Exactly a month ago, we all were sitting around wondering about a lot of uncertain hockey things and beings. The Big Three questions followed: 1. Which Met Area sextet would woo the hottest free agent defenseman in Kevin Shattenkirk? 2. How would Devils General Manager Ray Shero make his team better? 3. And what about John […]
By: Leo Scaglione Jr., Pinch-Hitting For The Maven It was fitting that thunderstorms rolled through New York and New Jersey yesterday when NHL free agency opened. If you didn’t know better, you would think the local hockey clubs – Rangers, Islanders, Devils and Sabres – were responsible for the lightning and thunder. But, alas, they […]
1. When Mike Sullivan makes it to Manhattan to champagne-celebrate his second straight Stanley Cup win, I will, of course, pump his hand and remind him how I used to tell him one joke per month before Rangers games. He was a better audience than John Tortorella! 2. Next, I’ll ask Sully how much he […]
Pre-Draft Frenzy questions are getting more intense — and demanding — by the day. As a result, The Maven will answer a few. Then, I’ll get into other pressing matters. 1. Will the Rangers be able to retain much-admired Antti Raanta? Answer: The Maven predicts that GM Jeff Gorton will find a way, and that […]
1. Devils icon Scott Stevens left the Wild because he wants to be close to his New Jersey family. That means he’ll be quite a bit closer to Newark, and you know what that means, don’t you? 2. It means that plenty of Devils fans would love to see Hall Of Famer Scotty behind the […]
1. Kudos to Henrik Lundqvist who helped win a Gold for his native Sweden in the World Championships. Hank’s twin brother, Joel, captained the champion Swedes as well. Henrik stopped all four shots he faced in the shootout to produce the win. 2. One of Henrik’s teammates was none other than Blueshirts all-around forward Oscar […]
1. Jeff Beukeboom and Scott Arniel are the Rangers’ assistant coaches. But — with Ken Gernander out in Hartford — the Wolf Pack needs a new bench boss. I wonder if Jeff or Scott has a shot at the Connecticut opening. 2. With Luke Richardson officially in the Islanders‘ fold as Doug Weight‘s understudy on the […]
1. While it’s easy to put the rap on the Rangers for their second round exit, critics shouldn’t overlook the bright side; starting with their accomplishments over the 82-game marathon. 2. When predictions were made last October, many sages wondered whether the Blueshirts would gain a playoff berth. Finishing where they did — with 102 […]
1. The Rangers have been challenged by about two tons of big road games this regular season and into the playoffs. But the most gigantic one takes place Saturday afternoon in Kanata, Ontario. 2. In this fifth – and most crucial – game of the Blueshirts-Senators Second Round series, Alain Vigneault is hoping that his […]
1. When the Rangers challenge the Senators in Game 2 at Ottawa, we’ll be treated to another Erik Karlsson vs. Ryan McDonagh — Captain against Captain — main event. 2. Those two premier defensemen each starred, each scored a goal and captivated the crowd in Game 1. The only trouble was that Karlsson scored that […]