Rangers’ Urho Vaakanainen equates 4 Nations experience to NHL postseason
NY Post
Urho Vaakanainen is in his seventh NHL season, and the Rangers are his third team, but the 26-year-old defenseman never has reached the playoffs.
So his involvement in the 4 Nations Face-Off for Finland wasn’t just exciting.
It could help Vaakanainen prepare for the postseason.
“I never played in a playoff game, but if I had to imagine, that would be at the top,” Vaakanainen said of the competition level in the 4 Nations. “That’s what my teammates said. It felt like a playoff atmosphere, for sure. The skill, speed and physicality.”
Vaakanainen arrived to the Rangers in December from Anaheim in exchange for former captain Jacob Trouba and insisted playing in the tournament was more valuable than a typical All-Star break.
“I think it’s a great thing,” Vaakanainen said. “Those are probably the hardest games you can play anywhere in the world, against the best players. It’s high intensity, high skill level. It’s only a positive if you get to play those games.”
Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Mike Collier died in Maryland on Sunday, according to an online obituary.
The preferred path to follow remains in place: Select a quarterback with the No. 3 pick in the draft. That is what the Giants hope will happen. When it comes to identifying and securing a franchise-saving player, though, hope is not a good thing, maybe the worst of things — with apologies to Andy Dufresne.
BOSTON — The Rangers reconvened for practice Tuesday ahead of the resumption of the NHL schedule, one that will have the Blueshirts go back-to-back in Buffalo (at 5:30) and Pittsburgh (at 3:30) on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
TAMPA — It is still the time of spring training when pitchers are generally ahead of hitters.
LaVar Ball had his right foot amputated after suffering a “serious medical issue,” TMZ Sports reported on Wednesday.
One team’s trash is another’s treasure, and the Steelers could go dumpster diving in their search for their 2025 quarterback.
Charlie McAvoy, who will be out for Team USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off final vs. Canada on Thursday due to an infection and shoulder injury, remains in the hospital after undergoing a procedure on his shoulder Tuesday.
The Knicks had their entire roster fully participating in practice Wednesday for the first time this season, as Mitchell Robinson moved ever closer to making his season debut soon after the All-Star break.
Alex Bregman isn’t looking to steal Rafael Devers’ position.
Nets wing Bojan Bogdanovic will have foot surgery and miss the rest of the season.
TAMPA — Aaron Boone does not want Jazz to be on shuffle this season
Wednesday will mark 140 days since the Knicks shook up their fan base and sent a lightning bolt through the league on the eve of training camp. All of that feels rather cute given the way the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis swap electrified the basketball world two weeks ago, and the continuing aftershocks still reverberating in Dallas, in L.A., and everywhere else in the NBA.
If finding a franchise quarterback is the Giants’ No. 1 offseason priority, upgrading at cornerback should be considered No. 1A.