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The NHL trade deadline is less then a week away and Larry Brooks of the NY Post says that the Rangers may be on the cusp of a couple of deals.

According to Brooks, the Rangers are making a strong push to aquire PP Quarterback Dan Boyle from the Tampa Bay Lightning.  He also says that Glen Sather and Co., is in talks with St. Louis to acquire Broadway regular Martin Rucinsky in exchange for (brace yourself) Marek Malik.

When it comes to Dan Boyle, I think he’s exactly the type of player that the Rangers need.  The question is: what’s the price?  I’m not willing to part with any big-time prospects (i.e. Dubi, Dawes, Callahan, Sauer, Sanguinetti, etc.) to make the deal.  However, I wouldn’t mind including someone like Greg Moore.  Where this situation becomes interesting is when it comes to Al Montoya.  Clearly never going to see the light of day in a Rangers uniform, it may be time to finally deal the former 1st round pick.  Tampa is certainly a team in need of goaltending help, so it’s not a stretch to see Montoya becoming a key part of the deal.  I know some of you may question whether Dan Boyle is enough of a return for as big a chip as Montoya.  However, Montoya is floundering down in Hartford and his stock is dropping by the day.  It may be time to cut ties while he still has the value that he does.  If Montoya is included in a deal, I’d make a provision that the Rangers have to sign Boyle to a contract extension.  If they’re only getting a rental in Boyle then its no dice.

As for the deal with the Blues, I think it’s the perfect team with which unload Malik.  John Davidson saw #8 every day during his first season with the Rangers (his best season by far as a Blueshirt).  With that memory in mind, the Rangers may be able to get more for Malik than if they were to trade him anywhere else.  Brooks is reporting that the Rangers would be asking for Rucinsky and a defenseman in return.  When it comes to Rucinsky, I just don’t see where he plays on this team.  Assuming that Dawes, Prucha, and Callahan stay put, there’s just no place on this team for the former Ranger.  Unless the Rangers plan on sitting him, it means that the 36-year-old will be taking the spot of one of those three youngsters.  If that’s the case, then it’s a travesty and will be a terrible move.  Rucinsky is not the player he used to be (4 G, 10 A on the season) and the youngsters on the Rangers right now are the most consistent players they have.  As for the defensemen involved in the deal, Barrett Jackman would look good on Broadway.  He’s that big, punishing defenseman that the Rangers sorely miss and would be a big help in the playoffs when those physical D-men are crucial.

So here we go.  T-minus 5 days until the deadline.  I would be shocked if this Rangers team looks the same as it does right now by Tuesday night.

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In other news, Brooks is also reporting that Sean Avery and Glen Sather have made some headway on contract negotiations.  They’re discussing both a one-year bridge and a new multi-year contract.  If I’m Sather, I try and lock him up for a couple of years at a discounted price while I can.  Avery hasn’t had the type of year that gives him a lot of leverage.  To lock him up for 3-4 years in the $2.5-$2.8 million range could turn out to be a steal a couple of years down the road.

Last night we had quite a debate going on following the epic collapse.  I pinned a lot of the blame on Henrik Lundqvist.  Some agreed, some vehimently didn’t.  I will tell you that having slept on it and having re-watched the game this morning, I still say you’ve gotta hold Lundqvist accountable for a lot of what happened last night.

If you go back and watch the tape, goals 1 and 4 could not have been stopped.  The first goal, Lundqvist was hung out to dry and the fourth goal was a deflection.  But 2, 3, and 5 were all stoppable shots.  They were shots that Lundqvist saw clearly and flat out missed.  He let one goal trickle in after he initially stopped it and one goal off of a falling over Kovalev that he just wasn’t ready for. 

I say again, if Lundqvist is going to be paid to be a top-tier goalie then he has to make all of the saves he should make and a few that he shouldn’t.  While he played that way in the first half, he completely blew it in the second half of the game.

If you want more on this, Dubi Silverstein of Blueshirt Bulletin has a great post on it today and Zipay questions Lundqvist’s performance as well in Blue Notes.

Just wanted to direct everyone’s attention to the new poll question on the site.  How far do you think the Rangers will go this season?  I thought after last night’s demoralizing loss, it would be fun to see what everyone thinks.

Vote and then if you want you can comment on this blog as to why you voted the way you did.

I also want to thank everyone for last night.  46 comments in total between the two blogs are a NYRangerscast record and this is exactly what Eric and I want this site to be.  It was a great ongoing conversation that we were able to have with you guys.  We love your opinions and passion and hopefully this will be the beginning of what we do on a game in, game out basis.

                                                                      (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,David Boily)

Make no mistake about it, this horrifying loss falls squarly on the shoulders of Henrik Lundqvist.  There is simply no excuse for allowing five goals in the last 30 minutes of this game.

I realize that Montreal controlled the play in the second half of the game, but at least 3 of those 5 goals should have been stopped (and 4 of those 5 goals COULD have been stopped).

When you get signed for 6 years for that amount of money, games like this can’t happen.

On another note, Richard S. used the dreaded words in the comment section of the previous blog.  He said “turned the corner.”

That phrase is officially banned from the NYRangerscast…

 Now listen, this was as bad a loss as the Rangers could have possibly had, but I still have a good feeling about this team.  I think that they’re really close and tonight, while they collapsed, they did it against an exceptional hockey club in the Canadiens.  It’s hard to look at it this way now, but it was one hell of a hockey game from a pure hockey standpoint.

If these two teams ever faced each other in the playoffs it would be a series for the ages. 

Don’t lose the faith.  They’ve gotten 8 of a possible last 10 points, are still in good position, and have played extremely well in 7 and 1/2 of their last 9 periods.

If the Rangers are able to win tonight in Montreal they will not only pull off a season series sweep of the Habs for the first time in six years, but they could be as close as four points out of the top spot in the East by the end of the night.

Think about that for a second…4 points!

Considering that as little as 4 days ago this team was out of the playoff picture, that’s pretty incredible.

On the podcast a couple of episodes ago, Eric and I had a debate about whether or not the Rangers had a realistic shot of making the Stanley Cup Finals.  I said they absolutely did.  If they pull out tonight’s game north of the border, I don’t think there should be any question about it.

Right now, Montreal is tied with New Jersey and Ottawa for the top spot in the East.  If the Rangers win tonight, they will be a combined 9-0 against the Canadiens and Devils.  I know they’re 1-3 against the Sens, but the Ottawa team the Rangers played before the New Year is not the same team they would play in the playoffs.

A win tonight and the Rangers are 9-3-1 in their last 12 and are officially hot.  I’m not saying you should bet your mortgage on them at this point, but I am saying that, if they win tonight, it’s time to hop back on the bandwagon. 

A complete domination of Buffalo, followed up by the first Rangers win against a Western team, against San Jose.  Can’t ask for much more than that folks, 4 out of 4 possible points.  A jump to 6th in the conference.  Overall, great weekend to be a Rangers fan.  I don’t want to go into to much detail about the games because I’m sure we’ll go in depth in the next episode.  But here are some points that I take away from this weekend.

• Chris Drury is really coming into his own.  He has turned into Midas as of late, thats going to be huge for this team for the stretch run.
• Contrary to Stan Fischler, I believe the King is still just that, THE KING.
• It’s nice to win at home.
• Great job by the Rangers to give extensions to Girardi and Tyutin.  A solid defensive pairing that deserves what they have been given.
• Ryan Callahan is BACK and skating like a mad man.
• Jaromir Jagr not scoring has not hurt this team yet, but it sure hasn’t helped.  I feel live he is on the verge of having a big stretch of games, but I got to see it.

More on the show…

Thats right, Stan Fischler will be on today’s podcast.  He has some interesting (as always) takes on this Rangers team.  The new show with The Maven will be up later this afternoon so be sure to check it out.  And as always you can respond to anything from the interview in the comment section of the blog, by e-mailing Steve and I at hosts@nyrangerscast.com, or by calling in at 347-410-9093.

It’s official! The Rangers have locked up their franchise goaltender for the foreseeable future.  The King has been given the royal treatment–6 years, $41.25 million.  You can view the official press release on the Rangers’ website.

Don’t be mistaken, this IS the right move.  I know, Lundy hasn’t been himself for a couple of months now, but we’ve seen what he can do for the better part of three years and he is a top goalie in this league.

And who knows?  Maybe this contract situation was weighing on the King more than anyone thought.  Maybe the pressure to play well while his future was being negotiated took a toll on Lundy.  Hopefully with this now out of the way and with his father recovering well, Henrik can get back down to business and lead this team where it wants to go.

My guess–and I know Inferno will kill me on this if it doesn’t happen–is that the Lundqvist we all know and love will make a return for the final two months of the season.   Not only are all the distractions behind him, but he’s had over a week off to settle down and get back on track.

Look for The King to be regal once again.

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In other news, it looks like Tom Renney may have finally taken Eric and my advice.  According to Blue Notes, Rangers Report, and The Blueshirts Blog, it looks as though Marcel Hossa has taken Ryan Hollweg’s spot on the fourth line.

 My reaction: HALLELUJAH!

Also in those reports:

• Shanny’s back and feeling good.
• Marc Staal (flu) and Petr Prucha (shoulder) are doubtful for the Buffalo game on Saturday
• The lines have been re-shuffled…again.  Dubi will center Jags and Avery, Shanahan and Dawes will flank Gomez, and the suddenly scorching Drury will play with Straka and Callahan.  I like these lines a lot for a couple reasons.  First of all, we’ve seen how Dubinsky’s puck possession style complements that of Jagr’s and with how well the youngster’s played of late, he deserves another shot to center the captain.  Secondly, Gomez and Shanahan were on fire before Shanny got hurt, and Dawes can keep up with Gomez while Shanahan get’s into position.

 Just two more days until the Rangers get back at it.  Big game against the surging Sabres who are now 8-0-2 in their last 10.

Spring Break for the Rangers comes about a month early this week as the Blueshirts have five days of inactivity. Or do they??? Could this be the week where someone is sent packing? Could this be the week that Forsberg joins the team? Could this be the week Dan Girardi joins his long lost brother Joe at Spring Training when pitchers and catchers report? All of these burning questions…..well some of them….will be answered by the end of the week. But, I figured before any of that happens and before our show tomorrow, I’d give my thoughts on the past two games and what this team needs to do in the off week…

1) Flyers game was great. Another prime example of this team playing hide and seek with success. As soon as you can’t see it anymore…BAM! hits you right in the gut with a 2-0 win in Philly.

2) Road Wins – Taking 3 of 4 possible points against two conference opponents, I think is a big step. Sure this team lost two games to the west coast teams. But its all about how you bounce back. Even though they couldn’t pull off the W against the Caps, they still got one.

3) Speaking of the Caps game. Again, its not a win but there are plenty good things you can take from that game. Drury is continuing to score. Team penalties were low. And Valiquette played well enough in two straight games to win some points for this team.

4) But there were plenty of BAD things as well. This game should have been an easy win. Power Play unit is awful. They eased up at the end of the second period and let Washington back into it. And………….

5) RYAN HOLLWEG is still playing hockey. Another dumb penalty by Hollywood costs this team the game. Absolutely INEXCUSABLE. The only good he serves this team is that the custodial crew at MSG can flip him upside down and use him for a mop after the game.

This team needs to make some moves this week. I don’t necessarily think they need to be huge moves but if there is someone on the market that can….

a) Help Jaromir Jagr (i.e. Peter Forsberg) than now is the chance to get the captain straightened out. And if the team is not willing to go after a player to help Jagr, you have to GET RID of him. He’s not getting to 84 points, he will be gone after this year, so if you can get someone for him now, DO IT.

b) If someone on the market can come in here and run the Power Play unit for a cheap price, FIND HIM.

c) If there is a barber out there who can cut Hollweg’s hair before he gets on the plane out of NYC, HIRE HIM. Nothing says we appreciate your hard work and dedication to our team more than a hair cut and a “Get the Hell Outta Here”

Much more on the show tomorrow.