Archive for the ‘Blog Entries’ Category

We’ve been a little MIA due to scheduling conflicts, but fear not. We have been keeping up with the Blueshirts and like how they’ve been playing of late. We already take full blame if the Rangers now go on a losing streak since we did this podcast, but be sure to take a listen. Eric and I discuss two major things the Rangers have been doing that has been the difference in their play of late, plus Sean Avery and John Tortorella’s comments for Joe Thornton. Be sure to send us your questions and comments at hosts@nyrangerscast.com.

Let’s Go Rangers!

Be sure to check out the new podcast Eric and I put up Friday before that not-so-great Islanders game. We discuss the opening weekend in Europe, Marc Staal’s injury, the 24/7 announcement and say goodbye to Sean Avery.

Don’t forget to send your questions and comments to hosts@nyrangerscast.com.

It’s the eve of the NHL season opener and I don’t know that I’ve been more excited to see the Rangers back in action. Maybe it’s just that natural feeling of giddiness that hockey is back, but I think there’s something different this year. The most obvious is the addition of Brad Richards. Who’s not excited to see him in a Rangers jersey for the first time in a real game?

But my excitement really stems from last season. The Rangers sputtered down the stretch, barely got into the playoffs, got bounced in the first round pretty handily, etc. But what Eric and I have discussed countless times is how fun that team was to watch. The youth, the energy, the grittiness. It was just a genuinely fun team to watch.

At the same time, we knew while that was a fun team to watch, it was also a team that didn’t have enough to actually contend for a Stanley Cup. That’s what is different about the New York Rangers going into 2011-2012 (I think/hope). With the addition of another star player in Brad Richards, plus the nucleus of last year’s team coming back this should be a year the Rangers aren’t fighting just to make the playoffs – rather, they should be battling for positioning in the upper-half of the Eastern Conference standings and perhaps even an Atlantic Division title.

The one red flag, and it’s a major one, at this point that could really put a damper on all those expectations is the health of Marc Staal. The Rangers know they won’t have him to start the season because of post-concussion problems, and Sidney Crosby’s continuing issues on that front provide all the evidence you need to be very concerned.

There’s no question while there is a lot of young talent on that defensive unit, it is largely inexperienced. To address that, the Rangers claimed a veteran defenseman per Andrew Gross.

The other obstacle the Rangers will be dealing with early on is their schedule. Obviously, they have their first two games overseas against two very good teams in LA and Anaheim. Further, their first seven games are on the road because of the MSG phase I of construction. Not only that, but they go from two European games to a roadie at the Islanders (never a gimme) and then on a West Coast Canadian swing. That’s a ton of travel in the first couple weeks of the season, so it will be interesting to see how the Rangers are able to deal with that. Perhaps the caveat to all of that is how good of a road team they have been over the past couple of seasons.

Eric and I discussed in our first show how important it will be for the Rangers to establish some dominance on their home ice this season, but they will also need a good jumpstart on the road.

On the Avery front, it’s definitely bittersweet for me as well. He’s an incredibly emotional guy who can often provide a spark, but it just seemed like Avery lost touch with his coaches and teammates as last season wore on. He became totally ineffective in the offensive production department and lacked overall consistency in his play. From a talent standpoint alone, I thought it was best to choose Christensen over him. I will miss Avery, but at the end of the day the Rangers made the right move.

Eric and I wanted to get one more show out before the puck drops tomorrow, but unfortunately our schedules didn’t pan out this week. We’ll get back on it after these first two European games and break down the start of what should be a very exciting season.

Before I wish you a Merry NHL Season, I leave you with a gift. Here’s to hoping this magic returns in 2011-2012.

Merry NHL Season!

For those of you who might not have noticed yet, Eric and I are officially back! Our first episode, recorded last week, is up and available. We discuss the Richards signing, other off-season additions/re-signings, this upcoming season, etc. Plus we provide you with our (very bold) 2011-2012 New York Rangers predictions.

We plan on whipping together another show before the season opener Friday in Europe. Any of our international followers going to the game? If so, give us a shout at hosts@nyrangerscast.com. Even if you’re not going, still give us a shout because it’s time to open the mailbag back up.

Here’s to a great season. Let’s have some fun and Let’s Go Rangers!

Unlike the LeBron sweepstakes, this ‘Decision’ wasn’t quite as dramatic. It wasn’t quite as hyped.

But most importantly, MSG didn’t fail to lure the free agent prize.

Brad Richards is a Ranger. A rich one at that. The deal is worth nine years, $58.5 million and is reportedly very (not surprisingly) front-loaded.

I posed the question on Twitter earlier this morning when the news broke whether you thought this was a must-make move, or if the Rangers spent too much. Reactions were mixed, but I would say the slight majority leaned towards approval.

Is it a lot of money? No doubt about it. But Rangers fans have been calling for Richards for more than a year now. They had cap space, and didn’t jump the gun at the deadline this year to trade for him. Obviously, his concussion played a role in that decision, but the point being the Rangers didn’t throw away a couple of young pieces. Now the Rangers are in a position to re-sign the likes of RFA’s Callahan, Dubinsky, Artie, and Sauer, while adding star power.

The core is there. The youth movement took on great strides in this past season. The identity has been built. Now it’s time to go for the jugular. Richards was by far and away the elite free agent of this year’s class. He’s also exactly the player the Rangers so desperately need. A top-line center who can play along with Gaborik, and a quarterback for the power play.

Obviously, this signing doesn’t come without risk. What signing does? Richards has yet to play in a major market like New York. He’s going to have a tremendous amount of pressure on him, pressure that he has never had before. But that also means some of the weight is lifted off of Hank and Gaborik. The leash will be short. If he struggles out of the gate, fans will start to get restless.

But don’t forget this: Richards has played for, and won a Cup under, Jon Tortorella. They know one another. Torts has this group of young players on the same page and believing in his style. Richards already knows it. There is a solid core of defenders, one of the best goaltenders in the world, and a number of gritty, hard-working players who know their roles.

Teams don’t win the Cup in free agency. Remember when the Rangers signed Scott Gomez and Chris Drury in the same offseason and were quickly the Eastern Conference favorite for many?

At the end of the day, the Rangers got their guy and are a much better team today than they were yesterday.

For those of you who haven’t seen or had a chance to do so yet, check out our season recap podcast up now on the site. It’s tough to see this season come to an end, but Eric and I can’t thank all of you enough for following us all year long and making it fun for us.

We try to emphasize this all the time, but we really mean it when we say this site and podcast is nothing without your interaction. Eric and I feel as though we found a good system this season that kept the site current while balancing our ever-changing schedules. Because of that, we’re hopeful this continues for years to come. Any feedback (pros and cons) is more than welcome. If you have any ideas for next season, we would also love to hear them and see if we can incorporate them.

You can stay current with what Eric and I are up to on our personal Twitter accounts (@TheEricRothman and @Erik_Elken). I also have a personal website that has some blog posts and my work if you want to check that out…I know, shameless plug. Eric is on his way out to LA to start a new, and exciting, life. I will soon be starting a season of baseball play-by-play with the Tri-City ValleyCats (Houston Astros New York-Penn League Single-A affiliate).

We’ll be on here throughout the summer when things come up, especially when the Rangers (hopefully) sign Brad Richards. Hopefully we’ll also be able to get a show or two up in the off-season. Also, be sure to check out Michael Kay’s post-playoff interview with John Tortorella that aired on 1050 ESPN Radio in NYC. Torts is super candid, and it’s really a great look into what’s ahead for the Blueshirts.

In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the playoffs. Aside from the Rangers losing, it was probably one of the most entertaining first rounds I’ve seen in a long time.

Thanks again everyone!

Here’s a heads up to be on the lookout for a special guest edition of today’s podcast. Eric and I will have our normal breakdown of the Game 3 win and our take on where the series is at now. In addition, we’ll be joined for a few minutes by ESPN SportsCenter anchor, and die-hard Rangers fan, Linda Cohn. I’m assuming most of you are familiar with her work, but if not check out her ESPN bio.

Make sure to get your questions/comments in to hosts@nyrangerscast.com today before we get the show started this afternoon.

We have ourselves a series!

I think we can all agree that Game 1 falls under the “missed opportunities” category. However, there’s no time to be saying “what if” or dwell on it. If the Rangers can win Game 2 to even up the series heading back home, they’ve done their job. That’s what every road team wants to do in a best-of-seven series. With that said, here are a couple things to look for in order for a Rangers win tonight.

Generate More Scoring Chances

The Rangers were patient in Game 1. It seemed their game plan was to outlast the Caps by grinding them down and relying on Hank to come up with some big saves. Hank delivered. However, there just weren’t enough chances for the Rangers. One of the X-factors Eric and I talked about was getting to Neuvirth. I think the Rangers’ relatively passive play allowed Neuvirth to get into a groove, build confidence, and ultimately have a very, very strong game for his standards. New York needs to throw more pucks his way and crash the net. Twenty-five shots in a game that goes deep into OT makes it too easy on him.

Will the old Marian Gaborik please stand up?

The one thing you can say positively about this is that at least he got chances in Game 1. What he didn’t do was finish a couple of great ones. The Rangers need him to get in a groove if they are going to have a legitimate shot at winning this series and making a run at it. Fair to say he’s long overdue for a goal (or two).

Let’s see what Avery can do.

I was fine with him being scratched in Game 1. Fact of the matter is that he hasn’t been overly effective in the grand scheme of things. However, this is a situation which cries for Avery. He’s a physical, gritty guy who can get under the skin of opposing players. Having lost Game 1, this is exactly what the Rangers need to do to start frustrating the Caps in Game 2. I’m not saying 20 minutes of ice time, but if he can contribute a solid 10-15 minutes then he’s done his job. My vote would be to scratch Zuc given his recent struggles and lack of shootouts in the playoffs, but I haven’t seen a definitive answer as to whom Avery would replace.

Hank Being Hank

Also fair to say Game 1 could’ve turned into a rout early on if not for the huge performance of Hank. Despite some of the lopsided scores in previous meetings this season in favor of the Rangers (7-1 and 6-0), the Rangers don’t want to rely on winning a track meet. If Hank even has an average day, Rangers probably don’t win. Put this one in the category of “duh”.

Quick Start

Much like what I was trying to stress in the podcast before the series, the Rangers need to take any advantage they can that would put pressure on the Caps. Washington is under an enormous amount of pressure to not just win this series but advance deep into these playoffs. Winning Game 1 allowed them to take a brief, but big, sigh of relief. If the Rangers can get a goal or two early in Game 2, all the pressure falls right back on the Caps and they will likely have to start pressing.

Eric and I will be watching Game 2 intently, and then we will be recording a show tomorrow morning with recap and reactions. Hopefully, we’re talking about a 1-1 series going back to the Garden with home ice advantage taken. Send us any and all of your thoughts to Twitter (@NYRangerscast), Facebook (NYRangerscast), or email (hosts@nyrangerscast.com). We would love to have a deep mailbag for tomorrow’s show. Then we’ll intently watch Game 3 on Sunday and are looking to have a special ESPN guest lined up for Monday or Tuesday before Game 4. Lots of exciting stuff these next few days, so stay tuned.

As always, Let’s Go Rangers!

After last night’s loss to Atlanta, I didn’t think there was much to be said. The Rangers flat out didn’t get it done. However, I wanted to share Mike B.’s comment with all of you because he sums it up quite nicely:

Monday night is the reason that you love this team and Thursday night is the reason that you get so frustrated with them. Last night you would have expected the Rangers to look like a freight train on a mission with renewed vigor after that huge win Monday. Even without Cally, they should have had no problem dispensing with a Thrashers team waiting to see who might get a call to represent their country in the World Championship. Instead they looked sluggish, like their feet were stuck in quicksand all night. Just disgusting to watch. Laying an egg in November or January is one thing, but laying an egg in April when your playoff lives depend on it, that’s just inexcuseable. How can they not be ready to play in a game like that? Until this team matures, they will never get to the upper echelon of the East. Average teams pull this kind of stuff, good teams win those games handily.

Can’t disagree with anything Mike B. says here. I’ve heard some say it would’ve been different if Callahan didn’t get hurt. Wrong. I don’t care who the Rangers had on their team last night, with that effort they weren’t beating the Whale. It’s so atypical of this team this year. Usually when someone goes down, someone else steps up and elevates his game. There was no urgency.

Now we all know what it comes down to. The Rangers need help. Even if they are so fortunate to get the necessary help, they need to take care of business at home against a rival who has nothing to play for other than ruining New York’s season. Feel good about that?

Me neither.

I still can’t honestly believe what I just saw in that game. Think about it. During our last podcast, Eric Rothman made the bold statement that the Rangers were a lock for the playoffs. He even talked me into believing him. Then they lose back to back road games in Buffalo and Long Island.

Cue the NYRangerscast hate mail. Cue the #NYRangerscastJinx hashtag on Twitter. And to be honest, deservedly so.

I’ll admit, I started to get worried myself. That “lock” didn’t look so sweet anymore. But how about the resilience of this team. A small bit of redemption in Philadelphia and then this?

For the first time ever, the Rangers came back from down by three goals to beat the Bruins. Yes, an Original Six team. It’s not like this is the Atlanta Thrashers and the history between the two teams is relatively short. The Rangers and Bruins have hooked up a few times before, but never have the Blueshirts come from behind to erase a three goal deficit and win.

The main thing I can take away from all of this is simple, and if you’ve been following our Twitter feed you will know what I’m talking about.

This is why you have to LOVE this team, through thick and thin.

Are there are a lot of ups and downs? Sure. Can this team make you scratch your head? You bet. See: March 31, 2011.

But this team has resilience. It has fought back time and time again when backs are against the wall and die-hards have wanted to throw in the white flag. There are very few games where this team doesn’t at least give you a solid effort. Say what you want about their offensive inconsistencies, their power play woes, their lack of superstar power. What this team does have is a unity and chemistry I haven’t seen from a Rangers team in recent memory.

Like Eric and I have said all along, this doesn’t mean they’re all of a sudden going to make a run at the Cup. But it also doesn’t mean that they can’t. Even as an eight seed, we’ve seen plenty of teams make deep runs into the playoffs. Will it happen for the Rangers this year? Well, let’s just worry about them finishing off this regular season and solidifying a playoff spot, since we were rudely reminded just a couple games ago that it ain’t a lock until it’s a lock (although Eric would likely disagree).

What I do know is this is going to be a fun team to watch down the stretch, and a team that no one is going to want to see in the first round of the playoffs.

It’s a team that we, as Rangers fans, can be proud of. That sure is a nice thing.