Character and Toughness, Tanner Glass call up may be coming
Eakin crushes Lundqvist (blueseatblogs.com)
BOOM! The scene is played over and over on every highlight show. Social media sites like Twitter are littered with gifs and video clips of Henrik Lundqvist getting demolished by the Stars’ Cody Eakin. The lasting image of Lundqvist’s artistically painted helmet floating though the air while his body contorts and whips around until he lands on knees are forever captured. As is the image of not a single Rangers player making Eakin or one of his teammates pay for what he had done.
The NHL As The New Enforcer
Steve Zipay tweeted out that any Ranger who jumped Eakin would’ve received an instigator penalty and been thrown out. He stated that the NHL acted as the enforcer here by giving Eakin a 5 minute major, throwing him out of the game and handing him a 4 game suspension.
Well that’s all well and good coming from a beat writer but he isn’t in the fox hole. I’m sorry but if you don’t think that there is some dissension in that locker room over the lack of a response, you’re kidding yourself.
One reader said it best to another as to why a Ranger should’ve responded. He used the analogy of being at a bar and getting sucker punched while your friends watch and keep on dancing. Talk about spot on.
Sorry Steve and those that think like him…but having the NHL slap Eakin on the wrist is no substitute for sending an on ice message to him and the rest of the league that Lundqvist or any Ranger is not to be messed with.
Glass (J. Schepis/twitter)
The Rangers Organization Was Not Happy
As I wrote yesterday, Darren Dreger when discussing the hit mentioned that many in the Rangers organization were unhappy with the lack of reaction by the players. He also noted that management may give the team direction on what they need to do about it next time.
Meanwhile, I’ve heard some rumblings that the Rangers had discussed possibly calling up Tanner Glass before, this may have pushed them over the edge. If not soon, then possibly before the Stars come to town on January 17th.
Tanner Glass Gives the Rangers Locker Room A Huge Character Boost
Captain, Ryan McDonagh heaped praise at Glass when he was here. He appreciated what he did for the room and how he comes to the aid of teammates on the ice. The Rangers captain is talking from experience too. Does everyone remember when Wayne Simmonds sucker punched McDonagh? Glass said after the team’s practice, “You’ve just got to let (Simmonds) know it’s not going to be tolerated. He’ll know.”
Then there was the incident where Matt Beleskey hit Stepan a few feet away from the boards and broke his ribs. It was Dylan McIlrath who immediately grabbed Beleskey and handed him an old fashioned beating. Tanner Glass was not with the team at the time, but was called up soon after.
In their first meeting with Boston, Glass delivered 10 hits…I repeat…10 hits to any Bruin he could find. The game was close, so he didn’t exact revenge on Beleskey and the Rangers won 2-1. Still, Glass didn’t forget and when the teams met again for the last time, he reminded Beleskey that revenge is a dish best served cold.
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo7PAii51Ws”]
Alain Vigneault delivered him high praise as well
After the game you can tell the coach was pretty happy. “In that Boston game, right off the bat, big, physical check and responded by dropping the mitts. When you’re a teammate and you see that one of your teammates has that role and does it and does it continually, just makes you want to go out there, and you perform to your role and make sure you’re doing your job.”
For the record, Alain Vigneault isn’t the pacifist many believe he is. In his very brief NHL career of 42 regular season games, he had 7 fights and one was against Boston tough guy, Terry O’Reilly. He also accumulated 2 fighting majors in 4 playoffs games.
So this should give some light to those who don’t seem to understand why AV appreciates a player like Tanner Glass.
Glass Working His Way Back
In a recent article by the Hartford Courant, Tanner Glass stated clearly he wants to play in the NHL again, either with the Rangers or another team.
“It was tough to hear [that the Rangers were sending him down],” Glass said. “It has nothing to do with anything I had done or because I wasn’t meeting expectations. When you know the situation is out of your control it can be difficult, but I have not resigned myself to being in the AHL the entire season. I still think I have good games and good years ahead of me and I am hopeful of getting the next promotion from the Rangers or someone else.”
Wolf Pack coach, Ken Gernander spoke glowingly of Glass the player and in particular his character.
“It’s in the way he carries himself. It might be a pat on the back, a word of encouragement, maybe even some correction and teaching. He’s just been excellent. I would say his most dominant characteristic as a player is his character. That’s a great lesson for our guys here. He’s a real good guy, What he does on the ice exemplifies what kind of person he is.”
The boys and I got to see @TGlass15 throw down at the @WolfPackAHL game Saturday #MotherOfTheYear #hockey pic.twitter.com/FOEKcemC5E
— Ann Burr Clevenger (@ABCconcepts) December 12, 2016
That return as I mentioned earlier could be imminent and not only does it make sense, it comes with more positives than negatives. Tanner Glass will immediately improve the character of the room. He will bring a huge amount of physicality to the the lineup which is lacking. Plus, the Rangers can boost his value and have a better chance of moving him at the deadline for a late round pick if he plays.
Regardless, even if he only dresses against teams like Philadelphia, New Jersey, and the Islanders it’s a good move. The Rangers are just too one dimensional and are largely considered “soft” around the NHL. Adding Glass, simply changes that perception even if he doesn’t play regularly.
I think the Rangers should do it.
Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
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