Hawks Go Up 2-0 on Flyers in Cup Final

It may not have been as exciting as game one of this Stanley Cup Finals series, but tonight's win by the Chicago Blackhawks gives them a two games to none advantage as they head to Philadelphia for game three. When the home team takes a 2-0 lead in the series to open things up, that team has went on to win the Cup ninety-four percent of the time. So things right now are looking very good for the Blackhawks moving forward.

Both clubs tightened things up defensively in this one, hence the reason there were only a combined three goals scored as opposed to eleven on Saturday. Two of those three goals came 28 seconds apart when Marian Hossa (continuing his domination) and Ben Eager scored back-to-back for Chicago, which gave them a lead that would stand up for the remainder of the tilt.

As far as goaltending goes, both Niemi and Leighton were much sharper on this night, putting any goalie controversy heading into the game to rest. There was nothing much Leighton could have done on the Hossa goal but the Eager one was definitely stoppable. This late in the playoffs, unfortunately one mistake is going to cost you the game and that is what happened tonight with Mike Leighton.

Game three will be on Wednesday at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.

Prospect Profile: Brett Connolly

pgcougars.com

Picking up the prospect profiles where we left off as my trip to Chicago sadly comes to a close. I will be heading back to the Big Apple this morning, but will be back in time to cover game two, just not live. Anyway, I appreciate you following my updates all throughout my Stanley Cup Final experience. It was a blast being able to cover it live.

Name: Brett Connolly

Position: Right Wing

Height: 6-2

Weight: 181 lbs

Age: 18

Home Country: Canada

Playing In: Western Hockey League (Juniors)

Scouting Reports

Rangers Tribune: Brett Connolly is a premier goal-scorer; there is no doubt about that. However, just like the Rangers' Marian Gaborik, injuries throughout his young career have dramatically slowed him down. He has that natural ability to find the back of the net and to get to the open area of the ice. He can be compared to a Brett Hull because of that ability to navigate through the open lanes, and that makes him a very special individual. Unfortunately, the team selecting him will take a risk with his injury-filled past.

Hockey's Future: Suffered a hip injury at the 2009 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament prior to the WHL season which caused him to miss a good portion of the season. Connolly played in 16 games for the Cougars, scoring 10 goals and chipping 9 assists for 19 points. He played in 4 playoff games for the Cougars, picking up 2 assists in those games. he was named to the 2010 CHL Top Prospects Game but had to withdraw due to his injury. Read More...

NHL Fanhouse: Connolly is one of the most talented players to be found in this draft pool. He has good size, and he should fill out and become a powerful forward in the NHL. He's not just a big, strong kid. Connolly has great hands, and he has the ability to become a big-time goal-scorer.

But there are legitimate concerns.

During an international tournament last summer, Connolly injured his hip. It eventually required surgery, and he missed most of this past season. While his WHL team struggled through an awful season, Connolly tried to rehab and play as much as possible. Read More...

The Hockey News: Brett Connolly has won over most team's scouting staffs, but as the draft approaches, he's bound to get scrutiny from their medical teams. Had Connolly not been limited to just 16 games with hip flexor injuries this season, there's a good chance he'd be challenging Hall and Seguin for No. 1 overall status.

But after scoring 30 goals as a 16-year-old and being named CHL top rookie, Connolly tweaked his hip last summer. He came back too soon and injured his other hip by overcompensating. (Read more in the THN Draft Preview 2010 edition)

Projected to be Drafted: 6th overall

Day Two in Chicago: Hawks Have Room to Improve

Hawks salute the UC crowd following game one victory

Despite grabbing a win in the first game of the Stanley Cup Finals last night at the United Center, there is no doubt that the Chicago Blackhawks feel that they can play a much more formal and organized game compared to what we say in the series opener on Saturday. It is not always that you are going to allow five goals and still win the game, in fact, the probability of that actually occurring is very slim. With that, I think Chicago realizes that they have room to improve and should come out much stronger in game two on Monday night.

First off, Antti Niemi looked to be a bit nervous to me in the opening period, and maybe a little in the second as well. He was not the same goaltender we saw in the previous two series against the Canucks and Sharks. Granted, the defense in front of him was not much better, but I felt that he would like one or two of those Flyers goals back.

Secondly, the Hawks blue-line was playing a loose brand of hockey last night. They allowed too much traffic in front of Niemi, which led to Leino and Briere's goals, and too often they allowed Philadelphia to control the forecheck down low. I felt like they adjusted and fixed many of these flaws in the third, but if you want to win a Stanley Cup, you have to know how to put up a 60-minute effort. Especially against the Flyers, because as we saw again in game one, they are a relentless group of guys that do not simply "give up" on anything.

Lastly, their are several players on offense for Chicago that can take their game to the next level.

First-liners Toews-Kane-Byfuglien combined for zero points and a minus rating. That trio right there is a major reason why the Hawks are where they are in the first place, and they will need all three to get on the board in the future if they want to take four out of seven.

The Flyers' goaltending was shaky and all the Blackhawks needed to do was get shots. I felt like their first line did not shoot as often as they could have, and when they did, the Philly defense, mainly veteran Chris Pronger, forced them to the outside.

Who I did think had an excellent game was Marian Hossa. He may not have recorded any goals but his two assists earned him second star and his skating was incredible. He is very experienced when it comes to the Stanley Cup Finals, but he is often criticized for not having a ring to prove it. That could change if he continues to play like he did Saturday night.

I will be out and about on the streets of Chicago today, so I will check in later tonight. Until then, keep tabs on my twitter as I have been posting updates on anything pertaining to the finals and also check out my twitpic page to see all the photos I have been tweeting throughout my experience.

SCF Game One Recap: Blackhawks 6 Flyers 5

Hawks take ice for warm-ups at United Center

So I guess I wasn't lying to you earlier today when I said that fans a) would be in for a treat with this year's Stanley Cup Final match-up and b) did not know what to expect. From a coach's standpoint, I am sure a tighter, lower scoring game would have been much more pleasing, but for us spectators, tonight's back-and-forth action provided for spectacular entertainment, especially for those who were fortunate enough to witness it live like myself. My goal here is to not only recap game one's action, but to walk you through the night as if you were in attendance, because let me tell you, something like this is not an everyday experience; it is something special.

The night began with one of the more breathtaking National Anthem performances I have ever seen. It was not the singer who was amazing though, it was the crowd, who would just not stop screaming for the entire minute or so. Then, to start the game, the Hawks seemed to be a little cautious while the Flyers came right out and attacked. Ville Leino was credited for the first goal of the contest at 6:38 of the first period, which bounced off Niemi's shoulder and into the net. Chicago, like they seemed to do all night long, had an answer. It was Troy Brouwer's slapper from the point that beat Michael Leighton and sent the United Center faithful to their feet. To put the reaction into perspective, just take a Madison Square Garden goal celebration, and times it by five.

Dave Bolland would later score shorthanded on the breakaway to give the Hawks a 2-1 edge, but that would not last very long with both Briere and Hartnell notching goals in the final four minutes of the first stanza. So after one, Philadelphia led 3-2. During that intermission, I sensed some nerves coming from the fans with their boys down by one, but I knew all they needed were shots since Leighton had been struggling majorly.
1:11 into the second, Patrick Sharp did not waste his 3-on-1 opportunity as he lasered a wrister over Leighton and now it was tied, once again. However former Ranger Blair Betts replied six minutes later with a shot that went off the post and in to regain the lead for Philly.

As I suggested above, the Hawks began shooting and back-to-back goals by Versteeg and Brouwer (second of the game) gave the home team a 5-4 advantage and would chase Leighton from the goal. Leighton was replaced by Brian Boucher, who just returned from injury today. To start, he held his own but was struggling to hold onto the puck. This gave Philly the opportunity to tie things up yet again, as this time it was beautiful puck movement by the Broadstreet Bullies that led to an Aaron Asham tally.

Tomas Kopecky was the hero for the Blackhawks, somehow threading the needle with a difficult goal from a sharp angle midway through the third period. Some noteworthy goaltending by Niemi and improved defensive play allowed the Hawks to preserve the lead and ride it to the final buzzer.

It is hard to figure out an exact turning point in this game, but I would have to say it was when coach Laviolette decided to yank Leighton and replace him with Boucher. Oddly enough, I thought Boucher played well, but for some reason the change gave the Hawks more of a spark than it did the Flyers.

Wrapping up here, I thought the United Center was a fantastic arena that holds some dedicated fans. I felt like they were a lot like Ranger fans in that they are very hard on their club when they make a mistake or suddenly trail in the game. Also, I have never been to a hockey game with the noise levels so extreme. That started during the introduction videos, before the teams even hit the ice.

Blackhawks vs Flyers Stanley Cup Final Preview

Getty Images

Fans are in for a treat with this year’s Stanley Cup Finals since they are so used to seeing the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings battle it out for Lord Stanley’s mug, just as they have for the past two years. The Chicago Blackhawks are a team comprised of pure skill, while the Philadelphia Flyers, as they have been for their entire history, are a rough and tough club that wins games by grinding. When two different styles of play, two teams that see each other only once or twice during the regular season meet up in a best of seven series, you know you are most likely going to get your money’s worth.

The boys from Chi-Town have defeated some tough competition in their journey leading up to the finals. First, it was the young and fresh Nashville Predators in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, who surely gave the Hawks a run for their money. It took six games, but Chicago bested the Preds four games to two to move on to play the Vancouver Canucks, who were being favorited to go all the way by many.

Shockingly, the Blackhawks were the better team for the entire series. Sure, Van’s goalie Roberto Luongo was nothing special in the series, nor was the offensive in front of him, but once again, the Blackhawks found themselves moving on to the next round, one that they thought would be the toughest one of them all; Not quite.

The San Jose Sharks were rolling ever since their first round defeat of the Colorado Avalanche. They had just upset the 2008 Championship Detroit Red Wings in the semifinals and were set to clash with the Hawks for a tough battle that they were expected to come out victors in. Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton were starting to score, Dany Heatley was heating up and Patrick Marleau was scoring at least a point per game. However, all of that combined would not even add up to a single win in the series. Chicago dominated in a 4-game sweep and for the first time since 1961, gave themselves a chance to win the Cup.

AP Photo

Then you have the Cinderella story over in Philadelphia. It took the Flyers until game 82, the very last of the regular season to even get into the playoffs in a shootout win over the New York Rangers. From there they were headed to New Jersey where they would go head-to-head with Marty Brodeur and the Devils. After upsetting the Devs in six, they would go on to face the Boston Bruins, who also just barely sneaked into the playoffs.

The Broadstreet Bullies cruised past Boston rather easily and were set to have their hands full against the Montreal Canadiens in the Conference Finals. Montreal took the first three and seemed to be going to the finals yet again. The Flyers, though, had other plans and wrote history by pulling something off that had only been done twice in the history of the sport. They won four straight and ended up ousting the Habs in what seemed to be a miracle.

So now, here we are, the Stanley Cup Finals. Two different teams with two different journeys getting here, two different styles of play and two different fan bases behind them. To be honest, I do not think anyone knows what to expect because match-ups like these are so rare. Personally, I am leaning towards the Hawks, but out of respect, I cannot count Philly out after seeing their magic against the Canadiens.

All I can say at this point is that I am thrilled to bring you coverage live from the United Center tonight, so be sure to follow my updates on twitter as well as postgame analysis here on the site. Enjoy the game folks!

Off to Chi-Town

Writing to you as I prepare for my flight out to Chicago where, as you know, I will be providing live coverage from game one of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Blackhawks and Flyers at the United Center later tonight. There has been a lot of pregame chatter in both locker rooms and in the media, so it is about time the puck will actually be dropped and we can get the ball rolling.

Just to layout how the next few days are going to go on the site, our daily Prospect Profiles will pause for the weekend and will resume on Monday (Memorial Day). In its place will be constant coverage of the cup finals from Chicago, including pregame/postgame analysis as well as in-game updates on Twitter. In addition to that, I will be writing a daily blog on Blueshirt Banter to document all of the happenings during my experience in Chi-Town, so be sure to check that out as well. 

Again, we are thrilled to bring you along board on this championship journey as it is not something many other websites get the chance to do all the time. Hopefully I will snap some pictures while at the United Center and get them up here on the blog, just to give you an even better sense of the environment, which I am quite sure will be magical.

Check back later for my Stanley Cup Finals Preview........

Gary Bettman's "State of the League", Draft Combine Begins

Several things to talk about on this Friday afternoon as it was a very busy day in the National Hockey League, despite the Stanley Cup Finals not beginning until tomorrow. First, commissioner Gary Bettman addressed the media today in Chicago for his annual "state of the league" speech. Steve Zipay at Blue Notes has everything Gary talked about over on his blog, so I take out some of the highlight points and discuss them with you below.

As we reported last night, the 2011 NHL Winter Classic will be held at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where the Penguins and Capitals will go head-to-head in hopes of raising the ratings from this year's outdoor game between the Bruins and Flyers. In addition to that, an outdoor contest between the Flames and the Canadiens is expected to be hosted in Calgary and played sometime in February. From my understanding, they are not calling that the Winter Classic also, but the game will be held outdoors nonetheless.

NHL revenues went up four percent this season according to Bettman, so as long as the NHLPA accepts an escalator, you can expect the salary cap to be raised by $2 million for the 2010-11 season. At least some of the league's promotion and introduction of new events is raising the bar as far as what the league is able to do and how they do it. Events like the Winter Classic have brought in more money and now good things like the cap being raised by a couple of million dollars are happening. That is certainly a plus for the NHL.

Also, ESPN's Pierre Lebrun brought up the fact that the past All Star weekend's have been "stale" and Mr. Bettman did not seem to disagree. He states that a new format is currently being worked out and that changes could be made for next year's ASG in Raleigh, North Carolina. Of course, this has not been entirely confirmed just yet, but I think fans will begin to get  bored of the usual format if they continue to use it. Change is always good.

Lastly, Bettman said that another matter currently being discussed is whether or not NHL players should participate in the World Champions from this point on. Certain individuals such as Sidney Crosby were criticized for not making the trip to Germany this past month to play in the tournament, but the league is considering having everyone skip it in the future. We'll see if they actually follow through with that.

Aside from Gary's speech, today also marked the beginning of the NHL Draft Combine, in which the top 100 prospects expected to be drafted into the NHL in June undergo a series of both physical and mental tests. Among the major storylines, Tyler Seguin, expected to be selected in the top three, completely tore up every test by exceeding expectations and outworking all of the players participating. Taylor Hall, on the other hand, did not participate in any testing as his agents urged him not to because of "fatigue" and "lack of preparation".

Honestly, I don't know what his agents were thinking because now Seguin has a clear edge to be drafted first overall by the Oilers because of that, if he did not already.

As for me, I prepare for my trip to Chicago for game one of the Stanley Cup Finals. Don't forget to check in for live coverage both on the blog and on twitter.

Prospect Profile: Brandon Gormley

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Name: Brandon Gormley

Position: Defense

Height: 6-2

Weight: 187 lbs

Age: 18

Home Country: Canada

Playing In: Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (Juniors)

Scouting Reports

Rangers Tribune: Brandon Gormley may not be flashy or excitable like Cam Fowler and Erik Gudbranson, but he is a steady defenseman that does not make many mistakes in his own zone. He is your steady blue-liner that you can always rely on to shutdown the opposition's top offensive threats. He is that player that when you put him on the ice, you know what you are getting and you do not have to worry about him out there. Because of this, I compare him to no other but the Rangers' Marc Staal.

They are both quietly effective and know how to play the position very well. You really cannot go wrong in picking Gormley for your team, unless you are looking for a tremendous impact immediately.

Hockey's Future: Played in 58 games for the Wildcats, scoring 9 goals and adding 34 assists for 43 points. Registered a +31 rating while compiling 54 penalty minutes. Played in 21 playoff games for the Wildcats, scoring 2 goals and adding 15 assists for 17 points to help the Wildcats win the QMJHL championship. Played for Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament, but missed the cut for the WJC Under-20 squad. Played for Team Orr at the 2010 CHL Top Prospects Game. Read More...

NHL Fanhouse: Gormley lacks flair and flash, but he does all the important stuff well. He can skate, he's physical, he moves the puck extremely well, and he can play in any situation without hesitation.

Unquestionably, Gormley is a safer pick than Fowler. He isn't as advanced offensively, however, and there's a little less upside with his game.

For those who think Gormley is just another stay-at-home defenseman, watch him intercept this pass and score while his Wildcats were down two men earlier this season. Read More...

The Hockey News: There are some scouts who wouldn't be shocked if Brandon Gormley was selected third overall ahead of Fowler and Gudbranson. Certainly a team looking for a safe pick who will be a steady defenseman for years should consider Gormley. He was Canada's best player at the Ivan Hlinka tournament last summer, but there isn't a "wow" factor.

Gormley has above-average mobility, can move the puck well and play on the power play. He's not overly physical, but is a smart player. (Read more in THN Draft Preview 2010 edition)

Projected to be Drafted: 5th or 6th overall

Around the NHL: Pens and Caps to Play in 2011 Winter Classic

Not coming as a surprise, the Post-Gazette is reporting that the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins will go head-to-head in the 2011 NHL Winter Classic, which will be held at Heinz Field (home of the Steelers) in Pittsburgh. After taking a hit in television ratings in the 2010 Outdoor Game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins, there was no doubt that commissioner Gary Bettman was going to stack the next one with talent. Well, of course, the most logical route to go would be Crosby vs Ovechkin.

A few months ago, Bettman teased us by saying that Citi Field was a legitimate option to host the Winter Classic in 2011, which would almost guarantee that our New York Rangers would take part for the first time. Instead, Sid the Kid will take the outdoor stage for the second time in four years, and will go against his arch nemeses, Alexander Ovechkin. There is no doubt that it will attract viewership but at some point the dedicated fans in the league will become tired of this match-up.

I guess the Blueshirts will just have to wait another year..........or a few.

Rangers Organization Ranked 12th in NHL (UPDATE)

Recently, Hockey's Future ranked each and every organization in the National Hockey League based on their past accomplishments, present acquisitions, and how they look heading towards the future. The New York Rangers, who were placed at second in the previous year's rankings, now sit at twelfth out of thirty. Clearly, a major drop in a year's time and while I agree they should no longer be in the top three, I do not think that they should be at 12th either. Below, I included all of the team rankings based on the Hockey's Future piece, and in it, you will see several teams that do not belong ahead of the Blueshirts.

1. Nashville Predators
2. Los Angeles Kings
3. St. Louis Blues
4. Washington Capitals
5. Columbus Blue Jackets
6. Toronto Maple Leafs
7. Atlanta Thrashers
8. Vancouver Canucks
9. Edmonton Oilers
10. Boston Bruins
11. Florida Panthers
12. New York Rangers
13. Buffalo Sabres
14. Phoenix Coyotes
15. Detroit Red Wings
16. Montreal Canadiens
17. Carolina Hurricanes
18. Chicago Blackhawks
19. Anaheim Ducks
20. New York Islanders
21. Ottawa Senators
22. Colorado Avalanche
23. Tampa Bay Lightning
24. Pittsburgh Penguins
25. San Jose Sharks
26. New Jersey Devils
27. Calgary Flames
28 Philadelphia Flyers
29. Dallas Stars
30. Minnesota Wild

I know, ridiculous, right? Not only should some of the teams listed be below the Rangers, but many of them that are below New York should be ahead of them. I am not too sure what Chicago, Philadelphia, Montreal, San Jose, Pittsburgh, and Colorado are doing so low in the ranks. I mean, all of them are serious contenders that will all be good teams in the future if they aren't already, so I do not see how they can be below clubs like the Oilers and Leafs, who were complete cellar dwellers for a majority of the regular season this past year. I think this list could be adjusted a lot and I feel like I speak on behalf of many when I say this. 

Also, besides just the 1-30 ranking, Hockey's Future also offered their analysis of each and every team. Below are their thoughts on the Rangers.....

Strengths: The Rangers have excellent depth at both center and on defense. New York has been very successful in drafting top talent players in the middle of the first round, and Chris Kreider, who was drafted out of prep school in 2009, looks to be another of those gems.

Weaknesses: The Blueshirts biggest organizational weakness is on right wing. There are only two wingers on the right side in the entire organization, and one, David Kveton, may never again play in North America. There is also uncertainty between the pipes. Chad Johnson has played well in his first professional season, but his upside is still uncertain. University of Alabama-Huntsville netminder Cameron Talbot was signed recently. However, it is unclear whether there is a true NHL backup to Henrik Lundqvist within the system, let alone a starter.

Top 5 Prospects: 1. Evgeny Grachev, C; 2. Derek Stepan, C; 3. Chris Kreider, LW; 4. Bobby Sanguinetti, D; 5. Ilkka Heikkinen, D.

I do not see not having a back-up goaltender as a "weakness". When Henrik Lundqvist is defending your net, there is never a problem at the goaltending position. Other than that, I thought their assessment was fairly accurate, except I felt like they left out their scoring disabilities and the struggle to rid themselves of Wade Redden and Michal Rozsival.

I have a weakness that I would like to add to the list as well and that is leadership. I felt like when leadership was needed, it came from the unsuspected guys like Jody Shelley and Brandon Prust. Do not get me wrong, I like Callahan and Prospal with the letters and I think they should keep them, but Drury's lack of emotion hurts him in the role of Captain. You can say all you want about him wanting to win and his relentless effort, but he can do that without a letter. A John Tortorella team should have a very vocal captain and Drury does not fit that description.

UPDATE: Okay so apparently this ranking is only based on prospects, not the current National Hockey League team. This makes much more sense. Stick salute to Harrison for letting us know.

Prospect Profile: Erik Gudbranson

OHL.com

Name: Erik Gudbranson

Position: Defense

Height: 6-4

Weight: 195 lbs

Age: 18

Home Country: Canada

Playing In: Ontario Hockey League (Juniors)

Scouting Reports

Rangers Tribune: Erik Gudbranson is undoubtedly one of the better defensemen in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. One thing that sets him apart from, say, Cam Fowler is his physicality and his "old school" style of play. While he has some offensive potential, he is more well known for throwing the body around and playing a feisty style of hockey. For this reason, he is often compared to veteran Cris Pronger of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Also, Gudbranson is great at making the first pass out of his own zone. It is rare that you get a crossbreed of an offensive but also physical blue-liner. He is a gem just waiting to be claimed by a National Hockey League franchise.

Hockey's Future: In 41 games for the Frontenacs, Gudbranson scored 2 goals and added 21 assists for 23 points. He finished with a +11 rating and 68 penalty minutes in a season that was shortened due to a bout with mononucleosis. In 7 playoff games, Gudbranson scored 1 goal and added 2 assists for 3 points. Gudbranson was supposed to play in the 2010 CHL Top Prospects Game but missed it due to his illness. Read More...

NHL Fanhouse: Multiple scouting reports I've read compare Gudbranson to Chris Pronger. Suspension jokes aside, this is quite the lofty praise for a kid who just turned 18 in January.

Gudbranson shouldn't be mistaken for a Cam Fowler type of player. Fowler's game is defined by his ability to see the play developing in front of him and move the puck to the right spot. Gudbranson's impact may come more without the puck than with it. Read More...

The Hockey News: If not for a bout of mononucleosis and a knee injury, Erik Gudbranson would be challenging Fowler for the top defensemen. And in the eyes of some scouts, he's doing just that. "We've got him ahead of Fowler," one scout said. "I think he has the potential to be Chris Pronger Jr. He has a real nasty streak and has more offense than people give him credit for." (Read more in THN Draft Preview 2010 edition)

Projected to be Drafted: 4th or 5th overall

Zuccarello-Aasen Officially a Blueshirt

AP Photo

I reported the signing almost a month ago, but it was only officially announced by the Rangers today that they have inked Norwegian forward Mats Zuccarello-Aasen. "The Hobbit" played last season in the Swedish Elite League in which his 23 goals and 41 assists in 55 games earned him Most Valuable Player. For a player that is only 5-foot-7, those are remarkable numbers that attracted many teams within the National Hockey League to him like a magnet. Luckily, the Rangers beat out the rest of the competition and locked up Zuccarello-Aasen for two years.

In each of those two years, Mats will collect a $900,000 paycheck, but is capable of being sent down to the minors since his contract is reportedly a two-way deal. At those terms and for what he brings, I think Zuccarello-Aasen will be well worth it next season. He has incredible speed, a great set of hands, and most importantly, he is very strong on both sides of the puck. To average over a point a game in the Swedish Elite League is outstanding and hopefully he can bring that scoring over to the Rangers.

Could he eventually become a match with winger Marian Gaborik? It is certainly possible. I think Mats has the potential to be a fit with Marian based on his game and what I have seen of him. He is a dynamic offensive threat that I truly believe will be successful here in New York.

Read my original post on the signing from April here.

Also, former Rangers defenseman Ilkka Heikkinen has signed with Sibir Novasibirsk of the Kontinental Hockey League.

Prospect Profile: Cam Fowler

Getty Images

Name: Cam Fowler

Position: Defense

Height: 6-2

Weight: 190 lbs

Age: 18

Home Country: United States

Playing In: Ontario Hockey League (Juniors)

Scouting  Reports

Rangers Tribune: A few months ago, if you would have asked a scout who they thought would go first overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the response likely would have been defenseman Cam Fowler. However, as time has went on and Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin have further established themselves, he has lost some of the spotlight. Still, he is a part of what I like to call the "Big Three", which are the top three prospects who are almost guaranteed to be drafted first, second or third. I have a feeling Fowler will go third, but regardless, whichever team claims him will be very happy with what they are getting.

As we saw in the World Junior Championships back in January, Fowler is a dynamic offensive-defenseman who has always been known to put up stunning numbers for a blue-liner. For that reason, I would compare Fowler to Mike Green of the Washington Capitals. Green is talented offensively but is not as steady in his own zone. That is the exact description that is most commonly applied to Fowler.

Hockey's Future: In his OHL rookie season, Fowler played in 55 games for the Windsor Spitfires. He scored 8 goals and added 47 assists for 55 points while posting a +38 rating for the season. In 19 playoff games, Fowler scored 3 goals and added 11 assists for 14 points as he and his Spitfires' teammates won the OHL championship for the second consecutive year. Fowler won a gold medal as a member of the Team USA squad that won the Under-20 2010 World Junior Championships. He played for Team Cherry at the 2010 CHL Top Prospects Game. Read More...

NHL Fanhouse: For a time, it looked like Fowler might have the chance to overtake Taylor Hall and/or Tyler Seguin. Instead, Central Scouting dropped him a bit (to fifth), and it doesn't appear he will go higher than third in the draft.

About the only flaw in his game is that the physical side hasn't come along like many figured it would. That doesn't mean Fowler is a soft player, but a guy of his size is expected to assert himself more in the hitting game than Fowler has at times.

Where Fowler excels is with the puck. He has a good shot, and makes great passes. Fowler is at home as quarterback for the power play, but don't mistake him as a purely offensive player. Read More...

The Hockey News: Cam Fowler made a smooth adjustment to the OHL after coming over from the U.S. national team development program and, while some scouts would like to see him play a more physical game, his skating and poise have been mesmerizing. "He's as good as a skater as you're going to find in the draft," one scout said. "But I find sometimes you get so enamored with the fact that  he already is an NHL-caliber skater that you forget about his shortcomings.....[He] is really going to struggle if he doesn't get more accustomed away from the puck." (Read more in THN Draft Preview 2010 edition)

Projected to be Drafted: 3rd overall

Rangers Acquire Jyri Niemi from Islanders

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For the first time in 37 years, the New York Rangers have made a trade with their intrastate rivals, the New York Islanders. Andrew Gross of Ranger Rants is reporting that the Blueshirts have traded a sixth round draft pick for prospect defenseman Jyri Niemi earlier this afternoon. It may only be a minor league swap, but hey, these two teams making any sort of transaction with each other at all has not been done since November of 1972, so it definitely comes as a surprise.

The 6-foot-3, 210 pound blue-liner played for Saskatoon of the Western Hockey League last season and is known for his offensive abilities when carrying the puck and leading the rush. Niemi, a native of Finland, was selected by the Islanders in the third round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

I find it odd, not only that the deal was made with the Islanders, but that the Rangers have added another defensemen to their system. New York has a surplus of defensemen in the American Hockey League and in Junior hockey. It just does not make sense that they would reach out to the Islanders to acquire yet another. This leads me to believe that one of the current d-men in the system may be making his exit fairly soon, but who? Sanguinetti?

Rangers Tribune Headed to Chicago

As I informed readers this past weekend, there was a very good chance that I would be attending game one of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Blackhawks and Flyers at the United Center. Well, that was confirmed this afternoon as I will be taking a flight out of New York to Chi-Town Saturday morning and will arrive there in time for the opening of the big dance which will be at 8 pm that very night. Obviously, I am looking forward to being a part of the environment there and will share the experience with all of my readers.

I will have full pregame and postgame coverage as well as in-game updates on Twitter. I am also hoping to get some good pictures to capture the moments at one of Hockey's most reputable arenas. Much like during the Olympics, I will be doing a daily blog over at Blueshirt Banter as well.

In Rangers news, the New York Post is reporting that the Blueshirts will announce their signing of Norwegian forward Mats Zuccarello-Aasen later this week now that the World Championships in Germany have concluded with Michael Rozsival and the Czech Republic taking Gold. The deal is believed to be two-years at $900,000.

Also, center Erik Christensen and the Rangers front office have begun talking about a new contract for the 2010-11 season. Christensen ended this year centering the first line with Marian Gaborik on his wing after being picked up by New York on the waiver wire in December.

Prospect Profile: Tyler Seguin

Getty Images

Name: Tyler Seguin

Position: Center

Height: 6-1

Weight: 186 lbs

Age: 18

Home Country: Canada

Playing In: Ontario Hockey League (Juniors)

Scouting Reports

Rangers Tribune: Taylor - Tyler, Tyler - Taylor. From now until the NHL Entry Draft in June, you will see these two youngsters continually compared, as you may have noticed already. Tyler Seguin is not the same type of player that Hall is, therefore they will contrast more than they compare. Seguin is more of your rounded forward, like Matt Duchene, who went second overall in the 2009 Draft to the Colorado Avalanche. He has great defensive awareness, but at the same token, can also find the back of the net. Usually, those are the type of players you like up the middle on your first or second offensive line.

He certainly is not going to be as creative as Hall and probably will not rack up the points like him either, but I could see Seguin becoming a solid 30-goal scorer nonetheless. He can be used on the penalty kill and on the powerplay, which will be beneficial to the club that selects him.

Hockey's Future: In 63 games for the Whalers, Seguin scored 48 goals and chipped in 58 assists for 106 points, tying him for the first overall in OHL scoring with Taylor Hall. In 9 playoff games, Seguin scored 5 goals and added 5 assists for 10 points. Seguin won the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL's Most Outstanding Player. He played for Team Orr at the 2010 CHL Top Prospects Game, and also played in the Canada-Russia Challenge and the OHL All-Star Game. Read More...

My NHL Draft: Tyler Seguin has come on strong and shot up the draft rankings since joining the Plymouth Whalers for the 2008-2009 season. He has become Taylor Hall’s toughest competition for the #1 spot overal.

Seguin, a pure center, excels in all three zones, and has shown dominance in all areas through his career in the OHL. His high-end playmaking ability and vision compliment his natural abilities as a center, but he has demonstrated, especially this season, a keen ability to put the puck in the net. Seguin has not played on as strong a team as many of the other projected top picks, so, his ability to make others around him better has been even more evident. For example, it is commonplace in Plymouth to see Seguin make the perfect pass to a teammate waiting on the doorstep of the goal. To put it lightly Seguin is as smart as they come in this year’s draft. Read More...

The Hockey News: It was Seguin's 48 goals compared to Hall's 40 that game the Whaler the OHL scoring title, though Seguin is seen as the more rounded, but far less dynamic player. "If you're looking for a complete player whose game you'll be able to count on right at both ends of the rink, he's your guy," one scout said. "He might not be as dynamic as the other guy [Hall], but he might be a more thorough pro.

One knock against Seguin was in head-to-head competition against Hall, scouts thought Hall turned his game up a notch while Seguin faltered. But that has something to do with the fact  that, for the most part, Hall was surrounded by better players. (Read more in THN Draft Preview 2010 edition)

Projected to be Drafted: 1st or 2nd overall

Conference Finals Live Game Thread: Canadiens at Flyers (Game 5)

FINAL
2 - 4

Once again throwing up the live game thread for tonight's Conference Finals match-up between the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wachovia Center. If the Flyers win, they will move on to play the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals. If the Habs pull through, they will avoid elimination and live to see another day. Game updates below.

•  0:59 First Period: Canadiens with a textbook start to a road game in the playoffs. Brian Gionta finishes a pretty passing play with former Ranger Scott Gomez to give the Habs the early 1-0 lead. 
•  4:25 First Period: Mike Richards comes through with the tying goal with Halak sliding out of his net. Not sure what he was thinking, but we have a tie game.
• End First:  Still tied at one after the first period of play. Canadiens have outshot the Flyers 9-6 to this point and have had many scoring opportunities that they have passed on. 
• 3:07 Second Period: Aaron Asham scores a highlight reel goal to give the Flyers a 2-1 edge over the Habs in the second period. We will see what  Montreal's response is..................if there is any. 
• 4:31 Second Period: A bang-bang play by the Philadelphia Flyers leads to a Jeff Carter goal. 3-1 Philly.
• End Second: At the end of two at the Wachovia Center, the Flyers are leading the Montreal Canadiens by the score of 3-1. Philly just 20 mins away from going to the finals. 
• 6:53 Third Period: Gomez makes htis a one goal game.....
• Final: The Philadelphia Flyers have eliminated the Montreal Canadiens and move on to play the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Prospect Profile: Taylor Hall

AP Photo

From now until the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles, California, The Rangers Tribune will be profiling the top prospects to be selected in the draft, giving fans an idea of what teams are getting when they make their selections in late June. You may remember this series from last year when we did something very similar. This year's draft may not be as deep as last year's, but there still is a lot of talent to be claimed by a National Hockey League franchise, especially in the first two rounds.

To be clear, the order of the profiles will be based on player rankings which I have done background research on. They are NOT done in the order in which I think the players will be drafted; I will post a mock draft in the coming weeks for that. Certain teams need different assets, so not every pick is going to be based on the most talent available. Our first profile is of, who I think is the best player in the entire draft, forward Taylor Hall.

Name: Taylor Hall

Position: Left Wing

Height: 6-1

Weight: 185 lbs

Age: 18

Home Country: Canada

Playing In: Ontario Hockey League (Juniors)

Scouting Reports

Rangers Tribune: Taylor Hall is what you would call a prolific goal scorer. One of Hall's more admirable traits is his ability to break a game open. He is an instinctive sniper that is not going to pass up opportunities. For that reason, with Hall in your lineup, you always have a chance to win. I would personally compare him to the San Jose Sharks' Dany Heatley, who is a player that when given the puck, more often than not makes something happen with it. He picks his spots and is a tremendous shooter.

My NHL Draft: Taylor Hall is an extremely gifted forward who has achieved great success during three seasons as a member of the OHL ‘s Windsor Spitfires. Unlike the previous 3 first overall draft picks - Patrick Kane, Steven Stamkos, and John Tavares - Hall already has a Memorial Cup championship on his resume. He will surely be an integral part of team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Saskatoon this winter.

Hall has a wealth of offensive tools. He has an electric first stride and is a fluid skater. With the 36 points he amassed in 20 playoff games last season, he’s shown that his game doesn’t suffer even during high-pressure situations. It’s hard to pick out flaws in Hall’s well-rounded game, but if you like to knit-pick, the one knock against Hall is that he’s been fortunate enough to play with a plethora of talented players in his years with the Spitfires, and there might be question marks as to how well his numbers might look on a team with less offensive support. Read More...

Hockey's Future: In 57 games for the Spitfires, Hall scored 40 goals and added 66 assists for 106 points, a point total that put him in a tie for first overall in OHL scoring with Tyler Seguin. Hall followed up his excellent regular season showing by leading the OHL in scoring in the OHL playoffs. He netted 17 goals and added 18 assists for 35 points in 19 games, helping to lead the Spitfires to a potential second consecutive Memorial Cup. Hall played for Team Canada at the 2010 Under-20 WJC, earning a silver medal at that tournament. He scored 6 goals and added 6 assists for 12 points in that tournament, helping him land a berth on the WJC All-Star Team. Hall played for Team Cherry at the 2010 CHL Top Prospects Game, picking up an assist in his team's 4-2 victory. Hall was named Team Cherry's Player of the Game. Read More...

The Hockey News: When it comes to comparing Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin, one thing that separates the two players in a big way is team accomplishments. Hall has a Memorial Cup - along with a Memorial Cup MVP - and a world junior silver medal to his credit, and he bettered Seguin when their teams met in the 2010 OHL Playoffs.

And even though Hall had fewer goals and more assists than Seguin this season, the perception is Hall will be an elite goal scorer in the NHL. (Read more in THN Draft Preview 2010 edition)

Projected to be Drafted: 1st or 2nd overall

As a side note, Hall and his Windsor Spitfires won the Memorial Cup last night in which he was once again named MVP of the playoffs.

Around the NHL: Congratulations to the Blackhawks

Courtesy of Getty Images

I would like to take the time to congratulate the Chicago Blackhawks on making it to the Stanley Cup Finals after they swept the San Jose Sharks with a 4-2 win at the United Center earlier this afternoon. Just four more wins and they will become Champions for the first time since 1961 and for the fourth time in their history. They are a young team that plays like a veteran squad, and whether they meet up with the Montreal Canadiens or the Philadelphia Flyers from the East, they are my pick to win Lord Stanley's mug. To me, they just do not seem like they can be stopped.

Taking four out of seven against the Predators, Canucks, and now the Sharks was no easy task. They faced adversity after some rough losses, but they always seemed to bounce back in the series, led by Captain Jonathan Toews. As long as they continue to put the puck in the net, get defensive support from Duncan Keith and company, and Niemi stays consistent, I don't see the Flyers or the Habs beating them in the Finals.

Also, I have very good news to share. It is very likely that I will be headed to one game of the Stanley Cup Finals to cover it live from the arena. Obviously I do not know when and where I will be headed yet since the Eastern Conference Finals are still being played, but looking forward to the experience nonetheless.

The Complete List of Rangers' Pending Free Agents

As you know, for the past two weeks we have looked at all of the New York Rangers pending free agents come July 1st. Whether they were restricted or unrestricted, as long as they are NHL eligible, we had them covered. Below, I compiled a list of all the free agents the Blueshirts will have to decide whether they want to stay or go for the next season, and by clicking their names, you can read my analysis on them from the "Pending Free Agent" series in which I voice my opinion if they should be re-signed or not and why.

Forwards
Olli Jokinen (UFA)
Vinny Prospal (UFA)
Jody Shelley (UFA)
Enver Lisin (RFA)
Brandon Prust (RFA)
P.A. Parenteau (UFA)
Erik Christensen (RFA)

Defensemen
Marc Staal (RFA)
Dan Girardi (RFA)
Anders Eriksson (UFA)

Goaltenders
Alex Auld (UFA)

We hope you enjoyed reading all of our free agent previews and have made it easy for you to choose who you want back and who you do not. Over the next month leading up to the draft, we will be bringing back our Prospect Profiles from last year in which we profile and scout the best of the best in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.

Rangers to End Affiliation with Hartford Wolf Pack?

My co-writer on Blueshirt Banter, Jim Schmiedeberg, is unveiling reports stating that the New York Rangers may be on the verge of ending their AHL affiliation with the Hartford Wolf Pack. Their replacement would be the Rochester Americans, who just announced this past week that they no longer will be affiliated with the Florida Panthers. The change would come after the next season, when the Wolf Pack are rumored to be relocating.

The story is originally coming from The Biz of Hockey (click for full story) and below is an excerpt:

According to the source, the Rangers, who reside approximately six hours from Rochester, are unhappy with their relationship with the Wolfpack and are very interested in becoming the parent club of the Americans. Rumors surfaced that the Wolfpack might not be returning in February when the Albany River Rats, the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, were relocated to North Carolina. The Albany Times Union said, "Among the teams rumored to be looking elsewhere are the Hartford WolfPack, owned by the New York Rangers, and Lowell Devils."

The Rochester Americans have always been known as one of the classier AHL organizations and I, for one, would not be opposed to the Blueshirts switching their affiliation. Things have supposedly went sour with Hartford for reasons that have not been revealed, so if that is the case, I could understand why the switch would be made. We shall see how this plays out over the next year.

Pending Free Agents: Anders Eriksson

Courtesy of Getty Images

Veteran defenseman Anders Eriksson, acquired by the Rangers at the deadline back on March 3rd, eventually became a key part of the lineup last season when head coach John Tortorella elected to scratch rookie blue-liner Matt Gilroy for the final eight games. The coaching staff was very pleased with what they saw from Eriksson and for that reason, he was rewarded more playing time and was put onto the ice in various situations. With a surplus of defenders coming up in the system and a few keepers already in the NHL, the Rangers now have to decide if they want to re-sign the unrestricted free agent for another go here in New York.

The Good: As an extra defenseman, I think Anders Eriksson is a good fit for the Blueshirts. He plays old school defense and has a lot of poise with the puck. That comes with experience, which Eriksson has a lot of after being in the league for a total of twelve years now and being a part of eight different clubs in that span. That veteran presence will never hurt in the locker room and on the bench, especially when your defensive core, for the most part, is on the younger side. The Del Zottos and Gilroys need that leadership as they further develop at the professional level.

As far as his performance on the ice, at first I was not too impressed because I did not see much in his game. However as time went on, I started learning more and more about Anders and how he plays. I found out that he is very confident and was well taught when maturing as a player. He knowsa  the basics of the position and can execute them well. He may not put up a load of points, but that is not what is really expected of him.

The Bad: Eriksson's abilities are limited and he is not going to contribute a whole lot. Like I said, his offense is not anything special and his passing is average. He does not fit the mold of an offensive defenseman, nor does he fit the mold of a crease-clearing defenseman. The Rangers need one or the other and Eriksson lands right in the middle. That could certainly work against him in contract negotiations.

Secondly, the Swedish born Eriksson is already 35-years-old and will turn 36 next January. GM Glen Sather certainly does not want to lock him up for too long and have more cap weight dragging him down in the future. At most, I think we see a one-year deal for nothing more than $750,000.

Stay or Go: I think Eriksson would serve well as a seventh defenseman for the Rangers blueline. Not someone I would like to see take the ice regularly, but here and there won't hurt. I doubt he is looking for anything more than $750,000, if that. The Blueshirts should be able to get him for cheap and then simply send him down to Hartford (AHL) if things do not work out.

This post marks the end of the Pending Free Agents series here on the site and we hope that you enjoyed reading them. At sometime tomorrow I will put up the list of all the free agent previews so that you can read what you missed. After that, the offseason coverage continues as we preview the upcoming NHL Entry Draft by profiling the top thirty prospect to be drafted.

TSN: New York Rangers Offseason Plan

AP Photo

This past week, Scott Cullen of TSN wrote up a lengthy and in-depth gameplan for the New York Rangers in the upcoming offseason. He discusses who should stay and who should go, what the team's biggest needs are, and who the Blueshirts should look to acquire in this year's NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles, California. Below, I highlighted some of the more general ideas Scott brought to the table as he first looked at New York's approach as a whole.

Given the Rangers' approach in recent seasons, it's natural to expect them to head to the free agent market for solutions to their woes, but while head coach John Tortorella has indicated he wants changes in the room, he cautions against the Rangers making too many changes.

Since the Rangers only missed the playoffs by one point, rolling with the status quo could yield a playoff team in 2010-2011, but it would be irresponsible to not make an effort to provide better support for Henrik Lundqvist and Marian Gaborik, the Rangers' two bona fide stars, who need help if this team is going to do more than merely battle for a playoff spot.

Questionable (to be kind) free agent signings in recent years have left the Rangers in a precarious position under the salary cap.

Wade Redden, Chris Drury and Michal Rozsival aren't producing nearly enough for what they are getting paid and that makes it difficult for the Rangers to provide adequate support to their best players and it's how the Rangers end up with waiver wire pickup Erik Christensen centering their first line down the stretch as they bid for a playoff spot.

If the Rangers are creative enough, or willing to swallow enough salary, they may still be able to make a big addition or two to help next year's bid for the playoffs.

As Tortorella knows, though, there isn't any single addition that will turn this franchise into a championship contender, so a lot will depend on execution from whomever opens the season in Manhattan.

(For a more detailed look, read the remainder of Cullen's article on TSN)

As he mentions, I think it is likely that the Rangers are going to at least dip their feet into the free agent pool to get a feel for it come July 1st. Whether or not they will make any big free agent signings, I am not sure, because they are working with limited cap space here.  I know that they would love to sink their teeth into Montreal center Tomas Plekanec if they could, but a trade or prior move of some sort may need to be made in order for that to happen.

There is no question that Gaborik and Lundqvist need some support on this team. They cannot be the only consistent pieces on the roster; that is not a team. I think just two more 20 goal scorers and a solid defenseman would make a huge difference for the Rangers, helping both Gabby and Hank out in the process. The question is, where do you turn to acquire those assets? And do you have the money/space to do so? These are just some of the questions running through general manager Glen Sather's mind right now.

Now that you have read TSN's offseason plan, I expect to be sharing mine in the coming weeks. Last year, I was pretty much on the money with my offseason predictions as most of them came true; sticking it to all of the people that roasted me, stating that I had no idea what I was talking about. If you never got a chance to read my gameplan from last summer, do so here and try to recall how much of it actually happened.

Pending Free Agents: Erik Christensen

Courtesy of Getty Images

December 2, 2009. Things for the Rangers began getting hectic on this date as they were in the middle of a drought and just waived long time back-up netminder Stephen Valiquette. Then, in the midst of it all, general manager Glen Sather announces that he has picked up forward Erik Christensen off of waivers from the Anaheim Ducks. Many, even outside of the Blueshirts fanbase, questioned the move and looked at it as yet another useless acquisition that the Rangers find themselves making often. Little did we know, though, that Christensen would eventually be a spark on offense for the Rangers, and would become one of the few to develop chemistry with star winger Marian Gaborik.

The Good:  Christensen may have only posted a total of 26 points in 49 games played with the Rangers this season, but I think he still managed to exceed the expectations of many who follow the team. These stats, for the most part, are a direct result of playing alongside Gaborik on the first offensive line. No one expected Erik to gel nicely with Gaborik and no one expected him to be able to be a somewhat perfect fit in the middle of the first line, either. This is what I mean about exceeding expectations; Christensen came in and took everyone by surprise with his play, including the coaching staff, who developed a strong liking for him as their time together increased.

Christensen has an amazing set of hands. Yes, you are not reading incorrectly, he has an amazing set of hands. The things the 26-year-old center is able to do with the puck are remarkable, but his problem is that he does not always have the confidence to use those hands. You saw the one-handed goal against the Bruins, you saw the slick deke to split the defense that led to a goal against Marty Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils. That is what Erik is capable of when his self-esteem is high and he is at the top of his game.

The Bad: Among the things I did not like about Christensen, one of the main ones that irked me was his invisibility on the powerplay. Just four total powerplay points this season for the Edmonton native, which is not good enough to keep him on the man advantage unit. Head coach John Tortorella gave him the opportunity, but he rarely delivered with a goal or an assist of any sort. I don't understand how you could be so successful at even strength and then just completely disappear on the powerplay. Then again, the Rangers powerplay this season was a mystery itself.

Consistency is also a concern of mine when it comes to Christensen. For some stretches, Erik would not put up a point for five straight games, and then would notch three in two games. Hot and cold is the phrase that pretty much sums up not only this season, but Christensen's entire career. He has never been able to stabilize himself and form any sort of consistency to his game. It is always those hot and cold stretches that I mentioned above.

For this reason, Christensen has been bounced around from team to team over the years, and knows that his days in the National Hockey League are limited unless he turns things around.

Stay or Go: This is how I feel about Christensen. He is not a necessity because as I have stated in the past, the Rangers need to acquire a better center than Christensen to play with Marian Gaborik. However, it is always a good thing to have a depth center in your lineup that is capable of playing some hockey. The only problem with that is the Blueshirts already have a surplus at the centerman position .

In total, I would sign him if he is willing to agree to a contract for one year at less than $1 million. If those terms do not meet his wants, trade his rights or walk away come arbitration time since he is a restricted free agent.

Conference Finals Live Game Thread: Flyers at Canadiens (Game 3)

Final

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With a commanding 2-0 lead in the series, the Philadelphia Flyers look to move one step closer to the Stanley Cup Finals tonight with a win over the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre in Canada. The Habs, on the other hand, will want to feed off of the energy of their home crowd and prevent themselves from falling into the dreadful 0-3 hole. We have the contest covered here in this live game thread, much like on Tuesday night, so feel free to discuss the action in the comments while I update this post with scoring updates throughout the night.

• 7:05 First Period: Michael Cammalleri capitalizes on an active bounce off the backboards as he lifts a shot over Leighton to make it 1-0 Canadiens early. I think the roof of the Bell Centre just came off. 
• 16:52 First Period: A Chris Pronger turnover results in Tom Pyatt scoring to put the Habs up 2-0 late in the first period.  Canadiens are shooting from everywhere AND crashing the net; a combination that never fails. 
• END First: Montreal dominating and also getting the calls in their favor.  They lead the Flyers 2-0 at the end of one. 
• 11:33 Second Period: Former Ranger Dominic Moore's wrister beats Leighton to make it 3-0 Canadiens. Now their game to loose.  
• END Second: Canadiens holding their 3-0 lead on the Flyers through two periods played at the Bell Centre.The intensity of this series is certainly picking up each and every game. 
• 2:00 Third Period: Brian Gionta continues his superb season with a goal to make it 4-0 in favor of Montreal. I think it is safe to say that this game is over and the series will at least go to five games.  
• 8:22 Third Period: Simon Gagne ruins Halak's shutout and cuts into the Canadiens' lead, 4-1.  
• FINAL: Bergeron scores on the powerplay as the Canadiens defeat the Flyers by the score of 5-1 and now cut Philly's series lead to 2-1.

Pending Free Agents: Dan Girardi

Courtesy of Getty Images

I have always felt that defenseman Dan Girardi has been underrated while playing with the New York Rangers. His weaknesses are pointed out more often than his strengths and that has caused many fans to have a negative outlook when it comes to Girardi, and that, I think, should not be the case. Dan is a defensive asset that many teams would love to add to their roster and for that reason, the Blueshirts need to be sure to lock up the restricted free agent at some point over the summer.

The Good: Girardi, when paired with Marc Staal, makes up one-half to a spectacular shutdown pairing in the National Hockey League. In the past, we have seen them diffuse players like Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, and are often used against the opponent's top offensive line. What is surprising is that despite being put up against the best players in the league, the 26-year-old has always seemed to maintain one of the better plus/minus ratings on the team. To some, that stat is useless, but I think it says a lot about a defenseman.

In four years with the Rangers, I have not complained about Girardi much. Sure, he hits some bumps in the road that slow him down, but he finds ways to get back on track and return to his steady shutdown game. He is not the most physical player, either, but that doesn't totally affect him in a negative way. Although that is an area of his game I would like to see improvement in.

All in all, Girardi is a quiet but solid blue-liner for the Rangers and is someone that I would like to see general manager Glen Sather re-sign for the next few years. He is trustworthy on defense and over time, I think head coach John Tortorella developed a liking for Girardi, even after the two got off on the wrong foot earlier in the season.

The Bad: I said earlier that Girardi is not a "flashy" player. By that I mean he does not put up offensive numbers like say Michael Del Zotto does. In the past three years, Girardi has not been able to hit the 30 point mark. In fact, in the past two seasons in New York, he barely cleared twenty. The coaches have always thought he has offensive potential, but at this point, I think it is time to just give up on that theory because nothing appears to be changing anytime soon when it comes to Dan's offensive contributions.

At times, I also feel that Girardi's lack of physicality hurts him a lot. For example, I think we are all familiar with the incident between Marian Gaborik and Daniel Carcillo back in January in which they two engaged in a confrontation and Dan Girardi was guilty of not stepping in to defend the team's leading point-getter. He took a lot of heat for that and I think there is a lot of regret there on Girardi's part.

Stay or Go: I think that Dan's game is something the Rangers will benefit from having in their lineup. He should not be too expensive, but provides great services that, as I mentioned, many teams would love to have on their back-end. He is a traditional shutdown defenseman and those are becoming harder and harder to find these days, so I believe the Blueshirts should hang on to this one.

Also, check out my Marian Gaborik player review from yesterday on Blueshirt Banter.

NHL Should Regulate Contract Lengths

Courtesy of Getty Images

Just put yourself in a hypothetical situation for a moment. You are the general manager of a franchise that is in the process of rebuilding. After several years of failure, you finally are on the right track in terms of acquiring young talent and building a strong lineup from the goaltender out. You built the roster around your goaltender, who is all-star caliber and now you want to make sure it stays that way with his contract soon expiring. Well, the obvious thing to do would be to lock him up long-term, no? So you go on to sign him for fifteen years, knowing that he will give you a chance to make the playoffs in each and every one of those.

Unfortunately, a series of injuries followed by an unsuccessful surgery handicaps him for three years straight, and now, in the middle of your rebuild, your once strongest player is  unavailable to you and with his talent, he simply cannot be replaced. You try signing other goalies for cheap prices, and while they may be decent, they are nothing like the one you have for the next fifteen years. See that's the problem. You now are stuck with a goalie that cannot play more than a quarter of the season without getting hurt for the next decade and some.

I think you all know by now that I am referring to the New York Islanders and their situation with goaltender Rick DiPietro. They are the team who originally seemed like geniuses by beginning this trend of signing stars to lengthy contracts, and they are now paying for it. What I do not understand is that after seeing this, why general managers around the NHL insist on handing out contracts that last for nine, ten, eleven years. Doesn't this league learn from its mistakes? Apparently not.

The Washington Capitals, this past week, re-signed Swedish forward Nicklas Backstrom to a 10-year deal. Last summer, it was the Chicago Blackhawks inking Marian Hossa for 12 years and the Vancouver Canucks also own goalie Roberto Luongo for the next twelve seasons as well. Since their early exit from the playoffs, there has been talk of Vancouver wanting to strip the "C" from Roberto after numerous poor performances. Larry Brooks even when on to say that they may want to buy him out. I think this is ridiculous, but that is besides the point I am trying to make. If one playoff series is going to change your opinion of him, then why sign him for 12 years in the first place?

In my opinion, it is poor strategy by general managers and they are not thinking ahead. They want to lock a player up for a long period of time and not have to worry about him becoming a free agent and being forced to offer a raise in order to keep him. It is very risky, and you never want to gamble a good portion of your money, because as we saw with the Islanders, it could come back to haunt you (although they use DiPi's salary just so they can make it to the cap floor).

This is where the NHL needs to step in and make an addition to the league's collective bargaining agreement that sets limits on how long a contract can be. Five, six, even seven years is fine, but when you are signing a player for 15 years, that is just absurd and there is a good chance it can backfire big time. GM's don't seem to be adjusting their approach, so the only thing that will stop them at this point would be the league.

Thoughts?

Pending Free Agents: P.A. Parenteau

Courtesy of AP Photo

I said earlier in the season that I was very impressed with what P.A. Parenteau offered to the Rangers when he was put into the lineup this season, and I urged that the Rangers consider him for a permanent roster spot in the bottom six in 2010-11. There is one problem with that. Parenteau becomes an unrestricted free agent as of July 1st, so general manager Glen Sather needs to make sure that he locks the 27-year-old winger into a new contract for the future before then, or soon after, before he ventures off and signs elsewhere.

The Good: In 22 games played with the Rangers this season, Parenteau recorded three goals and five assists for a total of eight points. Those numbers may not be very appealing, but for a player that was recalled from the AHL at random and asked to play at the National Hockey League level, I think those numbers are good enough to at least make the coaching staff consider giving Parenteau a full-time job with the Blueshirts next year.

When recalled, I felt like Parenteau made an impact in the game, even if it was something little like having four shots on goal. He quickly became one of head coach John Tortorella's go-to guys in the shootout, as we saw in the final game against  the Philadelphia Flyers in April. Pierre was a perfect 3 for 3 in the shootout this season, and what impressed me most is that he did a different move on each attempt and buried all three, including one with the season on the line against Brian Boucher.

I think Parenteau can be molded into a solid third-liner in the NHL, mainly because he can play on both sides of the puck. From what I saw, the Quebec native was responsible in the defensive zone and knew what he was doing too. He was not a lost soul skating around aimlessly like Enver Lisin used to do on defense. Nonetheless, his offensive potential is what grabs the attention of the coaches and is what will get him a spot on this roster.

The Bad: It has taken Parenteau a bit longer to develop compared to your average prospect. If anything hurts him, that will be it. Now-a-days, when a player is 27 and still playing in the American Hockey League, teams normally are a bit alarmed and cautious when considering him for the lineup. For the past two seasons, though, Parenteau has put up some great numbers, around 80 points in each.

This is what we have training camp for. You take guys like Parenteau, put them through hell, and see how they react. If they pass the physical test, then you put them into your system and see if they can keep up and use their hockey smarts to make the right play at the right times. If not, you simply cut him from the roster and maybe consider him for a fill-in somewhere down the road.

Stay or Go: I believe the Rangers should definitely re-sign Parenteau for at least a year on a 2-way contract if he is willing. Within that year, place him in the Blueshirts lineup for an ample amount of time, or whatever is necessary to see if he can consistently play at the professional level. I have a lot of faith in Parenteau and I have done what I can to stress to fans/readers that he could be a potential energy player for the Rangers on the third line. All he needs is the opportunity.

Conference Finals Live Game Thread: Canadiens at Flyers (Game 2)

Throwing this up on the site tonight while keeping tabs on the Flyers vs Canadiens match-up at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia for game two. Stop by to discuss the game or just read my live scoring updates, which will be posted below. Enjoy the game!

• 4:16 (1st Period): Danny Briere gives the Flyers an early 1-0 lead as he takes advantage of a loose puck on the powerplay. Once again, it was former Ranger Scott Gomez taking a penalty and sitting in the box while the goal was scored.
• End 1st: Flyers holding their 1-0 lead on the Canadiens at the end of one. However, Habs are outshooting Philly 16-6, partly due to the fact that Montreal had three powerplays. 
• 15:49 (2nd Period): Simon Gagne capitalizes on the powerplay, starting with hard work behind the net, and the Flyers have taken a 2-0 lead on the Habs late in the second period. 
• End 2nd: 2-0 Flyers at the end of two at the Wachovia Center. I think the Habs have put up a stronger effort than they did in game one and they are still in this. Should be an exciting finish in the third!
• 7:54 (3rd Period):  Ville Leino scores from a very sharp angle, 3-0 Flyers. Bad bad goal allowed by Jaroslav Halak. 
• Final:  Flyers 3 Canadiens 0; Flyers take a 2-0 series lead as it heads to Montreal.

Dubinsky Leads World Championships in Scoring

Courtesy of Getty Images

The United States hockey team may only be participating in the relegation rounds at this point of the tournament, but forward Brandon Dubinsky, who was named to the squad after his Rangers were eliminated from the playoff race in April, now leads the entire tourney in scoring with three goals and seven assists for a total of 10 points. The 24-year-old center has been placed in the middle of Islander Kyle Okposo and Senator Nick Foligno on the U.S.'s top offensive line. At first, they were a trio that was struggling to produce much, but as time has passed, they have shown improvement.

The more the merrier and for Dubinsky, there could not be anything better for him right now than to be participating in the World Championships in Germany and continue to play hockey even though his National Hockey League club has already been done for over a month now. For such a young player, it is crucial that Dubi has the opportunity to play in different environments, under different coaches, and with different players. Something like this gives him exactly that, and will be instrumental to his future development.

And now, not only is he participating, but he is dominating out on the ice. Considering there are players such as Matt Duchene, Alex Ovechkin, and Jaromir Jagr also playing for their respective countries, it speaks volumes that Brandon is leading them all in scoring. As we know, consistency has been a flaw in Dubinsky's game all throughout his career, but in this tournament, since he has started scoring, he has not shown signs of stopping.

Defenseman Matt Gilroy has also been having himself a solid tournament, scoring a hat trick on defense in Saturday's win over Kazakhstan. Marc Staal and Michael Del Zotto are also in on the fun, but with Team Canada, who seems to be struggling as of late with a loss to the Czech Republic earlier this afternoon.

Pending Free Agents: Alex Auld

Courtesy of AP Photo

Goaltender Alex Auld was acquired by the Rangers back on February 27th, when general manager Glen Sather claimed the veteran netminder off of re-entry waivers from the Dallas Stars. Auld only saw action in three games during his time with the Rangers, probably because it was crunch time and coach Tortorella needed to go with Lundqvist, but I thought he held his own in those three games and appeared much sturdier and confident than his predecessor in Steve Valiquette. Regardless, New York has shown no indication whatsoever that they are looking to re-sign the unrestricted free agent for next season.

The Good: In those three games as a Blueshirt, Auld faced 52 shots total and only allowed five, giving him a save percentage of .904. Prior to that, with the Stars, the Alberta native played in 21 games this year in which he registered a 3.00 goals against average and a .894 save percentage. For a back-up, those numbers are not something to entirely complain about, but remember, those are his stats as a whole. Auld has a reputation of having random games that see him letting up four, five, sometimes six goals within a 60-minute contest.

Other than that, Auld has been a reputable back-up in the National Hockey League for several years now. He is not spectacular or someone that you could ride for an entire season as a starter, but he gets the job done when serving in the secondary role. That is all you ask out of your back-up, because quite honestly, it is a waste to possess an all-star caliber goalie and not have him as your starter. To me, Auld is a perfect fit for a back-up.

Not to mention he is only 29-years-old at the moment so he likely has a lot left in the tank. If the Rangers were to sign Auld for two years, say, I wouldn't have a big problem with it since he is still relatively young.

The Bad: As mentioned above, Alex Auld has had problems with consistency throughout his entire career. In 2005-06, Alex had his first taste as a starter in the NHL when he played in 67 games with the Vancouver Canucks. He maintained a goals against average of below three and a save percentage above .900 in that time. However, he ran into troubles with Florida in the next season and with the Coyotes the next, two cities where he struggled majorly.

You all saw what the Rangers went through trying to somehow organize the back-up goaltending mess last season once Steve Valiquette was sent down to play with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL), and they sure do not want to deal with another debacle like that again this year. That is why I think they will be very careful when the ultimately make a decision for who will be Henrik Lundqvist's reinforcement.

The Blueshirts can last without a star in net for a back-up since Lundqvist starts in majority of the games over the course of the season. At the same time, though, they also want someone capable back there.

Stay or Go: I think that the Rangers should fish around before they fully commit to Alex Auld. There are many unrestricted free agent goalies come July 1st including Brent Johnson, Yann Danis, Antero Niittymaki, and Michael Leighton, all who are currently paid less than $1 million. If they cannot agree to terms with any of those players, then go to Auld and re-sign him for one year, two years maximum.