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Note: There won’t be a goal breakdown for last night’s 4-1 win over Anaheim. Dave usually gets the west coast games, but he’s sick and was in bed before the game started. It looked to be a solid win over a solid team, giving the Rangers some “street cred.”

It’s Thursday and we haven’t done a proper hardcore muse for a while so forgive me while I ramble. Forgive me also, that this was written before Wednesday night’s game away to Disney’s Ducks so musings won’t be influenced by the jaunt to Anaheim. Let’s get into it.

Earlier this week I was discussing who was the best all round defensemen in the league (at the moment) with a friend. I was trying to – impartially – state the case for Ryan McDonagh being top five in the league. Bias? Maybe some, but is he at that level?

Ryan Suter, Drew Doughty and maybe Duncan Keith are above McDonagh when considering each player’s impact at both ends of the rink but are there many more? Kronwall comes close but doesn’t have the mobility of McDonagh and then there are a handful of very promising, almost elite young players near to McDonagh’s level (Ekman-Larsson for example) but the point remains; when you consider age, their play at both ends, hockey IQ, size and mobility there are not many I’d put above McDonagh.

By my poor math, Rick Nash is on course for 54.66 goals this season. Can he break Jagr’s record?

Every time I read Rangers fans discuss trade possibilities I keep seeing Carl Hagelin mentioned as a trade chip and I keep wondering why. This is a homegrown kid, with an immense work ethic, maybe the fastest skater in the league who has proven he can deliver in the postseason in a complimentary role, who is young and should be (relatively) cost controlled moving forward. Why is that a player some people want to move?

Kevin Hayes might look like a member of Hanson (remember them?) but he’s certainly growing on the job, isn’t he? I would be thrilled if he ends up with close to 35 points this season and I think he can. However I’d be willing to sacrifice some points if he improves at face-offs and improves his decision making. We’re already seeing his decision making become faster, more instinctive but he has a way to go before he’s a polished player. I’m sure Chicago would like him back though, even with their stacked roster.

Here’s a thought. Would you welcome back Jaromir Jagr for a playoff run if that acquisition was an option?

The definition of underwhelming? When you take Marty St Louis out of the equation, the top five pending, unrestricted free agents (by salary) as of today are: Mike Green, Shawn Horcoff, a 43 year old Jagr, Paul Martin and Lubomir Visnovsky. When you scan the list of potentials it has to be classed as the weakest free agency class in history.

You have to love the balanced scoring the Rangers are starting to receive, meaning this team no longer has to rely on Rick Nash. Eight players already have at least six goals and looking at the Rangers’ numbers, you could reasonably project eleven players to hit double figures for goals this season. They have four players with four powerplay goals each and have four players that are on course for at least 56 points each. Balance folks.

Just wanted to offer my take on Anthony Duclair; the Rangers absolutely made the right call sending him back to Junior. The kid needs to play and he needs to score and dominate one last time in junior. That said, Duclair is on a hiding to nothing being back in junior. The moment he doesn’t fill the net at an unrealistic rate people will be questioning his talent, his development and/or his attitude given that he’s been ‘demoted’. How Duclair handles the rest of this season will tell us a lot about Duclair the person, not necessarily the player; a very important aspect to consider.

In the Metropolitan division alone, no Rangers blueliner is in the top ten in defenseman scoring. Would I take any of the players listed above Ryan McDonagh? Only John Carlson even enters that discussion. Emphasis on enters.

Question Time:

  • Would you retain Marc Staal at his asking price?
  • Which Rangers will lead the team in powerplay goals?
  • Should Glen Sather be active at the trade deadline?
  • What do you think is a realistic deal for Mats Zuccarello beyond this season?
  • What is your realistic projection for JT Miller this season?

 

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