Well the Rangers have one less Free Agent option to fill in a winger role.
Reports out of Florida suggest that the Tampa Bay Lightning have signed Pittsburgh's Ryan Malone; preliminary reports point to a 7-year, $31.5million deal. The Lightning had previously traded a draft pick in the 2009 draft for exclusive negotiating rights with Malone and teammate Gary Roberts.
The Lightning have also gained the rights to impending Free Agent Brian Rolston. Yet another player the Rangers could certainly use on their team. A playmaking 2-way forward is what the Rangers need - more so than Sundin for sure.
And John-Michael Liles has re-signed with the Colorado Avalanche, taking a young, talented blueliner off the market. This blog has lauded Liles for his powerplay abilities before, and it's tough to lose out on getting this guy. Campbell still remains available, as does Orpik and Streit, among others.
The Rangers have options left on the market - but they're dwindling. Sather must make up his mind soon and figure out what he's going to do with the Rangers. I'm anxious to see what happens tomorrow, as it should prove very, very interesting.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Reports point to...
The latest on the New York Rangers and their Free Agency dilemmas.
Only a few days after reports surfaced saying that Martin Straka will return to his native Czech Republic, it appears that the Rangers will have one less Czech star on their team this coming Fall.
Jaromir Jagr appears poised to leave Broadway for more financially lucrative pastures. As stated before, the Rangers would love to have Jagr back But they only would like him for a 1-year deal. Jagr and his agent, however, are seeking at least 2-years guaranteed. Omsk in the Russian Super-League has made a rather large offer for Jagr - 3 years, $35 million American, after-tax.
That's quite the deal. And though Jagr would like to return to the Rangers next season, Sather would be unwise to match Omsk's offer.
I would love to see a motivated, point-producing Jagr - like we saw at the end of last year and in the playoffs - back in a Blueshirt this coming year. Unfortunately, it's looking more and more unlikely. Even a two-year guaranteed deal for him would be a stretch. Who knows when the Washington Capitals Jagr will return - at his age, a decline is almost certain, and when he's not motivated, the results are disastrous.
So now what for the Rangers? Certainly not pursuing another aging, rapidly declining forward, right?
OH...WAIT A MINUTE! Let's go out and make MATS SUNDIN our number one priority.
Yes, that's right. Sources close to Glen Sather say that Mats Sundin will be the Rangers number one priority. So much for the Youth Movement on Broadway.
This is a decision that could tank the Rangers season and hurt them for several seasons to come. With Brandon Dubinsky, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, and Blair Betts already on the roster and under contract, why pursue Sundin? Yes, I could understand moving Drury or Gomez to a wing. Possibilities do exist there. But why not just re-sign Jagr to play on the wing then? No doubt Sundin wants a multi-year deal as well? Or better yet, why not focus on pursuing Marian Hossa? He's still in his prime, and he can play. Combining him with Drury or Gomez could pay dividends for the Rangers. Yet Sather still wants Sundin. Again, I can't say for sure what his plans are - I doubt anyone can. We're just going to have to wait and see what he decides this Tuesday.
Only a few days after reports surfaced saying that Martin Straka will return to his native Czech Republic, it appears that the Rangers will have one less Czech star on their team this coming Fall.
Jaromir Jagr appears poised to leave Broadway for more financially lucrative pastures. As stated before, the Rangers would love to have Jagr back But they only would like him for a 1-year deal. Jagr and his agent, however, are seeking at least 2-years guaranteed. Omsk in the Russian Super-League has made a rather large offer for Jagr - 3 years, $35 million American, after-tax.
That's quite the deal. And though Jagr would like to return to the Rangers next season, Sather would be unwise to match Omsk's offer.
I would love to see a motivated, point-producing Jagr - like we saw at the end of last year and in the playoffs - back in a Blueshirt this coming year. Unfortunately, it's looking more and more unlikely. Even a two-year guaranteed deal for him would be a stretch. Who knows when the Washington Capitals Jagr will return - at his age, a decline is almost certain, and when he's not motivated, the results are disastrous.
So now what for the Rangers? Certainly not pursuing another aging, rapidly declining forward, right?
OH...WAIT A MINUTE! Let's go out and make MATS SUNDIN our number one priority.
Yes, that's right. Sources close to Glen Sather say that Mats Sundin will be the Rangers number one priority. So much for the Youth Movement on Broadway.
This is a decision that could tank the Rangers season and hurt them for several seasons to come. With Brandon Dubinsky, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, and Blair Betts already on the roster and under contract, why pursue Sundin? Yes, I could understand moving Drury or Gomez to a wing. Possibilities do exist there. But why not just re-sign Jagr to play on the wing then? No doubt Sundin wants a multi-year deal as well? Or better yet, why not focus on pursuing Marian Hossa? He's still in his prime, and he can play. Combining him with Drury or Gomez could pay dividends for the Rangers. Yet Sather still wants Sundin. Again, I can't say for sure what his plans are - I doubt anyone can. We're just going to have to wait and see what he decides this Tuesday.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
A quick update...
Well, just as I suspected - Martin Straka will not be returning to the New York Rangers next season.
Instead, he'll be going back to the Czech Republic to play with his old club there.
This gives Sather one fewer person to think about re-signing...but it still leaves a hole in the offense. The Rangers do have internal options to fill the gap - guys like Callahan or Dawes - but I'm sure a Ryan Malone would look much nicer on that vacant wing.
Malone - Dubinsky- Jagr
Possibilites, no?
NOTE: This deal has reportedly not been finalized. Straka and his agent deny that the deal has been made. STILL, I believe the Rangers will not re-sign him. I suspect this is just a ploy to see if they can bring in any buyers from the NHL for more money. I doubt they will, and I expect Straka to return to Czech.
Instead, he'll be going back to the Czech Republic to play with his old club there.
This gives Sather one fewer person to think about re-signing...but it still leaves a hole in the offense. The Rangers do have internal options to fill the gap - guys like Callahan or Dawes - but I'm sure a Ryan Malone would look much nicer on that vacant wing.
Malone - Dubinsky- Jagr
Possibilites, no?
NOTE: This deal has reportedly not been finalized. Straka and his agent deny that the deal has been made. STILL, I believe the Rangers will not re-sign him. I suspect this is just a ploy to see if they can bring in any buyers from the NHL for more money. I doubt they will, and I expect Straka to return to Czech.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
What To Do?
Hey Glen Sather - wanna let us know what you're planning?
The ever-exciting Free Agency period is just around the corner. What's going to get done? Who goes where, for how much, and for how long? Who comes and who goes? All important questions that will keep the hockey community on edge for several days.
If you remember back to last year, the Rangers pulled off one of the biggest deals of the offseason - signing centers Chris Drury and Scott Gomez within hours of each other. 2 of the top 3 available center, both on the Rangers. Just wow. I remember I found out at the beach. I was sitting in the beach house, read the article, and proceeded to jump around like an idiot for several minutes.
Of course, the deals didn't work out quite as well as expected. Both players performed well on Broadway, but we all know they're capable of a bit more (especially out of Drury).
But first, a quick draft recap. The Entry Draft took place last Friday - and it was quite the event. The NHL made it as big as they ever had, and I think it captured many hockey fans' attentions. For the Rangers, they used their 1st round pick (20th overall) in a very deep draft to select OHL defenseman Michael Del Zotto - an incredibly gifted defenseman with a knack for offense. If he can improve his defensive game, he may be the next Niklas Lidstrom. Here's a rundown of their picks:
No. 20, Michael Del Zotto, D, Oshawa (OHL) - Incredible on-ice vision, makes great passes, could be one of the best in the league
No. 51, Derek Stepan, C, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (USHS) - Gifted skater and puck-handler, great skills and dazzling abilities
No. 75, Evgeny Grachev, C, Yaroslval (Russia) – True power forward, gritty and hard nosed; possesses great raw talent
No. 90, Tomas Kundratek, D, Trinec (Czech Republic) – Solid skater, good defensive abilities
No. 111, Dale Weise, RW, Swift Current (WHL) – Big, bruising forward with good hands
No. 141, Chris Doyle, C, PEI (QMJHL) – Another big forward, showed solid development and improvement
No. 171, Mitch Gaulton, D, Erie (OHL) – Could be the steal of the draft; nagged by injuries, but one of the most purely talented defenders in the draft
And that brings us to this offseason - what does Sather do now? He's got some major questions to address, including impending team free agents, as well as gaping holes in the lineup. It's not an easy situation to be in, and there's no easy way out of it.
The following is a list of Unrestricted Free Agents:
ufa: Sean Avery, Andrew Hutchinson, Jaromir Jagr, Darius Kasparaitis, Marek Malik, Paul Mara, Michal Rozsival, Brendan Shanahan, Martin Straka, Jason Strudwick, Stephen Valiquette
Some names jump out at you right away: Avery, Jagr, Rozsival, Shanahan, Straka. Essentially, you're looking at the Rangers' first power-play unit right there. The rest of the guys are all key players, but not as pressing to re-sign (except Kasparaitis, he was essentially loaned to a club in Europe, just like in Soccer).
Most reports indicate that Avery will not be re-signed. I'm conflicted with this decision. Avery is undoubtedly a huge part of the club. The Rangers play tougher when he's around, and they win much more often. But his asking price is $1.25 million more than what the Rangers are offering. I honestly don't think he's worth $4 million a year. Not when Chris Kelly just re-signed in Ottawa for just a bit over $2 million a year, and not when Avery's own agent compares him to Chris Kelly. If the Rangers can get Avery to come down on his asking price, there would be no hesitation on my part to re-sign the guy. Love him or hate him, he's tough to play against, and he's got hockey skill beyond trash talking. He can skate, he can score, he creates open ice...and he gets under the opponents' skin. A great package, but right now, a little too much money.
Next up: Jagr, Shanahan, and Straka. The three veteran forwards on the team, but also the three who are aging the most. No doubt each of them is a great hockey player, but you wonder how the skill has diminished. For Shanahan, I think the Rangers will wait and see what they get after the initial flurry of deals. If they have the room, then I think they'll bring him back; if not, I'm led to believe he'll retire. Who knows how effective he'll be if he does come back - he was hampered by injuries through most of last season, and his production showed it. But Shanny is a truly great leader, and one of the classiest guys in the game. I'd love to see him back, just at the right price. Straka is another great player, and I believe he's nearing the end of his career. When it comes down to it, I don't think we'll see Straka in Broadway Blue in 2008-2009. His production was down this past season, and I'm certain the Rangers are questioning how effective he can be. Again, like Shanny, I'd love to see him back - but at the right price.
Now the biggest of the big: Jaromir Jagr. This guy has been THE guy on Broadway since the lockout. His scoring ability has essentially carried the Rangers to three playoff berths. This past season, however, his scoring was down, and he looked unmotivated on the ice. He didn't have the same chemistry with Drury or Gomez that he did with Nylander. That changed when he got paired with Brandon Dubinsky - Jagr rediscovered his magic, brought the Rangers to a playoff berth, then was the best Ranger on the ice during the playoffs. It's obvious the guy can still play. And all reports out of Broadway suggest that Jagr wants to return to New York. I really hope this is the case. I feel Jagr has been so important to this team, letting him walk could be devastating. Hopefully he's willing to take a bit of a paycut to come back, but that's always a tough call with superstars. If he returns, I expect it to be a 1 year deal smothered with incentives for a possible 2nd year.
For the defenseman, Roszival must be re-signed. I don't think there should be a question. The guy's got loads of talent, and I feel he'll show it this upcoming year. He had a down season in 07-08, but I attribute that to some personal distractions, as well as injuries. Malik, on the other hand, can certainly be let go. He found his way into the doghouse this past year and never got out. The Rangers can do better. Mara was a productive defender, and he seemed to fit well with the Rangers. It wouldn't hurt to have another veteran back.
And Valiquette must be re-signed. He served admirably as Henrik Lundqvist's backup, and the Rangers need someone capable on the bench. Who knows what could happen? It's hockey, and freak things occur. Valiquette is the kind of guy you can call upon at any minute, and he'll step up and win games.
Looking to the Free Agent pool, the Rangers have some options. On offense, they have wingers Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone, Markus Naslund, Pavol Demitra, Miroslav Satan, Michael Ryder, and Brian Rolston. There's plenty of depth underneath that as well. On defense, guys like Brian Campbell, Wade Redden, John-Michael Liles, Brooks Orpik, and Mark Streit are available, again with depth underneath.
So what will Sather do? We all know from past experiences that he has a flair for the dramatic and flashy - so don't count out getting Hossa and Campbell while letting some of the incumbent players walk. With Sather, it's always a possibility. But I feel this would be a short-sighted and ultimately damning move. I think a healthy, rejuvenated Jagr combined with a Ryan Malone could be more effective overall than a Hossa. I feel that a motivated Roszival combined with a Liles, Orpik, or Streit would also be more effective than Campbell. The Rangers need to pick their pieces wisely here, there are many combinations - but only so many will work with the Rangers remaining salary cap.
There have also been talks linking Maple Leaf's star Mats Sundin to the Rangers. I honestly hope this is a sick joke being played by some bored NY Sports' writer. Why would the Rangers pursue Sundin? Hasn't Sather learned his lesson? With a team that boasts Drury, Gomez, Dubinsky, and Blair Betts, why would you need Sundin - a 36 year old center who has obviously lost some of his touch...? I have the utmost respect for Mats Sundin - it's hard not to, the guy is a future Hall of Famer - but I don't think he has a place on Broadway. Sather is better off spending him money elsewhere.
So back to the all-important question: what are the Rangers to do? Honestly, I'm not sure. I'm not sure anyone really knows - including Glen Sather. He's got a lot to think about, and a lot sitting on his plate. The expectations are higher than ever on Broadway now - 2007/2008 was a disappointment, the Rangers were a Stanley Cup favorite. Sather needs to find a way to keep the core of the past teams together, because that's the group that has experienced the most success. But there are some holes that obviously need to be filled. The Draft helps - the Rangers picked up some great guys, and their farm system is loaded with talent. I expect several of those guys to crack the Rangers' roster this season.
Overall, the Rangers immediate future is not so certain - but the next few years look very bright. With guys like Dubinsky, Lundqvist, Girardi, Staal, Gomez, Drury, plus all the players in the minors (Del Zotto, Sanguinetti, Cherepanov, Anisimov, Byers, Dupont, Jessiman, Korpikoski...), the Rangers have a solid core to build off of. If they can add the few little pieces, there's no doubt that they could compete this season for a Stanley Cup. I have no questions in my mind, however, that the Rangers will be back into the Finals within the next few years - they're just too stacked with talent, the future is too bright.
So for now, I'll leave you to contemplate the pros and cons of re-signing Jaromir Jagr, pursuing Mats Sundin, and Vinny Lecavalier's 9 year $77 million deal.
The ever-exciting Free Agency period is just around the corner. What's going to get done? Who goes where, for how much, and for how long? Who comes and who goes? All important questions that will keep the hockey community on edge for several days.
If you remember back to last year, the Rangers pulled off one of the biggest deals of the offseason - signing centers Chris Drury and Scott Gomez within hours of each other. 2 of the top 3 available center, both on the Rangers. Just wow. I remember I found out at the beach. I was sitting in the beach house, read the article, and proceeded to jump around like an idiot for several minutes.
Of course, the deals didn't work out quite as well as expected. Both players performed well on Broadway, but we all know they're capable of a bit more (especially out of Drury).
But first, a quick draft recap. The Entry Draft took place last Friday - and it was quite the event. The NHL made it as big as they ever had, and I think it captured many hockey fans' attentions. For the Rangers, they used their 1st round pick (20th overall) in a very deep draft to select OHL defenseman Michael Del Zotto - an incredibly gifted defenseman with a knack for offense. If he can improve his defensive game, he may be the next Niklas Lidstrom. Here's a rundown of their picks:
No. 20, Michael Del Zotto, D, Oshawa (OHL) - Incredible on-ice vision, makes great passes, could be one of the best in the league
No. 51, Derek Stepan, C, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (USHS) - Gifted skater and puck-handler, great skills and dazzling abilities
No. 75, Evgeny Grachev, C, Yaroslval (Russia) – True power forward, gritty and hard nosed; possesses great raw talent
No. 90, Tomas Kundratek, D, Trinec (Czech Republic) – Solid skater, good defensive abilities
No. 111, Dale Weise, RW, Swift Current (WHL) – Big, bruising forward with good hands
No. 141, Chris Doyle, C, PEI (QMJHL) – Another big forward, showed solid development and improvement
No. 171, Mitch Gaulton, D, Erie (OHL) – Could be the steal of the draft; nagged by injuries, but one of the most purely talented defenders in the draft
And that brings us to this offseason - what does Sather do now? He's got some major questions to address, including impending team free agents, as well as gaping holes in the lineup. It's not an easy situation to be in, and there's no easy way out of it.
The following is a list of Unrestricted Free Agents:
ufa: Sean Avery, Andrew Hutchinson, Jaromir Jagr, Darius Kasparaitis, Marek Malik, Paul Mara, Michal Rozsival, Brendan Shanahan, Martin Straka, Jason Strudwick, Stephen Valiquette
Some names jump out at you right away: Avery, Jagr, Rozsival, Shanahan, Straka. Essentially, you're looking at the Rangers' first power-play unit right there. The rest of the guys are all key players, but not as pressing to re-sign (except Kasparaitis, he was essentially loaned to a club in Europe, just like in Soccer).
Most reports indicate that Avery will not be re-signed. I'm conflicted with this decision. Avery is undoubtedly a huge part of the club. The Rangers play tougher when he's around, and they win much more often. But his asking price is $1.25 million more than what the Rangers are offering. I honestly don't think he's worth $4 million a year. Not when Chris Kelly just re-signed in Ottawa for just a bit over $2 million a year, and not when Avery's own agent compares him to Chris Kelly. If the Rangers can get Avery to come down on his asking price, there would be no hesitation on my part to re-sign the guy. Love him or hate him, he's tough to play against, and he's got hockey skill beyond trash talking. He can skate, he can score, he creates open ice...and he gets under the opponents' skin. A great package, but right now, a little too much money.
Next up: Jagr, Shanahan, and Straka. The three veteran forwards on the team, but also the three who are aging the most. No doubt each of them is a great hockey player, but you wonder how the skill has diminished. For Shanahan, I think the Rangers will wait and see what they get after the initial flurry of deals. If they have the room, then I think they'll bring him back; if not, I'm led to believe he'll retire. Who knows how effective he'll be if he does come back - he was hampered by injuries through most of last season, and his production showed it. But Shanny is a truly great leader, and one of the classiest guys in the game. I'd love to see him back, just at the right price. Straka is another great player, and I believe he's nearing the end of his career. When it comes down to it, I don't think we'll see Straka in Broadway Blue in 2008-2009. His production was down this past season, and I'm certain the Rangers are questioning how effective he can be. Again, like Shanny, I'd love to see him back - but at the right price.
Now the biggest of the big: Jaromir Jagr. This guy has been THE guy on Broadway since the lockout. His scoring ability has essentially carried the Rangers to three playoff berths. This past season, however, his scoring was down, and he looked unmotivated on the ice. He didn't have the same chemistry with Drury or Gomez that he did with Nylander. That changed when he got paired with Brandon Dubinsky - Jagr rediscovered his magic, brought the Rangers to a playoff berth, then was the best Ranger on the ice during the playoffs. It's obvious the guy can still play. And all reports out of Broadway suggest that Jagr wants to return to New York. I really hope this is the case. I feel Jagr has been so important to this team, letting him walk could be devastating. Hopefully he's willing to take a bit of a paycut to come back, but that's always a tough call with superstars. If he returns, I expect it to be a 1 year deal smothered with incentives for a possible 2nd year.
For the defenseman, Roszival must be re-signed. I don't think there should be a question. The guy's got loads of talent, and I feel he'll show it this upcoming year. He had a down season in 07-08, but I attribute that to some personal distractions, as well as injuries. Malik, on the other hand, can certainly be let go. He found his way into the doghouse this past year and never got out. The Rangers can do better. Mara was a productive defender, and he seemed to fit well with the Rangers. It wouldn't hurt to have another veteran back.
And Valiquette must be re-signed. He served admirably as Henrik Lundqvist's backup, and the Rangers need someone capable on the bench. Who knows what could happen? It's hockey, and freak things occur. Valiquette is the kind of guy you can call upon at any minute, and he'll step up and win games.
Looking to the Free Agent pool, the Rangers have some options. On offense, they have wingers Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone, Markus Naslund, Pavol Demitra, Miroslav Satan, Michael Ryder, and Brian Rolston. There's plenty of depth underneath that as well. On defense, guys like Brian Campbell, Wade Redden, John-Michael Liles, Brooks Orpik, and Mark Streit are available, again with depth underneath.
So what will Sather do? We all know from past experiences that he has a flair for the dramatic and flashy - so don't count out getting Hossa and Campbell while letting some of the incumbent players walk. With Sather, it's always a possibility. But I feel this would be a short-sighted and ultimately damning move. I think a healthy, rejuvenated Jagr combined with a Ryan Malone could be more effective overall than a Hossa. I feel that a motivated Roszival combined with a Liles, Orpik, or Streit would also be more effective than Campbell. The Rangers need to pick their pieces wisely here, there are many combinations - but only so many will work with the Rangers remaining salary cap.
There have also been talks linking Maple Leaf's star Mats Sundin to the Rangers. I honestly hope this is a sick joke being played by some bored NY Sports' writer. Why would the Rangers pursue Sundin? Hasn't Sather learned his lesson? With a team that boasts Drury, Gomez, Dubinsky, and Blair Betts, why would you need Sundin - a 36 year old center who has obviously lost some of his touch...? I have the utmost respect for Mats Sundin - it's hard not to, the guy is a future Hall of Famer - but I don't think he has a place on Broadway. Sather is better off spending him money elsewhere.
So back to the all-important question: what are the Rangers to do? Honestly, I'm not sure. I'm not sure anyone really knows - including Glen Sather. He's got a lot to think about, and a lot sitting on his plate. The expectations are higher than ever on Broadway now - 2007/2008 was a disappointment, the Rangers were a Stanley Cup favorite. Sather needs to find a way to keep the core of the past teams together, because that's the group that has experienced the most success. But there are some holes that obviously need to be filled. The Draft helps - the Rangers picked up some great guys, and their farm system is loaded with talent. I expect several of those guys to crack the Rangers' roster this season.
Overall, the Rangers immediate future is not so certain - but the next few years look very bright. With guys like Dubinsky, Lundqvist, Girardi, Staal, Gomez, Drury, plus all the players in the minors (Del Zotto, Sanguinetti, Cherepanov, Anisimov, Byers, Dupont, Jessiman, Korpikoski...), the Rangers have a solid core to build off of. If they can add the few little pieces, there's no doubt that they could compete this season for a Stanley Cup. I have no questions in my mind, however, that the Rangers will be back into the Finals within the next few years - they're just too stacked with talent, the future is too bright.
So for now, I'll leave you to contemplate the pros and cons of re-signing Jaromir Jagr, pursuing Mats Sundin, and Vinny Lecavalier's 9 year $77 million deal.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Epic Fail
Yes, I have epically failed in keeping this updated.
Unfortunately, the Rangers' season came to a close with a 5 game series loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins - who, of course, went on to lose to the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Congrats to Detroit, they deserve it (I feel it would've been a failure of a season had they NOT won the Cup...).
Last week was the NHL Awards Show. Henrik Lundqvist, for the 3rd year in a row, did not win the Vezina Trophy. I feel this year should have been his year. Brodeur certainly should not have won it. I respect the man greatly, and I think he's revolutionized the position of goaltender...but if not Lundqvist, then certainly Nabakov. He had a great season for a very solid Sharks team. He almost equaled the record for wins in a season (held by Brodeur). Lundqvist certainly had the credentials this time around - the numbers were great, and he led the league in shutouts, and it was his 3rd straight season with 30+ wins. Also, he played on a team with a vastly under-performing offense and a no-name, inexperienced defense. Remember the beginning of the season, where Lundqvist was considered a favorite for the MVP right out of the gate? Yes, he struggled in the middle - his father was facing serious, life-threatening medical conditions in Sweden - but Lundqvist played through it. He turned it on down the stretch, yet again, to propel the Rangers into the playoffs for the 3rd straight year. He also beat Brodeur all but once in the regular season. 7 out of 8 game, I believe. He outperformed him each time out. But I doubt voters even took him seriously. Really, what is it going to take for Lundqvist to be taken seriously?
Anyway - tonight is the Entry Draft, and the Rangers have the 20th pick. It's a pretty deep draft this year, though I understand that there are fewer "Crosbys" or "Ovechkins" - just a lot of very talented players. That's the best kind of draft, in my opinion. We should get a lot of respectable NHLers out of this one. Even with the 20th pick, the Rangers have a chance to bolster their farm system immediately - combine that with their abundant youth and talent already, and the Rangers should be set for seasons to come.
Looking to the future, Free Agency is just around the window. The Blueshirts have many issues to address. They need to either re-sign or replace Jaromir Jagr, Sean Avery, Brendan Shanahan, Martin Straka, and Michal Roszival, plus bolster their offensive depth and defensive depth. That's a lot to have to do when you're working under the salary cap. I think they need to bring back Jagr - at a discount hopefully - as well as Avery. He's a catalyst, and as much as people hate him, he plays hard. Shanahan may not have much left, and the same goes for Straka - either one year deals or let them go. Roszival is a big one - I want him back, and I think he should be back. He's a gifted player, and still pretty young. It'll be tough to add him and another top-tier guy (Liles from Colorado or Campbell from San Jose), but they could add a lesser guy (Streit from Montreal) to help shore up an inexperienced blueline. As far as other free agents go, Hossa is a possibility, but one I highly doubt. Malone is more likely, but I don't see him coming into Rangers' Blue anytime soon. Honestly, I think the Rangers are best off resigning their key guys, shoring up the defense, and grooming some younger AHLers. They showed they have a talented team - they just need to add a few pieces. As a good friend of mine told me, this wasn't their year, and next year may not be either - but they're going to be a very, very dangerous team in a few seasons. The depth of their youthful talent is awesome.
Otherwise, there hasn't been much going on in the Rangers' world recently. Avery is interning at Vogue Magazine, for those who care to know. Until next time, which hopefully won't be quite as long, I leave you to ponder Lundqvist's qualifications as a Vezina winner, the Rangers' farm system, and Avery's fashion sense.
(Note: I'll be attempting to keep these a bit more informal, like this one - it makes them easier to write. But I'll have several very formal posts as well)
Unfortunately, the Rangers' season came to a close with a 5 game series loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins - who, of course, went on to lose to the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Congrats to Detroit, they deserve it (I feel it would've been a failure of a season had they NOT won the Cup...).
Last week was the NHL Awards Show. Henrik Lundqvist, for the 3rd year in a row, did not win the Vezina Trophy. I feel this year should have been his year. Brodeur certainly should not have won it. I respect the man greatly, and I think he's revolutionized the position of goaltender...but if not Lundqvist, then certainly Nabakov. He had a great season for a very solid Sharks team. He almost equaled the record for wins in a season (held by Brodeur). Lundqvist certainly had the credentials this time around - the numbers were great, and he led the league in shutouts, and it was his 3rd straight season with 30+ wins. Also, he played on a team with a vastly under-performing offense and a no-name, inexperienced defense. Remember the beginning of the season, where Lundqvist was considered a favorite for the MVP right out of the gate? Yes, he struggled in the middle - his father was facing serious, life-threatening medical conditions in Sweden - but Lundqvist played through it. He turned it on down the stretch, yet again, to propel the Rangers into the playoffs for the 3rd straight year. He also beat Brodeur all but once in the regular season. 7 out of 8 game, I believe. He outperformed him each time out. But I doubt voters even took him seriously. Really, what is it going to take for Lundqvist to be taken seriously?
Anyway - tonight is the Entry Draft, and the Rangers have the 20th pick. It's a pretty deep draft this year, though I understand that there are fewer "Crosbys" or "Ovechkins" - just a lot of very talented players. That's the best kind of draft, in my opinion. We should get a lot of respectable NHLers out of this one. Even with the 20th pick, the Rangers have a chance to bolster their farm system immediately - combine that with their abundant youth and talent already, and the Rangers should be set for seasons to come.
Looking to the future, Free Agency is just around the window. The Blueshirts have many issues to address. They need to either re-sign or replace Jaromir Jagr, Sean Avery, Brendan Shanahan, Martin Straka, and Michal Roszival, plus bolster their offensive depth and defensive depth. That's a lot to have to do when you're working under the salary cap. I think they need to bring back Jagr - at a discount hopefully - as well as Avery. He's a catalyst, and as much as people hate him, he plays hard. Shanahan may not have much left, and the same goes for Straka - either one year deals or let them go. Roszival is a big one - I want him back, and I think he should be back. He's a gifted player, and still pretty young. It'll be tough to add him and another top-tier guy (Liles from Colorado or Campbell from San Jose), but they could add a lesser guy (Streit from Montreal) to help shore up an inexperienced blueline. As far as other free agents go, Hossa is a possibility, but one I highly doubt. Malone is more likely, but I don't see him coming into Rangers' Blue anytime soon. Honestly, I think the Rangers are best off resigning their key guys, shoring up the defense, and grooming some younger AHLers. They showed they have a talented team - they just need to add a few pieces. As a good friend of mine told me, this wasn't their year, and next year may not be either - but they're going to be a very, very dangerous team in a few seasons. The depth of their youthful talent is awesome.
Otherwise, there hasn't been much going on in the Rangers' world recently. Avery is interning at Vogue Magazine, for those who care to know. Until next time, which hopefully won't be quite as long, I leave you to ponder Lundqvist's qualifications as a Vezina winner, the Rangers' farm system, and Avery's fashion sense.
(Note: I'll be attempting to keep these a bit more informal, like this one - it makes them easier to write. But I'll have several very formal posts as well)
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