Nash Clutch in the Third

 

Rick Nash has proven to be the dynamic difference maker the Rangers were hoping for when they traded for him.

All seven of his goals have come in the third period of games. How does it get more clutch than that?

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His physical ability, size, and stick handling skills have brought a fantastic boost to the Rangers offense. He’s a difference maker when needed to be and provides a spring in each players step when he jumps onto the ice.

The Rangers are 11-5-1 when he’s in the lineup and 0-3-1 when he’s out. That speaks volumes for how much of an important player he is for this franchise.

If the Rangers plan on getting back in the playoff hunt it’ll be behind Nash and a newly resurged captain Ryan Callahan.

Wasted Franchise Tag?

 

Did the Giants waste their opportunity to use the franchise tag this past monday? Or was it the right move?

Many people predicted that Giants would use their tag on left tackle Will Beaty, but he agreed to terms on a 5-year contract extension worth 38.7 million on Feb. 27.

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The Giants have other free agents they could’ve signed just as defensive end Osi Umenyoria, safety Kenny Phillips, left guard Kevin Boothe, tight end martellus Bennett, kicker Lawrence Tynes and linebackers Chase Blackburn and Keith Rivers.

Any of these suitors could’ve comeback to the team and made an impact in some fashion, but it seems Reece and Coughlin have chosen to go a younger route with the team this year. By signing these players back they’ll have less cap room to work with and just recently got back under the cap contact restructuring.

One player that they should’ve franchised was Victor Cruz.

Contract talks with him have come to a standstill and don’t seem to be progressing enough before free agency opens on March 12th. It’ll be interesting to see how the Giants will deal with his new contract before then.