RANGERS DEAL McDONAGH, MILLER AND GRAVES AT DEADLINE

RANGERS ACQUIRE PROSPECTS & PICKS

The New York Rangers have acquired Vladislav Namestnikov, Libor Hajek, Brett Howden, a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, and a conditional first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft from Tampa Bay in exchange for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller.

Namestnikov, 25, has skated in 62 games with TBL this season, registering 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points, along with a plus-11 rating and 35 PIMS. He has established career-highs in goals, assists, points, average ice time (17:30), PPG (8), and SOG (127) this season.

Hajek, 20, has split the 2017-18 season between the Saskatoon Blades and Regina Pats of the WHL, registering 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points, along with 28 penalty minutes in 52 games. He has established WHL career-highs in goals, assists, and points this season.

Howden, 19, has skated in 38 games with the Warriors of the WHL this season, registering 22G and 36A for 58 pts, with a +25 rating and 36 PIMS. He ranks 9th in the WHL in PPG in 17-18 (1.53). In addition, Howden is serving as Moose Jaw’s captain for the second consecutive season.

By acquiring a first-round pick, the Rangers now have 10 picks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, including three picks in the first round, five picks in the first two rounds, and seven picks in the first three rounds.

The Rangers also have acquired defenseman Chris Bigras from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Wolf Pack Defenseman Ryan Graves.

The 23 year old, 6’1” 190 lb Bigras was an early second round pick of the Avalanche in the 2013 Draft (32nd overall). He had 71 points for the Owen Sound in the 2015-15 OHL season, but he has struggled to put up points with the Avalanche. Bigras has four points in 46 games of NHL action, including one assist in 15 games this season.

NYR TODAY Monday 1/30: McDonagh's All Star Stats, Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

Ryan McDonagh's Kick Save in late seconds Helps Metro Win 2017 NHL All Star Game

Ryan McDonagh and the Metro All-Stars won today's tournament and will split $1 million dollar prize.

In the first game, a 10-6 Metropolitan Division win over the Atlantic Division, McDonagh played:
7:20, was a minus two and had 1 giveaway.

In the second game, a 4-3 Metropolitan Division win to clinch the tournament over the Pacific Division, McDonagh played:
7:28, was a minus two and had 1 shot on goal

McDonagh made a kick save in front of a wide open Metropolitan net with 38.9 seconds remaining in the game against the Pacific Division to keep them in the lead 4-3.

NYR Alumni Birthdays January 30:

Chris Simon LW (2003-2004) Bill Sweeney C (1959-1960)

Today in NYR History January 30:

2003: Glen Sather names himself the 32nd head coach in Rangers History.

How NYR defenseman Ryan McDonagh performed in the 2017 NHL All-Star Game

Metropolitan vs. Atlantic Game:

McDonagh recorded no goals and no assists, but did have a -2 plus-minus rating and one giveaway in 7:20 TOI.

Metropolitan vs. Pacific Game:

McDonagh recorded a -2 plus-minus rating with one shot on goal in 7:28 of ice time.

Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh voted into All-Star Game

The National Hockey League announced on Tuesday that New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh was chosen to play in the 2017 HOnda NHL All-Star Game.

McDonagh is the first Rangers player to be selected to play in consecutive NHL All Star Games since Henrik Lundqvist (2009-2012). In addition, McDonagh is 1st Rangers defenseman in 2 straight NHL All Star Games since Brian Leetch (01-03) and 1st captain since Mark Messier (92-97).

McDonagh has 25 points in 41GP, is 3rd among defensemen in even-strength assists (15), and tied for 4th among defensemen in primary assists (13).

McDonagh leads Metropolitan Division defensemen in assists (23), primary assists (13) and even strength assists (15).

NYR TODAY MON 6/13: NYR Birthday, Alumni Birthday, NYR Free Agents

New York Rangers Birthday
Captain Ryan McDonagh, Defenseman

Number: 27
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 216
Shoots: Left
Born: Jun 13, 1989  (Age 27)
Birthplace: St. Paul, MN, United States
Hometown: St. Paul, Minn.
   
Acquired: Traded by Montreal with Christopher Higgins and Pavel Valentenko to N.Y. Rangers in exchange for Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt and Mike Busto on June 30, 2009.
Drafted: MTL / 2007 NHL Entry Draft
Round: 1st (12th overall)

NYR Alumni Birthdays 6/13 

Randy Gilhen C (1991-1993)


















NEW YORK RANGERS PENDING FREE AGENTS

Forwards:
Chris Kreider RFA
J.T. Miller RFA
Kevin Hayes RFA
Viktor Stalberg UFA
Eric Staal UFA
Dominic Moore UFA
Defensemen:
Dylan McIlrath RFA
Dan Boyle UFA
Keith Yandle UFA

HARTFORD WOLF PACK PENDING FREE AGENTS

Goaltenders:
Desjardins, Cedrick  UFA
Defense:
Hughes, Tommy  RFA
Noreau, Samuel  RFA
Bodie, Mat  RFA
Diaz, Raphael  UFA
Summers, Chris  UFA
Forwards:
Jensen, Nicklas  RFA
Gibbons, Brian  UFA
Lindblad, Matt  UFA
Lindblad, Matt UFA
Adam, Luke RFA
St. Croix, Michael RFA
McCarthy, Chris RFA
Tarnasky, Nick UFA
Nicholls, Josh RFA
Hrivik, Marek RFA
Kantor, Michael RFA
Megna, Jayson UFA

NYR TODAY SUN 5/15: Birth of the Rangers, NYR Grades, Alumni Birthdays

Today in NYR History May 15
The Birth of the New York Rangers 

1926: The NHL adds a second team in New York when a franchise is granted to Madison Square Garden president Tex Rickard. The team soon becomes known throughout the city as Tex's Rangers, and the name Rangers sticks. The new team joins the one year after the New York Americans, who made their NHL debut in the 1925-26 season. In addition, the NHL says Chicago and Detroit will have teams for the 1926-27 season provided their home rinks are finished. The Rangers, Chicago and Detroit are placed with Boston and Pittsburgh in the American Division. The Americans, who like the Rangers play their home games at the Garden, join Ottawa, Toronto, the Montreal Canadiens and Montreal Maroons in the Canadian Division.







RNYRF's GRADING THE RANGERS 2015-2016
RYAN McDONAGH Captain, Defenseman

Once again logging in 20 plus minutes per game Captain McD tallied 9 goals, 2 goals coming on the power play. He added 34 asssits and was a plus 26 in 73 games on the season. McDonagh suffered through numerous injuries, hand, neck/jaw, shoulder and a concussion suffered from a sucker punch by the Flyers' Wayne Simmonds in February, McD only missed 9 regular season games. Ice time logged in per game and the additional pressure of the captaincy seemed to have affected McDonagh's game the past 2 seasons but he seemed more comfortable in the role last season. With the Rangers early exit in Round 1 McDonagh has more off time than normal and should be able to rest and heal completely. McDonagh's leadership skills have come into question the past 2 seasons if he was the right choice for Captain especially during November and December when the Rangers looked as though they couldn't buy a win. It is something McDonagh needs to work on during the off season if he expects to continue to lead New York with "significant" changes rumored to be coming from management.
GRADE B-

NYR Alumni Birthdays 5/15 
Billy Boyd RW (1926-1929) Pat Hickey LW (1975-79,1981-82)

Practice Notes: Lundqvist leaves ill, McDonagh and Girardi skate (with limitations)

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

Here are some basic notes from the Rangers' morning skate this morning:

• Rangers head coach Alaimm Vigneault said on Monday that starting goaltender Henrik Lundqvist left practice early. Members of the team medical staff told him to leave and get some rest because he seemed ill. Lundqvist is expected to be better tomorrow, according to the Rangers' Twitter page.
• Vigneault said defenseman Ryan McDonagh is out with an upper-body injury and will not start in Game One against the Penguins on Wednesday. McDonagh skated in the practice session, but sources say that he did not grip the stick with his right hand.
• Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi did skate this morning, as Girardi has missed the past few games with an upper-body injury.

Dan Girardi fires away during #NYR practice today pic.twitter.com/3q6qjJ6scf

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 11, 2016

Stepan and Kreider talk it over at #NYR practice today pic.twitter.com/39R2nweMoW

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 11, 2016

MCDONAGH & STAAL RETURN TO RANGERS LINEUP TONIGHT

The Rangers will receive a significant boost to their lineup tonight when they face the Blues in St. Louis. Both Ryan McDonagh and Marc Staal will return to action, it was confirmed following the team's morning skate at Scottrade Center.

However the Rangers may have to go with seven defensemen and 11 forwards because rookie right wing Marek Hrivik is ill and may not be ale to play this evening. Hrivik did not take part in the morning skate, though head coach Alain Vigneault did say "I think (Hrivik) will play tonight."

Should Hrivik not be able to play, rookie defenseman Dylan McIlrath would see some shifts up front on the fourth line, according to Vigneault. If Hrivik is able to play, then McIlrath will be a healthy scratch this evening. The club is currently only carrying 12 healthy forwards on the roster because Rick Nash remains out of the lineup with a bad bone bruise in his leg.

Staal told reporters that he left Monday's practice early because "things locked up" in his lower back and then "needed a couple days to settle down". He missed Tuesday's game against the Devils as a result.

"It felt a lot better this morning so I should be good to go tonight," said Staal. 

McDonagh--who missed the last two games with a sore jaw and neck--was receiving treatment and unavailable to speak with reporters after the morning skate, but he, like Staal, took part in every drill and seemed without issue out on the ice. He also practiced on one of the power play units alongside Dan Boyle at the point, with J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes and Jesper Fast up front.

The other power play unit saw Keith Yandle, Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider, Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello.

Henrik Lundqvist starts in goal for the Rangers, and the Blues will counter with Jake Allen, who has just returned from a knee injury and will need to play a lot moving forward since St. Louis' other netminder, Brian Elliott, is out four weeks with a lower body injury of his own.

Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock joked this morning that he plans to play Allen "as long as he remains upright" in the coming weeks.

Tonight's game will be a stiff test for the Rangers, who are coming off Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Devils in New Jersey.

"We gave up a lot of two-on-ones and breakaways (Tuesday), and it was just too wide open for how we like to play," observed Staal. "We're going to try and get back on track tonight and play the way we know how to win."

Jim Cerny
BlueshirtsUnited.com

NYR UPDATES 2/20; MCDONGH, PAILLE, NASH

The NY Rangers have announced that Ryan McDonagh will not skate today due to a jaw contusion and neck spasms. (NYR)

 4th liner Dan Paille did not skate at practice today today and was placed on waivers at noon

 Rick Nash again did not participate in practice drills due to injury and has not yet resumed skating

No Concussion, But McDonagh Will Not Play Sunday

Ryan McDonagh was not on the ice with his teammates when the Rangers practiced at the MSG Training Center Saturday afternoon, but yet there was some good news about his physical well being in the aftermath of him being drilled in the jaw by Leo Komarov's elbow Thursday night.
McDonagh did not suffer another concussion as a result of the first-period hit which led to Komarov receiving a match penalty and then a three-game suspension. Though he was held out of the rest of Thursday's win over the Maple Leafs for precautionary reasons, McDonagh passed the league's concussion testing both Thursday night and again on Saturday, which is a great relief to the team and its captain considering that McDonagh was just two games back after missing four straight with a concussion.
Head coach Alain Vigneault said that McDonagh, who is suffering from neck spasms and a contusion of the jaw, will not play on Sunday when the Rangers host the Detroit Red Wings and that he will undergo a CT scan later on Saturday afternoon.
Still the news was good considering how hard a hit McDonagh took on his jaw and how soon it came after he had just recovered from a concussion.
"He seems to be doing OK, and we're all thankful for that," said fellow defenseman Marc Staal. "That was a dirty hit, the kind of hit that we're trying to get out of the game, and I'm just happy that Mac is going to be OK."
Rookie defenseman Dylan McIlrath will slot back into the lineup to take McDonagh's place on Sunday.
***********************************
Vigneault did not have a further update on injured forward Rick Nash, who has missed the past 11 games with a deep bone bruise in his leg and who will not play on Sunday. In fact the coach said that Nash remains out on a week to week basis.
Nash has been working out off-ice in the gym, but has not skated since the first week of February when he went on ice a couple of times before the injury worsened.
Jim Cerny
BlueshirtsUnited.com

NYR TODAY SATURDAY 2/20

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov has been suspended for three games, without pay, for elbowing New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh during NHL game No. 860 in Toronto on Thursday, Feb. 18, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced.
 Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Komarov will forfeit $47,580.66. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

No update on McDonagh has been released by the New York Rangers as of Friday evening.

NYR Alumni Birthdays 2/20 
Norm Burns C (1941-1942) Phil Esposto C (Player 1975-1981, GM 1986-1989) Glen Hanlon G (1982-1986) Gordie Howorth C (1952-1953)

TODAY IN NYR HISTORY February 20
1989: Tony Granato scores two goals to give him 34 on the season, passing Mark Pavelich's record for most goals by a Rangers rookie.

Rangers captain McDonagh injured in fight in game against Flyers

"The Neutral Zone" Injury Report

The New York Rangers managed a 3-2 shootout victory against the Philadelphia Flyers on Subday afternoon.

But Ranger fans should not celebrate the win just yet.

Rangers captain and defenseman Ryan McDonagh was ruled out of the game after recieving a concussion in a fight from Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds.

Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault said that McDonagh was held out of the rest of the game after the fight for precautionary reasons, and that there may not be an update on his condition until Monday.

Simmonds was ejected for what officials believed was having the intent to injure McDonagh.

"When you lose your captain, a guy like [McDonagh], it's tough," stated Rangers defenseman Keith Yandle, who scored in the final minute of regulation and logged a Rangers team-high 27:33 worth of ice time in the game. "The emotions were really high and we wanted to go out there and really have his back. Finding a way to get the two points is huge."

Ryan McDonagh's comments at All-Star Media Day

"RNYRF" Staff Report

Ryan McDonagh

New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh spoke at media day for the 2016 NHL All-Star Game.

When asked what it would be like to be coached under Barry Trotz, McDonagh said "[Barry] talked a little strategy with us already, so there's a bit more details, things you can strategize about".

Here were McDonagh's comments on the All-Star Game:

"It's exciting to watch on TV, you don't necessarily have to see it live to see the excitement, fast paced."

McDonagh is Rangers representative at 2016 All-Star Game

Congratulations to #NYR Captain @RMcDonagh27 on being named a #NHLAllStar!! pic.twitter.com/eq8vgJbk1Q

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 6, 2016

Ryan McDonagh

"RNYRF" Staff Report

Congrats to New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh on being the only Rangers representative in the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game!

McDonagh has 5 goals, 12 assists, and 17 points on the season so far.

What Ryan McDonagh said about the PP turnover at the end of the game

Nov. 19 | 10:26PM

Ryan McDonagh spoke about what happened on the Rangers PP at the end of the third period which resulted in Tampa Bay scoring a shorthanded goal to take the lead and win.
McDonagh said, "we had possession. Step tried to get it up to me. It bounced a little heavy off my stick trying to settle it and they took advantage of the bounce. They have some skilled guys on the PK and were able to capitalize." (MSG)
On the first loss in a long time, McDonagh said, "we found a lot of ways to win. Down 1-0 against a good team going to the third we thought we were still in a good spot and we found a way to get one to tie it but it's at ough way to lose, that's for sure. We haven't felt this in a while but at the same time it's a lesson that we have to play all 60 minutes and execute with the puck and the PP has to be a lot sharper." (MSG)

Rangers’ Vigneault reveals the date of McDonagh’s resurgence

By Brett Cyrgalis

November 19, 2015 | 2:56am

 

Ryan McDonagh Photo: NHLI via Getty Images

It probably wasn’t intended as a pat on the back, but Alain Vigneault remembers the day his captain, Ryan McDonagh, had his game turn around.

It was Nov. 3 against the Capitals, and Vigneault and his staff decided to put McDonagh back on the top power-play unit, at one point across from Derek Stepan.

“Ever since the day that we put him back with Step on the power play, he seems to have taken off,” Vigneault said after Wednesday’s practice, his team preparing to travel to Tampa to take on the Lightning at Amalie Arena on Thursday night. “He seems to have better jump, better decisions. And we need Ryan McDonagh playing like he is right now.”

McDonagh struggled to find his game early this season, his offseason training compromised by the broken foot he suffered in the Eastern Conference final last spring — which just so happened to be against this Lightning team. But now McDonagh is beginning to show the skating ability and offensive prowess that made him such a threat in the past.

“He’s been much better,” Vigneault said. “Much better decisions with the puck, seeing the offensive possibilities quicker and jumping when that possibility is there.”

---

Vigneault said his plan is to reinsert Dan Boyle into the lineup on defense, replacing Dylan McIlrath, who was a minus-2 in his fourth game of the season in Sunday night’s 4-3 win over the Maple Leafs at the Garden.

Up front, Emerson Etem will remain the healthy scratch as the fourth line will likely be Dominic Moore-Jarret Stoll-Jesper Fast.

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Goalie Henrik Lundqvist is set to get his 15th start of the season’s first 19 games after backup Antti Raanta played Sunday.

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With a couple days in between games, the Rangers held a “skills development” practice on Tuesday, but Vigneault said it’s something they often do before regular practices.

“A lot of times, for an 11 o’clock practice, we’ll have a few guys go on at 10 with [coach Mark Ciaccio] and work on their skills,” Vigneault said. “That’s a constant with our organization.”
Vigneault said he did the same thing when he was the coach in Vancouver.

---

The Blueshirts have gotten contributions from all depths of his roster during this nine-game winning streak, which they hoped to extend to 10 on Thursday and tie a franchise record.

“I think in today’s game, it’s a four-line game now, with six defensemen,” Vigneault said. “If you’re going to win on a consistent basis in this league, there is [very little] separating the teams, you need contribution throughout the lineup. Some nights it’s going to be guys on your third line, some nights it’s going to be guys on your fourth line, some other nights it’s going to be top-end players, top-end D’s. But you need contributions from everybody.”