Blue Notes

18 players, 52mil, and one pretty soft D-unit

Gomez 7,357,143
Drury 7,050,000
Naslund 4,000,000
Zherdev 2,500,000
Prucha 1,600,000
Voros 1,000,000
Dubinsky 633,333
Betts 615,000
Rissmiller 600,000
Callahan 575,000

Redden 6,500,000
Rozsival 5,000,000
Kalinin 2,100,000
Mara 1,950,000
Girardi 1,550,000
Staal 826,667

Lundqvist 6,875,000
Valiquette 650,000

Great news and a good price to have him back. Happy 4th of July Steve and everyone else out there, have good one be safe.

"ouch" sorry but i dont think that Girardi or Staal is soft, even Mara even though he could hit more

The Rangers WILL have the fastest line in the NHL with

Naslund-Gomez-Zherdev

I wonder if Cherepanov will come over a year early since Jagr went to Omsk where he plays

Dawes-Gomez-Zherdev

Naslund-Dubinsky-Drury

Prucha-Fritche-Callahan

Combo of whoevers left

Glad Mara signed back up, but, we still need a tough, hard checking D....we might have one of the speediest teams but we also have, in my opinion, a soft D. Who do we have that can successfully and consistently clear the crease for example?????????????????...answer: no one! and THIS is a huge concern. Have a happy 4th Steve, and thanks again for keeping us updated here _x_

Glad Mara signed back up, but, we still need a tough, hard checking D....we might have one of the speediest teams but we also have, in my opinion, a soft D. Who do we have that can successfully and consistently clear the crease for example?????????????????...answer: no one! and THIS is a huge concern. Have a happy 4th Steve, and thanks again for keeping us updated here _x_

Class act right there. That made me have a new respect for Mara after reading that. I know we all can debate his worthiness back and forth.. but the guy has a wicked shot, and you all know that. With the new blueline we have, who knows, maybe he will flourish. Class act!

A definite upgrade over the Strudwick/Malik combo from last year. Tyutin and Backman also were weak spots (Toots never developed like he should have).

Not huge on the Redden signing of the Rozy overpaying still, but it's a better D than last year.

Very happy to see Mara took a discount to return.

http://www.nyhockeyrivalry.com

Enough with this "Rangers will have the fastest line in the NHL".

You think a 35 yr old Naslund is gonna outskate Crosby ??

Rucchin: How can you be quick to dismiss Tyutin, who did play solid D. He was also the Rangers leading hitter.

Everyone is so quick to throw away the guy who had been with the Rangers and was a Ranger draftee. Combine that with losses of Jagr (and Avery) and you have to wonder if Sather has ever heard of loyalty. Oh, thats right, he has no clue... he traded Leetch on his Bday.

Thats not true he has two loyalties that I know of well maybe 3, 1. Mark Messier would have let him play til he was 60 2. Money 3. Fine cigars. Sather's 3 loyalties

When will the Prucha apologists get it, he is done, toast, nada forget about him as he is not even a consideration anyomere with this team. If he was still a consideration then the Rangers wouldn't have signe another forward and traded for one. There is no place for Prucha to play, He is not even close to a 1st or 2nd line forward, the 3rd line has no room for him as Sjostrum and Keropikoski are well ahead of Prucha in any depth chart. And the 4th line is in need of worker bees. The upgades to the 4thline assure that Prucha is not in consideration and Hollweg is also done. How is it that there are still fans that can't seem to understand Prucha watching all those games in the pressbox suggested his days were over. Coming out of training camp he will not even be on the roster. He is either doomed to Hartford or hopefully there is some team willing to give a late draft pick for him, of course there is always waivers, yet I doubt any team would claim him. The best possible scenario is he can be packaged as a tag along in a trade. The Rangers have a log jam at center so a trade is imminent.

Game is not about loyalty, it is about winning. Team hits the ceiling at 2nd rd of playoffs two years in a row, makes it obvious that the roster needs some adjustments. Laoyalty has no impact whatsoever, the team is now younger, faster and definitely better suited to outworking opponents on a nightly basis, that's the bottom line. If loyalty was a factor then Free agency wouldn't be a factor. Both players and mgmt alike would be loyal to one another. Is Marian Hossa a loyalist? He actually took less per yr for a 1 yr contract then the 7 yr deal Pitt offered him. WHy, because he is a mercinary who wants to win one cup and then play wherever the biggest cash payday comes from even if it is Columbus he signs after he gets a Cup. Why give Pens 7 yrs whnen you can sign for 1 with the odds on favorite to win a cup nad then be a FA once again with a shot for lottery money. Is this loyalty? Stop with the silliness, there is no loyalty from mgmt or players, it is the real world and life is tough, winning is all that counts at the end of the day. Its is commonly referred to as Pro Sports.

Either way, I really feel the Rangers have some solid depth right now

As far as the loyalty argument I have to side with MSG4ever on this one. If Sather showed loyalty instead of smarts than we would have the same team as last year and would get booted in the second round, if not earlier. Teams were so prepared for our strategy it wasn't even funny. We had to make some drastic changes by building around the new and improved core of Gomez, Drury, Staal and Henrik. Our PP is going to look so different that teams will have no idea how to play against it. As opposed to the last three years of teams knowing that it was a matter of let Jagr sit on the half board for a minute and then pass it back and forth with the point. I know everyone has there opinions etc, but IMHO I think Sather did an AMAZING job of filling holes all over the roster (including depth in Hartford) while not mortgaging the future of the franchise. Everyone on this board (myself included) were proposing trades including Sangs and draft picks and this or that prospect. We have a far improved roster and all our kids still in the fold (for now at least). We have to remember that on 6/30 we had basically a shell of a team with no real 1st or 2nd line. Three days later we have a team that looks exciting and tough and appears to be full of guys who wanted to come here and should be hungry to bring us a cup from day one. I think we are going to see a completely different Drury this year and the rest of the team can breath a bit easier without Jagr dominating every aspect of the team. I love what Jagr did for us in the past but I lost a lot of respect for him over those comments about needing to be loved and be the highest paid etc. Also I don't see a need for a captain who lets his team know that he won't be going 100% for the whole season. That is not the type of captain you want when you have a guy like Zherdev on your top line. You want a Drury kind of guy who is going to bust this kids butt and let him know it's not acceptable to not play every shift.

O.K. - I will wrap up this post by saying welcome back to Mara. I like this guys heart and I think he showed a lot down the stretch. I forget all the details...but there was a game late in the season or possibly playoffs when Mara and a few other rangers were in the penalty box when the Rangers scored a goal. Mara had about 1/2 his equipment on and almost jumped out of the box celebrating the goal and banging on the glass. He showed a lot of team spirit and emotion late in the season, while playing with a broken face. I think with a lesser role he is going to flourish overall. I also see him becoming a huge fan favorite as he signed for much less then he could have got elsewhere I am sure. If he has a good year and plays physically I think he could endear himself to the home crowd. Imagine, a player who actually gave the Rangers a hometown discount.

How did we "throw away" Tyutin?

we got a 23 year old kid, who was drafted 4th overall, the kid scored 25 goals last year, which would have led our team last year and his skills may be limitless.

Effigy,

you are rapidly becoming the most non sensical person on this blog with every passing post.

I don't ever remember you once praising Tyutin in any post until now.

Loyalty to Tyutin, give me a break.

You putting Leetch in the same sentence as Tyutin is offensive.

Dude,

This has been an odd week to say the least. The two of us agreeing more with Bob than with Effigy???? Let me go look out the window to see if there are any dogs flying around my neighborhood...lol.

lol, I hear ya

all I know is that I am excited big time about this team right now and I can't believe I have to wait 3 months for next season to start.

I wonder if Gomez will give up #19 to Naslund or if Naslund will wear #91 like he did in all - star games.

I'm excited to see the "new" team as well, but one problem...we still need a bruising, hard hitting D-Man.....someone who can clear the crease and is known for doing so, and we still don't have one-that's a problem don't 'cha think? maybe we can package a couple of centers for one somewhere..I'd like Boyle, but his asking price is beyond what we have left in the cap....let's see what Sather has up his sleeve!

The Rangers desperatley need Shanny, he will fillout their top two lines making it

Naslund-Gomez-Zherdev
Shanahan-Drury-Dawes

The Rangers need a captain he will be perfect because he will get Zherdev in line because he's a no bull-crap kind of guy and a vocal leader, he knows what it takes to win, Drury and Naslund will be alternates

Not trying to be repetitive, but Kalinin is a definite upgrade from Tyutin! He doesn't exactly instill fear in the hearts of opposing forwards, but he can hit really good! I am excited about his acquisition, and look forward to seeing him in Ranger Blue. As for Dan Boyle, I think we did better with Redden, and Boyle is definitely NOT a physical prescence. I disagree that our D- unit is "soft" as previously stated. There are really only about 10 bonafide Heavy Hitters in the league, and yeah, they are not on our team, but as for being soft, I heartily disagree! A clear improvement from last year. Overall, as long as Dawes and Sjostrom are retained, I am pretty happy with the way the roster is shaping up...

"I disagree that our D- unit is "soft" as previously stated"

Thank you...what exactly about Marc Staal's game is soft? Did anyone watch Girardi have Cindy chasing him around after the hits Danny boy laid on Hossa? Has anyone watched how strong Rozsival is with the puck? (My complaints about Rozsival lay with his inopportune brain farts, not his physical play). This is as deep and talented a defensive corps I can remember the Rangers having since the mid-80's when Leetch joined the likes of Patrick, Greschner and Rochefort. And, "gave away Tyutin"? Honestly, are you serious? Watch this kid's jaw-dropping skill, especially his lightning quick-wrister. If he finds his game in NY, the need for Cherepanov to develop becomes immediately leesened. Zherdev was the 4th pick overall in what is rapidly becoming a historic 1st round in 2003. If someone had posted the actual trade as a trade proposal, they would have been ridiculed.

Sather did a good job. That said, i thought he gave Rozi too long a contract, money a factor of the marketplace. He tried to get a crashing D, Oprik, but was turned down. One thing this team still needs.

Lots of speed up front, good puck moving defenseman. Only time this team will be in trouble is if they have an off night skating and the opposition floods the net. Nobody to take them out. Let's hope those moments are few and far between.

Loved Jagr's parting words especially pertaining to Milbury.

If you haven't already, you should read Dubi's words (Blueshirt Bulletin) both pro and con with regards to Jagr. I usually don't agree with him but I thought that was the best writeup I've seen from him yet.

Hope Mara has a breakout season, showed a lot of class in wanting to remain a Ranger.

lenny, I agree with the length of Rozsival's contract being a sticking point, but hey... I am happy with Mara returning,and think he is solid overall. It seems like we are building a team similar to the Red Wings, which is obviously good. If you notice, they do ot really have a "heavy hitter", but play smart with the puck, and aggressively forecheck. Our team is faster, and more defensively sound, as a whole, than last years. We also should be able to better utilize Gomez and Drury now that Jagr has departed. All in all, I expect us to dominate from the gate!

I would have to disagree with the people who criticize Petr Prucha. Especially in the manner monosodiumglutamate forever does. Prucha was not put in a position to succeed all last year. Renney's poor treatment, and boneheaded line-up choices compromised his effectiveness. There was no real reason for his benching, as far as I could tell. Given the right amount of ice time, and compatible linemates, he can easily return to the 30+ goal form he is clearly capable of... Also, "logjam at Center"? Uhh, Ok, msg...

I would have to disagree with the people who criticize Petr Prucha. Especially in the manner monosodiumglutamate forever does. Prucha was not put in a position to succeed all last year. Renney's poor treatment, and boneheaded line-up choices compromised his effectiveness. There was no real reason for his benching, as far as I could tell. Given the right amount of ice time, and compatible linemates, he can easily return to the 30+ goal form he is clearly capable of... Also, "logjam at Center"? Uhh, Ok, msg...

I agree with all of the above, I'm glad Mara is back. And whomever posted above that scene of Mara celebrating the allowed goal in the penalty box, I loved that as well. I think it was against the Devils in the playoffs.

One disagreement from Eric above, the Wings have Kronwall, I'd call him a "heavy hitter". Not that I think our D is "soft" at all. I like it a lot, just pointing our Kronwall.

Brian, Brad Stuart too, isn't he a hitter?

Sather tried but Oprik took less to stay in Pittsburgh. Some guys out there are loyal, like Mara.

The only problem I see with these new Rangers are on nights, hopefully rare, when they are not skating well, the opposition is going to flood the net since there is no crease clearing D to push them away. Hopefully, and I'm sure Hank agree, those games will be few and far between.

If they have their skating legs, the opposition should have their hands full containing the Rangers much less mounting an offense against HL. let's hope that's what we see.

msg4ever I would like it if you would not comment and all of you other idiots who cant spell the players names right of a team you claim to be a fan of.

Brian,

Thnx for the shot to the memory banks. I completely forgot that the celebration was for an allowed goal. That makes Mara even cooler in my eyes. And after a quick browse of the other blogs, it looks like ranger fans are already loving Mara for taking the pay cut. Now if he comes back with the fire he had at the end of last year then he will quickly become a fan fave.

Which leads to the "soft d" discussion. Redden plays tough, Staal will be more comfortable in his second year, Mara would start hitting when the game went in that direction and from what I see about Kalinin he may not be all that "soft". Girardi really seemed to go from boy to man in the Pens series. And while Rozi will never be confused for Pronger, he does hold his own in little scrums etc.

So no we don't have any Phaneufs, Prongers, Stuarts, Orpiks or Kronwalls...but there are about 27 other teams in the league who dont have those guys either. I think our D as a group will be tougher to play against then any recent rangers d-corp. Add Struds as a 7th man and we will be o.k. versus the majority of teams. Although to be honest I am still holding onto the fantasy that Sather will somehow bring us Bouwmeester.

With about 3.5 million left under the cap (according to nhl numbers link) I think you will see RFA's signed and Shanny let go. Maybe a few minor trades and then after training camp some of those figures will change with salaries going to Hartford etc.

How about these for new Ranger look next year:

Naslund - Gomez - Zhverdev
Callahan - Drury - Dawes
Cherepanov - Dubinsky - Sjorstrom

4th line has too many people to compete for: Justim, Orr, Hollweg, Voros, Betts, Prucha, Rissmiller. I would package Hollweg, Prucha, Betts for one big defenseman - we would not get much value for them at this point anyway.

Defense would be all set too with 7 defensemen.

The only problem is that youngesters like Anisimov, Korpokovski, Byers, Moore, Sangiotelli can not get into the lineup.

i dont get how anyone can say prucha is done as a player and especially that no one would claim him on waivers. he is making 1.6 million and scored 50+ goals his first season. he was tooled around with last year by renney trying to find linemates for jagr and shanny. moreover how can u say that dawes is a better offensive player than prucha at this point, b/c he had more goals in one season where prucha did not play crucial minutes if at all?

if having one bad season means your career is over, than why did we pick up zherdev when one season he had only 10 goals? and for the record zherdev has never put up 30 goals in one year in his four full seasons in the nhl, prucha did it his first without even playing a full 82 games.

you put prucha on the power play and with a fast center who can set him up and he will succeed again. you bring back shanny to play on the pp and he will not. i didn't dislike shanny as a player, but he was overused and clearly stunted prucha's growth. not to mention that by the end of the season and into the playoffs shanny could barely skate. he should not be brought back even to play on the 4th line

a second line of dawes drury and cally is not gonna get us to the playoffs. cally is a solid third liner who you hope can pot 10+ goals a year and id be thrilled if dawes hit 20. those two wingers did not perform all that well for us last year and now you want them to be our 2nd line next year. finally sjostrom is a fourth liner nothing more, there is a reason we got him for marcel hossa

sorry that should read prucha scored 50+ goals in his first 2 season. for the record prucha had more goals in his first three season than zherdev did in his first three seasons. zherdev rebounded last year to put up 26 no reason why prucha can't surpass that, he has already done it once whereas zherdev still needs to show that he deserves to be a first line winger and im not saying prucha is a first line winger, but no reason he shouldn't be on the 2nd line and hopefully the first pp unit

Pete, We got Sjostrom for Al Montoya, and I do think he could be better than 4th line given an opportunity. Problem with Prucha is not that he did not or can not score, problem is that he is so easily removed from the puck - a little push and he falls down and the other team goes the other way. Is he worth that negative, or can Rangers use his spot for another winger who can score less but also would not cause defernsive breakdowns?

well montoya was part of the trade but at best he is a long term project that maloney wanted to take on after he drafted him (since he has been a very inconsistent goalie in the minors). but hossa and sjostrom were pretty much similar players in terms of never living up to where they were drafted (both mid first round) and sjostrom is yet another failed first round pick of another team that we pick up instead of playing our own kids...gets kinda frustrating.

prucha could definitely stand to put on some weight but i really dont think he is that big a liability and if he were putting up 30 goals i dont think that would be an issue. more importantly most of his goals would come on the pp where his defense shouldnt be an issue, thus that argument doesn't apply. i just find it hard to believe that all of these other wingers are better players than he is. i mean cally is great at what he does, but he isn't a 2nd liner and dawes has yet to prove that he is a 2nd liner either

Just got back from a stint at East Side Club vacation at 227 E 56th at (212)753-2222 and have to start putting a few Morons in theur place. Busey is Back, beware. Jews especially.

I don't know if you guys know this but Kalinin is a pretty built guy and tall. Giriardi also has no problem putting guys in there place so our D is not "soft". Im exicited about our new blue line. Redden is going to energize quick counter attacks with his precise passing. Him playing behind Gomez Naslund and Zherdev (thats the way I see the first line) Is going to be nasty. And who ever is upset about Zherdev is a moron. You looking at a kid who could possibly have a 30 goal season next year playing with Gomez. He was the best pickup in this whole off season frenzy for the Rangers. Also, please stop saying your mad Tyutin is gone. I could not stand him at all. I don't know how many times he would give the puck away behind or infront of the net. He also was out off position all the time especially in the offensive zone. I don't know how many times the puck would go by him on blue line when the offense was putting pressure on or had control in the zone. Im so glad we dumped him.