Sunday, October 31, 2010

For Anyone Still Wondering MZA Not Leaving

Sorry for being late to squash this, but being out doing election work did let me do it during the day.  Anyway, dont really know why this was taken as far as it was by some, but MZA is not going back to Sweden.  If he did go he would kiss his NHL career goodbye and I do not see him giving up on it that quick nor do I see the Rangers giving up on him that quickly.  It would be a nightmare for both sides as the Rangers once again would have signed a sought after free agent and failed to develop them into an NHL guy worth money the Rangers paid them.  On MZA's side as I said it would probably ruin his chances in the NHL at least for the foreseeable future as he would be seen as unable or unwilling to adjust to the North American game.  There is a slim possibility in my opinion of him going back after the year if a combination of his struggles and him being used inappropriately continue.  If I was him and I was the best player in the Sweedish Elite League last season and now I am playing on the fourth line under a coach who has done nothing I would be unhappy too.  He can make plenty of money in Europe if he decides North America and the NHL is not what he wants.

Look at Rangers Week Ahead

The New York Rangers have four games on their schedule this week: Monday vs Chi; Thursday at Philly; Friday at New Jersey and Sunday vs St. Louis. 

Coming off a week in which Rangers failed to build on the momentum of a 3 game win streak and instead lost the first two games, but salvaged the week with a win on Saturday and will look to get back to their win streak ways this week against a series of tough opponents even if only some of them are really playing like it right now.  There is no easy game this week and the Rangers will have to bring their A game in all of them in order to compete. 

Rangers Week In Review 10/25-10/31 : Hold On For The Ride All Year

The Rangers entered this week with the club and fans riding high on the back of a 3 game winning streak in which they played very good to excellent hockey for 8 of the 9 periods. These results pushed the season record from 1-2-1 where the fans were writing off the season to 4-2-1 and the fans back on the bandwagon talking playoffs and more. The reality is these Rangers like every incarnation of them for the last couple of years are neither as bad as the early results nor as good as last weeks, they are mediocre to good team, but not a contender for anything worthwhile and at best dash for a late playoff spot. Saturday night showed why they will always be in contention for a late run as they finish a disappointing week with a 2-0 win on the back of Henrik Lundqvist.

The Night in Video: Prust, Boyle, Callahan, Lundqvist

Prust Fight



Boyle Goal


Callahan Penalty Shot


Lundqvist Saves
On Bozak mid 2nd


On Bozak in 3rd


On Grabovski late 3rd