Nash acquisition a big deal for Rangers

  The New York Ranger have got their man.  After months of speculation, the Rangers have finally acquired former # 1 overall  pick Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue jackets in exchange for Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon, Artem Anisimov, and a first round draft pick in the 2013 NHL entry draft.   All three players  are talented and can immediately help Columbus.  Dubinsky especially can bounce back and be the player he was a couple of years ago.  But make no mistake, this trade is all about  Nash.
  In acquiring Nash, the Rangers have filled a much needed hole...  goal scoring.  The Rangers lack of production was evident in the playoffs, as they struggled to put the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals  away, finally succumbing to the New Jersey Devils in the Conference Finals.  The Senators and  Capitals both took the Rangers to 7 games,  and the blue shirts  struggled mightily to score goals.
  With Nash, the Rangers should  again be favored to come on top of the Eastern conference.  Nash is a  two  time 40 goal scorer and a has passed the  30 goal mark seven times.  He is the youngest player in NHL History to ever lead the league in goals  when he tallied 41 times as a 19 year old.  With Marian Gaborik likely to miss the first couple of months of the regular season due to a shoulder injury, Nash will have plenty of time to acquit himself with his new teammates; and will have the luxury of finally playing with some top level talent such as Brad Richards, Ryan Callahan, Gaborik, and up and comers Carl Hagelin and Chris Kreider.  The defence is young, mobile  and solid, and goaltender  Henrik Lundqvist is coming off a Vezina Trophy win.
   In Nash, the Rangers are getting a player who is in his prime, a just turned 28 year old  who is a natural when it comes to scoring goals. He has scored 289 goals and 547 points in 674 games.  With decent but not great speed, great size and reach,  great hands and a quick shot, Nash will quickly become a fan favorite with the Rangers fans.  Nash can score in many different ways .  I feel the Rangers will be very tough to beat this year, and will have something to prove after losing to the Devils in the Conference Finals.  The team is young; Ryan Mcdonagh, Carl Hagelin, Michael Del Zotto, Chris Kreider, Marc Staal, and Derek Stepan  are all under 25 and are all improving.  Captain Ryan Callahan is 27 and defensive anchor Dan Girardi is 28. 
  All this being said, I feel the Rangers will finish first overall again in their conference, and will come out as Eastern Conference Champions once again.  On the other side of the league, The L.A Kings will now get a full season from Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, and a rejuvenated Drew Doughty will once again be a Norris Trophy contender.  Its early, but I'm predicting a Kings-Rangers finals...now lets hope they iron out this collective bargaining issue so we can have a hockey season!

Price is right; Habs lock up goaltender : 6 yrs/39mil

  The Habs have their man in the net.  If all goes well, we will not have another goaltender controversy in Montreal for the next 6 years.  New GM Marc Bergevin signed  goalie Carey Price to a six year, $39 million deal, making him the third highest paid goalie in the NHL after Nashville goalie  Pekka Rinne, and New York  Rangers  Vezina trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist. 
  While many, including Montreal Gazette writer Jack Todd, questioned  the length and  wisdom of such a deal;  I feel that locking down Price was an absolute necessity... even if  it was a bit too rich.  The time is now.  Price is only 24, and is a proven NHL goaltender who is only going to get better.  Price has the talent to be one of the top goalies in the NHL year after year.  I feel he can be a perennial Vezina candidate with the right team in front of him.  Todd makes several comments in his article; claiming both Kings Jonathan Quick and Canucks goalie Corey Schneider are both "far better" than Price at this stage in their careers.  While there is no argument with Quick; who  won the Stanley Cup and was the backbone of a suffocating Kings Championship team, but Corey Schneider??  Are you serious??  Far better??  He has played in 68 NHL games vs 271 for Price.  He has also played for far better teams than Price has; I feel this argument is utterly ridiculous.  Price is a Blue-chip prospect, a 5th over pick in the draft and I agree with Todd that his time is now!  Price has to solve his consistency issues and be a leader on the team.  I also think he should show some more emotion, anger, anything...but I don't think he lacks "fire in his belly"...  Price has shown he can win, as evidenced in the World Junior Championships. 
  We shouldn't expect Patrick Roy or Ken Dryden, or Jacques Plante...Price doesn't need that pressure, and those goalies also had legendary teams in front of them. But we should expect someone who will be the backbone of the team for the next six years, and I think Price is up for the challenge. I  don't think we should bring up comparisons to Jose Theodore either.  Even though Theodore caught lightning in a bottle and won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2001-02, his career fizzled after that and he is now an average NHL goalie.  I feel Price is far better than that, and Habs fans should be excited they have a top level goalie under contract for the next six years.  Only time will tell if it was  the right thing...  but I think Marc Bergevin paid the right price!

Prust signing is Habs gain, Rangers loss



New Hab Brandon Prust lands a right hand vs Bruins Milan Lucic while a member of the Rangers.

  New Habs GM Marc  Bergevin  made a bold  move this weekend with the free agent signings of Brandon Prust, Colby Armstrong, and Francis Bouillon.  The Prust signing has given the Habs another gritty forward, one who can skate very well, kill penalties, and fight if need be.  Prust brings a lot of intensity and attitude to his game, something the Canadians have lacked in recent years.  As a Rangers fan, I am dissapointed to see him go...  he hadn't missed a game in two years with the blueshirts, and had developed very good chemistry with buddy and linemate Brian Boyle, especially while killing penalties.   Prust brings a lot of passion to his game, and I think it will not take long for him to become a fan favorite.  Even though he is not the biggest guy, Prust will not back down from anyone and he will protect smaller teammates.  Another key factor is that Prust has gotten used to winning, and Im sure he will like to continue this for his new team.    I'm sure the Habs will "play bigger" due to his addition.  The price was steep for a guy who only scored 5 goals this past season, but as I said earlier; it will not take Habs fans long to realize this was an excellent acquisition.
     I hope Glen Sather made a reasonable offer, because this is definitely a loss for them.  They will miss his intensity and chemistry he created with his teammates...  a team I feel will contend for the Stanley Cup for the next 2-3 season. Several key players are very young;   Michael Del Zotto, Chris Kreider, Marc Staal, Ryan Mcdonagh, Carl Hagelin, and Derek Steppan are all under 25.  Vezina Trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist  is only 30,  and key returnees Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik, Ryan Callahan, and Dan Girardi are all either in their prime or just past it.  
  A Rangers-Canadians playoff matchup is very possible in the coming year, since I think the Habs will make it this year.  With Brandon Prust on the other side, it might not be so easy for the Rangers.  Only time will tell...Welcome Brandon Prust!

Euro Cup 2012

  The stage is set...  after Italy's victory over Germany, they will battle with Spain this coming Sunday for the European Cup.  This should be a good game, Italy has shown its willingness to attack and create opportunities in this tournament, while Spain has overwhelmed teams with its ball control, precision passing and timely scoring.  If Italy can keep the ball away from the Spaniards,  meaning close to 50% posession;  I think they can  win the game.  Spain will need to get off to a good start and impose their will over the Italians, while keeping an eye on emerging national hero Mario Balotelli who has created a lot of space and chances while scoring some key goals this tournament.   I think it will be a close one with back and forth action...  Not gonna pick a winner I just wanna enjoy the game!

New Hockey Hall members all worthy of induction

Hall of fame teammates Joe Sakic and Mats Sundin as members of the the Quebec Nordiques.

Adam Oates as member of his first team, the Detroit Red Wings

  Joe Sakic, Pavel Bure, Adam Oates, and Mats Sundin...  they were all great players, and now they are Hall of Famers.  The class of 2012 wasn't elected without controversy, as many thought Brendan Shanahan was a sure bet to go in on the first ballot along with Joe Sakic.  In my view, Sakic was the only sure bet.  Oates and Bure were denied in the past but now belong in the exclusive club, although many past  shaky selections  have many questioning the true value of a Hall of Famer.  Sundin had a very good, long career,  and he was the epitome of consistency; the smooth skating Swede with the long reach and soft hands.  Although I believe he deserves induction, Im not sure he is a true first ballot Hall of Famer.   Shanahan also had a great career; a true power forward with a great scorers touch, but I dont believe he was a sure thing to be inducted... his turn will likely come  very shortly.

Pavel Bure as a Vancouver Canuck on one of his many breakaways.

    Im really happy for Oates, as Im sure some of his Hall of Fame wingers such as Brett Hull and Cam Neely are.  Oates helped them achieve greatness with his precision passing and playmaking ability.  Although not one of the swiftest skaters and definitely not a hard shooter, Oates was a highly intelligent player who made all those around him better.  I congratulate him on his honor and on being named coach of the Capitals on the same day.
  Bure was probably the most electrifying hockey player I have ever seen play.  From his first shift in the NHL, he played as if he was shot out of a cannon.  His breathtaking speed and super quick hands were a nightmare for many NHL defencemen.  He was a weapon...  a goal scorer that other teams had no choice but to attempt to contain.  Although his career was  cut short due to injuries, he definitely deserves his induction.
  As for Joe Sakic...  what esle can we say...  the consumate professional, a winner, a champion...  a classy guy who was great for the game.  I remember when he broke in with the Nordiques on a pretty poor team..  there was just something about him that was special.  I wonder if Guy Lafleur, playing in his last NHL season, ever though he would be playing with two  future Hall Of Famers in Joe Sakic and Mats Sundin. 
  After Sundin left, the team was built around Sakic.   He had it all; great playmaking ability, a great hockey mind and the will to win, a great wrist shot...  he knew how to win.   Scoring Champ, Stanley cup Champion, this is the icing  on the cake.  One of the greatest players I have ever watched.

  Congratulations to the four  new members... The selections were well done...