It’s no secret that Henrik Lundqvist is getting older. We’ve all watched enough Rangers games to know that the face of the franchise wants to play every game so he can have a direct effect on the outcome.

Fans wouldn’t have a problem with this if he didn’t start to show us his age last season. Yes, he did have a weaker defense in front of him, and yes, AV’s choices didn’t help either, but he did let up some soft goals here and there. With that in mind, a younger core could signal to Hank that this team is on the rise. Opting to stay with the Rangers during the rebuild and guiding the young Rangers through it, Hank could be rejuvenated and showcase his Vezina form once again. Although, the regular workload might be too much for Henrik and he might put too much pressure on a growing team. As cliché as this is, let’s look at the pros and cons of keeping his workload steady.

PRO: Veteran Leadership

He may be in the crease and not on the bench, but Lundqvist can still supply plenty of leadership with his actions on the ice. The 13-year vet has enough experience to know when it’s time for him to bump up his level of play. Being the last line of defense on a relatively younger team than what he’s used to, Hank can make up for some of his teammate’s mistakes. Instilling confidence within his teammates will be his primary role for this next season. Showing that he doesn’t crack under pressure can boost those around him into becoming the best players they can be.

CON: Young Core + New Coach = Little Support

As stated above, he’ll be the last line of defense for this young team. This is nothing new for Hank, as he has bailed out all of the weak play he’s seen over the years with guys like Nick Holden, Marc Staal, Brendan Smith, and even the occasional Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi slip-ups. With the arrival of new head coach David Quinn and a new system for these new and young players, Hank might be on the tail end of their growing pains. Penalty kills and backchecking might take the biggest hits if the team can’t adapt right away. Hank will be relied on more heavily in those situations and will probably give up more goals than normal. Frustration is a big problem that only goes away when getting positive results and if Hank can’t produce, his playing time will take a hit.

PRO: Georgiev A Fluke?

Though not a pro for the Rangers, this may be a pro for Henrik Lundqvist. Last season saw the emergence of a young stud by the name of Alexandar Georgiev. Georgiev showcased some of his play in the absence of the injured Ondrej Pavelec last season. A small sample size showed Georgiev can produce on the NHL level and get some decent results. The problem with small sample sizes is that it’s small. Who knows what next season could mean for Georgiev, maybe he’s not as good as we may think. This bodes well for The King and his playing time. Instead of potentially splitting time down the middle with Georgiev, we may see Hank take a larger load of games.

CON: His Age

Can Henrik even handle a regular amount of games or even an increased load? Last season we saw some cracks in his foundation. Starting 61 games and posting a 26-26-7 record only paints part of the picture. Hank let up a career-high 174 goals, which lead to his career high 2.98 GAA. Last year’s team let up over 2000 shots against when Hank was in net, and now that the captain is no longer with the team, that shot total may increase. For a goaltender of his age, Lundqvist is on the downward swing of his career and may not be able to handle more shots per game, which could result in more games the Rangers lose and less starts for the King.

PRO: He Wants to Play

Recently on MSG Network, Joe Micheletti spoke about how Henrik Lundqvist will be fired up to play with a younger roster of players next season. Motivation to play is a huge factor in a player’s production. If given the choice to play, Lundqvist will choose to play in every game. As stated earlier, age is a factor in this, but that won’t change the drive he has to be the best version of himself every game. Will there be some games to forget? Sure. But will that deter him from wanting to be the heart and soul of this team? Absolutely not. Up until his retirement, Hank’s love of the game will drive him to always be his best, and that benefits a rebuilding team.

CON: Always Been On A Contending Team

Speaking of rebuilding, Henrik has always been in the crease to ensure that the Rangers would be contenders, and we’ve seen how badly he takes losses during the regular season and postseason. But what can we expect from a team who just traded away a good portion of their assets and weren’t big buyers during the free agency frenzy? Well, we don’t know. Hank is approaching uncharted territory that may put a strain on his play and mental fortitude. There will be games where he lets up four or more goals and is still going to be in the net after the fact. We’ve seen goalies be left out to dry by rebuilding teams before. Frustration will need to be avoided, but if Hank can’t keep his play up during the tough road ahead, there’s a good chance whoever the backup is next season shares a significant amount of the workload with him.

PRO: Fully Aware The Rangers May Not Be Good

To immediately counteract what was just said, Hank is fully aware that the rebuild has picked up full steam. He is aware that there will be unwinnable games, but he still chose to be on this team. Loyalty and dedication like that are not found in many superstars these days, but it’s one Rangers fans should be happy about. Hank loves New York and the Rangers, and he wants to help them usher in a new era for the team. He’ll give it his all every night, and he’ll be rewarded with playing time. As G.I Joe famously said, “knowing is half the battle”, and Hank is going in prepared as he’ll try to shut down opponents at every turn.

Here are the latest rumblings around Rangerstown.

Vladislav Namestnikov

The Rangers didn’t make a lot of noise on the first day of NHL free agency, but they did re-sign C/W Vladislav Namestnikov to a two-year deal.

The Rangers are hoping that Namestnikov can regain the level of play he had while in Tampa. Granted that he was playing on the same line as Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, but he does have the talent to last in the NHL.

Fredrik Claesson

The Rangers made one UFA acquisition yesterday, signing former Senators defenseman Fredrik Claesson to a one-year deal. Claesson is a stay at home blue-liner that saw time playing alongside all-star defenseman Erik Karlsson.

This is a low-risk move by Gorton with the Rangers blue-line uncertain coming into training camp. Aside from Kevin Shattenkirk, Brady Skjei, and Marc Staal, the opening night defense corps is up in the air. Will Neal Pionk, Tony DeAngelo, or John Gilmour be able to extend their stay on Broadway? Will Brendan Smith have a good camp and get back to MSG? Time will tell, but bringing Claesson aboard gives the Rangers another NHL-level defenseman.

Rangers Alumni On The Move

There was plenty of action yesterday involving former Rangers heading to a new club for the 2018-19 season.

Michael Grabner, who the Rangers traded to the Devils at the deadline, signed a three-year contract with the Coyotes. Former Rangers teammate, and now current teammate, Derek Stepan welcomed Grabner in the most hockey way possible; by chirping him.

https://twitter.com/DerekStepan21/status/1013510871409184768

Former Rangers blue-liner John Moore signed a five-year contract with the Boston Bruins. A mobile defenseman, Moore will give the Bruins another great skating defenseman who knows how and when to jump into the play.

Adam Clendening, who spent 31 games on the ice for the Blueshirts, was signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Clendening’s roster spot won’t be guaranteed for John Tortorella’s club, but he could crack the opening night lineup as the team’s sixth defenseman.

Paul Carey was signed by the Senators after spending last season with the Rangers. Carey was a solid fourth-liner last-year and will bring hard work and consistency to Ottawa, even if they thought he was a defenseman.

The Penguins are bringing back Matt Cullen who, once upon a time, spent a season with the Rangers.

Aside from signing John Tavares, the Maple Leafs signed two former Rangers in Josh Jooris and Adam Cracknell. Neither player spent much time with the Blueshirts, but as they say: “once a Ranger, always a Ranger.”

Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights signed defenseman Nick Holden to a two-year deal. Holden started off well with the Rangers back in 2016, but his play declined significantly and he became an asset that needed to be moved. Vegas also brought back Brandon Pirri on a one-year deal.

In non-NHL signings, David Desharnais has signed with KHL club Lokomotiv. There had been rumors that Desharnais was heading over to the KHL when the Rangers season ended, and now it is official.

It’s no secret that there are a number of former Rangers still in the playoffs. Each former Ranger has provided their new team with some sort of contribution. Ok, Michael Grabner pretty much sucked in New Jersey, but that was part of the plan; gain a second rounder, give no significant contribution, and re-sign with New York on the cheap. That being said, let’s see how the rest of the former Blueshirts are doing.

Michael Grabner

After scoring 31 points (25G, 6A) in 59 games this season for the Rangers, Grabner scored a mere five points (2G, 3A) in 21 games for New Jersey. Traded for to be a depth scorer on a newly competitive Devils team, Grabner simply did not do what he was traded for. Always a streaky scorer, Grabner went cold when he crossed the Hudson and did not improve his numbers in the playoffs. Grabner went pointless in two games before being scratched for the Devils last three games. If you are looking for a bright spot here, the only positive is if the Rangers truly want to bring him back. If that’s the case, Grabner’s contract leverage may have been slightly affected and will be able to be signed for cheaper than if he had gone on a tear in the last 20 games with the Devils.

Brian Boyle

Brian Boyle signed with the Devils in the offseason after spending the last few years with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Boyle was brought in to be a veteran leader on a young and contending Devils squad. Amongst active players, there are few who can match the amount of Stanley Cup Playoff experience (111 games) that Boyle has. During the first round series loss to the Lightning, Boyle did not produce any points for the Devils. However, Boyle was in the middle of the entire series and got into it with Mikhail Sergachev after Sergachev appeared to throw an elbow into Blake Coleman.

Nick Holden

After a career year last season with the Rangers, Holden took a slight step back this season. He still scored 12 points (3G, 9A) with the Rangers in 55 games before providing the Bruins with five points (1G, 4A) in 18 games. However, like Grabner, Holden has received a few healthy scratches. In the playoffs, Holden has played just a single game for the Bruins and scored one point. As the playoffs go on, look to see Holden get more playing time as the bumps and bruises begin to take their toll on his fellow Boston defensemen. I may be in the minority, but Holden is not a bad depth defenseman and actually had the best-advanced numbers of any Ranger defensemen this season prior to the trade.

Rick Nash

Holden’s teammate Rick Nash has seen a little more success with the Bruins. After a down season with only 28 points (18G, 10A) in 60 games with the Rangers, Nash has found a home on Boston’s second line scoring six points (3G, 3A) in 11 games. While Nash was injured at the end of the regular season, he was in the lineup for Game 1 against Toronto. In eight games so far Nash has four points (3G, 1A).  Don’t let his stats fool you, Nash continues to be the most snake-bitten player in history, as every Ranger fan knows all too well. In Game 7, Nash batted a puck out of mid-air towards a wide open net only to see the puck get stopped by the butt end of Andersen’s stick. When Nash finally breaks out, look for Boston’s offense to become deadly.

Carl Hagelin

Hagelin has now won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins and is looking for a third as the Penguins dispatched the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. During the series, Hagelin scored three points (2G, 1A) and was a consistent threat with his speed on a line with Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin. However, late in the series, Hagelin got destroyed by Claude Giroux and had to leave Game 6 prior to the conclusion of the series, and has yet to play for the Penguins in the second round.

Derick Brassard

After spending a year and a half in Ottawa, Brassard was reunited with Carl Hagelin on the Penguins. Brassard has provided the Penguins with the center depth that they needed behind Crosby and Malkin. If Evgeni Malkin’s injury keeps him out of the lineup for any time, look for Brassard to slide up onto the second line behind Sidney Crosby. During the series against Philadelphia, Brassard scored three points (1G, 2A) in six games.

Ryan Callahan

The former captain and heart and soul of the Rangers, Callahan returned from injury for Game 5 after missing Games 3 and 4 with an upper-body injury. Callahan scored an empty net goal to seal the game and series for the Lightning on an assist from Ryan McDonagh, something about two former Ranger captains linking up to eliminate the Devils is a beautiful thing. If Callahan is able to stay healthy, he will help to provide depth, forechecking, and physicality for the Lightning as the playoffs continue.

Dan Girardi

Dan Girardi was bought out by the Rangers this past summer and was quickly signed by the Lightning. Girardi has played a significant amount of time on the top pairing with Victor Hedman. Girardi, as we all know, is not a flashy player. However, his dependable play, coupled with a structured defensive system has allowed Hedman to play to a Norris Trophy level this season. In the playoffs, Girardi has not scored a point while playing close to 16 minutes a game. However, his stay at home play has allowed the other Lightning defenders the freedom to join the rush and contribute offensively.

Anton Stralman

The man that the Rangers allowed to walk in favor of Dan Girardi has made a home for himself in Tampa. Stralman has been a steady presence on the Lightning blue line. In the playoffs so far, Stralman has averaged close to 23 minutes a night and has contributed one point (0G, 1A) in six games so far. On a blue line with Ryan McDonagh, Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev, and Dan Girardi, Stralman can fly under the radar. However, his steady play has clearly not gone under the radar for those who follow the Lightning closely.

JT Miller

JT Miller is the person who has benefitted most from the trade deadline. Out from under AV’s thumb, Miller has thrived as nearly a point-per-game player. Granted part of this can be attributed to playing with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, however, Miller is clearly at home on that line and not overwhelmed by the star power next to him. In the playoffs Miller has four points (1G, 3A) in six games. Look for Miller to be a big contributor as the playoffs continue.

Ryan McDonagh

O Captain, My Captain. Probably the hardest trade for Rangers fans to stomach, Ryan McDonagh has thrived in Tampa. With Victor Hedman as the clear top left-handed defenseman on the team, McDonagh has not had to be THE guy every single night. Additionally, joining a team with so much leadership on the roster, McDonagh does not have the added pressure that being the captain in New York brought with it. Since the trade, McDonagh scored three points (2G, 1A) in the regular season. However, in the playoffs McDonagh has scored four points (0G, 4A) while seeing 23 minutes a night in all situations.

The Rangers may not be in the playoffs, but we as fans still have plenty of reason to cheer. I, for one, will continue to support the Tampa Bay Rangers. I look forward to seeing Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, JT Miller and Ryan Callahan on the ice as the Lightning close out the Stanley Cup. Additionally, the first round pick that we get next year will make it much easier to swallow.

As the trade deadline inches closer, the Rangers met the Canadiens in a playoff rematch from last year. While both teams were playoff teams last year, both are struggling and find themselves at the bottom of the standings in the Eastern Conference. In addition, both team’s captains are on the trading block, although to different levels of seriousness.

LINEUP

Normally, a game between New York and Montreal features two world-class goaltenders in Henrik Lundqvist and Carey Price. However, Lundqvist was rested in favor of Alexandar Georgiev and Carey Price was out with symptoms from a concussion suffered during Montreal’s game on Tuesday. In addition, the Rangers were without Rick Nash and Michael Grabner, as they were held out, presumably because they are close to being traded. Add that to the Rangers still missing Chris Kreider, Kevin Shattenkirk, Ryan McDonagh, and the recently traded Nick Holden. With all of these regulars out of the lineup, the Rangers looked more like the Hartford Wolfpack.

1st PERIOD

As has happened way too often this season the Rangers struggled early on. While the Rangers did not give up a goal in the first minute, they did give up the first goal in the first period with under seven minutes gone in the period. New Rangers defenseman Rob O’Gara lost his man in front of the net as Tomas Plekanec buried a cross crease pass to give the Canadiens a 1-0 lead. The Rangers and Canadiens traded power plays but did not score any more in the opening frame with Georgiev channeling his inner Hank by withstanding the barrage of Montreal shots.

2^nd PERIOD

In the second period, the Canadiens scored again when Jeff Petry took another cross-ice pass and buried it behind Georgiev for a 2-0 Canadiens lead. Although the Rangers had some chances, they were unable to get one past Antti Niemi.

3^rd PERIOD

Despite the Rangers being down a number of key players, they battled and pulled within one goal when Kevin Hayes scored a controversial goal. Initially, it appeared that Hayes kicked the puck in the net. However, the review showed that Hayes kicked the puck towards the net, but his stick deflected the puck before going in the net. Right after the Hayes goal, the Rangers pulled Georgiev for the extra skater but were unable to capitalize on their chances. The Canadiens sealed the game when Phillip Danault scored into the empty net to make the game 3-1 in favor of Montreal.

Making A Good First Impression

The Canadiens won 3-1 behind a shot differential of 41-32 and great goaltending from Antti Niemi. While Georgiev took the loss, he showed great promise by stopping 38 out of the 40 shots that he faced behind a young and relatively inexperienced defense.

Next Game: The Rangers are back at The Garden tonight against the Minnesota Wild. Puck drops at 7!

LETS GO RANGERS!!

Editor’s Note: The Rangers traded Michael Grabner after the game in Montreal. For more on the deal, click here.

With the trade deadline inching closer and closer, the Rangers have already begun conducting business. On Tuesday, Nick Holden was traded to the Boston Bruins for a 3rd round pick and blue line “prospect” Rob O’Gara. While it is not the most exciting trade, Holden’s trade signaled the unofficial beginning of the Rangers fire sale. As we are waiting for the next trade chip to fall, let’s take a look at one player that has not been mentioned in any trade rumors, at least that I have seen, in JT Miller.

JT Miller has been an integral part of the Rangers team for the past few seasons. The 24-year-old wing/center has been a regular in the team’s lineup since the 2014-2015 season. In six seasons with the Rangers, Miller has produced 170 points (71G, 99A) in 338 games. In addition, Miller has increased his point total every year, culminating in a 56 point performance last season. So far this season, Miller has produced 38 points (12G, 26A) in 60 games. Although slightly off his pace from last year, Miller should come close to 50 points again this season. Miller has been bounced around between lines and from wing to center and back again. Between that and the injuries to key Rangers players, Miller’s drop off in production is to be expected.

While McDonagh, Zuccarello, Nash, and Grabner are the main trade targets, there has been some speculation that Miller could be dangled as a piece to help quicken the Rangers rebuild. The question then becomes, should the Rangers trade Miller or keep him around for the rebuild.

TRADE

JT Miller should be traded. By the time the Rangers are competitive again, Miller will be at the back-end of his prime while his contract will be much higher than it currently is. Miller will be on a contract worth around $5M per season, which is not terrible. However, the assets that Miller could bring back would be worth just as much while costing far less. Miller is worth at least a 1st rounder and a high-end prospect. The return for Miller, while not a known commodity, would help set the Rangers up for continued success. If the Rangers are able to replace Miller’s value with an ELC that produces close to the same, they will save that much more cap space. This cap space would allow the Rangers to sign or trade for players to fill the holes in their lineup.

KEEP

JT Miller should not be traded. Depending on how the Rangers decisions and choices go in the next few days and months, the Rangers could be competitive again in as little as two years. Miller will be an affordable, 55+ point scorer that can play center or wing. In addition, Miller will be at the height of his prime as the Rangers re-enter contention. It is not unreasonable to think that Miller could be a 60 point player on a competitive team in a top-six role. And when the Rangers do re-enter contention, they will need veteran leadership that has experienced long playoff runs. Miller will be one of the few players that will have the experience of multiple deep playoff runs. Miller is also one of the few players on the Rangers current roster that plays with an edge, although sporadically. In the playoffs, the ice gets smaller and the games get chippier. Skilled players that are able to play with an edge provide their team a huge advantage.

DECISION TIME

While the Rangers are entering into a re-building phase with McDonagh, Zuccarello, Nash, and Grabner at the forefront, JT Miller may be the Rangers toughest decision. There are strong cases to be made for both sides. Ultimately, the Rangers will do what they believe is the right choice. I personally believe that keeping Miller is the right move. Unless the Rangers receive a superior offer, there is no reason to move on yet from a player that has yet to enter their prime.

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I don’t like watching the Rangers play lately, but I do in fact like when like when they lose. The Rangers currently are the in a position to become lottery contenders for the first overall pick in this year’s draft, even if the odds are slim. As much as I love the Rangers losing to secure a higher percentage for that pick, I cannot watch them play. Have you ever been to a Rangers game, or any professional ice hockey game, where the peewees play during an intermission and there’s a lot of them and they’re all chasing the puck in a very unorganized fashion? Wait that’s not a bunch of peewees, that’s the New York Rangers you’re watching! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen three or even four players go into the corner against ONE opposing player to battle for the puck, IN THE DEFENSIVE ZONE! And you want to tell me it’s all Henrik’s fault? You can just stop reading now because I don’t bash Hank as much as you probably want me to in this article. But let’s get back to the matter at hand, the Rangers are unwatchable and it’s a good thing.

Are they doing this on purpose?

I don’t know how many of you keep watching these abysmal games lately, but Sunday’s game against the Flyers was probably the end of the line for me. It started out fantastic, a fight within 20 seconds of the start of the game (side note, I love that Buch is fighting, adds a lot of grit to his game that the Rangers can count on in his upcoming years), back and forth goals with two more fights sprinkled in and the Rangers and Flyers were tied 3-3 at the end of the first. Looking like an instant classic but after that first period, the Rangers started to lose an edge. Hank let in a bunch of soft goals, but we can only ask so much of him going back to back for two straight afternoon games. The defense started to crumble like it has done all year and it’s embarrassing. After Sunday’s loss, they made it four defeats in a row. They have also dropped eight out of the last ten and 11 out of 14; having a goal differential of -26 and a shot differential of -20 in that span. It’s getting to the point where I hate watching because there is sloppy play from everyone and that in turn leads to Hank getting no support in front.

It seems to be the motif of the Rangers this season; lack of defense, a flurry of goals, the goalie gets pulled, the Rangers lose. At a certain point, it’s just painful to watch my team lose every night, and I know something about losing, I’m a Mets Fan! After getting pulled Saturday against the Senators, he stares down the bench to someone off camera, my assumption it was someone of the coaching staff.

As the Trade Deadline Looms, Restlessness ensues

It’s no secret that a team currently out of the playoff race, or in the Rangers situation telling the fans outright that they’re sellers this year, puts unusual strain and fear into the players. Since Hank took over the duties between the pipes, the Rangers have always had a shot at the playoffs and almost always traded for someone to give them the extra push to solidify their position.

Now comes this unusual time for the current crop of Rangers, who have not had their current position in jeopardy. This leads to doubt and distractions for all players, whether you’re on the trading block or not. Remember how Mats Zuccarello felt when Derick Brassard was traded to the Senators for Mika Zibanejad? Some players lose close friends in the process and I feel like a lot of people who watch any sport, not just hockey, forget that these are actual people, not trade chips or commodities. Distracted players lead to poor play, and when every player is distracted it leads to bad hockey. The Rangers just traded Nick Holden yesterday, and that’s hopefully just the start of the fire sale going on in MSG to make the team better in the years to come.

The more they lose, the better the draft pick

Even though they’re last in their division, the Blueshirts aren’t last in the whole league and still have a chance to make the playoffs with 22 games left this season. My fear up until Jeff Gorton’s press conference a couple of weeks ago was that the Rangers would still go on a fool’s run to chase a cup that they have no legitimate chance to obtain this year. Thank the hockey lords that it wasn’t the case, but unfortunately, the Rangers cannot tank in hopes that they can get the first overall pick like some teams do in other sports *cough* football *cough* baseball *cough cough*.

So, having the worst record doesn’t guarantee anything in this sport so why not try to win? Well, there’s still a good chance they can obtain the first overall pick through the lottery. Currently, the Rangers sit ninth in lottery standings with a 5.4% chance of obtaining the first overall pick. That’s not that much, but with the way the team is trending, that percentage could increase in the coming weeks.

Speaking of play, I don’t think I’ve seen Hank pulled these many times in his career and it doesn’t help that his backup is hurt as well. Injuries have hurt this team the whole season and as much as I like seeing all the young players like Boo Nieves, Vinni Lettieri, Tony DeAngelo, John Gilmour, and Neal Pionk get good minutes and overall NHL experience, that lack of said experience is what helped drive this team to last in their very competitive division. Remember, this team started off as one of the worst teams in the league and it looked like a race to the bottom as Hank was starting to show his age and other players were playing very subpar hockey.

The Elephant Behind The Bench

There’s been one person I’ve left out this whole article so far and I think you know who it is; Alain Vigneault. AV has been a poison for this team for a while now and I’m convinced that if the Rangers lost to the Vegas Golden Knights on October 31, he would have been out the door. The Rangers were 3-7-2 before that meeting and would have been last in the league if they lost to Vegas, prompting the boot for AV. Now, this coach still is in charge six days before the deadline and has stated that it’s the team’s job to come to the rink every day and work to get better and to win. I understand that he’s currently fighting for a job that most likely will be vacant come season’s, but calling out poor goaltending was where I couldn’t stand to tolerate him anymore. He is putting out lines of fourth line nobodies instead of responsible defensive players, and calls out goaltending? I believe that he’s the reason why the Rangers didn’t have that fire in them the whole season. His questionable systems and player usage deflated how the Rangers played, and his comments burned a hole in their soul, and mine as well. Hank is the captain in my mind, no disrespect to Ryan McDonagh, but Hank is the heart and soul of this team and fights hard every night. And seeing the disrespect Vigneault showed him like that by throwing him under the bus is unforgivable.

I don’t see the Rangers winning many games or even being competitive in the coming weeks. The team as a whole has given up mentally and the trade deadline doesn’t help to boost morale. I only see this team succeeding next year if they get a whole new coaching and training staff that focus on youth development and trust in the young talent. Except for Jim Ramsay, he’s a legend.

Closing Statements

I was always a baseball kid. I played it, watched it and lived it. I’m a Mets fan, so you already know I’m used to bad records and trading my favorite players away. I never really cared because it was what they did, they made a good run every five or six years then they go back to losing. My family also watched football and we’re Giants fans. Better history there with the two recent championships that I can fondly look back on.

Now the Rangers are different. When I first seriously got into hockey, the Rangers made the playoffs year after year or at least had a shot at making a run. Henrik was dominant, and they always had a chance to win each game. This year hurts more than any other, including the other sports I follow. With the Mets, I can be okay with them being bad, and the Giants don’t matter because they’ve won in recent history. The Rangers on the other hand look defeated, they have nothing to show for all the hard work they’ve put in year after year, and the team needs an overhaul. Hank deserves more, the fans deserve more, the whole team deserves more. As much as losing helps the Rangers in the long run, the way they’re losing is heartbreaking. There’s no energy, fire or passion. I thought Sunday’s game was a glimpse into some good old-fashioned hockey, but it turned out to be the same crappy team we’ve been staring at in disappointment this whole season. The trade deadline, offseason, draft and training camp cannot come soon enough for the Rangers who are in dire need of a hard reset.

This is the first domino to drop for the Rangers before Monday’s trade deadline and if it’s any indication of what’s to come, GM Jeff Gorton seems to be doing the right things. The fact that Holden brought in something more than a 4th or 5th round pick is fantastic, and the added depth defenseman is the cherry on top of this deal. Some insight from NHL experts and insiders are below:

Fans have been sour on Holden for quite some time, so this trade is music to many Rangers fans ears. Reports are that O’Gara will play for the big club this season, which is always good when a young player can step in right away at the NHL level.

One of the most important aspects of this trade is that the Rangers have increased the number of picks they have in this upcoming draft. Since they are on the rebuilding path it’s essential that they have as many picks as possible to play with. Gorton did a good job on this deal and we can hope for other good deals like this going forward.

In Holden’s time here he had some good moments for the team but it’s clear that it was time for him to go. It’s clear some members of his former team will miss him though:

https://twitter.com/grabs40/status/966003555596464129

Stay with us at Forever Blueshirts for more information about this trade and the Rangers as we continue to move toward the deadline.

The trade deadline is less than one week away (February 26, 3 PM EST), and it will be a busy one for the New York Rangers. To stay up to date on the moves made, continue to check this list, as it will update anytime a trade is made.

February 9: Washington Capitals acquire forwards Adam Chapie and Joe Whitney from New York Rangers in exchange for forward John Albert and defenseman Hubert Labrie. 

Analysis on the recent Wolf Pack Trade

February 20:  The Rangers acquire defenseman Rob O’Gara and a third-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Nick Holden.

Rapid Reaction: Rangers trade Nick Holden for Rob O’Gara and a 2018 3rd Round Pick

February 22: The Rangers acquire a second-round pick and prospect Igor Rykov from the New Jersey Devils for Michael Grabner.

Rapid Reaction: Grabner traded to NJ for 2nd rd pick and a prospect

February 25:  The Rangers acquire a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, forwards Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey, and a seventh-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft from the Bruins in exchange for Rick Nash. 

Rapid Reaction: Rick Nash traded to Boston FULL DEAL AND DETAILS

February 26: The Rangers acquire Libor Hajek, Brett Howden, Vladislav Namestnikov, 2018 first round pick, and a conditional second-round pick in exchange for Ryan McDonagh and JT Miller.

Breaking: Ryan McDonagh and JT Miller traded to Tampa Bay (full details)

February 26: The Rangers acquire defenseman Chris Bigras from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Ryan Graves 

Rapid Reaction: Ryan Graves to Colorado

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

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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.

Here is our recap of the Rangers 5-2 loss to the Predators.

Power Play – The only bright spot for the Rangers in this game was their man-advantage unit, that scored twice to bring the Rangers within a goal each time. First, JT Miller redirected a Mats Zuccarello pass past Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne.

Then with the Rangers trailing 3-1, Mika Zibanejad one-timed a Ryan McDonagh pass that beat Rinne to the far post, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

Shifts After Scoring – Just when you thought the Rangers would gain momentum and get their forecheck going, they gave up a goal to Nashville that sucked the life right out of the team. After Miller’s goal, Brendan Smith, and Miller were both unable to clear the puck, allowing PK Subban to unleash a slapshot that was deflected by Colton Sissons with nobody defending the goal scorer. Then, just sixteen seconds after the Zibanejad goal to cut the deficit to 3-2, Holden and Hayes both overskate the puck and lose a puck battle to Ryan Johansen. Johansen leaves the puck for Viktor Arvidsson who beats Lundqvist with a shot that he probably should have stopped. The Rangers not being able to capitalize on the little momentum they were able to generate in this game is a symbol of how this season has gone; one step forward, two steps back. If there is any chance, though it seems unlikely, if the Rangers are going to make the playoffs, they will need to be able to build on the momentum they gain from scoring goals.

Officiating – The Rangers were down to sixteen players for most of the game after two questionable, and uncalled, hits that sent Jimmy Vesey and Marc Staal to the locker room. Staal was crunched into the boards by Alexei Emelin. Staal was leaning forward to reach for the puck, but there is no reason why there was no call on the play from the referees.

https://youtu.be/sifJvixGvSo

On the Vesey hit, Filip Forsberg delivered an elbow to the head of Jimmy Vesey. Vesey was bloodied on the play and would not finish the game, being sent to the locker room by the concussion spotters.

The Rangers are now without five players from their opening night roster: Shattenkirk, Kreider, Buchneivch, Staal, and Vesey. The Rangers didn’t have much to say in the postgame in regards to the lack of calls, with the sentiment being that they can’t allow those plays to take the team away from their gameplan.

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Next Game: The Rangers will look to get back on track on Monday when they face the Stars in Dallas. Puck drops at 830!

LETS GO RANGERS!!