Rick Nash

The recent news of Lubomir Visnovsky filing a grievance with the NHLPA has Islander fans hanging their heads in despair. He has filed a grievance in an attempt to uncover a “No Trade Clause” that wasn’t honored at the time of the trade. It’s hard to decide if the actual news was the most painful or the fact that the Rangers netted Rick Nash for a bag of sweet tarts and a draft pick in a similar time frame. (Photo Credit, clydeorama/Flickr)

For playing under the same city name, the Rangers and Islanders could not be more different at the moment. Consistently, the Rangers keep improving on an already well stocked roster. They are able to speed up the process of rebuilding with their young players by pairing them with proven and perennial All Stars. It is a formula that leaves the Islanders in the dust.

In terms of young, raw talent the Islanders have the edge. However, an unproven stock- pile of draft picks does not win many games. The Rangers are able to introduce young players into the fold while adding great players in their prime.

It is like the Islanders rebuild plan but on steroids.

The two biggest free agents on the market this summer have made their decision, and their decision is Minnesota.

It was announced early Tuesday afternoon that both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter have agreed to terms with the Minnesota Wild, both for 13-year, $98 million deals.

Parise, the former captain of the New Jersey Devils, scored 404 points in 502 games over seven seasons with the Devils. After suffering from a season-ending injury last season, he had a successful comeback season, with 69 points in 82 games. He led his team to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, where they ultimately lost to the Los Angeles Kings.

Everything went the Wings' way on Monday night. They can only hope for something similar tonight as they head to Columbus for their final meeting against the Blue Jackets this season.

Monday saw the Wings dominate on home ice, with a 7-2 victory. The win sealed the 21st consecutive playoff trip for Detroit, the longest record of any professional sports franchise in North America.

Tomas Holmstrom had two of the goals, and Henrik Zetterberg and Todd Bertuzzi each had four assists on the night. Captain Nicklas Lidstrom even had a goal for his grand return after being injured.

Wings have been stellar at home this season, but does a trip to Columbus worry them? Based on t...

Rick Nash won't be donning an Islanders jersey tomorrow night; the Islanders didn't get a first round pick for Evgeni Nabokov and/or P.A. Parenteau; Al Montoya will still be on the bench to back up the Islanders number one goaltender; and the defensive play of Mark Eaton, Milan Jurcina and Steve Staios will still be seen for the rest of the season.

Staios, despite popular reports from a fake twitter account, was not dealt to the Vancouver Canucks for a 6th round draft pick.

BUT Garth Snow did manage to rid himself of the putrid play of Brian Rolston and the defensive relapses of Mike Mottau. Both were sent packing to the Boston Bruins for a couple of prospects; Yanick Riendeau and Marc Cantin.

(Photo Credit: Robert Kowal/Flickr)