By: Leo Scaglione Jr., Pinch-Hitting For The Maven It was fitting that thunderstorms rolled through New York and New Jersey yesterday when NHL free agency opened. If you didn’t know better, you would think the local hockey clubs – Rangers, Islanders, Devils and Sabres – were responsible for the lightning and thunder. But, alas, they […]
By: Leo Scaglione Jr., Pinch-Hitting For the Maven Sure, the Devils seized headlines by owning the first overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. In case you didn’t know, they selected second-ranked North American skater Nico Hischier, who suited up for Halifax (QMJHL) this past season. The wait is over…With the first overall pick in […]
The Devils, Rangers and Sabres all had picks in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft. Learn more about who they selected. DEVILS With the first overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, the New Jersey Devils selected dynamic Swiss center Nico Hischier. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 178 pounds by NHL.com, Hischier became the first […]
Although the Sabres have yet to win a Stanley Cup — they sure came close in the 1975 Final against Philadelphia — Buffalo has boasted some interesting and competitive teams. Fans can thank the Sabres’ birddogs who came up with a bunch of then-unknowns who were down low on the draft totem pole. These are the details […]
Wow! The Maven just finished perusing the NHL Expansion Draft Protected List and I did quite a bit of gulping here and there. Not that I blame any of the following — Jeff Gorton, Garth Snow, Ray Shero, Jason Botterill — for leaving some of my personal favorites in the “available” category. I know that […]
1. When Mike Sullivan makes it to Manhattan to champagne-celebrate his second straight Stanley Cup win, I will, of course, pump his hand and remind him how I used to tell him one joke per month before Rangers games. He was a better audience than John Tortorella! 2. Next, I’ll ask Sully how much he […]
The expression “Genius will out” fits Phil Housley‘s appointment as new Sabres head coach like a bowling ball making a perfect strike. Arguably the greatest American-born defenseman in history, Phil now joins an impressive list of Uncle Sam’s ice geniuses populating major league hockey. Try Mike Sullivan and Peter Laviolette for starters. And for Buffalonians, […]
Pre-Draft Frenzy questions are getting more intense — and demanding — by the day. As a result, The Maven will answer a few. Then, I’ll get into other pressing matters. 1. Will the Rangers be able to retain much-admired Antti Raanta? Answer: The Maven predicts that GM Jeff Gorton will find a way, and that […]
1. Kudos to Henrik Lundqvist who helped win a Gold for his native Sweden in the World Championships. Hank’s twin brother, Joel, captained the champion Swedes as well. Henrik stopped all four shots he faced in the shootout to produce the win. 2. One of Henrik’s teammates was none other than Blueshirts all-around forward Oscar […]
1. Jeff Beukeboom and Scott Arniel are the Rangers’ assistant coaches. But — with Ken Gernander out in Hartford — the Wolf Pack needs a new bench boss. I wonder if Jeff or Scott has a shot at the Connecticut opening. 2. With Luke Richardson officially in the Islanders‘ fold as Doug Weight‘s understudy on the […]