Tag Search Results for "rags2riches"
AlexanderScharf writes...
Drury and Gomez: Good Signings or Same Old Rangers?
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Since July 1st there has been much discussion regarding the signings of Chris Drury and Scott Gomez by the New York Rangers. It is true that Gomez and Drury are both very talented hockey players but it is also true that they were overpaid by the Rangers. This begs the question: Was it worth it?
The Rangers needed to add (or resign) two free agent centers in the of...
AlexanderScharf writes...
NYR- To Be or Not To Be: Peca, Jovo, Avery, Hossa
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
What are the Rangers going to do next? Although the Rangers should be content with what they have done this off-season, especially considering that they do not have alot of cap room, rumors continue to swirl about a big move that they are planning. I've heard the Rangers are interested in Ed Jovanovski and Michael Peca and they are yet to resign Sean Avery and Marcel Hossa...
Hockey is the greatest sport on earth. It is fast and physical. Shots and scoring chances are abundant. It is a game that leaves you on the edge of your seat. Basketball, baseball and football are all very good sports but they come no where close to the excitment of a hockey game. And yet, in the US, hockey takes a back seat to GAMES. To competitions that dont even qualify...
Derek Roy has become the most recent player to agree to a contract prior to his arbitration hearing. He and the Buffalo Sabres have agreed to a 6 year 24 million dollar contract as reported by Garth. He is one of many to avoid a scheduled arbitration hearing this summer as 17 of the 30 players who filed for arbitration have already reached agreements with their respective ...
Its been a great offseason for the Rangers. They signed two top tier centers to long term deals and retained their core group of players, with the exception of Nylander and Cullen. But its not too late to botch the job. Critics have already labeled this offseason as a return to the "Same Old Rangers". I dont believe that to be true but that is a dicussion of its own. What ...
Its pouring cats and dogs up here in the catskill mountains so while I would normally spend my Sunday afternoon in the great outdoors, I am currently stuck in the cabin in my camp armed with only my brain and a Motorola Q. And so, I decided to write about the upcoming arbitration hearing of Sean Avery which will take place tomorrow.
A quick review, Avery, a 27 year old...
Let me start of by saying that in no way is Kevin Lowe a jerk for giving overpriced offer sheets to Thomas Vanek and Dustin Penner. He was acting within the rules so Darcy and Burke should have better prepared for the possibility of this occurence. However, looking forward, this rule does not seem to make much sense. It would be best for the sport of hockey if this rule wa...
AlexanderScharf writes...
Update: Avery Awarded 1.9 Million in Arbitration and Signed
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Journal News reports that Rangers forward, Sean Avery, has been awarded a salary of 1.9 million for 1 year. Avery, who came to the Rangers at last seasons trade deadline from the LA Kings, helped to turn the Rangers season around. After acquiring him, the Rangers went 17-6-6, a tear that boosted the team into the the playoffs as the sixth seed. Avery scored 8 goals and...
For all the morons who keep saying the Rangers are in trouble with the salary cap, you are WRONG. Yes, the Rangers ARE over the cap now but they can easily get under by the deadline without moving any players that would play for the team. So please, read this short explanation and educate yourselves. This way you wont end up looking foolish and being annoying.
The New ...
For part one of this 10 part series, I will be laying out my projected lines for the upcoming season complete with stats and player bios. This will serve as an introduction for parts 2-9 where I will break down each line and rate it. Enjoy!
Offense:
LINE 1:
Marcel Hossa, 25, Slovakia, 64 gm, 10 g, 8 a
*Scott Gomez, 27, USA, 72 gm, 13 g, 47 a
Jaromir Jagr, 35, Czech...
PART THREE IS DONE! VIEW IT ON: HTTP://MY.HOCKEYBUZZ.COM/RAGS2RICHES.
HOPEFULLY COMING TO THE HOME PAGE SOON
In part 2 of 10, I will break down Offense Line #1, aka, the Jagr line. I will expound upon the strengths and weaknesses of each player and explain why he fits on the line. I appreciate the input recieved from part 1 and will certainly take the feedback into con...
The series is moving along nicely and I want to thank my readers for their support. I have taken the comments from the prior installments into consideration and have therefore altered the second line from how it appeared in part 1. Keep the comments coming. Part 3, Here we go:
Left Wing: #82 Martin Straka
Personal: 34 years old from Plzen, Czech Republic. Stands 5 ft 9...
PART 4 IS OUT. ANALYZING THE RANGERS OFFENSE #3. HTTP://MY.HOCKEYBUZZ.COM/RAGS2RICHES.
CHECK IT OUT TODAY! COMING TO THE HOME PAGE SOON!
For the next two weeks I will be writing my blog from my phone because I have no access to a computer. Because of a tech problem I have with my phone, I am unable to do anything but write blogs. I cannot respond to any posts, send me...
PART 5 IS OUT, OFFENSE #5. VIEW IT ON HTTP://MY.HOCKEYBUZZ.COM/TAG.PHP?TAG=RAGS2RICHES
AND COMING TO THE HOMEPAGE SOON!
Im sorry that it took so long to get this installment out. Ive been very busy for the past few days and havent had a chance to write. Moving on, we are up to part 4 of the series and as always, dont hesitate to comment on my writing. Ive just learned ho...
Today I will finish analyzing the Rangers by taking a look at the fourth line. Because the interest level in the series s seems to have dropped, I will be moving on to a different topic. If you want me to continue with the defense, speak now or forever hold your peace. As I mentioned in my previous post, I learned how to post pictures and I will be doing so from now on. Bu...
By popular demand, I have decided to abandon the "Analyzing The Rangers" series and I will be moving on to bigger and better things. I am currently sitting on a coach bus with 50 of my friends on a trip to Niagara Falls from upstate New York. We left an hour ago and after the DVD player on the bus broke (we had Pirates II and Harry Potter IV) most of the guys went to sleep...
Ah, home sweet home! I returned from my exciting trip to Niagara Falls at 5:00 AM this morning and I just woke up from my long nap that has left me fully recovered from my two sleepless nights on the coach bus. It was a great trip on which I was drenched as I stood under the American Falls, was scared out of my wits in the "Nightmares Fear Factory" haunted house, played mi...
I was talking to a few friends this afternoon about the upcoming hockey season. It was enjoyable discussion and while resting in my bed shortly after, I found myself thinking about the Rangers and even imagining different goals that could be scored. At some point I noticed that I had a familiar feeling in my stomach. For those of you who dont know what Im talking about, I...
After taking a break from the "Analyzing the Rangers" series for a week, I decided it was time to bring it back and analyze the defense. Defense is clearly the weakness of the Rangers and it should be interesting to break down the six players who I believe will make it into the lineup. As usual, all comments are welcome. Part 6, Here we go:
Left Defense: #8 Marek Malik
...
Quick update before I hit the sack:
It has been reported that today, Peca will decide which team he will be playing on for the 2007-08 season.
http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/blog
The three teams involved now and their odds of them acquiring him IMO are:
Rangers: 46%
Leafs: 32%
Jackets: 17%
Other: 5%
It should be an intersting day, Im go...
After I wrote and posted this blog only to realize that I hadnt signed in and would have to re-write it, I realized that I need some sleep. So Im going to quickly get this out before I hit the sack.
Peca will reported decide today regarding which team he will be playing on for the 2007-08 season.
http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/blog
This comes as...
I have been sitting at the computer all day waiting for some news on Peca. According to his agent, Peca will reported decide today regarding which team he will be playing on for the 2007-08 season. If the Rangers, who many consider to be the front runner in the Peca sweeps, do not get back to Peca today he will walk away from the Rangers and sign elsewhere.
http://webl...
The Bill Watters Show has reported that Peca will not sign with the Leafs. Peca's agent Don Meehan has stated that it is not about the money and the Leafs did not feel that Peca would be right for the team. It is now down to the Rangers and Blue Jackets. If a deal is not struck today with the Rangers, Peca will not sign with them. Columbus is the only other option as of no...
John Dellapina reports that Don Meehan, agent for Michael Peca, never recieved an offer from the Rangers.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/rangers/
Peca is now down to the Columbus Blue Jackets and possibly another team which is not known. I say this because Blueshirt Bulletin reported that Meehan stated that he had two offers that he would look at and decide on by week...
In the final edition of the Peca blog series, TSN has confirmed the Michael Peca has reached an agreement on a 1 year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets that will be officially anounced later today. This ends a 3 week saga where he was involved with the Rangers, Sabres and Leafs. His signing is welcomed in Columbus, a team that just lost a forward, Svitov, to Russia. The ...
I will continue with the seemingly endless series in an effort to get reach the preseason without taking a break from writing. Unfortunately, there has been no news as of late and the well has been dry ever since the Peca signing. I have joined as an official Rangers blogger on a site that my friend put up a few days ago and if anybody is interested, the site is: http://th...
AlexanderScharf writes...
Remebering 9/11/01: A New Yorker's Perspective
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I live in New York City only a few miles away from where the towers once stood and I remember that tragic day vividly. [img:right]http://www.conservationtech.com/MAIN-TOPICS/5-NYC-World-Trade/FEMA-WTC-photos/11.tower2.collapse.ap.jpg[/img] I remember exactkly where in my fifth grade classroom I was standing when I heard the news from an eigth grader who had snuck a radio i...
As the NHL season is coming into view, Id like to finish up my analyzation of the Rangers by taking a look at the projected third defensive pairing for the upcoming season.
Left Defense: #4 Marc Staal
Personal: 20 years old from Thunder Bay, Ontario. Stands 6 ft 4 in 206 lbs. Shoots lefty. Drafted 12th overall by the Rangers. Entering his firstseason with the Rangers. ...
Tonight, the preseason begins for the New York Rangers as they face off against their first opponent since falling to Buffalo in the postseason. The Rangers return bigger, better and stronger than last year, having added top centers Chris Drury and Scott Gomez as well as introducing a young group of Rangers hopefuls, led by defenseman Marc Staal. The upcoming season looks ...
For the past few weeks, potential Rangers players have been fighting for a spot on the roster. As training camp ended and the preseason began, more cuts were made and the team found that they had quite a few position battles on their hands. So after three preseason games and 10 fighting majors, the situation seems to have cleared up a bit.
[b]Goalie Fight (no, not that...
Finally, our many preseason questions have been answered as the Rangers set their 23 man roster by dropping Nigel Dawes and Al Montoya. The final roster, which appears at the bottom of the page, is what most expected and is expected to lead New York to its first Stanley Cup since 1994. The puck drops at 7:00 PM as the rangers host the Florida Panthers at MSG. Here are a fe...
[b]Recap[/b]
The Rangers began the 2007-2008 season by posting a 1-1 record. They beat Florida by a score of 5-2 on Thursday,followed by a 2-0 shutout loss in Ottawa. Although did come out with 2 points, the Rangers seemed shaky on the ice in both games, did not play well as a unit and generally did not put out a good effort. While the 4-goal third period on Opening Night...
There are many singular things in the world today. There is one Great Wall, one Pope, one U.S. President. For some, there is only one G-d.
Things that come in ones are accorded great importance and respect. They are constantly being sought after like a hidden treasure. The amount of hard work, effort and sacrifice it takes to get to one of these singular objects is i...
No, Im not an Islander fan. This is coming from a die-hard Rangers fan who knows an undeniable fact when he sees one.
The Rangers came off a brilliant second half and playoffs last season and looking poised to make a Cup run. [img:left]http://ordinaryleastsquare.typepad.com/blueshirtbulletin/images/jagrgroin.jpg [/img]In the offseason they added Drury and Gomez and los...
2006: They havent made the playoffs since 1997. They have a no-name defense and no depth on offense. Starting goalie Kevin Weekes goes down with a groin injury. Only a 7th round, unproven, unexperienced Swede can fill that spot.
2007: A disappointing season that included a 9 game losing streak and an awful record. They were guarenteed to miss the playoffs before the sea...
No, that is not a real word but it should be one. Big thanx to Henrik Lundqvist for backing up Friday's blog with another stellar performance against the Devils. He has now given up only 22 goals in 13 starts and seems to be playing the best goal in the NHL along with Pascal LeClaire.
Once again the Rangers had difficulty putting the puck in, scoring only 1 goal in reg...
The Rangers recorded their fourth straight win by beating the Flyers by a score of 2-0. Last week's "player of the week", Henrik Lundqvist recorded his fourth shutout in 14 games this season and helped the Rangers improve to 7-6-1 on the season. The Rangers completed a six game homestand in which they went 5-1, the only loss coming at the hands of the Maple Leafs. Tommorow...
I did not have the privelege of catching the game, largely as a result of my van being pulled over for speeding on the way back from school. Nonetheless, the Rangers lost 3-2 after leading by a goal twice in the 3rd period. The Islanders got goals from Fedotenko and Satan to make it 3-2 after alternate scoring by Drury, Hunter, and Mara.
From looking at the stats, I hav...
Edit:
The Rangers will face the Penguins in Madison Square Garden on Thurday night. Both teams are coming off losses; New York 3-2 to the Islanders and Pittsburgh a 3-1 loss to Philadelphia. Both teams have identical records at 7-7-1 and the winner will jump to second place in the division while the loser remains in fourth.
The Penguins have turned up the offense rec...
Its been a tale of two seasons for the Rangers. Their home record stands at 8-2 while they are still winless on the road at 0-5-1. Tonight was another example of a dominant home performance as the Rangers mustered 39 shots in a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team is now 1-1 head to head, the other game ending in a 1-0 Penguin's victory.
Lots of good highligh...
The Rangers finally scored a road win with a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The pregame ceremonies honoring this year's Hall Of Fame inductees was very nice. The Rangers capitalized on a solid game from their backup goaltender, Stephen Valliquette, who was able to do the only thing Lundqvist was not able to do. The Rangers were the last team to win a road game, yet ...
AlexanderScharf writes...
GAS Line, Fourth Line Heroes, Henrik: Put Rags Back On Track
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
First nine: 2-5-1. Last nine: 7-2-0.
That tells the story of the turnaround the Rangers have made in this young season. That proves that the early hiccups that this team experienced were nothing more than growing pains. That when the right line combinations are found and the players learn to play with each other, it will create success. That when the team defense is con...
The season began with the Northwest haveing the advantage with 3 playoff teams (Wild, Canucks and Flames) and one should have (Avalanche). But in the early going, things have really shifted around.
The #1 division was a close call between the Northeast and the Central. The two divisions are historically strong on top and weak at the bottom but the lower teams have reall...
Sean Avery is a decent hockey player. He can score and pass and skate but his main purpose is to agitate. Nobody can deny that he does that well. Nobody can deny that he helped the Rangers turn around a dismal season last year. Nobody can deny that he disrupted the Thrashers in the playoffs and that it is quite remarkable that he drew diciplined Ilya Kovalchuk into a fight...
AlexanderScharf writes...
Sam Rosen Reports: Blake Says Avery Is Innocent
Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
During tonight's broadcast of the Rangers-Devils game, Ranger's analyst Sam Rosen said that he spoke to Jason Blake. Blake told him that he did not hear Avery make those comments. Assuming that Sam Rosen isnt lying and Blake isnt deaf, this means the Avery did not make a "cancer" remark to Blake.
Now the blame shifts to whoever created this rumor. It is a terrible thing...
In a season so dominated by the hype of stars Gomez and Drury, the other "new" Rangers have given fans a reson to get excited. Rookies Nigel Dawes, Brandon Dubinsky and Marc Staal have provided a total of 7 goals in this young season. And indeed, the season is young as the Rangers have drawn success from their kids more than from the seasoned vets.
The three rookies al...
Do you know which Ranger is tied with Brendan Shanahan for the team lead in goals. Superstar Jagr? Nope. Speedster Gomez? Nope.
Its actually Michael Rozsival.
Do you know who scored the only overtime goal for the Rangers this season. Mr. Clutch Drury? Nope. Legendary Brendan Shanahan? Nope.
Its actually Jason Strudwick.
Dont forget Daniel Girardi and Fedor Tyut...
What exactly was so strange about the Rangers 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning? Well...
The shutout jinx struck again...
The Rangers finally got a goal from a forward. But you will never guess who...
And the Lightning scored twice and lost 2-1.
Confusing? Lets start from the top.
Coming into the game, the Rangers had a streak of 5 straight goals by defen...
Unfortunately, I will not be able to write consistantly for a couple of months. Ive had some issues come up and I wont have the means to post my atricles. Therefore, I would like to bid farewell to my faithful (and not so faithful) readers. I hope to return as soon as possible.
Thank you all.
Go Rangers!
Fact: In their previous 3 matchups, the Rangers managed only 4 goals against the rival Islanders. They lost all 3 games.
Fact: In their two meetings this season. the Rangers got 1 goals against Martin Gerber and the Ottawa Senators. They lost both.
Fact: The Rangers offense was last in the league in goals scored. There were more than a few rumblings about the sleepin...
AlexanderScharf writes...
How To Fix the Awful, Miserable and Terrible Rangers Offense
Posted Monday | Comments 0
Take a look at the shots on goal from the previous 4 games. Keep in mind though, that the Rangers lost 3 out of 4 of these games, and their opponents earned 7 of the 8 possible points. Also keep in mind that the Rangers were outscored 14-7 in those games.
NY Rangers 29
New Jersey 17
NY Rangers 32
Atlanta 22
NY Rangers 25
Toronto 16
NY Rangers 28
...
I do not take responsiblity for this suggestion, it was my father who proposed this to me. However, he believes that the NHL would be best with the 16 teams that are making the most money and are the most economically sound. There should be no salary cap, and no need because only financially solid teams would be in the league, and in this way the talent pool is not diluted...
Sidney Crosby flew down the wing with Ryan Whitney on a 2 on 1. As he neared the goalie, Crosby flung the puck past the defenseman and right to the stick of Whitney. A split second later, whitney returned the puck to Crosby at the right post. Wide open net. Goal, right?
Gary Roberts along the right boards. To Erik Christensen had at the right faceoff dot. He spun aroun...
I am calling you all out. All of you who came out strong at Sean Avery after the Blake incident in Toronto. You said that Avery was an immature and wothless player and that he "deserves everything he gets." You may have said that he did something bad IF he did it. You may have said that he did do it. You may have wanted him dead or severely injured. But you all came out an...
[img]http://cdn.nhl.com/penguins/images/upload/2007/12/wc2008_wide.gif[/img]
It ended with Sidney Crosby as the sixth shooter to fumble the puck toward the goalie through the bad ice, slush and snow that was the rink at Ralph Wilson Stadium. It was history, or so said the NHL, as the Buffalo Sabres hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first outdoor game in the U.S. It ...
The first half of the rangers season ended on a bad note, with a 3-0 loss to the Canucks in Vancouver. The expectations this team had coming into the season were not met by their 20-17-4 record, totaling 44 points in 41 games. But overall this team had two sides and personalities.
[img:left]http://voice.paly.net/media/images/2007-05-05-picture_1_280x349.shkl.png[/img] ...
AlexanderScharf writes...
Voices In My Head Are Screaming: "FIRE RENNEY OR TRADE JAGR"
Posted Sunday | Comments 0
They could not have made it more clear had they announced it in the middle of Times Square. It has been that apparant from the play of the Rangers during this three game road trip, and a trip is was, that this team cannot and will not play consistantly good hockey. They will find a way to lose ever game, even to lowly Edmonton. After coming off of a solid three game winnin...
They have some positive monemtum, having captured two of their last three games and allowing only 5 goals in that span. They are heading into a home and home against Boston followed by two consecutive home games against the Thrashers. These teams are not the best out there but they have played good hockey of late. For the Rangers, all four of these games are winnable yet a...
It was quite a tragic story. The biggest and strongest boat ever made set sail. It was said to be unsinkable, a feat that would be revolutionary in the industry of shipping. The inside was a luxurious as the outside was beastly, its many ballrooms, dining rooms and beautiful cabins making it quite a piece of work. There was no doubt that this journey would be a one of grea...
While Gomez, Staal and Dubinsky will hit the road and travel to Atlanta for the All-Star [u]Weekend[/u] (thank goodness), the rest of the Ranger team will be preparing for a road trip of their own. The Rangers will be playing in Carolina, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Montreal in a six day span beginning Tuesday. The struggling Blueshirts will not be able to walk over these...
I will be writing a 5 part series that is somewhat similar to and inspired by Scott Gallof's "The Blame Game." However, instead of pointing fingers at individuals who are to blame, I will discuss certain key attributes that the team as a whole are lacking and are the reasons, but not the only reasons, for the Ranger's underacheivement.
[u][b]MOTIVATION[/b][/u]
Great ...
AlexanderScharf writes...
What The Rangers Are Missing: 2. Determination
Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
[b]Determination:[/b] [i]Firmness of purpose; resolve.[/i]
There is a famous saying, "Where there's a will, there's a way." If you decide to accomplish something and commit yourself to acheiving success you will reach your goal, however lofty. Conversly, if you do not commit yourself to work hard you will not achieve. Hard work is usually the recipe for success. When th...
Chris Drury said it himself during the second intermission. In fact, he said it three times. "I know I'm repeating myself but we are a whole different team when we move our legs." Unfortunately, this message did not travel from the brain of this excuse of a team to their legs. And so, the Rangers made history with their stunning defeat, with the biggest botched job in team...
As the trade deadline approaches, Rangers fans begin to wonder about what Glen Sather will do. Will he pick up a big player? Will he dump Malik or Mara? The biggest question mark is Jaromir Jagr. He doesn't seem to have much in the tank or much durability in the rear fender. He has scored only 16 goals and 38 assists in 63 games and does not seem prone to break out of his ...
Glen Sather stepped out of his JetBlue plane in Phoenix, Arizona. As he walked through the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport terminal, he kept on muttering "They give away blue chips for free, they give away blue chips for free." This thought never left the Rangers GM's mind, even as he entered into Phoenix GM Don Maloney's office. He had come to negotiate a trade deadline deal w...
Five rungs left until the top. The distance can be climbed but there are only 13 chances left to do so. Below, the hordes of enemies are rushing up, the leader just one rung below. Its crunch time. Will the top be reached?
It has been quite a turnaround. Just a few weeks ago, the New York Rangers were substantially lower in the NHL food chain and barely clinging to play...
It is hard to recognize when good times are past and hard times are coming. It is human nature to ignore the slow but steady transition from success to failure. It is easier to sugarcoat the marginally smaller victories than to worry about a drop productivity. But this naivety and self-deception only lasts until everything collapses and there is nothing to do but accept th...
The world of professional sports is always striving to create a fair, if not equal, playing field for all competitors. The entire concept of sports is for one individual or group to triumph over others who were also capable of winning. Although on a micro level there are teams with more talent than others, the opportunity for an organization to build a strong team is not h...
Note: The following regulations are applicable to any team facing the Pittsburgh Penguins
By: Gary Bettman
[u][b]I. Assessment of Penalties[/b][/u]
[b]A.[/b] Penalties are assessed when a player commits: interference, roughing, cross-checking, slashing, hooking, holding, obstruction hooking, obstruction holding, fighting and instigating. (These terms will be expounded...
For entertainment purposes, hit the link below and crank up the music.
http://jettbarig.imeem.com/music/_zAaoAzZ/saliva_ladies_and_gentlemen/
The playoffs are finally here. The New York Rangers will face off against the New Jersey Devils in a best of 7 series that will decide which team will move on to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
This rivalry i...
They needed to regain the momentum. They need to prove that their 7 game regular-season winning streak against the Devils means nothing and that their season ending shootout loss to New Jersey means nothing either. The New York Rangers needed to start the playoffs with a clean slate and a fast start. That is exactly what they did in a 4-1 win over their Hudson River rivals...
Only twice in NHL history has a team come back from a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series. Tonight, the New York Rangers will try to put the New Jersey Devils in a position to make history. For the Devils, even winning one game against the Blueshirts seems to be a large task, as they have only accomplished that one time in the 10 matchups this season. If the Rangers win tonigh...
If the visiting team triumphs tonight at Madison Square Garden, the momentum will rest solely on their shoulders. If the New Jersey Devils play the "Comeback Kids" and neutralize their 2 losses at Newark, they will be a train that cannot be stopped. Believe it or not, this Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals means just as much to the Rangers' fate than it does t...
It may be over. It may have been over after Period 2 on Friday when the Rangers allowed the Penguins to score two late goals to cut the lead to one. It may have ended when Matrin Straka's apparant goal was disallowed. However, if and when it ended will not be revealed until this series ends. The Rangers are not dead yet, though they may be on life support.
Game 3 is a ...
Just kidding. I am not going to go there yet. Looking back at the season, it was pretty much a bad beginning, mediocre middle, followed by a bad ending. The good thing is there is always next year. Hopefully this team gels and grows and maybe adds a solid defenseman or two. The main competition is the Penguins now. That is who they have to keep up with. But this team has g...
They were made the second and third highest paid centers in the league. They were rewarded greatly for having accomplished nothing, their salaries coming as major investments into the future of the franchise. They were to step in and become the leaders of the team and take the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup. However, what was lost in all of the fanfare and glory of th...
Join myself and the Wingnut (hockeybuzz blogger redavi9) for hockey talk. We will be discussing the Stanley Cup Finals, Colorado's new coach, if the Rangers want Jaromir Jagr, and Mats Sundin's tough decision. All of that and more at 5:30 PM today on talkshoe.
http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19975 or call in at 724-444-7444 call #19975
AlexanderScharf writes...
Teams Overpaying Free-Agents? This Is Just The Beginning
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The question comes into play during every off-season. Every signing is accompanied by speculation, more so on price than talent itself. After last off-season saw Chris Drury, Daniel Briere and Scott Gomez land contracts worth over $7 million per year, the question will be asked even more and the speculation will be even more intense. As we all know, though many like to “...
The popular mindset during this offseason is to be skeptical of the moves, or lackthereof, made by Glen Sather and the New York Rangers. The Rangers were a solid team that had made the playoffs for three straight years while maintaining a core of veteran players. When Jaromir Jagr, Martin Straka and Brendan Shanahan did not re-sign with the club for the fourth post-lockout...
You were thinking it as the Rangers boarded their Europe-bound jet. It was a lesson in how not to run a team, a proof that the core of a team can't be replaced in one season. You were smug or worried, depending on your team loyalties, that the end of the Jagr era in New York was premature and would be extremely detrimental.
The Rangers were also worried. They managed o...
First off, I would like to mention the tragic death of Avangard Omsk forward and New York Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov. His premature death is devastating to his friends, family and the hockey community. It is a shame that someone with so much potential was not able to fulfill it. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Cherepanov family on the loss of the boy who was,...
It was the 6-1 red hot Rangers coming into Detroit to face the Stanley Cup Champion Red Wings who held a mediocre 2-1-1 record. Both teams showed up to play and turned out one of the most exciting hockey games of this season. At first it seemed to be devloping in to a one-sided affair, with the Wings capitalzing on the Rangers' slow start with two goals in the first four m...
AlexanderScharf writes...
Early Season Predictions: What Will Change and What Won't
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
There have been many surprises so far this season, and the following is judgement of which occurences are "real" so to speak and will continue throughout the season, and which are abberations and won't last very long:
[b]Thomas Vanek will lead the league in goals[/b]
This young star is off to a quick start and is the real deal. After scoring 43 goals in his sophmore se...
Hello, I am New York Rangers defenseman Wade Redden. For those of you who don't know, I was a 2nd overall draft pick by the Islanders in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. Since then I have played 11 NHL seasons with the Ottawa Senators. My career started well as a promising young offensive-defenseman. I scored 30-50 points in most seasons and my +/- usually hovered around +20. But...
It was Chris Drury on Monday night. Two nights earlier it was Nikolai Zherdev. Since October 4th it has been Scott Gomez, Brandon Dubinsky, Markus Naslund, and Henrik Lundqvist among others. And while common sense would seem to dictate that teams without 35+ goal scorers are lost, the 9-2-1 Rangers are proving that scoring by committee can be just as effective. It is true ...
It is a question that you face very often. It is often posed to you by a frustrated mother, wife and/or girlfriend, and sometime even by yourself. And while this question is often asked in rhetorical fashion and meant only yo ridicule your obsession, it is valid and must be pondered. The following blog is an investigation of the counter-intuitive relationship between fan a...
(Note: For consistency's sake, I will try to put out a blog every week on either Friday or Sunday. Additionally, I would like to use an idea of hockeybuzz.com's Itlan, who links his blogs to a forum in which the comments section is much better. Therefore, my blogs can now be found in the Rangers forum as well as my.hockeybuzz.com. A link will be posted in both locations.)
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[img]http://photoawards.com/05/DigitalEntries/resized/BC_13057_1.jpg[/img]
[b][i]Red Bull Gives You Wings[/i][/b]
Two men have received the majority of the blame for the ineptitude of the 2008-09 Rangers offense. After all, Chris Drury and Scott Gomez do eat up over 14 million dollars of the Rangers cap space, and their production has been far from comparable with othe...
[img]http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/ad4a3bdb34.jpg[/img]
Its that time of year again for the Rangers. It has come every year since the lockout, no matter how well or how poorly the season began. Because the Rangers are once again slipping out of the playoff picture ever so slowly, and if they do not right the ship soon, it will be too late. It is gut check time...
Last night was a trip to the past. It was October of 2008 in Ottawa, and that was not good news for the hometown Senators. Because their opponent remembered that success was indeed the product of their hard work, and not a gift for the lazy. They remembered that they are more capable of winning low scoring than high scoring games. And they finally returned to their identit...
[img]http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/04S17sY9DY0lo/610x.jpg[/img]
All right grumpy Rangers fans, its time to start pulling on those belts because another stretch run is about to begin and its shaping up to be a doozy. Yes, the Rangers aren't the perfect team, and they have been criticized about their flaws more often than a teenager at a dermatologist.
But in al...
If you have been reading my blog for the greater portion of this season, you probably know that I have been holding onto my belief that the Rangers can win the Stanley Cup with the personnel that they currently possess. But after the Rangers imploded with a horrid 3 game losing streak beginning with a thrashing at the hands of Pittsburgh, my faith has deserted me. Yes, the...
Sean Avery is an idiot. He has been alienating his teammates since he came into the league. He has made extremely insulting and hurtful comments. He has taken shots at Dion Phanuef, Quebec, Martin Broduer and allegedly Jason Blake in the last two seasons alone. He is a locker room cancer, the type of guy who destroys chemistry by creating conflict and division within a tea...
Lets start with the oft overlooked fact: The failure of this team is not completely the fault of the head coach. In fact, very little of the blame should be placed on Tom Renney. Most of it falls on the shoulders of the GM, who shall remain nameless, and the high paid "stars" who have done anything but shine during the season of underachievement. Yes, Renney is meant to be...
Quick Update: [url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/02/27/avery_reentry_waivers/] Avery going on re-entry waivers according to Sportsnet [/url]
2 games. 2 goals scored. And another 2 losses. Anybody expecting the firing of Tom Renney and the addition of John Tortorella to have an immediate impact is sure disappointed. By no means did he do a bad job during his first ...
Its quite a challenge to remain cool, calm and collected as you watch your struggling team score a season high 6 goals. It is nigh impossible to not roam the streets of NYC screaming on the top of your lungs after your teams pounds their opponent, both physically and figuratively, after having won merely three games since the All Star Break. And it takes perfect self restr...
I know, he did not trade Wade Redden, but nothing short of a miracle deal could have bested the moves made by Glen Sather at the March 4 trade deadline. He improved the team tremendously for this season, and was able to open up space to re-sign key players during the coming offseason. The most impressive feat was that Sather accurately evaluated the skills of each player i...
Since John Tortorella took over the head coaching job of the New York Rangers, the once struggling team went 3-1-1, getting 7 out of 10 possible points after picking up only 7 points in the entire month of February while Tom Renney was the coach. The three wins have been consecutive and the winning streak is still going into Monday night when Carolina hosts the Blueshirts....
It is amazing how one loss can put previous success in such perspective. John Tortorella and the new-look Rangers seem to have what it takes to make noise in the playoffs, but the loss to Carolina on Monday night, a shutout no less, has me wondering if this team has what it takes to make the playoffs. Maybe its caused by being out of a playoff spot and sitting in 9th place...
So the Rangers are playing better than they have during the last four months of the season. It is obvious that John Tortorella is the biggest cause of the turnaround; after losing his first two games behind the bench, the new coach has led the Blueshirts to four victories in five games. He is clearly a motivator, as evidenced by the effectiveness of his locker room rant on...
Over the last 3 games, Sean Avery has been the best player on the Rangers. Not all-star goalie Henrik Lundqvist who wrote history by sealing his 4th consecutive 30 win season in his fourth season in the NHL. Not Chris Drury or Scott Gomez who are each earning more than 3 1/2 times the much maligned winger's salary. Not Nik Zherdev. Not Nik Antropov. And certainly not Wade ...
It is tough to write up much during a postseason run without becoming repetitive. So I am just going throw out my predictions for the final standings in the East. Let me know what you think.
1. Devils- Have been playing great all year and Brodeur has been solid.
2. Bruins- In a controlled free-fall right now and have all the signs of a "one-and-done" team.
3. Capitals...
John Tortorella has given new hope to New York City. He has led a team that was once labeled offensively inept to a total of eight victories in 14 games, seven of them coming via a 4+ goal night. He has coached a club that was notorious for falling behind early in games to a +10 goal differential in the first period. The middle frame had been almost as strong with the bulk...
It is not hard to get lost in the circus that is the New York Rangers. After all, the only thing that hockey analysts seem to associate with the Rangers these days is Sean Avery. Of course John Tortorella seems to be at the center of attention as well. And the deadline acquisitions also get some much deserved attention. This is no surprise considering the team followed a 3...
[b][quote]Right now the Rangers have a 54.3% chance of making the playoffs.
If the Rangers win that changes to 73.7%.
If the Rangers lose that changes to 33.8%[/quote][/b]
[i]-SportsClubStats.com[/i]
Important is the wrong word. Important is back in March when you are hovering around sixth place. Once you get to April and you are tied for the final playoff spot, it i...
It is much more than just a loss. All of the confidence the Rangers seemed to have after taking two games in Washington is gone. All of the frustrations experienced by the Capitals have dissipated. Look at the players and at the coaches and it is obvious which team is believes and expects to win, and which team is just hoping. Despite being up 2-1 in the series, the backs ...
There is not much else to say about this series. The Capitals are far superior to the Rangers. The edge held by the Rangers has disappeared. The decisive Game 7 is in Washington. And the Rangers are going to lose.
Game 7. The thing about these games is that any team can win on any night and that holds true for the ultimate game of the playoffs series. The Rangers aren'...
What can I say? Good season?
That would be a lie.
I'm proud of this team?
That's not true either.
All I can say is that it is over. After the Rangers tore our hearts out on multiple occasions this season, the mortal blow has finally come down.
Five months until the Rangers play again.
Maybe I will write a real blog when/if I feel better.
It's over.
...
I have thought long and hard about this. It has been something I have been pondering for almost half of a year now.
Yes, the time has come for me to put away the keyboard and retire from my "position" here at MyHockeyBuzz.
Let me explain.
Next year I am going off to college, starting a new stage in my life. With big changes like leaving home and moving into a do...
[i]They have a promising future.[/i]
That is the phrase we have heard often over the past four seasons. There was hope that an upstart team that reached its first postseason in 8 years would develop into a league power. There was evidence that a squad that came within 7.7 seconds of a liklely trip to the Eastern Conference Finals would break through in the near future....
The despair grows even more intense on the east bank of the Hudson River. Another year closer to death, another year with nothing to show for the commitment. Once again, we have been deemed unsuitable, the untouchables of hockey's caste system; not for having the least success but for creating the most heartbreak. While the road to the playoffs is far from over, 22 gruelin...
[quote=Rangers G.M. Glen Sather]A lot of people were interested in our young guys, but we didn't want to trade our kids... the goal was not to give up the kids.[/quote]
3:00 PM.
The trade deadline has passed yet for all intents and purposes the trade lines were dead for days. There will be no 1st line center in New York, not for now at least. No hopes for a miracle run...
Ask any Rangers fan about the core of the team, present and future, and the answer will always begin the same way. “Callahan and Dubinsky.” Their names, always juxtaposed, are synonymous with change, hope and any other unachievable ideal promised by the POTUS. But political humor aside, these two players represent the direction this franchise has wanted to take ever si...
With a playoff berth all but locked up for the New York Rangers, we look forward toward potential playoff match-ups. Of course, we have mostly forgotten our bold proclamations that expectations would be met and thirsts quenched with nothing more than a playoff appearance. But as is human nature, greed follows accumulation of wealth and we all want more; some are even bold ...
The last set of a long, hard workout is always the hardest. After minutes of breaking down muscle, your entire body is ready to quit. Faced with a choice of doing it well or copping out, lesser men often take the latter option. The easy way out. But looking back, the last set more often than not determines if the entire workout was a success or failure. It builds muscle, y...
This is actually a draft of a 2,500 word college report, so I did not post it on the MYHB site. However, if you want to attempt to read it, it is available [url=http://hockeybuzzalex.blogspot.com/2011/04/concussions-proposal-to-nhl.html] here. [/url]
Hope to have a real blog up sometime this week.
Go Ran-Guhs
Edit: Just saw I got 100+ hits on that link, wow guy...
They like to find turning points.
Distinct moments when the tide turned, for better or worse. Moments that were the beginning of the end for a given hockey club.
Had Tampa Bay not beaten Carolina on the penultimate day of the season, they would have said it was the 3-0 loss to the Thrashers two days earlier.[img:right]http://stupidhockey.typepad.com/.a/6a0133ee99c85a...
[i]In Part Two of this blog series, we look at current Rangers and analyze which ones should make the 2011-2012 squad. [/i]
To start, we need to get a sense of how much cap room the Rangers have before any transactions are made. For simplicity's sake, we will determine cap room by subtracting the cap hit of the players on the roster from the regular season cap ceiling. ...
Offseason moves are not made in a vacuum. Every trade, signing and draft pick is affected by what the team has already done and what they plan to do. For instance, if the Rangers sign Brad Richards, they probably won’t try to trade for an elite scorer, and vice versa. [img:right]http://cdn.nhl.com/rangers/images/upload/2011/02/Prospal_V_0213_Ins1.jpg [/img]So at this poi...
Finally, the Stanley Cup Finals are set. While that means two weeks of excitement and anticipation for the fans of the Bruins and Canucks, the fans of the other 28 teams in the league may feel a bit left out. So, like good people, we want to get involved, take sides, and go to war, so to speak. But just what side should you take.
Below is a comprehensive guide to who yo...
It makes you cringe, as a Rangers fan, just a tiny bit.
It is not even June and the next door Islanders have already made a splash on the restricted free agent market, re-signing core young guns Michael Grabner and Kyle Okposo to five year deals. It is even worse when you see that the Islanders - yes those Islanders with the worn down stadium and the uncertain future in...
Hockey fans across the New York area sat down this morning with coffee and a copy the New York Post. As they flipped through the sports section, past coverage of early season baseball and the NBA Finals, they found themselves looking at the weekly [i]Slapshots [/i]column written by Rangers beat writer Larry Brooks. At first glance, [url=http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/range...
For NHL teams, most seasons can be defined by one factor. One segment of the team that made the season a success or a failure. For the 2011 Bruins, Tim Thomas was that factor. He was the difference maker for them, the biggest reason why Boston is celebrating yet another major sports title. The same goes for teams that failed; the Rangers’ season can very well be defined...
As the start of a new season approaches and the 23 best players on each team battle to secure roster spots, hockey discussion is dominated by projected line combinations. There is open season on any player for any spot, from the #1 defenseman, to the 4th line right wing, to the healthy scratch.
But for the New York Rangers, what really matters is the top forward line. ...
[b]Looking Back[/b]
Many were surprised that Pavel Valentenko did not survive the first round of cuts. The 23 year old defenseman, who came over from Montreal in the Scott Gomez deal, was one of the final players cut during last year’s training camp. This year, he did not even outlast fellow blueliners Stu Bickel, Brendan Bell, and Blake Parlett, all long shots to mak...
The war of words is already in full force among fans of the NHL, more specifically supporters of the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers. "Wayne Simmonds is a hypocrite." "Sean Avery is a scumbag." "(Insert player of choice) committed the worse crime."
Comparisons to other cases of unsportsmanlike conduct have been made.
But the truth is that derogatory and di...
Several promising Rangers prospects fell victim to the second round of cuts on Saturday, as the roster was trimmed to 25 players. It seems like the club will at least start the year with only one rookie on the roster, and Stu Bickel does not figure to see much of the ice. This is a turnaround from last season when the opening night lineup included rookies Michael Sauer and...
AlexanderScharf writes...
The Rangers Can Win The Atlantic - Response To Eklund Hate
Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Last night on the HockeyBuzz Podcast, Leafs writer Mike Augello picked the New York Rangers to win the Atlantic Division. The founder of this site responded in disbelief, comparing such a prediction to picking the Leafs to win the Northeast. But this reaction is unsurprising, if you have read Eklund’s Atlantic Divison preview, in which he questions the Rangers’ chemist...
The 0-2 Rangers are finished their whirlwind trip through Europe, and get a week off before beginning the remaining 80 games of the season. There are a lot of positives and negatives to take from the two regular season games, an OT loss to the Kings and a SO loss to the Ducks. Let’s get right to it.
[b]Positives[/b]
[i]Goaltending: [/i]
Even though he didn’t pick ...
3 games + 5 goals = No wins. It seems simple enough: once again the Rangers have scoring issues. The reason is no longer lack of talent up front, instead the cause is far more painful because it is self-inflicted, not Sather-inflicted. The Rangers should be winning games. They outscore opponents at a 1.25:1 ratio at even strength. Unfortunately, they have spent 9:40 per ga...
60 minutes in a game.
12 minutes 29 seconds shorthanded.
[img:right]http://ipadvideo.thescore.com/source/10182011_LUNDQVIST_WITH_BROADWAY_HAT_thumbM.jpg [/img]And if Henrik Lundqvist didn't turn into the Great Wall of China last night in Vancouver, it would have been 4 losses to open the Rangers' season. Luckily, the King was focused all night, determined to earn t...
In April, when the Rangers are battling for position in the Eastern Conference, nobody is going to care [i]how[/i] they got points in October. All that will matter is how many games were won, lost, and lost in extra time. So when asked if this road trip to Western Canada can be a success, with a win tonight in Winnipeg, the answer is a resounding “Yes!” Yes, they strug...
Tired of your hockey team having bad chemistry?
Sick of spending hours making line combinations that may actually work?
There is a solution to all of your problems: The iTorts Shuffle.
Based on the most popular Apple product, the iPod Shuffle, which plays your music in a random order, the iTorts Shuffle picks a line combination for you. It is effortless, and it i...
Now that the long road trip is over and the Rangers still seem incapable of playing a full game of good hockey, fans turn to the next excuse for failure. The defense has been struggling without its leader Marc Staal, that is undeniable. However, the suggestion that a miraculous return by Staal would put an end to the Rangers’ struggles seems a bit misguided. He would cer...
Who would have thought, just 12 days after starting the season with a pedestrian 3-3-3 record, the New York Rangers would transform their play from lukewarm to red hot.
Indeed, the club holds the longest active win streak in the NHL, and the best "last 10" record in the East with a 7-2-1 mark. The goaltending continues to be solid, but now the forwards are scoring and ...
[i] Author's note: Hit the "Discuss" link to comment on any individual topic in a regular Hockeybuzz forum [/i]
The Rangers have not lost a game since recalling Sean Avery from the Connecticut Whale on October 31. Contrast the 4-0 record with him in the lineup against the 5-3-3 record with him off the ice, and it looks pretty good for the agitator. This continues a long...
There are 20 forwards in the NHL with larger cap hits than Brad Richards. Most are the elite players of the league, like Alexander Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos. Some are just wildly overpaid, most notably, Scott Gomez. But they are the benchmark to use when evaluating the performance of the Rangers alternate captain.
It is early into the season, or so it seems. However, ...
The winning streak was going to end. They all do, just don't tell that to the red hot Bruins. But for the Rangers, this loss was a long time coming. In fact, it is shocking that the club was able to go on such a run despite sitting dead last in the league in shots on goal. "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take," said Wayne Gretzky, in one of his glorious mathem...
There are very few things more irritating to true hockey fans than listening to an arena full of spectators screaming "shoot!" for an entire power play. But at this point, the Rangers need somebody to yell at them about being dead last in the league in shots on goal.
This is a team that manages to stay in almost every game, thanks to the defensive effort led by Henrik ...
The Rangers were challenged to beat two of the most talented clubs in the Eastern Conference. To do so, they needed to overcome a two game slump, amid claims that their prior seven game winning streak was more a result of weak opponents than good play. They rose to the occasion, outscoring Washington and Philadelphia by a total of 8-3, while recording 30+ shots in back to ...
It is hard to complain, it really is.
After winning 10 of the last 12 games. After silencing critics who pointed to an easy schedule, by beating Washington, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh in consecutive games. After finally showing up for 60 minutes a night. After finally getting shots on net, and secondary scoring, and solid defense.
But there is still one problem tha...
[i]You cannot beat them in a box.
You cannot beat them with a fox
You cannot beat them in a house
You cannot beat them with a mouse
You cannot beat them here or there.
You cannot beat them anywhere.
You cannot beat the Rangers, man.
You cannot beat them, Sid or Stamm.[/i]
[i]-Paraphrase of Dr. Seuss[/i]
Ho hum. Another game, another win for the New York Rangers....
When the Tampa Bay Lighting came into lower Manhattan to face the New York Rangers, they were expecting a war. But when Artem Anisimov scored a shorthanded goal in the second period, things got a little too literal for Vincent Lecavalier and company.
After a few seconds of celebrating with his arms in the air, Anisimov turned toward the Lightning end of the ice, preten...
It was a bad week for the Rangers, which is hard to say with a straight face. But for a team averaging 1.4 points per game, a 2-1-1 stretch is hardly a success story. However, there are positives to take from the week that are more important than anything you can take out of a 4-0-0 stretch. This was the 3rd time the Rangers went on a two game losing streak. The previous t...
[i] Rags2Riches' regular blogs will return after the holidays [/i]
It is hard to figure out the real meaning of the standings when teams have played different amount of games. Its impossible to predict what a team will do with games at hand, so that analysis may be faulty. The point-per-game tool is handy but less simplistic than the regular points system and again base...
41 games down. 41 games to go.
The first half of the year has been special for the New York Rangers. A trip across Europe. A feature on HBO’s 24/7. A Winter Classic victory. And, most importantly, a spot atop the Eastern Conference standings.
But all of this is just a means to a greater end. No matter how many special moments a season contains, it is only truly val...
[b][i]
If you missed the other sections of this 5 part series, follow the links below to catch up:
[url=http://bit.ly/z6opJG] Part 2 [/url]
[url=http://bit.ly/AedyZf] Part 3 [/url]
[url=http://bit.ly/yI5u6B] Part 4 [/url]
[url=http://bit.ly/zpmgaQ] Part 5 [/url] [/b][/i]
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So, you want to be a contender?...
[b][i] If you missed the other sections of this 5 part series, follow the links below to catch up:
[url=http://bit.ly/zd1ldc] Part 1 [/url]
[url=http://bit.ly/AedyZf] Part 3 [/url]
[url=http://bit.ly/yI5u6B] Part 4 [/url]
[url=http://bit.ly/zpmgaQ] Part 5 [/url] [/b][/i]
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So, you want to be a contender? We...
[b][i]
If you missed the previous sections of this 5 part series, follow the links below to catch up:
[url=http://bit.ly/zd1ldc] Part 1 [/url]
[url=http://bit.ly/z6opJG] Part 2 [/url]
[url=http://bit.ly/yI5u6B] Part 4 [/url]
[url=http://bit.ly/zpmgaQ] Part 5 [/url] [/b][/i]
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So, you want to be a contender...
[b][i]
If you missed the previous sections of this 5 part series, follow the links below to catch up:
[url=http://bit.ly/zd1ldc] Part 1 [/url]
[url=http://bit.ly/z6opJG] Part 2 [/url]
[url=http://bit.ly/AedyZf] Part 3 [/url]
[url=http://bit.ly/zpmgaQ] Part 5 [/url] [/b][/i]
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So, you want to be a contende...
[b][i]
If you missed the previous sections of this 5 part series, follow the links below to catch up:
[url=http://bit.ly/yI5u6B] Part 4 [/url]
[url=http://bit.ly/AedyZf] Part 3 [/url]
[url=http://bit.ly/z6opJG] Part 2 [/url]
[url=http://bit.ly/zd1ldc] Part 1 [/url] [/b][/i]
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So, you want to be a contender...
Emotion is a huge part of the game of hockey, more so than any other sport. That is the aspect of the game that draws in the fans; the intensity, devotion, and sacrifice. The ups and downs, the ebbs and flows. The excitement and the despair.
To an extent, the fans reflect the emotion of the game. We scream, yell, and shout. We sit on the edge of our seats, hoping and pr...
[u]Teams that won a playoff round last season:[/u]
Flyers: Missed playoffs. Nobody saying fire Lavy.
Devils: Missed playoffs. Nobody saying fire Deboer
Coyotes: Missed playoffs. Nobody saying fire Tippett
Predators: Missed playoffs. Nobody saying fire Trotz
Blues: Lost in round 1. Nobody saying fire Hitchcock
Caps: Lost in round 1. Nobody saying fire Oate...
Februrary 2013
The New York Rangers are floundering on the fringe of the playoff picture. The shortened season has thrown a wrench into the team supposedly on the verge of a Stanley Cup run. Expectations have never been higher, and the team continues to disappoint. Brad Richards seems to have lost his game. Rick Nash is not living up to his billing. Chris Kreider is ...