Dan Rosen at NHL.com takes a look at six players who have been first half revelations including Brandon Dubinsky...

"Dubinsky, with 17 goals and 38 points, was and will again be the Rangers' glue guy; the forward that because he can do so many things (power play, penalty kill, etc.) coach John Tortorella leans on in so many situations. When he went out, Tortorella admitted the Rangers would have no choice but to change some of what they were doing."

...Dubi was on his way to a breakout season before the injury. Hopefully, when he gets back he can pick up where he left off as the Rangers will need, along with his scoring, his toughness and leadership down the stretch and hopefully in the playoffs.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

ESPN.com takes a look at who's getting the biggest and smallest bangs for their bucks in the NHL.

After comparing teams by player payroll dollars spent per regular-season victory.the Rangers can back as the 21st best (or worst) bang for our buck in the NHL...

21. Rangers - Payroll: $59.93 million, Projected Point: 96, Cost per Point: $624K
Rangers are paying Wade Redden $6.5M -- not included in payroll -- to play for their farm team in Hartford.

Cap Geek has the Rangers current payroll as $56.65 million making their cost per point $590K.

...great research fellas. Also how can they even mention Wade Redden when he's not on the team and , as they mention, his salary isn't included in the payroll.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Since there hasn't been much movement in the standings of the eight TheNYRBlog Fantasy Hockey League divisions since my last update, I thought I'd remind everyone in the league and those following along what they're playing for.

The winners of each of the eight divisions will receive either a Sean Avery signed puck (I have two), a Rangers retired numbers memorabilia card in a glass casing (I have two) or a t-shirt from my good friends at Glass Bangers (I have three). At the end of the season I will decide which division will receive which prize by picking out of a hat.

These eight division winners will then face off in a two week rotisserie style finale that will run from Monday, March 28 thru Sunday, April 10. The grand winner, who will not get a division prize, will receive this ridiculous Rangers prize pack for winning it all...

- Autographed matted team photo with letter of authenticity
- Sean Avery autographed puck with letter of authenticity
- Rbk Rangers Hat
- Rangers T-Shirt
- Sleeve of Rangers Golf Balls
- NYR Goalie Mask USB Flash Drive
- Rangers Foam Puck
- Rangers Pad
- Rangers Pin
- Rangers Lanyard
- Two Rangers Magnets

All of which comes in a Rangers pull string bag. I told you it was ridiculous.

The tie breaker for division and grand prize winners are goals then assists then +/-.

So far the league has been so much more fun than I had anticipated. I also want to thank the Rangers for hooking us up with these great prizes as well as the guys over at Glass Bangers T-Shirts who I definitely recommend checking out.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Bergen Record - NHL looks to draft interest for All-Star game

New York Post - NHL's best braces for big weekend

Wall Street Journal - Battered Rangers Reboot

Newsday - Staple: Torts proving you can rebuild here

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The Rangers Casino Night will be held on on Tuesday, February 15, from 7-10 p.m. at Gotham Hall in New York.

This annual fundraising event for the Garden of Dreams Foundation is a perennial fan favorite and features the entire New York Rangers team and select alumni. The evening includes playing alongside the Rangers players, as well as a buffet dinner, silent and live auctions.

Tickets to this event range from $500 - $2,000.

For more information click here.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

no comments

Rick Carpiniello at the Journal News feels that those words muttered by Brandon Prust describing his latest injury should be the team's motto for the rest of the season...

"Because these Rangers play for each other, play the right way, and play the way few teams play, the way few Rangers teams have ever played. And if you have to go for X-rays, wear an ice bag in bed or miss a few games or weeks?

Well, it's just pain."

...great read by Carp. If this doesn't get you fired up for this team (as if you weren't already) nothing will.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Over the course of the last three weeks I have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of traffic coming through the blog, so with the Rangers enjoying their All Star break I thought I'd take a few seconds to welcome all the new readers.

Just some background on the blog. I started The New York Rangers Blog back in November of 2007 after getting sick of going to a 100 websites to find all my Rangers news. Instead of complaining about it I decided to put my money where my mouth is and start a blog that acted as a clearinghouse for Rangers news. Unfortunately, I'm still visiting 100s of websites looking for the news, but at least you don't anymore.

I also like to add my own commentary to each post which is in blue italics (my wife's idea). What you'll find in my commentary is that I'm far from being an expert on the Rangers or hockey. I'm just a passionate fan that loves to talk Rangers.

Above anything else, I try to make this blog as interactive as possible. I've had guest blogger contests, banner contests (current banner was created by a reader), a fantasy hockey league and I absolutely love posting pictures of my readers at Rangers games and events. I'm also in constant contact with readers on Twitter, Facebook and e-mail and I try to host a live web chat every few weeks.

One thing that's still a work in progress at the blog is participation in the comments section. While the community that's been built here is outstanding I think it can be that much better if we can get some great conversations going in the comments section. In an effort to foster that, at least once a week I plan on doing a running commentary during a game in the comments section of my pre-game notes. I hope you will all join me.

I am so appreciative of the connections I've made with readers of the blog and look forward to making more of those connections with the newbies that have just climbed on board.

And above all else Let's Go Rangers!!!!

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Jess Rubenstein at The Prospect Park reports that Rangers prospect Ethan Werek, out since December 10th with a wrist injury, returned to the Kingston Frontenac's lineup with a 1g, 2a last night....

"Werek is 16-17-33 on the season and while it would have been great to see him break the 40 goal mark, now the goal is to see him finish healthy and lead Kingston to at least 2 rounds in the OHL playoffs."

Here's video of his goal...



...let's hope injury good news is contagious in the Rangers organization.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

In this week's Fox Sports "Tough Guy Tracker" three Rangers make the list, even one that broke his nose...

1. Brandon Prust & Kris Newbury
With the Rangers getting rocked 3-0 on the scoreboard last Thursday in Carolina, Brandon Prust and Kris Newbury tried to get their team going on the ice by doing a little rocking and socking of their own. The two New York ruffians squared off nine seconds apart in the second period, with Prust taking on and beating Jay Harrison and Newbury burying Ryan Carter.

For the Prust and Newbury fights click here.

7. Dan Girardi
New York defender Dan Girardi took his job to a new level on Jan. 22 when he came to the defense of teammate Marc Staal after Atlanta's Andrew Ladd drove him hard into the backboards to the right of the Rangers' net. While Girardi didn't earn a win over Ladd, he did earn the respect of his teammates after breaking his nose while standing up for the Rangers' young blueliner.

Here's video of Girardi fight...



...one thing the Rangers aren't short on this season is tough guys. Which is just another reason giving Boogaard so much money and so many years was such a mistake.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Yesterday the NHL revealed the Rangers Guardian superhero aptly named 'The Ranger'...

"The Ranger is the vigilant protector of Manhattan. He never sleeps, and therefore is a regular in Manhattan's late night scene, although you're much more likely to find him in a neighborhood joint than at a trendy nightclub. His personality is as big as the city he protects, but like most New Yorkers there is humility to his bravado. There's a multi-cultural feel to him that's directly related to the many different nationalities that inhabit the world's most populated island."

This year the NHL has joined forces with SLG Entertainment leader Stan Lee to develop comic superheroes for all 30 NHL teams.

Development for each character came in discussions with each NHL club, so the creators could get a feel for how to incorporate the feel of the team and town into each individual superhero.

...i'm not a big comic book guy so I just don't get this initiative by the NHL at all. If someone can explain it to me I would appreciate it.

Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .