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Mailbag Monday: Bottom Six depth, Rangers prospects and more
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Welcome to the first edition of Mailbag Monday, something that is popular around the web but new to The Ranger Zone. It’s something that I’ve wanted to start up for a while and increase interaction with the readers, so I’m very glad to be starting it this week.
I want to make this into a weekly or bi-weekly thing, so if you ever have questions you’d like me to answer, leave them in the comments section on Facebook or on this article, message me on twitter @The_RangerZone, or send an email using the Contact Me tab at the top of the site.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
What’s going to happen with Patrick Kane? – Ian M.
There hasn’t been too much news on Kane since the investigation was announced. In the last Quick Hits article (LINK), I mentioned how his grand jury hearing was pushed back for two weeks. Usually, this means that a settlement is being discussed, but that isn’t confirmed either. Read the rest of this entry
Quick Hits: Patrick Kane update, Viktor Stalberg and Henrik Lundqvist talk Rangers
Bobby Bevilacqua
With informal skates and practices beginning, and hockey season just 27 days away, things are starting to pick up, with player participating in the NHL media tour and getting prepared for the start of the season.
Patrick Kane’s Grand Jury Hearing postponed
Photo courtesy of Brian Casella/Chicago Tribune.
The biggest ongoing storyline in the NHL is the Patrick Kane saga. Last month, Kane was accused by a young woman of sexually-assaulting her in his Buffalo home following a night at a downtown bar. Investigations have been ongoing, and Kane was scheduled to meet before a Grand Jury.
When a case gets that far, it usually means that the prosecution believes that they have enough evidence to make a case, and there may be testimonies taken from witnesses.
However, the meeting scheduled for yesterday afternoon was postponed unexpectedly. Supposedly, it was delayed because of the potential for settlement talks between Kane and the alleged victim. (LINK) 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
Quick Hits: Henrik Lundqvist ready for next step, Antti Raanta talks Chicago, and Patrick Kane could be traded?
Bobby Bevilacqua
Quick hits is back! There still isn’t really anything new happening in the hockey world, especially surrounding the Rangers, at least not until the Traverse City Tournament starts up. So here’s somethings going on in the hockey world.
Henrik Lundqvist ready to take next step with New York
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Everybody knows that Henrik Lundqvist is the most determined, passionate, and hard-working players on the Rangers, and maybe even in the NHL. His work ethic is unquestionable, he wears his heart on his sleeve, and it’s his effort and his success that has carried the Rangers since he made his debut in 2005.
Unfortunately, he has never been able to hoist that elusive Stanley Cup trophy, a prize that has eluded the Broadway Blueshirts for the last 21 years. Despite numerous close calls over the past four years, Lundqvist remains without a championship to his name. 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
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