Blue Notes

As several of you have mentioned, Russian center Artem Anisimov went down in a center-ice, knee-to-knee collision in the second period of the 6-2 Team Canada win and did not return.

I've only seen a few periods of the games, but the physical---and sometimes chippy---play of Team Canada has taken the heart out of the Russians. And Team Canada's PK has been stellar. The Russian goalies haven't been that impressive either.

Hard to get accurate info out of Russia, so we'll have to wait for tomorrow's Game 4 to see if AA's back.

But tomorrow's game begins 6 a.m. ET. Ouch.

From what I've been able to watch, the Canada standouts have been Sam Gagner (Oilers), Kyle Turris (Coyotes), Stefan Legein (Blue Jackets), Milan Lucic (Bruins), David Perron (Blues) and D Karl Alzner (Caps).

Second period: Canada 3, Russia 2...Cherapanov out with concussion

Chippy game, plenty of penalties called

Watch it live:

mms://a846.l3156036845.c31560.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/846/31560/v0001/reflector:37356

Rangers prospects Artem Anisimov and Alexei Cherepanov are playing in Russia in Game 2 of the Super Series versus Canada this morning.
Canada (1-0) was leading after two, 2-0, and there's a fog on the ice.
If you're interested, here's a link to watch live:
mms://a846.l3156036845.c3...560/v0001/reflector:37356

Not long ago, I endorsed the chase for Peca, figuring the risk on a one-year, cap-friendly deal, was low, even if he was past his prime.

But I wasn't privy to the results of his interview---or his physical. Maybe the pins and plates in his repaired leg gave the Rangers brass some pause. Would Peca be able to maintain a performance level that the Rangers sought? And why didn't more teams (Leafs) want Peca?

Maybe the Rangers really wanted to keep the $1-million-plus for another move.
A strong defenseman, a backup goaltender, or simply wiggle room? Or as the team says, to give some youngsters a shot to stick. Probably a combination of the above.

If you were a reader here last season, I pushed for the Rangers to trade for a stop-gap thrd line center last season: Smolinski, for example.

Instead, in the offseason, the Rangers traded Cullen---and he did, according to several sources, make it known that he wouldn't protest being moved---and now are in the hunt again for one.

Maybe they'll seek to fill that gap at the trade deadline this time around...

Unless there's a surprise lurking somewhere....

OK, with the Peca deal off the table, where do the Rangers go?

Perhaps C Brandon Dubinsky isn't ready for third-line duty.

One possible scenario: Move Martin Straka, who just had arthroscopic knee surgery in the Czech Republic, but will be ready for camp, to center and make room for winger Nigel Dawes.

The team needs to find out whether Dawes---a 30-goal scorer in Hartford---is ready. He had a goal in a brief eight-game stint on Broadway last season.

Another possibility: Alex Bourret, who came from Atlanta in the Pascal Dupuis trade, is a promising forward and very close to NHL level, according to Rangers director of player personnel Gordie Clark, who was interviewed by nhl.com. The stocky right wing had three goals and eight assists in seven playoff games for Hartford.

Your thoughts?

After an odd and somewhat prolonged courtship for a player seeking a one-year deal, the Rangers and free agent center Mike Peca have gone their separate ways.
According to Don Meehan, Peca's agent, he was trying to conclude a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight after speaking with Rangers GM Glen Sather.
"The Rangers are out on Peca," Meehan said in a phone interview a few moments ago. "I spoke with Glen and we both decided to go our own ways."
The Rangers decided not to make an offer, with Sather and coach Tom Renney feeling it was best "to give our young guys a chance," a Rangers spokesman said.
Peca, 33, had been in New York for a physical and interviews with Rangers brass, and it appeared a deal was close with the former Islander and Sabre in the $1 million to $1.5 million range.
But Meehan said Sather was taking too long to make up his mind and got impatient, as did Peca, who played just 35 games last season after breaking his right leg in late December.
If healthy, Peca could have helped the Rangers with his defensive and faceoff skills.
Instead it appears, Brandon Dubinsky or another youngster could win a job in camp.
More on that in a few minutes....

The Mike Peca saga will end tomorrow.
Don Meehan, the agent for the free-agent center, who the Rangers had in for a physical and talks with brass last week, said his client will choose Tuesday about which team he'll play for this season.
"He'll make a decision (tomorrow)," Meehan said during a brief phone call last night of Peca, 33, who played just 35 games last seaon after breaking his right leg in late December while skating for the Maple Leafs."It's down to a few teams."
Peca, a two-time Selke Trophy winner who has said he would sign a cap-friendly deal to play with the Rangers, had been waiting for days for an offer from Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather, expected to be in the $1 million to $1.25 million range, including performance incentives.
Meehan last night didn't name the other teams, but Toronto was said to be considering an offer, as was Columbus, which expressed interest last weekend. The Rangers, however, lhave been considered the frontrunner for weeks.
The 5-11, 190-pound Toronto native, who earned $2.5 million last season, is pencilled in as the team's third-line center. The Rangers shipped Matt Cullen to Carolina last month, and Peca also would serve as a veteran backup in case top centers Chris Drury or Scott Gomez are injured.
When healthy, Peca---who played on Long Island from 2001-2004, is a defense-first center, skilled on face-offs and penalty-killing, areas in which the Rangers could use his talents. In 12 NHL seasons, Peca has played 728 games, scored 164 goals, added 245 assists and is a plus-73.
Currently, the Rangers have Blair Betts, who signed a two-year extension late last season, as a fourth-line center, with prospect Brandon Dubinsky, 21, who played for Hartford last season, waiting in the wings.

Matt Zaba, a goaltender from Colorado College who was not signed by the Los Angeles Kings, was grabbed by the Rangers as a free agent and will vie for a spot in either Hartford or Charlotte.
Zaba, 24, was drafted in 2003 in the eighth round by the Kings.
He played in 33 games with Colorado this past season, was 15-13-4, had a 2.39 goals against average and a .917 save percentage and was named team MVP.
Meanwhile, radio silence on the Mike Peca front.
That could mean the two sides are talking.
Peca's agent, Don Meehan, was out of his Ontario office and was expected to return tomorrow. A Rangers representative did not return a message inquiring about the status of the Peca situation.

A Swede signing...
Anders Hedberg, formerly Ottawa's director of player personnel, has been named head European scout to assess free-agent pros playing over there.
Hedberg, 56, played seven seasons with the Rangers (from 1978 to 1985). He scored 172 goals and 225 assists for 397 points in 465 games.
The former WHA star---who jumped to the Rangers with Ulf Nilsson in '78---was general manager of the Swedish National Hockey Program from 2000-2002, and of Team Sweden at the 2002 Winter Olympics. He also worked in the Leafs' front office.
Christer Rockstrom, credited with the acquisition of Henrik Lundqvist, among others, remains the chief scout in Europe in charge of reviewing amateur players.

D Paul Martin re-ups with New Jersey.
Martin, 26, a restricted free agent, was one of the team's most solid defenseman, so this multi-year pact isn't a surprise.
He earned $2 million last season, while scoring three goals and 23 assists in 82 regular-season games. But the numbers don't tell the entire story. Many teams inquired about him last year.
No news as yet on Peca, but have a sense the deal could be finalized this afternoon...

With training camp a month away, let's spin this forward....

If we assume that things remain on course and Michael Peca signs with the Rangers and then GM Glen Sather stands pat until camp, here's some scenarios to toss around:

Lines?

Straka-Gomez-Jagr
Prucha-Drury-Shanahan
Avery-Peca-Callahan
Hossa-Betts-Orr/Dawes/Hollweg

The defensive combos, of course, depend to some extent on Marc Staal.
Should he convince the Rangers to keep him on Broadway, then a trade is in order to clear the logjam and more salary. Hutchinson will have to impress in camp as well. Or, the club could go with the best seven D---assuming again that Kaspar is in Hartford---and shop for a veteran backliner at the trade deadline.

The thinking may be the same for a backup goaltender. Start with Valiquette and see what develops? I'm not crazy about Belfour at all, although Esche and Burke---at the right price---might make sense if they would sign for close to Valiquette's $635,000.

Dangle Montoya?

Your thoughts, folks?

NBC's NHL "Game of the Week" debuts on Sunday, Jan. 20, with either the Boston Bruins at New York Rangers or the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks at the Dallas Stars. The reason? The NHL is offering flexible scheduling for NBC's nine regular season dates and the network doesn't have to decide until two weeks before the puck drops...

Versus' schedule is out---for fans of that cable giant---and Bill Patrick appears to have replaced Bill Clement on the "Hockey Central" studio show.
Rangers telecasts include seven against Pens, Isles and Flyers and one against Sabres:
Oct. 10 vs. Isles; Oct. 23 vs Pens; Nov. 5 vs. Flyers and 6th vs Isles; March 10 vs Sabres, the 25th vs. Flyers and 31st vs Pens, and Jan. 14 vs Pens.

John Vanbiesbrouck, Bobby Carpenter and Aaron Broten have been elected to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame....

Some quick news:
I'm covering for my vacationing colleague Greg Logan, and while the Rangers are focusing on Mike Peca, the Islanders have signed another center: Josef Vasicek, the former Hurricane, to a one-year deal.
The 6-4 Vasicek will be 27 next month....There's more on newsday.com

The drums are beating louder.
If free agent center Michael Peca passes a physical and is willing to accept a performance-bonus-laden contract, he could become a Ranger this week, we're hearing.
As written here weeks ago, I think adding Peca---if he can stay healthy---makes sense on a team gunning for the Cup.
Sure there's some risk.
And yes, Peca, 33, temporarily blocks a spot for a younger player---barring a trade.
But a healthy Peca brings skills and smarts on the PK and on faceoffs, as well as playoff experience. He's not the same guy he once was, for sure, but worth a roll of the dice, I think.
The Rangers have centers in the wings: Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov, but are either ready for a full-time role on a contender?
From a team once shallow at center, the Rangers seem to be filling the void.

No solid Rangers info to report, but in case you haven't heard:

In a huge win for the Kings, Mike Cammalleri was awarded a 2-year, $6.7-million deal by an arbitrator. Thirty-plus goals, 40-plus assists and only 25.

Former NHL coach Doug McLean's group of investors has purchased the Lightning and will keep the club in Tampa, which has a fan base. Wise move. They're top-heavy with Lecavalier, Richards, St. Louis and Boyle, and need a goaltender, but they could improve quickly.

New Jersey signed free agent winger---and former Islander---Arron Asham, a nice fit for the Newark Demons.

Back on Broadway, I'm still wondering about Peca or a veteran backup goaltender. Of course, camp is still more than a month away.

Still early Saturday and looks like another scorcher in the New York area.
Cammalleri decision pending. Can't imagine the Kings won't match.
Once that happens, assume that teams will begin inking other remaining free agents.
Still have the sense Rangers are not completely done.
Stay tuned here over the weekend and next week...

A few weeks ago, reports arrived from overseas that Russian center Artem Anisimov, the Rangers' second-round pick in the 2006 entry draft, had signed a three-year contract at $850,000 per season.
The team made that official yesterday and Anisimov, who impressed several observers---including this one----at a prospect development camp last month in Westchester, will report to training camp in mid-September.
Will he make the opening day lineup? That's a tall order for a 19-year-old on a "now" team with visions of a Stanley Cup. I've got my doubts, but it looks like he's got a future.
The 6-foot-4 Anisimov played 39 games with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv of the Russian Super League this past season, scoring two goals and eight assists. Both he and Alexei Cherepanov, the club's first-round pick in last June's draft, will play for Russia against Canada in the eight-game SuperSeries for under-20 players later this month.

From the Rangers press office:

"We are pleased to have Sean under contract and are looking forward to him returning with the same passion and enthusiasm he brought to our team last year," stated President and general manager Glen Sather. "He is a terrific competitor, who we expect to play a significant role in a successful season."

Sounds like a little different tack than what appeared in the arbitration briefs, huh?

Remember folks, it's all business...

Sean Avery will return to the Rangers for his sixth NHL season. The club will accept the ruling of an arbitrator in Toronto who awarded Avery $1.9 million for the 2007-08 season.....

Sean Avery was awarded $1.9 million for a one-year contract---an $800,000 raise---by an arbitrator in Toronto. The Rangers have 48 hours to decide whether to accept the ruling.
The Rangers offered $1.3 million; Avery sought $2.6 million.

I understand that the arbitrator has issued a ruling on Avery's case....waiting for details.
Remember, Rangers have 48 hours to decide what to do....