Katie Strang at ESPN NY reports that the Rangers have had preliminary contract discussions with Martin Biron's camp.

Biron is in the final year of his two-year $1.75 million deal.

...assuming Biron gets a bit of a bump. Maybe another two-year deal for $2 million ($1 million per year).

Stang also mentions that the Rangers have begun talks on a contract extension with Brandon Prust, which was originally reported by Larry Brooks at the New York Post yesterday.

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Update, 4:02 p.m.:
Lyle "Spector" Richardson at The Hockey News adds that Montreal's Andrei Kostitsyn could also be a cheaper alternative to Nash.

Kostitsyn, who has never topped 26 goals, has 12g, 12a and is a -7 this season. He is in the final year of his contract that pays him $3.25 million this season.

...not sure how a guy who only has 12 goals on the season can be considered an alternative to Nash.

Original Post:
On Tuesday I posted that the Rangers may have some interest in the Oilers' Alex Hemsky, well that rumor has picked up some steam as Tim Panaccio at Pro Hockey Talk Philly reports that a Western Conference scout told him that either the L.A. Kings or Rangers could be a trading partner with Edmonton for the enigmatic forward.

Rumors have the Oilers wanting an NHL player in return for Hemsky.

Hemsky has 4g, 21a and is a -15 this season. Hemsky is in the final year of his contract that pays him $4.1 million this season.

...it's looking more and more like Hemsky could be the Rangers fall back plan if they don't land Nash. Which makes completely no sense to me. Hemsky has Tortorella dog house written all over him. No way he's a good fit for this Rangers team. Very similar player to Wolski, and we all know how much Torts loves him.

...H/T to Pro Hockey Talk.

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The Rangers report that Ruslan Fedotenko is hopeful to return tomorrow night on Long Island but needs to speak with the trainers first.

John Tortorella adds that he is unsure if Fedotenko will play tomorrow.

Andrew Gross of the Bergen Record says both Fedotenko and Wojtek Wolski skated on the fourth line with John Mitchel and Mike Rupp.

...if the trainers give Feds the ok, expect him in the line-up.

Meanwhile, Tortorella emphasized that the team is not tired and that it's a mindset at this time of year.

...Torts might not think the team is tired but they've looked that way lately. These last two days off should help reinvigorate the team.

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TheNYRBlog reader Connor L. sends me this pic of the Rangers logo his mother made for him out of modeling chocolate for his birthday...


As always please continue to e-mail ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) your Rangers related pictures to me so I can post them on the blog.

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Bauer Equipment posted this pic of Henrik Lundqvist's new mask on their Facebook page which he debuted Tuesday night in Pittsburgh...


...i thought he looked different. With the way the team played in front of him in Pittsburgh maybe he should stick with the old mask. Yes I am superstitious like that.

For Marty Biron's thoughts on ditching his brown gear after a tough game against the Blackhawks last week, click the "Read More" tab below.
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Steve Zipay at Newsday reports that the Rangers have shown interest in defensemen Shane O'Brien of Colorado and Chri Campoli of the Canadiens.

O'Brien, who played for John Tortorella in Tampa, has 2g, 12a this season while piling up 103 hits and 55 blocked shots. He is in the final year of his contract that pays him $1.1 million this season.

The former Islander Campoli, who missed the first two months of the season with a hamstring injury, has 2g, 4a in 23 games. He signed a one-year deal with Montreal for $1.75 million this past off-season.

...as a tough defenseman, O'Brien would fit nicely into Tortorella's system although I'm not sure if there will be any room for him, especially if Sauer comes back this season. Would come cheap though.

...not sure what the draw is to Campoli. After a solid rookie season with the Islanders that saw him score nine goals, he's only scored more than five once and I wouldn't say he's the greatest defender. Pass.

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Larry Brooks at the New York Post says whether the above picture comes true or not will be based on the results of the next two games on Long Island and at home against the Sabres.

...no pressure guys. Actually this angers me. How can a decision of this magnitude be made based on two games? Shouldn't it be an evaluation of the overall team and how Nash fits into it? Placing the organization's future on the team's performance in two games seems beyond foolish.

...btw, did the above picture terrify anyone else the way it did me? 

Brooks adds the Rangers have designated Ryan McDonagh, Michael Del Zotto, 2009 first-rounder Chris Kreider and 2011 first-rounder J.T. Miller as untouchables in Nash trade talks and have also been unwilling to include Tim Erixon in any package going to the Blue Jackets.

The Rangers are prepared to give up Brandon Dubinsky, Christian Thomas, and perhaps 2010 first-rounder Dylan McIlrath plus a first round pick for the Columbus superstar.

...Uncle Larry to the rescue. Hope this report will help get people off the edge of the cliff, but to be honest that package isn't enough to get Nash.

...however, if Columbus does accept that offer, as much as I love Dubinsky, this would be a steal of McDonagh type proportions.

Meanwhile over at TSN, Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com says the Rangers are the absolute front-runners for Nash to the point where their discussions with Columbus are delaying other possibilities on the trade market for them.

...great, now these ridiculous negotiations for a player the Rangers don't need are adversely affecting Sather's ability to actually make this team better.

For more on Nash rumors, click the "Read More" tab below.
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Update, 9:40 a.m.:
Here's more video from last night (H/T @denkorwin)...



Original Post:
Alyonka Larionov followed Henrik Lundqvist around yesterday as he prepared for his Rock of Dreams concert last night as part of a feature she's doing on him for TSN.

All the ladies should thank Alyonka for this pic...


Here's Hank prepping for his show which donated all proceeds to the Garden of Dreams Foundation...


Finally Alyonka provides this video of Lundqvist talking strategy with fellow bandmember John McEnroe...


Henrik & John McEnroe talk strategy. #RockofDreams #TSN

Feb 22, 2012 | Source: Keek.com

...i swear I would give up my left nut to be Lundqvist for just one day.

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...holy crap I agree with Barry Melrose.

...btw, what is up with Melrose saying Columbus is interested in Staal? Not one rumor has mentioned his name.

For more on Nash to the Rangers check out this debate at ESPN NY.

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Here's all the latest information on how to join #NYR Adam Graves live on screen today, or even just how to watch: bit.ly/wq9DG7

— New York Rangers (@thenyrangers) February 22, 2012

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All indications had Ruslan returning to the line-up last night in Pittsburgh, but as has been the case in the six games since he suffered a head injury (Rangers still yet to confirm a concussion) from Dominic Moore the Rangers veteran winger ended up watching the game in the press box (quote via Steve Zipay at Newsday)...

"Every day it's getting better but I'm taking it a day at a time and make sure the symptoms are gone," he said Tuesday. "The one thing that's frustrating for me is, to have a broken bone, it's two weeks and that's it, or four weeks. It's something you know how long it will take. [Now] one day is good and one day you don't feel good and it's a setback. You have to make sure it's the right decision. You feel like you can rush back, but if you get hit and you're out for the playoffs, you don't want to do that. It's not my decision. It's talking to the trainers."

...unfortunately, the Rangers have dealt with a number of concussions lately, so I'm more than fine with them being overly cautious with Fedotenko. Rushing a player back from a possible concussion, not only puts them in danger of further harm this season but could have a long term effect on them mentally.

...i do have to say, if Fedotenko is going to miss any more time, Torts needs to think about getting Bickel out of the line-up. I've been impressed with the kid but his three minutes a night are a waste. The Rangers coach needs to do the right thing and give Wolski a chance. With the way the power play has struggled how can it hurt?

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Pierre LeBrun at ESPN.com wonders if Paul Gaustad might be a good fit for the Rangers...

"So many focus on the Rangers' search for a goal-scoring winger that one forgets they could also use some size on their third or fourth line. The Rangers are middle-of-the-pack in the league in faceoff win percentage and could use Gaustad there as well. He's a better fit on this team than most people realize."

Gaustad has 7g, 10a this season and is in the final year of his contract that pays him $2.3 million this season.

...i understand the positives that Gaustad would bring to the Rangers but doesn't this team have enough third line players who can't score? Boyle has been much better on face-offs lately and Richards is very good as well. Plus who comes out of the line-up? Mitchel? Fedotenko?

...having said that, Gaustad will cost nothing to get, so why not.

...Rangers have bigger fish to fry than increasing face-off percentage. Like a minor detail called the power play.

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At least one star player on the #Sharks has expressed the desire to bring in Sean Avery of all players. Says veterans on team can handle him

— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) February 22, 2012

Strickland adds that Sharks management is not on the same page as this player.

Avery has been a healthy scratch in seven straight games for the CT Whale.

...wonder who it was. Thornton? Marleau? Neither of those two ever played with Avery. Could you imagine Sharks GM Doug Wilson's reaction to that request? Would kill for video of that.

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I know Craig Patrick has connections to both the Rangers and the Penguins, but as a senior advisor for the Columbus Blue Jackets I'm pretty sure he had a different motive for being at the game last night...


Patrick was also in attendance at Sunday's CT Whale game.

...sorry everyone, had to add more fuel to the fire.

...my only advice on this whole Nash thing is not to get too insane with all the rumor talk because that's all it is. While most of you may not agree, Sather is a smart guy and has been supportive of the rebuild, so I highly doubt he'll blow it up for a deadline move. Even if it's for one of the league's premiere goal scorers.

Here's some additional fodder for the pro-Nash camp, John Buccigross at ESPN reminds Rangers fans that the Blueshirts have been shutout three times this month after only being shutout four times previously this season.

Meanwhile, Bob McKenzie at TSN says Michael Del Zotto is a player the Rangers would loath to give up in the Nash sweepstakes...



For those still holding out hope that Nash isn't traded to the Rangers, Darren Dreger at TSN reports that the San Jose Sharks are emerging as a strong contender for the Columbus superstar.

...Nash staying in the Western Conference would be a best case scenario for the Rangers and their fans.

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Larry Brooks at the New York Post reports the Rangers have initiated talks with impending free agent Brandon Prust to extend his contract.

The 28-year-old Prust, who has 3g, 11a this season, is on the final season of a two-year deal under which he is earning $800,000 per season.

...i think Prust will be the first to admit he hasn't had a great season, but he's been better of last so I think a lot of his early season difficulties was from not being fully recovered from his off-season shoulder surgery.

...Prust, similar to Callahan, personifies what the Rangers are all about and they need to lock him up for the next two or three years.

...how much of a raise Prust gets may be tied to whether the Rangers acquire Nash and his huge salary.

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