Category Archives: New York Rangers

BERLET SPOTLIGHT: VALENTENKO GOES HOME

Posted on May 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

Sorry to hear Connecticut Whale defenseman Pavel Valentenko has signed a two-year contract to play with Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League in his native Russia, but it’s certainly understandable.

Though Valentenko had his best statistical season in five in the AHL despite missing 16 games because of injury, he never got called up by the parent New York Rangers. Valentenko had the hardest shot on the Whale but was rarely used on the power play largely because he was so valuable on the penalty kill thanks to his shot-blocking ability. He tied his career high with five goals, had career highs in assists (16) and points (21) and shared the team plus-minus lead (plus-12) with wing Carl Hagelin, who was called up in late November. Valentenko also had three assists and was plus-2 in nine playoff games.  Continue reading →

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hartford Wolf Pack, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports

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VALENTENKO HEADING HOME

Posted on May 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

According to the Avangard Omsk (KHL) website now former Connecticut Whale defenseman Pavel Valentenko has signed a two-year deal to play for the team.

Jaromir Jagr left the New York Rangers to play for four seasons at Avangard Omsk. This franchise is the same where on October 13, 2008,  then first round pick Alexei Cherepanov died after collapsing on the bench during a game against Vityaz Chekhov.

Valentenko said his goodbye with the following tweet from his twitter account:

“It was two great seasons for me here, in Hartford! I was proud to be one of the part of Wolfpack/Whale team! Thanks everyone for support!”

Valentenko’s wife recently had their first child, a beautiful baby girl, and that likely played a major factor in his decision to return home. The logjam of defensemen the franchise has now was also likely a determining factor as well.

Valentenko was acquired on June 30, 2009 as part of the trade that sent Christopher Higgins, Doug Janik, and star defenseman Ryan McDonagh to the New York Rangers for Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt, and Michael Busto.

(Photo courtesy of newyorkrangers.com)

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hartford Wolf Pack, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, World Junior Championships

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WHERE’S EVERYONE GOING?

Posted on May 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

We were just looking at the list of free agents for next season that the Rangers/Whale will be dealing with.

Here’s a quick guess as to who they will resign and why. It’s not based upon ANY inside information or any such thing as that, just our guesses.

After looking at it, let’s here what you think.

The following guys are already signed and will be back with either the Rangers, the Whale or Greenville: Continue reading →

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, ECHL, Greenville Road Warriors, Hartford Wolf Pack, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports

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EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: IT’S BECOMING A BAD HABIT

Posted on May 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

      VERSUS     

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: GAME TWO
NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES
Eastern Conference Final, Game 2
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
(Series tied 1-1)

Team Notes:

The Rangers were defeated by the New Jersey Devils, 3-2, tonight at Madison Square Garden in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final. The series is now tied at one game apiece. Continue reading →

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL

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EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: GAME TWO TONIGHT

Posted on May 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

NY RANGERS vs. NEW JERSEY DEVILS
2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Final
Game 1
(NYR lead 1-0)
Wednesday, May 16, 8:00 p.m.
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY Rangers (Regular Season): 51-24-7 (109 pts), 1st in East
Devils (Regular Season): 48-28-6 (102 pts), 6th in East

  • All information through NHL games on May 14.

TONIGHT’S GAME:

The Rangers will face-off against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden (8:00 p.m.; TV: NBC Sports Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7FM), in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final. The Blueshirts opened up their third round series with a 3-0 win over the Devils in Game 1 on Monday at Madison Square Garden. New York has now won six of their last nine opening games of playoff series dating back to the 2007 playoffs. The Rangers enter the contest with a 207-222-8 record all-time in 437 playoff contests (116-86-2 at home; 91-136-6 on the road). New York has posted a 45-48-2 record all-time in Game 2 of playoff series. Continue reading →

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports

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REWARD FOR A JOB WELL DONE

Posted on May 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

This story only says six players, but in actuality it’s  nine members of the 2011-2012 Connecticut Whale roster will essentially get some viewing time in New York as well as some great seats for the Rangers’ playoff run to the Stanley Cup when they were recalled by the parent club today. Each has earned that spot.

Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, Marek Hrivik and Chad Kolarik will also be joining the six mentioned in this story in New York.

Here’s the official release: Continue reading →

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports

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WHALE WEEKLY: May 15-20, 2012

Posted on May 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

BY: Bob Crawford, Voice of the CTWhale

The Whale were defeated by the Norfolk Admirals, four games to two, in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinals series to end their successful 2011-12 season. Connecticut fell short in a must-win Game Six on Friday in Norfolk, losing 2-1 to the Admirals in overtime. Marek Hrivik and Casey Wellman shared both the Whale team points lead in the series, Wellman with 3-2-5 and Hrivik with 1-4-5, and overall in the playoffs, as Hrivik notched 5-4-9 and Wellman 4-5-9 in nine games. Cam Talbot was a playoff hero for the Whale in goal, picking up two shutouts in the postseason and earning all five of Connecticut’s playoff wins, compiling a 2.10 goals against average and a .939 save percentage in nine games. The Whale escaped the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs for the first time since the 2005-06 season, thanks in part to twelve goals and eleven assists from rookies this season. 
Continue reading →

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports

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EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: ONE DOWN, THREE TO GO

Posted on May 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

     VERSUS     

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – GAME ONE

NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES
Eastern Conference Final
Game 1
(NYR lead 1-0)
Madison Square Garden
New York, NY

Team Notes:

  • The Rangers opened the Eastern Conference Final with a 3-0 win against the New Jersey Devils in Game 1 tonight at Madison Square Garden, to take a 1-0 series lead.
  • New York is now 207-222-8 overall in postseason action, including a 116-86-2 mark at home. Continue reading →
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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports

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BERLET SPOTLIGHT: BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO

Posted on May 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

BY: Bruce Berlet, Exclusive to Howlings

No ice in the XL Center, no merchandise for Connecticut Whale players to sign, no Jim Schoenfeld on the premises.

It seemed an appropriate scene Monday as the Whale players had their exit meetings with coach Ken Gernander and assistant J.J. Daigneault while Schoenfeld, the Rangers assistant general manager and assistant coach and Whale GM, was in New York as the parent club prepared for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference final against the New Jersey Devils.

“The Rangers are kind of preoccupied right now with a couple of other things,” Gernander said with a smile. Continue reading →

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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports

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GAME SEVEN: BRING ON THE DEVILS

Posted on May 12, 2012 | Leave a comment

     VERSUS      

NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES
Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 7
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY

(NYR win 4-3)

Team Notes:

  • The Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals, 2-1, tonight at Madison Square Garden, in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series.  The Blueshirts won the series, 4-3, to advance to the Eastern Conference Final against the New Jersey Devils.
  • New York is now 206-222-8 overall in postseason action, including a 115-86-2 mark at home. Continue reading →
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Posted in AHL, Connecticut Whale, CTWhale, Hockey, New York Rangers, NHL, Sports

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