Three to go
That’s all that’s left before the two-week Olympic Break. Predators, Penguins, and Lightning still on the table for the inconsistent Rangers. The team currently sits tied for ninth in the Eastern Conference, two points out of a playoff position. That position is currently held by Tampa Bay. The Blueshirts are a dismal 3-7-0 in their last ten games.
To be quite honest, you’d think with this recent ten game stretch, and the fact that the Rangers struggle so mightily to get points to begin with, that this team would be much further out of contention. But they’re not. Is the East really that bad? Well, if the Rangers are only two points out of the playoffs, than yes.
You look at the teams the Rangers are competing with to get into the playoffs. Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Boston, Florida, Philadelphia…not exactly murderers row. There has been talk about the Rangers tanking the rest of the way out because they haven’t done anything to prove that they can compete in the playoffs, if they do in fact make it in. My question is, why?
To me, once the playoffs start anything can happen. Am I conceding that the Rangers have the ability to beat the Caps, Devils, Pens or Sabers in a 7-game series? No. Not even close. But why wouldn’t you want your team to at least have a shot. You’re telling me that you wouldn’t at least be excited if this team got the seventh seed and got to go up against the Devils? You’re telling me that if this team got the eighth seed, you wouldn’t be excited to see Hank go up against Jose Theodore in a seven game set?
I know this team isn’t very good. But to say you want them to tank, come on. If they get in and they get swept, they get swept. Not like anyone would expect much better. At least if they get in, they have a punchers chance.
In other news, Rangers superstar Marian Gaborik suffered a laceration on his right knee during practice today. According to Andrew Gross, the media has been told that the injury occurred during a breakaway drill when Gaborik got cut by Hanks skate. Gaborik was not taken to the hospital and it is unclear if he will play tomorrow night.
This entry is filed under Uncategorized. Subscribe to the
Comments RSS feed.
22 Responses
Ryan F. February 9th at 6:36 pm
I have no desire whatsoever to watch this team in the playoffs right now. Far too much agrivation involved. “once the playoffs start anything can happen”: thats what I said last year. Getting into the playoffs just for the sake of getting into the playoffs is pointless and does not help your organization for the future. Missing the playoffs means a higher draft pick that results in a player that can help your team in the future. If the Rangers make the playoffs, I will root for them as I always have. But untill then, I will be rooting against them for EVERY SINGLE GAME!
Richard S. February 9th at 6:37 pm
what does them making the 8th seed, squeeking into the playoffs and getting beat in the first round by washington prove?
It proves that Sather has a system in place that he can sell to Dolan that at least he makes the playoffs every year. If this team misses the playoffs, There is a good chance that Sather is out!
sully February 9th at 6:48 pm
i want them to make the playoffs because i legit think they can beat the devils, sabres or even senators.
as for not making the playoffs, it embarrassment to the team to miss the playoffs when say east is weak, then to not even be able to be ahead of the weak and miss the playoffs thats embarrassing im all for making the playoffs
Richard S. February 10th at 9:44 am
this from hockeybuzz.com
* Gaborik’s injury has caused the Rangers to really get serious, and I am told a deal is highly likely on Wednesday with either Florida (Booth or Horton), Edmonton (no name yet), Carolina (Whitney) or Colorado (Svatos/ Liles)
Richard S. February 10th at 9:50 am
from what I see above and after I did a little research, depending on the deal, look for jokinen and/or rosival and a young guy/prospect to be gone by the end of tonight.
sully February 10th at 10:04 am
when you say young guy/prospect- do mean of the sanguinetti calliber or the corey potter caliber?
sully February 10th at 10:10 am
just read sheldon souray would accept a trade to the NYR do we want him?
Richard S. February 10th at 10:11 am
yeah, just take Horton in FLA, he is 24, is the second highest scorer at 17-29-46 this season, and is under contract for 4.6 a year till the end of 2012/13 season.
No way the Panthers are giving him up for less than jokinen plus prospect/2nd round draft pick.
Which is why I think they picked up jokinen in the first place. to sweeten the deal for any team looking to cut payroll, which is what the panthers do every year
Richard S. February 10th at 10:26 am
As far as souray goes, A. hes hurt right now, and B. look at his contract, I think that the only way wed get him is if EDM would be willing to take rosival, he would be the tough, clear out the crease, willing to fight defenseman that he rangers want, its just that he is hurt (broke his hand fighting Iginla) Id take him, he’s under contract till 11/12 at 4.5 per season
Richard S. February 10th at 1:21 pm
Potter was caller up today? Does this happen because a trade involving a defenseman is imminent?
Richard S. February 10th at 1:37 pm
i heard that the trade was redden/rosival to CHI for KANE/Sharp
LOL I wish
sully February 10th at 5:49 pm
with gaborik out does this mean grachev will get a start
Richard S. February 11th at 4:20 pm
form hockeybuzz.com
*Donald Brashear is on waivers. The Rangers are still talking to teams and I would bet they do something today. Horton from Florida, Moreau from Edm, and Nolan from Minnesota are names I have been hearing…
sully February 11th at 6:19 pm
lets hope they dont trade away to much especially from prospects
i mean staal-girardi-del zotto-gilroy-horton and sanguinetti looks like a good young defense for next year
Richard S. February 11th at 8:43 pm
Horton is a Center, that makes 4.25 mil a year, but is 17-29-46 for the year and under contract till 12/13. Id trade Dubi, a prospect (Sauer, Potter) and a 2nd rounder for him.
The the only problem with this is money wise. FLA would have to take Rosival/Redden for this trade to work.
Moreau from EDM is just more of the same that we already have a glutton of under performing 3rd liners.
Owen Nolan from MIN makes no sense at all. He is the old guy/leadership/3rd liner that Stanley Cup contending teams pick up at the deadline to help them in the long push of the playoffs. Although he would add some team toughness. Remember when he went toe to toe with Colton Orr last year?
sully February 11th at 9:41 pm
my mistake about horton for some odd reason i thought he was a defenseman as for the trade part dubinsky is one of my favorite players and i would not want to say good bye.
“its easier losing someone you never had then to lose one that you have and love”
Richard S. February 12th at 3:39 pm
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=309957
The San Jose Sharks have traded forward Jody Shelley to the New York Rangers in exchange for a draft pick.
Dude, I can’t wait till the next time the Rangers and Flyers play, Prust, Shelley, Voros, Avery….Broadway Bullies
1111
sully February 14th at 3:47 pm
the rangers go into the break winning 3 of 4
a point i want to make is how well prospal has stepped up in gaboriks absence. if he continues to play this way after the break and gaborik continues to be gaborik this team could make a mini run 6-7 seed and avoiding the capitals in the first round
Richard S. February 14th at 7:12 pm
im telling you right now, that if this team can get a defenseman at the deadline who can clear out the crease and who can throw, look out for the rangers to “out tough” teams for the first time since I became a rangers fan in 96
on the trade front
from hockeybuzz.com
On the NY Rangers…
There is no question the Rangers are up to something. They were extremely active on Friday. Dubinsky is the main chip, but I have also heard Gilroy’s name and also Girardi. The Rangers main target, like the Canadiens is Cogliano.
sully February 14th at 9:52 pm
i really like dubinsky, so why trade him for someone who has never played on broadway before and might not be able to handle the pressure, you already have dubinsky whos used to it so why trade him
Ryan F. February 15th at 4:27 pm
Valiquette cleared re-entry waivers. Didn’t even realize he was called up until now. http://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/status/9148385754
Richard S. February 15th at 10:37 pm
Ryan, Vali got called up so that Johnson and zaba could play in the AHL during the break, Dont expect to see him dressing up for a game