Blog Archives

BREAKING: Etem traded to Vancouver Canucks for draft pick and a prospect

emerson etem full body 10-25

Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

Bobby Bevilacqua

TSN’s Bob McKenzie tweeted out that a deal between the Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks is getting done. The Canucks will get Etem and the Rangers will get a draft pick as well as winger Nicklas Jensen. The draft pick is a 2016 6th round pick.

Etem, 23, has played in 19 games with the Rangers, recording three assists, a minus four rating and 23 shots on goal. He’s played on all four lines, but has not gained traction in Alain Vigneault’s system. He hasn’t had the offensive impact that many had expected, and other players have won roster spots over him. Read the rest of this entry

Should the Rangers explore trading options with Chris Kreider?

Bobby Bevilacqua

chris kreider full body 12-15

Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

Chris Kreider has shown a ton of potential and upside ever since entering the league in the 2012 playoffs, scoring five goals before ever playing a regular season game. He scored 17 goals in the 2013-14 season, and topped that with 21 goals and 46 points last year.

It seems like many people had predicted that Kreider would break out and become a consistent 20 goal scorer, maybe even hitting the 30 goal mark, including myself. Head coach Alain Vigneault had high expectations for Kreider before the season started.

But he hasn’t lived up to expectations. While the offense has been very good this year, scoring 2.93 goals per game, Kreider is one of the forwards that hasn’t been a big part of the scoring. Despite playing on the second or first line for almost every game, he has just six goals in 39 games. He’s scored just two goals in the last 14 games, and three in the last 22 games. Read the rest of this entry

Rangers have “significant” interest in Drouin; Gorton reportedly interested in Atkinson

Bobby Bevilacqua

drouin and atkinson

Photos courtesy of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Four days ago, I wrote a speculative article about how the Rangers should go out and acquire the recently ousted Jonathan Drouin, who made his trade request public this week.

The day after that article went up on the site, the NY Post published an article that stated that the Rangers “are in big time” on Drouin, according to sources close to the paper and Larry Brooks.

Blueshirts’ GM Jeff Gorton first contacted Lightning GM Steve Yzerman when the Rangers were in Tampa Bay for last Wednesday’s 5-2 Rangers win. That conversation came before the trade request went public. Read the rest of this entry

Megna, Second line help guide Rangers to dominating win over Dallas Stars

Bobby Bevilacqua

jayson megna goal celebration 1-5

Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

In arguably the team’s most complete win in months, the Rangers (22-14-4) wound up dominating the Dallas Stars (28-10-4) at Madison Square Garden, coming away with an impressive 6-2 win and handing Dallas their third straight loss.

For a team that had 39 shots on goal and was shutout against the Florida Panthers, this was exactly the type of win that they needed. The Rangers will take on the Washington Capitals on Saturday, and taking down the Dallas Stars in such convincing fashion like this is a great confidence booster.

The Rangers had as good of a start to a game as you could ask for. They really limited what Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin were doing, allowed very few chances against, and wound up leading after the first 20 minutes. Read the rest of this entry

Rangers face big test against Stars; Kreider doubtful, AV challenges Hank

Bobby Bevilacqua

rangers vs stars 12-29

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

This is the matchup that every Rangers fan was dreading.

With just five wins in the last 8 games (5-11-2), the Rangers (21-14-4) are back at Madison Square Garden to take on the Western Conference’s top team, the Dallas Stars (28-9-4). Dallas has lost their last two games, but still managed to secure 60 points in 41 games.

After being shut out by the hottest team in the NHL, the Florida Panthers, and closing out a three game road trip with just one win, the Rangers don’t just face one of the best teams in the league. They will take on the team that leads the NHL in goals scored by a wide margin. The Rangers have a tendency to play up to their opponents at times, so they better bring their “A” game tonight. Read the rest of this entry