Blog parameters:
Each person covered will be given a rating. Factoring into that rating will of course be his performance but another input is going to be performance versus expectation coming into the season. Much of the background I likely covered in my tear down blogs, so don't expect massive chapter and verse but possibly some quick hitting information if not already covered in those blogs. In addition, to create some parameters, a player will have had to play 20 games to get a grade. Anything less means there isn't a representative sample for which to make a decision, so Brady Skjei and Marek Hrivik, to name two, will not get grades.
Here is where it gets really funky and interactive. I want you the reader to comment on the blog as to the rating. But not just hey I think you are right on or you are crazy but to provide your own rating and rationale for it. So if you agree with what I wrote, great, say that. But if the belief is the rating should be higher or lower, then you have to provide the rationale accordingly. Plus and minus grades are allowed to enable a broader opinion. Before the next blog, we will see if the blog comments consensus rating mirrors mine.
In addition, to shake it up, I will jump around a bit, so not all the players of the same rating are listed in a row, same with positions. So in the immortal words of Forrest Gump, you never know what you're going to get.
Covered in this blog:
Antti Raanta
This is what I wrote on Part Ii of my Rangers tear down and post-mortem blogs.
Antti Raanta, after a very slow start, rounded into form. He finished the season, 11-6-2 with a 2.24 GAA and .919 save percentage in 25 games this season; fine production for a backup, especially one making just $750k this season. While New York has to start developing a future option between the nest - which meet be Halverson or Shesterkin - for next year, Raanta should be brought back to reprise his role.
Overall Grade:
B+ (Monday, May 2, Raanta signed a two-year extension worth $1 million per to stay a Ranger. That was GM Jeff Gorton's first move this offseason and a wise one. Raanta, who came over last offseason from Chicago for Ryan Haggerty, had big shoes to fill in Cam Talbot. He got off to a good start, winning his first four starts, before completing hitting the skids, losing six in a row, the later of which was a Feb 12 meltdown against LA, after which the catcalls for NY to acquire another backup gee louder.
Raanta rebounded from that nightmarish outing and his struggles to win seven of his last eight starts. He worked with Benoit Allaire, focusing on better positioning and his technique while also - and possibly more important - working on the mental aspect of the game. That growth mentally helped Raanta reel off that hot streak and is another reason why I feel confident with him as the team's backup. With Henrik Lundqvist needing more rest, look for Raanta to get close to 30 stars this year, making him an even more important component and asset in 2016-17).
Players covered in prior blogs,
My grade,
Consensus Grade
Kevin Hayes D/D
Viktor Stalberg C+/B-
Chris Kreider C+/C
Mats Zuccarello B+/B+
Kevin Klein C+/C+
Tanner Glass C/D
Rick Nash C-/C
Assistant Coaches C/C
Dan Girardi D+/C or C-
Derick Brassard, B/ B+
Also, I am out of pocket for the weekend until Monday night for a Jewish Holiday. In addition, working through some stuff at work, which may impact my ability to write here. Doing my best to resolve the situation and will keep you on the loop as to how it progresses.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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