Copyright 2008 The New York Sun Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:17:58 -0400 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Kevin Greenstein :: Stories from The New York Sun http://www.nysun.com/authors/Kevin+Greenstein istoll@nysun.com (Ira Stoll) webmaster@nysun.com en-us KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/remodeled-rangers-looking-to-improve-chemistry/85527/ Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Last year at this time, the Rangers were considered to be one of the NHL's finest teams, with numerous publications (including this one) projecting them to capture Lord Stanley's chalice. With goaltender Henrik Lundqvist coming off two consecutive seasons as a Vezina Trophy finalist — and with all-world Czech star Jaromir Jagr pacing the offense — the sky seemed the limit for the Blueshirts, whose seeming embarrassment of riches was expanded to include free agent signees Scott Gomez and Chris... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/avery-circus-leaves-town-but-rangers-keep/81235/ Thu, 3 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST The wild wheeling and dealing continued on the second day of free agency, and the Rangers were once again big players. This time, rather than signing any marquee free agents, they pulled off a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets that has the potential to pay huge dividends. General manager Glen Sather shipped defensemen Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman to Columbus in exchange for forwards Nikolai Zherdev and Dan Fritsche in a deal that should turn out to be ludicrously lopsided in the... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/blueshirts-bolster-blue-line-on-frenzied-day/81116/ Wed, 2 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST The first day of NHL free agency brought with it a whirlwind of activity, as a number of high-profile free agents changed teams. At this time of year, no team operates as aggressively as the Rangers, and yesterday was no different. They inked former Ottawa Senators defenseman Wade Redden to a lucrative six-year, $39 million deal, a move that unquestionably upgrades their blue-line corps. Redden is one of the league's most talented puck-moving rearguards, and should provide the Blueshirts' power... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/nhl-musical-chairs-set-to-begin/81021/ Tue, 1 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Every year on July 1st, the NHL's free agent marketplace opens for business, with a handful (or more) of high-profile players changing teams. This time around, the biggest available name is Marian Hossa, whose strong play in the playoffs for the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins no doubt raised his value. Moreover, with the NHL's salary cap rising by $6.4 million (to $56.7 million), there are more teams with the fiscal flexibility to meet Hossa's sure-to-be-aggressive contract... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/nhl-draft-an-inexact-science/80428/ Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:24:48 EST NHL Draft an Inexact Science By KEVIN GREENSTEIN NHL Convenes Kicks Off at Ottawa Tonight at Ottawa, the National Hockey League's powers-that-be will convene for the first round of the annual Entry Draft, a challenging exercise during which they'll attempt to project the long-term potential of a few hundred 17- and 18-year-old hockey prospects. There are a number of critical differences between the NHL draft and those held for the three other major North American pro sports leagues — most... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/nhl-may-lose-by-checking-rangers/80405/ Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Back in September, the Rangers filed an antitrust lawsuit against the National Hockey League, alleging that the league had threatened to fine the team $100,000 a day if they didn't relinquish control of their Web site to NHL.com. The league fired back on Wednesday, filing court papers to kick Madison Square Garden LP, the owners of the Rangers, out of the league, or force them to sell the team as punishment for accusing league officials of violating antitrust laws. In its court filing, the NHL... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/nhl-cross-checks-rangers-with-lawsuit/80365/ Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:36:54 EST Back in September, the Rangers filed an antitrust lawsuit against the National Hockey League, alleging that the league had threatened to fine the team $100,000 per day if they didn't relinquish control of their Web site to NHL.com. The league fired back on Wednesday, filing court papers to kick Madison Square Garden, L.P., the owners of the Rangers, out of the league, or force them to sell the team as punishment for accusing league officials of violating antitrust laws. In its court filing, the... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/osgood-is-no-longer-the-forgotten-man/79480/ Fri, 6 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST The conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals always brings with it some tremendous story lines, whether it's a city eradicating a 54-year curse (the Rangers) or longtime veterans lifting the Cup for the first time (Ray Bourque, Dave Andreychuk). This spring is no different, of course. Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom was the first European-born captain to lead a team to a Cup victory, hopefully putting to rest the jingoistic notion that European players aren't capable of providing great... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/war-torn-penguins-wont-go-quietly-into-night/79262/ Wed, 4 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST It's often said, here and elsewhere, that the pursuit of the Stanley Cup is the most arduous odyssey in North American team sports. It brings out the best — and sometimes the worst — in the competitors, and leaves lasting memories behind. On Monday night, all of the odds seemed stacked against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. They'd blown a 2-0 lead in Game 5 at the Joe Louis Arena and were down 3-2 as the final minutes ticked away. The Red Wings' fans were cacophonously chanting, "We... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/with-calm-consistency-wings-on-brink-of-cup/79079/ Mon, 2 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST By virtue of their nail-biter of a victory in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals, the Detroit Red Wings now find themselves just one win shy of capturing professional sports' most recognizable trophy. The path to this point hasn't always been pretty, but one thing has remained constant: The Wings' discipline and attention to detail has enabled them to earn victories even when they haven't brought their finest game to the ice. This, even more so than their immense talent, has been the deciding... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/penguins-adjustments-give-finals-whole-new-look/78962/ Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 EST After getting shellacked by the Detroit Red Wings in Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals by a combined 7-0 score, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins could certainly have been forgiven for suffering a crisis of confidence. Instead, the youthful Pens demonstrated surprising resiliency in the face of a must-win situation for Game 3, adjusting their on-ice strategy and coming away with a stirring 3-2 victory on Wednesday. The biggest key to the Wings' mastery in the series' first two... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/babcock-has-red-wings-playing-at-rarefied-level/78757/ Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 EST The Stanley Cup Finals move to the Steel City tonight, with the Detroit Red Wings holding a commanding 2-0 series lead, making Game Three an unquestionably must-win situation for Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Wings won the first two games by a combined 7-0 score, stifling the Pens' skilled stars while capitalizing on virtually every scoring opportunity their inexperienced opponents provided them. The modern-era NHL has been characterized by defensive coaching, teams guided by... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/star-powered-stanley-cup-finals-has-tremendous/76888/ Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 EST The Stanley Cup finals begin on Saturday night, and by all rights, these playoffs have been a huge success for the National Hockey League. Television ratings are up across the board, rising round by round, and the finals matchup features, without question, the two best teams participating in the 2008 playoffs. They combined for a 24-6 record through the first three rounds, absolutely devastating their competition along the way, making this a fitting and potentially thrilling conclusion to the... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/crosby-penguins-follow-in-some-mighty-footsteps/76792/ Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 EST In today's sports world, the hype surrounding top prospects tends to far exceed what they are ultimately able to deliver. But by getting the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals in only his third season, Sidney Crosby has improbably managed to meet the far-reaching expectations that preceded his arrival in Pittsburgh. With the Detroit Red Wings next on Crosby's docket, comparisons to his predecessor as the "Next One" are inevitable. However, the differences between Eric Lindros and... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/these-wings-may-be-destined-for-greatness/76393/ Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 EST It is five victories too early to anoint the 2007-08 Detroit Red Wings as one of the NHL's all-time great teams. But it's certainly not too early to recognize their remarkable play this spring, as they've lost only two games (11-2 record) in getting to within one win of the Stanley Cup Finals. Judging by the way they manhandled the Stars in Game 3 of their Western Conference Finals, there isn't much hope for Dallas to win Game 4 and avert a sweep, much less come back to win the series. The last... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/has-bad-karma-come-to-haunt-the-broad-street/76321/ Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 EST For the past 40 seasons, few NHL franchises have rivaled the consistent regular season success enjoyed by the Philadelphia Flyers. They have missed the postseason only eight times (including five consecutive misses between 1989-90 and 1993-94, the franchise's one truly dry spell), but have otherwise demonstrated a blueprint for prosperity. Yet, after winning the Stanley Cup in their seventh and eighth seasons of existence (in 1974 and 1975), the Flyers haven't managed to do so again. It leads... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/four-story-lines-15-years-in-the-making/76000/ Wed, 7 May 2008 00:00:00 EST With each step forward in the pursuit of the Stanley Cup, the challenges get steeper and the pressure mounts. At this stage in the game, any weaknesses are typically far outweighed by the strengths that enabled the competitors to get this far, making it harder and harder to advance. And although the second round of these playoffs was surprisingly pitfall-free for the four Conference Finalists — the Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Philadelphia Flyers — all four clubs... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/high-flying-penguins-prove-too-much-for-blueshirts/75817/ Mon, 5 May 2008 00:00:00 EST There is much to like about the progress the Rangers made this season, most notably the inclusion of numerous youngsters in key spots in their lineup. But in the end, the result was the same as last year's, as the Blueshirts were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by a faster, more talented team. And when Marian Hossa took a loose puck off the skate of Rangers defenseman Daniel Girardi and buried it behind Henrik Lundqvist, it gave the Pens a stirring overtime win and sent the... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/as-rangers-injuries-mount-improbable-nears/75651/ Thu, 1 May 2008 00:00:00 EST After their stirring first-round victory over their Hudson River rival Devils, the Rangers were flying sky-high. But the dream has rapidly transformed into a nightmare, as the Blueshirts have fallen behind 3-0 in their second-round series against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Compounding the matter further, the Blueshirts have been struck by a rash of ill-timed injuries. They discovered late Tuesday night that Sean Avery is done for the season with a lacerated spleen. The injury is... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/what-the-rangers-need-to-do-to-get-back-in-series/75475/ Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST When evaluating the Rangers' chances in their second-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, one thing is all but certain: They must win tonight's Game 3 at Madison Square Garden. In NHL history, the teams that have taken a 3-0 series lead have won 147 times in 149 tries, or just about 99% of the time.With Sidney Crosby leading the Pens' potent offense — and the red-hot Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes — the Blueshirts shouldn't expect to buck that trend. Now, the Rangers and Penguins... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/crosby-threatens-blueshirts-stability/75423/ Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST It would certainly be easy for the Rangers to blame the officials for their falling down 0–2 in their series against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. A slew of questionable calls in both Games 1 and 2 gave the Pens numerous power play opportunities they shouldn't have had. And the time the Rangers spent killing off those penalties no doubt had a deleterious effect on their overall performances in the first two games of this series. In particular, Crosby's unnerving tendency to flop to... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/rangers-look-to-end-march-of-the-penguins/75238/ Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST The Rangers are keeping things within the Atlantic Division, at least for round two. After dispatching the Devils in five games, they now take on Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, another opponent with whom they are quite familiar. The teams met eight times during the regular season, and though the Penguins — like the Devils — finished with a better record than the Blueshirts overall, it was the Rangers who held the head-to-head edge, winning five times. Though the Penguins boast some... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/every-cup-chase-has-its-heroes-villains/74905/ Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST The Stanley Cup playoffs are an arduous journey — two long months of blood, sweat, and tears that come to a conclusion when one team lifts Lord Stanley's cherished chalice in euphoria. But while the celebration provides a tremendous payoff for the winners and their loyal fans, the journey to get there is what makes the experience so special. The stories that come out of the annual playoff odyssey are what define the NHL experience best. There are heroes and villains, roles defined partly by the... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/avery-brodeur-feud-fires-up-series/74714/ Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST The Devils have suffered some serious on-ice losses over the past few years, with many of their most important contributors departing for greener pastures. And with the latest defector, Scott Gomez, outscoring the Devils through Games 1 and 2 of their first round series with the Rangers, the pendulum of power in the Hudson River Rivalry appeared to have swung decisively in the Blueshirts' favor. But counting out this Devils team would be foolhardy, for two of the most important characteristics... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/rangers-offense-gives-playoff-edge/74426/ Wed, 9 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST Tonight at the Prudential Center in Newark, the Rangers and Devils will drop the puck on the 2008 playoffs in what should be a compelling first-round series. The NHL's current schedule format provides for eight games against division rivals, and so the adage "familiarity breeds contempt" will certainly apply to these two teams. The Devils secured home-ice advantage with their shoot-out victory over the Rangers in Sunday's regular season finale — but the Rangers won the other seven meetings... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/race-for-cup-wide-open-as-nhls-second-season/74300/ Tue, 8 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST The NHL's playoffs are upon us, and after a highly competitive regular season marked by never-before-seen parity, it's shaping up to be a wide-open race to the Stanley Cup. When the season began, we predicted that the San Jose Sharks would defeat the Rangers in the Cup Finals. And after 1,230 regular season games, we're sticking with that long-ago prognostication. Here's a look at what to expect in each of the eight first-round series, followed by predictions for the interim rounds and the... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/bettman-steers-nhl-in-right-direction/74222/ Mon, 7 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST The National Hockey League's playoffs are set to begin on Wednesday night, an intense eight-week competition that tests the endurance of the competitors as much as, or even more than, their skill. At the end of the arduous journey, the commissioner of the NHL, Gary Bettman, hands North America's most recognizable sports trophy — the Stanley Cup — to the winner. Though the commissioner's introduction has often precipitated a showering of boos, there are some clear signs that the tide is turning... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/time-for-goalies-to-get-their-due/74108/ Thu, 3 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST When looking at NHL player salaries, there's one anomaly that stands out above all others: Only two of the league's 30 highest-paid players are goaltenders. This is despite the reality that NHL netminders arguably have more of an impact on their team's success than any other position player in North American professional sports. Case in point: Two netminders who changed teams this season proved to be huge difference-makers for their new teams. In Phoenix, the November arrival of Ilya Bryzgalov... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/how-the-shootout-affects-the-standings/73937/ Tue, 1 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST The 2004–05 lockout brought about tremendous change for the NHL, both in terms of its economic structure and its rule book. Some of the changes were designed to work in concert to help all 30 teams remain competitive despite the fact that some clubs are far more profitable (the Rangers, Flyers, and Maple Leafs, for example) than others (the Predators, Capitals, and Coyotes). Others, like the crackdown on obstruction and interference, were implemented in order to increase scoring. Of all the... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/30-teams-30-mvps/73708/ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST The term "most valuable player" is perhaps the most misused in all of professional sports, as it's all too often awarded to players on the basis of gaudy statistical accomplishments, rather than their indispensability. With that in mind, and with the marathon-like regular season rapidly approaching its conclusion, here's a look at each team's most valuable player for the 2007–08 season. For the teams whose spot in the postseason is secured, it's the player most responsible for them getting... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/drury-gomez-shine-under-bright-lights/73651/ Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST When the Rangers inked centers Scott Gomez and Chris Drury to long-term contracts, most pundits declared them early Stanley Cup favorites, while a few bemoaned the Blueshirts' never ending penchant for overpriced, unrestricted free agents. The truth, as is often the case with these matters, has thus far been somewhere in between. But when looking forward, it becomes clear that the signings were far more prescient than foolish. This coming summer, four aged star centers — Joe Sakic, Peter... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/dipietro-injury-caps-dreary-year-on-the-island/73296/ Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST Islanders netminder Rick DiPietro underwent hip surgery in Vail, Colo., yesterday and will miss the remainder of the 2007–08 season. After the Isles were eliminated from the postseason last spring, he had surgery on his left hip; this time, it's the right hip in need of repair. He was injured during the All-Star skills competition that took place in Atlanta in January, and he has played through the pain for nearly two months. Without question, the injury will provide even more fodder for stars... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/power-play-a-big-concern-for-rangers-final-push/73130/ Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST It's been an up-and-down season for the Rangers, who have repeatedly morphed from Cup contender to poorly constructed pretender and back. During the season's first two months, their style echoed that of the Devils at their absolute stingiest, with netminder Henrik Lundqvist anchoring a stifling defense. But their play slipped dramatically in December and January, prompting rumors that these presumed Cup contenders would instead be holding a surprise fire sale at the trade deadline, with Jaromir... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/line-changes-have-rangers-playoff-bound/72869/ Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST It hasn't been all that pretty, but the New York Rangers have reemerged as playoff contenders by posting a stellar 10–0–3 record in their last 13 games, the biggest factor being the play of their forwards. After a seemingly endless effort to find the right chemistry, the head coach, Tom Renney, has found a working formula that makes it virtually impossible to effectively shut the Rangers down. The top line of Jaromir Jagr, Sean Avery, and Brandon Dubinsky has generated the lion's share of the... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/devils-caught-between-the-rock-and-hard-place/72697/ Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST The NHL canceled the 2004–05 season, a desperate measure taken ostensibly because player salaries had risen to levels that were no longer affordable to a large majority of the teams. Eventually, the NHL's powers-that-be got what they wanted: a salary cap system that fixes the players' collective income to a specific percentage of the combined revenues of the 30 franchises. But as was pointed out in this space numerous times during the collective bargaining agreement negotiations, because the... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/ovechkin-has-capitals-making-late-charge/72411/ Thu, 6 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST It's been a season to remember for dynamic Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin. He's emerged as perhaps the NHL's most valuable player, tallying 52 goals in 67 games to equal a career high. He's gotten the surging Caps within striking distance of the Southeast Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes with 15 games still to play. And then, of course, there's the monumental contract he signed in January; at 13 years and $124 million, it's the richest deal ever afforded to a professional... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/isles-face-make-or-break-games-against-rangers/72285/ Tue, 4 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST Few rivalries in all of professional sports can match the intensity and passion that has marked the blood feud between the Rangers and Islanders. Sparked for perpetuity when Isles defenseman Denis Potvin's check broke the leg of Rangers forward Ulf Nilsson back on February 25, 1979, this rivalry has a seemingly endless supply of vitriol and hatred. Whether it was Isles center Pat LaFontaine leaving the Madison Square Garden ice on a stretcher back in 1990, or the more recent memory of Chris... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/true-contenders-become-clear-after-trading/72035/ Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST The trade deadline has come and gone, and it's much clearer which teams are the contenders and which are the pretenders. Traditional Western Conference powerhouses in Detroit, Dallas, and Colorado made meaningful upgrades, as did the nouveau riche Anaheim Ducks. And in the East, the big story was the Penguins, making a clear statement with their acquisition of Marian Hossa that it's time to start winning in the Steel City. But also noteworthy were the Capitals' surprise aggressiveness and the... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/frenzied-day-of-trading-shakes-up-the-nhl/71905/ Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST The NHL standings might be more densely packed than usual, but yesterday's trade deadline still lived up to tradition and brought with it a flurry of last-minute dealings. The biggest winners were the Pittsburgh Penguins, who didn't sacrifice a single roster player in adding star forward Marian Hossa, role player Pascal Dupuis, and hulking defenseman Hal Gill. But the San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, and Colorado Avalanche also upgraded considerably for the stretch run. Hossa... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/hossa-sundin-top-prizes-in-sellers-market/71583/ Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST The NHL's trade deadline is just five days away, and though the season is just about three-quarters complete, there is still precious little clarity with regard to which teams are going to be buyers and sellers. The one certainty is that the Los Angeles Kings are sellers, despite their strong play over most of the past month. They got the fire sale going on Tuesday by trading veteran defenseman Jaroslav Modry to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a third-round pick. With all critical... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/blueshirts-lock-up-their-king-for-six-years/71374/ Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST Yesterday, the Rangers took a critical step towards securing their future, inking 25-year-old netminder Henrik Lundqvist to a six-year deal worth $41.25 million. Lundqvist has been the most critical component of the Rangers' post-lockout turnaround, his presence between the pipes being the primary reason why the Blueshirts were able to reach the postseason in each of the last two seasons after a seven-year drought. On an annual basis, Lundqvist will cost the Rangers $6.875 million against the... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/lundqvist-blueshirts-near-long-term-deal/71270/ Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST Last summer, the Rangers used up their onetime arbitration rights with star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, and they faced the prospect of seeing Lundqvist as a restricted free agent this summer: He's been the most important component of the Blueshirts' post-lockout revival, and after seeing high offers being made this year to other players, such as Alexander Ovechkin (13 years, $124 million), there was no telling what Lundqvist might have commanded. With this very scenario likely in mind, the... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/equipping-players-with-better-armor-has-its/71131/ Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST Much has been made of the random dangerous acts perpetrated by the NHL's players upon each other, and in particular by the Philadelphia Flyers this season. But on Sunday night in Buffalo, the NHL — and anyone who plays the sport, for that matter — received a gruesome reminder of just how dangerous the game can be even on the most innocent of plays. Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik was skating behind the Buffalo Sabres' net, while teammate Olli Jokinen was upended by Sabres forward Clarke... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/forsberg-could-be-difference-maker-in-a-playoff/70901/ Thu, 7 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST With the league's third-best team (the Philadelphia Flyers) and 25th best (the Atlanta Thrashers) only four wins apart, the NHL Power Rankings are tight as a drum. Indeed, the parity has become a parody of sorts, and with the teams so close together, where unrestricted free agent Peter Forsberg signs could be the tipping point in a playoff race. The Flyers are the front-runners to land "Foppa," but a handful of other teams (including the Rangers) are also reportedly in the running. Please note... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/rangers-shouldnt-trade-their-youth-at-deadline/70786/ Wed, 6 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST When this season began, the Rangers were considered a frontrunning contender to compete for the Stanley Cup. Their offense — already boasting two of the game's all-time great scorers, Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan — was further bolstered with the additions of high-profile free-agent centers Scott Gomez and Chris Drury. In goal — with two-time Vezina Trophy finalist Henrik Lundqvist embarking on his third season — the Blueshirts appeared to be set. However, things didn't go as planned. In... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/red-hot-habs-are-defying-early-expectations/70521/ Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST The Montreal Canadiens have been one of the NHL's strongest teams this season, surging up in the standings and putting surprising heat on the defending Eastern Conference champion Ottawa Senators. After losing defenseman Sheldon Souray and checking-line center Radek Bonk to unrestricted free agency, it was expected that the Habs would take a step backward in 2007–08. But instead, they've managed to improve. One key reason has been the consistently excellent play of Alexei Kovalev, who has... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/parity-deadline-put-gms-in-quandary/70462/ Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST Without question, the post-lockout NHL is a game of margins. The Buffalo Sabres, currently sitting in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, have scored three more goals than they've surrendered (exiting the All-Star break). Yet they find themselves six points behind the eighth-place Islanders, who have a minus-17 goal differential. Likewise, the Southeast Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes have earned 52 points in 52 games, only ninth best in the East. But if they manage to hold onto their... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/niedermayer-ducks-flying-up-rankings/70084/ Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST The All-Star Game will be played in Atlanta on Sunday, and now, just one month from the trade deadline, things might be even murkier than they were when the season began. The third- and 27th-ranked teams were separated by only five wins last week, and they're now only four wins apart. Put simply, the entire regular season is going to come down to what happens in its final 20-30 games. Perhaps with an eye toward this very scenario playing itself out, the general manager of the Anaheim Ducks... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/in-retiring-no-2-the-best-blueshirt-gets-his-due/70040/ Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST In the course of the past 82 years, many wonderful hockey players have pulled the storied Rangers jersey over their heads and skated out onto the ice at Madison Square Garden. But while most of the star-studded Rangers of both past and present enjoyed many of their finest moments elsewhere (from Brad Park to Marcel Dionne, from Phil Esposito to Guy Lafleur, and even from Mark Messier to Wayne Gretzky), Brian Leetch stands out as the greatest player whose career was defined almost entirely by... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/this-may-be-most-wide-open-cup-chase-in-history/69666/ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST This has, without question, been one of the most perplexing seasons in NHL history. Between the parity spurred by the salary cap and the questionable decision to award standings points for overtime and shootout losses, there is virtually no difference between playoff and nonplayoff teams. Case in point, the San Jose Sharks — ranked third in this week's Power Rankings — have 25 victories, while the 27th-ranked Florida Panthers have 20 wins. Meanwhile, in the NFL, the Cleveland Browns missed the...