A Weekend With Wade

So with John Tortorella literally skating all 400 invitees to camp (just kidding, more around 60), one player named Wade Redden is proceeding as planned - making $6.5 million, told that he could lose his spot on this season's roster, but reassured by the brass that if he proves himself in camp he will remain a Ranger.

Knowing that the entire blogosphere and any fan of the Blueshirts wants this guy buried in the minors, and the very fact that on the first day Mr. Redden was buckled over and winded 2/3 through the suicide sprints, one would think he'd be trying on Wolfpack jersies to accommodate the new shoes (or skates for that matter) for his inevitable trip north to Hartford - leaving behind his NHL career, 29 other NHL teams unwilling to give him a look or consider a trade. Sucks to be him.

But....

Ryan Lambert of Puck Daddy feels different than you and I, so I share in full his take on the Redden that we all know and loathe.  Maybe Yahoo is right or maybe Ryan is a Yahoo for daring to challenge the faithful.  Give it a look: 

Rangers fans vs. Inevitability

 I know it's a difficult truth to wrap one's head around, but there's almost no way Wade Redden(notes) sets foot in Hartford this year, unless Madison Square Garden burns to the ground two hours before a scheduled game.

The Rangers rumor mill, which always specializes in a particular brand of wishful thinking, heated up this summer as several emerging defensemen appeared poised to at least compete for a spot with the big club. This, many decided, was the year Redden's contract -- which has for so long hung around the club's neck like Coleridge's albatross -- got muscled out of the lineup and down to three years of bus-riding.

But this isn't going to be the year for Ryan McDonagh(notes) or Matt Gilroy(notes), at least not at Redden's expense. He's owed $6.5 million for each of the next four seasons, and while ownership might have been able to justify burying that much in the minors for one season, the term and money are both too long to stuff it in the minors.

Whether or not you find the idea repulsive (and you should), Redden is going to be a part of the Rangers' blue line for the rest of his comical contract. You may as well start dealing with it now.

How are you feeling now Rangers fan? Shoot me a note and let me know how this makes you feel. (I know already). If you ask me, I think he's wrong and Redden is already preparing his Russian hockey career.

Some other nice posts regarding camp this weekend:

* Frolov dominating the first couple of scrimmages here.

* Great recap of Day Two at camp here.

* Derek Stepan centering Frolov and Gaborik making an impression here.

This Thursday marks the first pre-season game as the Blueshirts will meet the NJ Devils and it'll be the first hockey in a long time -- it will be fun to watch what combinations work and don't work -- one thing to look out for is how hard these kids will play for the Garden faithful, the true test of how NHL ready any of them truly are.

Let youth be served this week and let Wade Redden determine his own fate. Let's Go Rangers!

tdr

IR Blueliner Available For Sale

Oilers defenseman Sheldon Souray has the Rangers on a list of six teams he would accept a trade to, according to TSN.ca.
Souray, who has a no-trade clause, also would be willing to go to the Capitals, Flyers, Kings, Ducks or Stars, Darren Dreger writes.  Souray had surgery on a hand he injured fighting Flames captain Jarome Iginla on Saturday. He is expected to be ready to return in time for the playoffs.

Dreger says Oilers sources doubt a deal will be made before the NHL's Olympics roster freeze on Feb. 12. The freeze ends Feb. 28, and the trade deadline is March 3.

What do you think?  The picture below says it all...

tdr

Sheldon Souray a Blueshirt?

ESPN.COM: Pierre LeBrun reports the following: He believes the NY Rangers might have interest in Edmonton Oilers defenseman Sheldon Souray, although they’d have to shed the salaries of either Michal Roszival or Wade Redden to make cap space. LeBrun suggests the only real option would be to demote Redden to the minors and “eat” his contract…

TDR comments: Obviously, this is the kind of news we've been looking for all season -- that is, if it were to happen.  It's refreshing to know that Slats and Co. are attempting to improve the team.  Our weak at the knees blueline has not only tested the limits of elite goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist, but have downright fallen apart when you least expect it.  Sheldon Souray wearing Ranger's Blue would support the up-and-coming talents in Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Michael Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy - adding a higher caliber veteran presence in the locker-room, other than the overpaid and underachieving Wade Redden and Michal Roszival.  It all sounds too good to be true.  Additionally, given Souray's family resides in southern California, it is unlikely that he'll pack it all up and move East.  

On a side, check out Souray's ex-wife Angelica Bridges head shot.  What pretty eyes you must be thinking?  Souray and Bridges separated last year.  Maybe she is the reason why Souray's season has been out-of-whack and a trade is possible!!?

Ryan Is "In" & Lauri Is "Out"

Readers of Dark....this just in.

Ryan Callahan is in....

Associated Press
NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers are bringing back forward Ryan Callahan, coming to terms with the restricted free agent on a multiyear deal.The deal was announced Monday by the Rangers, who were scheduled to have an arbitration hearing with Callahan on July 23.The 24-year-old right winger set career highs with 22 goals, 40 points and 81 games played last season.Callahan ranked second on the team with a career-high 237 shots, first with a plus-7 rating and fourth in goals. He was tops on the Rangers and fourth in the NHL with 256 hits.He reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in his three seasons and tied for the team lead with two goals in New York's first-round playoff loss to the Washington Capitals. In 147 NHL regular-season games, Callahan has 34 goals and 25 assists.The Rochester, N.Y., native was one of 34 players invited to next month's U.S. Olympic hockey orientation camp.The Rangers also announced Monday that they agreed to terms with 23-year-old goalie Chad Johnson, acquired from Pittsburgh at last month's NHL draft.

And Lauri Korpikoski is out.



Associated Press
The New York Rangers have traded Finnish left winger Lauri Korpikoski to the Phoenix Coyotes for Russian right winger Enver Lisin.The deal was announced Monday in Glendale, where the Coyotes are being funded by the NHL while a U.S. Bankruptcy Court determines who will own the team.Korpikoski, 22, played in 68 games as a rookie for the Rangers last season and had six goals and eight assists. He added two assists in New York's seven-game loss to Washington in the first round of the playoffs.Korpikoski was New York's first-round draft pick in 2004, the 19th choice overall.

Lisin, 23, was a third-round pick of the Coyotes in 2004, recorded 13-8-21 and 24 PIM in 48 games with the Coyotes last season. In 78 career NHL games, all with the Coyotes, Lisin has registered 18-10-28 and 46 PIM.

ALSO:
The Rangers also announced Monday that they agreed to terms with 23-year-old goalie Chad Johnson, acquired from Pittsburgh at last month's NHL draft.

THE DARK RANGER SAYS:

Ryan Callahan is Coach John Tortorella's favorite player on the team, with the exception of Henrik Lundqvist, and it was inevitable that a deal would be made prior to the scheduled salary arbitration hearing. He is a strong hard working fast-skating hitting machine, not to mention he can put the puck in the net....a lot for a newbie. No terms were announced at the writing of this post (11:20pm), so I would guess his 2-year term is in the $2.5 - 3M range total. Throw me your guestimate....

This is a short-term sad day for those of us familiar with Korpokoski's potential as a Ranger -- one of the hardest working guys with this new Torts system -- I appreciate the relationship NYR management has with a losing, bankrupt, unsellable franchise and I am not familiar with Lisin's level of play, but I cannot imagine that Korps would have cost the Rangers a lot to keep him on the squad this season. I hope this Coyote bozo has the chops --- I like his PIM stats from last year. Obviously a little muscle has been added to the team.

And who said there wasn't much happening in Ranger-land? Good-night.

tdr

I'll Give You a 'Chris Draft' For a 'Chris Trade' ?

The New York Rangers drafted a 'Chris' and the Philadelphia Flyers traded a 'Chris' tonight during the NHL draft. One will make a huge difference in the short term. The other remains to be seen.

Few trade deals were made during the first round of the NHL draft in Montreal tonight. There were brief encounters between our very-own-cigar-stub-sucking-general-manager Herr Glen 'Slats' Sather and Ottawa's Brian Murray in getting Dany Heatley to New York (apparently, Brian Murray was seen sitting down at the Senators table after speaking with Slats and screaming, "No, no, no..."), but one trade overshadowed the draft for those of us living in the Atlantic Division of the NHL; a massive trade between Philadelphia and Anaheim that brings the Duck's blueline-monster Chris Pronger to the City of Brotherly Love, in exchange for Jeffrey Lupul and 2 first round picks. Tonight, Philadelphia established themselves again as a major contender, one of the strongest defensive teams on paper in the Eastern Conference. Ouch.

And then there's our new 'Chris'....

The New York Rangers, with the 19th pick in the first round, drafted an unexpected choice, yet again, defying anyone's pre-draft picks. Chris Kreider was the lucky draftee for the Blueshirts, born of Massachusetts - I wondered if there was a slight disappointment he hadn't been passed over for his home-state Boston Bruins. "HEY KID, MAYBE YOU SHOULD SMILE A LITTLE MORE WHEN YOU PUT ON THAT Rangers JERSEY....?"

I don't know much about Chris, but he seems to be lauded in the few scouting reports I've been able to dig up. He's big (6'2", 201lbs), and described by some scouts as the best skater in the draft. One anonymous scout quoted by THN said that he's "not sure there are many guys in the NHL now who skate better than this guy". Eyes on the Prize and Matchsticks and Gasoline have both done previews of Kreider; the former being rather complimentary and the latter being far less so.

The expected number one pick for the Islanders was (and was always going to be) John Tavares, the 'wonder kid' scouts have been drooling over for the last four years (look out Sid). Tavares was immediately flown by jet to the Loooooong Island (compliments of Waaaaang) to meet the thousands of desperate Islanders fans hoping for a spark. With the top pick and trading up for more of them, the Islanders look to be a contender once again.

Two of our rivals improved dramatically in one evening. Hey guys in Rangerland...! We are ready. Make the changes promised in the season-ticket letter. You got us into this mess. Now get us out and surprise us. Heatley would look good in Blue. Redden would look good in Leaf.

You know what to do.

tdr

How Eklund Makes A Living

The infamous Eklund of Hockeybuzz, once known for being hockey's 'Deep Throat' has made a living pretending to know more 'inside' information that the average 'Joe Beat Writer'. He was at one point so influential that analysts in hockey actually listened to the guy, sometimes effecting the asking fees and negotiations of players during free agency. People actually paid to hear his rants. The mainstream papers reported on his garbage.

Now Eklund is just an 'Average Joe'. A schmuck. A fraud. Feh. Then there is the Globe & Mail....

As a Rangers fan and knowing how deep in the hole we are with salary cap restrictions, flexibility and bad contracts & management (that makes bad choices), the legit Toronto Globe & Mail piece below is a great example of the kind of 'monkey journalism' that employed our dear-old-make-it-up-as-you-go-along Eklund:

From today's Toronto Globe & Mail:

"There is belief the Maple Leafs have been zeroing in on New York Rangers defenceman Wade Redden and forward Peter Schaefer of the Boston Bruins.

Schaefer, 31, was buried in the minors by the Bruins last season because of salary cap concerns. He has one more year on his contract at $2.3-million (U.S.). Redden, 32, was signed to a six-year, $39-million unrestricted free-agent deal last summer, and the Rangers would not be averse to moving him. The Leafs have plenty of salary cap room – $10-million to $13-million depending on the contract given to restricted free-agent forward Mikhail Grabovski – to accommodate both players.

But if the Leafs have interest in Redden, it means Burke must be serious about trading away either Tomas Kaberle or Pavel Kubina. The two veteran defenceman have no-trade contracts, but a window in which they can be traded opens when the draft commences on Friday. “I’m going [to Montreal] to listen to offers,” said Leafs GM Brian Burke."

Now this is the biggest piece of poo reporting I've ever heard, because I'll tell you something.

"I know Wade Redden. And he 'aint no trade bait, I'll tell ya!"

Now if this were to happen in real life, defy logic and actually make Glen Sather, the Dolans and MSG look like superheroes this off-season, even in exchange for a first-round pick, I'd be the happiest mother f***er on the planet!

...but you know it's not going to happen. (sigh)

tdr

Cheechoo Can Stay Home!

Well - it is that time of year when playoff hockey is awe-inspiring and fun to watch, though on most levels as Blueshirt fans we actually don't care a whole lot. Most are afraid to actually say things like that and commission'ehr Herr Bettman never wants to hear such blasphemy from anyone that adores hockey, but here at The Dark Ranger we like our hockey home-style: at The Garden.

Because we don't care about hockey other than our own, the beat writers are on the wire speculating who Slats and Co. are thinking about during the off-season, who is available and who we're going to have to trade in order to get another "a change of scenary to NYC will bring them back to the highly productive days" player. Here enters Jonathan Cheechoo of the San Jose Sharks, now reported by Steve Zipay at Blue Notes as a viable option for New York (Zipay actually used the words "from a spy out West"....which makes him sound more and more like the bloggers he criticizes).

Here's my take: Leave Cheechoo in San Jose!

Let a post from a San Jose' Sharks blogger last season do the talking (which could easily be describing either Scott Gomez or Chris Drury):

Cheech is under way too much pressure. He"s griping the stick too hard and he wants to score. He's waiting to score, which is making it so that he isnt reacting on impulse or reflex, he's reacting on the pressure he feels whenever the puck comes to him. trust me with this one, I see him play every game and I can tell he's not the Cheechoo we used to know. The other night, he played on Joes line and he didnt even get one point (unless he got a secondary assist) when all the goals scored were scored by his line. But him playing on Joe's line is a good sign. Coach Wilson obviously thinks he can play better and well enough to be rewarded by playing on a scoring line. However, it's not showing up during the games and that's when it matters. There is so much expectation from Cheech that he cannot possibly live up to it. All you can expect is to be disappointed.... Besides, we all know Cheech isn't anything without Joe....even if you don't want to admit it.

Now that is just one Sharks blogger's opinion, but hit the boards and you'll see the dramatic deterioration of goals and assists (see here) over the last three seasons. This sounds all too familiar (see Wade Redden) and as our Blueshirts are in desperate need of a scoring sniper or someone who boosts the confidence and the abilities of our highly-paid veterans, the last thing to consider is another 'once shining star' looking to light it up once again under the banner of the exciting Big Apple lights (and my economy-plagued season-ticket dollars).

We need to focus on the youth on the current roster, the youth of our prospects and draft and seek out the rookies from other teams that are currently being overlooked. There are a limited number of free-agent options by July 1 that will be worth the limited monies the Rangers have left in salary cap -- so this may be the year to build a roster that has the energy to actually play a high-end attack-hockey Torts level of game (including the third period too!).

So let's move on to realistic and smart signings, ok Glenny Boy? Oh, and by the way....one of my spys out West wanted me to say........"Rumor is the Red Wings are going to win the Cup!" I heard the same rumor here. Ooh, it must be true!!?

tdr

UPDATE:
The New York Rangers officially sign Zaba. Go here, here, here, here for details and opinions.
Good to see our boys in the office are actually considering building some depth in goaltending -- Vally has been shaky and it will be nice to consider new options if/when Hank decides to get injured.

Straka-Less

Martin Straka is no longer a New York Ranger.

Claiming he has not accepted his new deal (TSN) and will make the decision July 1, last night he apparently signed a deal with his former Czech Republic club, HC Lasselsberger Plzen to leave the NHL entirely - as the free agency deadline approached this coming Tuesday without any offers or consideration from Blueshirt management. Slats and gang were not interested in re-signing the three-year New York Ranger.

How might this effect the re-signing of Jaromir Jagr?

The answer to that will reveal itself no earlier than next Tuesday (July 1), but it sure doesn't bode well for maintaining Jagr's player 'support system.' As Glen Sather and Co. are looking to strengthen and rebuild the NY Rangers this off-season, they have made it clear to Captain Jagr their desire to bring him in under their terms, financially and expectation of play, for one more year. As it stands, Jagr is looking for two years extension.

Marty Straka leaving the Rangers may be revealing a little of how this team is looking to open the season this fall. How do you think Marty will feel watching his former Rangers from the stands opening in his home town of Prague this October?

The heat has been turned on slightly higher....

tdr

A Beginner's Guide to the Upcoming Season (UPDATED)

Jaromir Jagr craves a display of the Rangers’ affection for him. General manager Glen Sather says he is a fan but has yet to reach out to personally convey that sentiment to the sensitive captain.

So, with only 20 days remaining until Jagr can become an unrestricted free agent, it is anybody’s guess whether he’ll be in a Broadway Blueshirt when the club opens next season in his native Czech Republic. And because Jagr’s return or departure is the first domino that needs to fall before the Rangers can continue the process of assembling their roster for next season, such uncertainty at such a late date can’t be viewed as a good thing.

Of course, Sather has always enjoyed playing the cat-and-mouse game when his top players’ contracts come up for renewal. So his unhurried approach with Jagr is hardly out of character.

As long as Jagr’s situation remains not just unresolved but completely unpredictable, it seems difficult for the Rangers to make decisions regarding other potential unrestricted free agents, such as Sean Avery, Martin Straka and Michal Rozsival.

Season Highlight: Two springs after being battered by the rival Devils, the Rangers avenged that 2006 first-round sweep by eliminating New Jersey in five games in the 2008 first round. Lundqvist outplayed living legend Martin Brodeur—who was tormented by Avery shift after shift—and Jagr was a monster en route to leading the playoffs in scoring through two rounds.

Turning Point: A quirk in the schedule—back-to-back home games against an Atlanta team they own—produced 4-0 and 2-1 Garden victories (the second on the night Brian Leetch’s No. 2 was retired) to catalyze a playoffs-making 20-6-7 stretch run. Lundqvist was brilliant throughout the 11-week surge. Jagr routinely dominated games. And the Rangers capped a season in which they went an Atlantic-best 20-7-5 within the division by going 5-1-4 in their last 11 games, which all were intradivisional.

Notes, Quotes

• While Sean Avery remains in the news because his publicists have passed along word of every move he’s made as an intern at Vogue magazine this summer, his contract negotiations with the Rangers have yet to produce anything of interest. Avery remains convinced that he is a top-six forward who should be paid in the neighborhood of $4 million a year. The Rangers have yet to budge off their early season offer of $2.75 million per.

Quote To Note: “It’s clear Jaromir’s a good player. It’s clear that we like him. And it’s clear that we’d like to have him back also. There are so many other free agents that are going to be available. But if you have the option of getting Jaromir the way he played at the end of the year and in the playoffs, he was a pretty dangerous hockey player. And we could wind up with no one.”—Rangers GM Glen Sather

Roster Report

Most Valuable Player: G Henrik Lundqvist battled through the most difficult of his three NHL seasons to lead the NHL in shutouts (10), finish fourth in wins (37) and sixth in goals-against average (2.23) and earn a third straight designation as a Vezina Trophy Finalist. Lundqvist was distracted midway through the season by worry about his father, who underwent emergency surgery in Sweden for a brain aneurysm, and had to fight to rediscover his form for the stretch run and playoffs.

Most Disappointing Player: Unable to develop on-ice chemistry with either C Scott Gomez or C Chris Drury, Rangers captain Jaromir Jagr went from averaging 110 points his first two seasons in New York to scoring a career-low 71. However, despite failing to approach the great expectations that are standard for him, Jagr mentored rookie C Brandon Dubinsky to a fine first NHL season.

Biggest Needs: The Rangers’ first order of business is to figure out whether RW Jaromir Jagr is coming back. Then they can deal with their free agents and work on improving their defense.

Free Agent Focus: The Rangers remain committed to upgrading their underwhelming defense corps—by adding offensive ability and/or physicality. And while finding a scoring winger who can skate with C Scott Gomez will have them at least expressing an interest in Marian Hossa, it remains unlikely that the Rangers will shell out the at least $7 million per he is expected to command on the open market.

Player Notes:

• D Michal Rozsival, whose play dropped off over the season’s second half and in the playoffs, was to undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum muscle in his hip June 11. Though Rozsival scored a career-high 13 goals this past season, none came after Feb. 3. And the Rangers are considering whether to re-sign him—he’s likely to command at least $4 million per on the open market—or look elsewhere to upgrade the top end of their defense corps.

• LW Martin Straka is nearing the time when he must decide whether to sign on with a team in his native Czech Republic and effectively end his NHL career. Straka said last week that he is struggling with the decision, and it is unclear whether the Rangers want the classy, 35-year-old veteran back.

• RW Brendan Shanahan’s return for a 21st NHL season remains uncertain. The venerable winger, who turned 39 in January, sagged badly over the second half of the season. He blamed the effects of failing to give himself enough time to recover from a Jan. 5 collision with Dustin Penner that left him with a sprained knee and led to hip and back problems.

The Atlantic Division Enemy #1 is....

Only (4) hours left on the poll (to the right of this post) and as of 7:56pm EST, both the Pittsburgh Penguins and NJ Devils are tie.
Vote for the New York Rangers biggest threat this coming season.

tdr

(still no word on Peca at this point -- expect word first thing tomorrow morning. The Dark Ranger predicts this is a done-deal and expect a bout of trade rumors just prior to training camp)

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.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

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.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

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

The Future New Jersey Devils Are Not Strong, They Are Weekes!

"Leafs Lunch" reports the New Jersey Devils have signed goaltender Kevin Weekes. TSN reports it's a two year, $1.375 million contract. They are scrap(p)ing for a team, and being on the other side of the river, Joi-sey better hope that Marty is in tip-top healthy form throughout the season, with Weekes as your backup. Here's hoping...

UPDATE: The better news is that the strong get stronger -- the Rangers re-signed Prucha for a two-year deal worth $3.2 million.

Free Agency 2007 - Part I

(Posted by TML 2007-2008, a Toronto Leafs fanatic)

Eastern Conference - A summary thus far


Buffalo – Losing your top 2 centers and backup goalie will hurt. Strong youth movement will keep them a playoff team.


New Jersey – The loss of their top center Gomez and defenseman Rafalski turns this once great dynasty into a team wishing for a playoff spot next season. Even Lou and his magic wand cannot turn this one around.


Atlanta- Was active in acquiring some depth at forward with Todd White and Perrin. Klee will help their Defense and playoff in 2007-2008 is looking like a safe bet.

Ottawa – The Stanley Cup loss was a great learning experience for this team. Remember Edmonton lost to the NYI before winning the next season. Will lose Comrie in the next couple of days and Pressing was a key loss on their pp unit. Gerber needs to be traded and Razor Emery signed ASAP.


Pittsburgh – The strong get stronger. The youth movement (see Ottawa) has also had its first experience with playoff hockey. The signing of Whitney, Sydor, Recchi, Roberts and Sykora are great compliments to the core young stars. This team has become a legitimate cup favorite.


New York Rangers – Spending, Spending, Spending – Great signings with the only team left in the New York area. Drury and Gomez along with Cullen give the NYR a great team up the middle. Great Concern on the backend and Shanahan is left unsigned?
Sign him ASAP as he makes this team run. Playoffs are a lock. Time to trade some of the great young forwards for some defense help. Hello Callahan!


Tampa Bay – This once great franchise is a mess. What needs to be addressed is the lack of goaltending and defenseman. What did they go out and acquire on July 1’st? Michel Ouellet. Good young forward who will pop 20 goals and 20 assists for them. Could this be support for the departure of Richards via trade? Chris Gratton was also reacquired to help shore up their centers. Will fight for a 7/8 playoff spot. If this team ends up on the outside looking in come April won’t come as a surprise to many.


New York Islanders – Good Bye Long Island. I feel sorry for Garth Snow who has tried hard since taking over the reins last season. They gambled the farm on Smyth and it gained them 6 games of post-season action. Losing Smyth, Blake, Kozlov and Poti hurts.
Playoffs are years away as NYR fans chant Potvin Sucks.


Toronto Maple Leafs - Great weekend for the TML. Bolstering their goaltending by adding Toskala will help. Bell and Blake are great additions to an already strong scoring team. The TML were the 4th highest scoring team in the Eastern Conference last season and they’re about to get even better. Playoff Action in Toronto after several long golf seasons is a lock.


Montreal – This franchise is in big trouble. Good for them for getting rid of Samsanov who never found his groove in Montreal. Losing Rivet and Sourray stings. Playoffs aren’t happening here in 2007-2208 folks. Smolinski isn’t going to help fans feel any better about losing the Briere sweepstakes.


Carolina – For a team to win the Stanley Cup and follow it up with a non-playoff season is criminal. They aren’t active and don’t appear to be interested in doing much more than exploring a change in venue. Kansas City/Vegas?


Florida – Great moves to get this franchise back on the right track. After the Luongo trade (worst in 20 years) this team is headed in the right direction. Jokinen and Horton are young stars. Bouwmeester and Vokoun are great on the backend. The addition of Zednik, McLean and Dvorak adds depth to a solid team. Welcome back to the playoffs Florida.


Boston – The Bruins have some of the best young forwards in the game. Savard, Bergeron and Kessel will lead the charge for years to come. The pain in 2006-2007 came between the pipes as Thomas flopped around like a seal on many evenings. The addition of Fernandez is solid and Chara is still Chara. Prediction – 9th and just missing the last spot in the East.


Washington – Who knows any player on this team not named Ovechkin, Semin and Kolzig? The additions of Nylander, Kozlov and Poti will help but not nearly enough to make the playoffs. Is Chris Clark the most unrecognized captain in the NHL who scores 30 goals?


Philadelphia – Wow! This turn around situation started last season with the Forsberg trade and landing Biron. The additions of strong forwards in Briere, Upshall, Lupol, and Hartnell round out a young star team. The Defense has been bolstered with Jason Smith and Timonen. Good Bye Bobby Clarke and hello Lord Stanley?

Western Conference updates coming soon.

TML 2007-2008

B'Way Bonanza ! Drury and Gomez Both Signed

The Rangers have confirmed that they have signed both Chris Drury and Scott Gomez to free agent contracts. Gomez, formerly of the NJ Devils is now a New York Ranger for seven years at $51.5 million and Chris Drury, former Co-Captain of the Buffalo Sabres, is now a NY Ranger for five years at $35.25 million. Dellapina is also saying now in Blueshirts Blog that the Rangers in the hunt for Sheldon Souray, although a big contract for Drury might make that impossible under the cap.

The Hockey Gods have spoken, um...I mean Glen Sather.

If I have to live with Scott Gomez "the superstar" from New-Jersey throughout the next seven years of contract as a Blueshirt, I will be thrilled. If I have to live with Scott Gomez "the Devils System Player Who Underdelivers" throughout the next seven years as a Blueshirt, I will be one angry Dark(er) Ranger than ever before. Echoes of "Lindros as Philly Flyer" ring in my head over and over. Never thought Gomez was worth this money and, especially a 7-year contract, but...in the spirit of acquiring two of the top three free agents, I am happy and less-Dark for the moment. May I be surprised.

Now Drury on the other hand....welcome! Jed Ortmeyer is now a Nashville Predator. At the time of this writing, all of the following need to stay a NY Ranger -- Henrik "the King" Lundquist is still unsigned, Sean Avery the firecracker is not yet signed, Brendan Shanahan is not signed and then there is Michael.

Poor, poor, Michael Nylander. We needed him as of twelve hours ago. This game of chicken worked in New York's favor, as a five million a year contract is too rich and bad advice given. I am certain Nylander is not happy about any of this knowing a contract was available to him four-weeks ago. He overvalued his stats in a season side-by-side to Jamomir Jagr's first line. The days ahead will show us where Nylander lands, unless he takes a Rangers paycut. This agent is now free....

This team keeps improving...my season tickets are beaming!

tdr

UPDATE: Word is Michael Nylander is heading to Edmonton. (Monday, July 2)

Mikey Likes It! He Really Does!

The good news is that Michael Nylander wants to stay with the Rangers.

Turns out his agents are beginning talks with Glen Sather and The Rangers Brass to, hopefully, lock up a 3-year deal around the $15 to 17 million dollar range beginning this fall. Financially, more than Sather wanted to pay, especially given his secret deal with Nylander's now-fired-former-agent, and count on the new demands to be one year more than he wants to offer.

Though, when you break down that Nylander scored second in goals this past season -- largely thanks to Jagr -- and he provided chemistry with Jamomir on the first line, he is worth it. We've seen one of his best seasons in the NHL and The Dark Ranger is changing his mind on our much-needed Michael. With the additional cap room next season, the NYR franchise can afford it.

One more 2nd-line center for Shanny to go....then on to larger acquisitions!!!!

tdr

It's Only Just Getting Started

It is a sad day in Music City, as not one - but two - of the Nashville's impending free agents are on the make. Apparently the Predators are now in the mode of shedding salary in anticipation of a new ownership. The word is that they gave the Flyers exclusive rights to approach/make a deal with their impending UFA's Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell.

Great move by Philly, but word is that Timonen is reaching somewhere above the $4 million mark -- for a second line forward. Imagine what that means for Michael Nylander of my dear Rangers - a top player who could be earning $5 million rather than the $2 million range he currently makes. This will be setting a dangerous precedent for teams seeking to acquire some of the more desirable free agents come July 1. The team salary cap will protect and limit these type of deals, but it does make you wonder how far a bottom-feeding-needing team like Philly will go to improve the roster.

Guess what? The price just went up for Drury, Briere and Gomez. With Niedermayer contemplating retirement from the Ducks and the NHL forever, maybe even the 'Mighty' Champs will be looking to acquire some trading talent.

I still predict Gomez will wear the Blueshirt. July 1 is getting more exciting.

tdr

They Are Finn-ished!

June 12, 2007 -- They have gone from prospects to suspects and now it appears as if both Jarkko Immonen and Bryce Lampman will be leaving the Rangers organization to play next season in Finland.

The Dark Ranger has learned that Immonen, the 25-year-old restricted free agent who failed to grab the Blueshirts' second center-spot when presented with the opportunity last winter, is on the verge of returning to his native country for a guaranteed contract far more lucrative than the two-way qualifier he'll be presented by the Rangers.

At the same time, Lampman, the 24-year-old defenseman who has played only 10 games with the Rangers - one last season - since his fourth-round selection in the 2001 Entry Draft, has signed a contract with TPS of Finnish Elite that contains an out clause should he sign an NHL contract by July 10. The Blueshirts are not expected to extend a qualifying offer to Lampman, also a Group II free agent.

Immonen, who came to the Rangers on Mar. 3, 2004 from the Toronto organization as part of the Brian Leetch deal, played 14 games last season for the Blueshirts in which he recorded one goal and five assists. Though he spent most of the year with the Wolf Pack of the AHL, he did have a run of 11 straight games with the Rangers from Dec. 7-26, the first seven of which he skated between Brendan Shanahan and Matt Cullen (or, for one game, Martin Straka rather than Cullen). Immonen appeared intimidated playing with Shanahan. The line never clicked.

With coach Tom Renney regularly referring to doubts about Immonen's skating and his ability to prosper in an accelerated NHL pace, there is little chance he'd be able to earn a spot on next year's club, even with Michael Nylander's status in limbo. Immonen's ship has sailed.

Should a worst-case scenario develop prior to July 1 with Nylander (who has yet to hire an agent) choosing to go on the open market rather than re-signing with them, the Rangers would aggressively pursue both Scott Gomez and Chris Drury rather than choosing between the impending free agents.

tdr (thanks LB)