Evening, all.
Back at Chez Zipay, making chili and settling in for a glance at Versus. Some key scorers on the Wild (Gaborik, Demitra) are ailing, so I'm picking the Pens.
Pretty good give-and-take on the message board during the day.
Lots of forwards in the mix all of a sudden, huh? Remember, depth is a good thing, but limited by the salary cap, too.
I really don't expect many transactions before Straka/Callahan return, unless someone else is injured, so all this is down-the-pike speculation.
As someone suggested, let's see how players perform in November, as the Rangers try to climb a few games above .500, an attainable goal.
Wouldn't mind some more depth on defense, however, later this year, because Struds is your No. 7. If Boyle isn't doable----and the Lightning should be in the hunt, so they may not trade him anyway----then he's a UFA target.
Brent Sopel? Brad Stuart? Derek Morris? Yikes.
Say Rozsival's 2007-08 performance isn't worth ante-ing up $4-5 mil per?
And, let's assume Boyle shows no ill effects from the wrist injury. Hmmm.
Boyle-Staal, Tyutin-Girardi, Sauer-Mara?
McCabe, in my opinion, is way overrated. Redden's vaguely interesting, although, as mentioned here before, John-Michael Liles or Shea Weber might be less-costly fits.
Rozy-Staal, Tyutin-Girardi, Liles/Weber-Sauer?
Just thinking waaaaaaaaay ahead.....
For the Rangers, beating the Caps and old pal Mikey Nylander (3 assists vs. Leafs Monday) is on the front burner....
That's it for me tonight, gang, will be back tomorrow with a dispatch from the skate.
Comments (30)
I tell you what, that Liles kid is good man. I love to see him on the PP wearing R-W-B!
I like that Hainsey (sp?) out of Columbus. Young, strong, talented.
http://www.nhlnumbers.com/freeagents.php
saw this posted in the comments of blueshirt bulletin
Previous thread:
"Posted by Slick Willy | October 30, 2007 19:20 Dan, The choice is easy. sit Orr or Hollweg. Fit Renny sat Prucha over Hollweg or Orr I think most of us would blow a gasket."
My goodness!! With the scoring production and win last night I almost forgot about Callahan being injured! So that complicates things even more!
Heres the thing Slick. Hollweg is an agitator type player although it seems that more people around the league like the guy more than they do Avery (but that doesn't really matter). The way I see it they are the same TYPE of player although I wouldn't go trying to compare anything but their energy and agitating ability. Orr is there for obvious reasons. If Orr is scratched (or isn't on the ice at the time) Dubinsky fights Richardson and gets a concussion or Shanny risks one fighting Brashear. So the way I see it at least one of the three (Hollweg, Avery, Orr) HAS to play most nights just to make sure the peace is kept. The good thing with all the forwards is depth, but I would think with all the depth at some point, a trade is inevitable. The question is what is needed? Cap space? Defensive depth? Future considerations? Dawes play definately deserves more ice time in NY, and I think Prucha (as most here feel) is underutilized. I think they could use some more punishing d-men but I usually get told the kids are good enough that it isn't needed...and yes I would blow a gasket if Hollweg and Orr were playing and Prucha was not, but... Hollwegs play has impressed me lately. I say watch for trade.
I say it will be Hollweg, Prucha, Dawes, or Avery that will go...possibly some combination of them with Montoya for a big D-man. I still say that they should have tried to get Sheldon in the offseason. I know he may have wanted more than they were had to deal with in cap space but with all the talent they were bringing in he may have been willing to take a pay cut for a shot at the cup. I know I would, and I make less than 1/8 of the league minimum.
Would love to get rid of Rozsival for a one or two year deal for Boyle, but Lilies or Weber would be a much smarter, long-term choice.
If Phanuef is not resigned by Calgary which he probably will I would give him a big contract. He is only 22 hits and can move the puck up ice. I think 3 #1 picks is worth it for him.
ughh, lets just get rid of rozsival soon... he stinks.
Any offensive defenseman will not produce big numbers here because Jagr doesn't like shots from the point. So it is pointless to trade for offensive defensemen. And you really underrate the offensive ability of Staal, Tyutin, Mara, and Girardi as well as Baranka.
Luke,
Seems to me that Girardi and Tyutin could play offensivley. Both of them seem to have heavy shots from the point and quarterback the play pretty well. I half agree with you about the offensive defensemen part. Any addition of a big time Dman will do. Yeah, Sheldon is more of a quarterback than a stay at home guy but he wouldn't be a league top ten D-man if he didn't do the job on his end of the ice first.
Dan,
Good points. That big offensive puck moving D-man is coming in a trade or off-season. We’ll see. Consider this; Straka, Shanahan and Avery are UFA next season. Avery will want his payday. So I’m going to say that all three will be gone next season. Possibly this year at the deadline, who knows? That money being spent on them will go to Henry and this future monster D-man. This is where Sather and his gang will package in Montoya/Moore/Mara/Hollweg etc. with a Straka/Avery. I’d hate to see them pull another ’93 where we lose another Weight and Amonte, by trading away a Prucha, Dawes, Callahan.
I couldn’t see them disregarding the future and the game plan of the last 4 seasons to build this team from within just at getting a 2 month advance on signing a “maybe” when they could sign an “absolutely” in the summer time.
But what the heck do I know?
Do you guys think we could get the guy from YOUNGBLOOD for Jag and Gomez? Maybe we can throw in Drury since he came here to make commercials!
http://www.outsidethegarden.com/articles/story.asp?id=469
I'll take #2 but switch Dawes for Hossa.
Slick - I hope that is not really you posting. Kovlalev???For the love of god have we not tried that a few times already? I want Kovalev on this team as much as I want testicular cancer!!! LOL
In my opinion for reading these posts...
Hollweg, Avery and Orr are three different players all together.
Hollweg is high energy, throws the big hits and hustles. Little bit of hockey sense showing through lately.
Avery is energy, throws hits, hustles plays hard and can make the skin crawl on the oppsoing team...Probably the best agitator out there.
Orr is muscle, he plays hard, throws the hits and delivers the knock out punch.
This team is going to have alot of choices and options when guys get healthy and I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Depending on how the team is doing when the time comes.
Dawes has to stay so someone will have to go.
Also my opinion is that Avery is not going anywhere this year or next. Arbitration was to get him in under the tight cap. He wants to play here, the Rangers want him here and what fan doesn't?
Why is everyone so down on Rosival? Hey the stats say that the Rangers have one of the top defenses in the league, who are we to complain? Henrik is incredible, but he doesnt face as many shots as the Rangers have been dishing out... so he's not 100% responsible for the low goals against.
Interesting stats:
Nylander 4G 7A for 11 Points
Drury 1G 7A for 8 Points
Gomez 2G 1A for 3 Points
So guess what. As of today, Nylander has the exact same amount of points as both of his "replacements" combined. How's that for cap value...
Yes that was me. I've always like Kovalev. I knew I'd caught some flack, but testicular cancer. Too funny man.
Really though, Kovalev is a great player. I like his style of play and the guy who wrote that made a good point, it might be nice to see him with Jagr and Drury. It isn't like he sucks. He's streaky, yes.
There's a problem with depth. Good or bad someone is going to get slighted. Do we really need Avery, Hollweg, Struds and Orr. No. Avery is a keeper. But will he be affordable in July??? Struds will sit and not complain. Hollweg and Orr are useless offensively. So we don't need both. Orr has that knock out punch. He can keep the opposition off our talent. Keep him. Hollweg is a lunatic. But Callahan and Prucha can provide the fore-checking. So that just leaves his checking. Well that's what Avery and Orr are for. Avery might be back Saturday, Struds will sit. That leaves Straka and Callahan for no left over positions. huh?
Well, someone's going somewhere.
Mike G - Anon getting on Rosival can't be for real. Anyone getting on our D can't be for real. Like you said, easily one of the tops in the league. So if you want to complain about anything it is Offense. I don't think it's the players we have or don't have either. I mean we all saw and see what this team is on paper. It's the play not the players.
Your stats for the Nylander/Drury/Gomez thing are interesting. It stings a bit right now but, let's just hope that turns around.
No Ranger defenseman should get $4-$5 million. Not Rozsival, NO ONE.
Its insane to think otherwise.
How about W. Mitchell for Mara plus
huh? who?
I would not be so down on Prucha. The kid has one goal this season. But he has hit 3 posts that I know of and had a goal waived off already.
Like the rest of this team, he has been snakebitten.
And I would not be in such a rush to trade anyone really. In case you all have not realized, a rash of injuries and we're out of this depth we're so happy to have. Nigel Dawes is the end of the line for the most part as far as young talent ready to jump into the lineup is concerned. There is an open roster spot right now that they have not called up anyone to fill (and Greg Moore has been playing extremely well for Hartford).
Be careful what you wish for with these trades... Another string of injuries and you end up having Hollweg on the 2nd line with Valiquette and Holt sharing goaltending duties.
Not pretty...
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8464989&service=page
Mike G and Cullen has 12 pts in games. 3 goals and 9 assts
BTW Noone needs to be traded. We have 20 guys in lineup and no healthy scratches. Allowed 23 on roster. The 3 won't all be back for another 4 weeks approx. Other injuries will happen - or some guys can sit in press box. So I wouldn't spend too much time projecting 1 month out - too much can change.
LI Joe thats crazy, I had no idea about Cullen. Good for him, he was a good team player for the Rags, great in the shootout too. I'm glad to see him doing well (and Nylander for that matter).
What I'd like more right now is some of our own guys breaking the 10 point mark though haha...
I want to see our team break the 10 point mark ...
The logical path is to re-sign Rozsival cheap for another season and wait for Sanguinetti.
There is no way in hell Predators want to trade Weber or Hamhuis, they want to trade small, overrated and expensive Zidlicky.
"How about W. Mitchell for Mara plus"
I kind of like that idea, maybe Straka and Malik for Pyatt and Mitchell. Gives us more size up front and more physical edge.
only a moron would advocate Rozsival getting 4-5 million. even if he puts up 50 points he is not worth more than 3 million.
Try telling Montreal that, when they signed Hamrlik to a 4 year, 22 million dollar deal. Rozsival and his agent, I am sure took notice. If he has another decent season, I expect he will command atleast 4 million plus in the open market. For that price, he can take a walk, especially if he wants a long term deal.He's a good defenseman, not a great one, which is the most obvious statement of the day.
I am fine with him leaving, Baranka is a very similar player. Also don't forget Sauer and Sanguinetti and an outside chance from Liffiton and Potter.
I like Mitchell. Actually watched him play one or two visiting a buddy at Clarkson.
Slick,
I agree. Not sure Prucha is an Amonte/Weight type player though but Dawes and Callahan have the potential. Someone either has to sit or go before the end of the season either way. Any player not getting ice time is wasted money.
I think the caliber of Prucha is the same as Weight/Amonte were in 93.
Does Pru have the staying power? 100% Yes.
Callahan and Dawes need 48 more goals in the next two seasons for a equal evaluation of their talents.