Betts Waits as Oilers Have Cap Issues

Jim Matheson at the Edmonton Journal reports that the Oilers haven't been able to sign former Ranger Blair Betts due to cap issues...

"The Oilers could certainly use Betts, a 29-year-old Edmonton product who was played a huge role on the NHL's best penalty-killing unit with the New York Rangers last season. He's also a big, energetic body--six-foot-three, 200 pounds--which is something the Oilers could use.

But the Oilers have 22 players who saw NHL action last season already signed and 14 of those are forwards. They still have to sign centre Gilbert Brule and defenceman Ladislav Smid."

...don't get too excited Ranger fans the Blueshirts aren't re-signing him.

Bourque, Stephen Star in USA Rout of Russia

Newyorkrangers.com reports Rangers prospects Ryan Bourque and Derek Stepan both had a hand in Team USA's 8-1 win against the Russian national Under-20 team on Tuesday night at Lake Placid, N.Y.

Bourque scored a goal, and Stepan had an assist for the Americans, who got their four-game series vs. Russia off to a rousing start. Fellow Rangers prospect Chris Kreider was a healthy scratch.

For more on Bourque visit The Prospect Park.

...from what I've read so far on Bourque, looks like he was a steal in the third round of this year's draft.

Kreider Tops Hot List

Ryan Kennedy at The Hockey News takes a look at players he can’t wait to see in the NHL some day. And at the top of the list is Rangers first round pick Chris Kreider...

1. Chris Kreider, C – Phillips-Andover Big Blue (Mass. prep): Every year there seems to be at least one mystery prospect who goes in the first round of the NHL draft and the hook is usually skating. Kreider, coming out of the Massachusetts prep ranks, was this year’s candidate and not only can the kid fly, but he works on it, too.

On his own strength's Kreider says...

“I think I’m a good skater,” he said. “I’m good at even strength and effective on special teams. I think I’m coachable and I work hard.”

...this is the second week in a row that Kennedy put a Ranger prospect at the top of the "Hot List." Last week C Ethan Werek of the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs topped the list.

Voros Talks About Upcoming Season

Here's more news Ranger fans probably don't care about as Zherdev's former linemate Aaron Voros talks about the start of what he expects to be a competitive Rangers training camp next month...

Now Zherdev Going to Nashville?

After reporting that Salavat Yulaev Ufa assistant coach Igor Zakharkin emphatically denied that Nikolai Zherdev had signed with his KHL club, Beyond the Blueshirts now relays a report from John Glennon of The Tennessean who says that Nashville may be interested...

"Glennon also confirmed with Nashville Predators general manager David Poile that he has been in touch with Zherdev’s agent."

...if you're sick of Zherdev rumors raise your hand. I seriously contemplated not even posting this information b/c I really don't care anymore. Especially about a player that has no connection to the Rangers anymore.

...despite that rant, great job of staying on this story by Beyond the Blueshirts.

Fleury: "I Just Want to Play"

Theo Fleury continues his talk of a comback as TSN reports that he is open to play for anyone...

"If I get to play, period - I don't care where it is. I just want to play," Fleury said on Monday.

"The end goal is to someday, some how, some way get back."

Fleury says his main motivation for a comeback is that he does not want to retire as a suspended player. Fleury was suspended indefinitely in October of 2002 for violating the NHL's aftercare program.

...i don't think too many Ranger fans would be against giving Fleury a Nedved like try-out this pre-season.

TSN is also now reporting that Nikolai Zherdev is expected to sign a deal with Salavatovo Yuleav Ufa.

Zherdev Bolts for KHL

Updated, 12:40 p.m.:
Beyond the Blueshirts reports that Zerdev has not yet signed with Salavat Yulaev Ufa, however, an unnamed source puts the chances of Zherdev signing for the KHL powerhouse at “more than 90%”.

BTB also notes that Zherdev has an offer on the table from his former team the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Original Post:

RDS reports that Nikolai Zherdev signed a contract with Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL.

...i'm sort of surprised by this. Like I said in a previous post, Zherdev could have signed a one-year deal for moderate $ and tried to put up big numbers for a nice pay day next year. Guess Zherdev figured he doesn't have it in him to give a 100% every night, hence going to the KHL.

Avery Talks About His Childhood

...unfortunately no insights into how he became such a pest.

If anyone is interested, click here for video of Chris Drury discussing his Little League experience.

Ranger Prospects Inch Closer to U.S. WJC Team

Newyorkrangers.com reports that all three Rangers prospects at the U.S. National Junior Team evaluation camp successfully passed through Monday's cuts and will compete in Team USA's upcoming four-game series against Russia in Lake Placid, N.Y....

"Prospects Chris Kreider, Ryan Bourque and Derek Stepan impressed the USA Hockey leadership enough in three recent intra-squad scrimmages to earn spots on the U.S. team. They also went a long way toward earning spots on the U.S. roster for the 2010 World Junior Championships. The entire U.S. World Junior team is likely to come from the group of 29 who survived Monday's cuts."

...congrats guys and good luck.

Rangers Considering Bouillon

Steve Zipay at Blue Notes reports that "unrestricted free agent defenseman Francis Bouillon, a 5-8, 200-pound defenseman who had a rep as a scrappy sparkplug in Montreal, is one of several players whom the Rangers are considering as role/depth additions."

Zipay adds that rumors of an imminent deal are incorrect.

For Bouillon's career stats click here.

...and the Rangers summer of stockpiling defensemen continues.

Rangers 6th Best Jersey in NHL

The Hockey News ranks from best to last the jersey's of every NHL team...

6. New York Rangers - Defines the diagonal lettering sweater

...THN has Minnesota's jersey ranked ahead of the Rangers at #5 and while I really do like their sweater I don't feel that they've been around long enough to warrant a top 5 ranking. Especially when the other top five are all Original Six teams.

GI Sean?

With the GI Joe movie hitting the theaters, Kevin Whalen at Pucks & Pitchforks compares NHL players to GI Joe characters, including two Rangers...

G.I. Joe Character: Shipwreck
NHL Player: Sean Avery
Shipwreck is a loudmouth sailor. This could not have been an easier choice for me. Avery even looks like shipwreck, plus has his loud mouth attitude. He even has that dramatic flare for Hollywood, he would fit in perfectly for this movie.

G.I. Joe Character: Dr. Mindbender
NHL Player: Glen Sather
Okay, he isn’t an NHL player, but the guy has been responsible for many “creations” within the Ranger organization. When Mindbender creates something, it usually fails. Sather has had the same run of bad luck unfortunately, with some exceptions of course. The Rangers goalie and the young guys (Dubinsky, Callahan, Staal) are all working out for them. But, the trades, the lucrative contracts, and the free agent signings have all seemed to hit the wall before. Gomez, Redden, Drury, all given big deals and none of which have seemed to work out for them. Let’s not forget when he came to the Rangers and got rid of beloved Rangers Leetch and Graves only to bring in Pavel Bure, Eric Lindors and Bobby Holik, all of whom became absolute busts for them. Furthermore, Sather may not be a maniacal mad man like Mindbender is, but ask some Ranger fans either then or now and they may feel just fine comparing Sather to him.

...first a list comparing NHL teams to beers and now this? We hockey bloggers need the season to start real soon.

...h/t Puck Daddy.

Investigators Reopen Cherepanov Probe

ESPN reports that prosecutors will reopen the investigation into the death of Rangers draft pick Alexei Cherepanov, who collapsed during a Continental Hockey League game last year in Russia...

"The federal prosecutor's Investigative Committee ruled last month that team doctors were not to blame for Cherepanov's death and would face no criminal charges. Investigators said doctors with Siberian team Avangard Omsk had no reason to suspect the 19-year-old suffered from a chronic heart problem and therefore did not prescribe the medicine he was taking.

But the committee on Monday reopened the case and ordered that new medical tests be carried out in a federal center for forensic medicine."

Beyond the Blueshirts adds that the investigation has been reopened due to the Investigative Committee of the Office of the Public Prosecutor of the Russian Federation overturning last month’s decision that the death of Cherepanov was an accident.

...you really hate to see something as tragic as this linger on. Especially for the Cherepanov family.

Lundqvist Likes Tortorella's System

Arthur Staple at Newsday reports that Henrik Lundqvist supports John Tortorella's up-tempo, aggressive system...

"I don't see it as a bad thing," Lundqvist told Newsday from his offseason home in Sweden. "I think it actually helps our defensive game. We'll be aggressive and the puck will be up the ice a lot more."

...of course he supports it. Lundqvist was victimized way too many times by his terrible defensemen last year (ie Redden & Rozsival) to know this team can't rely on it's defense to shut teams down until the offense gets a timely goal. Which usually didn't come anyway.

...i'm excited for a full season of an aggressive offense after the last three years of grind-it-out hockey under Renney.

Brashear Hangin' With Snoop Dogg

Courtesy of The700Level (H/T Puck Daddy)...

...Brash sippin' on gin and juice?!?! I'm lovin' this signing now!!!!

...all the in's (hangin', sippin', etc.) are me trying to be ghetto.

Lundqvist Named 10th Best Player in NHL

In AOL Fanhouse's Top 50 players in the NHL, Adam Gretz names Henrik Lundqvist #10...

"Lundqvist has been a workhorse for the blue shirts the past three years, playing over 70 games each season, finishing in the top six for games played among goalies each year. He's never had a save percentage lower than .912, and his career mark of .917 is second among active goaltenders, trailing only Vancouver's Roberto Luongo. What makes all of that even more impressive is that he faces some of the most challenging shots in the NHL. According to the expected save percentage (via Behind the Net), Lundqvist has faced the hardest shots in the NHL over the past two seasons, and has still managed to help carry the Rangers, sometimes single-handedly, into the postseason."

Marian Gaborik is ranked #33. For the entire list, click here.

...while I still stand by my statement that Lundqvist needs to take his game to the next level this year, I don't even want to think about where the Rangers would have been the last four years without him. Oh yeah, that would be out of the playoffs.

...fyi, Lundqvist is ranked one spot ahead of Martin Brodeur.

THN: Rangers Will Finish 13th in Eastern Conference

In The Hockey News' annual preseason predictions they've decided that the Rangers will finish 13th in the Eastern Conference...

13. New York Rangers
Why: This is a max-spending team with just one skater worthy of max money – and Marian Gaborik can’t stay healthy. The Rangers’ best player is their goalie, a good thing, but their No. 1 center is Brandon Dubinsky and the suspect defense is expensive, two bad things. The Rangers are a rebuilding team, but refuse to admit it.

...THN's summer of Ranger hating continues.

...i'm sorry, when you have a goaltender like Lundqvist it doesn't matter how bad the rest of the team is (and this Ranger team isn't that bad) they will be fighting for a playoff spot. I wouldn't mind if THN had them missing the playoffs at 9 or 10, but 13th. C'mon.

Zherdev Wants to Stay in NHL

With rumors swirling that Nikolai Zherdev may be bolting for the KHL, Beyond the Blueshirts has an interview with Zherdev where he expresses his desire to stay in the NHL...

- Are teams in the KHL among them?

- Yes, they are, but as I’ve already repeatedly emphasized, I would like to continue my career in the NHL — this option is the priority for me. Though I’m not at all excluding the possibility that I will return to play in Russia.

...from all the rumors I've seen it doesn't look like too many teams are interested in an expensive winger that doesn't come to play every night.

...Zherdev may be better off signing a one-year deal for about $2.5 million and try to put up big numbers for a giant pay day next year.

Gross: Whispers of Dubinsky for Richards

Andrew Gross at The Bergen Record talks of a rumor that would send Brandon Dubinsky to the Stars for Brad Richards...

"Of course, there also are whispers Dubinsky, once signed, could be moved to the Stars for center Brad Richards, who played for Tortorella with the Lightning."

...if there would ever be a trade that would define Sather's follies as Rangers GM this would be it. Why in the world would you trade a 23-year-old center for a 29-year-old center? Especially when they're both coming off essentially identical seasons statistically.

...fyi, Richards is a combined -50, yes -50, the last four years in which he's only played a full season once.

Fleury Wants Back In

TSN reports that Theo Fleury is attempting a comeback and wants to play in the NHL again.

"After playing senior hockey last season, Fleury decided in February he was fit enough to give the NHL another try, so he hired a personal trainer and has been working diligently since."

Fleury remains under indefinite suspension and would first have to be approved by the NHL and the NHLPA's Substance Abuse program doctors before reinstatement would be considered.

Scotty Hockey thinks the Rangers should give him a chance.

...when I first saw this report I thought it was a joke. But I've got to tell you, after reading Scotty Hockey's reasoning for the Rangers bringing Fleury back, I'm in. Anyone else?

Rangers Considering Afinogenov?

Allan Muir at SI.com reports that the Rangers have shown interest in Maxim Afinogenov...

"There are rumors of two or three NHL teams desperate enough for offense that they've given him some consideration (including the Islanders and Rangers) but it's hard to believe either John Tortorella or Scott Gordon would put up with his extended periods of non-involvement. Odds are he'll find somewhere to float in Europe."

...Afinogenov is the same enigmatic player Zherdev is so there is no way the Rangers are going to be interested in him.

Gaborik Named a Top Slovak

Mike G. Morreale at NHL.com lists the Top 10 Slovaks playing in the NHL, where Marian Gaborik checks in at #3...

3. Marian Gaborik, F, New York Rangers -- The two-time NHL All-Star has reached 30 goals in five of his eight seasons, including a 42-goal performance in 2007-08. He skated in 502 regular-season games in Minnesota, registering 219 goals and 437 points, before signing with the Rangers this summer. Gaborik made his Olympic debut in 2006, scoring 3 goals and 7 points in six games.

...this is the first positive article I've seen on Gaborik since he signed with the Rangers.

Ranger Prospects Get Ready For Traverse City

Newyorkrangers.com reports that a team of Rangers prospects will hit the ice on Sunday, Sept. 6, in Traverse City, Mich for the annual Traverse City Prospects Tournament at the Detroit Red Wings' training facility...

"This marks the fourth consecutive year that a team of Rangers prospects will be going to Traverse City for the eight-team tournament. Two years ago, the Blueshirts went undefeated in four games to win the 2007 championship, beating Columbus in the title game. Last year, the Rangers got off to a slow start but finished in sixth place, beating Tampa Bay and St. Louis in their last two games."

No roster has been determined yet.

...this tournament offers such a great experience for the Rangers younger players.

Rangers are Dos Equis

Tim over at the 6th sens goes through the entire NHL and identifies teams with beers who share similar characteristics for one reason or another...

New York Rangers are Dos Equis:

Pompous, over rated and over priced, more concerned with marketing and sales than performance.

...absolutely awesome list.

...h/t to Puck Daddy.

Zherdev to Wild?

Michael Russo at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Tribune wonders if Nikolai Zherdev makes sense for the Wild...

"But as has been written here before, once your money’s spent, it’s spent. So since Zherdev’s such a huge risk, I think Fletcher will remain patient and continue to rely on the fact that the teams at or near the cap will at some point be forced to trade players.

In other words, if at some point you truly believe you can somehow trade for a Jon Cheechoo or a Patrick Sharp or a Phil Kessel or another upper-echelon player, then you’ve pretty much got to pass on Zherdev. Remember, if you sign Zherdev to anything close to the lucrative deal he wants long-term, you’re taking yourself out of the game for anything else."

Russo adds that Wild GM Chuck Fletcher has declined comment on Zherdev.

...not sure if you guys care about Zherdev now that he's gone, but Ranger news is few and far in between this time of year.

Rangers Tops in Shootout Categories

John Kreiser at NHL.com reports that the Rangers lead the NHL in a number shootout categories.

Kreiser advises us that newest Ranger Ales Kolalik is tied for the league lead with 11 game deciding shootout goals, while Henrik Lundqvist leads the league in shootout participation with 45 games and is only one shootout victory behind Martin Brodeur (28 victories) for the league lead.

The Rangers also lead the league in shootout participation with 58 games, which is seven more than the next team.

...if nothing else Kolalik should earn his money in the shootout.

Rangers Lead the Way in Worst UFA Signings of 2009

In his annual worst free agent signings column, Adam Proteau at The Hockey News has two Rangers signings in his top 5 list as well as an honorable mention...

4. Ales Kotalik, RW, New York Rangers, three years, $9 million. It wouldn’t be an annual list of awful free agent contracts without a contribution – or two, as you’ll see below – from Rangers GM Glen “Santa” Sather, the preferred charitable contributor among all NHL agents.

One of the benefactors of Sather’s largesse this summer is Kotalik, who will get a cool, three extra-large each season to flirt with the 20-goal plateau. He was tied with Maxim Afinogenov for the second-worst plus-minus (minus-7) of any Sabres forward last season and probably could describe every inch of the inside of coach Lindy Ruff’s doghouse from memory. Luckily he’s got a real softy of a coach in John Tortorella this year.

2. Marian Gaborik, LW, New York Rangers, five years, $37.5 million. Nobody doubts Gaborik’s offensive capabilities, but for a Rangers team still trying to figure out its identity, committing to a five-year term for a player who has averaged more than 19 missed games a season is a gamble that would make Charles Barkley blush. And we all know how well Sather’s bets have paid off in the past, right?

The Donald Brashear signing is named as an honorable mention.

...man Sather takes a beating in this column.

...there have been a lot of Gaborik haters this off-season. I'm hoping he's printing out every hit piece he sees and uses it as motivation. Personally, I think he's going to prove the doubters wrong, stay healthy and put up stellar numbers.

Rangers Showed Interest in Zubov

Beyond the Blueshirts has this quote from Sergie Zubov stating that the Rangers showed serious interest in him...

“There were indeed quite a lot of options,” Zubov shared. “The Rangers, Tampa, St. Louis, Los Angeles and Columbus were seriously interested in me. At one point, I heard that Dallas, where I’d spent my last years, wanted to offer me a new contract.”

Before Zubov signed with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL, there had been rumors tying him to the Rangers.

...by not signing Zubov, and Shanahan for that matter, the Rangers and Sather may finally be getting away from paying for past achievements of a player. Something that haunted the Rangers during the early 2000s.

Fischler: Should Rangers Show Interest In Heatley?

Stan Fischler at MSG.com looks at the pros and cons of the Rangers acquiring Dany Heatley...

After listing Heatley's cons, including trouble, coach killer, sulking and giving up young talent to get him, Fischler says this...

"Of course, the obvious question is this: After listing all of Heatley's debits, why would The Maven even suggest that Heatley could be an asset to the Blueshirts?

The answer comes in two names: Sather and Tortorella. The general manager has a long track record of rehabilitating seemingly hopeless cases. This goes back to Craig MacTavish whose career appeared finished after his unfortunate auto tragedy when MacT still was a player. Glen saved Craig's career and then turned it upward.

The coach has a way with even a challenge such as Heatley and already has proven same with Sean Avery."

...you have to assume that a deal for Heatley would have to include one maybe two of Dubinsky, Callahan and Staal. The only way I make that deal is if Ottawa would be willing to take Redden or Rozsival as well.

...having said that, I wouldn't mind the Rangers trying to get Heatley. The guy can fill the net, which is something this team has had trouble doing lately. And I also agree with Fischler that Tortorella could be the medicine that Heatley needs to straighten out.

Rangers Actually Have Cap Room

Dan Akeson at Blueshirt Bulletin evaluates the Rangers cap situation...

"Unlike years past, the Rangers have ample cap space left to make a move or two with a little over a month left before the season. However, while their cap is fairly flexible, they lack a good number of signed definitive roster players."

Akeson also puts together a nice chart of all the Rangers salaries.

...pretty scary going into the season with two defensive spots wide open (and no experienced player vying for that position) and no real play-making center.

...hopefully the available cap room will allow the Rangers to address these holes.