Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Yuck.
Off puck drop, and before covering all of the latest news in Rangerstown, USA for you in a chronological order, I must say this:
If you watched the entirety of Monday night’s game between the Rangers and the Devils (the Blueshirts’ fourth preseason match of training camp) – then you my friend, are a hardcore and diehard fan – no ifs, ands or buts about it!
Unfamiliar for this particular scribe, tonight’s blog will be a “quick” one – and I guess in homage to Jonathan Quick too – as the back-up goalie was “The Lone Ranger” to stand out during the Blueshirts’ 3-1, Anton Blidh goalie pulled score abetted, loss.
While of course, wins and losses don’t matter during this time of year – and where of course, there’s also my season-long disclaimer that applies too (this one: “WHATEVER THE RANGERS DO FROM NOW UNTIL THE TRADE DEADLINE DOESN’T MATTER. THEY CAN ONLY BE JUDGED BY WHATEVER THEY DO FOLLOWING THE DEADLINE AND BY WHAT THEY DO IN THE 2025 PLAYOFFS!”); at the same time, Monday night was a big opportunity for both fringe players and prospects alike – aka men looking to showcase themselves to Rangers’ management – and that’s not exactly what happened.
In fact, the complete opposite was attained.
Somewhat insignificant, but also somewhat painful too, was the fact that until Blidh scored his harmless “A-Rod Goal” with just 1:42 remaining in regulation, was that prior to his rebound strike, that it was Jeremy Brodeur, aka son of “Uncle Daddy” Martin Brodeur, who had a 29 save shutout going at the time.
Overall for the soon-to-be 28-year-old career minor-leaguer, and where most of his minor league time has been spent in the third-tiered ECHL as opposed to the AHL; Brodeur had one of the best games of his life, as he finished with a .967 save percentage on his 29/30 performance – and where yes and to his credit – he also committed many robberies along the way.
Equally as impressive as that was that Brodeur, with nothing but AHLers and ECHLers in front of him, and as far as the eye could see to boot, shut down six separate Ranger power-plays – and where yes – while a failed execution on the Blueshirts’ end was part of it – Brodeur was pretty damn good himself.
(That sentence hurt to write!)
If this wasn’t a preseason game, then all you would’ve heard about tonight was how the “Satan Spawn” of Marty, one of the biggest “Ranger Killers” of all-time (and I know this topic in-and-out – after all, I literally wrote the book on this subject), channeled his sister-in-law lovin’ father in his dominance over the Blueshirts.
But of course, and in reality too – this was a preseason game.
Furthermore, the Rangers, and outside of Quick, hardly had any NHLers in their line-up either.
I guess that’s your silver lining.
Another silver lining in Rangerstown, USA these days?
The fact that over the past few days, Artemi Panarin, Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey all suffered injuries.
The trying-to-find-a-positive-spin on this?
If you had to accept that two of these players would miss time to open the season, then you would rather Lindgren and Vesey spend time recuperating instead of “The Breadman.”
In case you missed it, then last night, I posted the following blog on this site:
It’s Time For The Rangers To LET THEM COOK – And Other Training Camp Thoughts: Lafreniere For PP1, Edstrom & Rempe > Hanger-On Veterans, Othmann Over Kakko, Mancini & Jones = Auditions Aced, Textbook Win Against Boston, Injuries, What Lies Ahead, Laviolette & More
During that blog, I mentioned how Vesey sustained a lower-body injury at Sunday’s practice, and where all of the Blueshirt beat reporters were saying that it was an insignificant injury, akin to witnessing a minor scratch on your used car.
So much for that – and HOLY FAKE NEWS BATMAN too.
On Monday morning, the Rangers reconvened for practice at their training facility in Tarrytown, NY, and where like the previously injured Ryan Lindgren – Vesey was also M.I.A.
And to just temporarily jump ahead a bit – Laviolette had all of his regulars at the skate – and where it should also be mentioned that Matt Rempe was part of it too (which is to say that it’s highly likely that he’s making the varsity squad).
In turn, that meant that similar to the the Devils (as noted last night – they are forced to use minor-leaguers in these pair of games against the Rangers, as their NHL line-up is currently in Prague, Czechia, in preparation for their pair of games against the Sabres which kicks off the season), that Laviolette was also going to field a roster full of prospects and minor-leaguers.
Following the practice, Laviolette filled us in on the Vesey news:
Obviously, and without doubt, everyone wants to see the Rangers at full health – but of course – hockey is a physical game full of injuries too.
And while who knows what will happen during the playoffs; keep in mind, this Blueshirts’ squad, largely the same team from last season (Barclay Goodrow out, Reilly Smith in), was able to win the Presidents’ Trophy while also missing Adam Fox for ten games, an effective Mika Zibanejad all-season, and with CZAR IGOR experiencing a mid-season slump in-between too.
So yeah, while it sucks that Lindgren and Vesey won’t be contributing during the early weeks of the season – it’s not the end of the world – and especially since it’s the Stanley Cup that’s the goal – and not being the best team in the league throughout the month of October.
Furthermore, and as noted last night – the Rangers do have options in their pipeline, including talk-of-the-town Victor Mancini and the reliable Chad Ruhwedel for Lindgren, and a bevy of forwards too, including Rempe, Adam Edstrom, Sam Carrick and Jonny Brodzinski in lieu of Vesey.
Similar to Lindgren – get well soon Vesey.
All of this news brought us to Monday night’s tilt at “The Pebble” in Newark, NJ – a game so devoid of talent that not only was the building not even at half capacity – but 99.9% of the local hockey media skipped the game too – hence the reason why there wasn’t a post-game Laviolette interview uploaded to the team’s official YouTube page.
In a game that made many say “WHO?” all night, the Devils were able to pretty much dominate the Rangers, 3-1 – and where this contest was also predicated by both goaltending and special teams.
I also want to make mention that Devil season ticket holders (both of them) were forced to pay full price for this game, while tickets on the secondary market could be had for as low as $6 – and even $6.66 too!
When it comes to the red-and-black attack, I get it – they are a victim of their own schedule.
It is what it is – and everyone will be excited for their two games in Prague – and where they will have these two days all to themselves. (And I guess the Sabres too!)
When it comes to the Rangers, and we’re seeing this throughout the league too, NHL teams are opting to skate their best players in front of their home arena during the preseason (or in other words – in front of their season ticket holders who are paying an extremely high face-value amount for these “coveted” ducats), which is my way of saying that I completely understand Laviolette’s strategy to employ his own minor-league line-up.
Come Tuesday night, when these teams rematch at M$G, then you’ll see all of the regular Rangers – and I can’t see how anyone would have a problem with that.
If there was anything that I had to nit-pick about in concerns to the line-up, and this isn’t coming from a perspective of “hindsight being 20-20” either (as I said this before the game), then I would’ve inserted the struggling Kaapo Kakko into Monday night’s line-up and then let someone else, whether it be Brennan Othmann, Adam Edstrom, you take your pick, play on Tuesday night.
Why?
Easy.
If anyone needs to get going and have a hot start too, then it’s the malcontent Finn.
This could’ve been his chance to shine against inferior competition – and a way to boost his confidence too.
Counter-point?
Had Kakko played on Monday night and did what he always does – NOTHING/NO SCORING – then I guess he would’ve looked inferior – and lost the rest of the confidence that he may have still remaining.
In a line-up that you’ll never see again for the rest of your life, here is what Laviolette threw on the ice on Monday night:
FIRST LINE: Blidh/Groulx/Othmann
SECOND LINE: Berard/Roobroeck/Edstrom
THIRD LINE: Sykora/McConnell-Barker/Erne
FOURTH LINE: Sucese/Jenkins/Chmelar
FIRST PAIR: Mackey/Mancini
SECOND PAIR: Hillman/Fitzgerald
THIRD PAIR: Scanlin/Bowey
STARTING GOALIE: Quick
BACK-UP GOALIE: Domingue
Just a few notes on the line-up before getting into the game itself.
Similar to Rempe, and it does speak volumes that Brodzinski, Carrick and Ruhwedel were also excluded from this game, which speaks to their high chances of making Lavy’s final cut.
While Edstrom and Mancini, the two skaters who have the best chances of making the varsity team from this line-up, were serviceable – they also didn’t really do much to bump up their stock – but they also didn’t do anything to derail their value either.
I thought the biggest disappointment of the night was Brennan Othmann, as this was a game that he needed to shine in.
While yes, he didn’t exactly have the best linemates; but at the same time, this could’ve been his moment to stand-out, and instead, I thought he hurt his case during this particular audition.
Less noticeable than Othmann was Brett Berard – the top scorer in Hartford last season.
In fact, and while they weren’t exactly “great” either, but I thought that PTO Erne, Sykora and Sucese stood out more than the prized prospect duo.
It should also be mentioned that prior to the game, the Rangers recalled two players on PTO contracts in Hartford, Blake Hillman and Blade Jenkins, in order to complete their line-up.
And not for nothing, if you told me that the WWE had tag team champions named Blake “The Hammer” Hillman and Blade “Junkyard Dog” Jenkins – then I’d believe it.
What I don’t believe?
Either one of them ever wearing a Rangers’ jersey again.
Let’s get through this “game review” as “quick” as possible.
FIRST PERIOD
I can’t lie.
Despite the line-up, I was extremely excited for this game, as I expected some Ranger, whether it be Othmann, Edstrom, Mancini or somebody else, to take control and make their case to Laviolette.
Instead, Brodeur said “CASE CLOSED!”
In what was a sign of what was to come – the Devils just dominated from the opening puck drop – and where they made these Rangers look really minor-league.
And again – don’t get it twisted.
The game result is worthless.
My only gripe was the lack of performance from a Rangers’ group that I thought would come out bursting in order to impress Laviolette.
In a game that was only broadcasted by the Devils’ announcers on the M$GN, and where everyone can give the legendary Kenny Daneyko a pass for not knowing about 90% of the players on the ice; Brodeur made his first save of the game on a Mr. Mackey slapshot.
Right after that, Sykora channeled his inner Kakko – and couldn’t beat Brodeur on a slam-dunk breakaway.
Perhaps it was just Uncle Daddy Junior’s night.
As it usually plays out, once one team fails on a breakaway (and usually on power-plays too), then the other squad capitalizes on it, and that’s what happened here, as Brian “Halloween” Halonen spooked Quick on a breakaway, via a wrist shot, for the 1-0, bad guys goal at the 7:17 mark.
For good measure, Nathan Legare took “Le Care” of Quick as well, as he also beat the Rangers’ backstop on another Devils’ wrist shot breakaway goal.
2-0, bad guys, and now at the 12:32 mark.
And yes, these two breakaways also speaks to the lack of chemistry, and porous defense too, that the Rangers exhibited in this exhibition.
Quick settled down from this point on, as after these pair of red-lights, he was pretty much impregnable, stopping a bevy of breakaways and odd-man rushes, and where only a 5 x 3 power-play goal allowed boosted his goals allowed to three.
With 5:39 remaining, Brodeur recorded his eighth save, this time on Berard.
A few seconds later and the Devils were on the power-play, as Chmelar tripped Stillman.
Quick did his job here.
So did Mancini and Edstrom, who both stood out on this successful PK.
The Rangers received a power-play with 1:11 remaining when Max Willman cross-checked Bowey, but as it would be all night – no biscuit in the basket – as the Blueshirts finished with an 0-fer, as in 0-6, on the man-advantage.
Come the horn, and between this both being an exclusive Devils’ broadcast and the lack of inspired play – and this game felt as exciting as a 24-hour bout with diarrhea.
SECOND PERIOD
This was a penalty-laden twenty-minutes, as the two warring “Battle of the Hudson” teams combined for eight infractions.
Halonen kicked off the parade to the sin bin after boarding Othmann just 46-seconds in. This eventually led to a 2 x 1 chance for Blidh – and where the Ranger made Brodeur look like – well, like his surname, Brodeur!
To fast-forward through this dreck, and where neither team could capitalize on their never-ending power-plays either; come eight-minutes remaining and the SOG total favored the home team, 23-10.
This just speaks to a lack of a Rangers’ offense and who were by this time, now 0-3 on the power-play.
Not good.
Whether it was to get noticed, frustration or both; we saw this game’s intensity and physicality levels increase, as Xavier Parent and Casey Fitzgerald (who ironically, is the son of Devils’ GM, Tom Fitzgerald) get into it with five-minutes remaining, while Adam Erne and Halonen decided to have a hugging-and-tugging match at the end of the period – and a “fight” that earned each competitor a five-minute major to begin the final frame.
Goaltending wise, and both Quick and Brodeur remained stellar, as the Ranger back-up was stopping every bang-bang play imaginable, while Marty’s kid made the best save of the game when he absolutely robbed Sucese.
We remained at 2-0, them, following forty-minutes of “action.”
THIRD PERIOD
All of the disclaimers aside – and knowing what this game was too – and I was just surprised with the lack of urgency and pop from a group looking to make their names with the organization.
No joke, and this period, and just like most of the game too, was flatter than a plate of piss on a sweltering summer day.
Erne, who got an extra two-minutes (instigating) tacked on for his “bout” with Halonen, soon had Mackey join him in the penalty box, following the defenseman’s cross-check on porn star Mike Hardman.
New Jersey, now with a six-second two-man advantage, made short work of the Rangers here, as former Shark, and currently on a Devils’ PTO today, Kevin Labanc – and where if you can believe it, once had Blueshirt backers clamoring for his services too – beat Quick just as Erne was released from the box.
3-0, bad guys – and where I don’t think that I have to mention this – but you can’t bag on a goalie for giving up a 5 x 3 power-play goal either.
In a rare Rangers’ highlight; come thirteen-minutes and change remaining, and the “Skyscrapin’ Swede,” Adam Edstrom, successfully went 1 x 4 with the Devils. However, once getting to Brodeur, his backhanded attempt was stopped.
While this didn’t go for a goal, this just showed us that this giant has some skilled and silky mitts – and that he isn’t afraid to use them either.
The Rangers received two more power-plays in this period – and where on their first one – they didn’t even register a SOG. I don’t know if the M$GN were battling sound issues or not – but I thought I heard Brodeur snoring during this penalty kill.
Sandwiched in-between timeouts from each side, and Laviolette pulled Quick with over five-minutes remaining.
Come 102-seconds left in regulation, and this is when Blidh scored his 6 x 5 attack goal, as Brodeur gave up a juicy rebound after stopping Berard – and where the puck must’ve had a compass or magnet on it – as it went straight to Blidh for the no-brainer.
3-1, bad guys – and 3-1, bad guys, your final too.
And at this time, I’d like to accept the award as the person who not only watched this entire game – but who wrote the most words about it too!
As noted last night (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/92924/ ), I’m scheduled for a 12-hour shift on Tuesday at the real j-o-b, followed by an 18-hour shift on Wednesday.
So yeah – most likely no recap of Tuesday’s night game – but I will be watching it during my elongated dinner break! (And you can follow my real-time thoughts on Twitter/X by visiting @NYCTHEMIC)
I’ll most likely return sometime before Friday night, when the Rangers will do battle for the last time this preseason – this time against the Belmont Bozos over at the IBS Arena.
After that, then the regular season begins – and where as previously noted on this site – I won’t be around for the home-opener (October 12th v. Utah), as I’m going to South Bend, Indiana to see Notre Dame on that day, followed by a Sunday trip to Green Bay to see the Packers.
Let’s close on a high note tonight:
PLUGS TIME! (Buy a book and support my Rangers’ induced therapy bills. After all, I don’t run ads on this site!)
My fourth title and tenth book is now available!
“The Top 100 Villains of New York Rangers History,” is now available for sale!
For complete information, please visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/rangerkillers/
My second plug of tonight’s blog – the mandatory plug for my book, “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden.”
As mentioned previously, the book is now available in hardcover, in paperback and in Kindle formats. To purchase a copy of the book, visit this link:
https://www.amazon.com/Rangers-Rafters-Madison-Square-Garden-ebook/dp/B09CM5N2WD
For those still looking for signed paperback versions of the book, I have re-ordered more copies. I now have a few signed copies for sale at $25 a pop (includes shipping price) through me directly. Here is all the information on that:
Order “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden” Book Today
My four-volume set of books, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is a game-by-game recount of the Rangers 2021-22 campaign.
My second title as an author, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is now available in eBook, paperback and hardcover formats.
To obtain signed copies, visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/onegamebook/
To purchase all four volumes on Amazon, visit: Amazon.com – “One Game at a Time.”
The greatest volume-set of books on Rangers’ history today!
“Tricks of the Trade – A Century-Long Journey Through Every Trade Made In New York Rangers’ History,” a four-volume set of books that meticulously covers every trade made in franchise history, is now on sale.
All four volumes of the title can be purchased on Amazon.com and are presented in three different formats – eBook, paperback and hardcover.
To purchase Volume I: Conn Smythe (1926) – Craig Patrick (1986), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume II: Phil Esposito (1986) – Neil Smith (2000), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume III: Glen Sather (2000-2015), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume IV: Jeff Gorton (2015) – Chris Drury (2022), visit Amazon.com
To purchase signed copies of all four volumes, visit https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/
If you haven’t already, subscribe to this blog for the next update:
Don’t forget to order my four-volume set of books, “Tricks of the Trade!”
If you don’t order through me, all four volumes are now available on Amazon.com
For more details, check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/
Thanks for reading.
LET’S GO RANGERS!
Sean McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com
@NYCTHEMIC on the Tweeter machine
Hey Sean just wanna say that although it’s only preseason your writing skills are in mid season form!
Very entertaining especially now us when us “diehards” are looking for any kind of juice. Sorry I couldn’t make the ND-GB trip. I’ve been to ND (saw the last Catholics/Convicts game) but would’ve loved the frozen tundra. Maybe next time. Enjoy!
Thank you Butta – should be a fun trip for Tommy, yours truly and ten others going!
Hopefully, I’ll see you at Pearsalls again sometime this season!
LGR
I don’t know what Kaapo Kakko has done to cloud your vision and turn you against him, but it has to be something serious like stealing your girl, right?
You can’t seem to resist taking pot shots at KK in every article you write. So what gives?
The guy had 7 shots on goal last game vs. Boston, and was the most dynamic offensive player on the ice. He got robbed a couple of times but he was very noticeable every time he was out there.
He has registered the hardest slapshot on the team at 107mph. He’s the best defensive forward and puck controller on the team. His line constantly outperforms the opposing line in metrics.
The only reason he hasn’t become an offensive star is that he’s been injured every season, and he’s been stuck playing with Zibanejad, who doesn’t know what a right wing is.
My view is that this is going to be his “Laffy” year, when if he stays healthy and stays away from the Amigos, he will easily hit 25g.
Give us a break! Criticize the players that warrant criticism, like Miller, Trouba, Zib, Vesey, Brodzinski. But sit back and watch KK have a real solid season. He’s going to be this season’s Lafreniere.
How did Kakko look tonight, during Game 1?
Just don’t see it man – but I respect your opinion – and choice to root for him.
And Kakko was punted off that BFF line early into last season – so it’s not his linemates – it’s him.
For what it’s worth, I don’t care about analytics/metrics – eye test only.
But I do appreciate your differing opinion regardless.
Sean
OK, now we have some evidence after a real game. Kakko had 5 shots, same as Chytil and Kreider. KK didn’t score, but he was very visible, got robbed a couple of times, and had a nice assist that was taken away after Cuylle’s goal was disallowed. The Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko line had the best metrics of all the NYR lines vs. Pittsburgh.
Zibanejad had ZERO shots, zero points, and was invisible.
Kakko had no chemistry with Zibanejad (neither has any other RW that they’ve tried in the last few seasons) because Zib never passes to his RW. He looks only to Kreider for his passes. Every RW on that line is just spinning his wheels. Meanwhile, the RW always gets blamed for lack of production.
If Chytil stays healthy, Kakko will put in 25-30 goals this season, It’s his turn to open eyes. Bet on it.
Hope you’re right, but assuming Chytil stays healthy is a big bet on its own.
Need to see these two score against non AHL teams.
Totally agree with your comments on Mika 100%.
And I don’t worry about Kakko stealing my girl – because if he did – he wouldn’t score anyway!