One definite change will be the man behind the bench.

Knoblauch ready to coach the Rangers…again

Temporary head coach Kris Knoblauch spoke with the media and was asked about how things will work for tonight.

“It’s very similar (to last year), everything is in place,” Knoblauch said. “All the work that goes into a pre-scout is done many days or a week beforehand. I get the call yesterday and that’s already set. I talked to Gallant on the phone. We just talked about some line stuff. As for line combinations and power plays, they’re all set. I’m just trying to make sure they go running as smooth as possible.”

Knoblauch was hired as head coach of the Wolf Pack in 2019 and is in his third season with Hartford. As the team’s bench boss, his record is 60-38-9-7 and they are in good position to make the playoffs being third in the Atlantic Division.

However, even coaches all dream of getting to the NHL, even if it just temporary.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “Last year I didn’t know what to expect, but this year I do and I know the players a little bit better. Hopefully the team plays as well as they did last year.

Knoblauch filled in for David Quinn when the Rangers entire coaching staff was hit with COVID during the 2020-21 season. He coached six games and the team posted a record of 4-2-0. He won the first game against the Flyers by a score of 9-0 on March 17^th, 2021, at Madison Square Garden.

“A big part of our success tonight came off O-zone face-offs,” Knoblauch said after that game. “I remember that was one of the things [Quinn] told me before the game was to give our top lines more opportunities to score. Have them take those offensive zone face-offs.”

Alexandar Georgiev is expected to get the start in goal.

Note: We will update this post with any confirmed lineup changes during warm-ups.

Tyler Wall added to taxi squad

The New York Rangers have called up goaltender Tyler Wall and added him to the taxi squad.

Wall, 23, is a sixth-round draft pick (174^th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He’s played in three games with the Wolf Pack this season, with a record of 1-2-0, an .881 save percentage and a 4.09 GAA.

NHL Rumors

Will Carey Price play this season? And latest on Coyotes relocation woes. Read more.

Artemi Panarin wishes everyone a Happy New Year

The Breadman was certainly feeling the 2021 vibes last night with his post on his Instagram. Artemi Panarin was all smiles as he wished fans a Happy New Year in Russian AND English.

He finished off his message with a “rock on” hand gesture.

Our boy @artemiypanarin was feeling the 2021 vibes last night. #HappyNewYear2021 #NYR pic.twitter.com/9EtdIZ7Hfa

— Forever Blueshirts (@4EverBlueshirts) January 1, 2021

New York Rangers training camp invites

The New York Rangers have just released their 2020-21 training camp roster. As expected, no major surprises with 5 goalies invited to camp.

I do in particular like the addition of Tyler Wall. The 6-3 net minder will turn 23 years-old on January 14th. Last season he amassed an 18-8-6 record at UMass-Lowell with a 2.10 GAA and a .931 SV%.

New York continues to draft goalies well as he was a 6th round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.

Presenting your 2020-21 #NYR training camp roster. pic.twitter.com/YNPxAwU44s

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 31, 2020

Important NHL News for upcoming season

Quarantine changes in Canada.

K’Andre Miller: Liiga or Swiss National League

Could K’Andre Miller be interested in a temporary move to Europe? Chances are he may not make the team either in December/January when the new NHL season starts.

Destinations for Miller are difficult to predict, but considering the friendship Miller and Kravtsov have, it would’ve be nice to see them join a team as a “package deal”.

Imagine being a team in Finland or Sweden and adding Miller for a season? I’m sure many GMs would jump at the opportunity. Still, I would be hard pressed to see the Rangers not incorporate him into the lineup next year after how he impressed in Phase 3.

Morgan Barron: SHL

Barron is a tough one to predict but if I had to put money on a temporary move to Europe, I’d go for Sweden. The Rangers have a large contingent of prospects there, and kids Barron knows from the prospect development camps.

The Rangers would be comfortable having Barron in an organization where they already have contacts. This is of course a complete shot in the dark, but Luleå, Rögle and Frölunda are the teams that come to mind in the SHL with the latter having great center depth already. So my bet would be a reunion with Lundkvist or Edström.

Tyler Wall: SHL or Allsvenskan

With Tyler Wall, I am going out on a limb here and say that he has several “familiar faces” to choose from in Sweden. When Pius Suter had the chance to sign with almost any NHL team a few weeks ago, he picked the Chicago Blackhawks and despite it not being mentioned or confirmed, his familiarity with assistant coach Mark Crawford possibly played into his decision. Suter played under Crawford in Switzerland.

Wall has had several Swedish teammates and they signed professional contracts in Sweden already. Niklas Folin and Michael Kapla play for Västervik in the 2nd tier of Swedish hockey, Allsvenskan while Mattias Göransson plays for Leksands in the SHL together with 2016 Rangers draft pick Calle Själin.

NHL News and Notes

Earlier this week we reported and opined on the news that the leading scenario the NHL will resume with is a 24 team playoffs. However, the league believes it is still on track to open middle or later this month. Recently, Ontario said they would allow both the Leafs and Sens to open practice facilities but word from the NHL was that’s not enough to enter phase 2.

According to data compiled by TSN from local and international media reporting, approximately half of the NHL’s markets would have been permitted to open team facilities as part of Phase 2 on Friday. That number could shift to approximately 22 clubs by May 15, when local restrictions are scheduled to be eased in Arizona, California, Minnesota and Nevada. Daly said the NHL has not determined yet what would constitute that “acceptable mass” and it likely won’t be a set number. It will depend on “direct communications with local health authorities.”

TSN

Rangers Practicing In Connecticut

A report coming out of the Hartford Courant by Dom Amore indicates that the Rangers and representatives of the XL Center have had early discussions on using the facility. According to Amore, MSG officials and XL Center reps have talked about possibly using it for practice.

“We’d entertain it,” said Michael W. Freimuth, executive direction of the Capital Region Development Authority. “It’s something we’d explore.” MSG officials, though a spokesperson, declined to comment.

Hartford Courant

It is believed that NY will not be ready to allow Manhattan, Nassau or Westchester county to open by May 15th. This leaves both the Rangers and Islanders in a pickle. If Connecticut will allow it both teams could be practicing out of their AHL affiliate facilities in Hartford and Bridgeport respectively.

Grab Some NYR Gear!

Check out their great line of Rangers products here! From Jerseys to T-Shirts, Fanatics has it all!

Another Brick in the Goalie Wall (so to speak)

The Rangers yesterday announced the signing of UMass Lowell goalie Tyler Wall to his ELC. He is expected to compete for the #1 goalie spot in Hartford with Adam Huska. Both goalies are exempt from the Seattle Expansion draft as is Igor Shesterkin, all of which have 2 years or less of NHL/AHL experience.

New York currently has 6 quality goalies in their system when you add Henrik Lundqvist, Alexandar Georgiev, and Olof Lindbom to the mix.

Mika Forever!

Pre-Order this Mika Zibanejad Bobblehead Commemorating his 5 goal performance against the Caps. Use code: ForeverBlueshirts10 at check out for an extra 10% off. Buy it here.

Rangers and Jacob Trouba Send out Message of Thanks to Real Heroes

Wall’s Instagram Post

Tyler Wall put out this photo on his Instagram with the following message:

“Beyond blessed to officially become a Ranger! I can’t thank my family, friends, teammates, and coaches enough for the constant love and support.”

Full Press Release

NEW YORK, May 8, 2020 – The New York Rangers announced today that the team has agreed to terms with goaltender Tyler Wall on an entry-level contract. Wall’s contract begins at the start of the 2020-21 season.

          Wall, 22, appeared in 32 games with UMass Lowell this season, posting an 18-8-6 record, along with a 2.10 GAA, a .931 SV%, and two shutouts. He was named to the Hockey East Third All-Star Team this season. Wall appeared/started in 32 of UMass Lowell’s 34 games in 2019-20, and he earned all of the team’s wins during the season. He established a collegiate career-best in SV% this season, and he was tied for ninth in the NCAA in SV% in 2019-20. In addition, Wall ranked eighth in the NCAA in saves in 2019-20 (924), and his 336 saves in either the third period or overtime were the third-most in the NCAA during the season. Wall allowed two goals or fewer in 22 of his 32 appearances this season, including one goal or fewer in eight different appearances. He was named the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week on six different occasions this season. Wall also served as an alternate captain in 2019-20, becoming the first UMass Lowell goaltender to wear either a ‘C’ or an ‘A’ on his jersey since Dwayne Roloson in 1993-94.

          The 6-3, 214-pounder appeared in 103 career collegiate games over four seasons (2016-17 – 2019-20) with UMass Lowell, posting a 58-34-10 record, along with a 2.28 GAA, a .918 SV%, and nine shutouts. Wall’s 58 career wins with UMass Lowell are the most by a goaltender since the school began playing in Division 1, and he broke Dwayne Roloson’s record of 51 wins during the 2019-20 season. He established collegiate career-bests in appearances (37), wins (26), and GAA (2.06) as a freshman in 2016-17, and he established a UMass Lowell record for wins by a rookie goaltender (he broke the record previously held by Connor Hellebuyck). Wall also helped UMass Lowell win the Hockey East Championship in 2016-17, and he was named to the Hockey East All-Tournament Team. He posted a 2.10 GAA or better in three of his four collegiate seasons.

The Leamington, Ontario native was selected by the Rangers in the sixth round, 174th overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Tyler Wall

The numbers Wall put up this past season were rock solid with an 18-8-6 record, a .931 SV%, and a GAA of 2.10.

“We are excited that the Mike Richter Award Committee has acknowledged the outstanding work Tyler was able to accomplish this year,” said UMass Lowell Head Coach Norm Bazin. “Playing in front of a young defensive core that only included one upperclassmen, Tyler was able to give our team second and third chances to win games. He is truly a deserving nomination and no goaltender was more valuable to his team.”

GoRiverHawks.com

KHL Cancelled

News is now breaking out of Russia that the KHL is canceling their season.

NHL Updates

The NHL has asked all 31 teams to look into arena availability in August. Of course, we have to see what the guidance from the CDC and the Governments of both the US and Canada decide. However, one of the biggest issues they need to discuss and finalize will be NHL contracts that end June 30th. More to come.

No Rangers Tested

The Garden yesterday announced no players have been tested due to not showing any symptoms.

Bettman on Flexibility

Gary Bettman did a Q&A with the Hockey News yesterday on a number of questions with regards to COVID-19 particularly the NHL’s role and handling of the situation. When it came to moving forward with the latest CDC recommendations, here’s what Bettman said.

We are absorbing all of the information that’s out there. We take it seriously, as I said. In terms of where we go from here, we’re modelling all sorts of options and everything is on the table. But we’re going to have to be flexible and react to things that are beyond our control.

Bettman via THN

Tie Domi Calls Scott Stevens a Phony

Tie Domi was on the Cam and Strick podcast and totally unloaded on phony tough guy Scott Stevens. The former Rangers tough guy was asked about his running of Scott Niedermayer and how Stevens was livid, that’s when Domi let loose.

Prospect News

Note: players mentioned currently have NHL rights held by the New York Rangers. 

Tyler Wall

Drafted in the 6th round (174th overall) by the Rangers in 2016, Wall has been his namesake, a wall in goal for the UMass-Lowell River Hawks in Hockey East. Having been the number one goaltender for most of his 4 seasons, Wall flew under the radar during his freshman and sophomore seasons but has had strong junior and senior seasons for the River Hawks. Last season, Wall went 11-7-3 with a GAA of 2.09 and a .921 save percentage with 4 shutouts. This season has seen Tyler Wall post a 2.14 GAA, a .930 save percentage, 2 shutouts and a record of 17-8-6. Those numbers this season have lead UMass-Lowell to rank 15th in the NCAA at 17-10-6 and to a berth in the Hockey East Tournament with a conference record of 11-7-5.

While it’s not expected that UMass-Lowell will exit the Hockey East Tournament early as they currently rank 3rd in the conference, the Rangers have a decision to make regarding Tyler Wall once their season does come to an end. New York has until August 15th to sign him otherwise he becomes free to sign with any NHL team. Even with the recent acquisition of JF Berube, the Pack’s goaltending is still a question mark going into the playoffs, particularly with Adam Huska. I think Tyler Wall will be signed by the Rangers and will join the Pack on an Amateur Tryout Agreement to play out the rest of this season here as Brady Skjei did in 2015. Tyler Wall doesn’t need to put up Igor Shesterkin type numbers if he joins but there should be little worry if and when he does make the trip south to Hartford. 

Morgan Barron

Players who have size, can move the puck and score and can play a physical game in a tough conference such as the ECAC are sometimes hard to find but the Rangers have such player in their prospect pool with Morgan Barron. Drafted 174th overall in 2017 in the 6th round, Barron has used his mix of size and skill to help lead Cornell to maintain their ranking as the number 2 team in the NCAA. Last season as a sophomore, Barron lead the Big Red in goals (15), PPG’s (7) and points (34) and became only the 3rd Cornell player to earn All-ECAC First Team honors since 1987. The other 2 being Matt Moulson in 2005 and Riley Nash in 2009. As a junior this season, Barron ranks 5th in the conference as a +17 and leads Cornell in goals (14) and points (32) while ranking 2nd in assists (18) and is a nominee for the 2020 Hobey Baker Award. 

As Cornell ranks 2nd in the country in hockey, many expect the Big Red to not only win the ECAC Tournament but to make a run at the Frozen Four, which means if Morgan Barron were to join the Wolf Pack this season, it wouldn’t be until late March or at the conclusion of the regular season at the earliest. If /when he does, he should fit right in as a middle 6 forward and can use his size to his advantage on both sides of the puck, something the Pack need to complement players such as Steven Fogarty and Matt Beleskey when trying to wear down opponents. It will also be nice, being a Yale fan, to root for Morgan Barron should he does join. Barron will play in the NHL one day but the start of his pro career could be here in Hartford helping the Pack in their run to the postseason. 

Tarmo Reunanen

After signing with the Rangers back on June 6th, Reunanen, the 98th overall pick in 2016, was expected to compete for a top 6 defensive spot in New York this past training camp with a worst case scenario of being assigned here to Hartford much like Yegor Rykov before his injury. Neither scenario would be the case as he was loaned to his Liiga team Lukko in his native Finland. Touted as an offensive defenseman, Reunanen through 46 games this season has amassed 4 goals and 12 assists, a similar pace to last season where he scored 6 goals and added 19 assists. While not among the top players on his team in terms of numbers, Reunanen can move the puck, help set up the attack while not being a liability on the back end. 

With the Pack’s defense having run into a bit of inconsistency the last few weeks, adding a player like Reunanen would give the back end a much needed boost. It could be some time if Tarmo Reunanen is to join the Wolf Pack though as Lukko rank among the top Liiga teams and their playoff format could see them in a deep playoff run. One other factor that could see Tarmo Reunanen not joining the Pack this season would be his contract. Having already signed to an entry level contract, the Rangers may not want to burn a year of eligibility.

Nils Lundkvist

While the most unlikely candidate to come to Hartford this season if at all, Lundkvist was drafted 28th overall in 2018, a pick acquired as part of the trade that sent Ryan McDonagh and JT Miller to Tampa and has had a career year with Luleå in the Swedish Hockey League. He currently leads Luleå with 20 assists and ranks 3rd on the team in points with 27 which has helped Luleå to the top of the standings in the SHL. As with Reunanen, an offensive minded defenseman that likes joining the rush and contributing offensively but with more offensive skill based off numbers.

With Libor Hajek underperforming to expectations and with Yegor Rykov appearing to have peaked early on this season and stalled in his progression, one has to wonder whether Reunanen or Lundkvist will be tempted to make the move to North America. Just as with Reunanen and Lukko, it’s expected that Luleå will make a long run at a championship and that Nils Lundkvist will play a vital role in making that happen. The question is when all is said and done, does Lundkvist come to Hartford to possibly contribute to a run to a title? 

The Wolf Pack have gone from near the top of the Atlantic Division at the beginning of February to 3rd place but only 3 points out of a very tight race for a division crown as March has come upon us. 6 weeks remain before the Calder Cup playoffs begin and for the Hartford Wolf Pack, the latest answer to the questions they have about their roster going forward could lie in players such as Tyler Wall, Morgan Barron, Tarmo Reunanen and Nils Lundkvist.

Standings Update

Through 42 games, Hartford is 23-10-4-5 for 55 points. That ranks the group first in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference. The Bears are tied for points with Hartford at 55. Hershey is 25-13-2-3 through 43 games. As a result, the Wolf Pack own the tiebreaker against Hershey in the division, conference, and overall league standings. The Bears have caught Hartford off-guard once again as both clubs are tied. The Bears continue to play well as of late to rise in the standings. Hartford will not meet Hershey until March 6th and 7th for the final two games of the season series. Both clubs will scoreboard watch to see what the other is doing against other opponents.

The Charlotte Checkers are another team on the rise after a dismal start to their season. Charlotte is now third in the division with a record of 24-14-3 for 51 points. The Checkers are four points behind Hershey and Hartford. The Wolf Pack will face Charlotte in early February twice.

The Providence Bruins rank fourth in the division with a record of 23-16-2-2 for 50 points. The final playoff seed is five points behind Hartford and Hershey. The division is becoming tighter as the season progresses.

Defensive Struggles

The Wolf Pack could have won two games on the road, or possibly three. The last two games featured a two-goal lead against Utica and Hershey. The defense was unable to hold either team off the scoreboard. In the last four games, Hartford has given up 20 goals while scoring 12. These points are critical as the season progresses. The defensive aspect of the game is supposed to be the strong suit of the team and while we may see a different team at home this upcoming week, the defense has to be consistent regardless of where they play.

Goaltending Struggles

Tom McCollum and Adam Huska had a few rough games to give Hartford a chance to win. Huska struggled severely last Wednesday in Utica when he gave up five goals in the first. The performance was not pretty to watch. Both goalies played in both games in Utica in hopes to find some stability among the defense and goaltending.

Huska performed better on Saturday against Hershey, but he came up short when Hershey had better opportunities late in the game. Tom McCollum played in one game since his call up from Florida. I would assume he will get another shot sometime next weekend to see how he performs further.

Rangers System: Tyler Wall Continues to add to Rangers embarrassing riches in goal

The organization has plenty to think about when it comes to the goaltending situation. From New York to college, there is a lot to figure out. Will Tyler Wall be in a Hartford uniform later this season? Check out this article on Tyler Wall here, written by James Van Casteren.

On The Beat: Grading Hartford’s First Half of the Season

Greg Markiewicz takes a look at the goaltending, defense, forwards, and the specialty teams here.

Comeback Kids Fall Short

Taking a look back at the craziest game of the season from last Wednesday in Utica, Hartford turned a dismal game into a meaningful game. After Huska gave up five straight goals, Hartford had a lot of work to do and was outplayed by the Comets.

The second period had Tom McCollum in net, facing one shot all period. Hartford’s offense was firing away as the club had 16 shots on goal. Vitali Kravtsov kicked off the offense scoring ten seconds into the second. Hartford registered three goals in the frame as Vinni Lettieri and Darren Raddysh converted their opportunities.

Danny O’Regan scored early in the third to make it a one-goal game, then Vinni Lettieri notched his second goal of the night to tie the game at five with 15 seconds remaining in the 3rd.

Overtime had great action on both ends of the ice. Unfortunately, a wacky play ended it for Hartford as the Comets won 6-5.

This is the second time in franchise history which Hartford came back from a 5-0 deficit to tie.

Vitali Kravtsov Heats Up

The prized Rangers prospect found himself on the scoresheet twice in the last three games. The forward had six shots on goal last Wednesday against Utica. Offensively, he is creating opportunities and giving himself a chance to register a point. He is shooting more as of late and is building confidence.

One-Timers

• Yegor Rykov earned his first goal in North America last Saturday in Hershey. The defenseman also recorded an assist in the game.
• Vinni Lettieri has 35 points (18G, 17A) through 42 games. The forward is 13 points away from tying his career-high in the AHL of 48.
• Danny O’Regan is on a three-game point streak with a goal and two assists.
• Steven Fogarty has four points in his three games. The captain has a goal and three assists.

AHL All-Star Weekend

Announced on Monday, Vinni Lettieri is now going to Ontario, California for the 2020 AHL All-Star Festivities instead of Igor Shesterkin (he was replaced since he was up with New York).

You can catch Lettieri and Keane in action Sunday and Monday night on the NHL and TSN.

• Sunday, January 26th at 8pm EST: AHL All-Star Skills Competition
• Monday, January 27th at 10pm EST: AHL All-Star Game

Transactions

• Defenseman Jeff Taylor was assigned to Maine on January 14th. He returned to Hartford on January 20th.
• Defenseman Libor Hajek was assigned to Hartford by the Rangers on December 14th.
• Phil Di Giuseppe and Igor Shesterkin assigned to Hartford on January 21st.

Upcoming Games

Hartford will be home for four of the next five games.

Friday, January 24th vs Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders) at 7:15 pm, XL Center

• This is the 6th of 12 meetings in the season series. Hartford leads the series 4-1. After Friday’s meeting, the next three will be in Bridgeport at the Webster Bank Arena.
• The Sound Tigers enter the week with a record of 15-23-4-1 for 35 points in the Atlantic Division. That ranks the group last in the division. Bridgeport is also last in the Eastern Conference.
• The Sound Tigers have lost eight of their last ten outings. Bridgeport is 6-15-2 on the road.
• Forward Keiffer Bellows leads Bridgeport in points (22). Bellows has recorded 15 goals and 7 assists in 41 games.
• Listen – Mixr. Watch – AHLTV.

Saturday, January 25th vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia) at 7 pm, XL Center

• This is the fourth of six meetings in the season series. Hartford is 1-1-1 against the Phantoms. The next meeting will be in Allentown at the PPL Center on February 15th.
• The Phantoms enter the week with a record of 18-19-1-4 for 41 points in the Atlantic Division. That ranks the group seventh in the division.
• Lehigh Valley has won five straight and won six of their last ten games.
• Veteran Greg Carey leads the Phantoms in points (21). Carey has 12 goals and 9 assists in 39 games.
• Listen – Mixr. Watch – AHLTV.

Since Shesterkin has been called up to the big club, Hartford still has Adam Huska and now Tom McCollum. Huska, who is having a good year in the AHL, and even has a chance to at some point make the big club. McCollum is not someone that many see as the answer in Hartford, but more of a stop gap to take up some games because of the Shesterkin call up. The Rangers with their embarrassment of riches at the goaltender position, should get 2016 draft pick Tyler Wall signed to his ELC and in Hartford for next year. When Georgiev is eventually moved, and the Rangers do (hopefully) bring Wall in, next year would have two very solid tandems in both the NHL (Shesterkin and Lundqvist), and in the AHL (Huska and Wall).

Who Is Tyler Wall?

Tyler Wall was the 174th overall pick by the Rangers back in 2016. As per a recent prospect report on Wall:

“Tyler Wall made 25 saves and earned a win on Jan. 10 against RIT. The Rangers’ sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft earned his 52nd career collegiate win, breaking Dwayne Roloson’s UMass-Lowell record for wins by a goaltender since the school began playing in Division 1. Wall has posted a 12-3-4 record, along with a 1.81 GAA, a .941 SV%, and 2 SO in 19 appearances with UMass-Lowell this season. Wall is tied for second in the NCAA in SV%, ranks sixth in the NCAA in GAA, and is tied for 10th in the NCAA in wins in 2019-20.”

Source: NYR PR Dept

Wall as you can see, is having a fantastic season at UMass-Lowell. He can be a very successful goaltender at the AHL, and possibly even at the NHL level.

The Possible Issue With Wall:

Wall was drafted in 2016 by the Rangers, and now is in his final year at UMass-Lowell. Since it is four years since the Rangers drafted Wall, he must be signed by August 15th, or he becomes a free agent (same situation that happened with both Kevin Hayes and Jimmy Vesey). If the Rangers do not sign Wall by the August 15th date, he is free to go wherever he would like. It would be very wise for the Rangers to lock Wall into his ELC as soon as the NCAA season is over, and have him in Hartford next year with Huska.

When Lundqvist’s contract is up after next year, the Rangers will have some options to be the backup to Shesterkin. If Wall or Huska perform well enough in Hartford, they can get the call up to be the guy behind Shesterkin in 2021-2022. The Rangers also have 39th overall pick in 2018 Olof Lindbom in Sweden that may be ready to make the leap over by then. The Rangers (unlike most NHL franchises) will still have all of these goaltenders to play with even when (yes, when) they move on from Georgiev in the next few weeks.