Like all Ranger fans, I've been thinking a lot about Brandon Dubinsky and the thought of him being traded for Rick Nash. And to be totally honest, my reluctance to see him go revolves almost solely around sentimental factors.

Being a fan since 1988, I have not had the chance to watch homegrown players blossom. Its a really special thing, and you develop an attachment. Beyond Brian Leetch, Mike Richter, and Alex Kovalev, there haven't been too many. Until now, of course.

I also have become convinced that the Rangers do not have the secondary scoring to bring a Cup home to New York this year. Brad Richards, while crafty, creative, and at times clutch, has not been the difference maker I thought he would be. Unless he has a hidden gear come playoff time, he certainly does not appear to be the elite talent to carry us over the hump.

And frankly, our power play is absolutely atrocious. Its an embarrasment and I don't want to hear "Boston won the Cup with a shitty powerplay." That was an aberration. Going into tonight's game we're what, 27th in the league? Its disgusting.

The forward driven offense behind the GAS line, and apart from Callahan and Richards, is not being made up by Dubinsky, Mitchell, Hagelin, Fedotenko, Boyle, or Prust. I love each one of them but they can't be relied upon for consistent scoring. In the playoffs, where only Fedotenko has shined, it will be more of the same. Grinding, hard work, gritty play for sure, but the flaw in our game has been exposed as the month of February has waxed and waned.

For those fans from the 'give Wolski a chance' camp I say, hell no. Wojtek Wolski. <---- the effort it took me to type his name? That's twice the effort this kid has ever put in while wearing a Rangers sweater. Inserting him into the lineup does not make a whit of difference. Actually, that's not quite true. Putting Wolski in makes us easier to play against, and that is unacceptable.

Join me after the jump, where my rambling will magically come together into cohesion....

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I have seen it written here on the Banter by a few people that they would rather have Wojtek Wolski in the lineup than John Mitchell. I have seen these same people say that Mike Rupp is a total waste. I ask you. Do you think a team climbs atop the Eastern Conference with twinkle-toed skaters and finesse players? Teams find success with grit and guts,with boardwork and size - mixed in with the finesse players. And our finesse players have been a lot grittier than such players in our past have been. Gaborik and Hagelin bring a battle level that is necessary to success. Watch what happens if you take Mitchell off his line and bench him. Watch what happens if EC and WW play in favor of Rupp. Did the Washington game teach you nothing? We didn't look big enough against them during that contest; some of you want to make us even smaller and weaker? Why? WW has no place on this team. If Torts gives him a chance to crack the lineup that leash better be shorter than the coach's fuse. We have built our 50 point record with a helluva lot more guts and determination than Wojtek Wolski ever brought to a hockey team, that's for shit sure. Players like John Mitchell, Mike Rupp, hell even Fedotenko, are defensibly responsible and finish their checks. This is why we are where we are!!! Yes you need the Lundqvists and the Gaboriks to fill the net; but without the role players teams go nowhere. Keep Mitchell. Keep Rupp. Trust your Stanley Cup winning coach that "Rupper" is a presence the team needs; he's right. Oust Wolski and oust Christensen. And march on to the playoffs, warriors ------- not bitches.

As my screen-name on this blog suggests, I am a rather big fan of one netminder Mr. Lundvist. That being said I have always tried to be objective about his place in the pantheon of elite goaltenders in the NHL. What I want to know is this. When the hell are the guys at the NHL Network sportsdesk going to bring up his name in their little Vezina conversations? When!??!? Its always Pekka Rinne and Tim Thomas; I swear Kevin Weekes harbors a little bit of resentment beneath that super-bubbly exterior of his. He does his goalie installments and, while I haven't paid attention in recent weeks, he never seems to give proper props to the King. I wonder if any of the NHL Network guys heard Joe Micheletti's anecdote from the Rangers Panthers telecast earlier tonight? Ya know, the one where he recounts asking coach Kevin Dineen what aspect of the Rangers is the toughest to play against? And Kevin Dineen replies - and I quote - "The New York Rangers have the best goaltending in the National Hockey League." Well you know Kevin Dineen wouldn't say that lightly; and you know he is not the only person who feels this way. So when are these anti-Ranger, anti-New York, pro-PenguinsCapitalsPredatorsBruins dingleberries going to give Henrik Lundqvist his due? If the Rangers climb the mountain this season or the next; I wonder what kind of respect they will garner from these media guys up there? Because his stats speak for themselves. They jump on these bandwagons of these goalies who are hot for stretches; or they are surpirse goalies like Brian Elliot, but they largely ignore Lundqvist, who has strung together about 6 seasons worth of elite level play. Sure the Rangers haven't done it in the playoffs but neither has Pekka f**king Rinne. And Lundqvist has a gold medal to his resume. Does Rinne? Does Thomas? No they do not. Sorry for the lack of paragraphs; the website will not let me out of the HTML view.

Jeez people relax.....we saw a tired team lose one goal games on back to back days; we're without our franchise defensemen, and we're plugging holes with Steve Eminger and Tim Erixon. 

Lets look at the positives.....

Henrik is playing out of his mind; no slow start from him.

Richards is already brilliant.

Gaborik looks healthy, strong, and willing to go to the net; 180 degrees from any point last year

Callahan and Dubinsky look great.

McDonagh and Girardi are also playing out of their minds.

And Del Zotto....he looks somewhat capable so far. 

The only real negatives I see, aside from the Staal injury, is Eminger looks like he's clueless.  The goal he caused against Anaheim, where he left his position to check Erixon's guy - checking Erixon in the process - really made Stevie look like a moron.  The less ice time he gets the better off we'll be; sad to say as I think he's a good team guy with willingness.

Anyway, its two games in and people need to relax.

Another question; does anybody get the feeling they're grooming John Giannone to take Sam's spot one day?  I'm gonna watch the games on mute and let my 5 month old daughter do the play-by-play if that happens.

I was giving the schedule some serious thought, and although the Rangers face a lot of distractions this season (HBO series / Winter Classic), I think the European tour and the long road trip while MSG gets the facelift is ultimately a blessing in disguise. 

I say, let this team work out its kinks on the road, away from the demanding, impatient fanbase we know and love.  Let Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik get comfortable with each other away from the fans, who will surely be expecting five hat tricks and twenty assists in the first three games; let the powerplay get a chance to click on foreign soil, before the boo birds can rain down the hate before Halloween. 

If all goes well, the Rangers will be a more honed, well-oiled machine when the glitz and pomp of the home opener comes around.

(if this has been covered I apologize; been away from my computer for a few days) 

I was watching MSG Summer Ice briefly and this headline ran across the screen. Congratulations Matt Cooke, you ended a brilliant career. You yourself, who would be lucky to be a footnote in hockey history, have derailed an all-star career and in doing so, you have now cemented your own place in posterity as the Biggest Douchebag Asshole in Pro Sports Not Named Michael Vick. Despite the deaths and crazy crap revolving around the fighters, I will most likely always support fighting in the NHL. THIS type of shit, however, I demand the NHL cracks down on. Matt Cooke should not be playing hockey. This whole thing is just disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.

Things got heated with this whole Sean Avery debate.  I don't want the comments I made and the reactions to them to alienate me on this blog.  For anyone who I pissed off lets just agree to disagree and move on.  We're here to talk hockey and I think we should just leave it at that. 

I am surprised, however, at some of the attitudes on here towards the police.  Its disappointing to see so many of you ready to throw my profession under the bus, yet if the shit ever hit the fan for any of you, we're the first ones you'd call for help.  I guess that's just reality.  I cannot change how you feel, and if you've truly had some bad experiences with cops than that's too bad, but I wonder how many of those exchanges were completely one-sided.  I wonder if none of you provoked the officer or ran your mouth at the wrong time, and if indeed the cops were all just pure dickheads.

I don't live in a box, I know there are asshole cops out there.  There are assholes in every job, but I'm proud to say that most police officers are out there trying to do the right thing.  And I can also tell you with a certainty that in many situations, doing the right thing is never clear and, quite often, you have less than a couple of seconds to decide what exactly that might be.  Its a hard job but its a job that I love, and I don't like to see it dragged through the mud.

Assuming the officers were anything but correct in this situation is remiss, however even I said earlier that none of us were actually there so its difficult to comment one way or the other.

And to Scratch N Snif, I want to personally apologize to you in front of everyone on here.  I don't know what its like to walk around as a black man, and I would be wrong to tell you how you should feel about it.  I do know that I am not racist, and the painful reality that there are in fact racists in positions of authority in this world galls me to no end.  Forgive me for coming off like I did.  

The same way we get passionate about Rangers hockey, I get passionate about the other Blueshirt team I'm on, the men and women of law enforcement.  Yes there's wingnuts out there, but for the most part, I am proud of what I do and the people I serve with. 

Again, sorry for coming off so hard.  No hard feelings guys?    

This is my Official ABRSHT post. Here goes: ABRSHT we will already be able to predict what our roster is going to look like next season. I have every confidence we will retain all our major RFA's, and I believe Prospal and Avery have played their last games in Ranger Blue.... With Rupp and Feedotenko in the fold, we could have some interesting line combinations. If I'm Tortorella I'm gonna lean toward something like this: BOYLE RICHARDS GABORIK DUBINSKY ANISIMOV CALLAHAN FEDOTENKO STEPAN WOLSKI PRUST RUPP WEISE I wasn't a fan of keeping Wolski but left with those options (Avery, Prospal, or Wolski) I'll go with WW. With the way Torts shuffles lines, I can see this looking totally differently on some nights. Rupp can play with more talented players: and Boyle probably won't stay on the first line even if they actually put him up there on left wing, where I think he belongs, standing in front of the net while Richards and Gabby work their magic; burying rebounds and giving goalies and defensemen fits. Defense: STAAL GIRARDI McDONAGH SAUER ERIXON MDZ Other defensemen ? Not too sure; camp will tell.

I just went over to Defending Big D and read about Richards from a Stars fan perspective.  The people on that site are way more polite to one another than we are. lol....then again we're New Yorkers heheheheheh...

It seems to me that Brad is highly regarded as a proven playoff performer and one of the elite centers in the game by his fan base.  I looked at one discussion where they compared him to Jamie Benn, 21 year old center who plays with a ton of energy and skill.  The poster opined that he'd rather have Benn in the lineup than Richards if he had to choose one, but still he didn't crap on BR or anything like that.

They elsewhere compared Richards to Joe Thornton, saying Brad's playoff prowess is, of course, better than Big Joe's.  However, this season Joe Thornton went a long way toward proving he can deliver in the spring.  Also, his defensive game shot way up.

Leading me to my next point: another poster stated that the James Neal-Brad Richards-Louie Erickson line back in October 2010 was getting dominated on the road, and all of them had to step up their defensive efforts.  That is a pretty talent laden line right there; what it tells me is you can't put Richards on a line with softies like Gaborik and WW and expect success. 

You need to put him between Gabby and someone like Dubinsky or .... oh that's right we have no rugged wingers who can score.  This is a major problem, at least as big as the lack of a legit number one center issue. (Hopefully filled by Brad Richards). 

I wonder; and here's the twist - would Torts ever consider switching Brian Boyle to the wing and plopping him on that number one line? 

Imagine a first line of Boyle-Richards-Dubinsky.

Now you make your second line Gaborik with Anisimov and Callahan ......... picture the opposing coach.  Whose line do you roll out against us?  Do you play your top checking unit against the Anisimov line, or the Richards line?  The 'other' line each night, the line that plays against lesser competition, would have a real chance at getting some numbers.  (Cally could do it against number one lines, and AA soon will, but Gaborik shies away from big time pressure so he'd have to benefit from this).   That, to me, is true balance and a way to get more overall depth next year.

Past several years here; past regimes here, we haven't had enough size that can score and this might be one way to fix it while we await bigger, younger lads to crack the lineup.  If only Kreider were ready to make the big jump.  Your centers could be Richards, Anisimov, Stepan, and Kreider.   If Kreider stays in college you keep Vinny Prospal and turn his ass loose on the power play or in a more limited role.

You know, 17 years ago when we lifted the Cup, we had a rugged team.  Messier, Graves, and Kovalev on the first line; only Kovalev was finesse.  Behind them you had guys like Tikkanen, Noonan, Matteau, Larmer, Nemchinov.  These guys were horses who owned the wall and battled everywhere on the ice.  Look at the Bruins this year; they handed the Canucks a f**king BEATING, even though statistically they were out-hit, it meant very little.  I'm not saying you have to roll out the 1974 Flyers but our highly talented players have to be much more gritty if we're gonna go deep and win some goddamn hardware and put some more banners on that ceiling.

You find a way to get Boyle and Dubinksy on the ice with Brad Richards, now you're talking some youth, a vet, some size and speed and grit.....  Behind these top two lines you still have Derek Stepan, Brandon Prust, and whoever else makes the team.  You can bring back Fedotenko (the idea of which I am a big fan of), Zuccarello, Prospal, Avery, and on down the line. 

Personally I am DONE with WW and EC.  Hang the damn shoot-out; I'm done with these Harry Houdini types.  Bring up Grachev or Weise or somebody who gives a shit 60 minutes a game.  I want a Cup.  Every year I get so fed up watching other teams and other cities go batshit over their teams success (or failure: wow Canucks fans....assholes much?)

 

There has obviously been a lot of stress regarding Brandon Dubinsky and his upcoming contract.  These types of money issues are always frustrating for us as fans, but one thing that I find a little sad is that so many Ranger fans on this board seem like they are questioning Dubinsky's value, his ceiling, and his stature compared with other similar players. 

One reason this is happening is the simple fact that, apart from Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti, who else out there gives Dubinsky any credit?  Or Callahan for that matter? Or Lundqvist?  Once again - and I know I've beaten this horse before - we as Ranger fans get so used to hearing Mike Emrick and Chico Resch extol Travis Zajac and the NHL network giving props to Claude Giroux and Joe Pavelski and blah blah blah ........... like a picked-on school kid you eventually begin to believe that you aren't as good as the rest of your peers.

Its true.  Who ever says anything truly good about our team?  We aren't in any highlight reels, they gloss over us during NHL On-the-Fly (there are exceptions: Mike Milbury and Keith Jones, and even Jeremy Roenick have had great things to say about Cally).....but who else? 

That's why I used to love listening to other team's broadcasters during Ranger games, something I used to do before I was married with a kid and had the NHL package and laid around in my underwear watching hours and hours of NHL ...................because you got to see what they thought of the team, by how they called the game.

These days any game on Versus which features the Rangers inevitably has us playing Washington, Pittsburgh, or Philadelphia ......and tell me that does not equate to Capitals home telecast/Pittsburgh home telecast, and you're left wondering ... hey wow, do the Rangers have any players of note at all?  Are we a bunch of useless shit bags?

Maybe I'm overthinking it here but that is certainly something I've felt all along.

Thoughts?

I was watching NHL Network and they were interviewing Jay Feaster, GM of Calgary, and I learned that Alex Tanguay is a UFA.  He made 1.7 million this past season and they love his chemistry with Jarome Iginla.  He's about the same age as Brad Richards and as far as I know he doesn't have any concussion issues. 

Do you guys think he's a better option than spending a shitload on Richards, and could provide similar numbers and chemistry with Gaborik?

We could throw 2 or even 2.5 million at him and it would hurt a lot less than the 5 - 7 million Richards would command. 

With the money we save we could definitely lock up our RFA's (and Fedotenko), and maybe snag a Wisniewski for D (the power play CANNOT be as bad as its been again) or a Brooks Laich, the type of player I believe you can't have enough of.

Thoughts? 

In Boogaard's defense, of course none of us would have done differently but to sign on the dotted line if offered a bloated Sather-contract.  The problem with Derek's contract, and his usefulness to the New York Rangers, was a matter of timing and nothing more.  I've said this a lot on here and I'm surprised it isn't crystal clear to everyone.  There was a time in the NHL when a guy like Derek would have been worth every cent, and that time has long passed.  I'm talking about the NHL prior to the Coward Rule, or as they put it, the Instigator Penalty.  In the post-instigator NHL if a player doesn't want to fight, they don't have to fight.  They can run around and elbow people in the head and often escape physical retribution.  It renders a player like Derek Boogaard obsolete in terms of his role as enforcer.  Unable to keep pace with the rest of the skaters and pests, he wasn't even much of a bodycheck threat.   If this was 1987, we'd have been set.  None of this is the fault  of Derek Boogaard, and considering his career had lasted as long as it did, it is clear that Boogie brought more to the table than his fists.  He contributed - more so in Minnesota - and for that he definitely had tons of heart and willingness to do whatever it took to help his team. 

As a teammate and a pillar of the community, Derek Boogaard was apparently on the level of an Adam Graves.  For that there are no statistics, no trophies, no measuring stick beyond the esteem he garnered in everyone's eyes.  For that I feel tremendous sadness for his family and friends, but I also feel an emptiness which comes with knowing that he could have made a real impression on us as fans as the next few years progressed.  There are not enough guys like Derek Boogaard in the world; certainly in the world of sports outside of hockey, there are few. 

For the people who have asked whether or not his contract comes off the books, you really are two things.  One is plain stupid, because what the f**k else do you think happens?  They spend the money on girlscout cookies and Glen Sather's cigar collection?  The other is......really dude?  really?  That's where your head goes when a 28 year old man dies......What happens to his salary?  This is proof that the internet, youtube, twitter, texting, a million gigs of information every second age we live in has detracted from our humanity. 

If you're going to ask a question about Derek Boogaard, first imagine that his sister Krysten and his dad Len are standing next to you.  Maybe imagine his brother Aaron struggling to get one word out about his big brother that he'll never see again; never have a beer with or break balls with EVER AGAIN....imagine those people are standing next to you and then decide whether or not the question on your lips is appropriate.  It'll save us all from the indignity of being associated in any way with jackasses like you, here on the ever classy, Banter forum that I for one am proud to be a part of.  People like you, though, the Banter does not need.   

Here's wishing peace to the family and friends of Derek Boogaard, who will need so much of it but get so little in the upcoming days.....

After a season of over-achievement, grit, guts, and youth, you'd be a fool not to realize that better days are ahead for our beloved franchise.  Here are my thoughts on the team going forward....

goaltending:  Henrik Lundqvist entering his prime years; can you see them etching his name onto the Cup?  I can. 

Martin Biron:  a shame with the injury; he's solid in net and I'm very happy to have him...great team guy, locker room presence, and even a shoot-out assistant coach.

defense:  Your top four are set for years in my mind; they're only gonna get better...even Staal isn't finished getting better.  However, he needs to be more physical.  He needs to throw some bigger hits back there.  I am still not through with Matt Gilroy; he's got some speed and vision and he showed you a higher gear in the Caps series.  Brian McCabe has to go - he's terrible, just awful.  You thought Roszival was bad holding the puck in on the power play?  Jesus Christmas.....

I am a big fan of signing James Wisniewski....even at the expense of letting Gilroy walk. 


forwards after ye olde jump:

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It is Marian Gaborik's first time in the playoffs with the New York Rangers, and the team around him has scraped and clawed and fought their way to a seed in this here Stanley Cup run.  #10 has been a part of it, I'm not doubting that.  There have been many nights where I saw him backchecking and even being physical. 

But compared with the rest of the team, he has not been nearly as effective.  Gaborik has to come out and he has to make a difference, because without a top flight scorer contributing GOALS, we do not stand a chance to advance. 

This guy has simply got to find a higher gear.  He needs to come out and demand that puck.  When his dipsy doodle moves don't work out he has to bull his way to the net like everybody else on this team (except EC).  Because one thing is certain, Ovechkin will be firing on all cylinders, Backstrom too.  We need our top sniper, our superstar, to find his form and start burying some chances.  Without it we will not go as far as we might.

I don't know if he's scared to get hurt, if he's not 100%, or what.  But this man needs to take a page from the Vinny Prospal Tan Man Book of Trying Really F**king Hard Every Single Shift.  Prospal's got what, ten years on Gabby?  He gets dirty in the corners, forechecks, and doesn't back away from contact, with his older body and his wonky knee.  Fedotenko also....and now we can add Drury to that list.

#10 needs to follow their example and be a veteran that doesn't let just the youngsters and rookies on the team lead the way.

Gabby, we need the laserbeam wrist shot, we need the speed backing the D so deep into Varlamov's net they push him out the back of it. 

Its do or die time..... 

What do you guys think is going to happen to Sean Avery?  Does he play again soon?  If Torts does decide to put him in, who does he replace?

See here's the thing... yes Sean has taken some stupid penalties, but he managed to play the vast majority of this season without such antics. 

Going into the final eight games here and the (hopefully) playoffs, you don't wanna touch Dubi/AA/Cally and Feds/Boyle/Prust.  I think Torts has been pleased with WW/Stepan/Zucc, so that leaves Gaborik skating with EC and Prospal. 

Gaborik, EC, and Prospal frankly scares the crap out of me going up against bigger teams like Boston and Philly.  They're way too soft. 

IF Avery can be trusted not to implode in the playoffs like he did against Washington (remember the Varlamov sock across the side of the head??? remember Torts expression - youtube it.  I would paste it here but I'm at work and I can't access youtube), I like Avery on a line with Gaborik and EC or Prospal in a playoff situation. 

Avery can forecheck like nobody's business and he's racked up a decent amount of assists over the course of the season.  

Prospal can play center can't he?  Or am I mistaken?  If not Gabby with EC and Avery works, but I feel like Prospal puts forth a better effort than EC in most situations. 

Thoughts on Avery's fate down the stretch here guys?   

Point 1:  You do NOT talk about concussion reform.

Point 2:  You do NOT TALK ABOUT CONCUSSION REFORM.

Point 3:  Put a copy of "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" in every NHL penalty box.

Point 4:  Provide all NHL players in the penalty box with headsets, which they must wear for the duration of their penalty.  The song which will be played shall be Chris DeBurgh's 1986 smash-hit "Lady in Red."

Point 5:  Every time someone gets a concussion from an illegal head hit, Matt Cooke has to submit to an ass-kicking.  (Said ass-kicking shall be delivered by Joe Pesci, Tom Sizemore, Gary Busey, and Carrot-top).

 

Do this Mr. Bettman, and violence will simply disappear from the game.

Right before the trade deadline I noticed a handful of posters willing to dangle Artem Anisimov in a trade for Brad Richards or even Paul Stastny (which was never going to happen). 

I am going to offer my opinion here that AA for Richards would have been disastrous, even without considering the signing of Richards for nothing but money in the summer. 

If and when we bring Brad Richards to the Rangers, it will bury AA behind both B.R. and Derek Stepan. 

When you watch AA, who is 22 years old, you have to believe that if you give him ice time and responsibility this kid is going to absolutely dominate.  He's got all the tools, and this year he's finally beginning to get consistent.  We gave Dubinsky and Callahan a few years to establish themselves; I think AA deserves the same thing.

He's got hands man.....HANDS.......and he's starting to drive the net and showcase it.  You sign Richards you either retard or halt his development; or maybe you shift him to the wing.

This post is really my own cautionary tale for Glen Sather; the Rangers may not need to sign Richards so badly because next season I think AA is going to be even better.  He's got 16 goals at this point now; I would take a bet that at this point next season that's 25-30.  Is Brad Richards going to do better than that? 

Now I understand if you're going deep in the playoffs you want a guy whose been there/done that, but I don't want even Brad Richards if it effs up AA's development.

 

Thoughts?

Earlier this afternoon I had the pleasure(?) of listening to Mike "I don't give a crap about Hockey" Francesca interview Gary "I don't give a crap about hockey except for Cindy" Bettman. 

It was actually a pretty damn good interview, if you can work around Bettman's politician style vaguery. 

Francesca weighed in on the Islander/Penguin fiasco with all the suspensions.  Now, as you guys all know, non hockey media ignore goals, milestones, highlights, victories, etc. etc. etc. as if hockey never existed, but the minute someone decapitates somebody, slices open their neck, or there's a major brawl, all of a sudden they want to talk about hockey. 

Bettman surprised me.  He said "we handed out 23 games in suspensions and fined the Isles $100,000.00.  Things got out of hand and the teams couldn't control their players.  We've made our ruling and we're moving on." 
Good for you Gary.  When the issue of fighting in general was broached, Bettman again defended hockey.  He said "it keeps the temperature of the game down," i.e., keeps players from going over the edge, in most cases he meant by that.  When Francesca brought up the whole "football is just as physical how come they don't fight" argument, Bettman did not hesitate to point out that the action in football is sporadic; there are many breaks and chances for players to cool down.  In hockey the action keeps going; the tempers flare and its a good safer release for the players to fight.

There was discussion of whether or not Mario Lemieux is a hypocrite for the whole complaining about cheapshots when you sign Matt Cooke's paycheck.  Bettman was coy.  He said "I would never publicly call Lemieux a hypocrite."  Did he mean he did so privately?  hmmmm......I'd like to think so.

They went on to discuss the sad state of the Islanders, whether there will be a Winter Classic in NY (apparently it would have to be in a football stadium b/c the baseball sight lines are no good, according to Bettman), and relocation of NHL franchises.  Apparently Kansas City has an arena built and ready to go.  They're clamoring for a team in Winnipeg and Quebec City as well.  But Bettman said there are no plans to relocate as of this time. 

Atlanta seems like the most at-risk franchise.   

It was a good interview and a rare glimpse at hockey in mainstream sports media.  I was pleased to see that Bettman has at least a bit of a spine and supports fighting in hockey. 

Stepan, Boyle, Anisimov, Wolski, Callahan, Prust, Staal, Fedotenko and Sauer....

those are all the major minute players on the roster who .............. DON"T HAVE AS MANY ASSISTS AS SEAN AVERY.

Sean is out there banging, grinding, and forechecking, largely in a clean, callahan-like manner.  Just because he runs his mouth and talks shit doesn't mean the league needs to have a constant pogrom against him.  The league needs to have some thicker skin.  It is absolute f**king bullsh*t that they tolerate Matt Cooke and his ilk and they railroad Sean Avery.  Its nauseating and its exactly why the league is so far down the popularity list of sports in the United States. 

If Torts truly doesn't like Avery than Torts is a hypocrite.  Who brings more 'jam' to the roster than Sean? Prust and Cally maybe.....

The league needs to look at itself in the mirror........oh poor Dion Phaneuf and Elisha Cuthbert.  F**k both of them.  Grow up and realize when you're balls are being broken and get over it.  I'm so sick of Avery having to pay for his non-actions.....

Christ, doesn't anybody remember Claude Lemieux, Dave Manson, Dave Brown, Keith Acton, Dino Ciccarrelli, and some of the other lumberjacks and dirty dangerous son of a bitches that have played?????

I was and always will be a big fan of Sean Avery.  He's a New York player and should remain in the Rangers' plans going forward.

I can't help but laugh when guys like us think we have the answers to our team's woes.  But you know something; I've played hockey off and on for twenty years; and many of us on here have been around the game long enough that we CAN provide some insight.  Its like when one of your friends is in a bad relationship but he's convinced its working.  Your on the outside looking in and you can see its a train wreck.....well the Rangers power play is a train wreck..... and I think I have the solution.....

 

Put Brian Boyle on the top unit and plant his ass in front of the opposition net.  Have the wingers on the top unit be Callahan and Dubinsky, or Cally and Prospal / Dubi and Prospal.  Have your point men be Staal and Girardi or Staal and MDZ.  Cally and Dubi are tough enough to dig the puck off the wall and smart enough to get it to the net, where Boyle can outmuscle d-men and -----jesus do I even need to explain this strategy?

Let the second unit consist of the Wolski's and Gaborik's.  BUT mix in Avery and/or Prust onto that second unit because we need grit on each unit.  Stepan could play second unit or take Prospal's place on the first unit if his play warrants it. 

But placing Boyle in front to screen goalies and create havoc is such a no-brainer I simply can't believe they don't do it every game.

Whaddy'all think?

I don't know what the good folks over at the NHL network are going to do!  It would mean that - gasp - they'd be forced to talk at length about our team!  How would they do it!?  I'm fairly certain (and I'm almost not joking here) that the main staff of NHL On the Fly and NHL Live are contractually obligated to OMIT commenting on the Rangers.  That's how bad the anti-Ranger sentiment has gotten in the NHL.  It makes us the ultimate underdogs; the orphans of the league.... am I being a bit too dramatic?  I used to think so but not anymore. 

See for yourself.  Go ahead and watch NHL On the Fly next time we play.  I don't care if we scored 10 goals and racked up 300 penalty minutes....I don't care if the Rangers called up Optimus Prime to center Gaborik cause Torts thinks it'll get him going....those people will not say anymore than is strictly necessary to communicate the final result of said Ranger game.   Period...barebones highlights and its on to the next game.  Oh wow its the Blue Jackets vs. Preds.....fifteen minutes of analysis..... Rangers vs. ________ ; sixty seconds blah blah blah Lundqvist...commercials then onto the next game.

So if the Rangers DO get into next year's Winter Classic, they'll have to bring in Sam, Joe and Dave Maloney, or you'll see Kevin Weekes, Brian Duff and Dan Pollard sitting there in f**king silence rather than talk about our Blueshirts. 

I'm sooooooo goddamn sick of it.  I really am.  When we win the Cup sometime in the next five years I cannot WAIT to see how the NHL Network handles it.  I bet you they take a hiatus or something....

Oh and in conclusion, I am fully convinced that Pierre Maguire is certifiably mentally ill. 

I have gone on here and bashed Michael Roszival multiple times, calling him soft, slow, unable to hit the net etc. etc.  I have to admit that since he has returned from injury he's been really f**king good out there.  And more physical than I think I've ever seen him. 

 

I don't know how long it will last but you know what?  He is a big reason the Rangers are surging a little right now. 

 

Did you guys see that marvelous hip check he threw last night!?  Just one of many good plays. 

 

Rozi......I'm eating my words (at least for now please don't make me look stupid on Saturday).

With special attention to Ahmad Bradshaw's comment.....

 

In most cases I would agree with you Ahmad.  Cheering an injured player is usually something I dislike strongly, but in this case I say, the fans get a pass. 

Because if Alexander Ovechkin had blown out Dan Girardi's knee on that stupid hit at the beginning of his little tantrum, how would we feel?  How much does Ovechkin care about injuring other players; he plays on the edge and has done so his entire career.  Plus, Ovechkin clearly jumped Dubinsky.  He didn't give him a chance to drop the gloves at all; he potentially could have really hurt the guy. 

Did the Garden Faithful have this in mind when they booed #8?  I don't know...probably not, but all in all I think we need to back off calling the fans 'bush-league' or what have you. 

But anyway, yeah um....we effin' PUMMELLED THE CAPS BABY!!!!!  On home ice to boot!  Hellz yes this one feels good.

The Rangers still have holes in their game and loose ends, but I see this team really coming together lately.  Its a beautiful thing, and over the course of the next month or so its going to get potentialy all f**ked up. 

Roszival:   I too was swallowing a little bit of the Rozy koolaid we were all drinking first few games of the season.  Lets face it, the guy's awful.  He coughs up the puck under pressure way more often than he should; we know how soft he is, he can't hit the net and his foot speed is atrocious.  Since he's been injured the Rangers defense has been all the meaner and nastier.  But everyone seems to love this guy now so hell, I must be watching another #33 out there.  Question remains, who sits when he comes back?  Gilroy I guess (though he's getting better). . . .b/c Sauer has been impressive and Eminger a revelation back there....steady and physical.  (PHYSICAL = PLAYOFFS)  I assure you the Pens game gets away from us with Rozy playing 28 soft, timid, lousy minutes back there.

 

Drury:  Where the hell do you put this guy?!  I know we need faceoffs won, but your top PK'ers are Dubi and Calli, Boyle and Prust.  Your leadership is being defined right before our eyes too, with guys like the aforementioned Alaska / Rochester boys all but wearing the 'C' already.  Your top offensive centers are Dubi, Boyle, and ......  that brings us to our next guy...

 

Prospal:  I envision a sick line of Frolov and Gaborik centered by Prospal.  Prospal's work ethic down low, his tenacity on the puck, if its as intense as last year, will make this a sick, sick line that maybe doesn't get outworked like it does with EC.

Now do you drop EC or sit him?  He's a tough one because he can be dominant...when he wants to be.  Plus I'm not in the 'f**k EC' camp....the players didn't look too upset with him the other night against Pitt.  Talking to him on the bench, warmth on the ice toward him as well.  If they're okay, I'm okay.   

I hate to even say this, but if I had one wish it would be that Drury and Roszival would just disappear from the team.  No disrespect to Drury but I'm sorry...where does this guy fit in now?   

but its okay.

 Wow.... okay a couple of items....

Could the NHL make it any more obvious that they want Pittsburgh to win?  Tonight we not only beat the Penguins, but we beat the men in stripes as well.  Once again against this miserable team, it was 5 on 7 hockey all game long.  The only intelligent thing Micheletti said all night long was, 'when do you ever see 5 nothing on power play chances?' 

I absolutely hate Sidney Crosby.  Trash talking little mutt bastard.  You take Lundqivst's legs out like a little bitch and then have the audacity to talk shit to him?  Why cause you couldn't pot one tonight?  And I wish Matt Cooke would sustain a career ending injury .... I'm serious; he's a piece of shit out there and mark my words, he's gonna cause another major injury before the end of the year.

Joe Micheletti is the worst commentator in hockey....he's right down there with Chico Resh.  The game the other night when Dave Maloney did color was like a breath of fresh air - I actually learned things.  What a screw up on MSG's part, wasting Maloney on the radio and keeping this chud in my ear every damn game. 

And I hate to say this, but its time for Sam to go.  He's done.  Its mistake after mistake, every night now.  He can't see; I sit here correcting him feeling terrible because I love Sam.  His voice and Ranger games are one and the same to me. 

All in all, our best effort second and third periods....incredible game and our homegrown talent is really, really starting to shine through... 

Greetings fellow Banter boys and girls......

 

Today I had the occasion to be in a car for two hours without my iPod, and so I flipped on WFAN to catch the end of Boomer and Carton and a little bit of Joe and Evan's show.  I watch the NHL Network every day, particularly NHL Live. 

It once again occurred to me how little coverage our Blueshirts actually receive, and therefore, how valuable this site is.  I just want to thank Joe Fortunato, Jim Schmeideberg (spelling?) and whoever else either runs or majorly contributes to it.  It is the single most valuable source of information on the New York Rangers and I look at it more than I do any other site (including porn sites lol).

I know I don't post too much, but I read it all, and I have been humbled, because I thought I was extremely knowledgable about hockey - some of you on here blow me away with your expertise. 

It does irk me, however, how the NHL Network does its best to avoid talking about or hyping the Rangers.  You get the sense that no one likes the Rangers in the NHL.  Whether it was their free spending salary drive-ups in the 90's and 00's (read: Joe Sakic offer sheet), or what I don't know, but it aggravates the hell out of me.  The Rangers are finally doing things right and they put out an exciting product on the ice.  I know we have the Antichrist in #16 (and by the way if he gets high sticked in the face without a call one more time I'm gonna drop kick my Vizio out the living room window)....its high time the NHL recognizes and accepts the Ranges instead of ignoring them. 

 

I have spoken.   

I'm not here to rant about Derek Boogard's contract.  The overpayment is hardly as bad as it seems.  What I am here to speak about is what his actual presence would/could mean on the Rangers.  If you consider the Carcillo-Gaborik debacle (quite possibly the most embarrasing on-ice moment I've had the displeasure of seeing in my twenty years of supporting the Blueshirts) you have to realize that had we Mr. Boogard on the team, nothing different would have happened in that situation.  We all know that Boogard would not have been on the ice when #10's out there; he'd be on the bench gnashing his teeth in anger.  Ten minutes later, or whenever Torts sends out the fourth line, what would Boogard do?  He would skate around, looking to run someone over, probably out of position, and likely take a bad penalty.  In a league featuring the instigator rule, the enforcer can only dance with a willing partner.  The handful of gentlemen willing to throw down with Boogard are scattered around the NHL and essentially, its a moot point.  

Until ALL of the Rangers are willing to step up everytime Gabby or Hank get SWEATED on, these problems will continue.  You could have a fourth line of Boogard, Shelley, and Ivanans; it wouldn't matter.  Today's NHL is different, and of course, that is escaping Mr. Sather. 

A case can be made, however, that Tortorella's players are more afraid of his wrath than of looking like bitches while their star player gets manhandled.  I can't help but reiterate the Carcillo-Gaborik incident.  (did I mention it was one of the most embarrassing moments in my twenty years of watching the Blueshirts---oh I did lol).  I have to believe that Girardi - who has fought in his career - feared getting ejected for being third man in and facing Torts' wrath more than he feared looking like a great big vagina.  I have to believe that, or else I'm at a loss to explain why the Rangers get pushed around. 

Either way, my point is we have a long way to go to being tough than signing Boogard. 

 

Thoughts?     

As if this season wasn't filled with enough frustration, our 'top' analyst team - especially Joe Micheletti - has now reached a level I can no longer tolerate.  After Marc Staal nudged Crosby and he dove, causing the whole fracas with Lundqvist and Dubinsky, what was the first thing out of that two-bit hack's mouth?  "It didn't look like Crosby took a dive..it looked like Staal cross-checked him."  I nearly leapt through my Vizio when I heard that crap.  You know what Joe?  Take your little resume and get on 84 West til you hit 78.  Follow the signs to Pittsburgh, PA and then you can get a job with the Penguins where your head can safely lodge in Sidney Crosby's butt for real, instead of just in your own mind.  I am sick of his flagrant cheer-leading.  Hey Joe, you don't work for Versus, or the NHL network - you are a NEW YORK RANGER announcer.  Sure you give praise where its deserved, and love him or hate him (i hate him) Crosby is a player for the ages and a top draw in this league, which only helps our sport.  But there is no question Crosby dove.  As an ANALYST these guys are paid to report what goes down, not sugarcoat their blessed little hero players who can do no wrong.  And okay, even if we differ on whether or not he actually dove (which he did), what about Henrik Lundqvist's reaction?  What about that Joe, you ingenious observer of the game?  When was the last time #30 opened his mouth to anyone?  Aside from showing frustration at losing, Henrik might as well be Ghandi in that net.  For him to come out like that and get in Crosby's face should tell you something.  And I've been saying it all year, I think Rosen is on autopilot.  Since JD left things have not been the same in that booth. 

I've said it all year.  Dave Maloney should be up in that booth with Sam.  He filled in one game before the Olympics and it was an absolute pleasure, and the closest thing to having JD since he left. 

Hats off to Dubinsky for attacking Crosby by the way. 

I have been a huge detractor of Michal Roszival, and while his performance last night doesn't change everything, you have to admit that Rozy's efforts have been noticeably better the past few games.  I pay close attention and he has been downright mean in front of Henrik, has been much harder to contend with along the wall, and has even managed some hard shots on net (gasp!) and some stellar passwork.....especially his first pass has been crisp and well-placed. 

To say on this forum that you can't believe Redden got benched over Rozy is really inaccurate.  To the people who feel this way, Really guys?  Really?  lol....Redden absolutely gives zero effort.  The Islanders goal by John Sim the other night when we lost is a perfect example of what you get from Wade Redden.  Which is basically nothing....He should've knocked Sim on his keester - its a no brainer.  I hope Redden is benched til after the freakin' Olympics.

And Kotalik?  What a miserably typical Sather signing.  Ugh.....banish this guy he's a waste.

by KingHenrik30 on Dec 11, 2009 3:10 PM PST 0 comments

I don't want to sound like a bitter angry guy singling out players and ranting about them pointlessly, but I just have to say that my pride in this team has dwindled to a new low.  Its not one or two signings that anger me, or their dismal record thats got me down.  There's a psychological problem I'm having with the Rangers so far in 2009-2010.  In the late eighties, early nineties, you felt like the Rangers were building up to something which turned out to be the 1994 Cup victory.  For 3 more seasons you felt like they could compete; you were entertained and there was hope.  Then followed 1997-98 to 2003-04, 7 of the worst years you could possibly imagine.  But you could always point to the management and you knew that as long as the team was run this way, they would be a mess.  It hurt, but it was explainable.  After the lockout we were reenergized!  Things began looking up.  At last there would be smart drafting, signings that made sense, and progress.  We had a franchise goaltender come out of nowhere and establish himself.  We had a coach we could trust....strap in cause its a new NHL and we are built for it.  ..............fast forward to this season, and what do you have?  Where's the coach we can trust?  Who is John Tortorella?  I thought I knew who he was....what he created for your team.....well, where the hell is it?  Where's the fire?  I know the Rangers are snake-bitten by the Drury/Roszival/Redden tragedy, but how did we go from a competitive, defensively responsible team that could win on any given night to this rag-tag half-hearted garbage we're forced to watch every game? 

Watching Henrik Lundqvist talk after the Blackhawks victory the other night made me sick to my stomach.  Henrik should be furious at this team.  This defensive corps of softies, its pathetic.  Torts gets mad but nothing happens.  Nothing.  We are going to miss the playoffs for the first time since the lockout and I'm sick over it.  Sick. 

The Rangers were headed in the right direction; they went out and got the Mean, Fiery Coach; we got #30, and now we got Marian Gaborik..............what the hell happened to the rest of it? 

All I know is I'm tired of watching this team and its only December.  I try 100% at my job and I make a fraction of what these guys make....the least you can give me is your guts left on that hockey rink every single night.  Its the least they can give us.