Category Archives: In the Crease
Rangers “minor” offseason moves proving to be not so minor
Bobby Bevilacqua
Viktor Stalberg is just one of the many successful depth moves made by Jeff Gorton to improve the roster, prepare them for any potential injuries, and give them options at other positions. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
The Rangers didn’t make any big splashes in free agency like they usually do. No huge signings, no blockbuster trades. And that’s why people wrote off their offseason moves as just slight depth moves, and not major improvements.
But if you look at the situation that Vigneault faced during final cuts after last year’s preseason games and compare it to now, those so-called “minor moves” are actually pretty darn important.
Last year, the Rangers were in a lot of trouble before the season started, losing Derek Stepan to a broken leg. He was slated to be their number one center, and Vigneault didn’t have Brian Boyle or Brad Richards anymore to step up as a substitute. Read the rest of this entry
NHL Division Preview: The Metropolitan
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers and the Capitals will be two of the Metropolitan’s best teams this season. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
The upcoming NHL season is less than two weeks away, and the excitement is palpable. The rosters are almost finalized, preseason is almost over, and the grind for a Stanley Cup Championship is about to begin.
This is the first post in a series of four where I will preview each division in the NHL, make my predictions, and choose who I think will be in the playoffs. There will be an article for each division in the league.
The Metropolitan Division is shaping up to be the best in the entire league. Many of the teams have either maintained their strong roster or drastically improved, meaning that this division is very likely to send five teams to the playoffs.
The Rangers were the champions of the Metropolitan last season, in the regular season and after the first two rounds, and they’ll look to defend their divisional prowess against some surging teams such as the Penguins, the Capitals, and the Islanders. Read the rest of this entry
NHL to implement new concussion spotters for 2015-16 season
Bobby Bevilacqua
In a move to combat the head injuries and concussions that have plagued the sports world recently, the NHL will begin mandating league-designated and trained spotters for every single game this season.
Max Pacioretty lies dazed after a big hit in a game against the Florida Panthers. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
There will be two spotters at every game, one for each team. They will be sponsored and trained by the league. However, each team has the right to designate their own concussion spotter for each game. This may be preferred, because that person would have the team’s best interests in mind, and they would know the players and their tendencies well.
According to Bill Daly, the NHL deputy commissioner, most teams have indicated that they’d prefer to go with a team-sponsored spotter, but having the league-mandated spotters gives teams another possibility. If the team spotter gets sick or can’t make it, there will be backups in a sense. (LINK)
Unlike the NFL, the spotters do not have the same power as they do in football. NFL concussion spotters have the power to stop a game and remove a player if they are showing clear signs of a concussion. This is known as the Julian Edelman Rule, named after the New England Patriots wide receiver. In the Super Bowl, Edelman took a nasty hit and appeared woozy, but stayed in the game to make some key catches, despite a spotter calling down to the sideline and asking for him to be removed. Read the rest of this entry
Bold Predictions: The Rangers will have a strong powerplay this season
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers should have a much improved power play for this upcoming season, and Keith Yandle is a big reason why. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Call me crazy, but I think we will finally see the Rangers have an effective and reliable power play during the 2015-16 season.
It seems like every single year, the Rangers sign someone or shake up the power play units in an attempt to start getting more consistent production out of the forwards when they have the man advantage. But every season, they have been unable to do so, failing to capitalize during crucial moments.
Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Rangers have never ranked higher than 17th in the league on the power play, and never posting a percentage higher than 18.2%. In the 2013-14 playoffs, when Alain Vigneault led his team to the Stanley Cup Finals, the Rangers scored on just 12.6% of their power play advantages, which was only 13 goals in 103 power play opportunities. Read the rest of this entry
Which NHL teams improved the most this offseason?
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of psdcovers.com
Expect some new playoff challengers for the 2015-16 NHL season.
Every season, there are a few teams that surprise everyone, surge into the playoffs and have an improved season overall. This past year we saw the Winnipeg Jets, the Calgary Flames and the Ottawa Senators all climb their way into the playoffs, bringing new blood into the chase for the Stanley Cup.
This year, it will be no different, and there will be new teams rising in the standings, catching everyone off guard and making a push to get into the playoffs. A few teams have made huge strides in improving their teams, and could be surprise contenders during this upcoming season.
Here are some of the most improved teams heading into the upcoming season. Read the rest of this entry
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