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Rangers aim to start season strong on the road in Chicago

Bobby Bevilacqua

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The Rangers are back! Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

The long wait is finally over, and New York Rangers hockey is back!

The New York Rangers will begin their 89th season in the NHL on the road against the defending Stanley Cup Champions, fellow Original Six franchise, the Chicago Blackhawks. This is now the eighth straight season that the Rangers begin the season away from Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers will have to watch as they raise yet another Championship banner into the rafters at the United Center, a reminder of what has eluded them over the past few seasons. Perhaps the Rangers could use this as a source of motivation and work towards having this ceremony at MSG next season.

Tonight’s matchup is a game between two of the elite teams from last season. The Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy last season with a franchise record 113 points, while the Blackhawks won their third Stanley Cup since 2010. Read the rest of this entry

Rangers “minor” offseason moves proving to be not so minor

Bobby Bevilacqua

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Viktor Stalberg is just one of the many successful depth moves made by Jeff Gorton to improve the roster, prepare them for any potential injuries, and give them options at other positions. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

The Rangers didn’t make any big splashes in free agency like they usually do. No huge signings, no blockbuster trades. And that’s why people wrote off their offseason moves as just slight depth moves, and not major improvements.

But if you look at the situation that Vigneault faced during final cuts after last year’s preseason games and compare it to now, those so-called “minor moves” are actually pretty darn important.

Last year, the Rangers were in a lot of trouble before the season started, losing Derek Stepan to a broken leg. He was slated to be their number one center, and Vigneault didn’t have Brian Boyle or Brad Richards anymore to step up as a substitute. Read the rest of this entry

BREAKING: Rangers set lines for practice, and likely season; Diaz and Megna waived

Bobby Bevilacqua

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Oscar Lindberg (L) and Viktor Stalberg look on during the preseason game against the Bruins. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

Although nothing is official yet, it appears that we have the finalized Rangers roster heading into the season opener.

Here are the lines from today’s morning practice:

Rick Nash-Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello

Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Kevin Hayes

Viktor Stalbreg-Oscar Lindberg-JT Miller

Dominic Moore-Jarret Stoll-Jesper Fast

Spare: Emerson Etem Read the rest of this entry