Larry Brooks joined the Post in 1976 and has been its NHL columnist since 1994, adding the Rangers beat in 1996. He also covered the Devils and serves as a baseball columnist. The Hockey News has named him one of the Top 100 People of Power and Influence in NHL seven times, the only writer from a daily U.S. publication to receive that recognition.
The Rangers should hire Mark Messier as head coach ... of the re-christened AHL Hartford Wolf Pack. That is the place for Messier, passed over in his bid to start his career behind the bench at the top, to begin. That... June 16, 2013
From RangersIt’s a home run for the NHL, this matchup for the Stanley Cup between Chicago and Boston that begins Wednesday night. It’s two powerhouse clubs, two glamour U.S. markets, two franchises who have reversed so much of... June 12, 2013
From More SportsThe call on Dan Bylsma’s future behind the Penguins’ bench may not be Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero’s to make. Several individuals within the industry have told Slap Shots Penguins chairman Mario Lemieux,... June 09, 2013
From More SportsThe change in coaching administrations could alter the Rangers’ decision regarding Brad Richards, who still is far more likely to be an amnesty buyout later this month than a candidate for the club’s first-line center... June 02, 2013
From More SportsBill Russell, the undisputed greatest winner in the history of professional sports, won two NBA championships in his first three seasons as coach of the Celtics. Not so coincidentally, Russell had himself to play center... June 01, 2013
From RangersThe first text Sean Avery received informing him John Tortorella had been fired as Rangers’ coach came early Wednesday afternoon while he was in the back seat of a taxi, between business meetings in Manhattan. “Oh, I... May 31, 2013
From RangersGlen Sather said yesterday the decision to fire John Tortorella was his. The reality is the players made the decision for the club president and general manager. The Rangers players had had enough of the coach and they... May 30, 2013
From RangersHenrik Lundqvist chose his words very carefully yesterday when the subject of a potential contract extension this summer was raised at yesterday’s breakup day, so I sure won’t put any words in his mouth. But know this:... May 28, 2013
From RangersJohn Tortorella’s obligation is to coach the team he has, not the team he used to have or the team he wishes he had. The 2011-12 Rangers ceased to exist more than a year ago. It is a waste of time, energy and of the... May 27, 2013
From RangersBOSTON — The Rangers saved their best of the series for the last of the series, and that wasn’t enough, either. One year to the day after their 2012 elimination by the Devils in the conference finals, the Rangers were... May 26, 2013
From RangersBOSTON — All these months later, it still is baffling that the NHLPA did not take a stand against the NHL’s insistence on applying the punitive cap-recapture provision of the collective bargaining agreement to contracts... May 26, 2013
From More SportsBOSTON — There he was, a Ranger who finally had enough of Brad Marchand and his verbal challenges. There he was, a Ranger not only standing his ground, but standing up for his teammates. There was Derick Brassard, of... May 25, 2013
From RangersSo if anyone ever does a remake of the film, “It Happens Every Spring,” what do you say they cast Chris Kreider in the lead role? The kid has the touch in big moments, that’s for sure. That’s what people said when he... May 24, 2013
From RangersBrad Richards left his coach no choice. Which, when it comes right down to it, is just as well, because any time the Rangers have gone on the power play in the playoffs, John Tortorella has chosen to use Richards,... May 23, 2013
From RangersSo three players in 10 games have been knocked silly on checks from opponents, legal or otherwise, and yet here are the Rangers on the brink of Round 2 elimination tonight at the Garden, content to turn the other cheek... May 23, 2013
From RangersIt was hardly earth-shattering stuff, nothing like saying a player “stinks” on the power play, for instance, but John Tortorella sure had it right before the playoffs started when the Rangers’ coach talked about... May 22, 2013
From RangersBOSTON — It is difficult enough for the Rangers to win even when Henrik Lundqvist is at the top of his game. It is all but impossible for the Blueshirts to even come close when The King plays as if he’s a plebeian.... May 20, 2013
From RangersBOSTON — Long Island is neither Brooklyn’s to promise nor a particularly good idea, if you want to know the truth about the Bruce Ratner/Brett Yormark plan to schedule six Islanders games a season at a remodeled,... May 19, 2013
From More SportsBOSTON — It isn’t Alex Rodriguez batting eighth in the order in the 2006 playoffs, because seriously, what else could be? Other than, that is, Rodriguez being pinch-hit for and then benched entirely in the playoffs six... May 18, 2013
From RangersBOSTON — Henrik Lundqvist, the face of the Rangers and the face behind the mask, did not even attempt to mask the bitter pain of yet another overtime defeat. This one cut to the core of the goaltender, who blamed... May 17, 2013
From RangersBOSTON — So long ago, this was where Glen Sather started his NHL career as one of the supporting actors of the cast of “Bobby Orr and the Animals” that made life so miserable for the Rangers in the late ’60s. But... May 16, 2013
From RangersWASHINGTON — It can be such ugly hockey. That is Black-and-Blueshirt hockey. But it is beautiful hockey in the eyes of the beholders who advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals with their Game 7, 5-0 rout of the... May 14, 2013
From RangersOne goal. That’s all the King’s men got for Henrik Lundqvist and that’s all their goaltender needed. One game. That’s all that Lundqvist and the Rangers need in order to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.... May 13, 2013
From RangersThe Islanders raised all the echoes over the last week, but that isn’t this team’s most significant achievement. By forcing the Penguins to six games before overtime elimination at the Coliseum last night despite... May 12, 2013
From IslandersWASHINGTON — There is a bull’s-eye on the back of Rick Nash’s sweater. Everyone but everyone can see that. And in Wednesday night’s third period of the Rangers’ series-equalizing Game 4, 4-3 victory at the Garden,... May 10, 2013
From RangersThis is a Same Time Next Year kind of deal from Brian Boyle, who was at the height of his powers during the first round of the 2012 playoffs until Chris Neil delivered a Game 5 head shot that concussed the Rangers’... May 08, 2013
From RangersIt Is only two games, but it is already two games. The Rangers haven’t even had a chance to lose a home game, but if they do at the Garden tonight, in Game 3 of their first-round series against the Capitals, they will... May 06, 2013
From RangersWASHINGTON — The responsibility for changing the NHL’s culture should not rest alone with Brendan Shanahan, yet that’s the burden the VP of player safety assumes every time a play occurs like the one on Thursday in... May 05, 2013
From More SportsWASHINGTON — A year ago, we knew exactly who and what those guys were when the playoffs began. They were Black-and-Blueshirts and they were Bluebloods who for the most part had been nurtured within the organization and... May 02, 2013
From RangersFirst, a question: did anyone actually miss the 34 games per team that were lopped off the schedule as a result of Owners’ Lockout III? And a follow-up: Exactly how much did the absence of training camp, the paucity of... April 30, 2013
From Rangers