Blue Notes

OK, let's see:

1. Leetchpic. Yes, I think there's a chance the Rangers will start the season without Shanahan or Sundin. I don't think they're linked.

2. Kevo. With this roster, many guys raising their games, and some super goaltending by Lundqvist, I could envision the Rangers as a four or five seed. With Sundin, depending on who they traded to create cap room, they should be right there in the top three.

3. Bob. Pearn on the PP, which we assume will improve with Redden, who Perry coached in Ottawa. Yes, I can drop "subtle hints" but why in hell would they listen to me? The Rangers retain Baranka's rights, but it's unclear what happens after the Spartak season ends. Finally, frankly, all four may start the season in Hartford, unless one has a quality camp. Korpikoski and Byers might be first call-ups.

4. The Rangers equipment staff "altered" the jerseys for players during the season. Reebok may have done some offseason tinkering as well. Will check.

5. I will ask around on possible Traverse City telecasts, or much more likely, streaming. Someone on the HF boards may know as well. I believe there are six rather than eight teams this year. Rosters are submitted in late August. Another place to check if you're impatient is Red Wings Central, which might also have ticket prices.

Back later...

Sorry if your query wasn't posted.
Impossible for our moderator (not me) to get to them all in 35 minutes.
Just list them here.
I'm juggling numerous things.
Bob, can you take another minute to re-send your questions? You too, Effigy. Your double post was more of a rant (which is fine), but not really a question...
I respond when I get back...

Hello everyone. Today's Rangers live chat will begin at 2 p.m. Please have your questions ready.

Thirty-six-year old Czech center Petr Nedved, who played 478 games with the Rangers in three stints between 1992-93 and 2003-04, is coming to training camp to try to land a job.

"He has spoken with Tom and Glen and passed up some other offers in Europe, wanting to come to camp with the opportunity to earn a job here," a Rangers spokesman confirmed a few moments ago. "There is no commitment on our end."

The desire of Nedved, who scored 149 goals and added 202 assists as a Ranger, to give it another shot in New York first came to light this morning in a partial translation of a Czech news report provided by blueshirtbulletin.com. In that translation, Nedved said he hoped for the chance to play "a few minutes on the third or fourth line."

Nedved, a pal of Jaromir Jagr, was acquired in 1994 from St. Louis for Esa Tikkanen and Doug Lidster. He was traded to Pittsburgh in August 1995 with Sergei Zubov (yikes) for Ulf Samuelsson and Luc Robataille.

He was re-acquired from the Pens with Chris Tamer and Sean Pronger in November '98 for Alex Kovalev and Harry York, and was shipped to the Oilers in March 2004 with Jussi Markkanen for G Steve Valiquette, Dwight Helminen and a 2004 2nd-round pick that turned into Dane Byers.

Nedved scored 20 goals in 42 games with HC Sparta Praha in the Czech ExtraLiga last season...the more the merrier in September, I guess...

.....is how this off-season may be remembered, no matter where the Swedish center ends up.

Mats Sundin's agent, J. P. Barry, told a Vancouver radio station that Sundin now has six teams interested, and while not providing names to protect some front offices "from scrutiny", he said, teams have told him they could make room.

The Rangers, with whom Sundin spoke before the Canadiens acquired negotiating rights from Toronto in late June (an agreement that expired), apparently are one of Barry's half-dozen, along with Montreal, the Canucks and Leafs.

We mentioned earlier this month that the Rangers were perilously close to the cap, but legally can exceed the $56.7 million---to about $62.3 million---before cutting down on Oct. 4. They have spare forwards to shed. Remember also that when Mike Barnett, now President and GM Glen Sather's senior adviser, was an agent for IMG for a dozen years, Sundin was a client.

That said, this remains a long shot because Sundin, 37, would have to accept far less money than elsewhere for a chance to play with countrymen Markus Naslund and Henrik Lundqvist in New York. But it does appear that Vancouver's offer of $20 million over two years hasn't wowed Sundin enough to stop listening and jump to Western Canada.

Sundin, who has a few weeks to decide, scored 78 points in 74 games for the Leafs last season, 32 goals and 46 assists. Sather has said he wants the new edition of the Rangers to be younger and faster. One player won't change that. Stranger things have happened.

Apparently, if Sundin is willing to make concessions for a short-term deal on a team that could contend for the Cup with him, who knows?

Trades to Atlanta and Los Angeles---who are below the salary floor---are possible. Nashville, Phoenix and Colorado are well below the cap.

Could the Rangers cobble together $3 million or more to clear space?

Purely for speculation: Prucha ($1.6 million), d-men Mara ($1.9), Kalinin ($2.1), Pock ($667,500)---couldn't Corey Potter at $500,000 replace one of 'em?---Rissmiller ($1), Fritsche ($875,000), Sjostrom ($840,000), Betts ($615,000).

We're not necessarily advocating acquiring Sundin; but would some of the above guys (five UFAs, three RFA's in 2009-10) be such massive losses?

This is surely a topic for today's 2 p.m. chat. Mats Madness in August....

Greetings. We'll wrap up this busy month with your questions and commentary right here tomorrow at 2 p.m.

In the meantime, coupla things:

* After the Rangers return from Prague, they will play 15 home games in October and November, and have three easy (well, for travel) away trips: to Philly, Newark and Nassau County. Only two flights are required in October: to Detroit and Columbus.
In November, there are four trips, to Toronto, Washington, Ottawa---an afternoon game---and to Florida for games against Tampa and the Panthers around Thanksgiving. Not a killer. The toughest month? Looks like January: only four games at MSG.

* The re-signings around the league today include G Pascal Leclaire in Columbus and Valtteri Filppula in Detroit, no surprises. When Mats Sundin decides his future, there may be a flurry of moves in response.

* C David Skokan, who scored two goals and added six assists in six games---the fourth-highest total in the tourney---with the Slovakian team in the World Junior Championships, signed an AHL deal with the Hartford Wolf Pack. Skokan, 19, was the Rangers 7th-round pick in 2007.

* Mark Parrish, who scored 20-plus goals in four of five seasons with the Islanders, was bought out of his final three years by the Wild. A good guy from all accounts, but apparently his game has slipped. He did have 16 goals in 66 games last season, though, and will find a new home---though not in Rangers blue, I'm told.

Please stop by for the chat tomorrow; if you can't make it, post a question here in the morning and swing by to catch the replay....

The Rangers will play six exhibition games in eight days, a condensed schedule that will require two flights and an unusual agenda for the preseason.

Crazy.

Taking flights to exhibition games?

Not necessary, right?

Isles, Philly, Boston -- as in previous years?

Nope.

Home and home with Devils though.

This will require two squads -- as I wrote the other day.

Here's the sked:
Sat 9/20 at Ottawa
Mon 9/22 Ottawa at MSG
Tues 9/23 at Tampa
Wed 9/24 at NJ
Thur 9/25 Tampa at MSG
Sat 9/27 NJ at MSG 2 pm

More later.

Apologies.

The weekend's stormy weather snuffed the internet in my nabe, and communications were finally restored a short while ago.

So, we've rescheduled our live chat for 2 p.m. on Thursday. Hang on to your questions, I will get to as many as possible.

In the meantime, defenseman Jay Bouwmeester avoided arbitration with Florida and inked a one-year deal and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. You don't need a crystal ball or divining rod to predict the next step: When the Panthers are out of it at the trade deadline, he'll be moved for prospects, help a playoff club and then cash in somewhere for $6 million per.

Also today, Rangers formally confirmed what I reported yesterday: Freddie Sjostrom's signing.

More when I know it....

Today's live chat with Steve Zipay -- scheduled for 1 p.m. -- has been postponed. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Check back for a new day and time for the next live chat.

Freddie Sjostrom, the winger who was acquired from Phoenix at the trade deadline last season, has accepted the team's $840,000, 1-year, qualifying offer, according to a report in the Swedish newspaper Expressen. I've not been able to independently confirm, but assume it's accurate because I'm familiar with the reporter.

UPDATE: It's official. "Haven't signed the papers yet, but we agreed on the one-year contract," Sjostrom responded in an e-mail. "Nice to have it done. Looking forward to play in the Big Apple upcoming season!!"

Sjostrom, 25, had been weighing a two-year deal for less money per and had until Aug. 4 to decide. He had two goals and two assists in 18 games in a limited role on the Rangers and 10 goals and nine assists in 51 games with the Coyotes. In 279 games over four seasons, the former first-round pick (No. 11 overall) in 2001, has 34 goals and 41 assists.

....before some young players report for training camp and prepare for the Traverse City, Mich. tournament, then a shortened main training camp and eventually, exhibition games.

Nothing's official, but the Rangers will play six exhibition games (three home and three away), probably between Sept. 20th and 27th, before jetting over to Switzerland for practice and two games in Bern, then to Prague for practice and the opener on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 against Tampa.

I expect, and coach Tom Renney has suggested, that there will be two separate teams for most of the exhibition games.

Essentially, the team that leaves North America is the opening-day squad, so there's a shorter-than-usual period of evaluation time for youngsters. There could be moves before then, so we'll see how it develops...

For discussion purposes only, two months out, the 23-man roster?

Lundqvist, Valiquette, Gomez, Drury, Zherdev, Naslund, Dubinsky, Dawes, Callahan, Prucha, Fritsche, Voros, Betts, Orr, Sjostrom, Redden, Rozsival, Staal, Girardi, Mara, Kalinin---and here's where it's tricky---another forward and a seventh defenseman.

(CLARIFICATION: Sjostrom hasn't signed, deadline is Aug. 4, this is projected roster)
If he does't well, see below.

Rissmiller? Maybe.
He has the most NHL experience of the rest. Korpikoski? Moore? Byers? Depends. Camp and Sjostrom issue will likely determine that.

On D? Potter? Pock? Someone TBD by trade or waivers? Possible.

Just peeking in on the discussion about jerseys and numbers...The only times I had my name on the back of a jersey as an adult were for corporate softball teams, I think.
Not for Pop Warner, Little League, CYO, etc...Personally, I prefer just numbers and no names anyway: Old School, I guess.

Three of the numbers I've worn a lot...7, (homage to Mantle, of course), 17, 22...

Also, Rangers have no plans for a new third jersey, in case that rumor is floating around.

***
The next fabulous live chat (woooo!) has been set: Monday, 1 p.m. The two previous sessions have generated enormous interest, so thanks again.

***

It was Mets 6, Phils, 3 and me, one broken set of headphones in the press box at Shea on Wednesday. Ah, well. At leasts I had transcribed the quotes from John Maine. Had 'em long enough.

****
I'm off today to handle some personal matters, but will be making calls tomorrow on the Rangers and NHL front.

I would have posted a disclaimer to the imposter who threw out the Sundin stuff (grow up or I'll request that you get the boot, knucklehead, fair warning), but I was chatting with Marc Staal over at the Rangers training complex, where he's down from Thundar Bay as one of the players working at the annual youth camp.

The story will be online and in tomorrow's paper, but here's some excerpts.

At the end of the season, Staal was aware that Jagr, Straka, Shanahan and Avery could end up elsewhere.
"You knew they (management) couldn't keep everybody, so you figured some guys were gonna leave," Staal said. Like many hockey players---and fans---when the free-agent deadline arrived, Staal hunted for breaking news on his computer.

"On July first and second, I kept checking on the internet, just like everybody else," Staal said. "I talked to (fellow defenseman Dan) Girardi and we were just going through what was happening to try to figure out what was going on."

"I'm excited about the guys we got," he said. "Redden's an All-Star, a great player, he'll really be good. I know Naslund from watching him when I was growing up (in Thunder Bay, Ontario). He's got experience, he's been on the power play."

Asked about the critics who believe Naslund, at 35, is no longer the force he once was, Staal said, "Maybe a change of scenery will be good for him."

Staal also was pleased with the return of defenseman Michal Rozsival and surprised by the Tyutin-Backman trade.

Gotta run to cover the Mets-Phils with some of the Newsday gang. Check out the entire story later...

Martin Rucinsky, the Czech winger who played 136 games with the Rangers in three separate stints, has decided to return to play for Prague in the Extraliga, his new team reported.

Rucinsky, 37, was injured much of last season when he played for the Blues, scoring five goals and 11 assists.

As a Ranger, Rucinsky (who wore 19 and 26, by the way) was 32-78-110 in 2001-02, 2003-04 and 2005-06, often skating with his countrymen.

For the fun of it, here's some of the names in Marty's transactions:

1. Acquired from Dallas with Roman Lyashenko on 3/12/02 for Manny Malhotra and Barrett Heisten (wha?...a LW who was scoreless in 10 games in 2001-02). Lyashenko, whom I believe is the only "Roman" in Rangers history, scored two goals in 17 games. Closest: Rumun Ndur, the Nigerian-born d-man claimed on waivers from Buffalo in 98-99, who played 31 games.
Apparently, he now plays for the Nottingham Panthers in the British Elite Ice Hockey League.
Malhotra, the Rangers first round pick (7 overall) in 1998, is with Columbus.

2. Signed as a free agent in August 2003.

3. Traded to Vancouver in March 2004 for Martin Grenier and the rights to center R. J. Umberger (the former Flyer, now 26, who this month signed a four-year, $16-million contract with the Blue Jackets. Neither Umberger, who signed with Philadephia a few months later, or Grenier, who played defense with the Wolf Pack for a couple seasons, ever skated for the Rangers.

4. Returned as a free agent in August 05, then signed with the Blues in August 2006.

More later....

Hugh Jessiman, the 6-6 right wing and Dartmouth grad who was the 12th overall pick in the 2003 draft---a major disappointment---has apparently accepted the Rangers' qualifying offer. He's coming off his best season for Hartford (18-24-42, 154 PIM) in 71 games. No terms available just yet. Assume he will continue with the Wolf Pack.

That leaves forward Freddie Sjostrom as the only restricted free agent left. The Swede has until Aug. 4 to determine whether he'll accept a two-year deal for siginficantly less per year than his one-year offer.

Someone sent me an Andy Strickland blog which reported that St. Louis has reached out to Brendan Shanahan's agent. The Blues have the New York connection (Checketts, Davidson) and could certainly afford to pay Shanny because they are well under the cap. Shanahan is still is hanging on to the possibility that he can play one more season for the Rangers.

Listen, the Rangers have plenty of time to make some moves to create space for a $1.5 million-$2 million contract for Shanahan, but would it be worth it? I'm leaning against it.

The articulate, accessible veteran would be missed by the media and coaches and some players, to be sure, but some numbers to parse: He's still owed bonuses from last year, when he signed on July 10. Any future bonuses would be included in the cap this year.

Eight goals and seven assists of his total of 23 and 23 (in 73 games) came after Jan. 5.

At 40, and with more mobile forwards on the roster, he wouldn't get as much ice time this season, so the stats would be lower. Consider the intangibles also.

The Jagr/Straka/Avery chapter in Rangers history has been closed, for better or worse, we'll see. Management could have waited another year or two, but made some hard calls and chose another direction now, which, presumably will prove a worthy investment in the long run.

Shanahan was a contributor, but during the second half of last season, even long-time supporters saw that regrettably, from a combination of injury and age, the future Hall of Famer had slowed.

As I mentioned, the Blues have cap room, so does Atlanta, Carolina, Colorado (why hasn't Sakic signed?) Vancouver and Los Angeles---who need to add about $12 million to reach the mandated floor of $40 million. Supposedly Selanne only wants to play for Anaheim, which is already over the cap, from what I can estimate, as are Philadelphia, Calgary and Chicago. The Hawks apparently will have to move one of these players who will be UFAs in 09-10: Martin Havlat ($6 mil); Robert Lang ($4), goaltender Nicolai Khabibulin ($6.75).

Point I'm making is that despite this lull, there will be more transactions besides Mats Sundin's decision, which could have a major impact in Vancouver, where both Sedin brothers are UFAs next season.

Arbitration hearings start this week and Jay Bouwmeester, Marek Svatos and Antoine Vermette are in that mix. And did I miss something, or is 23-year-old left wing Dan Carcillo, an RFA, still unsigned by Phoenix?

OK, some appointments on tap. Back later.....

We're going on a holiday now
Gonna take a villa or a small chalet
Costa Del Sol, magnifico,
You know the cost of living's so low...
And we can still get information
Reading all about inflation
And you're never gonna be out of reach
There's a clubhouse on the beach...
Yeah, gonna be so cool
Twistin' by the pool...

----Mark Knopfler

No, we're not on long holiday quite yet----hurry, August.

In fact, I'll host another live chat right here next week, date and time TBA, before we alternate tearing bullishly through the waves and lolling on the hammock.

For the moment, though, let's discuss the straits (Dire or otherwise), in which the Rangers are sailing.

It certainly appears, according to the Swedish press, as if Mats Sundin will skate off to Vancouver or Montreal or Toronto or retire. He didn't mention any other team in my readings.

Worst case scenario for the Rangers: Canadiens.

Reeling in Sundin, in my opinion, would make Les Habs the favorites in the East.
If Sundin goes west, they haven't done much.

Pittsburgh is weakened by the losses of Hossa and Malone; the Flyers will be strong offensively again, perhaps a bit better on defense and uncertain again in goal. Ditto for Washington; I liked Cristobal Huet more than Jose Theodore.

Boston is treading water. The Devs added a winger whom many had hoped the Rangers would land: Brian Rolston; but they need more offense and improved defense, methinks. Tampa's changed the landscape as well. Ottawa's offense is formidable, but goaltending remains a question.

So who can right now say how the re-made, re-modeled Rangers will fare against this lot? Throw out last season. Eight fewer games in the Atlantic Division coming up.

Maybe an overall younger, speedier team, more physical upfront (Greg Moore's deal is one year, $577,500, by the way, so I've kept today's earlier promise) with a re-engineered power play and a more consistent year from Henrik Lundqvist will be just what the doctor ordered against the rest of the conference and the West.

Granted, the Rangers were 20-7-5 against their Atlantic foes. Again, no one can say if that would occur again, even with Jagr, Straka and Avery.

Unchartered waters, these.

Maybe the new lineup will help against the West, where the Rangers were an ugly 1-7-2. I can't read the tea leaves just yet.

Instead, let's consider this from another angle:

Which teams----other than the Rangers----have improved, stood pat, or slid backward?

Thanks...See ya later....

On the road, but this just in:

Greg Moore, the 24-year-old right wing who scored 26 goals and added 40 assists for Hartford last season and was a restricted free agent, has signed with the Rangers. Moore, who was selected as an AHL All-Star, appeared in six games with the Rangers last season.

Moore is yet another candidate for the fourth line in October. Will check on terms of the deal later ...

As I wrote for the paper and newsday.com yesterday (click headline on the lower right column), the new schedule officially reduces Rangers games against the Islanders, Devils, Pens and Flyers to six each rather than eight and institutes one game against each NHL team and three "at-large" games against the Western Conference, a la 2003-04.

When it was approved back in November by the Board of Govs, I was cool with it, although critics believe losing divisional games takes a bit of juice out of the regional rivalries.

All in favor?

All against?

Also, Rangers announced the signing of D Brian Fahey, 27, a career AHL defenseman who played last season for the Chicago Wolves. With Andrew Hutchinson and Ivan Baranka gone---and who knows about Thomas Pock---Fahey seems headed to the Hartford blueline.

From my perspective:

Oct. 4: Opening night against Tampa Bay Lightning in Prague.

Oct. 10: MSG home opener against rookie of the year Patrick Kane, defenseman Brian Campbell and the improving Chicago Blackhawks.

Oct. 20: Sean Avery's return to Broadway with the Dallas Stars

Oct. 24: Former Blue Jackets Nikolai Zherdev and Dan Fritsche, acquired via trade, visit Columbus and former Ranger Fedor Tyutin

Nov 4: First of three Islanders' games at the Garden.

Nov. 10: Possible date of ceremony to retire Adam Graves' No. 9 before home game against Edmonton, where Graves starred. Team says no date has been set. Other possibilities: Jan. 7 against Montreal, Jan. 20 vs. Anaheim.

Nov. 19: Rangers host Canucks, the team newly-acquired winger Markus Naslund captained for eight years

Nov. 22: Defenseman Wade Redden returns to Ottawa, where he spent 11 seasons before coming to New York as a free agent

Dec. 23: A holiday trip to Manhattan by MVP Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals

Jan. 18: First visit to the Igloo, where Sidney Crosby and the Penguins ended the Rangers' 07-08 playoff run.

Feb. 6: Rangers face Avery on his new turf in Texas

April 9 and 12: A tough home-and-road pair with Atlantic Division rival Flyers closes the season

New York, July 17, 2008 – The New York Rangers will open the 2008-09 season on Saturday, October 4, taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning at O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic. This marks the first time the Rangers will play a regular season game outside of North America, and the second consecutive season the NHL has begun its season overseas. New York’s home opener at MSG will be on Friday, October 10, against the Chicago Blackhawks.
With a newly formatted schedule, the Rangers will face each NHL team at least one time over the course of the season. New York will face Atlantic Division foes New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the Islanders six times each. The Blueshirts will face all other Eastern Conference opponents a total of four times apiece. Also, the Rangers will host the Northwest Division – Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, Minnesota, and Vancouver – and will travel to meet the Central Division opponents – Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Nashville, and St. Louis. New York will also host Chicago as one of their at-large games on October 10. In addition, the Rangers will host Pacific Division opponents – Anaheim, Dallas and Phoenix – and will travel to meet – Anaheim, Dallas, Los Angeles, and San Jose.
The schedule features six Saturday contests at MSG and seven Sunday games at home. The Rangers will play one back-to-back set in New York, on Saturday, March 21 vs. Buffalo and Sunday, March 22 vs. Ottawa. The team’s longest homestand will be three games, which happens four times – October 13 to October 17, November 15 to November 19, December 23 to December 29, and March 21 to March 24 – and the busiest night on the Rangers’ home schedule is Monday, with eight dates. In addition, the Rangers will play seven home games on Sundays, seven on Tuesdays, six on Wednesdays, four on Thursdays, two on Fridays, and six on Saturdays during the season.
Starting times for all games at MSG will be 7:00 PM, except for the following seven dates (which includes potential national selections for NBC*): Wed., Nov. 19 vs. Vancouver (7:30 PM); Sun., Nov. 30 vs. Florida (1:00 PM); Sat., Dec. 27 vs. New Jersey (7:30 PM); Wed., Jan. 7 vs. Montreal (7:30 PM); Sun., Feb. 15 vs. Philadelphia (TBD*); Sun., Mar. 8 vs. Boston (TBD*); and Sun., Mar. 15 vs. Philadelphia (TBD*).

*Please note games listed as TBD are based on a potential national TV schedule. Start times on these games will not be confirmed until 13 days prior to the game day. Please check newyorkrangers.com for final start times.

Single-game tickets will be put on-sale to the public in September. No date has been set at this time.

Madison Square Garden, L.P. is owned by Cablevision Systems Corporation and includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League); MSG Entertainment, which includes concerts and events at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre, as well as the legendary Chicago Theatre; and which manages wholly-owned live entertainment properties including the Radio City Rockettes and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular; MSG Media, which is comprised of television networks MSG and MSG Plus, and MSG Interactive which oversees all company wireless and online initiatives; Fuse, the music television network; and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.

(more)
NEW YORK RANGERS 2008-2009 SCHEDULE

MASTER SCHEDULE ROAD HOME Time (ET)
Sat. Oct. 04, 2008 TBL 12:00P^
Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 TBL 12:00P^
Fri. Oct. 10, 2008 CHI 7:00P
Sat. Oct. 11, 2008 PHI 7:00P
Mon. Oct. 13, 2008 NJD 7:00P
Wed. Oct. 15, 2008 BUF 7:00P
Fri. Oct. 17, 2008 TOR 7:00P
Sat. Oct. 18, 2008 DET 7:00P
Mon. Oct. 20, 2008 DAL 7:00P
Fri Oct. 24, 2008 CBJ 7:00P
Sat. Oct. 25, 2008 PIT 7:00P
Mon. Oct. 27, 2008 NYI 7:00P
Thu. Oct. 30, 2008 ATL 7:00P
Sat. Nov. 1, 2008 TOR 7:00P
Tue. Nov. 4, 2008 NYI 7:00P
Thu. Nov. 6, 2008 TBL 7:00P
Sat. Nov. 8, 2008 WSH 7:00P
Mon. Nov. 10, 2008 EDM 7:00P
Wed. Nov. 12, 2008 NJD 7:00P
Sat. Nov. 15, 2008 BOS 7:00P
Mon. Nov. 17, 2008 OTT 7:00P
Wed. Nov. 19, 2008 VAN 7:30P
Sat. Nov. 22, 2008 OTT 3:00P
Mon. Nov. 24, 2008 PHX 7:00P
Wed. Nov. 26, 2008 TBL 7:30P
Fri. Nov. 28, 2008 FLA 7:30P
Sun. Nov. 30, 2008 FLA 1:00P
Wed. Dec. 3, 2008 PIT 7:00P
Thu. Dec. 4, 2008 MTL 7:00P
Sun. Dec. 7, 2008 CGY 7:00P
Wed. Dec. 10, 2008 ATL 7:00P
Fri. Dec. 12, 2008 NJD 7:00P
Sat. Dec. 13, 2008 CAR 7:00P
Tue. Dec. 16, 2008 ANA 7:00P
Wed. Dec. 17, 2008 LAK 7:30P
Sat. Dec. 20, 2008 SJS 7:30P
Tue. Dec. 23, 2008 WSH 7:00P
Sat. Dec. 27, 2008 NJD 7:30P
Mon. Dec. 29, 2008 NYI 7:00P
Sat. Jan. 3, 2009 WSH 7:00P
Mon. Jan. 5, 2009 PIT 7:00P
Wed. Jan. 7, 2009 MTL 7:30P
Fri. Jan. 9, 2009 BUF 7:30P
Sat. Jan. 10, 2009 OTT 7:00P
Tue. Jan. 13, 2009 NYI 7:00P
Fri. Jan. 16, 2009 CHI 7:30P
Sun. Jan. 18, 2009 PIT 3:00P
Tue. Jan. 20, 2009 ANA 7:00P
Tue. Jan. 27, 2009 CAR 7:00P
Wed. Jan. 28, 2009 PIT 7:30P
Sat. Jan. 31, 2009 BOS 1:00P
Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 ATL 7:00P
Fri. Feb. 6, 2009 DAL 7:30P
Mon. Feb. 9, 2009 NJD 7:00P
Wed. Feb. 11, 2009 WSH 7:00P
Fri. Feb. 13, 2009 FLA 7:30P
Sun. Feb. 15, 2009 PHI TBD*
Mon. Feb. 16, 2009 STL 6:00P
Wed. Feb. 18, 2009 NYI 7:00P
Sat. Feb. 21, 2009 BUF 7:00P
Sun. Feb. 22, 2009 TOR 7:00P
Wed. Feb. 25, 2009 TOR 7:30P
Thu. Feb. 26, 2009 FLA 7:00P
Sat. Feb. 28, 2009 COL 7:00P
Thu. Mar. 5, 2009 NYI 7:00P
Sun. Mar. 8, 2009 BOS TBD*
Mon. Mar. 9, 2009 CAR 7:00P
Thu. Mar. 12, 2009 NSH 7:00P
Sat. Mar. 14, 2009 PHI 1:00P
Sun. Mar. 15, 2009 PHI TBD*
Tue. Mar. 17, 2009 MTL 7:30P
Sat. Mar. 21, 2009 BUF 7:00P
Sun. Mar. 22, 2009 OTT 7:00P
Tue. Mar. 24, 2009 MIN 7:00P
Thu. Mar. 26, 2009 ATL 7:00P
Sat. Mar. 28, 2009 PIT 1:00P
Mon. Mar. 30, 2009 NJD 7:00P
Thu. Apr. 2, 2009 CAR 7:00P
Sat. Apr. 4, 2009 BOS 1:00P
Tue. Apr. 7, 2009 MTL 7:00P
Thu. Apr. 9, 2009 PHI 7:00P
Sun. Apr. 12, 2009 PHI 5:00P

ROAD SCHEDULE
Time (ET)
Sat. Oct. 04, 2008 TBL 12:00P^
Sat. Oct. 11, 2008 PHI 7:00P
Sat. Oct. 18, 2008 DET 7:00P
Fri Oct. 24, 2008 CBJ 7:00P
Mon. Oct. 27, 2008 NYI 7:00P
Sat. Nov. 1, 2008 TOR 7:00P
Sat. Nov. 8, 2008 WSH 7:00P
Wed. Nov. 12, 2008 NJD 7:00P
Sat. Nov. 22, 2008 OTT 3:00P
Wed. Nov. 26, 2008 TBL 7:30P
Fri. Nov. 28, 2008 FLA 7:30P
Thu. Dec. 4, 2008 MTL 7:00P
Wed. Dec. 10, 2008 ATL 7:00P
Fri. Dec. 12, 2008 NJD 7:00P
Tue. Dec. 16, 2008 ANA 7:00P
Wed. Dec. 17, 2008 LAK 7:30P
Sat. Dec. 20, 2008 SJS 7:30P
Sat. Jan. 3, 2009 WSH 7:00P
Fri. Jan. 9, 2009 BUF 7:30P
Sat. Jan. 10, 2009 OTT 7:00P
Tue. Jan. 13, 2009 NYI 7:00P
Fri. Jan. 16, 2009 CHI 7:30P
Sun. Jan. 18, 2009 PIT 3:00P
Wed. Jan. 28, 2009 PIT 7:30P
Sat. Jan. 31, 2009 BOS 1:00P
Fri. Feb. 6, 2009 DAL 7:30P
Mon. Feb. 9, 2009 NJD 7:00P
Fri. Feb. 13, 2009 FLA 7:30P
Mon. Feb. 16, 2009 STL 6:00P
Sat. Feb. 21, 2009 BUF 7:00P
Wed. Feb. 25, 2009 TOR 7:30P
Thu. Mar. 5, 2009 NYI 7:00P
Mon. Mar. 9, 2009 CAR 7:00P
Thu. Mar. 12, 2009 NSH 7:00P
Sat. Mar. 14, 2009 PHI 1:00P
Tue. Mar. 17, 2009 MTL 7:30P
Thu. Mar. 26, 2009 ATL 7:00P
Sat. Mar. 28, 2009 PIT 1:00P
Thu. Apr. 2, 2009 CAR 7:00P
Sat. Apr. 4, 2009 BOS 1:00P
Sun. Apr. 12, 2009 PHI 5:00P

HOME SCHEDULE
Time (ET)
Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 TBL 12:00P^
Fri. Oct. 10, 2008 CHI 7:00P
Mon. Oct. 13, 2008 NJD 7:00P
Wed. Oct. 15, 2008 BUF 7:00P
Fri. Oct. 17, 2008 TOR 7:00P
Mon. Oct. 20, 2008 DAL 7:00P
Sat. Oct. 25, 2008 PIT 7:00P
Thu. Oct. 30, 2008 ATL 7:00P
Tue. Nov. 4, 2008 NYI 7:00P
Thu. Nov. 6, 2008 TBL 7:00P
Mon. Nov. 10, 2008 EDM 7:00P
Sat. Nov. 15, 2008 BOS 7:00P
Mon. Nov. 17, 2008 OTT 7:00P
Wed. Nov. 19, 2008 VAN 7:30P
Mon. Nov. 24, 2008 PHX 7:00P
Sun. Nov. 30, 2008 FLA 1:00P
Wed. Dec. 3, 2008 PIT 7:00P
Sun. Dec. 7, 2008 CGY 7:00P
Sat. Dec. 13, 2008 CAR 7:00P
Tue. Dec. 23, 2008 WSH 7:00P
Sat. Dec. 27, 2008 NJD 7:30P
Mon. Dec. 29, 2008 NYI 7:00P
Mon. Jan. 5, 2009 PIT 7:00P
Wed. Jan. 7, 2009 MTL 7:30P
Tue. Jan. 20, 2009 ANA 7:00P
Tue. Jan. 27, 2009 CAR 7:00P
Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 ATL 7:00P
Wed. Feb. 11, 2009 WSH 7:00P
Sun. Feb. 15, 2009 PHI TBD*
Wed. Feb. 18, 2009 NYI 7:00P
Sun. Feb. 22, 2009 TOR 7:00P
Thu. Feb. 26, 2009 FLA 7:00P
Sat. Feb. 28, 2009 COL 7:00P
Sun. Mar. 8, 2009 BOS TBD*
Sun. Mar. 15, 2009 PHI TBD*
Sat. Mar. 21, 2009 BUF 7:00P
Sun. Mar. 22, 2009 OTT 7:00P
Tue. Mar. 24 2009 MIN 7:00P
Mon. Mar. 30, 2009 NJD 7:00P
Tue. Apr. 7, 2009 MTL 7:00P
Thu. Apr. 9, 2009 PHI 7:00P

* Please note games listed as TBD are based on a potential national TV schedule. Start times on these games will not be confirmed until 13 days prior to the game day. Please check newyorkrangers.com for final start times.
^ Game to be played at O2 Arena in Prague

He scored 14 goals in 61 games last season and could score 20-plus with more ice time, so restricted free agent winger Nigel Dawes and the Rangers have agreed to a one-year, $587,500 deal. (I was initially mixed up, the Freddie Sjostrom negotiations are apparently about more than one year).

Dawes, 23, who earned $475,000 last season, had four game-winning goals and also tallied 14 times in Hartford.

Sjostrom, by the way, had just returned from Rome where he attended an NHLPA meeting, and told me, "I continue to discuss my contract". His qualifying offer from the Rangers is required to be 10 percent higher than his 2007-08 salary, which was $800,000.

Just confirmed with league, so be sure you check in regularly.

***
Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention your continuing posts on proposed line combos. Keep firing away.
Amusing fodder for the off-season, eh?

The NHL regular-season schedule traditionally is released the day after MLB's All-Star Game. We'll provide highlights and dates to circle for the upcoming season when we get 'em. Opening night at the Garden is expected to be Oct. 10, after the Rangers return from the opening two games against Tampa in Prague on Oct. 4 and 5. Remember,
Rangers and divisional opponents will play six, not eight times. All-Star Game in Montreal was announced yesterday; Wrigley Field outdoor game on Jan. 1 should be official today or tomorrow as well.

***
Forward Freddie Sjostrom's qualifying offer was extended past yesterday's 5 p.m. deadline to Aug. 4. "We're still negotiating," Sjostrom said in an email late yesterday. No word from Nigel Dawes, but I believe his offer was extended as well.

***
In New York, Shea and Yankee stadiums have a date with the wrecking ball next year. Turns out that so does the Spectrum in Philly, the scene of numerous NHL bloodbaths on Broad Street, according to local news reports. Kate Smith may be tossing in her grave.

Dan Fritsche, the young center from Parma, Ohio, a restricted free agent who earned $750,000 last season, is believed to have received a raise to $875,000 and avoided arbitration. He had filed earlier this month with 14 other NHL players.

That $125,000 is no huge deal, considering the Rangers shed Ryan Hollweg's $525,000 on Monday when the left wing was traded to the Leafs for a fifth-round draft pick.

So, it appears as if Fritsche will get a shot at third or fourth-line center, a spot in which he posted 12 goals last season and 10 the previous year, each of which were shortened by April hand and wrist injuries

Which begs the question: What's next for Blair Betts, who is signed through the season? If Scott Gomez centers the first line, Chris Drury the second and sophomore Brandon Dubinsky the third unit, well....Unless a decision is made to move Dubinsky to the top six as a power forward. I could see that experiment in what is shaping up to be, as I've said before, a very intruiging, competitive training camp.

Then again, what does this all say for the chances of C Artem Anisimov of making the jump from Hartford in October? Betts, of course, a quality PK guy and defensive center, is due to earn just $615,000 this season before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

The signing leaves Nigel Dawes, Fredrik Sjostrom and Brendan Shanahan still unsigned. Again, you have to appreciate Shanahan's devotion to the game, but at 40, is it really the right move to sign him to kill penalties and score on a shootout or three?

The Rangers are seriously re-tooling, with at least seven players already gone from last year's opening day roster: Jagr, Straka, Avery, Hollweg, Tyutin, Malik and Strudwick. There's no guarantee that Shanahan would score 20 again. If Shanahan---who remains savvy but slower, and likely would want $1.5 million-plus (and remember, any performance bonuses count under the cap)---was No. 8, would it really be so horrible? How about taking a hard look at prospect Lauri Korpikoski instead?

And meanwhile, in the background, waits Mats Sundin, the veteran center. I'm puzzled about his reluctance to sign with Vancouver for $10 million a year, or Montreal. Today marks two full weeks since July 1. Why hasn't he gone for the gusto? I can't believe he's ready to retire or go back to the Leafs, but....

Can the Rangers possibly still be in the hunt?

At least two things would have to happen: the Rangers would have to shed around $3 million plus in salary (Purely for math's sake, let's say Petr Prucha ($1.6), Betts ($615,000) and Paul Mara ($1.95 million) or Dmitri Kalinin ($2.1 million) or Patrick Rissmiller ($1 mil) and Sundin would have to accept far, far less, perhaps $5 million. And then the Rangers would need another defenseman.

Sundin would really, really have to convince himself---or be persuaded by Swedish acquaintances----to come to New York and that scenario would open yet another series of revolving doors.

Where does Drury play? On the wing with Gomez or Sundin? And Dubinsky as the third-line center? Or does Dubinsky move up to the wing, Fritsche is in as third line center and Rissmiller/Anisimov as No. 4 pivot?

Just some mid-summer daydreaming here:

Naslund-Sundin-Drury
Zherdev-Gomez-Callahan
Dawes-Dubinsky-Sjostrom
Voros-Fritsche-Byers/Orr/Korpikoski...and/or one of the prospects or untraded above?

Is your correspondent feverish, hallucinating, a victim of sunstroke?
Or legit speculation?
Thoughts?

The Rangers have avoided arbitration and signed Dan Fritsche to a contract.

Terms were not immediately disclosed.

Fritsche, a 23-year-old center, was obtained in a trade with Columbus earlier this month.

Chris Simon will play in Russia. And now Hollywood Hollweg is in Toronto.

The participants in one of the uglier incidents in Rangers-Islanders history are both gone from New York.

You could see this coming.

The Rangers' stable of third- and fourth-line forwards had to be thinned. So left wing Ryan Hollweg, 25, today was sent to the Leafs for a fifth-round draft pick in 2009.

Hollweg's future with the club---which began when he was drafted in the eighth round in 2001---first became cloudy when the Rangers added Fredrik Sjostrom in a trade with Phoenix last season. Hollweg was scratched for nine consecutive games. Earlier this month, the club added free agents Aaron Voros and Patrick Rismiller and acquired Dan Fritsche in a trade with Columbus. And prospects such as Dane Byers in Hartford are knocking at the door.

The Downey, California native played three seasons with the Rangers, compiling 311 penalty minutes and just five goals and 11 assists.

A high-energy, but sometimes reckless forward, Hollweg was suspended for a game in February after his second major boarding penalty of the season, a hit from behind on Montreal's Sergei Kostitsyn.

In the most publicized incident of his career, Hollweg drove Simon into the boards in a March 2007 game, and when Simon got to his feet, he levelled Hollweg with a two-handed slash to the neck, a penalty that drew a 25-game suspension. Hollweg received several stitches in his chin.

The draft pick, which was acquired by the Leafs from the Penguins in last season's trade for Hal Gill, gives the Rangers eight selections next season.

Thoughts? I suspect many fans understand this one. Hollweg, a popular player and free-spirit, nevertheless took unnecessary penalties at critical times (remember Game 3 against Pittsburgh?) and just couldn't pass or score enough to justify a spot on this re-tooled team.

Back from four days at the beach and I see the gang here has kept things simmering.

Naturally, having literally unplugged from the world of the NHL, I don't have any sensational news to deliver, and I was assigned to chat with Joe Torre today at his Safe at Home Foundation golf outing at Trump National this morning, so I'll keep this short for now.

Assume you've heard the news of today's ousting of coach Ted Nolan by the Islanders front office, a relationship that had by many accounts, been strained since during late last season.

The main rifts that I was aware of were between Nolan and Rick DiPietro and Nolan and Garth Snow, the GM who wanted to give more ice time to the youngsters and play a more attacking style.

But Newsday's Greg Logan has plenty on his blog. My take: If you're rebuilding, getting the right coach is critical. Greg indicates that former Thrashers coach Bob Hartley might be the leading candidate.

Here's what I do know that's happening this week: The release of the regular-season schedule. That's Wednesday or Thursday.

I'll be scouting around on the Rangers front, so stay tuned....