Hello everybody. I’ll be in New York in less than two weeks and it will feel odd. It will be the first summer time trip there and the first time outside of hockey season. No Rangers? Not right. I’m sure I’ll cope though. On to the musings

The Montreal Canadiens will be starting next season with Marc Bergevin and Michael Therrien at the helm of the storied franchise. I can’t help feeling that with the return of Therrien that club will be spinning its wheels for a year or two.

Speaking of Canadian teams, good move: the Bob Hartley appointment in Calgary. Bad move: Steve Tambellini getting a new deal in Edmonton. How does a general manager keep his club near the bottom of the league despite lottery pick after lottery pick and get rewarded with a new contract?

So the Rangers are linked heavily to Alexander Radulov. I can’t help thinking about Nikolai Zherdev when I think of Radulov: hugely talented on the ice, hugely problematic off it. If the Rangers get him he’ll cost a lot in dollars because he won’t sign anywhere for pittance. The cost to acquire may be minimal but the commitment to a big (but talented) risk will be significant – for whatever club snag him.

How weak is the free agent class of 2012?

If you go by cap hit alone, then among the ‘top ten’ likely active free agents you first find are Cristobal hows Europe Huet, Brian Rolston, Ryan Smyth and Kristian Huselius. I’ll leave you to assume my opinion of this ragtag bunch.

Assuming his price isn’t too whack, if the Rangers fail to lure Justin Schultz to New York I’d go a different direction for defensive acquisitions and consider grabbing a guy such as Barrett Jackman. Let’s get nasty.

Funny: Ales Kotalik is a free agent this summer. I believe his agent has already started to ignore calls because he can’t handle the volume. *tumbleweed*

Given his bad year, and given the Capitals likelihood for significant change this summer, I wonder if restricted free agent – and still hugely talented – Mike Green could be acquired? Given the right circumstances and health, he’s still a hell of a point producer. He may be after a fresh start elsewhere.

Mark Messier recently announced Ryan Callahan to the shortlist for his leadership award. The other nominees are worthy but Callahan is the very definition of a lead by example guy and would be a great, deserving winner. If he won, it would however only cement publicly what everyone in and around the Rangers already know: the best Blueshirt captain since #11 himself.

I wonder if Martin Brodeur stays another year and takes significantly less dinero to help the Devils re-up Zach Parise? He’s made his millions and it’s a dynamic many fans around the league who want Parise on their team may not have considered.

TV demands really control sports don’t they? It may just be my opinion but there’s something wrong about the Kings having to try clinch their first ever cup – at dinner time. With a local faceoff time of 5pm on Wednesday it just doesn’t seem right and it’s all because of TV.

Nice to see Jonathan Quick’s rise to stardom was inspired by Mike Richter. Check the video at TSN. It’s amazing the way Quick has developed, especially given that he’s had an elite talent in Jon Bernier in the shadows. Unlike Luongo (with Schneider) it seemingly hasn’t been a distraction at all.

Speaking of Quick, he’s definitely ascended to be among the very best in the league. The Rangers’ own Henrik Lundqvist in my opinion gets the nod but Quick, Pekka Rinne and for me, Carey Price and Ryan Miller are among the top five in the league. Price and Miller are great goalies in less than ideal situations.

Question Time:

  • Will Chris Kreider score over/under 20 goals as a rookie next year?
  • If you had to have another goalie in the league (in place of the King) who would it be?
  • Would you trade/sign Alex Radulov and if so, what would your ceiling be in terms of $?
  • Will the Rangers re-sign Ruslan Fedotenko?
  • Who scores more points next season: Derek Stepan, Anisimov or Brandon Dubinsky?

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