Kreider showed last night he has the ability if he wants to take over a game. Not many players on the Rangers can do that.
- TPC

He also has the ability to disappear. Kovalev.

He also has the ability to disappear. Kovalev.
- Pete V

I can't wait to hear in the next couple of years that one of your kids want's a Kreider jersey for Christmas. Gonna bring a tear when I hear you bought them one

nice blog Jan. after watching the last game I noticed a few things.. not sure if we need to bolster the 3rd pairing D, Hunwick has looked pretty good of late and I would be comfortable going into the playoffs with him and Klein as a pairing. plus im not sure what it would cost to improve a D pairing that wouldnt play as many minutes...

Im curious to see if anyone else feels the same way as me, why in God's name do they continue to use Rick Nash as the net front presence on the PP??? he is our teams best player, period... why do we have him in front of the net and not with the puck. he is our teams best shooter, puck handler, passer, has the best vision... it angers me so much to see such a talented player used in a position that requires almost none. yes he is big, yes he is willing, but we have other players that can do that. Hayes, Kreider, Miller, even a defensemen can play that role.... just curious if anyone else sees it the same way.

good game, they didnt play their best but still won, the true sign of a good team.

nice blog Jan. after watching the last game I noticed a few things.. not sure if we need to bolster the 3rd pairing D, Hunwick has looked pretty good of late and I would be comfortable going into the playoffs with him and Klein as a pairing. plus im not sure what it would cost to improve a D pairing that wouldnt play as many minutes...

Im curious to see if anyone else feels the same way as me, why in God's name do they continue to use Rick Nash as the net front presence on the PP??? he is our teams best player, period... why do we have him in front of the net and not with the puck. he is our teams best shooter, puck handler, passer, has the best vision... it angers me so much to see such a talented player used in a position that requires almost none. yes he is big, yes he is willing, but we have other players that can do that. Hayes, Kreider, Miller, even a defensemen can play that role.... just curious if anyone else sees it the same way.

good game, they didnt play their best but still won, the true sign of a good team.
- richardson30

I agree. I think Nash would be best positioned where stepan currently is. I just don't see how you can ice a PP unit of brassard, stepan, Nash, MSL, and Boyle in any other setup than what it is now.

I agree. I think Nash would be best positioned where stepan currently is. I just don't see how you can ice a PP unit of brassard, stepan, Nash, MSL, and Boyle in any other setup than what it is now.
- rangerdanger94

1st 5-3 unit. Stepan, Boyle on the points Nash, MSL down low, Kreider parked in front of the net. 2nd 5-3 unit. Klein, McDonagh at the point Brassard, Zucc down low, Miller/Hayes in front of the net.

I agree. I think Nash would be best positioned where stepan currently is. I just don't see how you can ice a PP unit of brassard, stepan, Nash, MSL, and Boyle in any other setup than what it is now.
- rangerdanger94

Substitute Krieder for Brassard. move brassard to play with Zucc and Miller on Second PP. Have Krieder stand in front on 1st PP and Miller on Second.

I agree. I think Nash would be best positioned where stepan currently is. I just don't see how you can ice a PP unit of brassard, stepan, Nash, MSL, and Boyle in any other setup than what it is now.
- rangerdanger94

Yea I want Nash shooting the puck from the slot over looking for rebounds/deflections in front

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/nyr150121.html

Says you guys are looking for a two-way center. 3rd line guy?

That pass by Stepan was out of this world.

The way he has played this season makes me want to go back and delete every negative critique I made about him.

Jesus, that pass to Hagelin was Gretzky-like.

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/nyr150121.html

Says you guys are looking for a two-way center. 3rd line guy?
- DDM-Coga

That's really their only big hole in the lineup. Hayes is terrible on face offs which drives possession downward. Kid looks like he is better suited on the wing this season or until he drastically improves on the dots.

The Rangers are 14 games above NHL .500 and they are 29th overall on face offs. If they can get a solid face off winning center, with some skill, they will be really tough to beat down the stretch and in the playoffs.

That pass by Stepan was out of this world.

The way he has played this season makes me want to go back and delete every negative critique I made about him.

Jesus, that pass to Hagelin was Gretzky-like.
- MidnightMarauder

Beginning of last year, and the year before, I wasn't such a big fan. Last half of last year and this year he has become one of my favorites.

Would have traded him countless times, good thing I'm not a GM.

Beginning of last year, and the year before, I wasn't such a big fan. Last half of last year and this year he has become one of my favorites.

Would have traded him countless times, good thing I'm not a GM.
- mdw7413

I think it was the fact that he was balding at the age of 22 that threw some people off. Really is an elite top center, don't care if people disagree.

Beginning of last year, and the year before, I wasn't such a big fan. Last half of last year and this year he has become one of my favorites.

Would have traded him countless times, good thing I'm not a GM.
- mdw7413

I started to like him during the lockout year. He averaged damn near a point per game that season. But then he held out and lost training camp time and had a rough start to last season. It wasn't until he broke his jaw and came back two games later that I started to change my mind about him.

He is tougher than he looks, is a good young leader, a very smart hockey player, great defensively and is one of the best ten passers in the entire league. Stepan is turning out to be a really, really good hockey player.

That's really their only big hole in the lineup. Hayes is terrible on face offs which drives possession downward. Kid looks like he is better suited on the wing this season or until he drastically improves on the dots.

The Rangers are 14 games above NHL .500 and they are 29th overall on face offs. If they can get a solid face off winning center, with some skill, they will be really tough to beat down the stretch and in the playoffs.
- MidnightMarauder

Take a run at Vermette as a rental? Dont know if you have any junk contracts to throw the Yotes way to make sure the Caps work...I miss Cap Geek

Take a run at Vermette as a rental?
- DDM-Coga

I think he is going to be tough to acquire without a 1st rounder. I think that's what Coyotes will be looking for

Take a run at Vermette as a rental? Dont know if you have any junk contracts to throw the Yotes way to make sure the Caps work...I miss Cap Geek
- DDM-Coga

I'd sooner take a shot at Hanzal than Vermette. Hanzal is younger, is a monster height wise, not completely lost offensively and wins better than half his face offs taken.

Arizona is definitely going to look to dump anyone on their roster, aside from OEL, I don't think Hanzal will be untouchable come deadline day. Apparently though, the Rangers have been scouting Toronto pretty hard, according to various reports.

I'd sooner take a shot at Hanzal than Vermette. Hanzal is younger, is a monster height wise, not completely lost offensively and wins better than half his face offs taken.

Arizona is definitely going to look to dump anyone on their roster, aside from OEL, I don't think Hanzal will be untouchable come deadline day. Apparently though, the Rangers have been scouting Toronto pretty hard, according to various reports.
- MidnightMarauder

He's so hot right now, Hanzal

Chris Johnston ‏@reporterchris 56s56 seconds ago
The Canadian dollar is trading around 82 cents today. Next year's NHL salary cap could end up at $71M if it stays this low.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I'd sooner take a shot at Hanzal than Vermette. Hanzal is younger, is a monster height wise, not completely lost offensively and wins better than half his face offs taken.

Arizona is definitely going to look to dump anyone on their roster, aside from OEL, I don't think Hanzal will be untouchable come deadline day. Apparently though, the Rangers have been scouting Toronto pretty hard, according to various reports.
- MidnightMarauder

Is is just me or dont we have a very cheap, 2 way center that wins a lot of his draws??? Mueller... I thought he played pretty well when he was up and can play wing... he is exactly what we need. a player that costs nothing, is a good FO guy and can move to wing after FOs... why not give him another try?

The Eastern Conference standings are pretty unbelievable this year. Half way through the season, and there is only an 8 point difference between the 1st and 8th place team in the standings. And, barring a huge winning streak by a team in the lower half of the Conference, only one team currently out of the playoff picture (Florida) has a legitimate chance of making the playoffs. It seems like every year there are 5-6 teams vying for the lower playoff seeds, and this year, the playoff picture could possibly be wrapped up with 20-30 games left in the season, if Florida hits a rut, which is very possible given their upcoming schedule.

Also, congrats 1st place team!!!! You get to play Boston (or some other very, very good team in the first round). Going to be an easier year to make the tournament, but seemingly harder once you do.

Chris Johnston ‏@reporterchris 56s56 seconds ago
The Canadian dollar is trading around 82 cents today. Next year's NHL salary cap could end up at $71M if it stays this low.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
- jimbro83

I hate that we are tied to the canadian dollar, it's BS

Chris Johnston ‏@reporterchris 56s56 seconds ago
The Canadian dollar is trading around 82 cents today. Next year's NHL salary cap could end up at $71M if it stays this low.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
- jimbro83

well tell Obama to start buying our oil again

Chris Johnston ‏@reporterchris 56s56 seconds ago
The Canadian dollar is trading around 82 cents today. Next year's NHL salary cap could end up at $71M if it stays this low.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
- jimbro83

What Canada needs is more money. How about some of that internet money.

I think it was the fact that he was balding at the age of 22 that threw some people off. Really is an elite top center, don't care if people disagree.
- TPC

Yeah, don't know exactly what it was, but I will freely admit I was 100% wrong about him, and I'm glad I was.