The anticipation is over. After rumors have circulated for months about a potential contract extension for New York Rangers’ star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, the Swedish seventh round draft pick in 2000 finally signed a seven year extension worth $59.5 million on Monday morning.
When the season began for Cam Talbot, the 26 year old Canadian goaltender was in the American Hockey League as a member of the Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers’ affiliate.
Fan reaction to the Matt Moulson-Thomas Vanek swap has been extreme on both ends of the spectrum. Depending on who you listen to it was either the worst trade of all time and signifies an extreme disconnect between the organization and the fan base, or an example of why this Islander franchise is emerging from their recent history of ineptitude and moving towards a formidable power in the East.
The Simpsons provided a hilarious example of fan treatment of athletes in the classic episode “Homer at the Bat.” Bart and Lisa are taunting Darryl Strawberry when Marge says to them, “Kids, that’s not very nice.” Lisa responds by saying “Mom, they’re professional athletes! They’re used to this. It rolls right off their back.” It then cuts to Strawberry on the field, wiping away a lone tear.
The New Jersey Devils made arguably the most shocking move of the offseason, as they acquired goaltender Cory Schneider from the Vancouver Canucks for their ninth overall pick in this summer’s draft. Now, it’s too early to say whether or not London Knights’ Bo Horvat, the player the Canucks drafted with that ninth-overall pick, will end up being the player Vancouver expects them to be, but it seemed like the Devils got the better end of this deal early on.
"Madison Square Garden Transformed" was debuted today in front of media and VIP Guests, and in addition to added WiFi, concessions, and restrooms (over a 20% increase in both), several changes have been made to seating to enhance the experience.
Heading into this season, we knew the addition of head coach Alain Vigneault was certainly going to give the Rangers a new look, both offensively and defensively.
Sports Business Journal, SNY, and New York Times contributor Chris Botta stopped by during One on One to discuss the biggest impact the sale of the Devils will have on New Jersey's lone pro sports team.
Not to be confused with the already 5-year old Winter Classic, the NHL has decided to establish a new outdoor spectacle, this time on the field of Yankee Stadium. In the Big Apple, the NHL Stadium Series will feature the three local teams in two regular season games. The first comes on Sunday, January 26, 2014 with the Devils playing the Rangers. The Islanders will face the Rangers in the second game on Wednesday, Janurary 29, 2014. The Blueshirts will be the away team in both games.
Last weekend before the NHL Draft, I spoke with Chris Botta at a Sports Management Worldwide conference about the Islanders' upcoming move to Brooklyn. While cities like Seattle were potential destinations for the Isles, they decided to re-locate to the brand new Barclays Center in Brooklyn in an attempt to keep their fans from Long Island.
Botta, a former PR executive and blogger for the Islanders, told me just how many fans he thinks will make the trip to Brooklyn from out on the Island, as well as how crucial John Tavares is to this transformation. How long will it be until #91 wins a Hart Trophy?
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