Blog Archives
BREAKING: Rick Nash named an Alternate Captain
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
This afternoon the Rangers announced on their Twitter that Rick Nash has been named one of the alternate captains alongside Marc Staal, Dan Girardi and Derek Stepan, as well as captain Ryan McDonagh.
Rick Nah was the captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets during his time there, and has shown exemplary leadership qualities in his time there as well as with the Rangers. Nash has filled in at as an alternate captain for the Rangers in the past and has been one of the veteran leadership presences in the locker room since coming to New York in 2012. Read the rest of this entry
Buchnevich has earned a spot on the Rangers’ top line
Bobby Bevilacqua
Pavel Buchnevich, Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad celebrate a goal in a preseason game against the Flyers. Photo courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images.
The three best forwards during the Rangers preseason all happened to play on the same line. Mika Zibanejad looks like everything Derick Brassard was plus more while Chris Kreider has been playing like a man on a mission, aggressively skating and looking to expand on two consecutive 20 goal seasons. But the biggest surprise has been rookie Pavel Buchnevich.
Buchnevich looks like a lock for the opening night lineup, marking an NHL debut for the 21 year-old after spending parts of the last four seasons in the KHL. Despite the culture shock that comes from moving to North America, as well as adapting to the smaller ice, Buchnevich has looked like a poised NHL veteran and looks ready to contribute with the Rangers.
While it was Harvard grad Jimmy Vesey that won the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award for the best Rookie at training camp, Buch had to be a close second. It took him until the final preseason game to score his first goal, but he could have had a lot more than that. In terms of creating chances, Buchnevich may have been one of the best at creating chances for others, putting himself in good positions, and getting shots on goal. If it wasn’t for the extraordinary play of some of the goalies that he faced, there probably would have been a few more goals on his stat sheet. He did finish with a goal and two assists in four games.
Boo Nieves might be more than just AHL depth
Bobby Bevilacqua
Cristoval “Boo” Nieves skates in his lone preseason game against the Flyers. Photo courtesy of Bruce Bennet/Getty Images.
The talk of the New York Rangers training camp and preseason has been the amount of talent in the forward group, as well as who will be playing on the fourth line? With the emergence of Brandon Pirri and Josh Jooris coming back for the last preseason game, everything is still a bit murky when it comes to the structure of the four lines.
However, one name that never seemed to be on anyone’s radar was Cristoval “Boo” Nieves, the Rangers’ 2012 second round pick who spent the last four years at the University of Michigan. He missed most of training camp with an injury suffered during the Traverse City Tournament, but suited up for the final preseason game against the Flyers. Nieves played over 14 minutes and was a -1 with three shots on goal and some time spent on the penalty kill.
In his senior season, Nieves scored 31 points (10-21-31) in 35 games, and in eight games with the Wolf Pack, he scored another five points (2-3-5). Nieves is a big, strong center at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds. He’s always been known as a good defensive player and excels on the penalty kill. Read the rest of this entry
Final battle for roster spots tonight as Rangers battle the Flyers; Jooris back in action
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
This is it; the final preseason game before Alain Vigneault and the Rangers begin their quest for the Stanley Cup on Oct. 13. The roster has been cut down to 29 players (you can read about that HERE) and tonight marks the last opportunity for players to state their case for a roster spot.
Here are the lines for tonight;
Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich
Jimmy Vesey-Kevin Hayes-Nathan Gerbe
JT Miller-Josh Jooris-Brandon Pirri Read the rest of this entry
Changing the system: Alain Vigneault should roll with four skill lines
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Traditionally, a hockey team is structured with 12 forwards composing four different lines; the top two lines are the scoring lines and full of a team’s stars. The third line is more of a two-way line that can chip in scoring and play some defense. And the fourth line is the checking line, your penalty killers and usually not great at scoring.
Most coaches tend to try and structure their lines in this fashion and it’s how hockey has been played for a very long time. But this year, the Rangers need to try something different.
The group of forwards that the Rangers have brought into camp is the most talented group of players that I have seen since I started following the team closely. Buchnevich, Vesey and Zibanejad are some of the talented, young newcomers brought to New York in the offseason, and all of the offseason additions have injected a plethora of speed, skill and scoring prowess into the lineup. Read the rest of this entry
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