Can The Blueshirts Break the Bad?

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." - Oscar Wilde (perhaps referring to all New York Rangers fans)

With training camp approaching September 17, we are all gearing up our constitutions and dusting off our hockey jersies for another Glen Sather season of 'this is the year'.  Some firepower and grit has been added to the team during the off-season (albeit for large contracts - business as usual), but regardless of where we left off (not making the playoffs for the first time post-lockout) the core of last year's team is intact.

Here is the roster signed as of this post. 

There have recently been some new player additions added to the roster - Steve Eminger here, Todd White here and Tim Kennedy here.  Henrik Lundqvist finally has backup Marty Biron to take some of the weight off his shoulders, salary-heavy slaughterhouse Derek Boogaard was hired largely as part of the MSG renovation, to re-create a modern Rome Colosseum, including mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions and spontaneous face crushing.  The fans will love him. 



 In addition to "The Boogeyman" the Rangers have kept Brandon Prust and rabble-rouser Sean Avery will continue to agitate everyone in the NHL, providing Coach Torts allows him to do his thing.  Regardless, opponents will not enjoy playing against the Rangers this season.   I like that.

The elephant in the room is the absence of a Marc Staal contract.

Our number one defenseman, a restricted free agent, is yet to come to terms with Slats & Co.  Management has stressed with the press (and fans) that they will match any other offer that comes his way, but there is always more to the story.  There have been multiple rumors of 'Marc-Staal-as-trade-bait' (i.e. trade with Anaheim for Bobby Ryan, trade with Boston for Marc Savard, etc.), but I do think this really comes down to the cash.  As the number one D-man, beat writers have speculated Staal wants $5 mill a year for multiple years and the Rangers want to pay him $3 mill a year.

As to the coach, John Tortorella wants all of this done and is rightfully pressuring Marc Staal's agent through the media and fanbase with some of the following quotes:

"If a player is not signed, I don't want him in camp," coach John Tortorella told the Bergen Record earlier this summer.  "I just think it's nothing but a distraction. I don't have full say, but I think if Marc Staal is not signed, I don't think he should be at camp.  I'm hopeful and confident.  This is all part of the process.   He's a very big piece to the puzzle. But a player has to understand there is a business aspect and there is a domino effect."

Does this all ring a bell?

The key to this season is the unknowing at this point.  Just look at the bookends of last season, we opened with an incredible winning surge and we closed with the same (except for that damn shootout) -- so you never know which version of our team will show up come October.  Perhaps the young guys demote Wade Redden during training camp (please,please,please!), Matts Zuccarello Aasen (The Hobbit) adapts to the smaller rink, Matt Gilroy, Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan knock out some veteran spots during training camp!!?  All of this is possible.

As much BAD there is to break, there is as much GOOD on this roster.  The key now is John Tortorella and his sticking to the system: Two-way playing, forward puck moving and lots of dirty goals is the key.  So hang in there Rangers fans --- the off-season is nearing an end.

Here at The Dark Ranger we'll be covering all the games as usual, with the occasional opinion piece now and again.  If the season absolutely sucks, we'll get even DARKer.

Happy 'Summer Is Over' folks, and we'll see you at training camp.

tdr

Matt Gilroy Impresses All, NYR 2, NJ Devils 3, SO (pre-season)

There's nothing like a good 'ole fashioned rivalry between the New York Rangers playing the NJ Devils of Newark....regardless of when or how they are playing (pre-season tonight) you generally get an emotional game and a competitive match.

Official recap here.   

Both teams went at it and showed up -- both displaying a good mix of veterans and prospects playing professional hockey, or at least for a night or two before some will officially receive the team cut and trek north to Hartford (NYR-AHL affilliate) and some to Lowell, MA (NJ-AHL affiliate, a random little bankrupt town where they spawn little-fire-eaters).

One current Blueshirt who is certain to stay in New York City through the season is defenceman Matt Gilroy, who scored multiple goals, one in regulation and the only NYR goal in the shootout.  Gilroy drove to the net, shifting from backhand to forehand to backhand, before lifting a shot over NJ Goalkeeper Danis in the third period to make it 2-1.   Gilroy signed with the Rangers in April after winning the Hobey Baker Award as the top collegiate player and helping Boston University to the NCAA title.  Dare I say we might have an All-Star in the kid, say two, three years down the road?  Seasons ago, we saw early glimpses of what was to become of both Marc Staal and Dan Girardi -- and this 25-year old rookie looks greater, more confident and a perfect fit with the Torts system.  Am I wrong, people???  

I know, I know -- it's only pre-season and the 'big leagues' answers all the unknowns, but there is 'foreshadowing of greatness' for Mr. Gilroy and his future with The Rangers.  Two pre-season games into this season, the young'ens in Blue are impressing me and I hope...John Tortorella.   Perhaps it's just me -- desperate for hockey after a long, long four month hiatus, but tonight's game and the last half of yesterday's pre-season match against Boston (both losses) showcased an energy that we had only seen toward the end of last year's regular season.

It's refreshing to see kids wanting to be on the ice and wanting to make the squad.  Dubie.....Dubie....is that you?

tdr

"I Don't Know What Happened...."

"...but right now, I could destroy this locker room!"

- were the first words out of NYR goalkeeper "The Prince" Henrik Lundqvist after dropping six goals to the rival Pittsburgh Penguins last night, most zooming through during the third period. NYR 2, Pittsburgh 6. Ugly night indeed.

Official recap here.

The Rangers fell to 5-2 in their last seven games, with both losses coming at this cavernous rink that has become a house of Blueshirt horrors. They are 1-9 in their last 10 visits to The Igloo and for whatever reason, the Penguins have our number. With the exception of one home shutout this season, we now know how the NJ Devils might have felt last season every game against the Rangers -- both relatively good teams (or good standings for that matter), but completely one-sided. Perhaps it's the 'ole Jagr Curse that was given to Slats and Tom for not re-signing him...

Henrik later continued,
"I just played terrible. That's what happened. I can't explain it. As a team we played great the first two (periods) and I played pretty good, I think, and I make a mistake on the second goal and then they get another one on the power play. I just lost my game in the third, totally, and that's definitely not good enough. I didn't stop the puck in the third. I'm upset with myself right now."

Uh oh.

With Henrik shrugging off another disaster -- including the meaningless All-Star game -- a loss of confidence at this stage of the season could be a very, very bad thing, as we cannot rely on superstar Wade Redden and Kalinen ( ;) ) to tighten up the blueline.

Without Hank in net performing miracles, as my 3-year old says while Dad is in net... 'me no play no playoffs'.

TDR

The Sinking Ship, Rangers 1, Coyotes 5

Yesterday, The New York Rangers were beaten badly by the Phoenix Coyotes. Wayne Gretsky appearing as coach of the Coyotes again demonstrated to 'the most famous arena in the world' that his skills (now as coach) were top-notch, despite his suffering from the flu, unable to speak. One thing was for certain, Phoenix arrived at The Garden, having beaten the Newark Devils the day before, with a belief that they can win. That they did. They slaughtered.

I held myself back from the typical Dark Ranger 'love/hate analysis' because so many others hold parallel views of our tragedy named The New York Rangers, but here's a brief summary. The coach is bad. The captain is bad. The offense is bad. And now, our defense is stinky. The combination of all of these, leaves us with an outstanding goalkeeper, Henrik Lundqvist - who was (strangely) dressed as a backup to Stephen Valiquette's on-ice massacre at The Garden of Hopes & Dreams. Poor Vally, the game wasn't his fault. Strange bounces led to the first couple of goals, but then all was lost due to everything! The only player who always looked ready to play was our once-resident enforcer, Ryan Hollweg, oddly benched by Coach Tom Renney yesterday to motivate his level of play. Strange coaching methods, I must say.

I am not alone in my desire to have a winning team. My criticism of Tom Renney as coach, Jaromir Jagr as Captain, and the defensive system by which the Rangers are losing more than winning, is a means to a better team and system. The third worst team in the NHL, the Phoenix Coyotes, with an average age of 26 years old on the entire team, came into the Garden and destroyed an All-Star team because of a solid system, a willingness and want to give it "their all' and a damn-good coach to boot. There is no better an example of how the basics win games.

But enough of me, may I present my fellow Blueshirt Bloggers. Without them, I would be an enigma. Anyone should start with Scotty Hockey who cautiously outlines a dwindling Coach Renney; when he's not transforming himself into 'hockey dancing elves', I highly recommend the Ranger Pundit, whose dubbing Tom Renney 'Coach Clueless' points out that there is no short-term solution to our proud players in Blue; Dubi of the definitive and always objective Blueshirt Bulletin has a rare slamming of the team (this NEVER happens), which means it's a cold day in hockey-hell, folks; Larry Brooks of the Post in his 'Coyote Ugly' piece; John Dellapina of The Blueshirts Blog with Tom Renney stating post-game that his team has lost their confidence asks "How is it possible that a team with two 600-goal scorers, two other guys who have won Stanley Cups and a goalie who has been a Vezina Trophy finalist in both of his first two seasons is playing with absolutely no confidence?"; and lastly Pucks On Broadway leaves us with the inevitable question, "Where do we go from here?"

I need nothing more than to find support amongst my fellow bloggers. We all feel the same way. The fans all feel it. I wonder what the owners & Glen Sather are feeling right about now?

tdr

Ex-Isle Looking For Blueshirt Fit

Michael Peca wants to jump aboard the Rangers' bandwagon. He expects to find out today whether the feeling is mutual. His agent is not negotiating with any other team.

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Taking a look back in history, Peca was drafted in the 2nd round, 40th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. Peca has twice won the Frank J. Selke Trophy for being the best defensive forward, in 1996-97 and 2001-02. He was a member of the gold medal-winning Canadian ice hockey team at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

He was acquired by the Edmonton Oilers in a trade with the New York Islanders in exchange for Mike York. Peca was part of the "Cinderella" Edmonton Oiler team that made a run to the Stanley Cup Finals. Peca had 6 goals and 5 assists in the 2006 Playoffs.

On July 18, 2006, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they had signed Peca as a free agent to a One-year $2.5 Million dollar contract for the 2006-07 NHL season. During a game against the Blackhawks on December 22, 2006, Peca collided with Chicago defenseman Jim Vandermeer in the Toronto zone with 5:17 left in the first period. Vandermeer was assessed a minor penalty and a game misconduct for the hit. While Peca went down hard and it was determined that he sustained a fractured tibia at the base of his right knee and also suffered significant ligament damage. Peca missed the remainder of the 2006-07 season.

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The Dark Ranger questions whether or not we would be acquiring another healing veteran who will play at 75%. We have already lived in that world with Jag's damn shoulder for almost a season. Though, Peca is tough and would close any third-line center questions for training camp.

"Is there any cap room?" Please trade Malik, please trade Malik, please trade Malik, please....

tdr