Blog Archives

Rangers agree to terms with RFAs Jesper Fast and JT Miller

Bobby Bevilacqua

New York Rangers' J.T. Miller, right, celebrates his goal with Jesper Fast (19) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Rangers won 5-2. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

The Rangers have re-signed two more of their RFAs, making JT Miller and Jesper Fast Rangers for the next season. Photo courtesy of Bill Kostroun/AP Photos.

New York Rangers continue to lock up their restricted free agents, signing another three in total today, with the latest signings being Jesper Fast and JT Miller, announced earlier this afternoon by GM Jeff Gorton.

With the latest signings, the Rangers have retained all of their restricted free agents except for Derek Stepan, who is set to go to arbitration on July 27th.

Jesper Fast earned himself a two year deal after a very good season for the 23 year old Swede. In his first season in the NHL, Fast appeared in 58 regular season games, scoring 14 points (6-8-14) in the process. He was excellent in the playoffs, tallying an additional three goals and three assists in 19 games. Read the rest of this entry

Rangers Player Grades; Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan and Martin St. Louis

Bobby Bevilacqua

martin st. louis and stepan hi five 5-16

Martin St. Louis and Derek Stepan were paired together for most of the year, while Kreider and Stepan have built considerable chemistry over the years. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

When your top line is struggling or getting defended well, it’s always nice for a coach to have a secondary option to go to. A team’s second line can be just as important as its first line. Just look at Brad Richards and Patrick Kane on the Blackhawk’s second line.

For most of the season, the Ranger’s second line consisted of Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan and Martin St. Louis, except when injuries changed the pairings. Both Stepan and Kreider made strides in their game, and St. Louis closed out a marvelous 16 year career with a 52 point season.

The second line saw some change throughout the year, but for the most part, Kreider, Stepan and St. Louis formed a strong line throughout stretches of the regular season and the playoffs. Read the rest of this entry