Biron to start vs Edmonton; Boogaard scratched

Martin Biron will get the start versus Edmonton tomorrow while Lundqvist misses his second straight. Biron has been very solid in his play so far this season and will need to give them another good outing against the struggling but talented Oilers squad.

On Boogaard it is interesting to see him scratched again considering White was useless in the last game, but Edmonton is not known for it tough guys so Derek is not really necessary and maybe Torts wants to keep Boogaard's scoring streak in tact.

What Is The Role of A Defenseman

Maybe I am being too simplistic in my thinking, maybe it is too “old school” for the way the NHL is played these days but when someone asks me about a defender the first thing I want to see is them DEFEND.  Each year I see all this talk about how this guy needs to add offense to his game and all I can think is, the man is paid his salary to STOP the other team from scoring FIRST.  

New York Rangers Are Slowly But Surely Becoming A Team

The last couple years one of the things that has frustrated me the most with the Rangers as much as the results has been the lacking sense of team from the guys who wear the sweater.  I don’t want this to be one of those does winning create chemistry or does chemistry create winning type pieces and frankly I don’t even care if the guys in the locker room like each other, but there must be a sense of respect for one another.  This team the past few years has had the feel of a bunch of individuals with no common purpose and it has shown itself in individuals trying to get their numbers, sulking when they fail even when the team wins and not really having anger at losing.  Also beyond that there has been a complete and utter lack of sticking up for one another.

Rangers Heritage Jersey's

Yes, I am late on the Heritage jersey's and dont have a whole lot to add to what others have written as I like the jersey's think they do a great job of speaking to the tradition of the team, especially with the retired numbers sewn in and "Established 1926" being inside collar.  I said the other night in the game thread that the jerseys remind me very much of a jersey that Team USA would wear and that to me means a lot as a Rangers fan.  The jersey is classy and classic which defines what the Rangers stand for as an original six team in this city.

Pics of the jerseys

Photographer Andrew Eccles

Bleeding All Blue Turns One Month: Thanks To All And Favorite Articles So Far

It has now been one month since I decided to finally stop thinking about blogging and actually start a blog and when I finally did I decided I didn’t want to limit myself to just one topic, but quickly I realized how messy that could get and so I chose at least with this place to focus solely on the New York Rangers.  First and foremost I want to thank all of you for your support on the site through your visits and comments and off the site for your support and encouragement as frankly we build this thing together.  I have been humbled by that support and hope that in my work here I honor the faith and trust you show in me especially in a way that will make all of you keep coming back.  

Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi: Playing Like All-Stars But Can't Get On The Ballot

If the NHL All-Star games hadn’t been turned into enough of a joke with the elementary school let the captains pick the teams move of the past few days today the New York Rangers who would be on the ballot this year were announced.  If you were looking for the Rangers best players so far this season up front in Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Artem Anisimov or Brian Boyle you would be looking for a long time since they are not there.  The three Ranger entries to the ballot are Marian Gaborik, Marc Staal, and Henrik Lundqvist.

Backes 5 Year Extension Sets Market For Dubinsky and Callahan, Yikes!

The other day after Claude Giroux signed his three year extension I looked at what it might mean for the Rangers in terms of their upcoming guys needing new contracts, but mainly Dubinsky and Callahan.  Scratch all of that out as he perfect comparable for Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan, David Backes just signed a five year extension in St. Louis and has set the market for both of the young Ranger forwards next contract.  Backes like Callahan and Dubinsky is in his 4^th full season in the NHL though Backes did play much more significant time in his non full season and all have put up approximately the same production to this point in their careers while coming off similar second contracts.  The only difference for the Rangers is due to Backes being slightly older he is due to be a UFA this season while Cally is one year away and Dubinsky 2 on age and that should save the Rangers some money.

Real Reason Behind Byers Trade; Redden For Captain?

With the trade of Dane Byers yesterday the Rangers not only gave up one of the leading scorers for the anemic offense in Hartford, but also the captain of the club.  Maybe it was a message to the club about the dysfunction that is going on down there and a statement on the leadership Byers was or wasn’t showing to help them get out of it, but I don’t really buy either of those.  Byers was always seen as one of the most stand-up guys in Hartford and ever the willing guy to stick up for a teammate when he deemed it necessary.

Video: Anisimov Postgame Interview

Something you rarely see an Artem Anisimov interview, so enjoy it as we all enjoyed his game winner. Hopefully seeing this interview will stop all the questions about whether the youngster can speak English. Obviously he isn't fluent by any stretch, but he has enough to get by and what was wrong with Giannone going so complex on the questions, did he not know who he was talking to? Terrible journalism.

Daily Recap: Rozsival Absence, Byers Trade, Gaborik Return, Anisimov Hero

Thursday November 11, 2010 is a day that for Ranger fans ended when at 1:32 of OT Artem Anisimov put a shot from the slot over the glove hand of Jhonas Enroth to give the Rangers a 3-2 win in the Garden.  Where it started on this site though was with a look at what the loss of Michal Rozsival for the next week would mean for the rest of defense.  Luckily for the Rangers that loss was not glaring in the actual game this evening and hopefully it will remain that way for the next week while he rests his sore shoulder.