The Dark Ranger: Grizzly Bear Moves North -- Habs Nab Mara

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).

Friday, July 10, 2009

Grizzly Bear Moves North -- Habs Nab Mara

Just announced today. Very sad. I will miss him but room must be made for the youngsters.

One year contract. No financial terms disclosed.

In Wikipedia, this should be the picture accompanying the entry "PLAYOFF Beard."

Paul bear-hugging Clarkson into submission.

Mara showing Alex Tanguay how much he will enjoy being his teammate.

Canadian teams raided the Rangers for Mara and Orr.

---Tony V

In other news, the Flyers lost Antero Niittymaki (which was a foregone conclusion) as he ends up with Tampa Bay. No terms announced at this time. He will compete with Mike Smith for the #1 goalie position. Smith missed the final half of the season with a concussion.

The Devils picked up a backup to replace Clemmenson by taking Yann Danis from the Isles. No financial terms announced. Dannis probably earned a bundle of Metro-North frequent rail miles with his numerous trips to Bridgeport during the past season. Provided that Brodeur is healthy, Danis will be a capable backup.

6 comments:

The Dark RangerJul 10, 2009 11:55 AM
I'll miss the NJ Bear...i think it is criminal we let him go --- he was more devoted to being a Ranger than most.
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djJul 10, 2009 12:09 PM
for the million it cost the rangers last season, he wasnt about to let that happen again. i would imagine he'll find 1.8 - 2M per year with montreal and i wish him the best of luck.

i agree Dark. he was about as loyal as they come, even though it was a for only a couple of season. nice jump on this take tony, the Dark-ness is pretty thorough this off-=season.

keep it up and i'll keep showin' up.
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Graying MantisJul 10, 2009 01:18 PM
DJ -- thanks for your comment and compliment.
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Puck CentralJul 10, 2009 03:34 PM
He probably won't be a teammate of Tanguay's though ;)
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joey the greatest ranger in historyJul 11, 2009 08:28 AM
Come on fellas there are thirty Paul Maras out there most of which are younger and cheaper. You all just like him cause he's from New Jersey.
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VitalyJul 14, 2009 07:03 PM
He signed 1 year contract with Habs for 1,675,000.

I don't understand why we couldn't keep him for this amount of money...
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