Derick Brassard is thrilled to be returning to the Eastern Conference finals — and nearly as happy to be done playing the Rangers. Following Ottawa’s 4-2 series-clinching Game 6 win Tuesday night over his former team, Brassard had difficulty enjoying the moment as much as he usually would, seeing how miserable friends like Mats Zuccarello […]
Read MoreSo begins the Rangers’ offseason, and all the questions that come with it. After retooling on the fly this past summer, the team compiled by general manger Jeff Gorton fell short, losing a second-round series to the Senators with a 4-2 defeat in Game 6 on Tuesday night at the Garden. Never will the second […]
Read MoreHenrik Lundqvist is not the problem with the Rangers, but the 35-year-old franchise goaltender is no longer capable of being the singular solution to the Cup-less streak of 23 years, either. Truth is, he never was, was he? Or else there’d have been a parade up the Canyon of Heroes at least once over the […]
Read MoreIf the Rangers really dive into the market for a big-time defenseman, it might be largely because of their power play coming up small yet again. The Blueshirts’ man-advantage went 2-for-24 (8.3 percent) in the six games against the Senators and finished the postseason 3-for-39 (7.7 percent). This is after a regular season when the […]
Read MoreThe Rangers’ core never has been more in question, and that includes Derek Stepan. The Blueshirts’ alternate captain and de facto top center did not mince words when evaluating his own postseason, a harsh evaluation after his team’s season ended with a 4-2 loss to the Senators in Game 6 of the second round Tuesday […]
Read MoreGeneral manager Jeff Gorton goes into the offseason with a mandate to change the core, even if doing so might create a scenario under which the Rangers take one step back next season in order to be in position to take two or three forward in the following season or two. Because, while the Blueshirts’ […]
Read MoreNobody was going to celebrate the Penguins victory near this angry Capitals fan. After another spring disappointment by his favorite hockey team, a Caps supporter barreled over a woman in a Penguins jersey because she happened to be in his way as he sulked following Washington’s 2-0, Game 7 loss. “Don’t be so happy about it,” […]
Read MoreHenrik Lundqvist didn’t know how many more times he would get a chance to play for his country, so he packed his bags, packed his wounded competitive spirit and was set to ship off to Paris and Germany for the World Championships on Friday. The Rangers’ franchise netminder made the decision Wednesday night, one day […]
Read MoreWe know all about the blown leads and missed opportunities in Ottawa, and we all can identify the players who had disappointing rounds. But for me, the larger issue management must address is the emotional void with which the Rangers took the ice for Game 6, when the series and a trip to the conference […]
Read MoreBrendan Smith said he had “a blast” being a Ranger for just over two months, and the 28-year-old defenseman, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent come July 1, made it clear he would like to return if the circumstances are right. “Absolutely,” Smith said on breakup day Thursday in Tarrytown, when asked […]
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