2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Round One Preview: New York Rangers VS Ottawa Senators

Originally posted at: The Hockey Writers

The First place New York Rangers will hold home ice advantage in a best of seven series against the eighth placed Ottawa Senators in round one of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Will this be a quick series sweep as the standings would indicate, or is there potential for a first round upset?

The Future of Justin Schultz

Image Courtesy of: Zhao Lim

NHL free agency is not until July first, and there are only a few prominent names that may be available for the highest bidder. Zach Parise, Alex Semin, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Teemu Selanne are at the top of the list. Lidstrom and Selanne will remain where they are or retire, Semin may end up in Russia. That leaves Parise as the only big prize that a GM could acquire to help build a franchise around. That is unless Justin Schultz becomes available as a UFA.

Five Best Offers for Rick Nash: New York Rangers

The Rangers have been seen as one of the heavy favorites in the Rick Nash sweepstakes since Nash became available. One of the most significant obstacles for the Rangers to acquire Nash has been the salary cap, the Rangers are right up on the cap ceiling and can not afford to fir Nash in without some maneuvering. With two days to the deadline the Rangers did some maneuvering sending Wojtek Wolski and his $3.8 million cap hit to the Florida Panthers. Is this a precursor for a Rick Nash blockbuster?