All the latest news, rumors, rumblings and notes surrounding your New York Rangers, all in one place!
- After going to three straight overtime games, the New York Rangers didn’t have enough in the tank to pull off another win Sunday night, as they fell to the Blue Jackets by a score of 5-2.
- This is a bit of a new feature we have been trying here at the site for the past two weeks or so; it’s our three stars of the game–three stars from the Rangers, that is. Here are our three stars of last night’s matchup.
- Brett Cyrgalls of the New York Post wrote about how the Rangers losing may have been a good thing, as it inches them closer to a wild card berth and an easier road to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
- While on paper and in my heart of hearts I do want things to play out this way, I tend to agree with Derek Stepan when he said that wanting to play a particular team or be in a particular position in the playoffs is the “kiss of death.”
- The fourth line was fantastic last night, which was nothing new. They have been great for a few weeks now and Sean Hartnett of CBS New York wrote about them earlier in the week.
More From Blue Line Station: Ryan McDonagh is on his Path to Greatness
- This fourth line, no matter who is on the opposite wing of Jesper Fast, is rivaling the 13-14 fourth line of Brian Boyle, Derek Dorsett and Daniel Carcillo as their best bottom unit in the last decade.
Trade Deadline Talk
- Joe Fortunato of Blueshirt Banter wrote about two trades the Rangers could make that would boost them to elite Stanley Cup contender status.
- I completely agree with what he wrote there. I was originally on the “wait to get Kevin Shattenkirk in the offseason” bandwagon, but I have to say, he would be a game changer for this team going forward this year into the playoffs.
More from Rangers News
- Blake Wheeler’s Broadway Calling: Why He Chose the Rangers
- Rangers’ Playoff Redemption Recipe: Grit and Fresh Hopes
- Brennan Othmann and Will Cuylle Set to Shine in the NHLPA Rookie Showcase
- Chris Kreider has had quite the Summer
- Andy Hosler Takes Helm as Head Athletic Trainer for the New York Rangers, Succeeding Jim Ramsay
- Brendan Smith would also be a really nice fit on the third pairing. He is a lefty, but he can play either side comfortably. I wrote about his prospects back on Friday. For the right price, I wouldn’t mind bringing him in, but if it is for the same price as what Ron Hainsey went for, forget it.
- Larry Brooks of the New York Post speculated the other night that Kevin Klein might have played his last game as a Ranger. Although he has struggled this year, I would miss Klein a lot if he was dealt because he was a good soldier and greatly exceeded expectations here in New York, while never being afraid to stand up for a teammate. It would be the right move for the team to make, though.
- The other day, I wrote about how the Rangers need to use the trade market to their advantage and deal Klein now. If a guy like Hainsey drew a second-round pick, Klein would have to be able to do so as well.
More Deadline Rumors
Apparently, according to Larry Brooks, lots of
teams have been calling the Rangers about J.T. Miller’s availability
and thankfully, the team is turning them away.
New York Rangers
I am going to write about this within the next day or two, but the Rangers cannot afford to ship out Miller. He has developed into a really dependable player both offensively and defensively, is on a cheap deal and continues to get better and better.
Other Notes
- According to a report by CBS New York, Rangers owner James Dolan and his Madison Square Garden Company is reportedly interested in owning a stake in a new Islanders arena, which could be built in Belmont Park. The Wilpon family, the owners of the New York Mets, are also inquiring.
- A part of me kind of hopes that Dolan will end up doing this because then we Rangers fans will be able to mock Islanders fans by saying “our owner owns your stadium!”
- According to the New York Post, David Harbour, who plays Hopper in the Netflix series, “Stranger Things,” is a Rangers fan. According to the story, when he was growing up, Harbour was a pizza delivery boy and would delivered pizza to Mark Messier’s house numerous times.
Next: Rangers' Dark-Horse Deadline Defensive Solution
- That’s so cool. You would have to think a guy like Messier tipped well.