NYR TODAY TUES 5/24: Alumni Birthdays

NYR Alumni Birthdays 5/24 
Kent-Erik Andersson RW (1982-1984) Artem Anisimov C (2008-2012) Bruce Gamble G (1958-1959) Johan Holmqvist G (2000-01,2002-03) Pat Verbeek RW (1995-1996)

NYR TODAY MON 5/23: NYR at MWC, Rumors, TDINYRH

Rangers at the World Championships Notes:
Derick Brassard and Team Canada Capture Gold at World Championships, Brady Skjei and Team USA lose Bronze Medal Game

A day after scoring the tying goal for Canada vs Team USA, Brassard and Canada defeated Finland to Win the Gold Medal at the IIHF Men's World Championships in Moscow. Brassard finished the tournament with 11 points (5 goals and 6 assists).

Brady Skjei and Team USA fell to Russia 7-2 in the bronze Medal Game. A rough outing for Skjei who was on the ice for 3 of Russia goals and was a minus 2 in 17:12 of game time. Skjei finished the tournament with 1 goal, 0 assists and was a minus 3 with 10 shots on goal averaging close to 18 minutes per game.




RANGERS RUMORS:

As usual Rick Nash is once again in the forefront of the off season rumors. With a list of 12 teams that he can be dealt to, it's speculated the the Rangers will look to dump Nash and his cap hit of 7.8 million per year. The St Louis Blues have been mentioned as a destination for Nash numerous times due to his past with head coach Ken Hitchcock.

With Nash possibly being moved TSN speculates that the Rangers may join in on the bidding war for Tampa Bay Lightning's pending UFA Steven Stamkos. But unless the Rangers make the cap space by trading Nash or by other means along with numerous teams who will be joining the bidding war for the 26 year old Stamkos it looks like a long shot at best.

Defenseman Dan Girardi has once again been mentioned as a choice for the Rangers as a buyout this summer. Girardi has four-years remaining on his contract, a cap hit of 5.5 million per season and a no-move clause this season (2016-17) which turns into a limited no-trade clause for the final three-years, starting in 2017-18 looks to possibly be the option for a buyout by the Rangers. If the Rangers do use that option the Rangers would be charged with a dead space cap hit of the following: 2016-17: $1.75 million, 2017-18: $2.75 million, 2018-19: $3.75 million, 2019-20: $3.75 million, 2020-21: $1.25 million, 2021-22: $1.25 million, 2022-23: $1.25 million and finally 2023-24: $1.25 million




Today in NYR History May 23

2013: The Rangers live to play another day following Chris Kreider's overtime winner over Boston in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

NYR TODAY SUN 5/22: Rangers at WC Notes, Alumni Birthday, TDINYRH

Rangers at World Championships Notes:
Canada vs USA

Derick Brassard scored the game tying goal in Canada's come from behind win over Team USA yesterday in semi-final action. Canada will now face Finland in the Gold Medal Game today in Russia. Trailing 3-2 and heading to the power play Brassard scored the 3rd of 3 unanswered goals for Canada giving him 5 goals in tournament action. Brassard 5-6-11 has recorded at least one point in eight of the nine games Canada has played, so far.

Rookie D-Man Brady Skjei only recorded a shot on goal in 14 plus ice time minutes for Team USA and will face Russia in the Bronze Medal Game today.








NYR Alumni Birthday 
5/22 Bryan Hextall Jr C (1962-1963)

Today in NYR History May 22

1995: Brian Leetch becomes the first Rangers defenseman to record a playoff hat trick against the Flyers, Leetch scores all three New York Rangers goals in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

NYR TODAY SAT 5/21: Alumni Birthdays, TDINYRH

NYR Alumni Birthdays 5/21 
Sylvain Blouin LW (1996-1998) Todd White C (2010-2011) Matt Hunwick D (2014-2015)

Today in NYR History May 21

1995: Mark Messier ties his Rangers career-high of three assists in one playoff game during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Flyers.

NYR TODAY FRI 5/20: NYR at World Championships, Alumni Birthdays

Rangers World Championships Notes:

Derick Brassard had a goal in Canada's 6-0 win over Sweden on Thursday. Brassard won 7 faceoffs, lost 6 faceoffs, had two shots on goal and played 13:05 (5:22, 4:20, 3:23).

Nicklas Jensen and Denmark lost to Finland 5-1 in the Quarterfinals of the World Championships and were eliminated. In the eight games of the tournament, Jensen had 5 goals, 2 assists, 6 PIM, a minus two rating, two shootout goals and an average of 16:28 per game.

In 7 games for Norway at the World Championships, Mats Zuccarello had a goal (empty net) and two assists. He was a minus two, had 28 shots on goal and averaged 20:26 per game.

Brady Skjei and Team USA will face Canada in the Semi-Finals on Saturday. In the tournament so far, Skjei has one goal, 2 PIM, 4 shots on goal, an average of 18:33 per game and a total ice time of 74:13.








NYR Alumni Birthdays 5/20 
Dan Blackburn G (2001-2003) Jim Ross D (1951-1952)

NYR TODAY THURS 5/19: NYR Grades: Lundqvist, Alumni Birthdays, TDINYRH

RNYRF's GRADING THE RANGERS 2015-2016
HENRIK LUNDQIVIST Goaltender

In what many may categorize as a sub-par season for the "King of New York", Henrik Lundqvist picked up his 10th 30 plus win season with a record of 35-21-7, a GAA of 2.48 and a save % of .921 in 65 games, ranking him 5th in the league for the 2015-2016 Regular Season. Lundqvist faced a league leading 1944 shots against, leading the league with 1788 saves. Lundqvist started out strong at the beginning of the season but suffered through the end of October through December as did his teammates and was pulled from numerous games during the season in favor of backup Antti Raanta. Yes, Henrik Lundqvist wasn't the  Henrik Lundqvist that Rangers Fans were used to during the 2015-2016 campaign but he was still for the most part the backbone of the team, once again standing on his head to make saves but also giving up the "soft goal" on many occasions. The toll of too many games in the past 3 regular and post seasons has certainly had an affect on the 34 year old goaltender along with the diminished play of the defenders in front of him last year but, at the end of the season a sub-par Henrik Lundqvist on the Rangers is still a "star" goaltender on any team in the league. Lundqvist could have been better but so could have his teammates. A usual grade of an A in previous seasons drops to:
GRADE B

NYR Alumni Birthdays 5/19 
Ivan Baranka D (2007-2008) Mark Janssens C (1988-1992) Andreas Johansson LW (2001-2002) Murray Murdoch LW (1926-1937) Carey Wilson C (1988-1990)

Today in NYR History May 19

1994: Stephane Matteau scores at 6:13 of the second overtime to give the visiting New York Rangers a 3-2 win against the New Jersey Devils in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final. Matteau beats Martin Brodeur on the Rangers' 50th shot of the game, putting New York ahead 2-1 in the best-of-7 series. It's the first of two overtime goals by Matteau in the series.
https://youtu.be/W9026YUPoLk

NYR TODAY TUES 5/18; NYR Grades: Girardi, Alumni Birthdays, TDINYRH

RNYRF's GRADING THE RANGERS 2015-2016
DAN GIRARDI Defenseman

Another Rangers defenseman worn down by too many games played over the past few seasons, Girardi looked over matched many times during the 2015-2016 season. In 74 games Girardi tallied 2 goals, 15 assists, was a plus 18 and averaged 20+ minutes of ice time per game. Undergoing ankle surgery in the off season it seemed as though the lately oft injured Girardi couldn't get back on track and find a consistency to his game. Another D man who was thought to be suffering through injuries all season Girardi fessed up on "breakup" day and let it be known he was diagnosed with a concussion late in the season after a hit by former NY Rangers teammate Brian Boyle. Missing the final 2 games of the regular season, Girardi played in game 1 of the first round playoffs and wasn't able to return again until game 5 collecting an assist in those 2 games while being a minus 2 it was obvious he wasn't in shape to return to the lineup. The usual "Iroman" of the Rangers D is one of the players that should benefit from the extra 2 months rest to heal from the toll of injuries and extended ice time. With 5 years left on a 5.5 million per year contract along with young upcoming defenseman in the Rangers system there are rumors of the Rangers using their buyout on his contract. It should be interesting to see if the career Ranger remains on Broadway come July 1st.
GRADE C-

NYR Alumni Birthdays 5/18 
Jari Kurri RW (1995-1996) Manny Malhotra C (1998-2000) Marty McSorley D (1995-1996) Darren VanImpe D (2001-2002) Jay Wells D (1991-1995)

Today in NYR History May 18

1965: The Rangers acquire goaltender Ed Giacomin from Providence (AHL).

1997: Wayne Gretzky gets his 10th and final playoff hat trick by scoring three times in the New York Rangers' 5-4 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Spectrum in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final. Gretzky scores twice in less than two minutes in the first period and completes his hat trick midway through the second.