Hockey's back in NY!!! I loved hearing the talk radio guys, most of whom know very little about hockey, being forced to talk about hockey during the last several weeks. What were they talking about? How the NHL deliberately forced the Isles out of the playoffs with "fixed" officiating or maybe they were psyched about Yashin and Dipietro for the next 28,000 seasons!!! Ha!!! They were talking Rangers Hockey. The revival continues on Broadway and here's what management needs to do to keep it going next year:
1. Keep the focus on the plan: The Rangers recent success has generated a lot of excitement for Rangers' fans and has led to renewed interest in the team. Sports radio shows were actually talking hockey again-even Mike and the Mad Dog on FAN! Glenn Savior can't be seduced by this. He can't go back to the "entertainment only" approach that infected this franchise for the better part of 10 plus years. The renewed interest is the result of putting together a hockey team rather than the NHL's version of "I'm a washed up superstar-get me out of here!". Seems like an obvious point but remember, were talking about Glenn Savior and his boss Dolan Jr.
2. By the way, what's the plan?: Win the Stanley Cup in 2007-2008. Do it by putting together a team capable of playing playoff hockey with the right mix of capable veterans and hungry youngsters. What's playoff hockey? It's a grueling tournament that's won by character, desire, will power, grit, toughness, determination and, of course, skill. If there's anything the Sabres have taught the NHL this year it's that skill alone will work just fine in the regular season but it probably will not win the Cup. Not even in the new NHL. You definitely need a lot of skill, but you also need tough two-way players who can play old-time playoff hockey.
3. Should we bring in forwards or d-men? (the goaltending is obviously set): This one isn't as simple as it seems. The Rangers biggest weakness all year was defense. That means we should focus on signing d-men, right? Wrong. The team has to maintain the balance of rebuilding through the system and trying to win now. We've got two excellent prospects on defense: Mark Staal (who was voted the top d-man in the OHL this season) and Bobby Sanguinetti (who scored 23 goals in 67 games in the OHL this season). Bringing in expensive free agents on defense will take roster spots and ice time away from these two guys. Additionally we already have guys like Tyutin, Girardi, Pock, Mara and Roszival (all in their 20's) already back there. By signing free agent d-men we would definitely better our team today but what about tomorrow?
To me, the Rangers should focus on shoring up the offense. Yes, the forwards are better than the d-men, but we've got plenty of wholes up front as well. Furthermore, bringing in a couple of free agents up front will not stunt the teams development process: Although the Rangers have some good young prospects up front, none of them have first line potential. They may not even turn out to be bona-fide second liners. Which means we can go ahead and sign a couple of top forwards without taking away roster spots from the kids. Before deciding who to go after, we have to decide which spots are available, i.e. who do we let go? Here are the two most important decisions facing the Rangers up front:
1. Nylander: I'd keep him. He plays well with Jagr. Even though he's not a true #1 center (not even close) he has great chemistry with our #1 player. If this team is to have any success Jagr's needs must be met. Additionally, I'm not soled on any of the #1 center's on the market. Gomez is the best of the bunch and I'm not sure he'd fit here anyway. Why go out and spend a boat load of money on a #1 center and risk upsetting the team chemistry when you've already got a cheaper alternative who has proven his compatibility with the most important guy on the team?
2. Shanahan: This one is real tough. The players love him and he's clearly an integral part of the leadership of this team. I was concerned that his style wouldn't mesh with Jagr's and that there would be friction between the two. That does not seem to have happened at all. In fact, at the end of the season Jagr was pushing hard for Shanny's return. Jagr even talked about how Shanny's presence took a lot of the leadership responsibilities off of Jagr's shoulders and allowed him to focus more on playing the game. That's extremely important. Additionally, Shanny seemed to be instrumental in getting and keeping Avery's head screwed on straight. That's also extremely important as Avery seems poised to become an important piece of the Rangers' puzzle. On the other hand, Shanny's not getting any younger and he's definitely lost a couple of steps. The late season major concussion didn't help much either. As important as his off ice contributions are, the game is played and won on the ice. Giving Shanny quality PP minutes and second line ice time is a problem. After all is said and done I'd rather see the Rangers take Shanny's salary and apply it to signing a different left winger: Ryan Smyth. He's also a tough, gritty,two-way character guy and he's much younger and faster. If they can't sign Smyth I'd bring Shanny back.
The last major signing the Rangers need to make is Chris Drury. He's not as fancy as Gomez and he's not as exciting as Briere, but he's a character two way playoff performer. Perfect second line center. I'd love to see him play with a guy like Avery.
Throughput the remainder of the season we'll talk more about each of the roster spots and who should play where. Obviously we'll have to factor in the salary cap. But for today we've identified the "big picture" issues and the major moves the Rangers need to make to win it all. Don't let the New York haters fool you, we're not as far as people think. Have a great weekend everyone.
Very into it, except I disagree with you that the Rangers primary target should be offencemen. (yes, I spell it with a 'C', as all Europeans do). I've been saying for some time now that althoguh the league has made it's attempts to bring back the finesse game, it is the power game of the NHL that wins. The Rangers need to bulk up at every position. That's why I recommended that if we are to get offence, it should be in the form of Ryan Smyth. But we need to bring in big hitting defencemen. Especially in our division, we cannot get by without tough players. But who knows what Savior will do- for 30 years he has subscribed to the finesse philosophy, even though it hasn't worked for almost 20 years now.
Posted by: MOSS | May 18, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Moss:
Thank's for your comment. I kind of agree with your comments regarding the forwards: I agree that they must have grit and a physical presence but at the same time they have to be able to skate and play the game. That's why I'm calling for Drury and Smyth. As for the d-men, although I'd like to see the Rangers play a more traditional defensive game where the d-men are more physical and actually chip the puck out of the zone, that's just not going to be the case. The Rangers d-men play a puck possession game even in the defensive zone. They always look to control the puck and make short passes out of the zone. That's the finessee/euro style this team plays as it's built around Jagr. That's not going to change. Bringing in old school hard hitting d-men will upset the chemistry. If they bring in the forwards I listed I think that the forwards would be well suited to give the d-men a lot of support and Lundqvist will still be there to fill in a lot of the holes. Also, by not bringing in additional d-men you leave roles for their top level prospects to fill.
Posted by: The Hockey Rabbi | May 18, 2007 at 01:01 PM
It's just great listening to Rangers fans "I want Ryan Smyth" "No I want Chris Drury"!!! You sound like two kids at toys r' us fighting over which Cabbage Patch doll is cuter. Haven't you learned anything from Savior's free spending ways? As long as Glen Sather is smoking his cigar in that luxury suite, you will never win the big prize. You will get mercinaries, big names & quick fixes who don't quite work out:
Theo Fleury
Eric Lindros
Peter Nedved
Darius Kasparaitis
Pavel Bure
Anson Carter
Bobby Holik
Impressive list no? And that's just what Dolan Dollars can buy. Let's head over to the scouting department shall we?
Dan Blackburn
Jamie Lundmark
Manny Malhotra
Pavel Brendl
The first player was supposed to be the next Patrick Roy. The next two players were dubbed "future captain of the NY Rangers" in the respective years they were drafted. The 4th guy was supposed to score 50 plus goals each season for the next decade. Now we all have our Dave Chysowski moments, but the players I listed were the cream of the crop... not the latter round blunders! These were the GOOD picks!
Glen Sather is the most overrated GM in all of sports. He is too self-absorbed to realize that he can't put a team together today based on a reputation from 25 years ago. And before you write a whole paragraph mocking Garth Snow- I would rather have him as my GM than Savior because he's young, eager to learn, and hungry for success. Savior will NEVER take advice from those around him. Those around him probably wouldn't dare approach him with their two cents anywway. And I'm sure he'd be happy to talk about the glory days to anyone who's willing to listen. Or just talk period... here are two of my favorite quotes of his.
The first one goes back to I think the 2003 season when the boobirds were raining down from the garden seats:
"Well, that's the way it works in sports. You cheer and help the team get better. You boo them, they get worse. It's the same as your children. If you have a child who is having trouble in school and you berate him every day he's never going to get any better. You encourage him. ... he'll get better."
So Glen what you're saying is that it's the fans' fault that the team sucks?
But my favorite quote from Glan Sather is from when he was GM of Edmonton in 1995:
"If I had the budget of the New York Rangers I would win the Stanley Cup every year."
Uhhhhh, What???
Posted by: thedirtyboy | May 18, 2007 at 02:47 PM
Wow! thedirtyboy needs more help than I thought. Listen to him ranting and raving. First its Savior stinks. I know that, I referred to it my post. That can't be what has gotten him so upset.
Then it's a complaint about the Rangers free spending ways. I agree with that too. In the past the Rangers cared more about entertainment then hockey. They spent way too much money without having any hockey plan. I referred to that in my post as well (I even made fun of the team for it by calling them the Ranger$). So that can't be what's bothering him.
Then it's some rambling about Chyzowski and the Rangers' drafting history. The Rangers' drafting record is pathetic. Everyone knows that (although I don't consider Blackburn a bust. He looked like the real deal until he was forced to retire due to an injury). Granted none of the players he mentioned were the 2nd over all pick like Chyzowski. Come to think of it, Chyzowski was a far worse pick than any of the players on his list. Chyzowski was one of the worst picks of the last 20 years. Maybe that's it! Maybe thedirtyboy is projecting his frustrations over the Islanders draft failures onto the Rangers. Wait a second...it goes even deeper than that. Has there ever been a team like the Isles who cant't even get much out of their good picks (Luongo, Brewer, McCabe, Redden,Chara, etc....)Maybe that's it! he can't face the reality of his teams failures and instead he projects them on to the Rangers. Hmmmm. Interesting. But, no I don't think that's it. What could be bothering this guy? I need to figure this out so that I could help him..... Oh wait a second....I got it.... it's coming to me..... could it be...is it maybe....perhaps.....YES! THAT'S IT!!! DID I MENTION UNIONDALE?!?!?!
Posted by: The Hockey Rabbi | May 18, 2007 at 03:54 PM
so basically...
1) You agreed with everything I said about the Rangers
2) You added that the Isles DO know how to draft. (Nice touch b/c I forgot to point that out myself)
3) You agreed again that Milbury is an idiot!
That's no fun- you're admitting to too much here. I'm sure the younger offspring will find a way to refute these truths with some more of his usual biased banter.
oh and one last read for you Moss before you do. The following is a link to an article that I would say is the most accurate, ballsy, and refreshing I've read in a long time. It was the first thing that came to mind when you compared yourself to Roger Clemens.
http://www.newsday.com/search/ny-spwally105206509may10,0,3999803.column
Posted by: thedirtyboy | May 18, 2007 at 04:26 PM
oy nebach! Of course I'm agreeing with you, dirtyboy. That's the point. You see, the Rangers could do everything backwards. They could make every mistake in the book and they'd still be New York's favorite son. The icelanders on the other hand, could do everything perfectly, they could even win 4 cups in a row and they'd still be....irrelevant. I know it's not fun my friend, treating Ranger Envy never is.
Posted by: The Hockey Rabbi | May 19, 2007 at 10:44 PM
By the way, stop with the baseball stuff. You're going to make me pull a hamstring.
Posted by: The Hockey Rabbi | May 19, 2007 at 10:46 PM
To the Hockey Rabbi:
As I so easily predicted, all the responses given by this 'dirtyboy' are clear cut symptoms of envy. As a devout fan of this blog, I implore you to stick to writing about hockey & the rangers, rather than give this poor thing a forum in which to vent his frustrations.
Posted by: MOSS | May 21, 2007 at 05:25 AM