Between ruminations on what should be a compelling Stanley Cup Final beginning Saturday, just wondering what a Vogue summer intern like say, Sean Avery, does on a rainy and chilly May weekday in New York? Nothing. He's probably at a photo shoot in sunny SoCal, right? Ah well. There but for black nail polish...Watch out for that spleen, Sean.
Some thoughts on the Detroit-Pittsburgh series:
For goaltenders Marc-Andre Fleury and Chris Osgood, the playoff goals-against-averages and save percentages are so close, it's a wash. Think Tomas Holstrom and others will attempt to create major traffic in front of Fleury, so Hal Gill and Brooks Orpik will need to bring A-games.
Expect the Kirk Maltby line to be assigned to shut down one of the Pens top lines; not sure how the Pens can matchup against Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. Johan Franzen is expected to be back at some point in the series; how effective he'll be, who knows?
Marian Hossa was stellar as Pittsburgh beat the Flyers and Rangers, teams with which the Pens were familiar. They haven't seen the Wings or played at the Joe this season. Have to give the edge to the Wings on home ice and the blue line and overall, with the Cup veterans over the youngsters. Unless the Penguins special teams really dominate, the pick here is: Detroit by a whisker.
***
Most of the discussions in Rangerland have been---and will continue to be---whether to sign or replace some of the five major veteran free agents---Jaromir Jagr, the aforementioned Mr. Avery, Brendan Shanahan, Martin Straka, and Michal Rozsival.
Defense is a priority, but the names of UFAs Michael Ryder and Brian Rolston have surfaced as proven 25-goal scorers on the wings to possibly replace Shanahan or Straka. I'd take Ryder. Change of scenery might serve him well.
Here's another name I'll toss into the mix: Ottawa LW/C Antoine Vermette, an RFA who might not be re-signed. He's 24, 6-1, 200, made $1.075 last season. Tremendous speed, quality PK.
***
If you're interested in some off-season Rangers yakking, I'll be a guest on XM this afternoon around 5 p.m. ET, with Phil Esposito. More later...
Comments (39)
Fire Renney and hire Quenneville or Wilson and I guarantee you a better season than last.
yes, because Wilson and Quennville got their respective teams so much further than Renney got his team this year.
Good point Bob
hey Bob, been meaning to ask you.
when you came out with the playoff grades for each Ranger and you gave the highest grade to Lauri Korpikoski of any Ranger player, do you agree that by doing that it makes you arguably the dumbest hockey blogger in internet history?
Rolston would be excellent, and I would love to see Rolston and Jagr on the same team, but unfortunately the cap will not let this happen. If anything, sign Jagr to one year because next year's UFAs will be better (and younger). Sign Avery to a 3 year deal at a reasonable salary (given his injuries).. if not then show him the door and sign Ryder.
MUST go after two d-man. Streit and Liles will be the most affordable for the PP QB, but we need a bruiser.
Forget Orpik, as he will be too pricy.. I'd rather take Brad Stuart or even Kurt Sauer, Salvador, etc (since his brother plays on the Wolfpack).
For the love of everything holy, NO Rozsival, NO Malik.
Why do some people think that Ryder is a substitute for Avery? They aren't even the same type of player.
I'm not an avid poster here --- but I'm not going to lie...
I check this site out periodically to see Bobs retarded comments.
Keep em coming bobo!
I think they are saying Ryder as a replacement for Shanny as the second line 20-25 goal scorer.
Oh got it. Thanks.
NO CUP FOR YOU !!!!
So Steve Z, I'm not a regular denizen of The Stadium--as baseball is simply a picnic with entertainment, SO slow--but if I see you covering the game, I hope you don't mind if I stop and say hello! Honestly, if I can't find more than a 14-year-old nephew to talk hockey with, I may internally combust.
In the meantime, go Wings!!! Like the Oilers and Islanders of yore, this can be Pittsburgh's "adversity" year. AND it's high time that a "European," especially someone as eloquent, decorated and talented as Nik Lidstrom, leads a team to the Stanley Cup Championship, if only so Don Cherry can curl up and retire.
Thank you.
A better question is:
"Do Detroit and Pittsburgh care about Sean Avery ?
The answer is a resounding... NO!
The question is pretty simple, who do you want to give 3 mil per yr to, Ryder or Avery? Because that will be the price, I would give 3 million per to Ryder 6 days a week and twice on Sunday before I would pay this to Avery. And please forget the different type of player BS, because you are absolutely right Ryder is capable of being a big time scorer and Avery is simply a guy going to the penalty box if the officials have anything to do with it. Believe me if I have ever seen an over rated player in the NY market it is Avery. Let him go and spend the money elsewhere, giving him 3 mil or more per yr is a MAJOR waste of money!
check out my new rangers blog!
http://rangers365.blogspot.com/
Ryder is a proven 25 goal scorer? Did he prove that last year?
Ryder had a rough year, but he was Montreal's Malik (in terms of being booed).
This season he had 14 goals playing mostly third line...before that it was 30g, 30g, 25g... he just needs a change of scenery, just like Prucha.
I don't know about you guys, but I think Prucha would be a monster on the west coast... I know he'd burn us if he was traded to some rival.
Ryder at 4m makes more sense than Avery at 4m. I love Avery, but he's too injury prone! He should accept a 'home-town' discount if he loves NY so much, same with Jagr.
Bouwmeester and Vermette would be huge. Vermette is a PK master with a great shot and is an awesome shothanded goal scorer.
Rucchin,
I'd have to agree with you on Bouey and Vermette. But signing RFAs is risky, because they ARE RFAs. WE may have to only concentrate on 1,and I'd rather concentrate on B. We need more help on our back-line than on our forward line.
Florida will never let him go.
Here are the value FA's to choose from LW: Ryan Malone, Kristian Huselius, Jason Chimera, Niklas Hagman at RW: David Vyborny, Radim Vrbata, Wade Belak, The big numbers come from the PP QB as in Redden and Campbell, the value D men are: Mike Commodore, Nolan Baumgartner, Andreas Lilja, Jason Cullimore, Rob Davison, and our own Andrew Hutchinson. What the Rangers don't want to do is put big dollars in a defensive type physical D man, as they are never worth BIG dollars so Orpik would be an overpaid option who would immediately change his game and try to do too much with too little, just as Aaron Ward di when he came to NY. I believe that Sather is going to sign at least 2 D men and maybe a third depending on how many he lets walk.
Belak resigned like 2 weeks ago....
and Davison sucks
Take Davison......please
I dont think any of the Defenseman out there are what we're looking for. More than needing a QB for the power play, we need a physical Dman who can intimitate. Imagine if the Rangers had Derien Hatcher. No one on the Rangers defense fights !!!! Struds doesnt count.
hey fellas, i've been out of town for a few weeks and need to catch up on my PLAYOFF HOCKEY!!! so tell me, are the rangers still in it?
JAGR IS COMING BACK !!!!!!!! YA BABY 1 OR 2 YEARS AT THE MOST .... LETS DO IT BOYS !!!1
Shea Weber
get him.
He is young, he can skate, and he can kill you.
Here is the line 4/5 Jags is back, the only question is will the Rangers have to make it a two yr contract or will Jags take a 1 yr incentive laden deal with an option so Rangers can make the off season moves that will put the team over thetop in Jags eyes. The Rangers will take Prospal for the mandatory czech need with Jags. Prospla makes sense he has more left in the tamk then Straka and like Marty he can play both center and wing, so he becomes a valuable utility man like Straka. As to Rozival, if Rangers can land both Campbell and Redden the Rozival would out along with Malik, Mara and Struds. Maybe they keep Struds as a physical backup type. Yet the $$ from Malik, Rozi, and Mara will be necessary for the moves. The one mistake I think clearly won't be made is to over pay for a physical type D man, this is always a problem it is much like paying for Relief pitchers used to be in baseball. This type of role can't consume large contracts (see Kasper, or Ward) bottom line is this type of D man has to stay in the 3 mill and lower range. The Blakes and Footes of the world are getting 6 mil per, team can pay this kind of $$$ for a balanced D man, one who can provide the physical game with the scoring game. Orpik can't he is one dimensional exactly the type you do not want to make this mistake with. Look for some lower tier guys who just do the physical work period. One of these additions will be sufficient. Commodore comes to mind, he is presently getting 1.3, 2.5 -3 mil should be in his ballpark. Or Hainsey who comes in at 900k, he should be 2mil or so. The options are there, just have to be wise in the investment.
This blog is as bad as "Eric's Idol Review"
Come on now, Zipay is one of the best out there.
G,
I know Florida will never let Bowmeester go, but its nice to wish :(
Florida has no less than 4 D men who are in some form of FA. That would make it appear that they will certainly Bouwmeister is going to be a huge centerpiece for FL. I don't think ihe is going to become trade available and even so the question then becomes what price the Rangers would have to pay in a trade. I think Sather is going the FA route vs any trade route. The market is plentiful with some value FA's, and the Rangers need to build in some solid role players, someone who gets dirty in the corners and can dig the puck out, the type of players who consistently win the minor battles all game long. They have a few of these types but some addition would be nice, after filling in the PP QB and power forward need. I really think the shock will be that Sather is not going to sign Avery for what he will be asking. He truly is not worth 2nd line money or minutes. He can be replaced, and I also don't believe that Gratton was simply a throw in from the Phx deal. I think that Gratton and waivers made the situation where he could not play with the Varsity at all after the trade. Gratton will fill in the need for an additional enforcer and an agitator. He hasn't shown any scoring ability as yet, but with his size, desire and commitment to getting dirty he should find a role rather easily. Thus, Hollweg is gone, and Slats doesn't sign Avery so the PP QB, power forward and another possible 2 or 1st line winger. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.
Not Zip, the convo stinks.
wow...where did everybody go??
How about this as a topic...on another board there was an "inside rumor" surrounding the idea of a trade of Prucha/ Callahan and our 1st rd pick for Gaborik and possibly a minor league player or two from both sides. Any opinions?
Joke, for a momenr imagine that teh Rangers had Goborik, now would you take Prucha, Callahan and a first for him? NO you wouldn't and neither would anyone else except maybe BOB. Prucha has no value whatsoever, Gaborik is an upcoming big time player and he is not going anywhere unless they get a lot more value then what is being suggested there, and please remember Sather does not ever discuss his plans with any media or so called insiders so ALL rumors are usually WRONG, this one however doesn't even pass the giggle test.
The Rangers stealing Gaborik would be as big a story-line as Thorton to San Jose.
Anything’s possible. It would be great to see.
Let’s say for a moment that Prucha, Callahan and the 1st rounder were on the table.
Wouldn’t Renney and Sather be better off using some of them for Joni Pitkanen, or any top defensemen?
Why not Prucha/Dawes and our 1st rounder for Pitkanen and Nilsson.
Gaborik Rumor
http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/nhl?page=4
Pitkanen Rumor
http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/nhl?page=6
Busey... post the link, otherwise I'm calling b.s.
Slick,
it's an imposter. This is "da real" Busey.
I wouldn't post that crap
um... ok?
If you are trying to be funny you need to come with something better than that.
If I were you I would just kill myself rather than go through life with such a terrible sense of humor.
Just my opinion
everyone must love me...since 40 people pretend to be me...
thanks for the compliments
"buss ass"??? that is supposed to funny/insulting?
wow...pretty weak bob...
actually, thats terrible. Did you actually think that up and think it was funny?
ouch...kill yourself
really?! this is why I stop coming to this place. Doesn't surprise me, there aren't that many of the regulars around here lately. What ever happened to that d.head Jim from Woodbury? lol
Is this what we have to look forward to all summer? It might be entertaining if he was a little more inventive / original.
Busey - I'm sure you already know that wasn't really me at 14:31. I should have know better myself with that silly post about the flames.
Anyway, let's try this again huh?
refer to 13:52.
Slick