Blue Notes

they r finally learning. steve r we having that party? i thiink we should

and can sundin please make up his mind already!

This is one hell of an exciting season for Rangers.

Can anyone confirm the time of the NJD vs NYR on 9/27. Zip and the NYR website are saying 1pm but stubhub is saying 7pm.

9/27 game is @ 1pm.

Exclusive, Zip? Most of this info was posted on the HF Boards last week.

Steve-

What's the prognosis on Hillier? Is he going to need groin hernia surgery? How long is he out for?

Also, how's Sauer doing these days? Rehabbing?

I agree w/Matt...we should have a pre-season party, hosted by Steve himself. Ok, Steve, you game?

Dude,

Yes, it looks like you are correct about the Gomez NTC. I had misread your initial link and thought it said that Gomez would provide a list of three teams he would accept a trade to...I didn't notice that if I scrolled the screen over a bit the word "not" appeared and completely changes the NTC.

Regardless, unless we are getting Kopitar or the Sedin twins then I can't see the trade being a good idea. I really grew to like Gomez and respect his game so much more after seeing him play each and every game. It was hard to like him as a devil, but I always had respect for his skill set.

Joke,

I am a big Gomez fan.

My only point is, after this coming season, our salary cap situation is beyond frightening.

We are in trouble, and I don't think we can just count on the cap going up every year.

Dubinsky will need to be signed eventually, Staal will need to be.

Zherdev is making 3.25 mil this coming season, then is a RFA. If he has a great season, he will want big money.

Anyone else have any realistic ideas about creating some cap breathing room, I am all ears.

Rozsival is the most likely to be traded. With Staal, Girardi stepping into serious defensive rolls, Redden, Mara and Kalinin all looking for reversals in game success helps makes Rosy and his salary expendable while holding the most trade value.
5 mil open
Keep the return on Roszival to prospects and picks.
There are going to be a couple of new farm faces on the backend this season.
And the building continues.

Not as likely but it sure would be cool to see Sanguinetti on the opening night roster.

I am not happy w/spending 20mil for 4 years on Rozy, but I still think we need him....my brother and I are hoping to see Sanguinetti sometime this year, I just don't see him on opening night.
I would open up the cap room with a trade of Prucha, but at the same time, could this year be the year he turns it all around...makes you think a bit.
I just cannot understand why Sather gave Rozy that 20 mil? Was he looking to get it all over with so he can spend more time on the links??????? I was never 100% confident in Slats, and have always thought his eyes were on his cushy job and all the $ the Dolans are giving him, rather than having his heart in his job and his team.

Zip. you are doing a great job. Your blog has become my first click off of the Blueshirt Bulletin page.

Keep up the great work.

Dude,

I definitely see the argument but just can't see Gomez as the trade made. I do agree that Rosi makes the most sense. Between the expected cap hike, Rosi as a possible trade and other contracts expiring like Mara and Rissmiller...throw in trade chips like Prucha and Betts and there is money to be available. We will also soon be clear of the few million taken up with Jagr/ Shanny bonuses. And as much as I hate to say it...maybe Staal and Dubinsky just can't/ won't fit into the NYR's long term plans. Maybe one of those guys goes in a salary dump in order to get the player needed in return? Or maybe one or two of these young guys will take cap friendly contracts for a year or two until Gomez/ Drury contracts end??

Honestly I look at it this way...the Rangers have people in place with a world class resume when it comes to making these decisions. I am sure they are well aware of future cap issues etc and are preparing for the bumps and curves ahead....I hope.

If Drury can't be traded, then Gomez and Rozsival will be traded sooner or later. Maybe now, maybe next summer or in between.

Mara, Kalinin and Rissmiller will be gone and likely Prucha too.

It seems like many "fans" really underrate Dubinsky, he will be a 70 point power center in no time, he will really benefit from Jagr's and Straka's departure and will strive with players that go to the net.

As far as I am concerned, Staal and Dubinsky are the future of this team. Anyone suggesting we trade them I find as ridiculous as you guys did when I suggested trading Gomez and you all freaked out.

I think Dubinsky has a future that is unlimited and he can be just as good as Mike Richards.

Maybe we'll get lucky and Staal and Dubinsky won't get their real big money contracts until the Drury contract is over.

It's doubtful though.

Dion Phaneuf is 23 making 6.5 million a year. That's who we hope Staal can become.

Mike Richards is 23 making 5.75 million a year, and Dubinsky is almost there already.

Our cap is at 40.1 million for the 09-10 season right now.

That is with 9 players signed. Dubinsky and Zherdev as RFA's.

As long as you guys think everything is alright and we will "just get rid of Roszival" then I am not going to worry about it.

I just want to make clear that I absolutely do NOT want Dubi and/ or Staal traded...I was just throwing it out there that maybe the two of them won't be able to be retained for the exact reasons Dude is worried about. But believe me when I say that I hope these two are life long Rangers!! I am sure that rival GM's have their eyes on the dates when these guys go RFA, and I am just as sure that these GM's hope we stay up against the cap so they can make high offer sheets to steal them away. So yes, Dude has a legitimate concern.

Joke,

I know you don't want them traded.

Taking Sundin out of the equation, I could give a rats arse about Sundin.

I still believe trading Gomez for the best package you can get still is the best option for this team. Either now or later.

We could absolutely ice an excellent team with Drury, Dubinsky, Fritsche and Betts or Anismov as our centers.

Drury can't be traded, Roszival has no trade value, nobody sane would trade for Redden's contract.

Gomez has trade value, I believe a lot of trade value.

not with Betts. Moore is my choice for 4th line center.

Is it really a fact that Drury has an absolute no trade clause or is it speculations? Sather is so stupid to hand somebody such huge contract and give them no trade clause.

Yeah, Moore, Rissmiller, Anismnov at 4th line center.

who ever you want.

The point is that if we could get a really good deal for Gomez, maybe a crease moving d-man like Bieksa, a 1st rounder, we should consider doing it regardless of Sundin.

We have a lot of depth at center ice anyway.

We have an enormous amount of centers either on the team or in the system.

Steve - whats the change of Shanny coming back at this point? I'm a little disappointed Sather is keeping him on hold this long.

Who ever thinks Gomez or Drury should be traded is clueless.

So the October 5th game is on MSG and Versus or just Versus?

http://www.nyhockeyrivalry.com

I just don't get the people who believe in the theory of "we gave the keys to Drury and Gomez, we made a committment" and don't believe we could possibly change that course.

When we signed both of them, we also didn't realize we had a potential star named Brandon Dubinsky who at worst is going to be a lifetime #2 center in the NHL either.

Living with the mistake of signing two centers at over 7 million dollars a year who aren't #1 centers is worse than making the mistake in the first place.

It isn't just that we have Dubinsky as well as Anisimov and Drury after all can play wing. It is also that we need more powerforward rather than small not too physical players.

Dawes, Callahan, and Prucha are small, but they are a lot more physical. Drury and Gomez on top of being small and not physical are also not the top tier scorers, they are actually 2nd line material, but are being paid like stars.

They aren't mistakes... yet.
There were 29 other teams that would have paid them the same, if not more, to play on their teams.
But, they aren't mistakes. Lindros is a mistake. Trading Zubov was a mistake.
Signing Drury or Gomez to 7mil last year, this year they would have fetched 8-9mil.
not mistakes... yet.
When they fail to deliver nightly, stats are down, injuries... then I'd say, well it looks like the Rangers made another mistake.

get used to Drury and his no movement clause. he will be here 4 more years. get it yet? Gomez and his limited no trade will be here too by the way. for 6 more years. The funny thing about these power forwards we need is that other teams value them highly also.we need to draft someone better than hugh jessiman for starters.

people cant believe we signed Roszival for $5 million for 4 years..... well what about that horrid Redden signing. Unless he becomes an unstoppable force on the blueline for the next 3 years, its a terrible signing.

my guess is rosival will be traded after this season much like Tyutin and backman, to a team that has trouble signing free agents (fla. to replace JBO?). redden has a very limited trade clause so root real hard that he returns to first over all form, which is possible btw.

Well that is true, but you can still get a more physical scorer like O'Sullivan for Gomez.

We do have some potential power forwards in the system besides Dubinsky--Byers, Grachev, Korpikoski, Dupont, etc. Maybe even Anisimov and Zherdev can start playing physical.

Gus has nailed it on the head...Lindros was a bust and trading Zuby was horrific. Another thing Dude, IF we didn't sign Gomez and drury, chances are they would both be playing for another team in our division, and for 1 NYR Fan, I wouldn't want that. It was unbelievable that we were able to sign not one, but both-they are the cornerstone of our team...along w/Hendrik and Marc Stall...be thankful they are on our team. I think we as a team, have a lot to look forward to this year. I don't doubt it' will take some time for the chemistry to jell, so we're gonna have to be patient. I'm stoked to see Naslund and Redden in a NYR jersey....maybe, just maybe a change of scenery will jump start these guys. Again, the only move I'd make is for that crease clearing D man Dude and I keep talking about.

Gus has nailed it on the head...Lindros was a bust and trading Zuby was horrific. Another thing Dude, IF we didn't sign Gomez and drury, chances are they would both be playing for another team in our division, and for 1 NYR Fan, I wouldn't want that. It was unbelievable that we were able to sign not one, but both-they are the cornerstone of our team...along w/Hendrik and Marc Stall...be thankful they are on our team. I think we as a team, have a lot to look forward to this year. I don't doubt it' will take some time for the chemistry to jell, so we're gonna have to be patient. I'm stoked to see Naslund and Redden in a NYR jersey....maybe, just maybe a change of scenery will jump start these guys. Again, the only move I'd make is for that crease clearing D man Dude and I keep talking about.

Gus has nailed it on the head...Lindros was a bust and trading Zuby was horrific. Another thing Dude, IF we didn't sign Gomez and drury, chances are they would both be playing for another team in our division, and for 1 NYR Fan, I wouldn't want that. It was unbelievable that we were able to sign not one, but both-they are the cornerstone of our team...along w/Hendrik and Marc Stall...be thankful they are on our team. I think we as a team, have a lot to look forward to this year. I don't doubt it' will take some time for the chemistry to jell, so we're gonna have to be patient. I'm stoked to see Naslund and Redden in a NYR jersey....maybe, just maybe a change of scenery will jump start these guys. Again, the only move I'd make is for that crease clearing D man Dude and I keep talking about.

I really don't see what Lindros and Zubov have to do with the concerns about our CURRENT salary cap situation.

I am really not too sure about what Gus "nailed on the head". He may have hit the word IRRELEVANCE right on the head.

I'll state the facts again.

2009-10 season.

as it stands now, we have 9 players signed for 40.1 million.

Right now, the cap is 56 million. It may go up again, it may not, who knows.

If it doesn't, we will have less than 16 million dollars to sign 11 players, including RFA's Dubinsky and Zherdev.

If Zherdev has the year we all hope, he will be seeking a huge raise from the 3.25 million he will make this coming season, or guess what kids! He is going to go to Russia.

don't worry though Rich, we'll fit that crease moving defenseman in there somewhere

I have already stated that I think "Dude" has a valid concern. But having said that...I do think there is light at the end of the tunnel so to speak.

Let's assume the cap goes up 4-5 million. We then clear roughly 2.5-3 million in space from bonuses to Shanny and Jagr. We are also clear of the following until players are re-signed...

Prucha @ 1.6
Rissmiller @ 1
Fritsche @ .875
Sjostrom @ .840
Betts @ .615
Dubi @ .635
Dawes @ .5
Callahan @ .6
Orr @ .550
Kalinin @ 2.1
Mara @ 1.950
Vali @ .725

so with some fuzzy math we are looking at maybe $18 million available?? We should have kids like Sangs, Anisimov, Gretchev, Chere etc moving up at entry level contracts and we can decide who we keep out of Dubi (obvious) Dawes & Calli (maybe not so obvious). If Zherdev goes to Russia then that decision is made for us.

So "Dude" has a valid concern but I don't think it's the end of the world. There is also always the option of the salary dump that has been kicked around the past few days like a Gomez or Rosi.

Dude--The concern is valid regarding the cap for next season, but I don't think trading Gomez is the answer. In my opinion, you can't trade away your best playmaker, as we are going to be pretty well starved for goals as it is. Although we do have a number of young players that can quite possibly step up and score a bunch this year (Dawes, Dubi, Cally), these guys are used to playing with less pressure as the secondary scorers, and there is no telling what will happen to their heads when all of a sudden they are the go to guys.

Beyond that we are banking on Zherdev as really our only true sniper, Naslund to have a comeback year, etc. etc. to me it does not add up to a lot of offense.

As far as Zherdev getting big bucks next year, I think you are right, but that it is going to happen in Russia next year whether he produces for the Rangers or not.

I am not scared one bit playing against smallish players like Drury and Gomez. They don't intimidate anyone with their scoring or their physical play, they only make their teammates demand more money when using them in comparison.

you know bob keeps harping on how vital it is to have all this size and wrongly underestimates scott gomez and chris drury. when scott gomez is flying down the ice look at the wide berth the defensemen give him. thats called fear. they fear him blowing past and allow him and his linemates more room than the most playmakers. drury's intangibles are so well known, and also underestimated. who were all the power forwards on the red wings btw?

Larry Brooks says the Rangers could lose Cherepanov and there is no way they are trading Gomez.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08272008/sports/moresports/ex_nhl_union_chief_to_testify_for_league_126258.htm

I'm thinking that Dude definitely has some valid concerns as well.

But, here's my take on it. Sather will handle it over the course of this year and next and I am pretty sure he has the plan laid out.

He did coming into this off season. I laughed hard last year listening to all the so called experts especially the ones on XM. Everyone all last year and up to July 1st talked about how screwed the Rangers were. They look real screwed now don't they? Still in the running to land Sundin after all the work they did to this team. Yep! Strapped for cash alright.

I'm not ignorant I know that there is moves to be made to bring Sundin in. Shoot probably a move or two to be made just to clear up some wiggle room for the season. But, so be it.

I know many want to bash Glenn Sather for what he has done or hasn't done, his cigars or because he likes to play golf and so on. But, when it comes down to it just like I said last year and will continue to say this year. The guy is a genius and one of the best GM's ever probably. He is so far ahead of this years cap and next years I'm willing to sit back and watch.

With that said is Eklund still awake from yesterday afternoon waiting for a call from Sweden?

Gus was referring to the fact that Lindros was a waste of $ and we would not be in our D situation had we still had Zubov. I do give some credit to Sather for putting together a speedy team, because it'll all be about the transition game now....speed kills! and with quick skaters like Gomez, he will only make the D interfere w/him and the others creating interference and hooking penealities...which is exactly what Sather and the coaching staff are looking at. I also don't look at the cap possibly going up next year...can't plan that way...truth is, you plan for cap NOT to go up....and Dude, you say we'll fit that D in...ok, how?...when?..and who?...cause I don't see that happening outside the organization unless we give up some of our assets that Sather/Renny are planning on going to this year...it'll have to come from the Pack somewhere....maybe mid season w/Sanguetti??? I dunno?..you tell me.

So Ek is still pushing Gomez to Vancouver Sundin to Rangers.

Figured I'd fuel the fire a bit... lol

Rich,

I was actually being sarcastic about being able to fit in a stay at home D, crease clearing D man.

There is no room.

I think we just have to hope that Girardi and Staal continue to grow and improve and those guys fill that role.

I would love Bieksa, but that cap thing always gets in the way.

"The guy is a genius and one of the best GM's ever probably. He is so far ahead of this years cap and next years I'm willing to sit back and watch.".....now there's a statement that's not true especially during his NY tenure. He's the genius of cya.

Gomez's contract gets smaller every year so trading him is dumb. Not to mention he is their best player.

I don't agree with trading Gomez and they won't, but correct me if I'm wrong......while his contract may get smaller, isn't it the same cap hit for the duration of the contract....kind of like Drury. They gave both of them more money upfront to attract them here, but the cap hit is the average of the contract per year. But like I said, I could be wrong...that's just what I was under the assumption

bklynblue, matter of opinion I guess. To each his own.

Kevo, i believe you are correct.
The cap hit is an average not what you see on the cap/salary sites.

yeah, the cap hit is the same every year for these contracts.

Busey calling anyone dumb is like Keith Richards telling someone they do too much smack.

I know waiting for camp to open and the season to start is driving everyone crazy. But we will have to just wait and see what moves are made and how it is done.
bklynblue, I agree with you about sather, he is in no way a genius. He's done nothing more than make a fortune with his past glory which is over 20 years old. Nothing since. Remember when he said if I was in NY with there money I'd win a cup every year. Hey Glenn you've been here way to long and not even close to a cup. He just blows smoke from that cigar thats always in his face

Dude...and I'm serious about Sanguetti com'n to the big club by mid season, so we won't have to trade a player to attain another d man.

Sather is actually a genius....he was smart enough.... let me put it this way, "to be apart of"... 4 Stanley Cup Edmonton Oiler Teams. Then he used his noodle to accept the position of GM for the NYR. He makes a lot of $, and after all the years here, he has yet to deliver a SC Champion or even a single SC appearance, and he still has his cigar puffing job!!!!! Other teams would'a given him his pink slip long ago. He is LOL'ng all the way to the bank, so yes, he's a lot smarter than us boyz!...let's just hope the moves he made last and this year prove in the end, he really is a genius\_

Dude,

Go to hell. Half the things posted on here are people using my name.

You can only pray that you knew as much as me.

Don't worry so much about the cap, I'm pretty sure Sather has guys who work on that who know much more than we do.

You all act like these guys in the front office are morons.
They know what they are doing, just let them do their jobs.