Trick Or Treat

It's Halloween 2011. And with the gobly fun, comes the end of October for our Battle teams. Well, albeit for one club with the Rangers hosting the Sharks later tonight- still without a home win at the renovated MSG.

Outside of a halfway decent start for the Sabres, the first month didn't treat anyone great. The Devils and Rangers are .500 in Bettman's league while the Islanders one under. All three have been punchless, combining for 58 goals or basically, a shade over two-per-game. Cue the ghosts and goblins howling above as day turns to night in a creepy hemisphere that saw snow fall before All Hallow's Eve- wreaking havoc in towns due to fallen trees. So much for global warming.

It's still hard to fathom that we got a few inches of the white stuff, setting records that even meteorologists never dreamed. Perhaps that can better explain the morbid state of the metro area's hockey teams, where offense has vanished into thin air. At least Buffalo's 6-4-0 with 29 goals nearly good for three-a-game despite a poor finish- blowing a one-goal third period lead to the surprising Panthers. Yes, maybe I and a lot of other skeptics were dead wrong mocking Dale Tallon's unorthodox approach- ignoring a great hire in Kevin Dineen, who has Hawks South playing a rambunctious brand of hockey we'd kill for. Time to put our Michael Myers and Jason masks on and awaken our teams.

COLD OCTOBERS

Ilya Kovalchuk 2 Goals, -5
Brandon Dubinsky 0 Goals, 41 PIM
Kyle Okposo 0 Goals, 18 SOG
Tyler Ennis 0 Points
Adam Larsson 0 Points, -4
Artem Anisimov 0 Goals, 8 SOG
Blake Comeau/Josh Bailey 0 Points, -4, 10 SOG
Ville Leino 1-1-2, -4, 5 SOG
Mattias Tedenby 0 Goals, 9 SOG
Derek Stepan 0 Goals
Brian Rolston 0 Goals
Derek Roy 1-3-4
Martin Brodeur 2 GS, Missed last 7 games
Steve Eminger -7 rating
Rick DiPietro 2 GP, 1 GS along with bizarre shootout relief appearance, Missed 7 games
Jordan Leopold 1-1-2

We could easily include a few more who turned into pumpkins, including John 'Re'Tortorella, whose mysterious line combos had Ranger fans questioning if it was Tom Renney in disguise. It'll be interesting to see what his Prucha treatment of Sean Avery will cause with the anticipated return unless a team claims him off re-entry waivers. Doubtful.

So, will Connecticut Whale recall Andre Deveaux wear a mask tonight when he debuts as a Blueshirt tonight? Assuming Tort has the guts to dress him. Amazing that Christmas ornament Erik Christensen somehow remains. And the D seems to be suffering from the Curse of Marc Staal. If only there was a doctor around like in Dark Shadows to cure Barnabas Collins. Trick Or Treat!



HAPPY HELLOWEEN

Battle News & Notes

It's already been busy for the Battle clubs (Buf, NJD, NYI, NYR). Injuries, demotions, call-ups and early surprises are in the offing. So let's get to it!

-Devils recall G Keith Kinkaid. Due to Martin Brodeur's right shoulder injury, the kid from Union College gets an emergency call-up. Probably the wise thing considering Marty's health. Age is finally catching up. Johan Hedberg continues to be a great insurance policy. The team plays well in front of him.

-Devils send down C Adam Henrique to Albany. This was clearly impacted by the play of Petr Sykora, who's fit in nicely with Parise and Elias. Plus Pete DeBoer is pretty set depth wise with Clarkson, Zubrus, Tedenby, Janssen, Boulton and PK fixture Brad Mills. It's better for Henrique's development.

-Islanders send C Ryan Strome back to Niagara (OHL). There's no denying the No.1 pick's talent but a numbers game that has reduced Blake Comeau's role was the icing on the cake. Plus Nino Neiderreiter will return from IR soon. 

-Islander G Rick DiPietro suffered a concussion when he was accidentally hit in the mask by a shot before his scheduled start against Tampa Bay. If DP didn't have bad luck, he'd have no luck at all. The poor franchise goalie continues to be plagued by injuries. Each one more bizarre. The organization must be careful with the concussed netminder, who has a history. With Al Montoya and Evgeni Nabokov as a security blanket, they can be patient.

-Rangers send RW Mats Zuccarello down to Connecticut Whale and recall C Kris Newbury. Clearly, this is a WTF panic move by Tort. What did MZA even do to deserve the demotion other than be cast aside unlikely linemates Mike Rupp and teacher's pet extraordinaire Erik Christensen? I'm running out of words here. Sad as it sounds, Wolski's injury has hurt the depth and Tort's hypocrisy and Avery hate hasn't helped. That said, Newbury was a solid contributor last year who adds a physical element.

-Rangers recall D Brendan Bell from Whale. Finally, a rational move following the continued matador D after pseudo top pair Ryan McDonagh/Dan Girardi. Minus Staal and with Sauer still nicked up, it's about time the coach sees the light. Simply put, Eminger can't play daily and pairing Del Zotto and Erixon is scary.

-Sabres C Luke Adam scored and set up another in Buffalo's 3-2 home win over the Pens. The 21-year old former '08 second rounder continues his hot start with six points (3-3-6) over the club's first four games (3-1-0). Only Carolina held him off the score sheet. Coincidentally, their only loss. In 19 games last season, Adam had four points (3-1-4). Perhaps he'll be in the Calder discussion with early candidates Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Adam Larsson. Keep an eye on 18-year old freshman Sean Couturier, (assist) who might stick in Philly.


That wraps up this week's edition. Happy pucking!

Analysis: SomeLikeItGreen's Battle Team

In yesterday's post, we wondered what an all Battle Team would look like. Selecting the best of the four Battle clubs (Buf, NJD, NYI, NYR) certainly isn't easy but I wouldn't have it any other way. As we discovered, one response had some interesting suggestions. Let's take a look at what SomeLikeItGreen came up with before I take my crack:

Kovalchuk-Richards-Gaborik

Parise-Zajac-Grabner
Vanek-Tavares-Callahan
Avery-Gerbe-Zuccarello


Streit-Ehrhoff
Leopold-Staal
Larsson-Myers


Lundqvist
Miller


Coach: Tortorella; Asst.: Ruff

Right away, they took the most talented scorers and put them with top center Brad Richards. I just don't know if there are enough pucks to go around to satisfy both Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Gaborik. But it paints a dream scenario with the dangerous right-handed sniper on the left side and the just as potent lefty on the right for Richy Rich to set up. SLIG's second unit is intriguing, combining all the elements a good scoring line should have. You got size in Travis Zajac, grit and skill in Zach Parise, plus high potential in Michael Grabner, whose second half still marvels. This could be a potent unit with game-breakers. Plus Zajac's ability to win faceoffs and battles in the corners along with Parise's competitiveness would make them tough to contain on the cycle.
 
What's not to love about a third line of Thomas Vanek and Ryan Callahan centered by emerging star John Tavares? Even though his production hasn't been the same since that monster '05-06, Vanek's a better player now- more responsible defensively and unselfish. He's never had a legit No.1 to play with. Tavares is ready to put it altogether. We see at least a 38-39-77 third year. Then you have the hardest worker pound for pound in Callahan, who'll do anything to win. His offense improved to nearly a point-per-game, which should land the future Ranger captain a nice contract. A perfect complement to the skill of JT91 and Vanek, who can outwork opponents. 
 
SomeLikeItGreen's (SLIG) fourth line is based on potential featuring Sabre mighty mite Nathan Gerbe, who came on strong. There's also wildcard Mats Zuccarello, who early in his recall on Broadway demonstrated some deft stickhandling and underrated playmaking. MZA has a lot to prove this Fall. The pressure's on. Taking pest Sean Avery is sensible to create space for the two midgets. Sean's not exactly a giant but plays bigger by finishing checks and winning puck battles. He'll also drive opponents nuts. Especially around the edge of the crease. There's grit, speed and finishing ability.
 
The D is unique because I wouldn't have come up with any of those combos. Teaming Mark Streit and Christian Ehrhoff puts an emphasis on puckmoving blueliners who can get involved. It'd be interesting to see if Ehrhoff could cover for Streit when he pinches. Both certainly are capable of contributing but Streit's the more physical player, which is risky. If you want an attacking team, they'll supply it. Jordan Leopold and Marc Staal are more conventional, combining a solid skater with a defensive D. If anything, Leopold's proven to be underrated due to health. When on the ice, he's fully capable of producing while not looking out of place in his end. Staal is already one of the best defenders in the game, who uses his reach and skating to get pucks out. While his passing still needs work, he does have the ability to jump in if needed as a highlight reel shorthanded goal proved versus Pittsburgh. But that's not his job. He's far more comfortable playing in his end as opposed to pinching. So, this would be a solid combo. If you like youth/potential, then Adam Larsson and Tyler Myers have it all. A smooth skater who's sound overall in the Devil gem that can chip when needed, while Myers brings the lumber along with a potent shot that intimidates. In a few years, they could be the premier duo among BONY. Good thing they're not on the same roster.
 
SLIG opted to go with King Henrik over Miller Time in net. If you preach consistency, then I agree that Henrik Lundqvist certainly qualifies with 30-or-more victories every season since the lockout, along with Olympic gold. Not bad for a seventh round steal. Ryan Miller has more credentials, including a Vezina along with a heroic Olympic performance in defeat. He's also been to two Conference Finals. I guess it depends on who you prefer. Miller is far more aggressive challenging shooters while Lundqvist stays back in his net to protect his glove, which has improved. Both have a tendency to allow softies. So, it's a tough call.
 
Choosing John Tortorella over Lindy Ruff is interesting. I guess SLIG likes an all aggressive style, which forces the goalie to make game-breaking saves. If you want emotion, Tort's got it. He hates losing. Ruff's not that different, sometimes sounding off to protect his guys. But he's also a little cooler off the ice, which would probably help. Since we now know that Pete DeBoer is coaching the Devils, we'll take him over Jack Capuano to complete the staff. He's got more experience and did a respectable job with Hawks South. I like the defensive element he brings. Besides, you can't have three loud mouths. It just doesn't add up.
 
Since we decided to analyze SomeLikeItGreen's Battle Team, I'll hold off on mine till tomorrow. Here's the breakdown per each roster.
 
Sabres-6
Devils-4
Islanders-3
Rangers-7

Rangers re-sign Anisimov, Sauer, Dates set for Parise, Callahan, Dubinsky, etc.

Two down. Three to go. The Rangers re-signed both Artem Anisimov and Mike Sauer to multi-year deals. Each more than doubled their salaries. Anisimov will earn an average of $1.875 million over the next two seasons while Sauer gets a nice boost up to $1.25 M, avoiding salary arbitration.

A win win for the club who still must deal with Brian Boyle, Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky. In fact, their hearings are set with Boyle July 25, Callahan July 28 and Dubinsky July 21. That still leaves a couple of weeks for Glen Sather to try to hammer something out with the trio, who were instrumental in getting the club back to the playoffs. Credit to Bleeding All Blue for the correct arbitration dates.

As for Arty and Sauer, it's nice to see both done, allowing Slats to concentrate on Cally and Dubi, who should be harder to sign. It's expected to run anywhere between $3.5 to 4 million for the pair of homegrown forwards that have grown into leaders. Hopefully, they'll come to enviable conclusions not involving the tedious arbitration. Boyle definitely will see a considerable increase as well off his career year. How big who knows.

While the Blueshirts concern themselves with that, the Devils could have to deal with Zach Parise, who's hearing is scheduled for August 3. It leaves Lou Lamoriello more time to see if he can get Zach Attack to take a discount following an injury riddled year that saw the North Dakota standout limited to just 13 games. He earned $5 million. ... Islander forward Blake Comeau is set for the day after, 8/4 while Buffalo defenseman Andrej Sekera goes the same day as Boyle (7/25).

Four Rangers headline arbitration

Yesterday was a busy day for the Rangers. A day following Fourth Of July fireworks celebrating our independence, four players filed for arbitration. The good news is they can't be offersheeted with the likely scenario that whatever's ruled, will have all four signed by next month. Something that's imperative when camp (yes) will be around the corner. Especially in Year One of the Euro Vacation courtesy the World's Most Renovated Arena.

The four players are also key parts with half comprising our two most consistent forwards last season in leading scorer Brandon Dubinsky and do everything leader Ryan Callahan. Both home grown Blueshirts had their best seasons with Dubinsky pacing the club in goals (24), assists (30) and points (54) while Callahan achieved new career marks in goals (23), assists (25), points (48), power play goals (10) and a club best five game-winners despite missing 22 games. Two-thirds of the Draft Line which also features unsigned restricted Artem Anisimov, are essential for Glen Sather to get done. Anisimov didn't qualify for arbitration. So, look for Arty to be re-signed sooner.

Last season, Dubinsky made $2 million while linemate Callahan earned $2.4 M in his final year. The average cap hit was $1.85 M for Dubi with Cally coming in at $2.3 M. The perception is that the organization values Callahan higher than the more skilled Dubinsky, who's proven a tough customer before as a Group II going all the way to September a couple of years ago. While it's been rumored talks between the club and Callahan have been 'amicable,' it's still unknown what the relationship is with our top left wing, who also can take faceoffs if needed and is a standout penalty killer along with his buddy.

Considering an inflated market where a third liner like Joel Ward could get $3 M from the Caps, it's hard to predict what each will wind up with. Of course, arbitration is a bit different from unrestricted status where any team can bid and overpay in an increased cap entering the final year of the CBA. But as Larry Brooks noted in his morning NY Post column, it's better than having a team force the Rangers to match, which is why arbitration exists. I've been consistent in believing the numbers should be between $3-4 million. It's a matter demand and what the organization counters with, which can lead to a bitter process. Arbitration isn't fun. So, if Dubinsky comes in with 4.25 which he might based on his best year, they could be a million apart when it goes to a judge. If I had to guess, I'm going with 3.5-3.7 for each. It'd be easier if they just worked it out.

Meanwhile, the Blueshirts must also contend with Brian Boyle, who destroyed his career numbers with a 21-goal, 35-point campaign, becoming a PK fixture and even chipping in four PPG. The ex-King proved he belonged after an off-ice regimen that improved skating and conditioning, resulting in a reliable checking center who also was capable of scoring the timely goal. He did cool off down the stretch and was a non-factor in our first round defeat to the Caps. Still, Boyle did it on a cheap 525 K salary. His partner in crime Brandon Prust is set to earn $800,000 for a second straight season. It's possible that the former '03 first rounder could double his salary, which would put him at a shade over a million. Still feasible. However, he could counter with something higher. Say $1.25-1.3 based on a career year. Hopefully, it won't be more than 1.2.

The last case involves Mike Sauer, who finally proved healthy enough making the roster out of camp and emerging into a solid second pair guy where he teamed with fellow rookie Ryan McDonagh. Prior to '10-11, the former '05 second rounder had been injury plagued and only got into three NHL games in '08-09 before John Tortorella sent him down. Despite health issues in '09-10, he worked hard and impressed the staff enough to eventually deal off vet Michal Rozsival to Rangers West (Phoenix) for Wojtek Wolski, who may or may not get bought out depending on if they consider him a top six forward. Sauer was arguably the most physical defenseman we had, keeping opponents honest around Henrik Lundqvist's crease while even coming to the aid of teammates, reminding of old hat Beuke. Not only was he tough but also contributed three goals and 17 helpers to go with a team best plus-20 rating. There's much to like about him but the Rangers will argue that he never did it before and hasn't been durable. Sauer must prove it's not a fluke. He earned 500 K. How about a bump to 850-900 before we're paying him over a million?

All four players will be signed unless the club walks away. Highly unlikely. They still must sign Anisimov, whose rookie deal expired following a decent sophomore campaign that saw the former '06 second round pick increase production from 28 points (12-16-28) to 44 (18-26-44) while again playing in all 82. He made 765 K and should get around $1.25 million. Hopefully, they sign him for two or three years. If they think highly of Arty and there's every reason to believe they do, then doing three is feasible. Anisimov indicated he wasn't pleased with his production, which is encouraging. There were too many peaks and valleys. This is a guy capable of 20-25 goals and 60 points. He's already a good all around player who can be used in any situation. Hopefully, his confidence will grow.

Once the Rangers get these five completed along with key acquisition Tim Erixon, they can focus on acquiring a vet D. I'm already on record with Brent Sopel or Shane O'Brien as my preferences with Steve Staios also being an option, assuming Steve Eminger isn't returning.

While our team focuses on these issues, the Devils must contend with star forward Zach Parise, who remains unsigned. It's even harder to gauge what the potential UFA next summer will make due to being limited to only 13 games (3-3-6) following the first serious injury of what's been a brilliant career. It's hard to envision it even reaching armageddon even with Lou Lamoriello having little wiggle room to work with especially if lone arbitree Mark Fraser returns. Matt Taormina is also restricted. Figure him to get done while Anssi Salmella and Matt Corrente could be on the outs unless they take two-way deals.

As for the rest of the 23 on arbitration, the Isles' Blake Comeau and Sabres' Andrej Sekera also are going that route. Since the former '04 second round pick's been in the league, his production's improved every year, going from 15 to 25 to 35 to a new personal best 46 points (24-22-46) last season. He certainly established himself, becoming a PK fixture while being a streaky scorer. If he could ever put it together, who knows? Comeau earned 800 K in '10-11 and definitely should get anywhere from 1.4 to 1.6. Meanwhile, Sekera has a crowded D to contend with but attained 29 points, including 26 assists during a career year that also saw him play 76 games. He made $1.25 M in his final year. What exactly can he get? There could be a divide, especially given Buffalo's cap.

Here's the rest of the list:

Ana-Dan Sexton
Car-Derek Joslin
Chi-Chris Campoli, Viktor Stalberg
Col-Kevin Porter, Ryan Wilson
Edm-Andrew Cogliano
LA-Alec Martinez, Brad Richardson
Mtl-Josh Gorges
Nsh-Sergei Kostitsyn
Phx-Lauri Korpikoski
TB-Teddy Purcell
Van-Jannik Hansen
Wpg-Blake Wheeler 

Eastern Race intensifies

Yesterday, both the Sabres and Devils lost while the Leafs picked up a point in an overtime defeat to the pesky Islanders in which Blake Comeau tipped in Radek Martinek's point blast. For idle teams the Rangers and Hurricanes, they loved what they saw. The Rangers in seventh with 74 points and fewer games left, actually rooted for the Pens, who thanks to another splendid outing from emerging MVP candidate Marc-Andre Fleury, silenced the Sabres 3-1.

With a chance to move over the Rangers for seventh, Buffalo got a poor performance from Ryan Miller and zilch from Drew Stafford with Thomas Vanek out. When Rob Niedermayer is your only offense against a team minus its two biggest stars, you should win. Instead, the Sabres remained eighth with 72- one up on Carolina and four ahead of Toronto. The Canes are back in action against 11th Atlanta, who are seven out. One in front of the Devils, who blew a golden opportunity to gain even more ground in what amounted to a costly 2-1 loss to the lowly Senators.

Like most observers, I'd already given the sizzling Devs the two points only to find out after a Mardi Gras gathering that they actually lost with Erik Condra doing them in with just over two minutes remaining. Craig Anderson was equally as responsible, flat out robbing Ilya Kovalchuk en route to 31 saves. Last night was more proof that you can't let down for one second. The Sens have nothing to play for except pride. Condra escaped Nick Palmeiri due to the Devils paying too much attention to Jason Spezza, who threaded the needle for the crusher. When Spezza feels like playing, he's dangerous. The Devil goal came off a nifty set up from Brian Rolston, who circled the net and dished for Patrik Elias, who buried his 15th. Martin Brodeur was superb in defeat, making a few sparklers including a sliding stack followed by extra goalie Anton Volchenkov's own unique stop. Brodeur finished with 19 saves, suffering the hard luck loss.

The good news for Jacques Lemaire's club who've won 20 of 25 (20-3-2) is Buffalo lost. They still have 16 games left and given the way teams have played in front of them, there's reason for optimism. With every game do or die for a franchise that hasn't missed the playoffs since Lemaire I during the club's first Cup defense ('95-96), they must dial it up again Friday in a visit to Atlanta. All too ironic for Kovalchuk that he and teammates must root for his former team to beat the Canes later, which would put them three behind the Thrashers. Then win in regulation.

That's how crazy this Eastern race is. Hell. If the Islanders had beaten the Devils over the weekend, we'd be talking more about their run. Instead, Jack Capuano's surging club continues to lurk in the shadows with 62 points. With three candidates for 30-goal seasons (Moulson-28, Grabner-27, Tavares-24), the Islanders are playing well. They're a team with nothing to lose. Something Leafs' captain Dion Phaneuf made reference to following a costly lost point.

“They are a very different team than they were before Christmas.”

These Isles are finally getting it. What with former Ranger No.1 pick Al Montoya (6-2-2, 2.02 GAA, .930 Save Pct., SHO) supplying steady netminding along with improved play from Comeau (career best 19 goals and 40 points), P.A. Parenteau (15-27-42), Andrew MacDonald (4-22-26, club best 140 blocked shots), Frans Nielsen (career high 29 assists), reemerging Josh Bailey (1-3-4 in last 4), a healthy Kyle Okposo (4-10-14), there's plenty for Islander fans to be excited about. Already rookie blueliner Travis Hamonic has become a steady influence with 20 points (3-17-20) while doing all the little things right (86 hits, 94 blocked shots). Jack Hillen has also been solid, chipping in with 15 points and 112 blocked shots.

So, while Garth Snow foolishly defends the undefendable like repeat offender Trevor Gillies, Capuano has kept his team focused. No longer are the Islanders easy to play against. They're the one team you don't want to face in this race. Even if they don't make it, they'll play spoiler.

A Glance At Tonight: There are two games of interest involving three teams. First, the Thrashers visit Raleigh at 7 to battle the Canes. A regulation win would put Atlanta right back in it, just five out. If Carolina wins, they jump over idle Buffalo into eighth. The way these two clubs play, figure the dreaded three-point game.

Meanwhile, the Rangers are on a vital two-game Pacific swing with stops at Anaheim tonight and San Jose Saturday. Considering how hectic the West is, this is a must for the Ducks, who have slipped to 11th with 75 points. Amazingly, they're only four away from fifth Dallas, sixth Phoenix and seventh Calgary, typifying how wild the West is. The Kings sit in eighth with 77 while Minnesota and Nashville are sandwiched between the Ducks. Anything's possible. John Tortorella's club enters with one less point than their opponent but must contend with the dangerous Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry line not to mention ageless wonder Teemu Selanne (21-39-60), who looks like he could play another five years. There's also the cool subplot of rookie blueliner Cam Fowler (7-22-29, club worst -23, 4 PPG, 16 PP Pts) who the Blueshirts passed on, instead opting for rugged defenseman Dylan McIlrath. The full impact won't be known for years.

It's definitely a compelling match. Can the Ducks bounce back from a 3-0 shutout loss to Vancouver or do the Rangers build on that impressive 7-0 blitz of the Flyers that featured a Ryan Callahan four-goal, five-point game, two Mats Zucarello markers and Henrik Lundqvist's league-leading ninth shutout? For the East coasters, it don't start till 10:30. Stay tuned.


RACE FOR SEVEN AND EIGHT
             GP Record    Pts     GR
7.NYR  68 35-29-4   74      14
8.Buf     66 32-26-8   72      16
9.Car    66  31-26-9   71      16
10.Tor   67 29-28-10  68      15
11.Atl    66 27-28-11  65      16
12.NJD  66 30-32-4   64      16
13.Fla    67  27-31-9   63      15
14.NYI  68  26-32-10 62      14

Stars keep Richards, Rangers add Mitchell on quiet Deadline Day

This deadline was a dud. Perhaps due to so many teams still in contention, there wasn't much activity, disappointing puckers around the stratosphere. With most big deals taking place prior to today with big names Tomas Kaberle (Bruins), Kris Versteeg (Flyers), Erik Johnson (Avs), Chris Stewart/Kevin Shattenkirk (Blues), Francois Beauchemin (Ducks), Bryan McCabe (Rangers), James Wisniewski (Habs), Dwayne Roloson (Bolts) and Brad Boyes (Sabres) all finding new homes, it didn't figure to be that busy.

Instead, calculated trades were the story with the exception of the Kings getting their big forward Dustin Penner for the steep price of D prospect Colten Teubert, a first round pick and a conditional '12 third rounder. A move which they needed once the Stars took big fish Brad Richards off the market, which in our opinion is the right decision for a dangerous club who if B-Rad comes back healthy could make some noise if they get in this Spring. The Kings and Rangers were Richards' chief suitors with Dallas very interested in Artem Anisimov, a 1st round pick and a prospect. Eerily similar to what we proposed the other day. Our guess is they coveted Brayden Schenn from Hollywood. But at the end of the day, with Richards still yet to return from a concussion despite being symptom free for five days, they probably couldn't maximize the potential free agent's value, making the choice very easy. If it works out, they take their best shot which is good news for Star fans like Twitter favorite starsfan10_91 who celebrated by re-changing to richardsfan91. :-) Why else do you go out and trade James Neal and Matt Niskanen for Alex Goligoski?

While the Stars are now all in, it left the Rangers with little alternatives. So, Glen Sather turned to Toronto pal Brian Burke, acquiring forward depth in John Mitchell for a seventh round pick. The 26 year-old was decent his first two seasons used in a checking role, supplying energy for the Leafs. He's a good enough skater if the former '03 fifth round pick actually stays up with his likely destination Hartford. Not much else to say following another nail biting one-goal defeat to Kryptonite Tampa yesterday with two one-timer goals by Martin St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier the difference- keeping the Rangers from gaining ground and only three up on Carolina, who added blueline help by swapping Sergei Samsonov to the Sunshine State for Bryan Allen.

At least new addition McCabe looked good in his debut, getting better as the game went on with the ex-Panther crunching Steve Downie against the boards and nearly tying it in the waning second with Henrik Lundqvist on the bench. Unlike a Post columnist who doesn't have a clue on why overpaying for a potential rental made no sense, the Rangers are better off waiting to take their shot at B-Rad come July 1. It's nothing like trading for a superstar who wanted New York, with Carmelo Anthony forcing his way out of Denver to come to the Knicks.

So, our team basically stands pat with hopefully Marian Gaborik able to return in a few weeks. Don't bank on it. Ruslan Fedotenko and Marc Staal are close to returning with the team's next big game against the Sabres, who actually made a real trade- sending a second rounder to St. Louis for Brad Boyes. Nice boost for Brian's team and even he was pleased sending me not one but two texts last night just as I was texting him. Haha. Buffalo trails eighth Carolina by two and us by five with games at hand on each. So, tomorrow's contest at MSG looms large.

Biron Done For Year: In the mean time, the Rangers got terrible news when valuable backup Martin Biron was struck by a puck during team practice and broke his collarbone. The former Sabre's been a great addition, providing superb goaltending, allowing John Tortorella to rest Lundqvist. He got into 17 games making 15 starts, posting an 8-6-0 record with a 2.13 GAA and an identical save percentage (.920) to our Vezina candidate.

Ironically, Lundqvist had started the last eight, going 4-4-0 with a 2.22 GAA and .922 save percentage while recording his league-leading eighth shutout in a 6-0 win at Washington Friday. Interestingly, Henrik has permitted three-or-more in eight of his last 11 starts. Encouraging is he gave up only two yesterday following a 35-save shutout. Dating back to Jan.20, he's allowed three+ in 10 of the last 14. All the more reason Biron's injury couldn't be worse timing, with it discovered too late. Unless they are lucky enough to find someone on the waiver wire, unknown Cam Talbot will backup Lundqvist starting tomorrow. In 13 starts with the Connecticut Whale, the 23 year-old undrafted free agent went 8-3-2 with a 2.42 GAA, .919 save percentage and two shutouts. How many starts are you going to trust in a rookie who's never been up before? A potential big problem for the final 18.

Arnott dealt to Caps: In a deal already mentioned in these parts by Hasan, the Devils unloaded Jason Arnott to the Caps for David Steckel and a second round pick in '12. I'm only going to echo what he already said about this move, which is an absolute steal for the Devils. Steckel is a great faceoff guy and will fit right in on a gritty New Jersey club pushing hard for the playoffs. He also is an effective forechecker who Devil fans will take to. That Lou Lamoriello also got a second round pick tossed in like it was Panther-esque speaks volumes. Between the trade for Dennis Wideman and this Arnott one, I frankly don't get what George McPhee's doing. He also gave away Tomas Fleischmann for Scott Hannan. Unfortunately for Fleischmann, he suffered a pulmonary embollism and is done for the year in Colorado.

One other deal of interest was Max Lapierre going to Vancouver along with former teammate Chris Higgins with both now adding character to a serious Cup contender. This is the Canucks' best shot. It's now or never for a team that has everything. The pressure's on.

Finally, Columbus and Phoenix hooked up on a two-for-two with the 'Yotes acquiring original Jacket Rotislav Klesla and ex-Ranger Dane Byers who of course winds up on Rangers West for Scottie Upshall and Sami Lepisto. Looks like a good deal for both clubs with Phoenix adding blueline depth with Ed Jovanovski still sidelined and the Blue Jackets acquiring a guy who can find twine to relieve pressure from Rick Nash, RJ Umberger and rookie Matt Calvert.

Before closing, Niclas Bergfors was packaged with Patrick Rismiller for Radek Dvorak. Guess the key piece to last year's Ilya Kovalchuk deal just didn't fit in Craig Ramsay's system. He was in the doghouse often, scratched several instances despite totaling 11 goals and 29 points. Oddly enough similar to his 13-14-27 output in Newark. So much for the talented Swede becoming an Atlanta fixture.

Devs chase Fleury again

There's no stopping the Devils. Luck of the Irish not required to hand a beat down of what's looking more and more like defending chumps. Patrik Elias made it 3-1 when he stole a Jordan Leopold blind backhand pass and then beat Marc-Andre Fleury for a shorthanded goal. Another Pens' turnover that may as well have been from a bakery. Funny but moments earlier Fleury flat out robbed Travis Zajac with a sprawling glove save that even Chico Resch had to admit was great. Oh wait. He thinks every save is great. :P

The Elias shorty seemed to unnerve the Pens, who looked rattled. Turnover after turnover proceeded until Zach Parise netted team-leading No.33 by being allowed to swat in a rebound while Mark Eaton stood and watched. Not shockingly, it chased a furious Fleury, who MSG-Plus' cameras caught breaking slamming his goal stick against the wall.

Since when did Pittsburgh morph into the Rangers? Apparently, the sight of the Devils turns them into pumpkins. If this were a prize fight, it would've been stopped in Round Two. The play of the Penguins in this one is flat out embarrassing. It's like they've never played the game before. Pretty sad for a Sidney Crosby led team that's got an impressive resume, including two consecutive trips to the Finals, winning the franchise's third championship (first since '92) by dethroning Detroit.

Much of the credit goes to the Devils, who just look very focused with Paul Martin back on the blueline. He really has looked great and that bodes extremely well for Jacques Lemaire's club. The Devs are clicking on all cylinders, playing air tight D while pouncing on Pittsburgh mistakes. The score could very well be 8-1 after two periods. That's how dominant they've been. Brent Johnson came in and had to make two great stops from in tight, including a sparkling glove on Ilya Kovalchuk to keep the deficit at three. The Devs' fourth line continues to play well with Rod Pelley doing solid work. Remember when NJ fans were all over Rob Niedermayer? He's looked real good since key ingredient David Clarkson returned.

There's not one Devil you could say anything negative about. Thus far, it's like Manny Pacquiao's performance versus Joshua Clottey. While Marty's done the job again turning aside 15 of 16 (5-5 in 2nd), Fleury's ugly line which really wasn't his fault was four allowed on 13 shots. He's permitted three-or-more in all five starts with tonight's four raising his GAA to 4.52 and a dismal .838 save percentage. Yikes. In case you're wondering, Johnson made his only start on 12/30/09 acquitting himself well by stopping 31 of 32 in a 2-0 shutout loss. He also relieved Fleury in an ugly 12/21 4-0 loss, turning aside all 14 shots. Counting the two he stopped so far, that's quite a difference.

The big question becomes if Dan Bylsma's team sees the Devils in the second or third round, would he consider going with Johnson? It seems illogical. But based on how poorly the Pens have played in front of Fleury, it actually might be something he considers.

1st Period Thoughts: Pens-NJD

Well, if it wasn't obvious already, it should be. The Devils are in the Penguins' heads. After trailing on an early Chris Kunitz goal, the more traditional red and green guys honoring the past on St. Patty's Day responded like good teams do, getting the next two.

Both off identical sloppy turnovers forced by Jacques Lemaire's trap which has given Pitt fits. The first came off a poor change, allowing Patrik Elias to force Kris Letang and then make a smart soft backhand feed which sprung Dainius Zubrus for a clean break, which he converted with a sweet power forehand deke to draw even. The second came was a potential momentum shifter with less than two minutes left when another Pens' misplay led to returning Devil hero Paul Martin breaking in and firing far side past Marc-Andre Fleury. A very good shot but another one the Pens' netminder should've had. In four starts versus the defending champs' kryptonite, he doesn't play well.

Meanwhile, Martin Brodeur made a few strong stops when called upon. He has 10 saves to Marc-Andre's seven. You have to wonder if the Pens minus Evgeni Malkin, can respond. All we saw from Sidney Crosby were some dirty stick whacks at Mike Mottau that drew Devil fans' ire. The same kind of stuff he gets away with versus us. It would be a refreshing change to see the Golden Boy treated like other players. For one of the game's best, he sure gets away with a lot. But as evidenced during last night's Ranger clunker, refs just aren't paying enough attention to stick swings like the one Brian Gionta got away with after a whistle. He ain't Mr. Hacks for nothing.

Time for the second. Be back after.

Deadline Day 2010

It's Deadline Day. Thus far, a few deals but nothing earth shattering. We'll just list them and do insight later.

WEDNESDAY 3/3/10 DEADLINE DAY

1.NJD acquire D Martin Skoula from Tor for 2010 5th Rd Pick

2.Phx acquires D Derek Morris from Bos for 2011 4th Rd Pick

3.Mtl trades F Matt D'Agostini to Stl for Aaron Palushaj

4.Bos acquires D Dennis Seidenberg & D Matthew Bartkowski from Fla for F's Byron Bitz, Craig Weller + 2010 2nd Rd Pick

5.Ana acquires D Aaron Ward from Car for G Justin Pogge + 4th Rd Pick ('10 or '11)

6.Car trades F Scott Walker to Wsh for 2010 7th Rd Pick

7.Van acquires F Yan Stastny from Stl for Pierre-Cedric Labrie

8.Phx acquires F Wojtek Wolski from Col for F's Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter

9.NYR acquire F Kris Newbury from Det for F Jordan Owens

10.Phx acquires D Mathieu Schneider from Van for D Sean Zimmerman + Conditional 2010 6th Rd Pick

11.LA acquires F Jeff Halpern from TB for F Teddy Purcell and 2010 3rd Rd Pick

12.Wsh acquires F Eric Belanger from Min for 2010 2nd Rd Pick

13.Ana acquires G Curtis McElhinney from Cgy for Vesa Toskala

14.Buf acquires F Raffi Torres from CBJ for D Nathan Paetsch and 2010 2nd Rd Pick

15.Atl acquires F Clarke MacArthur from Buf for 2010 3rd + 4th Rd Picks

16.Wsh reacquires D Milan Jurcina from CBJ for 2010 6th Rd Pick

17.Tor trades F Lee Stempniak to Phx for D Matt Jones, 2010 4th + 7th Rd Picks

18.Wsh acquires D Joe Corvo from Car for D Brian Pothier, F Oskar Osala + 2011 2nd Rd Pick

19.LA deals for F Freddy Modin from CBJ for Condional Draft Pick

20.Ana acquires G Joey MacDonald from Tor for 2011 7th Rd Pick

21.Van acquires D Andrew Alberts from Car for 2010 3rd Rd Pick

22.Fla trades F Matt Rust to CBJ for D Mathieu Roy

23.Ana acquires D Lubomir Visnovsky from Edm for D Ryan Whitney + 2010 6th Rd Pick

24.Tor gets D Chris Peluso from Pit for 2010 6th Rd Pick

25.Nsh trades for F Dustin Boyd from Cgy for 2010 4th Rd Pick

26.Cgy acquires D Steve Staios from Edm for Aaron Johnson + 3rd Rd Pick in 2010 or 2011

27.Col gets F's Stephane Yelle and Harrison Reed from Car for F Cedric Lalonde-McNicoll + 2010 6th Rd Pick

28.Phx acquires F Alexandre Picard from CBJ for F Chad Kolarik

29.NYR acquire D Anders Eriksson from Phx for G Miika Wiikman + 2011 7th Rd Pick

30.Phx gets F Petteri Nokelainen from Ana for 2011 6th Rd Pick