Blog Archives
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
The Rangers are being overlooked, and that makes them even more dangerous
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Despite finishing last season with 113 points, the Presidents’ Trophy, and coming within one win of returning to the Stanley Cup Finals, the New York Rangers have found a way to fly under the radar in a very competitive Metropolitan Division. And they’re all the better for it.
The Metropolitan Division is in contention for the strongest division in the entire league. Many people have predicted that they will send five of the eight teams to the playoffs. Teams like the Blue Jackets, Capitals and Penguins all improved their team, with a lot of fantastic scorers and defenders spread out amongst the eight teams.
The Metro really does have the talent to send five teams to the playoffs, with those teams being The Rangers, the Penguins, the Capitals, the Blue Jackets and the Islanders. All five of those teams are extremely good, and they all have potential to make a run in the playoffs. Read the rest of this entry
What to expect: Projecting the Rangers scoring for 2015-16
The Rangers were a strong offensive team last year. Can they score at the same pace in 2015-16? Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Last season, the Rangers were one of the highest scoring teams in the NHL, scoring a total of 248 goals, behind only the Dallas Stars (257) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (259). Carried by a prolific top line and some strong depth forwards, Alain Vigneault created a potent offensive team.
But like every other season, there is always change, this year coming mostly among the depth forwards Martin St. Louis, Carl Hagelin, James Sheppard and others. With all of the new faces coming into the lineup, that brings uncertainty.
It’s fair to expect that the remaining members of last year’s top six (Rick Nash, Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello, Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan) will post similar numbers. Players like Kreider and Stepan may even see some improvement. Read the rest of this entry
Buying your next Rangers Jersey; Who to choose
Bobby Bevilacqua
Buying a new hockey jersey can be a very difficult choice for a lot of fans. Maybe you’re stuck between a few of your favorite players, or you don’t know which style of jersey you want. You’re going to be spending a lot of money, and you want to make sure that your jersey will be relevant for a while.
There are a lot of different options and style choices when it comes to buying a Rangers jersey, and many players to choose from. This article will go through the different kinds of choices that you can make, which players are the most secure, and some suggestions for the upcoming season
1) The Player
No matter who the player is, make sure it’s one of your favorites. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
The player you choose is one that you will represent for a few years, hopefully. You want to make sure that the player you choose is one that you look up to or enjoy watching play. This could be anybody from a key contributor to a role player. Read the rest of this entry
Derick Brassard or Rick Nash: Who deserves the “A”
Bobby Bevilacqua
Rick Nash or Derick Brassard; who would be a better Alternate Captain? Photos courtesy of MSG Photos.
Choosing the right players to lead your team is very important in the NHL. Not only is it crucial to select the right captain, but providing that person with the right alternate captains can create a strong locker room and great leadership.
This past season, Ryan McDonagh was appointed as the 27th captain in franchise history, taking over after Ryan Callahan was traded to the Lightning during the 2013-14 season. There were four alternate captains, two defensemen and two forwards; Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, Derek Stepan and Martin St. Louis.
However, now that St. Louis has hung up his skates, there seems to be an alternate captain spot open for a forward to take. The only question is who should be appointed in that leadership role. Read the rest of this entry
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