Blog Archives
Will Broadway Brad be headed back to New York this offseason?
Bobby Bevilacqua
After winning the Stanley Cup in Chicago, could Brad Richards be heading back to New York for next season? Photo courtesy of Nick Laham.
Now that the Stanley Cup Finals are over, with the Chicago Blackhawks crowned as champions for the third time in six years, it’s time for trade rumors, surprise signings and speculations. And today, I’m starting with my own speculation and prediction, something that I have said since before the start of the 2014-15 season.
Brad Richards will be a New York Ranger for the 2015-16 season.
Before I start, this is pure speculation. I don’t have an insider tip, I haven’t talked to Brad Richards or his agent or a family member, and I don’t have contact with any members of the Rangers’ front office. But I do think that I have some fairly strong arguments for my case.
After the Rangers were defeated by the Los Angeles Kings in five games in June of 2014, Glen Sather used his final compliance buy out on Brad Richards, terminating his contract after just three years in New York. It was a foolish contract by Sather, mainly because it kept Richards until he was 40, with a cap hit of $6.67 annually, and it was a contract that realistically never would have been completed. Keeping him at that hit would have handcuffed the Rangers when trying to re-sign younger, core players in the coming years. Read the rest of this entry
Rumor Mill: Edmonton, San Jose have interest in Cam Talbot
Bobby Bevilacqua
Cam Talbot could potentially be the Oilers next starting goaltender, if a trade happens this summer. Photo courtesy of Perry Nelson/USA TODAY Sports.
According to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks have expressed interest in acquiring the Rangers’ backup goalie, Cam Talbot. While the Oilers have been a rumored destination for Talbot if he is traded, the Sharks are new comers.
The Rangers are really in no rush to send Talbot away, who is under contract for the 2015-16 season for a measly $1.45 million cap hit. Talbot had the best season of his young career, finishing with a 21-9-4 record, along with a solid 2.21 GAA and a .926 save percentage.
The Rangers learned the importance of having a quality backup goaltender after Henrik Lundqvist went down with a vascular injury in his neck, leaving him out of the lineup for seven weeks, which amounted to 25 games. Talbot started 23 of thems, posting a 16-4-3 record with a 2.16 GAA and a .929 save percentage.
His impressive stat line over 57 career appearances, along with his very affortable cap hit, makes Cam Talbot an attractive trade target for a team looking for a starting goalie. Talbot proved that he could handle the heavy workload of a number one goalie, and play well, when Henrik was out. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers fall in overtime to the Stars; Kreider scores late equalizer
Bobby Bevilacqua
Cam Talbot made 23 saves, but the Rangers could not come away with a win, dropping their second straight game, but this one came in overtime. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Despite a sloppy game, the Rangers (30-16-5) managed to pick up a crucial point against the Dallas Stars (24-21-8) at Madison Square Garden, losing early in overtime by a final score of 3-2.
It looked like the Stars were going to win in regulation, but Chris Kreider scored a clutch goal to send the Rangers to overtime.
It was a relatively sloppy game, with the Rangers struggling to carry the puck through the neutral zone and to clear their own zone. They also seemed to have trouble keeping the puck in at the blue line, often losing possession that way. Basically, the fact that they were playing the second game of a back-to-back showed, for both teams. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers finish off back-to-back against the Stars; Talbot likely to start
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers and Stars will face off for the final time this season, with the Rangers looking to get some revenge on home ice. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
After dropping a game against a strong Nashville team, the Rangers (30-16-4) will take on the Dallas Stars (23-21-8) at Madison Square Garden, the second matchup between these two teams this season.
The Rangers eight game win streak was snapped in Dallas on December 29th, with the Stars coming away with a 3-2 victory. Kevin Hayes and JT Miller scored the Rangers goals, and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 23 of the 26 shots he faced in a loss. Kari Lehtonen made 28 saves, including all 21 shots he faced in the last two periods. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers drop tough game in Nashville; Nash scores league leading 33rd goal
Bobby Bevilacqua
Rick Nash opened the scoring for the Rangers again tonight, finding the back of the net for the 33rd time this season. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
The Rangers (30-16-4) played one of their best games in a loss today, falling to the Nashville Predators (34-12-6), improving their record at Bridgestone Arena to 21-3-1 this season, which is the best home record in the league.
The Rangers controlled play for most of the final two periods, but the Predators scored two goals in the final 1:21 of the second period, continuing to get contributions from their top defenseman in Shea Weber and Roman Josi. Read the rest of this entry
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