Posts tagged ‘Steven Gelbs’

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. 

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.

So the boys get back at it today following another unpredictable win.  That’s really how its going to be the rest of the season; to try and predict which Rangers team will take the ice night-in, night-out is an impossibility. 

Valiquette gets the nod again today.  My opinion: right move.  Vally’s given up a goal or less in 3 of his last 4 starts.  Lundqvist’s given up 3 or more in 4 of his last 5 starts.  The Rangers right now seem to be playing a lot tighter in front of Vally then they do in front of Lundqvist and right now its all about the points. 

1:11 p.m.: Untouched.  That goal was caused by a complete lack of effort on the Rangers part.  Washington was able to skate unimpeded into the zone and then got one, two, three cracks at the rebound before Ovechkin finally put it in.  Girardi had a terrible shift.

1:22 p.m.: Whoo–is that Sean Avery or Brendan Shanahan out there?  Gomez pretty much whiffed on the dump attempt and the bouncing puck popped right onto Avery’s stick.  That’s a big goal for a Rangers team that came out without the necessary fire to compete in this game.

1:41 p.m.: I’m loving what Paul Mara’s doing on the PP right now.  If he keeps ripping them like that, more will go in that not.

1:42 p.m.: It was a decent first period.  For almost the first half of that period the Rangers looked lethargic out there.  The Avery goal really woke the team up though and the Rangers dominated the second half of that period.

2:03 p.m.: Great save by Kolzig, but let’s be honest.  Hollweg has about as good an ability to finish as does my grandmother.

2:15 p.m.: Man does Drury look like he’s found his game.  3 weeks ago he couldn’t buy a goal and now everything he touches ends up at the back of the net.  That’s 6 goals in 7 games for Dru and believe it or not, he’s now the Rangers leading goal scorer.

2:17 p.m.: Another penalty called on the Caps.  Boy the Rangers are really outworking Washington this period.  They really need to capitalize on one of these PP opportunities and try and put this game out of reach.  They can’t dominate a team like this and still only be up one at intermission.  Wouldn’t you love to see Jagr score and get rewarded for his hard work too. 

2:32 p.m.: Rangers now 0 for 5 on the PP and this is what kills them.  The Rangers should be up 3 or 4 goals right now, but because they can’t get anything going with the man advantage it’s still a one goal game.  It’s just a bad bounce here or there from being tied up.  It’s a situation we’ve seen the Rangers put themselves in on so many occassions this year and it’s a big reason why they’ll continue to fight for a playoff spot until the final game.

2:35 p.m.: EXACTLY MY POINT! The Rangers simply don’t have the ability to run away with games.  They don’t capitalize on the plethora of opportunities that are given to them and because of that, they let teams hang around.  When teams hang around, they start believing they can win and start catching a break or two.  There’s absolutely no reason that the Rangers should be going into the second intermission tied right now, but when you don’t take advantage of opportunities, that’s exactly what happens.

3:18 p.m.: Here’s the chance.  6:41 left, sixth PP of the game…gotta capitalize.

3:22 p.m.: It’s truly unbelievable how bad the Rangers’ power play is.  If they don’t win this game, that’s the reason why.

3:24 p.m.: Way to go Hollweg.  Yet another example of Holly proving how valuable his is to this team…

3:26 p.m.: On to OT.  VERY VERY VERY big point up for grabs right now.

3:29 p.m.: Today’s game was the definition of giving a game away.  The Rangers should have stepped on the Caps throats in the second period, but as we’ve seen time and time and time and time again this season, they don’t take advantage on ANY opportunities.  Every other team around the NHL can seemingly do what the Rangers can’t…capitalize.  And then, just to tie the nice little bow on the giveaway, Ryan “I’m the most useless player in the league” Hollweg takes a penalty right before the extra session.  Of course, Washington uses the power play to their advantage and wins the game.  Now the Rangers have to sit and watch for the next week as teams undoubtedly pass them in the standings.  If I’m Glen Sather, I use this week to seriously evaluate what I can do to try and save this sinking ship.

Hey guys.  Sorry for the abrubt stop to the Live Blog tonight, but after the first period I got a phone call that one of my good friends was in the Emergency Room.  I obviously went to see how he was doing and thus missed the second and third period of tonight’s game.  Apparently, I didn’t miss much.  I will be watching Rangers in 60 however and I’m sure pulling my hair out as you all were tonight.

As for Inferno’s comment in the Live Blog post let’s just put it this way.  It’s hard to jinx a team that just isn’t that good.  The Rangers folks, are just not that good.  I could say I think they’ll win or I can say I think they’ll lose and in the end they’ll probably do equal amounts of both.

Eric and I should be back with a podcast tomorrow, assuming all is well with my friend.

Big one tonight (I’m pretty sure it’s the first time I’ve said that all year).  Here we go…

7:18 p.m.: Good start for the Rangers.  They’re playing up-tempo and smart.  They definately look like they’re mentally into this one.  Giguere’s playing well…

7:26 p.m.: Lundy flat out didn’t see that one…

7:41 p.m.: A fine first period by the Rangers.  They got plenty of chances, but Giguere’s been solid.  The third and fourth lines for Anaheim are really dominating play right now, but who knows if they can do that all game.  If the Rangers play this way throughout the game, the should be okay…

Tonight, the Rangers get another quack at it.  After losing in inexcusable fashion to the Kings on Tuesday night, the Blueshirts can replenish the good feeling around their team with a win tonight over the Anaheim Ducks.

If they can beat the defending champs, the Broadway Blues will have suddenly won 6 of 8 games and will still be on a roll, despite the hiccup earlier in the week.

Don’t be mistaken, this is a winnable game.  Sure these are the defending Stanley Cup Champs and sure Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermeyer are back, but this isn’t last years Ducks.  This is an Anaheim team that has lost 6 of 7 games (with their one win coming against the suddenly anemic Islanders).  This is an Anaheim team that had gone 177 minutes, 56 seconds without a goal, before Scott Niedermeyer’s 2nd period tally against the Isles on Tuesday.  Most importantly, this is a tired Anaheim team–tonight’s game is the final matchup in a 9-game, 15-day road trip that saw the Ducks play in all four time zones.

In other words, this is a team that’s ripe for the picking.  But then again, the Kings were certainly ripe for the picking and look how that turned out. 

Call me crazy, but I think the Rangers are going to play a heck of a game tonight.  I think they’re angry with what went on Tuesday night and are going to be on their toes tonight.  Their frustration was evident during the in-team fighting yesterday at practice and I think we’ll see that frustration carry over tonight, with the Ducks paying the price.

To me, the fourth line’s play will determine a lot.  Colton Orr and Ryan Hollweg are going to need to match the Ducks physicality and actually drop the gloves.  Look for them to set a tone early and for Sean Avery to follow it through.  If the Rangers can do that and stay smart, I think we’ll be talking about a hard fought Rangers win in a few hours time.