season, the Rangers have created a new identity for themselves; a quick, puck-moving team who can beat you on the rush, and when things look bleak, goaltending will bail them out.

When Henrik Lundqvist went down with a strained blood vessel in his neck, all hope seemed lost for the Blueshirts. The best player on their roster was unavailable for the foreseeable future, which left many in a panic, wondering where the Rangers would end up without the former Vezina-winner.

If it weren’t for Cam Talbot, this team would not be where they are right now. Currently, they sit in second place with 85 points in the Metropolitan Division. They are only 2 points behind the New York Islanders, but because the Rangers have fewer games played, they have a great chance to grab the top spot.

Talbot has stepped in Henrik’s absence and has simply been sensational. He is 9-2-3 since the injury, and his GAA on the season is a 2.43, along with a save percentage of .917%. Better than some starting goalies in the league.

Although offense has bailed Cam out on some nights, there have been games where he was called on to make some big saves, and he did just that. Take Wednesday night for example against the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard outduels Cam Talbot in Detroit (DET 2 v. NYR 1 OT)” href=”https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/jimmy-howard-outduels-cam-talbot-in-detroit-det-2-v-nyr-1-ot/” target=”_blank”>It was a duel between him and Jimmy Howard, and Talbot held his own. The biggest save coming with about 12 seconds left, which was an athletic grab with his glove to keep the game tied and send it into overtime to get his team the point.

The thing that makes the Rangers even scarier was the acquisition of Keith Yandle. Sunday before the trade deadline, general manager Glen Sather went out and traded away Anthony Duclair, John Moore, and a 2016 first-round pick to get the star defenseman who is only 28 years old.

His reasoning for trading away Duclair has been the play of Kevin Hayes, who essentially took the place of Duclair, making it easier for Sather to let go of him.

In his first two games with the Rangers, Yandle has already shown his brilliance. His vision on the ice is not something most defensemen have, his ability to make tape-to-tape passes might be the best in the league, and his skating is tremendous. You have already started to see the difference on the power-play, as Yandle has been able to control the pace of play and create chances for his new teammates.

With a defensive core of Yandle, Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, and Marc Staal, the Rangers now have arguably one of the best defenses in the league, counting Lundqvist.

Their offensive depth has also improved. Sather also was able to get former San Jose Sharks forward James Sheppard for Lee Stempniak. Sheppard is a gritty fourth line player who can play either the wing or center, and will play a pivotal role in the Rangers lineup. Taking the spot of Tanner Glass, the Blueshirts will have a good fourth line heading into the playoffs, which we all know is very important to success (Dominic Moore scored the game-winning goal in game six of the Eastern Conference Final).

With these additions, and the players the Rangers have now, they have sent shockwaves across the league, signaling that they are ready to win, and ready to do it now.

They currently have 10 players who are 26-years old or younger, so they have youth, and they also have prospects within the organization, such as Brady Skjei, Conor Allen, and Oscar Lindberg.

Their combination of youth and skill has made the Rangers a Cup contender for years to come, whether they will win it all is the main question, but it’s safe to say that they have a pretty good shot.

James Sheppard will make his debut for the Rangers tonight in Detroit. The 26 year old forward from San Jose replace Lee Stempniak in the lineup and he adds more size and grit to a “soft” group of Rangers forwards.

Now that Jesper Fast is healthy, this move could see Tanner Glass benched in order to keep the 3rd line of Kevin Hayes with Carl Hagelin and JT Miller intact. Alain Vigneault recently said of Tanner’s play:

[su_quote cite=”Larry Brooks” url=”https://nypost.com/2015/03/04/how-james-sheppards-rangers-arrival-hurts-gritty-tanner-glass/”]I think Tanner has played well in his role,” Vigneault said following Tuesday’s practice. “The dynamics that he brings to our group, I would say the last little while he has played the exact type of hockey we expected; the physicality, being a deterrent against the other team’s physicality. I think he’s done that.”[/su_quote]

Still, is it enough to scratch Jesper Fast who just returned from a knee sprain? Or does JT Miller sit again? We just don’t see it, plus Sheppard could provide a little of that grit Glass is expected to inject into the lineup when he’s in. Vigneault certainly is looking forward to having him play as well.

[su_quote cite=”Larry Brooks” url=”https://nypost.com/2015/03/04/how-james-sheppards-rangers-arrival-hurts-gritty-tanner-glass/”]“I remember him a lot from Minnesota where he started off as a young player,” Vigneault said of Sheppard, who was selected ninth overall by the Wild in the 2006 Entry Draft but has never recorded more than five goals, 19 assists or 26 points in a season. “From my understanding, he is a smart player who can play a pretty good two-way game, and is versatile. “He can play all three forward positions. I think for our bottom six, depending on how he plays, he’ll get an opportunity and see where he fits in.”[/su_quote]

Sheppard is a big boy at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds. His game is about using the body and creating turnovers on the forecheck. He is an “energy” guy and will play it rough if need be. Plus his 50% on draws on a team that currently ranks 29th on face-offs won’t hurt.

[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoX7qzSTQ4c”]

Vincent Delillo recently wrote here that Sheppard and his potential line mates of Dom Moore and Jesper Fast could create one of the most formidable shut down lines in all of the NHL. He also believes this will end up being one of the better value trades down the stretch.  Sheppard will provide defensive stability in the bottom-six, and while his offensive numbers are nothing to write home about, his defensive contributions should keep him firmly entrenched in the lineup.

[su_quote cite=”Rick Carpiniello” url=”https://www.lohud.com/story/sports/2015/03/03/rangers-options-sheppard/24324991/”]”We have (discussed the role), and I want to find something I can do and do it right,” Sheppard said. “Pretty much whatever I’m asked to do, I want to do my job right whenever the opportunity comes. And hopefully put a couple of pucks in the back of the net at the same time.”[/su_quote]

So tonight, James Sheppard starts his career in Rangers blue. His current cap hit is 1.2M and he is an unrestricted free-agent at the age of 27. There is no doubt that this is a lengthy audition to show he belongs on Broadway.

For now, we will wait and see what this new Ranger can do for our Stanley Cup dreams. By the way, he scored against the Kings in last year’s playoffs, so I like him already.

[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L2DohNPJ9s”]

The “New Look” Rangers will now add James Sheppard to their lineup tonight as they travel to Detroit.  Keith Yandle made his debut in a 4-1 win against the Nashville Predators at the Garden and Sheppard will be looking for his first W with the Blueshirts.

MATS ZUCCARELLO SIGNED PUCK BLOWOUT SPECIAL! JUST $49.99!!!

Many fans are wondering who takes a seat for Sheppard? Many are hoping it will be Tanner Glass and it just might be, but I’m still not certain JT Miller takes a seat. Our lineup questions may be answered when AV speaks this afternoon.

GAME 63: NEW YORK RANGERS v. DETROIT RED WINGS, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI, 8PM

LeftWing Lock Goalie Matchup

– Note click the link throughout the day for confirmed starters.

NOTES

Congrats to @zuccarello36 on his new contract. He has been a lot of fun to watch him everyday!! #imstilltallerzuc

— Martin St Louis (@mstlouis_26) March 3, 2015

VIDEO: Getting to know new #NYR @jimmysheppard15 after his first practice with the Rangers https://t.co/30Qw1HPqHf. pic.twitter.com/LEFh4DeKnc — New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 3, 2015

VIDEO: Exclusive 1-on-1 interview with new #NYR Keith Yandle after his first Rangers practice https://t.co/KRNVO7IyHi pic.twitter.com/e7TJxkDKjD

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 3, 2015

AV says a final decision has not been made yet, but right now looking like @jimmysheppard15 will make his #NYR debut in Detroit tomorrow

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 3, 2015