The Dark Ranger: Naslund hangs up the skates....

Bio of TDR

TDR is a working professional in entertainment and is obsessed with the game of hockey. More four years ago, this site emerged as a means (or an outlet) to tell some truth'isms about the game post-lockout, rather than the crud fed to us through knuckleheads like Jimmy Dolan and his lemmings universe. Today, there are a hundred Rangers sites and is thankful and grateful to all those that have come after him, but honorable thanks go to his fellow Dark-writers, Graying Mantis and J_Undisputed. And "Let's Go Rangers!"

Bio of Graying Mantis

Graying Mantis is in fact a graying legal practitioner by day (and sometimes, alas, by night). In the cobwebs of his memory, he recalls starting to follow the Blueshirts in 1970 and remembers watching pivotal playoff games against the Blackhawks on a snow-covered Hartford t.v. channel in their 1972 march to the Finals. Giacomin, Gilbert, Ratelle, and Hadfield seen skating on a small B&W TV screens always will be among his first Ranger memories. He is grateful beyond words for the opportunity to work with his colleagues here in their never ending battle to inform and entertain. Most of all, he appreciates the chance to engage with fellow hockey fans.

Bio of J_Undisputed

"J_Undisputed is an Information Tech Professional; a student, and on and off in his dreams, Mike Richter. He caught his first glimpse of Rangers Hockey when an overtime preempted his favorite pro wrestling broadcast on WWOR-9 one late saturday night when he was 5 and he's been hooked ever since. He's been watching the Rangers for 30 years despite family attempts to make him an Islander Fan (Rest easy...they're out of the will). What started as a minor annoyance has become a life long passion (and at times, a frustration...But he wouldn't trade it for anything). Lets Go Rangers!"

Bio of General Ganz

General Ganz is a cynical yet well-informed student of the human spirit. He's a professional of sorts, with a post-graduate education, some experience working in real companies, and some limited athletic ability. The total small package. He got picked on a fair bit as a kid, and he experienced his first human-non-relation kiss in his teens. He also grew up on the other side of the tracks, thereby helping to cultivate a healthy contempt for dreamers and optimists whose rosy upbringing gave them something to smile about, even when "life produced lemons." Like it or not, his only mission is to point out the potholes you're lucky enough to miss on your drive to work. To find the blemish on your daughter's carefully-stitched (and not-yet-paid-for) wedding dress. To take that little smidgen of hope that your favorite hockey teams fill you with, and pour orange paint on it. Oh, and he is a Blueshirts fan, and takes most of his fashion direction from Ron Duguay (whose name he dropped as a way to close the deal on that first kiss).

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Naslund hangs up the skates....

A few days ago, Markus Naslund provided the Rangers with some cap relief by announcing his retirement. Signed to a 2 year contract, he decided only to stay for one. The game probably just wasn't the same for him. One could argue the same could be said for his last days in Vancouver that saw him given the cold shoulder from the management and many of the fans.
While we hardly got to know Markus, he does deserve a proper send off and heres to hoping Vancouver does the right thing by him and gives him some sort of recognition for his time with them. What I did see of Naslund from the one season he was here, was that while he wasn't known as an aggressive guy, he did finish his checks and did make some good defensive plays in front of the net at good times. He scored his share of goals and made some quality assists for us and while some fans may point to his point totals and claim they didn't meet expectations, he was on par for what his averages were at this stage in his career. (Too often, we expect an aging vet or restoration project to come here flourish under the garden lights, walk on water and be our savior.) I thought he stepped up at key times in his role as alternate Capt. when it came to campaigning to the refs.(even more so than our actual captain)and even through down for the second time in his career. (ok, it was more like a shoving/wrestling match, but he was willing). The point is, the Naslund never showed that there was anything he was unwilling to do on this team for year he was here. As Ranger fans we should appreciate that. Good Luck Markus...Stay Classy.

-J_Undisputed

3 comments:

RudyMay 7, 2009 08:27 AM
Naslund was a soldier. He worked hard day in and day out and we never heard any complaining from this guy. Its no secret why this guy was handed the "A" before suiting up one game as a Ranger. With all that was written about his demise he still lead our putrid offense in goals last year. A very classy individual that will be missed. All the best Markus!!!!
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FAUX RUMORSMay 11, 2009 12:56 PM
1) Have to give the guy credit for saving the team the choice of having to either buy him out or play another season.
2) Have to wonder though if he wasn't told that if he didn't retire that he would be riding busses in Hartford?
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Graying MantisMay 13, 2009 04:46 AM
Nice tribute, J. He did what was expected of him, including realizing that he just could not perform at the level he expected. I'm gld we got to watch him play in Ranger blue for a season. And only one season.
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