Rangers Make First Deal On Draft Day

The Rangers decided since everything was quiet, they would get the party started at around 11:30 am EST and make the first deal of the day by acquiring defenseman Justin Falk from the Minnesota Wild for forward Benn Ferriero and the Rangers 6th round pick next year.

So what do we know about Falk? Well Wild fans seem thrilled he’s gone so that’s probably not a good sign but he’s a big guy (6’5″ and 215 lbs) who is only 24 years old. He’s a restricted free agent this summer who wasn’t getting a qualifying offer from the Wild so we don’t know cap hit yet but he made $825k last year. He played 36 games last season with three assists and a minus-9 while averaging 13:12 per game so this is basically a depth move, which to be honest I’m perfectly okay with. It isn’t like Matt Gilroy and Roman Hamrlik will be back next season.

As for what the Rangers gave up, Ferriero we hardly knew as he was part of the Kolarik trade last season. (Side note: Kolarik signed in Europe for the next two seasons so maybe the Rangers were right to trade him.) Sounds like he was included so the Rangers wouldn’t be over the 50 contract limit. And the pick – well we know the Rangers don’t actually like picking guys in the draft recently so that’s no surprise. Although at least this is a late round one.

Welcome aboard Justin Falk!

Not A Good Weekend For The Whale

Brandon Mashinter scored the goal that got the Whale their only point of the weekend. (Photo: Chris Rutsch/flickr)

The Whale entered the home stretch to the playoffs this weekend with their last 3-in-3 of the regular season, all games coming on the road. On Friday morning, they had a playoff spot. By Sunday night, they were clinging so tightly to it as this was definitely a weekend the boys would like to forget.

Friday night the Whale were in Manchester for a match-up with the Monarchs. The game started well as Chris Kreider scored a beautiful power play goal late in the first period with assists to Benn Ferriero and Kris Newbury. Unfortunately that would be all the Whale could muster as the Monarchs scored three unanswered goals (Weal, Pearson and an empty-netter to Kozun) over the last forty minutes to take the 3-1 victory.

Whale Drop 2 Of 3 On Road

This doesn’t look pretty. Neither was this weekend for the Whale. (Photo: Chris Rutsch/flickr)

The Connecticut Whale lost 2 out of 3 on the road. The games were not pretty, but as far as March road games go, they could have done much worse. The first game was out in Binghamton, and the Whale were shutout 3-0. That game was not an easy win, as Binghamton scored two of their three goals later in the game. The Whale managed to keep them close, but the game got away from them.

The Morning After: Rangers Roster Changes

Welcome to the Rangers, Darroll Powe! (Photo: Dinur Blum/flickr)

Well that was fun, right? The Rangers took a relatively quiet day where the big news was Ryan Callahan was skating (albeit in a non-contact jersey) and Dan Girardi wasn’t (maintenance day, although those always worry me) and turned it on it’s head.

Let’s go over the moves and how they affect the Rangers roster tonight and going forward.

Huge Win Comes At Huge Cost

This man should’ve been a star of the game for his penalty killing prowless. Still amazes me what he can do out there. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Hockey is a game of momentum. It can switch at the drop of a coin. During the second period tonight, it absolutely went the Rangers way. It could’ve turned to the Flyers early in the third but for the first time all season, I saw the Rangers team I knew and loved last year. We’re going to have see a lot more of that over the next couple of weeks due to those circumstances in the third.

A couple of pregame notes. First, the Rangers fourth goal against Toronto which was originally credited to Boyle has now been given to Del Zotto as it was deemed that while Boyle screened Reimer, he never touched the puck. To be honest, I didn’t think he had when I first saw the goal but I went with it cause they said he did.

Whale Weekly: Homestand Just What Doctor Ordered

One of two new additions to the Whale this week had quite a good start to his Whale career. (Photo: Chris Rutsch/flickr)

After splitting their games last week, the Whale looked to get back on track with three home games this week. Looks like it worked as the Whale went three for three, earning all six points available to them.

Wednesday night was a crazy one as the Whale and Adirondack Phantoms combined for 11 goals and 30 penalty minutes in a game that needed over 64 minutes to complete.

Rangers Come From Behind As Top Line Reappears

This man was sporting the new and approved Broadway Hat (from Hugo Boss) after the Rangers come from behind win this evening. It could’ve gone to any one of five guys. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti called it the Rangers best game of the season. It really wasn’t difficult for that to happen but I would have to agree. While the first period was a lot of mental mistakes, once they got that together this team looked more like the one I know and love.

A couple of changes in line-up which I apologize for not posting sooner. For those who missed the earlier news, the Rangers called up new acquisition Benn Ferriero to replace Chris Kreider, who is day to day with a bone chip in his ankle. He suffered that injury with the Whale so it does explain his play a little bit. I’m still not convinced he’s 100% ready for the NHL but we won’t know that until he’s healed. For now, he’ll be off the ice for a couple of days.

There is also a rumor (read: done but not official yet) that Jason Arnott will be signing with the Rangers after taking a physical tonight or tomorrow morning. It is expected to be a one year contract worth between $1.6 and $1.7 million.

Newbury Recalled & I’m Confused *UPDATED Kolarik Traded*

Welcome back to New York? Whatever…it won’t last long. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

The good news about the lockout? I got to watch the Connecticut Whale for three months when normally I would’ve been focusing on the Rangers meaning I now feel comfortable talking about the players in the Rangers farm system. The bad news? Due to this, today’s move makes absolutely no sense to me.

Yes someone had to be recalled with Kreider all but headed back to Connecticut after Torts quotes last night, Bickel not exactly forward material and Asham probably needing another day or two. But Kris Newbury? Yes he has 15 goals and 21 assists in 40 games. He also has 94 penalty minutes and if my memory serves me correctly he’s only had one or two fights this year, if that many. The man takes the dumbest penalties I’ve ever seen and that’s saying something being that I’ve watched Dubinsky the past five years. (Side note: Love you Dubi but you took a lot of dumb penalties.)

I guess I shouldn’t worry too much as it’s not like he’ll get a lot of ice time if he is in the lineup. That said, he usually takes a penalty on his first shift so probably won’t need a lot to get in Torts’ doghouse.

*Update: And now I’m even more confused as the Rangers have traded Chad Kolarik to the Penguins for Benn Ferriero. Kolarik has been the best Whale player and the one who most fans of the Whale have felt deserved the call-up. Guess we now know why he wasn’t. Also means the Whale won’t have a representative at the All-Star Game this weekend.