NYR TODAY Tuesday May 8: Rangers & Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

New York Rangers Birthday

Kevin Hayes, Center / Right Wing #13
Born May 8 1992, Dorchester, MA

NYR Alumni Birthdays 5/8 

Corey Locke C (2009-2010) Jussi Markkanen G (2003-2004)

Today in NYR History May 8

1979: The Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Final after beating the Islanders, 2-1, in Game 6 of the Semifinals at MSG.

1997: Mike Richter records his ninth and final playoff shutout of his career, making 35 saves in a 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Rangers forward Kevin Hayes out 2-3 weeks

New York Rangers forward Kevin Hayes had an MRI Monday morning and will be sidelined for 2 to 3 weeks with a lower body injury.

Hayes was "limping stiffly" in the Rangers locker room in the Rangers' 1-0 overtime win on Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings, and had a brace on his left knee/leg.

Hayes (6'5", 215 lbs.) has posted 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points in 47 games with the Rangers this season. He has a plus-18 plus-minus rating, along with 10 penalty minutes this season.

Rangers forward Kevin Hayes named Third Star of the Week

New York Rangers forward Kevin Hayes was named Third Star of the Week by the NHL on Monday.

Hayes scored in all four of his appearances to share the League lead in goals (4 2-6) and propel the Rangers (10-3-0, 20 points) into second place in the NHL's overall standings with a perfect 4-0-0 week. He picked up one goal in a 5-0 win over the St. Louis Blues Nov. 1 before equaling a career high with 1-2-3 in a 5-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers Nov. 3. Hayes again scored in a pair of 5-2 triumphs (Nov. 5 at BOS and Nov. 6 vs. WPG), including the shorthanded, game-winning goal in his hometown of Boston. The 24-year-old Dorchester, Mass., native ranks second on the Rangers with 6 6-12 in 13 games this season and shares second place in the NHL with a +13 rating.

Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa bay Lightning was named first star and Corey Crawford of the Chicago Blackhawks was named second star.

OFFICIAL Rangers, Hayes Agree to Terms on New Contract

New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Kevin Hayes on a new contract.

Hayes, 24, skated in 79 games with the Rangers this past season, registering 14 goals and 22 assists for 36 points, along with a plus-four rating and 30 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in game-winning goals (three), power play goals (three), power play points (six), and shots on goal (133), and he tied his career-high in games played in 2015-16. Hayes tied for fifth on the Rangers in even strength assists (19), ranked sixth in primary assists (14), and tied for sixth in assists, power play goals, and even strength points (30) this past season. Hayes also ranked sixth on the Blueshirts in assists per 60 minutes of ice time in 2015-16 (1.22). The Rangers earned at least one point in 24 of the 30 games in which Hayes tallied at least one point during the past season (18-6-6 record). He recorded 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in his final 28 games of the regular season.

The 6-5, 227-pounder has skated in 158 career NHL games over two seasons (2014-15 and 2015-16), both with the Rangers, registering 31 goals and 50 assists for 81 points, along with a plus-19 rating and 52 penalty minutes. Over Hayes’ first two NHL seasons, 39 of his 50 assists have been primary assists, and he ranks third on the Rangers in primary assists over the span. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, he ranks fifth on the Rangers (min. 82 games played) in assists per 60 minutes of ice time (1.42) and points per 60 minutes of ice time (2.30). Hayes has registered seven points (two goals, five assists) in 22 career NHL playoff games.

During his rookie season in the NHL in 2014-15, Hayes tallied 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists) and posted a plus-15 rating in 79 games. He ranked second on the Rangers – and led all NHL rookies – in primary assists during the season (25). Hayes also led the Rangers in points from the All-Star break until the end of the regular season in 2014-15, as he tallied 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) in 38 games over the span. In the 2015 Playoffs, Hayes became the second rookie in Rangers history to tally a goal in Game 7 of a playoff series and the first to do so since Muzz Patrick in the Semifinals in 1939.

The Dorchester, Massachusetts, native was signed by the Rangers as a free agent on August 20, 2014. Hayes was selected by Chicago in the first round, 24th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

NYR TODAY SUN 5/8: NYR Grade, Alumni, TDINYRH

RNYRF's GRADING THE RANGERS 2015-2016
CHRIS KREIDER Left Wing

 
Coming into the 2015-2016 season big things and high production were expected for 4th year pro Chris Kreider and saying that 3/4 of the season were a disappointment would be an understatement. Kreider did turn it up a notch late in the season and wound up collecting 21 goals and 22 assists in 79 games and was a plus 10 for the regular season. Kreider once again showed flashes of the talent he possesses along with great speed but those were spotty at best. Whether his problems resulted in thinking too much on the ice or from his off season visit to a sports psychologist messed with his head, what should have been a pace to set a 30-30 season wasn't there. Kreider did keep his late season push intact scoring 2 goals in the postseason vs Pittsburgh in 5 games tying Rick Nash for the lead in goals. Although Kreider did score the same amount of goals as the previous season his assists were down by 3 and his plus minus was down by 14.
Factoring in his slow start and late surge during the last quarter of the season on a Rangers team that was lacking for most of 2015-2016 overall it was a disappointing but decent year for the former BC Eagle.
GRADE B-

New York Rangers Birthday
Kevin Hayes, Center / Right Wing #13
Born May 8 1992, Dorchester, MA

NYR Alumni Birthdays 5/8 
Corey Locke C (2009-2010) Jussi Markkanen G (2003-2004)

Today in NYR History May 8

 
1979: The Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Final after beating the Islanders, 2-1, in Game 6 of the Semifinals at MSG.

1997: Mike Richter records his ninth and final playoff shutout of his career, making 35 saves in a 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

NYR TODAY MON 5/2: Zucc, NYR Grade, Alumni, TDINYRH

Mats Zuccarello nominated as finalist for Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
@RNYRF Staff Report

New York Rangers Mats Zuccarello was named a a finalist for the NHL's Masterton Memorial Trophy along with former NY Rangers Penguins Pascal Dupuis and Panthers Jaromir Jagr. The Annual Trophy given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey is Zuccarello's first nomination for the award.
Per NHL, Zuccarello was nominated in recognition of a spirited return after suffering a serious head injury during the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs. Zuccarello missed the Rangers' final 14 post-season games last year after being struck in the head by a slap shot. He played in 81 games this season and established career highs in goals (26), points (61) and power-play goals (seven).
If Zucarello wins the award he would be the 6th New York Ranger to earn the honor. Other Rangers to win are Jean Ratelle 1970-71, Rod Gilbert 1975-76, Anders Hedberg 1984-85, Adam Graves 2000-01 and Zuccarello's teammate Dominic Moore in 2013-14.
Good Luck Mats!

RNYRF's GRADING THE RANGERS 2015-2016
KEVIN HAYES Center/Right Wing

Looks as though the sophomore jinx struck Kevin Hayes this past season in his second year as a pro. A rough start, middle and finish for Hayes where it looked as though he just couldn't find his niche in the Rangers lineup. Whether it be from starting over with new linemates or being jockeyed from center to right wing once again this season Hayes just couldn't find the touch he had in his first year dropping from 45 points in 2014-15 to 36 points in 2015-16. Hayes managed to tally 14 goals and 22 assists and was a plus 4 for the year. Coming into his first contract year as an RFA Hayes was said to be part of the Rangers plans for next season with the team having the upper hand on a contract extension. Hayes 9 point drop in both points and plus minus along with a decline in faceoff percentage of close to 5% with an increase of 22 minutes total ice team factors into our grading.
GRADE C-

NYR Alumni Birthdays 5/2 
Roman Lyashenko C (2002-2003) Brad Richards C (2011-2014)

Today in NYR History May 2
2012: Marian Gaborik scores with 5:19 remaining in the third overtime of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to lift the Rangers to a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals.

Hayes Back In Lineup: "We Need Him To Play Well"

Many times this season, including after Tuesday's morning skate at Madison Square Garden, Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault has spoken about the great wealth of talent Kevin Hayes possesses.

Now as Hayes returns to the lineup this evening against the Dallas Stars, after being a healthy scratch the previous two games, Vigneault wants to see Hayes play to his high-end skill level, and match that with a better work ethic and a deeper commitment to playing a 200-foot game.

"Kevin has all the possibilities," stated Vigneault Tuesday morning. "He's got great tools, we all know it. He's now got to find a way to put it all together. We're working with him to try and help him to put it all together. We need him to play well."

Last season Hayes scored 17 goals and totaled 45 points in 79 games, finishing as the NHL's fifth-leading rookie scorer. This year he has not seemed as decisive in his decision making with the puck and has struggled at both ends of the rink. Currently Hayes has six goals and 17 points in 37 games played.

Last week Vigneault clearly challenged the 23 year-old center with his public remarks and by sitting Hayes out in back-to-back games for the first time this season.

"I'm confident he's going to respond the right way," Vigneault said of Hayes. "There's been real strong preparation on his part and I'm expecting him to go out on the ice tonight and make the plays with the puck he needs to make at both ends of the rink, and I expect him to compete real hard when he doesn't have the puck."

There's not any grey area here. The head coach has laid out exactly what he expects to see from his young, highly-skilled player and now it's up to Hayes to deliver on those expectations.

Hayes will likely center the third line Tuesday, one that will feature Oscar Lindberg and Jesper Fast on the wings--based on the line combinations used at practice Monday.

*************************************

Chris Kreider will miss his first game of the season tonight. The 24 year-old winger suffered a cut on top of his hand right near the knuckle during an altercation Saturday with Florida's Brandon Pirri and the team is being cautious with it since there is no way to stitch the cut up.

Kreider explained that the main issue is making sure the cut does not get infected. He referred to himself as "day to day", and Vigneault added that he expects Kreider back in the lineup soon.

"There's another player that's been working real hard, trying to put his best foot forward," Vigneault said of Kreider and his play so far this season. "We need his quality game because he can be a big difference maker by going to the tough areas and making the gritty plays that need to be made. I expect him back in the lineup, hopefully in the next game, and we need him to play well."

Kreider, who scored a career-high 21 goals last season, has just six to go along with 18 points in 39 games this season.
Jim Cerny
BlueshirtsUnited.com

"This Is What I've Been Working For"

Getty Images

Jayson Megna’s hard work over the summer and through three months in Hartford will pay off tonight when he makes his Rangers debut against the Dallas Stars at Madison Square Garden.

The 25-year-old will take the spot of forward Chris Kreider, who will miss tonight’s contest with a hand injury. 

“This is what I’ve been working for in the summer and then trying to keep rounding out my game in Hartford to be able to get another opportunity to play in the National Hockey League,” Megna told reporters after the team’s morning skate. “It’s very exciting for me. I’ll be looking to do the best I can with it.”

Megna has skated in 34 games in Hartford this season, registering seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points. He leads the Wolf Pack in shots on goal with 110, while his 18 points are second on the team. He said he’s skated mostly at center, predominantly with Marek Hrivik, Brian Gibbons and Adam Tambellini.

Megna, who signed with the Rangers on July 1, has 48 games of NHL experience to his name over two seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins. In those games, the forward has five goals and five assists for 10 points with 20 penalty minutes. 

“I have been playing well,” the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-native said. “There’s certain areas of my game that can always be better, but I’m happy with the way I’ve been playing. I’ve been getting a lot of scoring chances down there. Pucks haven’t necessarily been going in or bouncing my way, but hopefully I’ve been saving them for tonight.”

Alain Vigneault said he was unsure where Megna would play tonight, but did allude to the possibility of Megna taking Kreider’s spot on the power play. The head coach said he’s gotten good reports from Hartford on Megna.

“Very consistent at both ends of the rink. Very competitive,” Vigneault said of Megna. “We feel that it would be a good time to see what he can do at this level.”

Vigneault said Megna had a strong training camp, and that it came down to a “numbers game” that prevented Megna from making the team in October. 

“I thought it was a real strong camp,” Vigneault said. “He scored a couple goals. We were using him on the power play … He did play real well and we knew at some point we were going to take a look at him. Maybe we should have done it a little bit earlier, but it’s never too late.”

By Matt Calamia

Rangers’ good vibes vanish in same-old-story shutout; Sitting Kevin Hayes Twice Sends The Wrong Message

SUNRISE, Fla. — The real dilemma the Rangers are facing is bigger than just a drop in their game.
Really, the thing that might undercut their season of such promise is a growing sense of gloom, and not knowing exactly how to make it go away.

Because in previous seasons, slumps only had come in smaller batches, in less mentally damaging situations. Now, after the 3-0 loss to the Panthers on Saturday night at BB&T Center, where they held the play and still found a way to lose, the Blueshirts are a team groping for answers and coming up with nothing but air — and have been doing so for a long, long time.

“It’s been a long stretch and you have to stay positive,” goalie Henrik Lundqvist told The Post, the three goals he gave up on 20 shots hardly an indictment of his play — or the defensive play of his team, undone only by a few ghastly mistakes that the red-hot (and first-place) Panthers took advantage of.

“[Staying positive] is the only thing you can do right now, and work hard,” Lundqvist said. “Work really hard and earn the bounces.”

That seems to be the only thing these Rangers (21-14-4) can say, and have said over this stretch that has them at 5-11-2 over the previous 18 games. They’re forced to always try to find the positive in losses, and they seem to be fed up with not knowing how to make it stop.

“I feel like we’ve been doing that for a while,” defenseman Dan Girardi said. “To be honest, the last month, month and a half, it’s been what we take out of the game instead of we won the game and move on and keep going. It’s tough in here to keep answering the same things, what can you take out of the game, what happened.

“We haven’t been in this spot in a long time, really battling in here.”

This had to be a mental blow, as they outshot the Panthers (22-12-4) by a total of 40-20, an impressive feat against a team that set a franchise record with its ninth-straight win. But the Rangers never could beat goalie Roberto Luongo, who was terrific in recording his third shutout of the season and the 71st of his stellar career.

But those seem to be the breaks the Rangers are suffering through, and games like Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Lightning in Tampa Bay remain as the outliers.

“I feel like the effort was pretty solid out there,” Girardi said. “I feel like we were on pucks, making plays, and being in their D zone, not giving them too many looks. But it obviously wasn’t enough.”
It wasn’t because the effort was submarined by two big mistakes from Emerson Etem, who turned the puck over with about 30 seconds left in a scoreless first period, and the Panthers finished with a nice cross-ice feed buried by Logan Shaw. Etem’s second mistake came midway through the second, when he was called for a hook — one of six penalties the Rangers took — that resulted in Brandon Pirri scoring on a semi-shank shot on the power play that fooled Lundqvist as it slid along the ice, giving the Panthers a 3-0 lead.

Those two goals sandwiched one that defined this night, a harmless shot from the outside by Alex Petrovic that Lundqvist got with his blocker — only to see it hit the leg of Vincent Trocheck and go in for a 2-0 lead at 4:41 of the second.

“That second goal, it was that type of game — for them and for us,” Lundqvist said. “I think it’s important that the last couple games, especially the last two, it’s been a lot better. We have to focus on that and know that we’re moving in the right direction.”

It’s undoubtedly true they have looked better in these two games in Florida, but looking beyond the result for positives is what bad teams do.

“We fought until the end,” Lundqvist said, “but it’s just not enough.”

Sitting Kevin Hayes Twice Sends The Wrong Message

Sitting Kevin Hayes once was defensible. Sitting him twice is another inconsistent decision from a coach who is trying to help jump start his hockey team.

A player is fifth on the team in total shots on goal at 69 shots in 37 games. He’s a positive possession player. He is currently shooting 8.7%. Last season he shot 15.3%, with 111 shots in 79 games, so he’s on pace to put more shots on net this year than last. He’s tied for fourth on the team in total primary assists, and sixth in points/60. He’s had some inconsistent linemates the last stretch of games, where his slumping team played-- overall-- poorly.

The coach says, "the hockey player right now isn't totally doing it for me" and sits him for the second game in a row.

The Rangers earned their win against Tampa. They adjusted their game when needed to, clogging up the neutral zone and forcing Tampa to dump the puck in.

They outshot and out chanced their opponent, a rare event this season. And if someone is going to sit out to learn, that game was a good one to watch; New York’s play was a lot better than the usual technique of letting pucks through and praying to Henrik Lundqvist.

Sitting Kevin Hayes for one game to send a message isn’t a fantastic move, but it’s understandable: the Rangers do need more from him. Sitting him two games in a row looks like the start of a pattern. That’s indicative of the coach.

If there’s a message being sent, what’s the message? It’s easy to say that Hayes has looked lazy on the ice, or that he’s a turnover machine. You still have to have the puck to turn it over in the first place-- turnovers aren’t the greatest judge of a player’s ability. Hayes isn’t not scoring as much, but he’s putting more shots on goal per game than he did last year. If Hayes sits until the Rangers lose a game, they’re not putting their best lineup on the ice, and the coach specifically is not giving his team the best chance to win. The same problem existed when Glass was in the minors and Vigneault played Stoll over Etem. Scratching a positive possession player for a negative one who can’t even score is on the coach. It makes the team worse.

The Rangers have had issues this year generating shots. Last year, they averaged 29.9 shots for/60 at even strength, and the year before that 31.2 SF/60. This year, with 38 games played, they’re down to 26.3 SF/60, giving up 29.3 SA/60. It’s one thing to be a high-event team if you can produce shots for, but New York’s defense can’t get the puck out, they’re dumping the puck in far more than they should, and they’re failing to cleanly enter the zone. Hayes often carries the puck in instead of dumping it, and carrying the puck in leads to more shot attempts than dump-ins. With their depressed offense, the Rangers need that offensive support, and it needs to start from who plays and who plays when.

Scratching a talented forward while continuing to give ice time to possession anchors is shortsighted coaching. It’s not even that Hayes couldn’t use the games off to watch and learn-- it’s that the Rangers can’t afford it right now.

NYR TODAY 12/29 PRACTICE NOTES

Kevin Hayes skating as an extra at practice

1:04PM

Nov 19, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Rangers right wing Kevin Hayes (13) skates with the puck during the third period at Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New York Rangers 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports (Kim Klement)

Kevin Hayes is skating at practice today with Dylan McIlrath on an extra defense pair. (NYR)
The Rangers lines at their practice today are:

• JT Miller, Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello
• Rick Nash, Derek Stepan, Jesper Fast
• Chris Kreider, Oscar Lindberg, Emerson Etem
• Tanner Glass, Dominic Moore, Viktor Stalberg

The defense remains the same as last night.
Hayes turned the puck over inside the Rangers blue line last night which led to Nashville's second goal.
If Hayes is scratched tomorrow night it would be the first time this season and third time in his career, 10/11/14 and 10/27/14 being the other two.

Kevin Hayes likely to be scratched tomorrow against Tampa Bay

2:25PM

New York Rangers Kevin Hayes (13) Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports (Kim Klement)

Alain Vigneault said that the Rangers have reached a "tipping point" with Kevin Hayes and that he hasn't worked hard enough. (Cyrgalis)
Hayes will be scratched tomorrow against Tampa Bay.(Gross)
He has six goals and 11 assists this season, a minus one rating, and has not scored a goal since November 23rd.
By month this season, Hayes has:

• October: 2 goal, 4 assists in 11 games
• November: 4 goals, 5 assists in 14 games
• December: 0 goals, 2 assists in 12 games

Hayes is only winning 34.1% of faceoffs.
It was suggested earlier this month that Hayes could be scratched.
For a lot more on Hayes, click HERE and HERE.
Adam Rotter: It's probably past due for Hayes to sit since he has struggled this season and hasn't produced all month. Alain Vigneault has given Hayes a very long leash this season and Hayes hasn't been close to good enough. At times he looks more like a rookie this season than he ever did last year when he was a rookie. He never seems to have the puck, he can't win a faceoff and doesn't look like the emerging top-six forward he is supposed to be.
Hopefully being a healthy scratch for a game or two will give Hayes the kick in the butt that he needs. Something needs to change with Hayes and for the Rangers sake they better hope that this healthy scratch will do it.

What Kevin Hayes said today after practice

3:44PM

Nov 23, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers right wing Kevin Hayes (13) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators during the third period at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Predators 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports (Andy Marlin)

Kevin Hayes spoke with the media today after practice and said: (NYR)

• Is this a wakeup call, "yea, obviously you don't want to sit out games but I don't make the lineup. That is something you gotta ask the coach."
• How do you feel about your game, "My game isn't nearly where I want it to be. I had goals and aspirations coming into the season and I haven't even come close to mine. I'm struggling right now. Take it day by day and see how it goes."
• Are you surprised with the last few weeks, "no one wants to lose, you always want to win games. We haven't been on the right side of the scoreboard lately but we are still working hard."
• On his confidence, "I am confident in my abilities. Things aren't going my way or the team's way. I'm not gonna switch, there are things I need to switch and get pucks to the net and do things a little better but I'm not gonna stray away from what I bring to the table and I am confident in what I have."

How Kevin Hayes is doing so far in his second season

9:43AM

Kevin Hayes has three goals and three assists in the past seven games and four goals and five assists in his past 11 games.

Hayes said that last season he was trying not to make mistakes that would get him sent to Hartford. He said that he was happy to play "low minutes" as long as he wasn't making mistakes. (Newsday)

He said that for this season he wants to be "a difference-maker" and when he has the puck he is confident that he won't give it up. (Newsday)

Oscar Lindberg said that Hayes gives him advice on the ice and about the players they are facing. (Newsday)

Scott Arniel said earlier this week that Hayes can be an imposing player who likes to hold onto the puck and make plays but also needs to get better at some little details.