The New York Rangers have been right in the middle of all the trade rumors swirling around the NHL for the last couple weeks, especially when it came to Columbus Blue Jackets’ star winger Rick Nash. Now the trade deadline has come and gone, and the Rangers have made a long awaited move. The Rangers have reportedly acquired defenseman John Scott from the Chicago Blackhawks for a 5th round pick. Are you kidding me? Wow, that was worth all of the excitement. Nash just simply cost too much for the Rangers to pull the trigger on the deal after speculation that Columbus would have liked the Rangers to include either Michael Del Zotto or Ryan McDonaugh to be included in the deal. Well, I guess Brandon Dubinsky can finally breathe a sigh of relief, since his name had been floated around in trade speculation all this time. The Rangers currently sit atop the Eastern Conference, so it is not like a big time move was imperative for this team, but it could have potentially sparked a sometimes anemic offense. However, many fans have been on the fence about acquiring a new player because it may interfere with the Rangers’ biggest strength…their family-esque togetherness. One thing is for sure, the team that has led the Eastern Conference for much of the season will make their 2012 playoff push with the players they’ve had all along. I’d imagine that means Henrik Lundqvist might need to upgrade his Vezina Trophy pace to a definitive MVP status for this defensive minded squad to go the distance.

What is going on with the NHL? After being royally screwed against the Los Angeles Kings earlier this month, thanks to a stuttering time clock, last night the Columbus Blue Jackets survived an overturned buzzer beater goal against the New York Rangers. Or did they? Michael Del Zotto scored what looked like a goal on replays with 0.1 seconds left in the 2nd period, but the War Room in Toronto controversially waived it off after further review. The puck clearly is over the line and in the net with time left on the clock…so why is that not a goal? Apparently, the time that everyone in the stadium saw was not the “official” time. On the replays in Toronto, the time read 0.00, ending the period, and the goal being disallowed. OK, just for the sake of argument, let’s say I agree with the decision to waive off the goal despite what everyone saw on national tv. If there is an “official” time, why was that not the time inside Madison Square Garden? To make matters ever more confusing, apparently in Columbus the clock read 0.2 seconds, so they didn’t even understand why the goal was being reviewed at all. If there is an “official time” as Toronto claims there to be, it just seems logical every game clock should be playing based on that time. No…that’s too easy I guess. Well, maybe the NHL is just a fan of the idea that no publicity is bad publicity.

The New York Rangers extended their Eastern Conference lead to 9 points last night with their 3-0 victory over the Bruins. Henrik Lundqvist recorded his league leading 7th shutout on the season and is clearly making a case for the both the Vezina Trophy and even MVP honors with his unconscious goaltending. Meanwhile, Rangers captain, Ryan Callahan continued his stellar play netting yet another goal (6 in the last 4 games; 3 on the powerplay). But, just the night before, the Rangers’ 2009 first round draft selection, Chris Kreider and his Boston College Eagles won the Beanpot Tournament for the third consecutive year. Kreider registered a goal and an assist in BC’s 3-2 overtime win over Boston U. Chris scored 19 goals, 16 assists, and 35 points this season, but is now being described as a 220 pounder with a powerful shot and better speed than 2012 all-star weekend’s Fastest Skater Award winner, Carl Hagelin. Kreider’s stats have made the city of Boston very proud, but it’s no surprise with those stats and that praise Kreider has New York drooling for his arrival to the blue-shirts. However, with the ensuing NHL trade deadline coming upon us by month’s end, Kreider is a target of much interest around the league if the Rangers are to make a big trade acquisition for their playoff run. The Rangers have been linked to a potential trade with Columbus Blue Jacket forward, Rick Nash, and by all accounts, Kreider will most likely need to be involved for a trade of this magnitude to occur. Either way, first place, Nash, Kreider…the rich keep getting richer.

A week removed from the debated no-goal at the end of the game against the Devils, since the Rangers have won three straight over the Lightning, Flyers, and the Capitals. This past weekend looked especially difficult with hated rival Philadelphia heading to the Garden, followed by Ovechkin and Semin the very next day. They got 6 huge points out of this gauntlet of a weekend, and its not over yet because the Rangers now must ship up to Boston to play the Bruins. Captain, Ryan Callahan always lets his actions speak for themselves, and his actions spoke volumes this weekend as he led the blue-shirts with 5 goals (2 on the Power Play), including a hat trick against the Flyers. Brad Richards has definitely upped his game giving this team a needed shot in the arm offensively, and Brandon Prust, a big fan favorite, netted his first goal in months last night against the Caps. The Rangers gave the Garden faithful a lot to cheer about, but the Bruins would love to rip the smiles off their faces. With still another 25 games remaining in the season, this game will definitely have a playoff feel to it because the defending Stanley Cup champs are nipping at the heals of the Rangers in the Eastern Conference standings.

Since the lockout in 2004, the NHL took a huge hit in viewership and popularity generated to the sport. To put the NHL back on the map and into the spotlight, they decided to embrace the sports history of playing outside, against the elements, in the purest form of hockey. What began as a clever gimmick has sprouted into a highly talked about annual event in the hockey community, while also generating interest from the casual hockey fan. Five of six most-watched NHL regular-season games in past 37 years are Winter Classics. The only thing better than watching hockey in an outside atmosphere, is seeing what legendary stadiums around the country will they’ll be playing in. So far the Winter Classic has been played in Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium, Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, the legendary Fenway Park in Boston, and Wrigley Field in Chicago, and lastly is Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia this year.

The NHL announced today their plans to continue the Winter Classic tradition in 2013 by having the Detroit Red Wings host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium at the University of Michigan. This would be the first college football stadium involved in the Classic, and what stadium better than The Big House in Ann Harbor. This game will involve the perennial powerhouses from Detroit (their 2^nd Winter Classic appearance) against the first Canadian team to take part in the event, which is hoping to incite a college Ra-Ra rivalry.

The plans for the 2013 Winter Classic to be played at Michigan Stadium got me thinking of what some of the best matchup scenarios for future Winter Classics should be. So I’ve made a list of the top 5 ideas:

#5: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Detroit Red Wings at “The Horseshoe” (Ohio State University)- This idea go to the idea for 2013. One of the biggest rivalries in all of sports is the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes in college football. First of all, much like Michigan Stadium, Ohio State’s stadium is one of the most legendary in the country. Second, perhaps the NHL could pull in some intrigue and fans from around the raging college rivalry. Unfortunately, the Blue Jackets have been one of the worst teams in the NHL, so I’m not so high on the matchup, as opposed to the rivalry.

#4: Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks at the Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA)- In the last couple years the Ducks and the Sharks have been the class of the Western Conference. A chance to have these two top teams battling for the state of California’s best is at stake, while also having the first teams west of the Mississippi River get a crack at the Classic. To see top stars like Patrick Marleau and Joe Thorton against Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry in the bright lights of Pasadena would be a sight. Would be interesting how they’d keep it cold out there in Cali, though.

#3: New York Islanders vs. Colorado Avalanche at Coors Field/Mile High Stadium- This sounds like a strange matchup, I know, but I think to get a little East vs. West thing going would be interesting. Colorado has a plethora of venues to host a Winter Classic, and the Avs are an up-and-coming team out west. The Islanders are young and up-and-coming themselves, so it could make for an interesting game. Also, it would have John Tavares against Matt Duchene, #1 and #2 pick respectively in the 2009 draft…which team chose right?

#2: Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild at Target Stadium (Minnesota Twins Stadium)- Minnesota…here is your chance to finally hash out your anger on your beloved Minnesota North Stars leaving from greener pastures. The Wild is an interesting team in that most fans don’t really get to see them, but with Dany Heatley at the helm, they could run wild at the Classic. Meanwhile, the Stars currently are up and down, but for years they were one of the perennial Stanley Cup competitors and they do have a big Southern fan base to draw from. Give these teams a chance to duke it out to see who’s “stars” shine brightest.

#1 New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils at Metlife Stadium (NY Jets/Giants Stadium)- Still think the Hudson River Rivalry has lost its luster Jacque Lamaire? Well, the Winter Classic can incite the fans and reignite the rivalry to its past glory of mutual and utter disdain. You could also have this game be at Yankees Stadium depending on who get to be the gracious hosts. Maybe we’ll see a bone-crushing hit like Scott Stevens used to do, or maybe we’ll hear screams for the new Stephane Matteau. Only one way to find out. All I know is if the Rangers and Devils got to play in the Winter Classic…I wouldn’t need to DVR it.