Blue Notes

steve id like to go to prague. any chance you need an assistant?

Thanks for the updates Steve! ...I am soooo glad we can finally stop talking about Mats (I have no burning desire to win a Stanley Cup afterall) Sundin....now WE can finally talk about more important things, like getting the Pre season started...let's see our new crop of players, and the kids... and would not surprise me if Rangers sign Shanny for 1 year contract.
Good luck to Jagr and to Cherepanov....and Steve, if you need an assistant for Matt, who'll assist you, lemme know....passport ready and so is my luggage\_

Thanks for the updates Steve! ...I am soooo glad we can finally stop talking about Mats (I have no burning desire to win a Stanley Cup afterall) Sundin....now WE can finally talk about more important things, like getting the Pre season started...let's see our new crop of players, and the kids... and would not surprise me if Rangers sign Shanny for 1 year contract.
Good luck to Jagr and to Cherepanov....and Steve, if you need an assistant for Matt, who'll assist you, lemme know....passport ready and so is my luggage\_

thanks so much for the updates. enjoy this beautiful weather we've been having.

Zip, is Newsday sending you to Prague? Seeing as your bosses are now the same as the Rangers bosses, it seems to be a no-brainer that you and Hermann get paid to go.

http://www.nyhockeyrivalry.com

Thanks for giving us another reason to post here, besides talking all day about Sundin, ..Sundin wasnt coming here anyways, Sundin wants to either play in Canada or retire. Sure glad NOT to talk about Sundin.

Jagr says today in the Swedish newspaper Expressen that if Sundin signs with Rangers, he sill regret the decision to go to Dussia. If that is a joke or not I have no idea. But I get the feeling that Jagr was serious.

ummmm, the Dude posting at 00:45 was not me.

Sounds almost unintelligible. You only need to say Sundin once in that paragraph. It's perfectly acceptable to replace the rest of the Sundin's with the pronoun "he".

Anyway,

I never once advocated bringing in Sundin.

I advocated trading Scott Gomez because we are in serious cap trouble after this season, and we have a young center named Brandon Dubinsky who could be better than both Gomez and Drury who is virtually stuck as a #3 center until Drury's contract is up.

I firmly believe if Slats knew how good Dubinsky was going to be, he would not have signed both Drury and Gomez for over 7 million a year each.

However, it's not going to happen, and I believe we are legit contenders for the East crown this season.

Can't wait til opening day Oct 4th.

Lets sign Shanny already !!!!

Gomez being traded was an Ek’lump’d lie! He did this last season too, or so says the PuckDaddy.
If you’re reading that man’s crap site (hockeyfizz), I suggest reading Weekly World News too.
That way you suckers won’t come around here anymore because you’ll be too busy setting up you’re end of the world bunkers for when Jesus, the Martians and Santa return sometime before the end of the Mayan calendar when Edward Cayce and the devil return for an all out battle royal at the Superdome in New Orleans. Look out the poles are going to flip! Look out the batboy is Jesus’ cousin’s twice removed uncle’s sister’s boyfriend’s roommate and he’s angry that people are so gullible!
I couldn’t be happier with our replacements for the Jagr era. I think this season is going to be much better than last. Watch, next March we’ll be looking out from the top of the conference!

OMG, shut the eff up

I read about a half of that and wanted to puke.

regardless of whatever Mr. Eklund says, I believe personally that trading Gomez and getting a sweet deal, making Dubinsky 2nd line center is best for this team in the long run and salary cap wise.

agree or disagree, I could care less.

OMG What should we do now?
http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/?p=1754

We can't let this happen guys! We need to do something... maybe something crazy, like climb a building a base jump off with out a shoot.
Start without me. I'll be there right after I say goodbye to some lady friends.

Oh, and the Wild are looking to trade their best player ever a season before his contract is up.
I'll buy that for a dollar!

hey Dude Eklund is taking phone calls... maybe you could ask him about the next up and coming trade rumor... Edm trading Horcoff... to the Rangers I'm sure... for a draft pick and some gum.(e-23421)
Man, that's funny.

The Dude comment at 00:45 was probably supposed to be fascicious, and happens to be alot funnier than anything the "origional" says. Better attitude and personality too.

Dude - Dubinsky is where he should be 3rd line center. what did he prove last yr besides having a decent yr playing with Jagr. it seems you are fitting him to have his jersey retired. salary cap can be worked out in a year or 2 maybe by moving Rozy. we don't have to do anything now cap wise and shouldn't

LI Joe,

hey, that's fine that you feel that way, I am just stating my opinion.

I don't think we need two centers making 7 million a year when we have Dubinsky, but that's fine, continue to underrate him.

He is just as good as Mike Richards.

Wow,some updates.Really earning that money,huh zippy?

I just wonder if you guys have really given a good look to next year's cap situation.

Are you really telling me, after looking at it and knowing that Dubinsky will need to be signed next summer and Staal the summer after, that if a team blew us away with an offer for Gomez, you guys would still not even consider it?

STEVE!!!!!!! I read a rumor on SI.com about Marian Gaborik. That if he does not sign with the Wild he will be traded to the Rangers. Is this true at all????????? if so when is Gaborik a free agent ????? Thanks ..... lets go rangers !!!!!

While I am a huge Dubinsky fan, always have been, he had 40 points last year. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Is he going to be good? Probably. Is he gonig to be great? Probably not. You're annointing this kid and he had one average year. He does have a lot of potential....in a few years. He was not a #1 center last year, he was just there bc he was the only one Jagr could play with. I know it's only opinion and I'm not debating trading Gomez, I'm just saying that you need to slow down with Dubinsky there...

Kevo well said

Dude - obviously if a team "blows us away and gives us the keys to the kingdom" that is one thing. I am much more against the Redden and Rozy contracts.a salary dump is another.

I would think Dubinsky as a RFA will get a nice increase but not insane increase. like I said above we can address the cap situation next yr most likely by moving Rozy.

I am very comfortable with Dubinsky as 3rd line center. a team needs at least 3 competent centers if not more due to injuries etc. I am against moving someone just to make him 1st or 2nd line center without him proving anything.

Dude,
Dubinsky is no Gomez. He'll be better. I hope anyway. Your concerns over the salary charts are a tad premature, but you’re on to something. I do think they’re correctable. The Rosvial rumor is the only one that holds water, but only because of the source at which it was printed. Reminder: we have too many 3rd and 4th liners.
Blow my mind away with a hypothetical?
I’d like to know what you think a Gomez is worth. We are talking about the best puck-moving center in the East, right? Image what his stats would have looked like if Jagr wanted to play at 100%. Or Shanahan wasn’t off his game, for lack of a better phrase. If Roszival didn’t die in the middle of the season? If Straka wasn’t hurt? Twice. AND Gomez still delivered a good season. I think he should have had a few more goals, but man those passes are PRRREettayy! What’s the guy worth to you, man?

Kevo,
Dubinsky had an awesome late Dec and Jan when he was playing with Prucha and Dawes. It was the only stretch last year that Prucha and Dawes were noticeable on the ice. Otherwise it was game to game for all three. The kid likes to go to the net.
Potential line combo again?

I think the mere mention, at this time of trading Gomez is a joke. Like I said before, he's one of the main pillars of this franchise...he's a terrific passer/playmaker/team mate.... I say we get the pre season started and let's see how it all comes together. I'll worry about next years cap later on. We have a few new fabulous players and when it all comes together, we're gonna see a speedy transition team... my only concern is that d man that's gonna move people (although Marc might be the answer depending if he put some weight/muskel on) this summer. As far as Gaborik....it's all hearsay and even still, Sather probably won't want to move anyone at this time to attain his rights...so dream on! I am happy where Dubinsky plays.....until he proves to us he deserves to move up-he stays put. Bring it on-I'm ready!

I think I had an Epiphany this morning when I quickly misread a hockey headline. I was on spectors blog and misread the headline that read "Ottawa acquires Shannon" as saying "Ottawa acquires Shanahan". I have to admit that my heart dropped and my stomach turned in the few seconds it took my mind to realize that it said Shannon. So I think I must want Shanny back if that was my bodies initial reaction. When I think it through rationally I always come to the conclusion that we are better off without him, but now I find myself questioning that.

lay off the Dude...he is just expressing a concern about our ability to sign our homegrown talent as they become RFA's. While I agree that Gomez should be kept at almost any cost, I also see his point that there is the danger of losing these guys to offer sheets that we will not be able to match. Can't you see Anaheim or Edmonton throwing a lot of cash at Dubinsky? It is scary but I hope the organization has a plan in place and is looking at the bigger picture.

we have the right to defend keeping Gomez on the team and Dubinsky on 3rd line as much as Dude does to advocate otherwise. they won't lose someone of value next yr with the RFA's if an offer sheet is given and the Rangers want to match they'll trade someone then most likely Rozy.

Gomez is my favorite Ranger now that Shanny is un-signed. But honestly if a great trade came along, i dont think ANY player is above being traded.

And the best way to avoid offer sheets is to sign your players to contracts during the season. Just like Tyutin and Girardi last season, (depending on their performance this year) I'm sure you will see Dawes, Dubinsky, and Callahan resigned around Jan. or Feb.

For those of you worrying about Salary cap issues, DONT !! I really dont see Dawes, Dubi, or Cally costing us that much money 1 year out of their Entry-Level contracts. Maybe 2-3 million split between the 3 of them, Tops. Plus, most of the Roster is currently signed for 1 or 2 years. I would consider this season a "Trial Basis" for some (Nikolai Zherdev, Markus Naslund, Pat Rissmiller, Dan Fritsche and Dmitri Kalinin) or "Last Chance" basis for others (Petr Prucha, Blair Betts, Colton Orr, Paul Mara, Stephen Valiquette).

Why would Valiquette be on a Last Chance basis. He did a good job last year when he did play. I don't know why Renney didn't play him more last season when Hank was going through the rough stuff. I think he is solid as a backup and he's also a great teammate.

If Sather gets Dawes, Dubi & Calli to sign for 2-3 million between the three of them than he really is a genius. I'm thinking it's going to take that much for Dubi alone. If Dubi goes to RFA status then I can guarantee an offer sheet of at least $4 million will be coming from multiple teams. How many different teams have been trying to trade for him over the last few years?

I would def. take Valiquette off that list as well as Orr...he's an enforcer so 'ya really can't expect a lot from him. I agree Dubi is gonna cost us...Dawes and Cali a little less+I think this is a make or break year for Dawes-he's gone if he doesen' t start start scoring..and like I said, I am not worried re: next years cap issue, I'm more concerned that our new group of guys jell quickly and come out of the gate with a burning desire to win and go to the big dance at seasons end.+.

With the roster not being set, per se, it's going to be a very competitive camp and pre-season. The bar is definitely going to be raised this year as far as work ethic, performance and desire. I don't think we're going to have the issues that we had last year as far as the team coming together. The one thing that drove me crazy was the constant changing of lines every few games. Besides other clicking issues I think it just made it harder for anyone to build that chemistry. Hopefully the tweaking will be to a minimum once the season starts.

Not with Renney as the bench boss G.F in Fla.
HE'll tweak and tweak and tweak until we're all going nuts.

Slick Willy: Gomez is not the best puck mover in the East. Crosby & Spezza are better. How about Marc Savard ? Erc Staal ? Malkin ? Sundin ? Koivu ? Briere ? Im sure you can say Gomez is on the same level as most of those guy, but Gomez is no Crosby.

Fresh,
That's true but we can only hope.

Effigy,
wouldn't that be your opinion vs. my opinion.
how can we honestly debate that...?

Effigy
yes, Crosby he is not. But I didn't say he was a Crosby, or Spezza.
I said he was the best puck moving, or carrying center in the east. Meaning, just as good as whoever you(anyone) think is the best.

:)~ nannnynannnybo-bo I think Gomez is better than you do...
If we're going to debate something like that we might as well drop down to a less intelligent level of conversation.

Here's a link to the release of the Training Camp Roster:
http://rangers.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=26561
Hope it works!
Slick Willy,
Loved the nannnynannnyboooboooo!

Maxim Kondratiev is back! woo-hoo

GARDENFAITHFUL, JOKE, & RICH.

I only consider Valiqutte as a "last chance" candidate because Sather had an opportunity to sign him this year and chose to only give him a 1 year deal (same with Dawes). Sounds like a last chance offer to me.

If anyone offers Dubinsky a 4 million dollar offer sheet ... i would gladly take the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round draft pick compensation we would get back. That kind of offer would have to come from a pretty desperate bottom-of-the-league team, and i wouldnt mind the high #1 draft pick that kind of team would have to surrender.

Next year, Dubinsky (depending on this year performance) will be looking at a Prucha's salary (1.5 - 1.9 million next year). Dawes may not even get re-signed since Sather had a chance to lock him up long-term and only offered him a 1 year deal. However, he could command a 900k - 1.2 million dollar salary if he impresses Sather this year. Callahan wont even crack a million (something like Fritsche or Sjostrom money in the ballpark of 800k - 900k)

I Love Colton Orr, but with the additions of Voros, Jamtin, and at lesser extents Rissmiller, and Fritsche. Enforcers now-a-days need to have a bit of a scoring touch. Orr's days could be numbered with these additions to this years line-up

wow Kondratiev??? very interesting, I wonder how he progressed.

too bad we can't have 6 lines, way too much depth and too many players

I can't believe that someone would want a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round picks and let Dubinsky go.

You guys may let me have it for exaggerating how good he is, but that is clearly just utter silliness.

Yay! Lets just keep overpaying for other teams free agents forever and never keep our own home grown guys.

woo-hoo!!

There are way too many players, I still feel like some sort of trade is coming.

I definitely do not see one reason whatsoever to bring Shanahan back.

I really would like to see Korpikoski get a fair shot.

DUDE ...

If you had the choice of paying Dubinsky 4 million dollars or taking 3 draft picks, especially a top 5 draft pick ... you would choose paying a 2nd year player 4 million dollars ?? Thats crazy.

I think he could be the future of the franchise, but im not giving the guy the keys just yet and im definitely not willing to pay him that kind of money yet. If he has another 40 - 50 point season this year he should be re-signed but for no more then 1.5 - 2.0 million.

Thats all i was arguing. Plus, i think he will be re-signed in Jan. or Feb. so a team cant "offer sheet" him anyway

Im really looking forward to seeing him and possibly Shanny playing together. And i really liked when Shanahan and Callahan played together in the past. I think that could make one of the best 3rd lines in the game.

Somerset, I see the point you were making about last chance.
I also have a gut feeing that Sather isn't quite finished. I also see Dubinsky as a franchise player but again it's going to be interesting to see what he and the others do this season. Even though we only made it to the second round - these kids got a taste of what could be and that should bring out the desire to go even further.
I am looking forward to this season and to a degree I'm glad to an extent that we don't have the hoopla like last season which had us raising the Cup in the first game. But all in all it's too quiet and trying to figure out what Sather has up his sleeve is an exercise in futility.
Oh by the way - keep your heads up - looks like Hanna is going to try to shake things up your way a little bit come Saturday and Sunday

I just think that Sather made enough moves, although I agree with Dude and Garden Faithful in that IF something happens to fall in his lap (Like Drury and Gomez), he'll do something, and hopefully that something is on D...not O. We are overloaded at Center, so who knows what if anything Sather will do. This is not the right time to think about moving Dubi...no team is gonna offer a 1st rounder...maybe a 2nd rounder, but heck, if I were GM, I'd stay focused and make Dubi an integrial part of this 2008/2009 Season. The player who I feel has a lot to prove is Dawes-this is a make or break year for him. I would be surprised to see Shanny back, maybe for 1 year only. And one more thing...I would like to see callahan lose the off ice ego and start to be a bit more friendly and accessible to the fans....all he does is blow the fans off....10 feet away, Gravy is signing autographs and having normal conversations w/anyone who came up to him-that's called character, and Calle needs to grow up and show some of that character. Having players that show passion and character off the ice means a lot cause it'' really come out when they are on ice...it's all connected!

we are overloaded at center, which is exactly my point about saying it's ridiculous that we are paying two centers over 7 million a year when we have problems at every other position.

I absolutely would say no to trading Dubinsky even for a top 5 pick.

The only player in the last draft I would have traded Dubinsky for is obviously Stamkos, that's all.

so yes, I would turn down a guaranteed top 5 pick for Dubinsky.

I am not dealing Dubinsky for a potential bust.

Hell no.

Why am I crazy to be willing to pay a home grown potential star like Dubinsky 4 million, and you guys don't have a problem whatsoever paying someone else free agents like Drury, Gomez or Redden these crazy contracts?

Look at what Philly gave Mike Richards

Look at what Florida gave Stephen Weiss and Olesz

Look at what L.A. just gave Jarrett Stoll

Dubinsky is just as good as these guys, Weiss is making 3.1 million a year and Dubinsky is at least twice as good as he is.

You have to take comparable players contracts into consideration when thinking about what we will pay players.

I think come January we should sign Dubinsky to a long term contract like some of these others.

6 years 21 million, something along those lines. I'd do even longer.

I will agree that Dubinsky was first line because he was the only one Jagr could play with. A lot of folks state that's the only reason he had the season he did. But what about the Young Stars 2G - 1A and MVP and the World Championship - hat trick. Where was Jagr when he achieved those milestones. I still think we need to see how this season plays out and if it continues as last season - lock him up in January or February. As far as overpaying him - like that's something new with the Rangers management. Again I would still like to see Shanny come back this season. If not in October, bring him in for the stretch and the run then turn the over the reigns. Dawes has something to prove this season he needs to be more consistent in his game. We saw flashes last season and I truly hope he progresses.
WIth regard to Girardi and Staal with a year under their belt, I think we're going to see some of the rough edges smooth over. . I do think that Valliquette could be played a little bit more. I'm looking so forward to the start of this season.

Dubinsky: 2nd season - 88 Games Played - 40 pts

Richards: 4th season - 211 GP - 141 pts

Weiss: 6th season - 323 GP - 163 pts

Olez: 4th season - 190 GP - 77 pts

Stoll (was just traded, and is NOT homegrown, BUT) 5th season - 286 GP - 165 pts

He hasnt played enough Hockey to be awarded 3-4 million dollars yet. Thats not to say in a couple seasons he will get offered that by the Rangers, but i think they will sign him to a contract that "bridges" this contract to that contract I DIDNT SAY I WOULD TRADE DUBINSKY FOR DRAFT PICKS. somesone said we need to lock him up before another team offer-sheets 4 million dollars next year, and then i said i am not willing to pay him that kind of money yet, so the OFFICIAL COMPENSATION FROM THE NHL for a 4million dollar offer sheet is a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick.

i would take all those picks before giving a kid with 88 games experience 4 million dollars.

yeah ok Somerset

you would "take all those picks" and hope in 5 years, one of those picks pans out into what Dubinsky is right now.

good thinking

People, we need to start believing we actually can grow our own star players and that we don't have to go out and take them from other teams all the time!

I love how everyone said Jagr sucked all year last year, but then in the same breath people say the only reason Dubinsky had a terrific rookie season was that he played with Jagr.

Do those two thoughts contradict themselves or is it just me?

Although I disagree that Dubinsky is as good as Mike Richards, I feel he could be as good if not better, but he's gonna have to bring it this year like he never has. I would then sign him middle of this season to a 3 year 2.5 mil to 3 mil per year with a possible incentives laden contract offer, but would not go beyond 3 years. Dude said it like I have in the past...we need to keep our home grown kids and stop trader philling them all the time for aging stars past their prime. Im so glad we're not talking Sundin anymore.......I believe in balance yes, and this off season, Sather did enough (just not enough on the D end). I am stoked to see Staal this year and if Sather doesen't sign Shanny to start the season, and our goal production isn't where it should be, maybe then we'll sign him...but whose to say another team won't grab him before that even happens?? we just need to stay the course, cause this training camp is going to be one of the most competitive we have seen in years.

Dude - give me a break with this Dubinsky is God talk. after 40 pts he has a lot to prove to be the star you make him out to be. he's a good role player should have a decent career. for now 3rd line center fits him fine. and we are not at all overloaded at center. keep Gomez and Drury and Dubinsky at 3rd center makes most sense. next yr move Rozy is need be for Dubinsky's $ 2.5 mm contract. are you related to the guy.