Plane Crash Kills Most Of KHL Locomotiv

This is not a good summer for hockey.  First, we learn of the deaths of Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien, and Wade Belak for various reasons.  Now, almost the entire KHL Locomotiv Yaraslavl team has been killed in a plane crash.  According to reports, the plane crashed shortly after take off.  Players on the team include Ruslan Salei, Pavol Demitra, and former Ranger Karel Rachunek, the team’s captain.  It is being reported that 36 of the plane’s 37 passengers have been killed.

Reports out state that the entire main roster was on the plane, although this has not been confirmed.

Update 10:08am: Former Ranger Alex Karpotsev is the team’s assistant coach.  Current Ranger Artem Anisimov is a product of this team, and knew many players on board.

Update 10:20am: It has been confirmed that 43 people have died from the crash.  There is at least one survivor, reported to be Alexander Galimov, who is badly injured.

Update 10:25am: It is being reported that Galimov is among three survirors, but the only player to survive.  It is being reported that the plane could not reach proper altitude and hit a radar antenna after take off.

Update: 11:15am: There are conflicting reports on Salei, but it has been confirmed that Demitra has died in the crash.  It has also been confirmed that former NHL player Brad McCrimmon, the head coach, has died in the crash.  It has been confirmed that former Ranger Karel Rachunek had died in the crash.  Former Ranger draft pick Jan Marek (2003-8th round) was on the plane.  Confirmed on the plane also was Alex Karpotsev.  I’ll never forget his celebration with the Cup in 94.

The Wiki for the plane crash has a list of those that were on board.  It is being reported that Galimov succumbed to his injuries. No one from the team who was on the plane appears to have survived.

Update 11:53am: Quoting @dchesnokov: Lokomotiv official: “At first we didn’t want to believe it. But right now there is no hope. The team is gone.”

Update 1:40pm: It has been confirmed that Salei was on the plane, and has also perished in the crash.

This is horrible.

Thank You, Hockey News

This is as much of an open letter to the ignorant writers at the Hockey News as it is a normal post. Recently the Hockey News continued their pre season rankings by placing the Rangers 7^th in the East. All I have to say to that is thank you – and all Rangers fans should be saying the same. There is no better motivation for a team than to be disrespected and/or to have the burden of pressure or expectation reduced from their shoulders.

Seventh wouldn’t be a disaster for this Rangers team, far from it; it gets them in to the post season after all. However, in many people’s eyes this Rangers team has the potential for more in both the regular season and once (if?) they get beyond it. This is a team that has filled several holes this summer – for the long term – through retention (the kids), recruitment (Richards, Erixon, Rupp) and health (Biron). This team benefits from depth all over the roster and in my humble opinion; the biggest uncertainty surrounding the Rangers is internal development.

However to those worried about internal development; While every single player cannot be expected to develop as hoped, it can be reasonably expected several of those players will improve with age and ice time and if that happens (thanks to the aforementioned depth) then this Rangers team has several weapons at its disposal.

Looking at those ahead of the Rangers in the THN predictions; the immediate teams in front of NYR are Tampa and Buffalo. While Tampa has a bit more top end talent they have more question marks on their roster (in goal, defensive depth etc) despite their playoff run this past season. While Ryan Miller aside, I have a hard time being in love with the Sabres and don’t share the enthusiasm with some people over their (overpaid) additions.

While THN do praise the Rangers in their synopsis, they do finish by saying this:

The Rangers can’t be worse after improving their greatest need, but also won’t jump too far ahead of where they were a year ago.

Why not? Personally I don’t believe THN are accounting for the large amount of young talent on the Rangers squad, the injuries the Rangers had to tolerate last year and the potential upside that is there. They allow for ifs and buts for the likes of Tampa and Buffalo but not the Rangers? It’s hard to agree with THN but I will say thank you; thank you THN, for keeping expectancy low in regards to Manhattan’s hockey team. Here’s hoping they prove THN wrong.

Wade Belak Found Dead In Toronto

This is just unreal.  Wade Belak has been found dead in a hotel in Toronto, and is the third “enforcer” to be found dead this offseason.  Belak retired from the game in March, but during his career was a noted “tough guy” and “fighter”.  This comes months after Derek Boogaard died in May of a lethal combination of alcohol and prescription drugs, and less than a month after Rick Rypien took his own life.

The Toronto Sun is reporting that Belak’s death was caused by an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.

The NHL needs to start looking into the long term effects of fighting and blows to the head in the game.

Sean Avery cleared in LAPD battery incident

So apparently Avery won’t be headed to the sin bin after all. Well, he may end up in this sin bin one day, but you know, not the real one …

Anyway, according to TMZ, police officers have since refuted the charges, instead revealing that the cop who filed the report simply got his foot caught in Avery’s front door while on the scene to address a noise complaint. And somehow the media spun that into him shoving a cop…nice!

What’s funny is that when all of this broke, I said that Avery probably closed his door on the cop’s hand or something stupid. You think I’ve had a few run-ins with the police before? Eh maybe…

Anyway, this is just another reason you should be reading Blue Seat Blogs and not your “traditional” sources of news media.

See what I did there? Shameless plug Becky, I know…

BREAKING: Rick Rypien Found Dead In Home

This is just a terrible offseason for the NHL.  First Derek Boogaard, now Rick Rypien.  Rypien, just 27 years old, was found dead in his home in Alberta.  He had just signed a one year deal with Winnipeg Jets, returning to Manitoba after a successful run with the Moose.  Rypien is the second enforcer under 30 years old to pass this offseason.

Sean Avery Arrested In California

Early this morning, Sean Avery was arrested for battery of a police officer.  According to the article, the officer was responding to a noise complaint at 1a.m. at Avery’s house.  It is still unclear what prompted the battery.  Per the article, Avery’s misdemeanor charge has a $20,000 bail set.

Aaron Boogaard Arrested, Charged With Two Separate Crimes

The news surrounding the tragic death of Derek Boogaard is taking a turn for the worse.  Derek’s brother Aaron has been arrested and charged with two crimes: third degree sale of a controlled substance (a felony) and interference with a death (a gross misdemeanor).  Both charges are in connection with Derek’s death on May 13 of a toxic mix of oxycodone and alcohol.  The oxycodone is the drug that was supposedly in Aaron’s possession.  Paul Walsh of the Star Tribune has the whole story.

This is just awful.  I believe in innocent until proven guilty, but there are already people vilifying him all over the internet.  However, these are serious charges both in court and for the Boogaard family.  If Aaron provided the drugs that eventually led to the death of his brother, it could tear the family apart.  The biggest thing we should note are two lines from this article, a quote from a lawyer representing Aaron:

“One thing is certain, the charges brought against Aaron have nothing to do” with Derek Boogaard’s death.

The brothers’ father, Len, explained later Thursday that Aaron was attempting to control what Derek was taking.

Take it as you will.

Richards Now? What it Should Cost.

Some people actually believe the Rangers don’t need Brad Richards – well, that’s almost as absurd as those few (and oh so rare) Rangers fans that believe the Rangers should trade Lundqvist, anyway I digress…Larry Brooks did indeed provide a good point this weekend; noting that the Rangers should proactively deal with the Stars for Mr Richards ahead of July 1^st. The Rangers can avoid an auction/bidding war by getting Richards under lock and key before the free agent frenzy.

Richards is the perfect free agent for the Rangers. Ideally you don’t remedy your biggest needs in free agency because free agents are usually one of those three things; aging, not wanted (for whatever reason) by their most recent club or overly expensive – supply and demand. Richards ticks perhaps one of these boxes as he’s not the youngest. However this time it IS different. As Brooks points out; Richards’ relationship with Tortorella is a big reason for recruiting the skilled pivot. This isn’t recruiting your usual star with an ego it’s recruiting a player that is totally onboard with the coach and has a history with the coach – a successful one. Richards remedies so many of the Rangers current flaws in one signing. He’s a solid face off guy, he’s a playmaking elite center, adds a huge injection of skill, he improves the powerplay wherever you put him, he knows how to win and he should be able to get Gaborik back on track. It’s simply his age that may be an issue and depending on the length of deal he wants that also may not be an issue (another reason to get him in early and scope his demands out).

So now we’ve rehashed the point that Brad Richards is an elite player that the Rangers sorely need, what should the Rangers give up to get him early? First of all assume Glen Sather is working the phones. He knows what the Rangers need and we’ve already seen this off season already that he is in pro active mode (see: prospect signings a plenty). The Rangers boss is also a master at the art of the trade. Personally I don’t think Sather will want to move a draft pick in the top 2 rounds. Given the depth the Rangers have in their prospect pool Sather would be better off dealing from this depth and giving Dallas something more tangible for their biggest star. Sather (and the coaching staff) will know what prospects have a legitimate future with the Rangers but those that don’t, don’t necessarily have bleak NHL futures.

(Still) Ownerless Dallas surely must know they are losing Richards in July. Getting a package of a middle round pick and a prospect or two like Dale Weise and Chad Kolarik offers Dallas plenty to work with. With decent ice time Kolarik could become another Teddy Purcell type that is simply a late bloomer; Dale Weise could very well be a bottom six forward in the right NHL situation and a 5^th round pick (for example) can just as well become an NHL producer as a higher rounded pick – as Dallas can attest to with Jamie Benn. Getting players back from the Rangers gives something more concrete for Joe Nieuwendyk to justify moving Richards. It also means it wasn’t all for nothing, holding onto him at the deadline. A move like this could be win-win for both teams, as much as is reasonably possible. While Philly gave Nashville a high pick for Hartnell and Timonen a few years back, it was not as blatant that the two were leaving Music City as it is Richards is leaving Dallas – the situations cannot really be compared. Brooks is right, Sather should make his move and we know what he should be willing to give up.

Derek Boogaard’s Death Ruled Accidental

The New York Post is reporting that Derek Boogaard’s death has been ruled accidental due to a mixture of alcohol and oxycodone (pain killers).  Boogaard, 28, was found dead in his Minneapolis apartment a week ago today by his brothers, Ryan and Aaron.

It was reported last weekend by the New York Post that Boogaard was in the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavoral Program. It is still not known what exactly Boogaard was in the Substance Abuse program for and we will not make those assumptions here.

The New York Rangers Blog has been working with readers to develop a Derek Boogaard Memorial Logo (http://bit.ly/kS0PRW), which will be made into t-shirts and sold for charity purposes. Sales of these shirts will go directly to Boogaard’s charity (Defending The Blueline). It’s worth checking out.

Rangers Prospects At It Again

The Rangers may have had their biggest game of the year to date on Wednesday against Buffalo (shocking performance by the way) but that big game came Tuesday night for Ethan Werek. The talented pivot had not been a positive factor in the playoffs for Kingston, until Tuesday night. Paced by Werek’s 3 assists, the Frontenacs held off Christian Thomas’ Generals to win 7-4 and keep the series alive. The Generals now lead 3-1. Thomas himself had 1+1 in the game and is now up to 11 points in 4 games for the playoffs thus far. Thomas is sure making himself relevant to the Rangers management in the most important time of year.  Meanwhile we’ve complimented Dan Maggio in the playoffs thus far, but he was a disappointing -3 last night to bring his playoff rating back to even. Oshawa and Kingston get set for game 5 on Friday night with a game 6 – if necessary – slated for Saturday.

Elsewhere and other Rangers prospects were showing up all over the scoreboard. Jason Wilson was named first star as he had 1+1 to lead his Niagara side to a 5-1 victory over Brampton and be on the brink of a series win, leading 3-0. Wilson now has 3 points in 3 games in the series. Wilson’s Niagara side look to close the series out tonight in Brampton.

Over in the QMJHL, Ryan Bourque has been playing well. Quebec romped home on Tuesday winning 9-0, and Bourque had 2 assists to play a solid role in his team’s impressive win over Val-D’Or. Bourque has 6 points in 4 games this playoffs as Quebec has swept the series 4-0.Meanwhile over on the opposite side of Canada Dylan Mcilrath was playing in the WHL playoffs for Moose Jaw.  Mcilrath was a big part of a Moose Jaw side that shut out Kootenay 4-0 to take a 2-1 series lead.

An interesting aspect of the junior playoffs now, is which players (like Werek) will be on their way to the AHL for the end of season spurt and which players will extend their junior seasons, going deeper in the playoffs. Players like Werek may benefit from the step up to the pro’s and the extra experience they’ll likely gain from it – whether they return to the junior game or not.