Evgeny Grachev

13 Apr 2010

Rangers Offseason Plan : 3 Simple Calls

Let’s start by saying what everyone knows: this team is FLAWED. It was built with no real direction and couldn’t help but fail with this collection of spare parts, playing out of position, and expected to excel. The fact that this club even sniffed the postseason is testament to the incredible talent of franchise cornerstone Henrik Lundqvist and an inspired first season on Broadway by sniper extraordinaire Marian Gaborik. Even with the huge holes that management could never fill despite making in-season moves and numerous call-ups from the minors, the team still strung together an impressive first month of the season and an exciting last few weeks to make a serious run at the final playoff spot. This team is not in need of a total rebuild and there shouldn’t be close to the wholesale turnover we saw at the end of last season but there are a few moves that GM Glen Sather must make if this team is going to make it back to the playoffs and actually be expected to make noise once it does.

24 Jan 2010

Canadiens 6 Rangers 0

The Rangers were shut out for the second straight game and Henrik Lundqvist was pulled after surrendering 4 goals as the Canadiens hammered the Blueshirts 6-0 in Montreal. John Tortorella doesn’t have much to say to the media after watching his team get embarrased by the Canadiens Saturday night. This team obviously has some problems [...]

19 Jan 2010
Aaron Voros joins the party with his first goal of the season.

Rangers 8 Lightning 2

All the Rangers coaches were hoping for following their impressive 6-2 win over the Canadiens on Sunday was a repeat of the effort the team gave during that victory. Not only did they receive the same effort but the players took it to another level as they jumped on the Lightning early and controlled play [...]

2 Dec 2009
News Roundup: Vally Waived, Blueshirts Claim Christensen

News Roundup: Vally Waived, Blueshirts Claim Christensen

On a busy day for Glen Sather and Co., Stephen Valiquette’s career as a Ranger may have come to an end as the team waived the backup netminder for the purpose of sending him to Hartford for conditioning. If Valiquette clears waivers he will remain with the organization but chances are good that another team [...]

29 Nov 2009

Penguins 8 Rangers 3

Here are the highlights from another terrible loss by the Rangers 8-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. This poor performance by the Blueshirts has to be the low point of the season as John Tortorella seems to be without any answers for his team’s lack of effort on defense and inability to score. Torts talks to [...]

14 Nov 2009

Pregame Notes

With the call up of Hartford Wolfpack forward P.A. Parenteau, the Rangers line combinations for today’s game against the Ottawa Senators should look like this: Enver Lisin-Vinny Prospal-Marian Gaborik P.A. Parenteau- Christopher Higgins-Ales Kotalik Sean Avery-Artem Anisimov-Ryan Callahan Aaron Voros- Brian Boyle-Donald Brashear The Rangers will have 4 centers today, hoping to avoid a repeat [...]

21 Oct 2009

Practice Notes: Gaborik and Cally Out

After taking the day off yesterday, the Rangers returned to practice today but were minus two of their key players when forwards Ryan Callahan and Marian Gaborik were sent home due to illness. Coach Tortorella had this to say about his two missing players “they were sick, colds or something, and we wanted to get [...]

8 Oct 2009

Game Preview: Capital Challenge (Updated)

The Rangers (2-1-0) head to Washington to face the Capitals (2-0-1) tonight at 7 pm.  The Capitals offense is already performing at mid-season form as MVP Alex Ovechkin (5G-4A-9P) and center Nicklas Backstrom (8A) have been unstoppable in the first three games of the season. Jose Theodore will get the start in goal tonight instead [...]

8 Oct 2009

Callahan Hurt, Grachev Recalled

According to reports, Rangers forward Ryan Callahan sustained an upper body injury during this morning’s practice. The team has announced that they have recalled forward Evgeny Grachev from Hartford. The Grachev move is probably a precaution if Callahan cannot play tonight against the Capitals in Washington.

28 Sep 2009
Season Preview Part 1: The Kids Are Alright

Season Preview Part 1: The Kids Are Alright

When training camp began, John Tortorella told everyone that the team was looking for a few of it’s youngsters to make some strides and win jobs on the big club. After seeing the amount of ice time and the opportunities to prove themselves during preseason contests he gave his young hopefuls, it’s evident he wasn’t [...]