Well, Dark here.
With the pre-season almost behind us, another loss to Tampa last night (now 1-4 in the pre-season) and one more big one to go here in the states (Devils, Sat. 1pm at MSG) you can be sure that we will finally see what will be closer to our starting roster and get a better sense of what this team will look like.
Long gone are the declarations of the "Gomez-Zherdev" chemistry and "this is the year of Prucha", and aside from the Kalinen (Malik) disaster ahead, one thing or another is for sure having watched all of these Renny-pre-season-experiments:
1. We will struggle with the power play again -- maybe cuts need to be made with our special team coaches.
2. We will outshoot every team we play and have difficulty finishing.
3. We will be relying on Henrik Lundqvist to create the wall necessary to solidify our defense.
4. On the positive side -- we are a fast team and with good coaching and hard work, this mix of veterans and youth could chemically become (there I go again with chemistry!!?) a team that can compete on a Cup level. With the perimeter play of Jagr, Straka, and dare I say, Shanny gone -- whatever the squad looks like, Slats and Renney have answered one of the missing links to the Rangers of the least three seasons -- a 'going to the net' offensive mantra. Thank God. With our 'ho-hum' defensive system in place for another season, it appears as though this system will be counter-balanced with potentially explosive front lines. I have to admit this is exciting stuff.
5. Not one Rangers blog has mentioned "Mats Sundin" in the last couple of weeks. I am happy with that.
Some terrific links regarding the roster and last nights game I would recommend, here (Blueshirt Bulletin), or here (Ranger Pundit), or here (Rangers Report).
The Dark Ranger is back with 'loving and hating' the team I always admire -- look out for a swarm of followers and flash-mobs wearing the latest TDR t-shirts at the Garden this season. The spirit of The Dark Ranger will be in Prague looking to diffuse any stormy weather and Lightning ahead. Keep checking in and thanks for the summer time off.
Jagr is gone. A dark tear is running down my cheek.
tdr
Hey Dark there you go again with politics again with the Palin video on your site. But it is about hockey (and hilarious) so I commend you for mending the two. You are right about the power play which looks awful. At what point does management see the same failed special team plays repeated themselves? Also get me one of those t-shirts. :)
ReplyDeleteHey...anyone who was offended on the original Palin comments aren't coming back anyway....so we are surrounded by FRIENDS...
ReplyDeleteDJ, we are a Dark ministry...you must first pass the TDR initiation to get a t-shirt. email me.
tdr
And what is this initiation???
ReplyDelete