NYR TODAY TUES 5/17; Jensen, NYR Grades, Alumni Birthdat, TDINYRH

Rangers Prospect Nicklas Jensen Impresses at Worlds

The 23 year old Jensen has now collected 5 goals and 2 assists at the Men's World Championships in Moscow for Denmark. On Sunday Jensen scored the game winning goal in the shootout to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1. In 41 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack Jensen scored 15 goals and added 10 assists after coming to the Rangers from Vancouver for Emerson Etem.




RNYRF's GRADING THE RANGERS 2015-2016
MARC STAAL Defenseman

Once again a rough season for Staal whom many say was dealing with nagging injuries during the regular season and playoffs this past year. Collecting only 2 goals and 13 assists along with a plus 2 in 77 games it looked as though the work load over the past 2 seasons for the veteran D Man in his 9th pro season has taken it's toll. Staal who underwent ankle surgery in the off season didn't look his best but still managed to average close to 20 minutes per game. With 5 years remaining on a 5.7 million per year contract the 29 year old Staal is the highest paid defenseman on an already high priced Rangers defense. Hopefully with the extended time off Staal can regain some of what's been missing from his game the past few seasons.
GRADE D-

NYR Alumni Birthday 5/17 
Claude Larose LW (1979-80,1982 Playoffs)

Today in NYR History May 17

1994: Mike Richter ties a franchise record with his fourth shutout in one playoff year with a 4-0 victory over the Devils in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final.

NYR TODAY MON 5/16: Notes, NYR Grades, Alumni Birthdays, TDINYRH

NYR Notes 5/16: Bucnevich, Radulov, Coaching Staff. World Championships

Rangers Director of Player Personnel Gordie Clark commented on recent signing of Pavel Bucnevich saying "that he reminds him of late Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov, "same kind of style, real nice head and hands."
Buchnevich is highly skilled, can play any forward position, has skill, hands and good smarts" and made "great strides" from one summer to the next.
In 2015 Clark and Glen Sather told Buchnevich at the World Juniors that he was ready to play in the NHL. The Rangers are still looking into signing Alexander Radulov to mentor Pavel Bucnevich on and off the ice, but it'S said he is a long shot to be signed by New York at best.

Word is that Alain Vigneault's coaching staff will remain intact from this past season.

Derick Brassard had a goal, an assist, was 6 and 5 on faceoffs, 4 shots on goal and 17:26 (5:50, 5:54, 5:42) for Team Canada on Saturday.

Nicklas Jensen scored twice for Denmark Friday, including the shootout winner, to beat Latvia 3-2.

RNYRF's GRADING THE RANGERS 2015-2016
ERIC STAAL Center

 Acquired at the trade deadline from Carolina in exchange for Finnish Prospect Aleksi Saarela, the 2016 second-round pick and the 2017 second-round pick, Staal spent most of his time centering the Rangers 3rd line. Playing in only 20 regular season games, the elder Staal brother tallied 3 goals and 3 assists and was a plus 1 averaging close to 16 minutes of ice time per game. In 5 post season games for the Rangers Staal was held to 0 points and was a minus 7. Factoring in that Staal came to the Rangers having to learn a new system along with only playing in 25 games it's tough to determine a grade in his tenure with the team. Staal is a UFA come July 1 and seeing that the Rangers might be heading in a new direction along with Staal's previous contract of 9.5 million per season it seems likely he will be signing elsewhere.
GRADE: INCOMPLETE 

NYR Alumni Birthday 5/16 
Floyd Smith RW (1960-1961)

Today in NYR History May 16

1995: The eighth-seeded Rangers upset the No. 1 seed Quebec Nordiques in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden, to win the series, 4-2. It's the last game the Nordiques play before moving to Colorado.

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)

NYR Today Sat 5/14: Buchnevich, NYR Grades, Alumni

ICYM: Rangers signed prospect Pavel Buchnevich to Entry Level Contract

Additional Contract Clause:
Pavel Buchnevich has a European Assignment Clause in his contract with the Rangers which means that he has the right to play in Europe if not on the Rangers roster.
Buchnevich would rather return to the KHL rather than play in the AHL. If Bucmnevich does not make the Rangers roster and is sent down to the AHL he can return to Europe but he if is called up he has to return to the team.

RNYRF's GRADING THE RANGERS 2015-2016
KEITH YANDLE Defenseman

Playing in his 6th 82+ game season Yandle showed why he was brought to the Rangers at last year's trade deadline leading the team in assists with 42. Yandle also added 5 gooals, 2 of which came on the anemic Rangers power play. A minus 4 on the season Yandle did find himself caught in the opposition's end many times where he could not get back into defensive position resulting in goals against, a problem that plagued him being paired with an aging Dan Boyle who had lost more than a few steps in his game. Overall a good season for Yandle who most likely will garner a 6 million plus per year contract somewhere else rather than in New York due to an already over priced defense corps.
GRADE B

NYR Alumni Birthdays 5/14 
Don Blackburn LW (1969-1971) Cory Larose C (2003-2004) Pierre Plante RW (1978-1979) Gump Worsley G (1952-1963)

NY RANGERS BIRTHDAY
Alain Vigneault Head Coach 2013-Present
Born May 14, 1961 Quebec City, QC, CAN

Rangers agree to terms with Pavel Buchnevich

Statement from Blueshirts United.

New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has agreed to terms with forward Pavel Buchnevich on an entry-level contract.

Buchnevich, 21, split this past season between Severstal Cherepovets and SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), registering 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points, along with 24 penalty minutes in 58 games. He established KHL career-highs in games played, goals, assists, points, game-winning goals (three), power play goals (four), and average ice time (16:10). Among KHL players younger than 24 years old, Buchnevich ranked third in assists, ranked fourth in points, and tied for seventh in goals. He tallied three points (one goal, two assists) in the Gagarin Cup Playoffs while helping SKA St. Petersburg advance to the Western Conference Finals.

In 2014-15, Buchnevich registered 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points, along with a plus-eight rating and 16 penalty minutes in 48 games with Severstal. Buchnevich’s 30 points were the third-most a KHL player younger than 20 years old has recorded in one season in the league’s history. Buchnevich’s 17 assists were also the second-most a KHL player younger than 20 years old has posted in one season and his 13 goals were tied for the third-most a KHL player younger than 20 years old has tallied in one season. The only KHL player who recorded more assists and points than Buchnevich in a season which he was younger than 20 years old was Evgeny Kuznetsov. In addition, the only KHL players who matched or eclipsed Buchnevich’s goal total in a season when they were younger than 20 years old were Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko.

The 6-2, 176-pounder skated in 158 career KHL games over parts of four seasons (2012-13 – 2015-16), registering 37 goals and 50 assists for 87 points, along with 52 penalty minutes. Buchnevich’s goal, assist, and point totals increased in every season over his four years in the league. In addition, Buchnevich recorded 31 of his 37 career KHL goals at even strength and tallied seven game-winning goals.

Buchnevich played in Russia’s Junior Hockey League (MHL) for parts of four seasons (2011-12 – 2014-15), registering 69 points (23 goals, 46 assists) and posting a plus-17 rating in 71 regular season games. He tallied 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 31 career MHL playoff games, including 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in 11 playoff games in 2015.

The Cherepovets, Russia, native has also represented his country in several tournaments. Buchnevich participated in the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2014 and 2015. In those tournaments, he recorded 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 14 contests and helped Russia earn a medal each year (silver medal in 2015 and bronze medal in 2014). In addition, Buchnevich tied for first among all skaters in assists (six) and tied for second among all skaters in goals (five) and points (11) while representing Russia at the 2013 IIHF U18 World Championship.

Buchnevich was selected by the Rangers in the third round, 75th overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

NYR TODAY FRI 5/13: NYR Grades, Alumni, TDINYRH

RNYRF's GRADING THE RANGERS 2015-2016
KEVIN KLEIN Defenseman

At times the best defensive defenseman on the 2015-2016 season a plus 16 in 69 games Klein collected 9 goals and 17 assists, 4 of those goals coming as game winners. Klein logged in an average of 13 minutes of ice time per game this season and battled through 2 hand injuries. Still with 2 years left on a 5 year contract that he signed with Nashville before being traded to the Rangers for Michael Del Zotto in 2013-2014, Klein will make 2.75 million each year, a reasonable contract on a high paid defense. With Yandle and Boyle possibly leaving the Rangers in their UFA year it will be up to Klein to steer the younger crop of D-Men in the right direction.
GRADE B

NYR Alumni Birthdays 5/13 
Bill Heindl LW (1972-1973) Jim Hiller RW (1993-1994)

Today in NYR History May 13

2013: Henrik Lundqvist makes 35 saves as the Rangers defeat the Washington Capitals, 5-0, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. It's the first road Game 7 victory in franchise history.

2014: The Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 2-1, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The win completes the comeback from the Rangers being down 3-1 in the series.

2015: Derek Stepan scores in overtime of Game 7 against the Washington Capitals to send the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final.

NYR TODAY THURS 5/12: NYR Grades: Moore, Alumni, TDINYRH

RNYRF's GRADING THE RANGERS 2015-2016
DOMINIC MOORE Center

A rough year for Dom, starting off the season on the 4th line wing instead of his usual center position due to the signing of Jarett Stoll. Moore never picked up his game, looking lost at times during the season. A 9 point drop in production from the previous season saw Moore only tally 6 goals, 9 assists and garnering a minus 2 point percentage in 80 games. Moore's faceoff percentage dropped was decent at 55.3% during the 2015-2016 regular season (476-384) but that was mainly the high point of his year. An unrestricted free agent come this July 1 look for Moore to head to free agency and the Rangers to replace the former stalwart center. Although Dom plays with heart his production speaks for itself.
GRADE F



NYR Alumni Birthday 5/12 
Sherman White C (1946-47,1949-50)

 Today in NYR History May 12

2012: Brad Richards and Michael Del Zotto score in a 2-1 Game 7 win over the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden.