In reviewing the manner in which 2017-18 evolved for the Rangers, Islanders and Devils, I’m going to sum them up inside "Best," "Worst" and "Most Unusual" headings. So, let’s drop the puck and go at it: Rangers / BESTS 1. MATS ZUCCARELLO: The Mighty Mite again was an aggressive leader and dependable … [Read more...]
Comparing expectations to reality for the Rangers, Islanders, and Devils
There’s a big difference between expectations and reality. This is especially true when it comes to hopes for September prospects in relation to their season-long performances heading into the homestretch. Exhibit A is Mathew Barzal, the Islanders’ peripatetic freshman. In training camp last fall, … [Read more...]
State of the crease for the Rangers, Islanders, and Devils
At the start of any season, goaltending blueprints are laid out in the hopes that the result will be playoff berths for the Rangers, Islanders and Devils. But the difference between blueprints and reality are roughly comparable to comparing a piece of paper to a puck. They’re just not the … [Read more...]
Are the Met-area hockey teams contenders or pretenders?
Here’s a New York-New Jersey hockey question that hasn’t been asked in years: Could either the Islanders or Devils — each of which missed last year — reach the postseason in 2017-18 alongside the Broadway Blueshirts, who made it yet again? There was a time in early December when the three clubs were … [Read more...]
Grading the Met-area young stars so far
When it comes to the Rangers, Islanders and Devils, the bromide, "Youth must be served," must be altered to a more realistic stance. More like the question: How well are the youngsters on our trio of local clubs helping their teams to the playoffs? In our contemporary age of ultra-firewagon-hockey, … [Read more...]
The Islanders’ Weight and see approach
When the Islanders fired Jack Capuano in the middle of last season, the feeling in some quarters was that the high command had waited too long to pull the chute on Cappy. As it happened, from the time Doug Weight metamorphosed from assistant GM/assistant coach into interim head coach, his club … [Read more...]
