I will have more over the coming days but wanted to get a new blog up.

First of all, I have to give credit where credit is due and thank Ek for getting me into the press box for Sunday's game against the Flyers. I am sure it was not easy getting access for the Rangers blogger to sit on the Flyers side of the press box in a do-or-die game, so I appreciate him getting me in. From watching the game up high, there were a few striking things. First, almost on every rush by Philly, the Rangers defensemen backed up allowing the Flyers almost unimpeded access to the zone. Second, how Philly kept using the same play, where the forward would peel off to the right side of the boards and wait for the trailer break to come, a strategy that seemed to work almost every time. Third, the conservative approach the Rangers took, especially after it was 1-0, to the point of where it was I hope Hank makes every save and we win 1-0 rather than challenging a possible fragile Flyers team who couldn't afford to lose in their building.

The locker room as expected was a funeral scene and Lundqvist looked completely spent. From listening and watching Torts' presser up close, you can almost feel and taste the disdain that the media and he have for each other. The tone in the locker was one of despair and several players spoke of the hot start and end but poor middle. None of them, as expected, would speak of Torts' decision to not use Gaborik, Dubinsky, Anisimov etc and one can understand the decision to use Jokinen based on his overall shootout record. However, if done to your last at-bat, you want your slugger at the plate and not waiting on-deck to see if someone else ties it.

The NY media have started their dissection of the team and what to do going forward. Over the next few days, I will try and do the same, but for some good reads look at Steve Zipay's and Larry Brooks' columns today. Brooks speaks honestly about his relationship - and lack thereof - with Torts but presents a good overall view as to what to do if Torts and Glen Sather are back. I know that Darren Dreger tweeted about Sather yesterday, but we all know that Sather, like it or not, has equity with the Dolans and will be the one who decides to leave or not. If he does, I don't think Mark Messier is ready and an interim solution is needed. Personally, maybe go outside the organization for someone like Jim Neil, for Mess to learn from, or if short-term, then let Jim Rutherford mentor him. But whoever takes over, Gord Clark needs to maintain his role and possibly even have it expanded.

Overall, the season has be a C-. We knew going in that we would struggle offensively but the constant line turnovers, 24-31-9 mark in the middle of the year around 7-1 starts and 7-1-2 closes and inability to find solutions ultimately doomed the team. Torts was unable to get the team to play with effort and emotion nightly and other than Marian Gaborik, who struck fear in the opponent offensively. Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky continued to make strides. Michael Del Zotto showed why he was so highly thought of coming into the year. Henrik Lundqvist was up-and-down but finally figured a way to resolve his problem with top-shelf shots, by coming out of the crease more and standing taller, and was brilliant late. Erik Christensen provided some spark after he was acquired and Vaclav Prospal was the signing of the year when you factor in salary compared to production. We found a solid fourth line in Prust-Anisimov-Shelley and Anisimov showed signs of what he can be but now needs to take that next step in 2010-11. Other that, it's hard to find many other positives as spelled out briefly above in why I gave a C- grade.

I will be back with more over the next few days and weeks but wanted to get this up and get your view on the year. I hope that we find a way to move from tenth to sixth in the NHL Draft Lottery tonight. In addition, thanks for all the good wishes, comments, criticisms, suggestions etc this year and I hope I have justified your faith in me as HB's Rangers blogger.

Join the Discussion: Chat Room » Message Board »

» NHL Gives NHLPA Ultimatum

» Rangers Sign Tim Kennedy, Now What (Edited)

» Staal's Agent: We want deal with Rangers

» Hello from Vancouver

» Hockey News Ranks Rangers 13th Again