While I am angry over MIlan Lucic's play as time expired, this isn't a rant. While he is a talented player, and a very good power forward, he has stepped over the line too many times.

Another incident or two, and I hope this guy stops being recognized as a gritty, tough player, and starts being seen for what he is, a dirty player who gets away with way too much.

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As I am entirely fed up with everyone underrating Anisimov, this post will be an attempt to convince others how important he is to this club.

In the past, George has put up countless charts and graphs explaining how he plays against top competition and continues to produce regardless. I feel like many posters ignore a lot George's stuff, because it's harder to understand.

So I'm going to keep this simple, and I'm going to compare him to a player everyone loves, Ryan Callahan.

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I have a simple question for all of you guys. I want to take names out of this, and I want to take preconceived notions of players out of this as well. Take away your bias, and take away your emotional feelings for certain players.

I'm going to ask a simple question, and I'd like a simple yes/no answer.

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Hi everyone!

I'm an active member at Blueshirt Banter (NYR SB Nation site), and due to recent discussion on the site I wanted to ask you guys, taking fan bias out of it as much as possible, how valuable Rick Nash really is?

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The New York Rangers have been one of the most positive surprises this NHL season. Going into the year, most people were placing them anywhere from 4th-10th in the conference. A playoff team, but nothing more than that.

Whatever the reason may be, this team has exceeded all of our expectations. Even with some of our biggest contributors last year (Dubi and AA) struggling more than any of us would have imagined, we are still somehow the best team in the league. (PPG wise).

While that is definitely worth of excitement, we need to remember where this team stands in their development. This is only the beginning. Most of of our guys are young or in their prime, and with Dubi/AA/Richards struggling, this team is only going to get better. With the likes of Kreider, Thomas, Erixon, Mcilrath, Miller, and maybe a few others coming up in the next year or two, it gives us cheap options to improve the team.

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There has been a lot of talk recently about trading Mats Zuccarello. I'd like to elaborate on why we should trade him, and what we should try to trade him for.

Looking at the Rangers roster, it seems that next year the most likely scenario is that Wojtek Wolski, Erik Christensen, and Sean Avery will not be re-signed. Assuming that Mike Rupp will either be sent to the minors or kept as a healthy scratch, the Rangers have a bit of a logjam at forward. 

WIth the following definitely sticking around: Gaborik Richards Anisimov Dubinsky Callahan Stepan Boyle Prust, we have 4 starting forward spots left. Assuming that Fedotenko is resigned for a year, we have 3, which can all be taken up by young kids.

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It seems to me that the "cool" thing to do on this site is for the "real" fans to bash the "fake" fans, calling them cliff jumpers, idiots, moron, you name it. The last time I checked, at least in the intellectual world, if your argumentative response is to call someone an idiot, you are just speaking of yourself. On this site we have some very very level headed fans (AJ in VA, tito, willfglass, etc). We also have some cliff jumpers that show up when the team is losing and bash everyone and everything. You all know who I am talking about.

Mocking them is fine, sure, but remember we have those on this site that are on the other side of the spectrum. Sure, its great to look for the silver lining in things, but when it gets to the point when you are blatantly ignoring issues we have, it's going to far. Once again, you all know who I'm talking about. So:

Am I happy we are 6-3? Yeah. Do. I see issues with the team and do I think we could be better? Yeah.

I wont proclaim that i know more about football than everyone here, because I don't. So, I'm asking you guys who have more football knowledge than I to a few questions.

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First off, awesome game today.

Big Big win for the Gmen. Gilbride ran a great offense, Eli threw an accurate ball, Victor Cruz thought it was preseason, and all game (except the 2nd quarter) the defense played rock solid.

That being said, what's with all the hate for Steve Smith?

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a pretty chill dude.

That is all :)

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According to Spector, as of 8 minutes ago. Nothing other than this has come out. Believed to be a 3 year deal in the ballpark of 13 million!!

NYDNRangers Jesse Spector 

Sather still batting 1000 this offseason.

Well, Brad Richards is ours. When I look at this team, I see a good mix of vets and developing young players. I also see a lot of leadership and toughness. This team finally has an identity, something we have been lacking for years.

When I look at the forwards, this is what I see.

??? - Richards - Gaborik

Dubinsky - Anisimov - Callahan

???  - Stepan - ???

??? Boyle - Prust

Those question marks can be filled with a lot of different guys, such as:

Wolski, Fedotenko, Avery, Rupp, Zucs, Christensen, Thomas, Hagelin, and Weise

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Let me first say that I feel terrible for all the Hockey fans in Atlanta, but just as excited for all the fans in Winnipeg. Regardless of my personal feelings, now that Atlanta has officially been moved, realignment is necessary. There are multiple ways to go about this, but I believe this is the most effective way.

As Winnipeg will surely be in the Northwest, a team must be moved out of that division. Most people say it will be Minnesota, but I believe it should be Colorado. If Colorado were to move out of the Northwest and into the Central, it would allow Nashville to move to the Southeast, keeping all the other divisions intact. This would be the result:

Northeast:

Boston

Toronto

Ottawa

Montreal

Buffalo

Atlantic:

Rangers

Islanders

Devils

Pittsburgh

Philadelphia

Southeast:

Washington

Carolina

Tampa

Florida

Nashville

Northwest:

Vancouver

Calgary

Edmonton

Winnipeg

Minnesota

Central:

Detroit

Chicago

Columbus

St. Louis

Colorado

Pacific:

Anaheim

San Jose

Los Angeles

Dallas

Phoenix 

Now.. I'm not saying a team like Phoenix should move, but if they were to move them to lets say Seattle, or another Western Canadian city, it would allow for an even more effective divisional setup. Move Seattle (Phoenix) to the Northwest, Minnesota to the Central, and Colorado to the Pacific. The divisions would be as follows:

Northeast:

Boston

Toronto

Ottawa

Montreal

Buffalo

Atlantic:

Rangers

Islanders

Devils

Pittsburgh

Philadelphia

Southeast:

Washington

Carolina

Tampa

Florida

Nashville

Northwest:

Vancouver

Calgary

Edmonton

Winnipeg

Seattle

Central:

Detroit

Chicago

Columbus

St. Louis

Minnesota

Pacific:

Anaheim

San Jose

Los Angeles

Dallas

Colorado

Personally, I can see why moving a franchise like the Coyotes to the Northwest would be cost effective for the NHL, but compassion for the fans must be taken into account.

Thoughts?

There might not be football, and if there is the Giants will probably make many more moves, but for now I'm excited and I want to map out a 53-Man Roster.

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http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=556768

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Regardless of how you feel about the trade (I still don't know how i do), we have a brand new team with a lot of offensive skill and a lack of height. I'm going to outline a few moves I think Donnie should pull of to make us a serious playoff contender.

1) Sign Barron. Were lacking in the height department, and a big body like Barron can eat up some minutes in the paint. He will be needed if we want to go anywhere this year.

2) Package Buike, Sheldon WIlliams, and Roger Mason for a PF/C. This team has an excess of average wing players, and we should package a few of them together to bring in another serviceable big man than can eat up a few minutes. This trade along with the signing of Barron will allow STAT to play exclusively at the four, which is a huge plus for this team.

3) Sign some random D-league big body to fill out the roster.

These moves will result with the following lineup:

Billups-Landry-Melo-Amar'e-Turiaf

Douglas-Brewer-Williams-BIG-Barron

Carter-Rautins-Bully-Balkman-?

I think that is much better tan the team we have right now. These moves give us some size and depth, and allow us to match up better with the Celtics, Bulls, and Magic. Thoughts?

We're all shell-shocked here. None of us know how to think, feel, or what to do next. We lost a lot of our players, players we loved. Players we'll miss. However! 

The New Knicks will be great. This can be a great team. A few small tinkers right now and we can contend with the best. Follow me if you will, we're all in this together.

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First off, let me put it out there than I am in a great mood and I have nothing to do for 3 hours. I hurt my ankle pretty bad so I've had time to think all day. And naturally, i thought of the Rangers.

Theres a lot of talk about trading Mr. Gaborik. Now, I'm not in favor of shopping him, but if an offer comes our way that we like, I believe we should take it. Hopefully Gaborik can get back to his form at this year, but at this point no one can say if he will. We all have our ideas as to why he's not performing, but none of us truly now. 

It is my opinion however that Sather will target Brad Richards this summer. I believe he will throw 7.5+ mil at him for the next 5 years. Now, whether I am in favor of that or not I'm not sure, but I honestly wouldn't be shocked if he's not here next season. Lets assume for sake of discussion that we are going to sign him.

Many believe that it isn't productive to trade Gaborik and sign Richards. I completely disagree with those people. A player of Richards caliber can make good players great, and great players all-stars. He also plays the point brilliantly on the powerplay, so acquiring him would solve two of this teams biggest problems.

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So after messing around on cap geek earlier today, I realized that next year will definitely have some cap room. Now I understand if you dont use it you lose it, but we need to be considerate of our future.

Next year we will most likely have a very similar roster. I had the rangers resign Dubinsky and Callahan for $3.5 mil, Anisimov for $1.8 mil, Boyle for $1.3 mil, Gilroy for $1.1 mil, and Sauer for $1.0 mil. I had the Rangers let go of Fedotenko in favor of Kolarik, but the salaries are very similar so its almost a moot point. Now, if you believe I under of over paid a player please let me know.  

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According to Chris Broussard, Melo is willing to wait till free agency to sign with the Knicks. He feels he can make up lost salary with endorsements. If thats the case, why not sign him AND trade for a big man? Now, I'm no cap expert so feel free to correct me or give advice.

Advanced statistics, and the naked eye, show that Ill WIl and Gallo have trouble being productive in the same game. If thats the case, than 1 excellent player is more valuable than both of them. Atleast statistically speaking. SO why not package one in a trade for a solid big man than can rebound and defend? I always see Chandler mentioned in possible trades for Melo, but if Melo is willing to sign during free agency why stop there? Having Will, Melo, and Gallo is kind of pointless. They will limit each others production and we will still have a poor interior defense. Diminishing returns. Unless we want to run with a starting lineup of

Felton-Fields-Melo-Will-Amare with Gallo off the bench.

OK NOW JUMP!!!!!!!

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Ok so the Ranger is matched up with the Avalanche. Whichever gets more votes is revealed. Right now were loosing 51% o 49%, so everyone get over to nhl.com and vote for the Ranger. I wanna see it already. Hurry!!!!

now some lyrics from my favorite song :)

Old as Ancient Skies
I've had these wondering eyes
But you took me by suprise when you let me insdide of you

Inside of you 
Inside of you 
There's got to be 
Some part of me 
Inside of you

:) NOW REMEMBER TO VOTE.

I know Hockeybuzz is a joke, but read this article. It has nothing to do with rumors, etc. It is just a recap of the Sens-Pens game.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Travis-Yost/Better-Effort-Same-Result-Sens-Lose-2-1-to-Penguins/134/31738

Someone on this site, NTB I believe (if it's not you than I apologize) mentioned to me that I do not follow Penguin games and that the refs do not favor them anymore than they do other teams, so every time the officials win a game for the Penguins, I will make a fan post. You are all welcome to do the same. At the end of the year I will make a post (probably on every SB NATION NHL site listing the games and links to all the articles. It should be fun :) 

So onto the latest game. Here is an excerpt from the article:

The Penguins grabbed a 2-1 lead on quite the controversial score. Chris Kelly was in the box for consecutive penalties on the same shift (hooking, holding), but only one warranted time in the box. Kelly clearly was guilty of hooking behind the net, but the holding call was simply asinine. After Ottawa killed off the first two-minute minor, they gave up a goal to Alex Goligoski where the second part of the "controversy" manifested. Mike Fisher was blatantly taken down in his end with no call made, essentially allowing Goligoski to skate right in and bury the shot past Leclaire from point blank.

So not only did the refs make an awful call to put the Pens on a 4 minute powerplay, they also subsequently ignored a blatant penalty on Pittsburgh. Shocking, right?

You can point to some of the horrific refereeing, especially in the third period, as the reason why the Ottawa Senators lost this game. While I won't dispute that The Stripes were again no better than putrid (the Kelly holding call, the Fisher non call, and the Neil non-call all egregious in their own right), scoring one goal a game is rarely going to win you a game in the National Hockey League.

AND HERES THE LINK TO THE OTTAWA CITIZEN'S COVERAGE OF THE GAME:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Leclaire+solid+Senators+fall+Penguins/3890061/story.html

And the excerpt from it?

We did everything right to win this game and Pascal in the net was unbelievably good,” said Karlsson. “But it’s tough to play against a team and the refs sometimes.”

We've never heard that before right? How about this one.

The power play resulted from an oddity: Chris Kelly was serving the second of two hooking penalties which were called on the same play. Worse still in Karlsson’s eyes was the fact Penguins winger Chris Conner directly interfered with Senators centre Mike Fisher only seconds before the goal. Fisher was lying on the ice as Goligoski skated uninterrupted from the blue-line into the slot, where he beat Leclaire over his right shoulder.

Those are just some more instances where the referees made "mistakes." They just all suspiciously are helpful towards Cindy's team.  I will continue to make these posts, just a heads up. Let's see how many we can rack up before the season ends, huh? Over-under 10? 15? 20?

When does it come to a point where its not a coincidence anymore?