Game On!

Steven: Hey Stan, the Senators are attempting to trade Dany Heatley at his request, do you see the Rangers making an offer for him? Perhaps Wade Redden, Nik Zherdev and a conditional 1st-round pick to Ottawa? Heatley would be the perfect finisher for the Rangers with his around the net ability. Or do you think with his troubled past off the ice it would not work out in New York?

The Maven Responds: Dear Steven – I do believe that the Rangers made an offer for Heatley. Check out my MSG GameOn! column about Heatley and Don Brashear for more details. Where Dany lands remains a mystery.

skipper storms: Stan the Man, seeing all of the Rangers bruisers the other night was great, but why not Orland Kurtenbach? This man had the fastest fists and toughest punch I know. Stan, please tell me what he's doing today. Thanks Stan, you're the best. It's great to be a Rangers fan all my life.

P.S. Teddy Irvine was another tough Ranger when we needed toughness. Thank you for your time.

The Maven Responds: Dear skipper storms – You're not the first to remind me of Kurtenbach, an old pal. There were few better pure NHL boxers, all-time. Two Kurt bouts with Ted Harris are considered classics. I omitted Orland only because – like Clark Gillies, et. al. – he did not relish fighting. He did so only when he had to, and otherwise used his rep as deterrent. Sorry, but I don't know his current whereabouts. Irvine could fight until Pierre Bouchard knocked him for a loop.

BIGBLUENYR: Maven, what is your opinion about the poor officiating in the playoffs and the even worse officiating in the Stanley Cup Finals? I saw blatant penalties by the Pens and the refs looked the other way. There was not a consistency with the calls throughout the entire series. The regular season was more strict and the Finals much more lax. What can be done to remedy the poor officiating? Have additional refs at ice-level by the blue lines, sitting in the first row? It was shameful to watch for the true hockey fans. Thanks.

The Maven Responds: Dear BIGBLUENYR – I could not agree with you more. As a matter of fact, when I was in Montreal for the Draft days, I discussed the matter with several people. One of the problems is that the NHL PROTECTS the zebras by not making them available for postgame interviews so that their dubious calls can at least be explained. Players have to face the questions and so do the coaches. Why not the refs? But the league simply is reluctant to have them answer up. Unless there's a sufficient groundswell of protest, the status will remain quo. Sorry – just as you are – about this unfortunate situation.

Sincerely,
The Maven

I'll get to more tomorrow, so if you want to pick my brain, CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A QUESTION.

• The Maven Responds (6/10)
• The Maven Responds (5/29)
• The Maven Responds (5/25)