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Author: russellhartman10

  • Russell’s Take – Previewing the 2019-20 New York Rangers

    Russell’s Take – Previewing the 2019-20 New York Rangers

    The New York Rangers are one of this NHL season’s most intriguing teams. On one hand, not much is expected of the Broadway Blueshirts. They acquired some amazing pieces to add to their roster this summer but they have a huge amount of rookies and young players on their roster who may hit the proverbial wall at some point. On the other hand, if all the pieces come together and the rookies begin to impress right away, a wild card berth isn’t out of the question. Let’s dive in.

     

    We begin with forward corps and what a top six this has an opportunity to be. Despite the defensive struggles many believe this team will have, they shouldn’t have an issue scoring. A revamped top six forward group now features 2019 second overall pick, Kaapo Kakko, and 2019 free agent signee, the 11.6 million dollar a year man, Artemiy Panarin. Mika Zibanejad showed the world last season that he could be a number once center in the NHL and put up 74 points despite playing with a revolving door of wingers. Now, Zibanejad has the uber-talented gamebreaking talent of Panarin on his left wing and the (hopeful) breakout star in Pavel Buchnevich on the other. The Rangers top line is primed to have a huge year with some analysts predicting that line could have over 200 combined points.

     

    The second line is impactful as well and features Kakko on the right wing. Kakko is expected to step in and be one of New York’s most impactful forwards in his age 18 season and after his history making season in Liiga and his ridiculous showing at the World Championships, it’s not out of the question that Kakko becomes a force during his first season in New York. Centering Kakko to start the year is former sixth overall pick Ryan Strome and on the other side of him on the left wing is power forward Chris Kreider. That line has a good amount of size and speed and Strome will simply just have to move the puck to his winger and watch them work magic. Kreider and Kakko on the same line will cause nightmares for opposing teams.

     

    The bottom six features a good amount of young talent as well. The bottom two lines will be centered by Lias Andersson and Brett Howden, two guys playing in just their second NHL seasons but essentially still rookies when you look at games played. The Rangers are entrusting their young kids to start doing the heavy lifting and that includes being defensively responsible and taking on a checking line role if needed. Brenden Lemieux returns after signing a one-year deal and will fit nicely in the Rangers bottom six providing grit, energy and a spark off the bench.

     

    Two guys who everyone thought would be on the opening night lineup, 2017 21st overall pick Filip Chytil and 2018 9th overall pick Vitali Kravtsov, were sent to the Hartford Wolf Pack and will begin the season in the AHL. Rangers head coach David Quinn said he thinks it’s best for their development if they play 20+ minutes a night in Hartford and play in all situations including the power-play and penalty kill. Chances are when the Rangers inevitably make trades this season, Chytil and Kravtsov will be inserted into the Rangers top-nine forward group and add to an already dangerous group of forwards. The Rangers are counting on Chytil to be a dominant center and see Kravtsov as another gamebreaking talent.

     

    The defense now gets their time to shine. It starts with the Rangers new number one defenseman, Jacob Trouba. Trouba, acquired from the Winnipeg Jets for a 1st round pick and defenseman Neal Pionk, was signed to a 7-year deal by the Rangers this summer worth about eight million a year and will be looked upon to play in every situation and be the guy the Rangers can rely on to shutdown top opposing lines. His defense partner, Brady Skjei, is being counted upon to have a bounce back season and take all his potential that he flashed in his rookie season and turn those flashes into consistency. The Rangers top-pair will be one to watch this season. The second pair featured Marc Staal and Tony DeAngelo was a pair put together last year by Quinn and as long as they don’t get as many minutes as they get last year, the Rangers should be fine. Staal is no longer the minute munching dman he used to be and although Tony DeAngelo has all the offensive potential in the world, he has to grow more and show more consistency in his game.

     

    The third pair is the most intriguing to me as ir will feature Adam Fox and Libor Hajek, Both of these young guys were acquired through trades and the Rangers are hoping both take big strides this year. Hajek was the main piece in the trade for Ryan McDonagh and Fox was traded from the Hurricanes to the Ranger for two draft picks. Fox has the potential to be the next great puck moving defenseman in the NHL and he’s a highlight reel in the making. Hajek, although projects to have a lower ceiling from Fox, is looking like he can be a great stay at home dman with a bit of offensive upside. It would be great of Hajek turned into McDonagh lite.

     

    Finally, the goaltenders. The battle in camp was impressive and rookie Igor Shesterkin put up a nice fight to claim the backup goaltenders job but ultimately Alexandar Georgiev reclaimed the back up job. Shesterkin is the goaltender of the Rangers future and will replace mainstay and Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist when he retires but for now, he will dominate the AHL with Hartford. Georgiev has proven has be a backup in the NHL and possibly a 1A or 1B somewhere else. The only thing thats certain: Lundqvist starting in goal.

    *Russell appears courtesy of Forever Blueshirts.

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  • NHL Trade Alert: Jacob Trouba to the New York Rangers

    NHL Trade Alert: Jacob Trouba to the New York Rangers

    Seemingly out of the blue, New York Rangers GM Jeff Gorton completed a trade for defenseman Jacob Trouba.

     

    Trouba, who has long been rumored to be traded out of Winnipeg, was finally traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Neal Pionk and the 20th pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The hockey world is still coming to terms with this trade and how it shakes up the landscape of the NHL. Let’s take some time to analyze this for both squads.

     

    Winnipeg’s end of the deal

    The Winnipeg Jets, while the initial reaction is understandably not very positive, do get their first rounder back in a very deep 2019 draft. That will help them as they continue to try to find the right pieces to compete for a Stanley Cup and there will still be some great prospects available at the 20th overall spot. While this draft is considered to be as unpredictable as any in recent memory the Jets will have their pick of quality prospects. WIth the trade of Trouba, the Jets should look to a guy like Sweden’s Tobias Bjornfot to eventually replace him on their blueline.

    As for Neal Pionk, well this is a bit more complicated. During Pionk’s time in New York he showed flashes of being a good offensive defenseman but ultimately, he hasn’t shown any of the consistency that the Rangers hoped for. He had 26 points this past season which wasn’t bad at all but his plus-minus at a minus-16 was absolutely awful. The advanced stats also aren’t very kind to him as they paint him as one of the worst defensemen in the NHL last season. The thing is in Winnipeg, the Jets won’t force him into a top pair role. He can play on the bottom two pairs, or hopefully bottom pair where he is more suited, and have an easier time finding his way in the league. If Pionk can become a serviceable offensive defenseman for the Jets as the years go on, that would be good as they compete for a Stanley Cup.

    The Jets defense pairing should look like this next season:

    Josh Morrissey – Dustin Byfuglien

    Ben Chiarot – Tyler Myers

    Dmitry Kulikov – Neal Pionk

     

    New York’s end of the deal

    The Rangers acquire a 25-year-old right handed first pair defenseman. That is EXACTLY what they needed this offseason. Jacob Trouba, along with Brady Skjei and prospects K’Andre Miller, Nils Lundkvist, Adam Fox and others will lead New York’s blueline into the future as they hope to get back to Stanley Cup contention. Trouba had eight goals and 42 assists last season for 50 points during his age 24/25 season and will be a cornerstone on the Rangers blue line for years to come. GM Jeff Gorton essentially turned three months of Kevin Hayes and Neal Pionk into Brenden Lemieux and Jacob Trouba. Fantastic job by the boss in New York. The Rangers have put their rebuild into overdrive and this Friday  they will get the chance to add Kaapo Kakko or Jack Hughes at the entry draft in Vancouver. It has been an amazing year since the Rangers announced their plans to rebuild.

     

    The Rangers defense corps should look like this next season:

    Brady Skjei – Jacob Trouba

    Libor Hajek – Adam Fox

    Marc Staal – (prospect to be determined)

  • Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Boston Bruins – Game 4 Recap

    Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Boston Bruins – Game 4 Recap

    With a commanding 3-1 lead within their grasp, the Columbus Blue Jackets could smell blood in the water. Nationwide arena was ready for a huge jackets victory to put them within a win of the Eastern Conference final. The time was now… until it wasn’t
    The Boston Bruins had other ideas.

    The Blue Jackets held the powerful line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak in check the past few games but Pastrnak would strike just 3:33 into the game. A beautiful cross ice feed from Charlie McAvoy would lead to a Pastrnak blast from the circle to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. The Jackets needed to play harder against that line but the Bruins would make them pay in just a few short minutes once again.

    The power trio of Marchand, Bergeron and Pastrnak would make their prescense felt again at 7:18 of the 1st period. Marchand would streak down the wing and wire a perfect pass to a pinching Bergeron who would rip a wrister past Bobrovsky for the Bruins’ second goal of the game and second of the first period. The Blue Jackets were in dire straits early and the Bruins we’re jumping on them. The Jackets needed a spark and it came in the form of Artemi Panarin.

    At 8:46 of the 1st period, Panarin wristed a shot up and over Tuukka Rask to cut the Blue Jackets deficit in half. After going to the front of the net, a rebound would zone right in on Panarin’s stick and he would hammer the shot over Rask. The Jackets had the spark they needed and it was time to get this game under control. The Bruins would keep the Jackets in check and then drive the dagger into their hearts in the 3rd period.

    After a hard fought second period with some great action from both teams, the Bruins would strike again at 8:40 of the 3rd period. A rebound after a big shot from the point would find Sean Kuraly in front of net. Kuraly would wrist the puck past Bobrovsky and give the Bruins a huge 3-1 lead. Time was running out for the Blue Jackets? Could they dig down and find two goals to send it to overtime? Bergeron would strike again to stop any hope of a comeback.

    At 17:30 of the 3rd period, Bergeron would seal the Bruins victory with their fourth goal of the game and his second of the night. After a rocket of a shot from David Pastrnak, Bergeron would tap home the rebound of the shot for a power play goal and a 4-1 Bruins lead. The Bruins’ game four victory has tied the series at two games a piece with the series now becoming a best of three the rest of the way.

    Game Five is Saturday night in Boston. Keep it right here on Txhthockey.com for all the hockey news

  • Stars vs. Predators – Game 4 Recap

    Stars vs. Predators – Game 4 Recap

    The playoffs have been an absolutely wild ride so far with two sweeps coming in the first round and every other series either standing at 2-1 or tied 2-2. Tonight, the Stars and Predators played the fourth game of their first-round series and with the Predators up 2-1, this game was already primed to be a huge one. Either the Predators take a commanding 3-1 lead or the Stars tie it up and this series becomes a best of three with two of the three games taking place in Nashville. How did game four shakes out? Let’s dive in.

    The first period was all Dallas Stars. The onslaught began at 3:42 in the first period when Roope Hintz would get the Stars on the board with his first goal of the playoffs. With the Stars on the power-play, Hintz would take a pinpoint pass from John Klingberg and rifle a shot past Pekka Rinne for a 1-0 lead and the first of three power-play goals for the Stars in the first period. Alexander Radulov would join the fun next. After a key faceoff win, Esa Lindell would slide a quick pass to Radulov who would laser a shot past Rinne for a 2-0 lead and the second power-play goal of the period for the Stars.

    The Stars just wouldn’t stop coming and the Predators seemingly has no answers for them. Andrew Cogliano would clean up the rebound of Blake Comeau’s shot at 8:24 of the first period to put the Stars up 3-0. The goal was Cogliano’s, who was acquired by the Stars earlier in the season, first of the playoffs and it couldn’t have come at a better moment. The Stars would score their third and final power-play goal of the first period when Mats Zuccarello, a trade deadline acquisition from the New York Rangers, would come up big. John Klingberg would make his presence felt again and he set up Zuccarello with a great feed that he would snipe past Rinne for a 4-0 Stars lead. Rinne would then be chased from the net and replaced by Juuse Saros. The second period would be make or break for the Predators with them already being down 4-0.

    The second period would feature much more back and forth play with both teams getting some A+ chances. Unfortunately for the Predators, the Stars would add to their lead and Roope Hintz would strike again. With a great move in the zone, John Klingberg would execute a perfect 3-on-1 play from the blueline in and dished a nice feed to Hintz who would easily beat Saros. The Stars were determined to not go back to Nashville down 3-1. Towards the end of the second-period things would begin to start getting chippy and it as clear frustration was beginning to set in for the Predators. The Stars were imposing their will and the Predators just seemingly couldn’t find any answers.

    The third period featured more of the same with both teams trading chances once again and playing some good hockey. The Predators would finally breakthrough though roughly halfway through the period. Roman Josi would score the 10th playoff goal of his career and his first on the road with a nice wrister from the point. It was his second of the playoffs and Predators gained some life after the goal although it would ultimately prove to be for naught. The Stars would skate off with a 5-1 victory.

    Three Stars of the Game:

    1. Ben Bishop.
    2. Roope Hintz
    3. John Klingberg
  • Game Three Recap – Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

    Game Three Recap – Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

    The unthinkable has happened in this series folks. The Columbus Blue Jackets continued their dominance of the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 3-1 win and now lead their best of seven series 3-0. If you asked any analyst, any hockey fan, anyone who knew the sport at all a few weeks ago and they all would’ve told you the same thing: The Lightning were going to win this series. Now? The Blue Jackets are making us all eat crow and they are shocking the entire world. Game Three Recap. Let’s do this.

    After a scoreless first period where the Blue Jackets poured ten shots on in front of their home crowd, they got them out of their seats early in the second period when Matt Duchene would break the ice. After a big shot from the point, Duchene jumped on the rebound and backhanded it into a basically open cage for a 1-0 Blue Jackets lead. The Nationwide Arena crowd was getting into it now and the Lightning were still unprepared for the storm to come.

    Later in the second period, Oliver Bjorkstrand, who is having a nice resurgence since the second half of the season, would strike and give the Blue Jackets a 2-0 lead midway into the second period. After a solid cross-ice dish from Seth Jones, Bjorkstrand would snipe the puck past Andrei Vasilevskiy with a absolute laser of a shot. The Blue Jackets were rolling and they weren’t backing down. But the Lightning found a bit of a spark.

    Early in the third period, Ondrej Palat would give the Lightning a much needed goal. A net-front redirection would cut the Blue Jackets lead to 2-1 and cause a little panic to run through Nationwide Arena. The third period would see the Lightning fail to score again though and the Blue Jackets would get an empty-net tally from Cam Atkinson to go up 3-1 late in the third period. The Blue Jackets would tae game three and send Nationwide into a frenzy.

    They are shocking the hockey world. They are shocking the entire sports world. Could the Blue Jackets close out the series in game four at Nationwide on Tuesday? It’s entirely possible. The Jackets are proving us wrong every day; they are making fools out of their doubters. Jarmo Kekalainen made some power moves at the deadline in hopes of the Cup making it’s way to Columbus. His dream looks more like a reality than it has all season.

    See you for game four.

  • Game One Recap – Columbus Blue Jackets v. Tampa Bay Lightning

    Game One Recap – Columbus Blue Jackets v. Tampa Bay Lightning

    Game one of the Lightning and Blue Jackets series was supposed to be a coming out party for the Lightning. They were supposed to run all over the Blue Jackets and start their march to the Stanley Cup Final. Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos were supposed to score hat tricks and… wait… that didn’t happen? No it didnt.

     

    Period one of game one started like everyone thought it would. The Lightning were using their speed and skill to great effect and were running over the Blue Jackets. On the Blue Jackets first power-play of the game, Alex Killorn stripped the puck from a Blue Jacket defender and sped into the offensive zone on a shorthanded breakaway. He would score to put the Lightning up 1-0. Soon after, Anthony Cirelli would capitalize on a rebound and beat Sergei Bobrovsky in close to give the Lightning a 2-0 lead. The Lightning would take a commanding 3-0 lead into the locker room after a Mikhail Sergachev blast was deflected by Yanni Gourde past Sergei Bobrovsky. Things were following the script.

     

    Until they weren’t.

     

    Whatever Columbus Head Coach John Tortorella said to his team in between the first and second periods worked. Half way through the second period, Nick Foligno, the captain and heart and soul of the Blue Jackets, would grab a loose puck and snipe the puck past Andrei Vasilevskiy to get the Jacket on the board. The momentum was beginning to shift in favor of the Jackets and they wouldn’t look back.

     

    The third period was one of the most insane periods of hockey I’ve seen in a long time. The Jackets would get a highlight reel goal from David Savard at 7:56 of the 3rd period when he deked around Victor Hedman and ripped the puck top shelf past Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Jackets were feeling it and the Lightning were powerless to stop it. Josh Anderson would join the party next and on a shorthanded opportunity he would skate cross-ice, out wait Vasilevskiy and shoot the puck past him to tie the game at three. The Jackets would take the lead at 14:05 of the 3rd period after a laser of a wrist shot by Seth Jones beat Vasilevskiy. The Lightning wouldn’t score and the Jackets would go on to win game one by a score of 4-3.

     

    Just like everyone predicted.

     

    The Blue Jackets now have the momentum going into game two and make no mistake; now that they’ve tasted this win and know what it takes to beat Tampa they are not going to back down. This is going to be a long series that no one, including myself, predicted. Will Jarmo Kekkalainen’s savvy moves at the deadline pay off? It remains to be seen but the Jackets are off to a damn good start.

     

    Game two is Friday night in Tampa.

  • 2019 NHL Playoffs – 1st Round Preview – Columbus Blue Jackets v. Tampa Bay Lightning

    2019 NHL Playoffs – 1st Round Preview – Columbus Blue Jackets v. Tampa Bay Lightning

    Tampa Bay Lightning (62-16-4) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (47-31-4)

    Eastern Conference First Round Series

    Best of Seven

    Winner Faces Boston/Toronto

     

    The Tampa Bay Lightning had one of the most dominant and historic regular seasons in NHL history. They had three 40 goal scorers and Nikita Kucherov set the record for points in a season but a Russian-born player with 128. They dismantled opponents with their speed, power and skill all in front of an all-world defense led by Victor Hedman and an all-world goaltender in Andrei Vasilevskiy. This team has been a popular pick to win the Stanley Cup and rightfully so; they have everything a cup contender needs in spades. Do the Columbus Blue Jackets, who went balls to the wall at the trade deadline, have a shot at taking out the biggest dog in the yard in the first round? It going to be a challenge needless to say.

     

    Forwards

    Tampa Bay

    First, let’s take a look at their forward groups. The Lightning boast one of the best in the entire league but Blue Jackets isn’t anything to laugh at either. The Lightning have a top-six forward group that consists of Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, Brayden Point and Yanni Gourde. That could be considered the best top-six forward core in the league rivaling the power of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets. Stamkos, Kucherov and Point each had over 40 goals this year and whenever either of them is on the ice it means trouble for the opposition. Stamkos and Kucherov each have lethal shots and Point is no slouch either. Kucherov is on track to be the best Russian-player in the NHL today. Mix in Johnson, Palat and Gourde and you have a tremendous top-six that can beat you any given way on any given night.

     

    The Lightning’s bottom-six is nothing to laugh at either with the likes of Alex Killorn, Anthony Cirelli, J.T. Miller and Mathieu Joseph all playing on the third and fourth lines. Killorn has been a productive player for the Lightning since he joined the team in the 2012-13 season. Cirelli has drawn some calder buzz this year. Joseph was another great young find by the Lightning and J.T. Miller is your prototypical middle-six forward who can chip in offense when needed. From top to bottom the Lightning’s forward corps has the potential to light up opposing teams. Does Columbus have the talent to match?

     

    Columbus

    While the Lightning are impressive, the Columbus top-six forward corps is nothing to laugh at. Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, Cam Atkinson, Ryan Dzingel, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Josh Anderson make up a top-six that has a great deal of 7. ill and speed. Panarin is one of the best scorers in the game. Duchene is a proven number one center even with all the controversy that has followed him the past two seasons because of trades. Dubois is a star on the rise and Atkinson is always a threat for 30 goals. Anderson has proved he can be an effective power forward in the league. The Blue Jackets top-six, while not as intimidating as the Lightning’s, is still impressive and can light up the scoreboard on any given night. Panarin had 28 goals this year, Anderson had 27 goals, Atkinson scored a whopping 41, Duchene had 31 goals and Dubois put up 27.

     

    The Columbus bottom-six forward group features their captain Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner, Oliver Bjorkstrand, rookie Alexandre Texier, Brandon Dubinsky and Riley Nash. That third line of Foligno, Jenner and Bjorkstrand would be a capable second line on a lesser team but the fact that Columbus has that as a third line is super impressive. Bjorkstrand, although inconsistent, has a nice shot and Foligno is a prototypical power forward. The Columbus captain will make sure his team doesn’t go down without a fight. Toss in Dubinsky and Nash and the Jackets bottom six isn’t too shabby. So who has the forward edge?

     

    Who’s got the Edge?

    The Tampa Bay Lightning. The trio of Stamkos, Kucherov and Point are just too good and will give the Blue Jackets all kinds of problems. The Lightning top-six is arguably the best in the entire league and their bottom-six is extremely lethal as well with sneakily good players like Cirelli, Killorn and Miller. The Blue Jackets have a great forward corps, especially with guys like Panarin and Duchene, but they don’t have nearly enough firepower to beat out the Lightning in this category.

     

    Defense

    Tampa Bay

    Victor Hedman is the reigning Norris trophy winner and had 54 points this season. Ryan McDonagh is one of the best shutdown defenseman in the game and he has 46 points this season. Mikhail Sergachev is a star on the rise, had 32 points this season and proved he can be an even better defenseman in year two of his career. Round out that six with Dan Girardi, who has been much better than advertised this season, Erik Cernak who has been a pleasant surprise and the capable Jan Rutta and the Lightning have an excellent group of defensemen who can lock down opponents and chip in the offense when needed. Anton Stralman getting back to full health will be something to keep an eye on in this series for sure.

     

    Columbus

    Zach Werenski and Seth Jones are the two powerhouses on defense here. Werenski had 44 points and Jones has 46 points this season. Both have the potential to be Norris trophy winner down the line. Jones is one of the best in the game today at both ends of the ice and Werenski is as lethal as they come on the offensive side of the ice. David Savard and Markus Nutivaara make a very capable second pair which the ability to chip in offense. The Blue Jackets third pairing of Dean Kukan and Scott Harrington rounds out a defense that can rock with the best of them in the league and if Adam McQuaid can stay healthy he can be inserted back into the lineup and give them an extra bit of snarl. The Blue Jackets will need all the help they can get this series. So who has the edge?

     

    Who’s got the Edge?

    The saying goes that defense wins championships.The Lightning and Blue Jackets both have defenses capable of locking down the opposition and making life easier for their goaltenders. Before I give my answer here I need to stress how much closer this matchup is then the forward groups. Seth Jones and Zach Werenski are extremely talented and that pair is probably a better pair than any pair of defenseman the Lightning can put put together but this is a case of the whole being better than the sum of its part. The Lightning possess Victor Hedman who at his peak is one of the best overall defenseman in the world. Ryan McDonagh was the Rangers number one defenseman and captain of the Rangers so he is used to being counted on and he has the leadership qualities to boot. Mikhail Sergachev is extremely talented and is only going to get better. One of those guys on each pair means the Lightning have someone to count on on every pair whereas the Blue Jackets get a little thin on their third pairing and their second pairing leaves something to be desired. If Anton Stralman can return, the Lightning only get stronger. The Tampa Bay Lightning get the edge once again.

     

    Goaltending

    Tampa Bay

    The Lightning possess an all-world goaltender in Andrei Vasilevskiy. Vasilevskiy took over the crease from Ben Bishop a few seasons ago and he has been nothing but star caliber since he became the Lightning’s de facto number one goaltender. This season he had a .925 save percentage and a 2.40 goals against average. He is tremendously athletic and comes up big in big moments.  He’s played deep in the playoffs before and he’s shown he won’t break under the pressure. Vasilevskiy is going to be rock solid for the Lightning throughout the playoffs. THis year Vasilevskiy sported a record of 39-10-4.

     

    Columbus

    The Blue Jackets also possess an all-world goaltender in Sergei Bobrovsky. Aquired from the Philadelphia Flyers a few season ago, Bobrovsky has done absolutely a goaltender can do and won a Vezina trophy along the way. The one thing missing from his resume is a Stanley Cup, same as his counterpart Vasilevskiy. Bobrovsky has been one of the best goaltenders in the regular season over the past few seasons but the knock on him is that he hasn’t been able to get it done in the playoffs. This year he will look to change that. This season he sported a .913 save percentage to go along with 2.58 goals against average. He sported a record of 37-24-1.

     

    Who’s got the Edge?

    Just like the last two categories, I have to give this one to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Vasilevskiy is the better goaltender and could very well win the Vezina trophy this year. He has shown up in the playoffs, even if he hasn’t won the big one just yet. Bobrovsky has consistently been a let down in the playoffs and until he proves otherwise this will be a big knock on him. This category is actually a lot closer than most people think since both goaltenders are quite good but the edge goes to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

     

    Series Prediction

    The Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets in 5 games
    Columbus may steal a game here but this is the Tampa Bay Lightning’s series to lose. They are just deep, and they have arguably one of the best put together teams of all time. With players like Kucherov, Stamkos, Point, Hedman, McDonagh, Sergachev, and an all world goaltender in Vasilevskiy it will just be too much for the Blue Jackets to overcome. The Blue Jackets did all they could to bolster up at the deadline but they run into the buzzsaw that’s the Tampa Bay Lightning. Sorry Columbus, Tampa is about to unleash their full power in the playoffs.

  • 2018-19 New York Rangers Preview

    NYR

     

    Last Season: 34-39-9 77 pts (8th in Metropolitan Division; Did Not Make Playoffs)

     

    Key Additions: D Fredrik Claesson, G Dustin Tokarski, and Coach David Quinn

     

    Key Departures: F Paul Carey, F David Desharnais, Coah Alain Vigneault

     

    Top Questions Facing the New York Rangers:

     

    1. How will rookies impact the lineup?

    The Rangers go into the 2018-19 season in full rebuild mode. Rookies will be given prime opportunities to win jobs in camp and the team will be younger, faster but a lot more in experienced than in years past. Their two first rounders from 2017, Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil are most likely going to be slotted into the 2nd and 3rd line center spots so a lot of this season is riding on how those two acclimate to full time NHL minutes.

     

    Free-agent rookie wingers Ville Meskanen and Michael Lindqvist, both signed from Sweden’s SHL, will look to crack the opening night roster as well and they very well could as both have shown in their time in the SHL that they have a nose for the net. Both scored at least 20 goals last season in the SHL. If Brett Howden, obtained from the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Ryan McDonagh trade, surprises coach David Quinn, he could find himself on the opening night roster as well. That makes five possible offensive rookies on opening night.

     

    Finally, we shift to the defense where as many as two spots could be taken by rookies as well. Look for Libor Hajek, also acquired in the Ryan McDonagh trade, to make a case that he belongs on the opening night roster and maybe the Rangers like what they see in Ryan Lindgren… it’s going to be a very interesting training camp in New York with battles happening for positions on every line. Veterans cannot rest east this year as the youngsters are coming for their jobs. It’s time for the Rangers to begin the process of seeing who deserves to be apart of a future Stanley Cup contending core.

     

    2) Is this the beginning of the end for Henrik Lundqvist?

    The King is coming to the end of his reign. Lundqvist, the heart and soul of the New York Rangers since 2005, is in his late thirties and soon the time will come for one of the best goaltenders in NHL history to hang his skates up and take that last lap around the ice at Madison Square Garden. But man… he isn’t going down without a fight. Lundqvist will fight tooth and nail to give his Rangers one last shot at glory before he retires and it may not be this season or the next but soon the Rangers will have capable team to give the King one last shot. One last shot to give the city of New York a championship over 20 years in the making. He isn’t washed up by any means but he isn’t the Lundqvist of old. Igor Shestyorkin will be the Rangers goaltender of the future but Lundqvist is going to do all he can to stay as long as it can and get that elusive title.

     

    3) How will David Quinn adjust to being a full time NHL head coach?

    David Quinn will begin his first season as an NHL head coach at the start of training camp and all eyes will be on the former Boston University Head Coach. He’s a young guy and a guy that has some brilliant ideas for how to run a hockey club. The guy preaches puck possession and will give the Rangers a much more structured system that Alain Vigneault did.

     

    But remember… it takes awhile for a team to adjust to a new system, a new coach and a regime change. The Rangers were already not going to be good this season but having a new coach makes this whole thing a little bit tougher. Will Quinn sink or swim? Will he have the attention of his veterans and rookies alike? Will he make the smart decisions? If his attitude and pedigree are any indication, look for David Quinn to begin making his mark early and look for him to begin succeeding at the NHL level. The Rangers couldn’t have made a better choice to guide this team through the rebuilding process.