New York Rangers Blueshirt Beat, 8/8/17: Wild Card Team? Gretzky, Howe & Esposito 4
16 Dec 1997: Center Wayne Gretzky of the New York Rangers in action during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils won the game 4-3.

The Hockey News came out with its NHL predictions and placed the New York Rangers in a wild card spot for the 2017-18 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The SNY Rangers Twitter account, per The Hockey News, predicts the New York Rangers will come in fourth place and secure the first wild position.

I wouldn’t put much into that though as last year, The Hockey News had the Rangers missing the playoffs. Instead, they had a 102 point season.

The Hockey News also listed the top 10 Ranger Prospects:

  • Lias Andersson (C)
  • Igor Shesterkin (G)
  • Anthony DeAngelo (D)
  • Adam Huska (G)
  • Filip Chytil (C)
  • Sean Day (D)
  • Ryan Graves (D)
  • Ryan Gropp (LW)
  • Tyler Wall (G)
  • Tim Gettinger (LW)

Speaking of prospect Lias Andersson, he had a great WJSS. Registering three goals in five games. Take a look at our ESNY story on Lias Andersson to see what was said about him by his head coach Thomas Meton.

To conclude today’s Blueshirt Beat, we go back, way back to 1980. Legendary Ranger No. 77 Phil Esposito posted a great picture yesterday on Twitter:

It’s a picture of Espo, Gordie Howe and in the middle Wayne Gretzky. It was Esposito’s and Howe’s final All Star Game and Gretzky’s first one.

A graduate of St. John's University class of '91. I have been a fan of the New York Rangers since the days of Peter Puck. Founder of Ranger Proud, the Facebook page that covers all news, notes, pre /post-game stats, and player quotes. I can be reached at Nyrfc12@gmail.com