Scott Gomez Shipped to Habs for Chris Higgins

The Hallelujah Chorus is loudly singing.

Steve Zipay / Newsday:
Rangers send Gomez to Canadiens for Higgins --

On the eve of the free-agent signing deadline, the Rangers shipped center Scott Gomez to Montreal Tuesday in exchange for left wing and Long Islander Chris Higgins in a move that clears salary-cap space and signals the remaking of the Rangers under John Tortorella...

----

TSN:
HABS GET GOMEZ FROM RANGERS --

Getting a jump on the free agent market, the Montreal Canadiens moved to secure their centre ice position via trade, making a deal with the New York Rangers Tuesday and taking on a whole lot of salary in the process.

The Canadiens acquired centre Scott Gomez, winger Tom Pyatt and defenceman Mike Busto from the New York Rangers in exchange for winger Chris Higgins and defencemen Doug Janik, Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko...

related:
AP / NY Post: RANGERS DEAL GOMEZ TO CANADIENS IN SIX-PLAYER DEAL
NY Rangers press release: Rangers send Gomez to Habs in 6-player deal

Montreal press release: Habs acquire Scott Gomez

discussion:
Scotty Hockey: Adios MexiCan't!
Hockey Rodent: Good Riddance!
Steve Zipay / Blue Notes: See ya Gomer, Welcome back, Chris Higgins
Puck Daddy: Canadiens acquire Gomez, his gargantuan contract from NY
The Record / Ranger Rants: Gomez to Montreal
Blueshirt Bulletin: Breaking News: Gomez to Montreal for Higgins
Bleacher Report: Scott Gomez Dealt to Montreal For Chris Higgins

5-hole.com: Rangers trade Scott Gomez for Chris Higgins

New York Rangers Draft Picks — Class of 2009

The New York Rangers 2009 Draft Picks:

1 . Chris Kreider -- Pick No. 19 Overall

The highest-ranked high school player in the draft, Kreider still has a year left at Phillips before heading to Boston College, where he has given a verbal commitment for the 2010-11 season. Dominant player at his level. The Hockey News quoted a scout as saying, “Sometimes it’s like watching Wayne Gretzky in a pick-up game…you’re trying to decide whether those five goals he just scored were good or were they because of the competition.” ...

----

2. Ethan Werek -- Pick No. 47 Overall

Werek has excellent size and reach, and has shown an aptitude at using both at both ends of the ice. He's a solid two-way player who has shown a willingness to do the little things that help teams win. He's excellent in front of the crease, a capable forechecker, and can be opportunistic around the net. In addition to playing with an edge, Werek has displayed superlative passing abilities. He finished the season scoring at almost a point-per-game rate and projects as a solid third-line prospect with an ability to chip in offensively. Werek's skating is not his strong suit.

----

3. Ryan Bourque -- Pick No. 80 Overall

Best asset is his speed. He plays with a lot of energy, and scores opportunistically. Bourque is small at only 5'8. His hockey sense lags the rest of his family.

----

4. Roman Horak -- Pick No. 127 Overall

Horak has a lot of offensive skill and breakaway speed, but the rest of his game needs work. He doesn't put in much effort when he doesn't have the puck. Ranked as the 30th European skater by Central Scouting for 2009.

----

5. Scott Stajcer -- Pick No. 140 Overall

Stajcer has the desired size for the NHL, but needs to work on his positioning to take the next step.

----

6. Daniel Maggio -- No. 170 Overall Pick

A 6-3, 198lb defenseman who played for Sudbury Wolves of the OHL.
HockeyFights.com: Daniel Maggio (SBY) vs Andrew Clouthier (BAR) Feb 28, 2009

----

7. Mikhail Pashnin -- No. 200 Overall Pick

Mikhail Pashnin, 20-years-old, of Chelyabinsk Mechel, Russia was the first pick of the KHL junior entry draft on June 1st, 2009. He was selected by CSKA Moscow.

----

Rangerland reports on the draft:

NY Rangers:
Rangers' 2009 Entry Draft Picks at a Glance
Rangers pick six on draft's second day
Kreider delighted to be joining Blueshirts

Michael Obernauer / Blueshirts Blog:
Rangers grab speedster Kreider at No. 19
Blueshirts grab a Bourque

Steve Zipay / Blue Notes:
Your 2009 Draft Weekend Roundup

Steve Zipay / Newsday:
Rangers take 18-year-old Kreider

Jess Rubenstein / The Prospect Park:
It is not that Chris Kreider is a bad prospect...

Andrew Gross / Rangers Rants:
Rangers pick Kreider (Updated)
More on Kreider
Draft Day 2

Scotty Hockey:
NHL Draft '09 First Round Reaction
NHL Draft '09 Second Round Reaction
NHL Draft '09 Third Round Reaction
NHL Draft '09 Fourth Round Reaction

Natural Hat Trick:
Some Reflections on NHL Draft 2009. . .

The Dark Ranger:
I'll Give You a 'Chris Draft' For a 'Chris Trade' ?

Howlings:
Rangers Select Chris Kreider in 2009 NHL Draft

Rangers Review:
Thoughts On The First Round..

The More Things Change........!

It's about two months since I communicated anything to the blog and I can hear the peasants cheering. Another medical situation has laid me up for over a month after spending over a week in the hospital. It started out with a simple biopsy on the kidney and very nearly turned into a disaster. When they say that for every action there is a reaction, they aren't kidding. But we are slowly getting back to normal, whatever the hell that is.

Speaking of normal, the Stealth and The Garden Of Schemers have raised the prices of tickets despite a despicable year of underwhelming success. The prices are getting raised on the promise of the future not on the actual performance. Reminds me of the virgin and the IBM sales rep joke. It is also raised on the hope and hype of the new coach John Tortorella. You remember him? He was personally responsible for the Rangers collapsing after building up a 3-1 lead against the Capitals.

We are now in the annual game of a) trade up in the draft for a high powered pick or b) go in the market and trade for a scorer. I find it hard to get too excited by these drafts. Sure, we have made some great picks but it seems to take an eternity by the time they reach the Garden. Don't you think Sanguinetti has spent enough time in the minors? Who would you rather see as a pairing? Redden/Rozsival or Sanguinetti/Del Zotto?

Dany Heatley may be just the ticket to fill the void of a top scorer. Rumors are the Senators are looking at Sanguinetti plus a couple of others. Is it worth it? Remember Lindros? Bure? Fleury? Also, what does this do for the cap when you are stuck with players like Redden? Also, while Heatley may be a top scorer and the right ticket there is something about his game that doesn't put him in the All World category. Am I too picky and is he the real deal and the answer to the Rangers scoring woes?

So another long summer leading to another long season and with the current management another disappointing year. How is it possible to have a winning season when the Stealth brags about a strong defense that has Redden/Rozsival as its anchor? Hey, we have already been down this road. The more things change.......!

Know Your Old-Time NY Rangers

Who is this New York Rangers player?

Hint: he was 'the man' back in the day.

answer in the comments

Young Champions vs. Old Under Achievers

The Pittsburgh Penguins are young champions. The New York Rangers are old under achievers.

First, let us say that we have nothing against old people. We love old folks. Old is good for grand-parenting, not for making a 100+ game trek to the Stanley Cup.

Regarding our heroes, the NY Rangers, the future is so dark I need to wear a headlamp.

When you compare the Penguins core players to the Rangers core players, it feels like the Rangers are bringing old rusty knives to a gun fight.

The Pens core:

• Sidney Crosby won't be 22 until August.
• Evgeni Malkin is also 22
• Jordan Staal is only 20
• Marc-Andre Fleury seems like an old man at 24

The Rangers core:

• Scott Gomez will be 30 in Dec.
• Chris Drury will be 33 in Aug.
• Wade Redden is 32
• Henrik Lundqvist is 27

So, unless the Rangers are some how able to get and play younger talented players their path to the Cup will be blocked by the younger more talented Penguins and Capitals for a long time.

reference:
USA Today:
For Penguins, the start of something bigger?

Rangerland Roundup

Some stuff from Rangerland that caught our eye:

RangerCrisis:
Pugilistic trials and tribulations of the Broadway Bruiser Colton Orr’s fight card in the 2008-2009 season . . .

----

BlueShirt Banter:
New York Rangers Spotlight: Bobby Sanguinetti takes your questions --

Question: What were some of the factors that lead you to choose the major junior direction as opposed to attending a college and playing in the US?

Sags: This might be the hardest question now let alone making that decision when I was 16. It was a family decision that took several days of weighing out the Pros and Cons of both routes and ultimately we decided that the major junior road was the quickest way to the NHL for ME. I express the word ME because for someone else it might work out better to play college and go that route...

----

M. Hurly / My Blueshirt Heaven:
Dolan/Sather to Subscribers: Eat It --

In the past four seasons since the lockout, I have had mostly nice things to say about how the organization has treated the subscribers. That ended today. I just found the renewal information in my mail box and to say I am angry would be an understatement...

From Russia With Love

Do the Russians really have a 'bro-mance' with Jaromir Jagr? The new KHL Magazine thinks they do:

Pavel Strizhevski / Hot Ice:
WHY DO WE LOVE JAGR? --

Life in Russia is difficult enough even for Russians. For a foreigner it should be twice difficult. But not for Jagr who is loved everywhere ...

what epic deed has Jagr accomplished for the sake of Russia, if one does not deem miraculous the mere fact of his presence at our two championships? The victory at the European Champions Cup in 2005 was inarguably quite good, but at the same time, it was not such а notable trophy. However, it were not those three, but rather Jaromir, who was greeted with demonstrations upon each one of his arrivals. With banners, an orchestra and a mountain of gifts...

Will Jagr love'em and leave'em?

courtesy:
Beyond the Blueshirts:
KHL launches magazine, website --

KHL has announced the launch of Hot Ice, a magazine and web site covering the league and Russian hockey, published in both English and Russian ...