Hockey: New York Rangers
Rangers sign defenseman Blake Parlett
June, 2, 2011
6/02/11
5:09
PM ET
By Matt Ehalt | ESPNNewYork.com
The Rangers have agreed to terms with defenseman Blake Parlett, the team announced today.
Parlett, 22, played for the Rangers AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale last season, scoring two goals and tallying 10 assists in 24 games.
He started the 2010-11 season with the Greenville Road Warriors of the ECHL, and he had seven goals and 25 assists in 46 games. He led all of the league's defensemen in point and was named an All-Star.
Parlett previously played in the Ontario Hockey League, scoring 28 goals and adding 88 assists in 301 games.
Parlett, 22, played for the Rangers AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale last season, scoring two goals and tallying 10 assists in 24 games.
He started the 2010-11 season with the Greenville Road Warriors of the ECHL, and he had seven goals and 25 assists in 46 games. He led all of the league's defensemen in point and was named an All-Star.
Parlett previously played in the Ontario Hockey League, scoring 28 goals and adding 88 assists in 301 games.
Weight to announce retirement, what's next
May, 24, 2011
5/24/11
7:00
PM ET
By Mike Hume | ESPNNewYork.com
In a move that comes as little surprise, New York Islanders team captain Doug Weight will announce his retirement at a team press conference Thursday at 11 a.m.
The team has been tight-lipped on the nature of the announcement, but it is likely that the 40-year-old center will also be assuming a position within the Islanders organization. The details of that role remain unknown.
After spending much of this past season on the sidelines -- he played in just 18 games before sustaining an injury that resulted in nerve damage in his back -- Weight took on a tutoring role for the Islanders' up-and-coming players. In April, several days after telling the media he was leaning towards retirement, the veteran center took up an informal position behind the bench offering advice to his teammates.
"Really, I'm just trying to be positive reinforcement to the guys," Weight told the Islanders' team site at the time. "I get along well with them, but I'm also just trying to get a little experience back there to see what it is like. I'm not reading too much into it, the coaches are just letting me be a part of the game while we finish up the year. I've enjoyed it."
It would not be a shock to see the Islanders make that position a more permanent one on Thursday, particularly given the role Weight has played in the development of the team's franchise player, John Tavares. Not only did Weight help tutor the former No. 1 overall pick on the ice, but he sheltered him off of it, letting Tavares live with his family during the rookie's first season in the NHL. This season, Tavares lived on his own.
The pending announcement will signal the end of a career that began in 1990 when he was selected 34th overall by New York Rangers. He broke in on Broadway in 1991, the first of six stops during Weight's 19 seasons and 1,238 games in the NHL. The Warren, Michigan-native recorded 278 goals and 755 assists for 1,033 points during that time, ranking him 214 in NHL history. It's also the sixth-highest career point total by an American skater. He was a four-time all-star and a Stanley Cup winner with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.
The team has been tight-lipped on the nature of the announcement, but it is likely that the 40-year-old center will also be assuming a position within the Islanders organization. The details of that role remain unknown.
After spending much of this past season on the sidelines -- he played in just 18 games before sustaining an injury that resulted in nerve damage in his back -- Weight took on a tutoring role for the Islanders' up-and-coming players. In April, several days after telling the media he was leaning towards retirement, the veteran center took up an informal position behind the bench offering advice to his teammates.
"Really, I'm just trying to be positive reinforcement to the guys," Weight told the Islanders' team site at the time. "I get along well with them, but I'm also just trying to get a little experience back there to see what it is like. I'm not reading too much into it, the coaches are just letting me be a part of the game while we finish up the year. I've enjoyed it."
It would not be a shock to see the Islanders make that position a more permanent one on Thursday, particularly given the role Weight has played in the development of the team's franchise player, John Tavares. Not only did Weight help tutor the former No. 1 overall pick on the ice, but he sheltered him off of it, letting Tavares live with his family during the rookie's first season in the NHL. This season, Tavares lived on his own.
The pending announcement will signal the end of a career that began in 1990 when he was selected 34th overall by New York Rangers. He broke in on Broadway in 1991, the first of six stops during Weight's 19 seasons and 1,238 games in the NHL. The Warren, Michigan-native recorded 278 goals and 755 assists for 1,033 points during that time, ranking him 214 in NHL history. It's also the sixth-highest career point total by an American skater. He was a four-time all-star and a Stanley Cup winner with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.
Rangers agree to terms with Stajcer
May, 20, 2011
5/20/11
8:22
PM ET
By Matt Ehalt | ESPNNewYork.com
The Rangers have agreed to terms with goalie Scott Stajcer, their 2009 fifth-round pick, the team announced Friday.
Stajcer, who was selected 140th overall, helped lead the Owen Sound Attack to the Ontario Hockey League title. In the playoffs, he went 8-4 with a 2.79 goals-against average and was 10-3 in the regular season. He missed 50 games with a lower body injury. In his OHL career, he is 47-44-12.
Stajcer, 19, will play in the CHL Memorial Cup and is a native of Cambridge, Ontario.
Stajcer, who was selected 140th overall, helped lead the Owen Sound Attack to the Ontario Hockey League title. In the playoffs, he went 8-4 with a 2.79 goals-against average and was 10-3 in the regular season. He missed 50 games with a lower body injury. In his OHL career, he is 47-44-12.
Stajcer, 19, will play in the CHL Memorial Cup and is a native of Cambridge, Ontario.
The family of Derek Boogaard released a statement on Friday through the National Hockey League Players' Association on Derek's death. It was also announced Friday that Boogaard's death was an accident.
Here is the statement from the family:
“We would like to express our appreciation for the outpouring of love and support for our family during this difficult period as we grieve the loss of Derek – our son and brother. We are deeply saddened by this unimaginable loss, but we are grateful for the expression of support that has given us strength as we go through this tragic time.
It is very comforting for our family to know that, while Derek’s life was far too short, he had a great impact on many people who he came into contact with. We are proud that Derek was able to live his boyhood dream to play in the National Hockey League. We are even more proud of the fact that Derek was dedicated to making a difference in his adopted communities of Minnesota and New York City, through his countless hours of charitable work.
Earlier today, we received the results of Derek's toxicology report at the time of his accidental death. After repeated courageous attempts at rehabilitation and with the full support of the New York Rangers, the NHLPA, and the NHL, Derek had been showing tremendous improvement but was ultimately unable to beat this opponent. While he played and lived with pain for many years, his passion for the game, his teammates, and his community work was unstoppable.
Our family would like to like to thank the New York Rangers, the Minnesota Wild, the National Hockey League Players’ Association, and the National Hockey League for supporting Derek's continued efforts in his battle.
Derek will be greatly missed and will never be forgotten by his fans, friends, and teammates, and especially by us – his family. We respectfully ask for continued privacy as we grieve the loss of Derek.”
To read more about Boogaard, you can click on this link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/news/story?id=6570143
Here is the statement from the family:
“We would like to express our appreciation for the outpouring of love and support for our family during this difficult period as we grieve the loss of Derek – our son and brother. We are deeply saddened by this unimaginable loss, but we are grateful for the expression of support that has given us strength as we go through this tragic time.
It is very comforting for our family to know that, while Derek’s life was far too short, he had a great impact on many people who he came into contact with. We are proud that Derek was able to live his boyhood dream to play in the National Hockey League. We are even more proud of the fact that Derek was dedicated to making a difference in his adopted communities of Minnesota and New York City, through his countless hours of charitable work.
Earlier today, we received the results of Derek's toxicology report at the time of his accidental death. After repeated courageous attempts at rehabilitation and with the full support of the New York Rangers, the NHLPA, and the NHL, Derek had been showing tremendous improvement but was ultimately unable to beat this opponent. While he played and lived with pain for many years, his passion for the game, his teammates, and his community work was unstoppable.
Our family would like to like to thank the New York Rangers, the Minnesota Wild, the National Hockey League Players’ Association, and the National Hockey League for supporting Derek's continued efforts in his battle.
Derek will be greatly missed and will never be forgotten by his fans, friends, and teammates, and especially by us – his family. We respectfully ask for continued privacy as we grieve the loss of Derek.”
To read more about Boogaard, you can click on this link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/news/story?id=6570143
NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers have reached an agreement with forward Christian Thomas.
Thomas is first in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with 95 goals over the past two seasons. He is the first Rangers prospect to score 50 goals in an OHL regular season since Ryan Callahan.
Thomas is the son of longtime NHL player Steve Thomas, who had 421 goals and 933 points in more than 1,200 career NHL games.
Christian Thomas, 18, was the Rangers' second-round choice, 40th overall, in the 2010 draft.
Thomas is first in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with 95 goals over the past two seasons. He is the first Rangers prospect to score 50 goals in an OHL regular season since Ryan Callahan.
Thomas is the son of longtime NHL player Steve Thomas, who had 421 goals and 933 points in more than 1,200 career NHL games.
Christian Thomas, 18, was the Rangers' second-round choice, 40th overall, in the 2010 draft.
NEW YORK -- The family of Derek Boogaard, the New York Rangers forward who died last week in Minnesota, is asking for donations to be made to Defending the Blue Line in his memory, in lieu of flowers.
The Rangers said Tuesday that the family "would like to see Derek's legacy live on by supporting military kids and the game he loved."
Defending the Blue Line is a nonprofit organization created by soldiers with the spirit of keeping hockey alive for the children of our nation's military heroes, according to the mission statement on the group's website.
Boogaard, 28, was found dead Friday at his Minneapolis apartment. A cause of death has not yet been determined.
The Rangers said Tuesday that the family "would like to see Derek's legacy live on by supporting military kids and the game he loved."
Defending the Blue Line is a nonprofit organization created by soldiers with the spirit of keeping hockey alive for the children of our nation's military heroes, according to the mission statement on the group's website.
Boogaard, 28, was found dead Friday at his Minneapolis apartment. A cause of death has not yet been determined.
Derek Boogaard wasn’t counted on to be a scorer with the Minnesota Wild under Jacques Lemaire, but when he did, the coach noticed a little more juice on his bench.
“The guys were a lot more excited and they wanted him to have success,” said Lemaire, who retired at the end of last season after serving as the Devils coach. “You know the reason why, it’s very simple. It’s because he was a good person.”
Like most of the hockey community, Lemaire has strong memories on and off the ice of Boogaard, the former Rangers and Wild forward who died Friday at 28. Lemaire coached Boogaard for the first four seasons of his career, from 2005-09.
“He cared about the team and he wanted to win,” Lemaire said. “He was doing everything he could to make the team better.”
Lemaire remembers Boogaard specifically as his squad’s enforcer, a 6-foot-7, 265-pound force who didn’t mind tangling it up with the meanest and toughest players on the opposing team.
He said Boogaard wasn’t gifted with the skills that players need to play in the NHL so he wasn’t sure if he would be able to make it, but the left wing’s hard work and willingness to listen to his coaching staff convinced Lemaire to give him a chance.
In four seasons with Lemaire, Boogaard scored just two goals and notched eight assists, but racked up 439 penalty minutes. “Being an enforcer, it’s a tough job because sometimes you have to fight the guys and a lot of times you probably don’t feel like fighting them but you have to do it,” Lemaire said. “Boogy never backed up. He was there to do his job. He knew what his job was and to me, he was very easy to coach.”
Lemaire remembers one time when he called Boogaard into this office to dress him down about some infraction, but as Boogaard walked in, Lemaire said the big man looked almost defenseless and the coach just couldn’t bring himelf to scold him.
His former coach also praised Boogaard for the active role he took in charity events, as he supported the Defending the Blue Line Foundation and created “Boogaard’s Booguardians,” which hosted military members and their families at all Rangers home games.
“He’s a guy that I think really appreciated that he could play in the NHL and wanted to give society a little bit of what he got,” Lemaire said. “That’s why he didn’t count the hours he was there for anyone who needed him.”
When Lemaire found out the news of Boogaard's death on Friday, he couldn’t believe it. Boogaard might not have been the most talented player in the NHL, but he won over Lemaire in their time together.
“When I look at him as a person, I look at the guys on the team. I know they loved him and respected him a lot for the type of job he was doing. It’s not an easy job to go out every night and do that kind of work,” Lemaire said. “Every time he had just a little success, all the guys were really excited and really proud for him.”
“The guys were a lot more excited and they wanted him to have success,” said Lemaire, who retired at the end of last season after serving as the Devils coach. “You know the reason why, it’s very simple. It’s because he was a good person.”
Like most of the hockey community, Lemaire has strong memories on and off the ice of Boogaard, the former Rangers and Wild forward who died Friday at 28. Lemaire coached Boogaard for the first four seasons of his career, from 2005-09.
“He cared about the team and he wanted to win,” Lemaire said. “He was doing everything he could to make the team better.”
Lemaire remembers Boogaard specifically as his squad’s enforcer, a 6-foot-7, 265-pound force who didn’t mind tangling it up with the meanest and toughest players on the opposing team.
He said Boogaard wasn’t gifted with the skills that players need to play in the NHL so he wasn’t sure if he would be able to make it, but the left wing’s hard work and willingness to listen to his coaching staff convinced Lemaire to give him a chance.
In four seasons with Lemaire, Boogaard scored just two goals and notched eight assists, but racked up 439 penalty minutes. “Being an enforcer, it’s a tough job because sometimes you have to fight the guys and a lot of times you probably don’t feel like fighting them but you have to do it,” Lemaire said. “Boogy never backed up. He was there to do his job. He knew what his job was and to me, he was very easy to coach.”
Lemaire remembers one time when he called Boogaard into this office to dress him down about some infraction, but as Boogaard walked in, Lemaire said the big man looked almost defenseless and the coach just couldn’t bring himelf to scold him.
His former coach also praised Boogaard for the active role he took in charity events, as he supported the Defending the Blue Line Foundation and created “Boogaard’s Booguardians,” which hosted military members and their families at all Rangers home games.
“He’s a guy that I think really appreciated that he could play in the NHL and wanted to give society a little bit of what he got,” Lemaire said. “That’s why he didn’t count the hours he was there for anyone who needed him.”
When Lemaire found out the news of Boogaard's death on Friday, he couldn’t believe it. Boogaard might not have been the most talented player in the NHL, but he won over Lemaire in their time together.
“When I look at him as a person, I look at the guys on the team. I know they loved him and respected him a lot for the type of job he was doing. It’s not an easy job to go out every night and do that kind of work,” Lemaire said. “Every time he had just a little success, all the guys were really excited and really proud for him.”
Rangers teammates saddened by Boogaard's death
May, 14, 2011
5/14/11
4:33
PM ET
By Matt Ehalt | ESPNNewYork.com
Following the news of the death of Rangers forward Derek Boogaard in his Minneapolis apartment on Friday, many of his former Rangers teammates have expressed their sadness and shock over the loss of one of the league’s toughest enforcers.
"On behalf of all Derek's teammates, I would like to say that he was a great friend and a great teammate and that we are all going miss him dearly,” Rangers captain Chris Drury said in a released statement. “This is a tragic loss for the hockey community. All of our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”
Boogaard, who served a role as an enforcer, joined the Rangers for the 2010-11 season after signing with the team on July 1, 2010. He didn’t have much of an effect with the Rangers, scoring just one goal and adding one assist in 22 games. His season was cut short on Dec. 9 after he suffered a concussion against Ottawa.
Rangers forward Brandon Prust said on twitter that he roomed with Boogaard and tweeted just after midnight that Boogaard was a great friend and a teammate and was a loss for words following the 28-year-old’s death.
“I am still in shock. It keeps hitting me off and on all day as I'm driving home. Though he was a fighter on the ice, he was definitely a gentle giant off the ice,” Prust said in a released statement. “He was just a real good guy, a team guy all the way. I've been looking at some of the silly pictures I have from when we were roommates and it just hits me what a good guy he was. I still can't believe I am referring to him in the past tense."
Rangers Right Wing Marian Gaborik, who played with Boogaard for four season in Minnesota and one year in New York, said in the statement that he was very close with Boogaard and the two helped each other out both on and off the ice. He said that Boogaard was one of the best enforcers in the league and any team would have been pleased to have him.
“He was a year younger than me, and you could see that he improved so much,” Gaborik said in a released statement. “But he was always such a calm guy, got along with everybody. We had a lot of good times together. He was a really easy going guy, really caring. We talked pretty much about everything. He’s just the type of guy who would be there for you when you needed him.
He also added in the statement: “We spoke before the World Championships. We were in touch a lot. He was focusing on coming back, training each day. He was really looking forward to coming back in great shape and prove that he’s the best at what he does. He was really looking forward to that. He was always so positive and optimistic”
Several other Rangers showed support for Boogaard's family on twitter. Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto tweeted “Boogy, you will be missed! Condolences to the Boogard family. The world lost an amazing friend and teammate!”
Backup goalie Martin Biron, who did not want to comment out of respect for Boogaard and his family when called Saturday morning, said on his twitter account: “Extremely sadden by the loss of a great teammate, Derek Boogaard, we’ll miss you. Praying for his family and friends.”
"On behalf of all Derek's teammates, I would like to say that he was a great friend and a great teammate and that we are all going miss him dearly,” Rangers captain Chris Drury said in a released statement. “This is a tragic loss for the hockey community. All of our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”
Boogaard, who served a role as an enforcer, joined the Rangers for the 2010-11 season after signing with the team on July 1, 2010. He didn’t have much of an effect with the Rangers, scoring just one goal and adding one assist in 22 games. His season was cut short on Dec. 9 after he suffered a concussion against Ottawa.
Rangers forward Brandon Prust said on twitter that he roomed with Boogaard and tweeted just after midnight that Boogaard was a great friend and a teammate and was a loss for words following the 28-year-old’s death.
“I am still in shock. It keeps hitting me off and on all day as I'm driving home. Though he was a fighter on the ice, he was definitely a gentle giant off the ice,” Prust said in a released statement. “He was just a real good guy, a team guy all the way. I've been looking at some of the silly pictures I have from when we were roommates and it just hits me what a good guy he was. I still can't believe I am referring to him in the past tense."
Rangers Right Wing Marian Gaborik, who played with Boogaard for four season in Minnesota and one year in New York, said in the statement that he was very close with Boogaard and the two helped each other out both on and off the ice. He said that Boogaard was one of the best enforcers in the league and any team would have been pleased to have him.
“He was a year younger than me, and you could see that he improved so much,” Gaborik said in a released statement. “But he was always such a calm guy, got along with everybody. We had a lot of good times together. He was a really easy going guy, really caring. We talked pretty much about everything. He’s just the type of guy who would be there for you when you needed him.
He also added in the statement: “We spoke before the World Championships. We were in touch a lot. He was focusing on coming back, training each day. He was really looking forward to coming back in great shape and prove that he’s the best at what he does. He was really looking forward to that. He was always so positive and optimistic”
Several other Rangers showed support for Boogaard's family on twitter. Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto tweeted “Boogy, you will be missed! Condolences to the Boogard family. The world lost an amazing friend and teammate!”
Backup goalie Martin Biron, who did not want to comment out of respect for Boogaard and his family when called Saturday morning, said on his twitter account: “Extremely sadden by the loss of a great teammate, Derek Boogaard, we’ll miss you. Praying for his family and friends.”
ESPN.com illustration
Derek was 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds, thought by some to be the best fighter in the league. So good, in fact, one of the biggest problems having him on your team was nobody wanted to fight him!
You would think someone like that would be considered scary. But ask anyone who knew Boogaard and they'll tell you quite the opposite. You'll hear words like "kind" and "nice" and "good."
He played just 22 games for the Rangers. My dealings with him were nothing more than a brief chat, a passing nod in the dressing room or on the plane. Every time I would say to myself, "For a scary guy, he's pretty nice."
On days like this you're reminded how fragile life is. That tomorrow is promised to no one. As hard as Derek hit on the ice, nothing matched the blow to the belly we all felt when we heard the news that he died.
I'm just glad that I knew him. And glad that he'll be remembered as the toughest nice guy you could ever meet.
Rangers agree to terms with 2010 pick Wilson
May, 12, 2011
5/12/11
6:41
PM ET
By Matt Ehalt | ESPNNewYork.com
The Rangers have come to terms on a contract with 2010 fifth-round pick forward Jason Wilson, the team announced today.
Wilson, a 21-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ontario, played with the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League this past season and scored 25 goals and added 43 assists. He had a plus-2o rating.
In 162 games in the OHL, he has 47 goals and 48 assists. He also has accumulated 299 penalty minutes.
Wilson, a 21-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ontario, played with the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League this past season and scored 25 goals and added 43 assists. He had a plus-2o rating.
In 162 games in the OHL, he has 47 goals and 48 assists. He also has accumulated 299 penalty minutes.
Former New York Rangers left winger Alex Frolov is headed to Russia.
According to Avangard Omsk’s (KHL) official team website, the two sides reached an agreement on a three-year contract.
The Rangers brought in Frolov with a one-year, $3 million in the offseason, hoping that he could mesh with sniper Marian Gaborik, giving the Blueshirts a dynamic scoring tandem.
But Frolov struggled, netting just seven goals and nine assists in 43 games before blowing out his knee in early January. He became an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2010-11 campaign, and now he's leaving the NHL all together.
Ex-Ranger Jaromir Jagr also plays for Avangard.
According to Avangard Omsk’s (KHL) official team website, the two sides reached an agreement on a three-year contract.
The Rangers brought in Frolov with a one-year, $3 million in the offseason, hoping that he could mesh with sniper Marian Gaborik, giving the Blueshirts a dynamic scoring tandem.
But Frolov struggled, netting just seven goals and nine assists in 43 games before blowing out his knee in early January. He became an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2010-11 campaign, and now he's leaving the NHL all together.
Ex-Ranger Jaromir Jagr also plays for Avangard.
Del Zotto undergoes successful surgery
May, 3, 2011
5/03/11
9:44
PM ET
By Matt Ehalt | ESPNNewYork.com
Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto had a successful surgery on Tuesday to repair a sports hernia, the Rangers announced. Del Zotto is expected to be ready for the start of training camp, according to the release.
The Rangers first-round pick in the 2008 Draft, Del Zotto scored just two goals and added nine assists in 47 games before spending the end of the season with AHL affiliate Connecticut. Del Zotto had a great rookie season, but slipped this past year in his sophomore campaign.
The Rangers first-round pick in the 2008 Draft, Del Zotto scored just two goals and added nine assists in 47 games before spending the end of the season with AHL affiliate Connecticut. Del Zotto had a great rookie season, but slipped this past year in his sophomore campaign.
Prust & Girardi have successful surgeries
April, 29, 2011
4/29/11
4:49
PM ET
By Matt Ehalt | ESPNNewYork.com
Defenseman Dan Girardi and forward Brandon Prust both underwent successful surgery, the team announced Friday. Girardi underwent surgery on Thursday to repair his inguinal hernia, while Prust had surgery Friday to repair a labral tear. The team release says that both are expected to be ready for the start of training camp.
Girardi, who played through a dislocated finger in Game 5 of the Rangers Eastern Conference Quarterfinals matchup against the Capitals, plays on the Rangers first defensive line alongside Marc Staal. This season, he had a career-high in assists and points with 27 and 31, respectively. He led the NHL with a career-high 236 blocked shots. Girardi just completed his fourth season with the Blueshirts.
Prust, who’s equally known for gutting out injuries, had the best season of his young career in 2010-11 as he scored a career-high 13 goals, added a career-high 16 assists and total a career-high 29 points. He was one of four Rangers not to miss a game last season and was a critical part of the penalty kill, leading the team with seven shorthanded goals. Prust finished his first full season with the Rangers last season after being traded to New York on Feb. 2, 2010.
Girardi, who played through a dislocated finger in Game 5 of the Rangers Eastern Conference Quarterfinals matchup against the Capitals, plays on the Rangers first defensive line alongside Marc Staal. This season, he had a career-high in assists and points with 27 and 31, respectively. He led the NHL with a career-high 236 blocked shots. Girardi just completed his fourth season with the Blueshirts.
Prust, who’s equally known for gutting out injuries, had the best season of his young career in 2010-11 as he scored a career-high 13 goals, added a career-high 16 assists and total a career-high 29 points. He was one of four Rangers not to miss a game last season and was a critical part of the penalty kill, leading the team with seven shorthanded goals. Prust finished his first full season with the Rangers last season after being traded to New York on Feb. 2, 2010.
5 intriguing contract situations for Rangers
April, 26, 2011
4/26/11
12:40
PM ET
By Mike Hume | ESPNNewYork.com
With the offseason rapidly ramping up and contract rumors starting to fly, it marks a good time to look at some of the most intriguing deals to be dealt with this summer. Here are the five most interesting in my humble opinion.
5. Brandon Dubinsky, LW, Age 24 - Based on Dubinsky's comments to the Daily News, it sounds like an extension could get done pretty quickly. The fit is good and the desire for both sides to make a deal seems strong. The only hiccup could be if Dubinsky is looking for a megadeal of some kind. I would think he’s not looking to hold up the bank though, especially since he should see a nice raise on his $1.85M salary from this past season anyway.
4. Brian Boyle, C, 26 - Boyle presents a very interesting case as a restricted free agent. He will absolutely get a raise off his $525K contract from a season ago. But how big will that raise be? With 21 goals and 14 assists this season, Boyle produced one of the biggest breakout seasons in the NHL. And while he didn’t put up a point in the Rangers’ playoff series against the Washington Capitals, he was arguably the team’s most consistent forward over the course of the series. Now … were the 21 goals a fluke or something he can reproduce in future seasons? His shooting percentage of 9.6 percent, right around the league average, suggests that he wasn’t just lucky. Couple that with the fact he does most of his work around the opponent’s crease and it seems like 20-goal seasons are not unrealistic expectations, even though Boyle’s previous career best for goals was four.
3. Ryan Callahan, RW, 26 - Callahan has been described many times as the Rangers’ captain in waiting. He plays exactly the style of hockey endorsed by head coach John Tortorella and contributes in all aspects of the game. Players like that are rare and highly coveted in today’s NHL. So, how big a bump will Callahan, a restricted free agent, get from his $2.3M salary of 2010-11? He produced career bests in both goals and assists in just 60 games this season. If I had to guess, I would think that Callahan could see a long-term deal to help keep his cap hit manageable but still get him the bucks he deserves.
2. Derek Boogaard, LW/Penalty Box, 28 - Boogaard won’t be a free agent until 2014-15 ... which is precisely why I’m putting him and his $1.65M per-season deal on this list. Tortorella dressed Boogaard in 22 games during an injury-shortened season that ended after he sustained a concussion on Dec. 9. His recovery from that concussion is still in question. But also, when he's not dropping the gloves his contributions are limited, at best, on the ice. There have been rumors connecting him to the KHL, but it seems very possible the Rangers will try to offload Boogaard in some way, shape or form. I certainly don’t fault Boogaard for signing the deal and taking the money, but Wade Redden and Co. might need to make room for the Boogie Man on the Connecticut Whale team bus. And that could be the best-case scenario for the banged-up brawler.
1. Chris Drury, C, 34 - Faceoffs. Right now, it seems that winning draws is Drury’s biggest on-ice contribution to the Rangers. That’s a rather short list considering the team’s current captain is set to draw a salary of $7.05M next season. Tortorella’s comments Monday seem to indicate that the team will seriously consider buying out Drury’s contract after he battled a string of injuries and averaged about 7:30 of ice time in the playoffs. With a no-movement clause in his contract, Drury won’t face the same fate as Redden, but the Rangers probably value the $3.5M-plus of cap space they can free up by buying him out more than a fourth-line and situational center, the role Drury mainly filled this season.
There’s a perception issue as well though. Will future free agents look at the Rangers’ offers skeptically if the players accepting their lucrative money -- Redden and perhaps Drury and Boogaard -- don’t get to reach the end of their deals in New York? Will they start to demand no-movement clauses -- which have severely hindered the Devils across the Hudson -- limiting the Rangers’ options when it comes to roster management?
So, if you’re the Rangers, do you try to buy out Drury, knowing he’d count just $3.3M against the cap next season and $1.67M against the 2012-13 cap, thereby freeing up space for a high-skill scorer the Blueshirts badly need? Or do you ride it out knowing you have a high character guy to help lead a young roster and hope that he can rebound in the production department as he returns to good health?
5. Brandon Dubinsky, LW, Age 24 - Based on Dubinsky's comments to the Daily News, it sounds like an extension could get done pretty quickly. The fit is good and the desire for both sides to make a deal seems strong. The only hiccup could be if Dubinsky is looking for a megadeal of some kind. I would think he’s not looking to hold up the bank though, especially since he should see a nice raise on his $1.85M salary from this past season anyway.
4. Brian Boyle, C, 26 - Boyle presents a very interesting case as a restricted free agent. He will absolutely get a raise off his $525K contract from a season ago. But how big will that raise be? With 21 goals and 14 assists this season, Boyle produced one of the biggest breakout seasons in the NHL. And while he didn’t put up a point in the Rangers’ playoff series against the Washington Capitals, he was arguably the team’s most consistent forward over the course of the series. Now … were the 21 goals a fluke or something he can reproduce in future seasons? His shooting percentage of 9.6 percent, right around the league average, suggests that he wasn’t just lucky. Couple that with the fact he does most of his work around the opponent’s crease and it seems like 20-goal seasons are not unrealistic expectations, even though Boyle’s previous career best for goals was four.
3. Ryan Callahan, RW, 26 - Callahan has been described many times as the Rangers’ captain in waiting. He plays exactly the style of hockey endorsed by head coach John Tortorella and contributes in all aspects of the game. Players like that are rare and highly coveted in today’s NHL. So, how big a bump will Callahan, a restricted free agent, get from his $2.3M salary of 2010-11? He produced career bests in both goals and assists in just 60 games this season. If I had to guess, I would think that Callahan could see a long-term deal to help keep his cap hit manageable but still get him the bucks he deserves.
2. Derek Boogaard, LW/Penalty Box, 28 - Boogaard won’t be a free agent until 2014-15 ... which is precisely why I’m putting him and his $1.65M per-season deal on this list. Tortorella dressed Boogaard in 22 games during an injury-shortened season that ended after he sustained a concussion on Dec. 9. His recovery from that concussion is still in question. But also, when he's not dropping the gloves his contributions are limited, at best, on the ice. There have been rumors connecting him to the KHL, but it seems very possible the Rangers will try to offload Boogaard in some way, shape or form. I certainly don’t fault Boogaard for signing the deal and taking the money, but Wade Redden and Co. might need to make room for the Boogie Man on the Connecticut Whale team bus. And that could be the best-case scenario for the banged-up brawler.
1. Chris Drury, C, 34 - Faceoffs. Right now, it seems that winning draws is Drury’s biggest on-ice contribution to the Rangers. That’s a rather short list considering the team’s current captain is set to draw a salary of $7.05M next season. Tortorella’s comments Monday seem to indicate that the team will seriously consider buying out Drury’s contract after he battled a string of injuries and averaged about 7:30 of ice time in the playoffs. With a no-movement clause in his contract, Drury won’t face the same fate as Redden, but the Rangers probably value the $3.5M-plus of cap space they can free up by buying him out more than a fourth-line and situational center, the role Drury mainly filled this season.
There’s a perception issue as well though. Will future free agents look at the Rangers’ offers skeptically if the players accepting their lucrative money -- Redden and perhaps Drury and Boogaard -- don’t get to reach the end of their deals in New York? Will they start to demand no-movement clauses -- which have severely hindered the Devils across the Hudson -- limiting the Rangers’ options when it comes to roster management?
So, if you’re the Rangers, do you try to buy out Drury, knowing he’d count just $3.3M against the cap next season and $1.67M against the 2012-13 cap, thereby freeing up space for a high-skill scorer the Blueshirts badly need? Or do you ride it out knowing you have a high character guy to help lead a young roster and hope that he can rebound in the production department as he returns to good health?
Rangers notebook: Catching up with the players one last time
April, 25, 2011
4/25/11
10:37
PM ET
By Matt Ehalt | ESPNNewYork.com
During today’s exit meetings, players filed in and out of the locker room, taking time to talk to the media one last time before heading off. ESPNNewYork.com was able to catch up with 14 players in that span. Here are the highlights from each player, excluding Marian Gaborik, who has his own blog entry.
• • •
Veteran Chris Drury admits the past season ranks among the most frustrating of his career. He missed 53 games with a broken finger and injured knee, scoring a career-low one goal and just four assists. At the end of the year, he was relegated to one of the bottom lines and played a team-low 5:58 in Game 5.
He heads into the offseason hoping to get back into the same routine to try and get healthy for camp. With one year left on his deal, Drury will be playing for his next contract, but it might not come in a role he’s accustomed to.
“What I’ve said all along and what I believe is whatever role coach sees fit that’s going to help us win games, for me, that’s what I’ll do," Drury said. "That wasn’t just here. That was in other cities as well and other teams. I don’t think that’s going to change, whatever any coach thinks is going to help us win games or whatever he wants me to do in that, I’ll do as best as I can.”
• • •
Veteran forward Vinny Prospal enters the offseason with no contract, as an unrestricted free agent, but would like to come back to the Rangers.
“It’s what it is, I’m not 26 anymore, so it goes from year to year and like I said hopefully I’ll be back here,” Prospal said. “This is a fun team to play (with) and I would like to continue here.”
Injuries and age, though, might keep the Rangers away. Prospal missed the first 53 games of the season with a knee injury. While he came back against the odds, he said he had a roller coaster season as his play wasn’t consistent.
He said he’s skipping the World Championships and strengthening the quad muscle and other muscles around the knee to get ready for September—hopefully with the Rangers.
• • •
Forward Ryan Callahan, who missed the playoffs with a fractured ankle, said his injury is progressing like it’s supposed to and everything should be OK in a couple of weeks. He said he could have returned for the Stanley Cup or Conference Championships. He said watching the team, instead of playing, wasn’t easy.
“It’s pretty tough. You battle with these guys all year, you work so hard and you get to the best part of the year, the most fun, and you’re sitting and having to watch, it’s a tough thing to do and something I didn’t enjoy,” Callahan said. “It’s part of the game and it happens and now I know next year going into the year I want to be right back there and I want to be playing.”
• • •
Forward Sean Avery is heading into the final year of his contract of a rough year in which he was a healthy scratch in five of the team’s final 11 games, and the first playoff game He scored just three goals, his lowest since his rookie season in 2001-02.
He said it was a difficult season and he was happy with how he played in the playoffs, saying he let himself go, instead of worrying about things that he said he can’t worry about. Avery calls his style of play risk-reward.
“I don’t want to talk how I played because ultimately we’re sitting here, our season is over with, but I felt like I played the type of game I’ve played and I think that game helps a team,” Avery said about his playoffs performance. “Is it always going to be perfect? But over the long haul, and the course of a season, I think that is going to be beneficial.”
• • •
Forward Brandon Dubinsky had a career-high 24 goals and 30 assists for a career-high 54 points. He said he wants to be more consistent next season, which will be his fifth in the NHL, and he’s focusing on getting his mind in the right place.
Dubinsky is a restricted free agent and hopes his contract negotiations go smoother than last time, when he held out in 2009 before getting his contract. He will not play in the World Championships.
“I’d like to get it done as quick as possible,” Dubinsky said of a new deal. “I think the Rangers want me and I want the Rangers so end of the day we might as well not waste each other's time and draw it out as long as it was. At the end of the day, the sooner it’s done, the sooner I can focus on putting all my energy and efforts into this organization.”
He said the stress fracture in his left leg from earlier in the season was possibly related to the skate he wore.
• • •
Goalie Henrik Lundqvist said he’s still disappointed that the team got eliminated from the playoffs and said the team had an opportunity in Game 1 and Game 4, both games in which they had third-period leads, but the team has to move on. He said he was in a good place physically and mentally as he started the final 26 games of the season.
• • •
Forward Brandon Prust said he will start training in three weeks, probably going to a beach to relax in the meantime. He played all 82 games for the Rangers, battling through all his minor injuries to score 13 goals and notch 16 assists. He said the summer will be a good time to heal and he took pride in his streak, saying he didn’t want to leave the lineup because he had to scratch and claw just to get in there. He said being traded to the Rangers was the best thing to happen for his career.
• • •
Defenseman Dan Girardi, who played with a dislocated finger in Game 5 and later needed an x-ray and stitches, didn’t seem to make much of his toughness. He said he just needs rest to heal his injuries.
“It was pretty tough but it’s that time of year where we needed everyone to be playing and play hard and just have to kind of suck it up and get out there and battle through whatever you have,” Girardi said. “Everyone is nicked up here and there and it’s the thing you have to do at this time of year.”
• • •
Defenseman Marc Staal said he does not need any medical procedures on his injured knee, just rest. He wasn’t able to remember the official diagnosis. He said it was just sore all the time, but rest will be good enough.
• • •
Backup goalie Martin Biron, who missed the last 18 games of the season with a fractured collarbone, said he will be fine in a couple of weeks and expects to start working out in a few weeks. He will be back with the Rangers and is ready to work with Lundqvist, who started every game with Biron sidelined.
• • •
Rookie Derek Stepan said he had a good first season and he is ready for a good summer of training, looking to get stronger, faster and shoot harder, among other things. He said he plans to go back to his home state of Minnesota, but is not sure if he is going to take summer courses to work toward getting his degree.
• • •
Rookie defenseman Ryan McDonagh said starting the season with AHL Connecticut was a good thing and he learned a lot playing with the Whale and it fueled his desire to stay with the Rangers when he eventually was called up.
He is not sure if he will play in the World Championships, but would love to, and does not regret leaving the University of Wisconsin early. McDonagh said he’d like to work toward his degree.
• • •
Forward Erik Christensen said he felt better in his second year with the Rangers than his first year, saying he had longer stretches of feeling good and playing with confidence, and fewer stretches where he didn’t feel confident. He finished with 11 goals and 16 assists.
Veteran Chris Drury admits the past season ranks among the most frustrating of his career. He missed 53 games with a broken finger and injured knee, scoring a career-low one goal and just four assists. At the end of the year, he was relegated to one of the bottom lines and played a team-low 5:58 in Game 5.
He heads into the offseason hoping to get back into the same routine to try and get healthy for camp. With one year left on his deal, Drury will be playing for his next contract, but it might not come in a role he’s accustomed to.
“What I’ve said all along and what I believe is whatever role coach sees fit that’s going to help us win games, for me, that’s what I’ll do," Drury said. "That wasn’t just here. That was in other cities as well and other teams. I don’t think that’s going to change, whatever any coach thinks is going to help us win games or whatever he wants me to do in that, I’ll do as best as I can.”
Veteran forward Vinny Prospal enters the offseason with no contract, as an unrestricted free agent, but would like to come back to the Rangers.
“It’s what it is, I’m not 26 anymore, so it goes from year to year and like I said hopefully I’ll be back here,” Prospal said. “This is a fun team to play (with) and I would like to continue here.”
Injuries and age, though, might keep the Rangers away. Prospal missed the first 53 games of the season with a knee injury. While he came back against the odds, he said he had a roller coaster season as his play wasn’t consistent.
He said he’s skipping the World Championships and strengthening the quad muscle and other muscles around the knee to get ready for September—hopefully with the Rangers.
Forward Ryan Callahan, who missed the playoffs with a fractured ankle, said his injury is progressing like it’s supposed to and everything should be OK in a couple of weeks. He said he could have returned for the Stanley Cup or Conference Championships. He said watching the team, instead of playing, wasn’t easy.
“It’s pretty tough. You battle with these guys all year, you work so hard and you get to the best part of the year, the most fun, and you’re sitting and having to watch, it’s a tough thing to do and something I didn’t enjoy,” Callahan said. “It’s part of the game and it happens and now I know next year going into the year I want to be right back there and I want to be playing.”
Forward Sean Avery is heading into the final year of his contract of a rough year in which he was a healthy scratch in five of the team’s final 11 games, and the first playoff game He scored just three goals, his lowest since his rookie season in 2001-02.
He said it was a difficult season and he was happy with how he played in the playoffs, saying he let himself go, instead of worrying about things that he said he can’t worry about. Avery calls his style of play risk-reward.
“I don’t want to talk how I played because ultimately we’re sitting here, our season is over with, but I felt like I played the type of game I’ve played and I think that game helps a team,” Avery said about his playoffs performance. “Is it always going to be perfect? But over the long haul, and the course of a season, I think that is going to be beneficial.”
Forward Brandon Dubinsky had a career-high 24 goals and 30 assists for a career-high 54 points. He said he wants to be more consistent next season, which will be his fifth in the NHL, and he’s focusing on getting his mind in the right place.
Dubinsky is a restricted free agent and hopes his contract negotiations go smoother than last time, when he held out in 2009 before getting his contract. He will not play in the World Championships.
“I’d like to get it done as quick as possible,” Dubinsky said of a new deal. “I think the Rangers want me and I want the Rangers so end of the day we might as well not waste each other's time and draw it out as long as it was. At the end of the day, the sooner it’s done, the sooner I can focus on putting all my energy and efforts into this organization.”
He said the stress fracture in his left leg from earlier in the season was possibly related to the skate he wore.
Goalie Henrik Lundqvist said he’s still disappointed that the team got eliminated from the playoffs and said the team had an opportunity in Game 1 and Game 4, both games in which they had third-period leads, but the team has to move on. He said he was in a good place physically and mentally as he started the final 26 games of the season.
Forward Brandon Prust said he will start training in three weeks, probably going to a beach to relax in the meantime. He played all 82 games for the Rangers, battling through all his minor injuries to score 13 goals and notch 16 assists. He said the summer will be a good time to heal and he took pride in his streak, saying he didn’t want to leave the lineup because he had to scratch and claw just to get in there. He said being traded to the Rangers was the best thing to happen for his career.
Defenseman Dan Girardi, who played with a dislocated finger in Game 5 and later needed an x-ray and stitches, didn’t seem to make much of his toughness. He said he just needs rest to heal his injuries.
“It was pretty tough but it’s that time of year where we needed everyone to be playing and play hard and just have to kind of suck it up and get out there and battle through whatever you have,” Girardi said. “Everyone is nicked up here and there and it’s the thing you have to do at this time of year.”
Defenseman Marc Staal said he does not need any medical procedures on his injured knee, just rest. He wasn’t able to remember the official diagnosis. He said it was just sore all the time, but rest will be good enough.
Backup goalie Martin Biron, who missed the last 18 games of the season with a fractured collarbone, said he will be fine in a couple of weeks and expects to start working out in a few weeks. He will be back with the Rangers and is ready to work with Lundqvist, who started every game with Biron sidelined.
Rookie Derek Stepan said he had a good first season and he is ready for a good summer of training, looking to get stronger, faster and shoot harder, among other things. He said he plans to go back to his home state of Minnesota, but is not sure if he is going to take summer courses to work toward getting his degree.
Rookie defenseman Ryan McDonagh said starting the season with AHL Connecticut was a good thing and he learned a lot playing with the Whale and it fueled his desire to stay with the Rangers when he eventually was called up.
He is not sure if he will play in the World Championships, but would love to, and does not regret leaving the University of Wisconsin early. McDonagh said he’d like to work toward his degree.
Forward Erik Christensen said he felt better in his second year with the Rangers than his first year, saying he had longer stretches of feeling good and playing with confidence, and fewer stretches where he didn’t feel confident. He finished with 11 goals and 16 assists.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Katie Strang
After spending the past two seasons as the Islanders beat writer for Newsday, Katie Strang joins ESPNNewYork.com to cover the Rangers, Isles and Devils. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.
Mike Hume
Mike Hume is a general editor for ESPN Insider, for which he coordinates NHL coverage, including the NHL Draft Blog. He has followed hockey since The Whale skated at the Civvy, and has covered the sport since 2004.
