Blog Archives

Robin Lehner traded to Buffalo, what this means for Cam Talbot

Bobby Bevilacqua

cam talbot side profile 3-22

The Ottawa Sabres were able to get a first round draft pick in exchange for Robin Lehner and Devid Legwand. Talbot’s stats are better, so could he fetch the same return, or more? Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

This morning, the Buffalo Sabres acquired their new starting goaltender, trading away the 21st overall pick in return for David Legwand and 23 year old goalie Robin Lehner.

While Lehner is younger than Talbot, his stats are not all that impressive. The 6-foot-5, 225 pound goaltender has a career 30-36-13 record in 86 total games, posting a .914 save percentage and a 2.88 GAA. In this past season, Lehner was 9-12-3 in 25 games with a .903 save percentage and a 3.02 GAA.

His largest sample size came during the 2013-14 season, when he played 35 games, and finishing with a 12-15-6 record along with a .913 save percentage, a 3.03 GAA and one shutout. Read the rest of this entry

Rumor Mill: Edmonton, San Jose have interest in Cam Talbot

Bobby Bevilacqua

cam talbot vs edmonton

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

Henrik Lundqvist named a finalist for the NHL Foundation Player Award

Bobby Bevilacqua

Henrik Lundqvist press conference

Rangers’ goalie Henrik Lundqvist was named a finalist for the NHL Foundation Player Award for his outstanding work towards charity and helping the community around him. Photo courtesy of Corey Sipkin/New York Daily News.

On Friday afternoon, the National Hockey League announced that San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns, Calgary Flames defenseman Mark Giordano and New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist were announced as the three finalists for the NHL Foundation Player Award, presented to “an NHL player who applies the core values of hockey – commitment, perseverance and teamwork – to enrich the lives of people in his community.”

Each NHL team submitted finalists for the NHL Fourdation Player award, and the three finalists were chosen by a panel of judges. The recipient of the award will receive a $25,000 check from the NHL Foundation to their chosen charity. The winner will be chosen during the 2015 NHL Awards, which will take place on June 24th in Las Vegas.

Not only has Henrik Lundqvist been a dominant performer on the ice, but he has been a dominant force when it comes to philanthropy and helping others in need. Not only is the spokesperson for the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a position he has held since 2009, but he also supports 28 nonprofit charities through the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation. Read the rest of this entry

Rangers prepared for “Battle of New York” against the Islanders

Bobby Bevilacqua

Rick Nash shooting 10-14

Rick Nash fared well in his last game against the Islanders, scoring twice in the loss. Nash will look to keep scoring goals and come away with a win this time. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

After sweeping their California road trip and winning 13 of their last 14 games, the Rangers (24-11-4) will take on the division rival Islanders (28-13-1) at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers enter tonight’s contest with 52 points and in a Wild Card spot. The Islanders are five points ahead of the rangers and in first place, but have played three more games than the Blueshirts, making tonight’s game much more important than just a rivalry game. Read the rest of this entry

Rangers sweep California road trip with win over Sharks; Lundqvist earns 20th win

Bobby Bevilacqua

rangers players 1-11

The Rangers swept their California road trip, winning 13 of their last 14 games before heading home to that the handlers.

The Rangers (24-11-4) continue to stay red hot, winning their fifth in a row against the San Jose Sharks (22-16-5) by a final score of 3-1, completing a remarkable sweep of three games in four nights against some of the best teams in the Western Conference. The Rangers have won 13 of their last 14 games dating back to December 8th.

This is the first time in franchise history that the Rangers have beaten the Ducks, the Kings and the Sharks on the road in the same season, as well as the first time that they have beaten those teams along with the Canucks, Oilers, and Flames on the road in the same season. That really goes to show how impressive the Rangers recent play has been. Read the rest of this entry