Thankfully, the Rangers salvaged my off-time with a victory against the Icelanders so this post won’t be totally negative.
Yet, we obviously have enough to be discouraged about and questioning where this team is heading.
Can the coaching staff be trusted with this group going forward? Will the players finally play to the standard of the contracts they signed? How will the Rangers defense tighten up in the second half? If they tighten up.
But let’s not allow these predicaments and quandries to ruin the remainder of the holidays, it certainly isn’t affecting the players (just ask Captain Drury).
Instead, let’s make some predictions of what the remainder of the season will hold:
* Petr Prucha will be a mainstay in the NHL: but it may not be for the Rangers. The fiery winger has done all he can to earn the limelight from Head Coach Renney, now it will be up to the Rangers whether they want to move forward with him.
*The Power Play will improve: because it has to. At near-worst in the NHL, the worst they could feasibly do is stay the same. So brighter skies are on the horizon.
*A big move will come: Just finished editing the next Blueshirt Bulletin which has a lot of very intriguing and pointed articles regarding the blueshirts. Suffice to say, there is more inner turmoil than many suspect in this lockerroom of “outstanding chemistry.” A huge move might be enough to motivate this group.
*Vezina in Sweden: Four times a charm for Lundqvist who is the most deserving candidate to this point, except for perhaps Evgeni Nabokov and Tim Thomas. Yet, expect both the Boston and San Jose trains to slow down as is the ebbs and flows of the NHL.
*Cap crunch: The salary cap will most likely be forced to a lesser number as the economy has begun hitting the NHL. Teams have begun cost cutting and efficiency measures such as aid from the league and inexpensive ticket packages.
So drink some champagne, ponder these thoughts, and enjoy the New Year. We will be back in frequency in 2009.
Until then, thanks as always for a successful year and have a safe and happy New Year.
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Errant Pucks: (A new feature with musings, rumblings and tidbits)



COOL!