Blue Notes

Maybe it was the hint of spring that was melting the snow up here in Westchester.

Or maybe the terrific retro tribute CD by the Smithereens---Jersey guys all influenced by Brit Invasion bands---that recreates, track-by-track, the seminal "Meet the Beatles" from 1964, that was on my SUV CD.

Yeah, including "I Saw Her Standing There", "It Won't Be Long", "Not a Second Time" and, you guessed it, "This Boy." Recommended listening.

Which leads me to this: somehow today, the Rangers' locker room and training area looked and felt a little more youthful, fresher.

No, it's not just the absence (permanent) of Aaron Ward and (temporary) Brendan Shanahan. It may be an accumulation of changes from a few months ago that suddenly struck me.

Also missing were some of the faces from earlier in the season: Ozolinsh, Kaspar and Jason Ward, good guys, but departed.

It was the presence of Jarkko Immonen, Dan Girardi, Tommy Pock, Sean Avery, Paul Mara and Matt Cullen (who plays far younger than he is) added to the mix of Lundqvist, Prucha, Tyutin, Hossa, Hollweg, Ortmeyer, Betts. And some twenty-somethings are on the way, perhaps before the end of the season, with four moves allowed with roster expansion.

Perhaps it was the realization that Jagr, Straka, Rozsival, Malik and presumably Shanny and perhaps Nylander will be what's left of the old---in a sense---guard next year. Throw in a talented center---I'd try to pry Olli Jokinen from Florida---and Marc Staal, and the transformation continues.

A lot of devoted fans were on their virtual knees online begging the front office not to surrender top prospects and picks for rental players. They didn't, so cut them some slack.

While I've lobbied all season here for the Rangers to give prospects longer looks, I'm not seeing what the coaching staff sees on video and in meetings. Sure, Buffalo and San Jose (my pre-season pix for the Finals, FYI, you can look it up in the clips) seem to be able to plug in talented youngsters at the drop of the hat, this organization isn't there yet. It moves slooooow.

The reality is, Shanahan's concussion was a major blow to this year's playoff run.

Mathematically, there's still a possibility that this team could find themselves facing the final four regular season games in April---a month from tomorrow---being something more than spoilers.

If not, then that room will look even more like training camp long before September.

Might not be a bad thing.

****

Spoke a little more with Mara, who worked on he second PP unit today. Look for that in tomorrow's paper or on newsday.com

On the injury front, Straka, whose shoulder may need some surgery in the offseason, didn't skate and looks doubtful for the Pens. Coach Tom Renney is keeping his fingers crossed for Saturday against the Blues.

And just a guess here, barring other injuries, the Rangers are going to give the Isles all they handle next week.
Ryan Smyth, who bid a tearful farewell to Edmonton, better shake off the shock and make a quick adjustment....

Later...