SB Nation New York: All Posts by Joseph Fortunatohttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2011-06-30T09:08:53-04:00https://newyork.sbnation.com/authors/joseph-fortunato/rss2011-06-30T09:08:53-04:002011-06-30T09:08:53-04:002011 NHL Free Agency: Rangers Will Go After Richards
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<p>I know what you're thinking: "Duh." Maybe I should have added the word "hard" to the end of the title. Again, I know what you're thinking: "Duh, again." </p>
<p>The fact of the matter is, however, the New York Rangers are preparing the ship to do everything within their power to sign the coveted free agent. Money, years and annual cap hit have all been speculated. You hear one thing from one source, you hear an entirely different thing from another. It's the nature of the game. </p>
<p>Chris Celletti had a good write up about Richards. From his article: </p>
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<p><b><span>Brad Richards</span> - C</b></p>
<p>The question with Brad Richards likely isn't where he'll end up, but for how much and how long. Richards has been coveted by the <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a> for some time now, and recent reports have surfaced signaling that Richards wants New York as badly as GM Glen Sather wants him. Richards would fill a massive void for the Rangers. They need a number one center to pair with<span>Marian Gaborik</span>, and desperately need someone who can quarterback the power play. Richards does both, and does them very well. But how much is reasonable for a 31-year-old player coming off of a concussion?</p>
<p>You can't argue with Richards' numbers -- over the past two years, he has scored 52 goals, 116 assists and 168 points in 152 regular season games. But at the money and terms he could command, somewhere in the ballpark of 8 years and $7 million per year, is he worth it? With the Rangers not being just one player away, it is a dangerous contract to hand out. For the first few years of the contract, he'd likely be a great get, but it's the back four years you have to be concerned about. It could be <span>Chris Drury</span> all over again. The <a href="https://www.broadstreethockey.com/">Flyers</a> are interested, as are the<a href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/">Maple Leafs</a>, but it's likely the Rangers will pay Richards what he wants, and he'll be a Blueshirt as early as Friday.</p>
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<p>Richards knows how bad Sather wants him to be a Ranger, giving him a significant amount of leverage at the negotiating table. Some reports say he is looking for an eight-year deal, and if he sticks to his guns on that, I don't know if I see Sather walking away from the table. </p>
<p>Richards is an elite talent, he's a rare blend of goal scoring and playmaking skills, and the Rangers are in desperate need of his services. </p>
<p>Friday (or really tonight at midnight), will mark "second one" in which the Rangers can go after him. They got to Marion Gaborik early, and he ended up signing. We should see the same thing tomorrow. </p>
<p>But until Friday rolls around, we'll have to wait. Just like everyone else. </p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/6/30/2337259/2011-nhl-free-agency-rangers-will-go-after-richardsJoseph Fortunato2011-06-30T09:08:53-04:002011-06-30T09:08:53-04:002011 NHL Free Agency: Brad Richards Agrees To Sign With New York Rangers
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<p>Visit <a href="http://blueshirtbanter.com">Blueshirt Banter</a> for more New York Rangers news and analysis. </p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-rangers/2011/6/30/2252074/2011-nhl-free-agency-rangers-will-go-after-richardsJimmy HascupJoseph Fortunato2011-06-26T09:53:11-04:002011-06-26T09:53:11-04:00Is Chris Drury Leaning Towards Accepting A Buyout?
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<p>Three weeks ago the <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Rangers</a> informed captain <span>Chris Drury</span> they intended to buy him out this off-season.</p>
<p>But thanks to a chronic knee injury it seemed all but likely that Glen Sather would have to find another way to save some money to help get <span>Brad Richards</span> and all of the RFA’s on the roster under the cap. Due to a clause in the <span class="caps">CBA</span>, a team cannot buy out a player who is injured and not cleared to play in the <span class="caps">NHL</span> for the upcoming season.</p>
<p>But now, according to a report from Larry Brooks, Drury is leaning towards accepting a buyout.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/drury_may_take_buyout_lEInicbvpT1YdKS6oivJSJ#ixzz1QO93gL8D">From the Brooks article: </a></p>
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<p>For after Drury suggested a week ago that he was going to apply for a designation of being medically unable to play next season because of a degenerative condition in his left knee, the captain is now leaning toward accepting a buyout, according to individuals familiar with the situation.</p>
<p>The deadline for buyouts is Thursday, but procedure dictates a player must be placed on, and go through, unconditional waivers after official notification of the intent to buy out. The Rangers would have to place Drury on waivers no later than Tuesday in order to comply with procedures.</p>
<p>If Drury does indeed accept the buyout rather than file for the medical exception, the Rangers would carry approximately $3.717 million of dead cap space on his deal through the summer and next season, a saving of approximately $3.333 million. The club also would face a charge of approximately $1.667 million for 2012-13, pending a new <span class="caps">CBA</span> that could erase that obligation.</p>
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<p>Things are getting interesting in Rangers world. We will know very soon, Thursday is the buyout deadline, wether or not this happens.</p>
<p>Visit <a href="http://blueshirtbanter.com">Blueshirt Banter</a> and join the discussion on this story.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-rangers/2011/6/26/2244843/drury-leaning-towards-accepting-a-buyoutJoseph Fortunato2011-06-25T18:50:22-04:002011-06-25T18:50:22-04:00SBNation Mock Draft: Rangers Select Joel Armia
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<p>Every year the <a target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/section/2011-nhl-draft">SBNation NHL Draft Hub</a> does a full mock draft in which every site choses a player at their respective teams position. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Rangers</a>, especially after their move to acquire <span>Tim Erixon</span>, will almost certainly look at a forward to help with their scoring depth in the farm system. Currently, the Rangers only have one true pure goal scorer in their system (<span>Chris Kreider</span>). Joel Armia automatically changes that. </p>
<p>Armia scored 18 goals and add 11 assists for 29 points in 48 Finnish Elite League games. That's even more impressive when you consider the fact that Armia is all of 17-years-old playing with men much older and stronger than him. Most 17-year-old prospects playing in men's leagues don't break double digits in points and most certainly not goals. Armia did. </p>
<p>His goal-scoring abilities have already been compared to <span>Teemu Selanne</span>'s, and he could be exactly the type of risk/reward pick the Rangers might look to in the real draft at 15. Here is a scouting report <a href="http://www.mynhldraft.com/2011/NHL-Draft-Profiles/Joel-Armia">from My NHL Draft</a>: </p>
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<p>Joel Armia is a budding power forward already playing in the Finnish Elite League at 17 years old. 6'2, 185 lbs, Armia has an incredible shot and uses his size to his advantage on the cycle. Already drawing comparisons to Finnish great Teemu Selanne, Armia possesses a similar scoring touch, though not to the same degree. Although he underwhelmed during the World Junior Championship, the Finnish team collectively flamed out during the metal round. Though he is one of the top offensive players in the draft, Armia may not go straight to the NHL, as his defensive game needs rounding out. Armia projects to go in the from any where inside to top 10-the a pick in the mid teens. </p>
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<p>Another thing the Rangers lack in their farm system is a scoring threat with size. Armia also fixes this issue. He's lethal between the hashmarks with the puck, and in a men's league he is already cycling the puck in the tough areas on the ice, and winning those battles to boot. </p>
<p>Some people have questioned his World Juniors play, but I don't mind his poor performance. As a 17-year-old playing in the Under-20s on a team that collectively didn't play well at all, I can understand him not having a good showing. He only posted a single assist in six games. In the Under-18s however, Armia scored four goals and added nine assists for 13 points in six games. </p>
<p>Armia represents something the Rangers have very little of in their pipelines (although they have a plethora of young and talented defensemen) and he would help make them an even more dangerous team in the future. </p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/6/16/2336645/sbnation-mock-draft-rangers-select-joel-armiaJoseph Fortunato2011-06-25T18:50:22-04:002011-06-25T18:50:22-04:00NHL Draft 2011: Rangers Trade Evgeny Grachev To Blues For 3rd Rounder; Draft Steven Fogarty
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<p>-- Visit <a href="http://blueshirtbanter.com">Blueshirt Banter</a> for more New York Rangers news and analysis.
-- <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-jersey-devils/2011/6/25/2243508/2011-nhl-draft-devils-snag-adam-larsson-fourth-overall" target="new">New Jersey Devils Draft Review</a>
-- <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-islanders/2011/6/25/2243455/2011-nhl-draft-islanders-select-ryan-strome" target="new">New York Islanders Draft Review</a></p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-rangers/2011/6/16/2226918/2011-nhl-entry-draft-joel-armia-mark-mcneill-chris-kreiderJoseph FortunatoJimmy Hascup2011-06-25T09:42:35-04:002011-06-25T09:42:35-04:002011 NHL Draft: Devils Snag Adam Larsson Fourth Overall
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<p>Lou Lamoriello practically ran to the podium when he realized that <span>Adam Larsson</span> would be on the board when his <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">New Jersey Devils</a> were picking. The player some expected to go first overall somehow fell into the Devils laps at the four slot, and New Jersey may have just found it's newest franchise defender because of it. </p>
<p>There is some though that Larsson might be able to make an immediate impact in the NHL, and the Devils will certainly look into that in their prospects camp this off-season. But at worst, the Devils have acquired a kid who will be patrolling their blue line for years to come. </p>
<p>The Devils won the lottery this season, but could only move up to the fourth spot. At the time I am sure there was disappointment, now there must be nothing but glee. We'll keep an eye on Larsson and where he ends up moving around in the Devils' organization here. </p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/6/25/2337042/2011-nhl-draft-devils-snag-adam-larsson-fourth-overallJoseph Fortunato2011-06-25T09:42:35-04:002011-06-25T09:42:35-04:002011 NHL Draft Review: Devils Grab Larsson, Select Three U.S. Players
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<p>-- Visit <a href="http://inlouwetrust.com">In Lou We Trust</a> for more New Jersey Devils news and analysis.
-- <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-rangers/2011/6/16/2226918/2011-nhl-entry-draft-joel-armia-mark-mcneill-chris-kreider" target="new">New York Rangers Draft Review</a>
-- <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-islanders/2011/6/25/2243455/2011-nhl-draft-islanders-select-ryan-strome" target="new">New York Islanders Draft Review</a></p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-jersey-devils/2011/6/25/2243508/2011-nhl-draft-devils-snag-adam-larsson-fourth-overallAJ ManderichioJoseph Fortunato2011-06-25T09:26:17-04:002011-06-25T09:26:17-04:002011 NHL Draft: Islanders Select Ryan Strome
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">New York Islanders</a> used their fifth overall pick on stud forward <span>Ryan Strome</span> in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. </p>
<p>Strome is expected to add even more offensive firepower to an islanders team that has been stocking up on forwards for the past three year's of the draft. Including <span>John Tavares</span> (who they used with the number one overall pick two years ago). </p>
<p>Strome posted 33 goals and 73 assists for 106 points in 66 OHL games this season. He was projected to go somewhere within the top-10, and the Islanders snatched him up at five. Added to the current amount of firepower in the Islanders pipelines, Strome has a good shot at making the team out of camp, but the Islanders might end up being patient with his talent. </p>
<p>The Islanders have more work to do, holding the 34th and the 50th picks in the second round. </p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/6/25/2337041/2011-nhl-draft-islanders-select-ryan-stromeJoseph Fortunato2011-06-25T09:26:17-04:002011-06-25T09:26:17-04:002011 NHL Draft: Isles Get Scott Mayfield, Johan Sundstrom In 2nd Round
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<p>Visit <a href="http://lighthousehockey.com">Lighthouse Hockey</a> for more New York Islanders news and analysis. </p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-islanders/2011/6/25/2243455/2011-nhl-draft-islanders-select-ryan-stromeEd ValentineJoseph Fortunato2011-06-24T10:02:24-04:002011-06-24T10:02:24-04:002011 NHL Draft: Rangers Have Their Favorites Going In
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<p>With the 2011 <span class="caps">NHL</span> Entry Draft just hours away, we know little more now than we did a few weeks ago.</p>
<p>What we do know, thanks to an interview Gordie Clark had with Andrew Gross earlier in the week, is that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">Rangers</a> draft war room has a few prospects in mind they want to see fall to 15, and if they don’t they will likely trade down for a second round pick.</p>
<p>Who those targeted players are is anyones guess, but a few beat reporters have speculated on the subject.</p>
<p><a href="http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/rangerrants/">Andrew Gross believes the Rangers have three players in mind, including a defenseman</a>:</p>
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<p>C <span>Mark McNeill</span>: The 6-foot-2, 201-pound native of Langley, B.C. had 32 goals and 49 assists in 70 games for Prince Albert (Western Hockey League) but his rising stock and size could mean he’s gone before Rangers pick</p>
<p>D <span>Jamieson Oleksiak</span>: A native of Toronto now playing at Northeastern, his 6-7, 244-pound frame and on-ice poise may be hard to resist, though his offensive game (three goals, nine assists in 34 games) is not yet developed</p>
<p>C <span>Mark Scheifele</span>: The 6-2, 182-pound native of Kitchener, Ont. had 22 goals and 53 assists in 66 games for Barrie (Ontario Hockey League) and his six goals and two assists led the forwards for Team Canada at the 2011 Under-18 World Championships.</p>
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<p>The Rangers’ interest in McNeill and Scheifele is obvious. The Rangers have very few playmaking centers in their system, although <span>Derek Stepan</span> is the best playmaker on the team right now and figures to be in the future as well, and both of those players can score goals as well.</p>
<p>If the Rangers don’t see what they like at 15, they will trade down and acquire a second round pick, they used the two they had in this draft to grab <span>Tim Erixon</span> from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/">Calgary Flames</a> a few weeks ago.</p>
<p>If that happens expect guys like <span>Tyler Biggs</span>, <span>Matt Puempel</span> or even <span>Nicklas Jensen</span>. Obviously the Rangers would love to get into the second round, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they got the player they wanted at 15 but also traded for a second round pick as well. It’s just pure speculation on my part, but it seems like something that Glen Sather might pull off.</p>
<p>Then there’s <span>Joel Armia</span> (Blueshirt Banter’s selection in the 2011 <span class="caps">NHL</span> Mock Draft), the high-ceilling Finnish player who opened eyes with 18 goals in a men’s league as a 17-year-old this past season.</p>
<p>In the end, we don’t know any more today than we did a few weeks ago. And with Clark at the helm, I’m OK with that.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-rangers/2011/6/24/2241657/2011-nhl-draft-rangers-have-their-favorites-going-inJoseph Fortunato