Before I get into the details, let me say it's great to be back from the exciting vacation land known as Pennsylvania. After a one week hiatus that included no computer during free agent frenzy, I'm happy to be sitting here.
First let me start off with some thank-you's and apologies. I have to thank my two fellow Bleacher Creatures who literally kept my cell phone hot with updates on July 1 and 2. As for apologies, let me say sorry to the dude who I called "an idiot" for saying that Jagr wasn't going to return. Obviously you were right and I was wrong.
The second apology goes to a girl who I told that Brian Rolston had more of a chance of going to the Rangers then Devils. I was wrong on that too.
Now to business.
The first Ranger related text I recieved came in the afternoon and it mentioned how we signed Aaron Voros away from Minnesotta. As soon as I read it, I knew Avery was done here and his replacement had arrived. I immediately liked the signing because not only is the kid a good heavy weight fighter, but he can also score goals. He is a good replacement for Sean, he only lacks the agitation.
Then the Rangers signed Patrick Rismiller, the blockbuster of the early afternoon. I'm not even sure if he will see NHL playing time, but he will nonetheless be a solid replacement for the biggest waste of a Rangers' uniform, in Ryan Hollweg.
Next came a trade, one that surprised me somewhat. Glen Sather sent Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman to Columbus for Nikolai Zherdev and Dan Fritcshe. I was surprised at Tyutin going because of the contract he had just been signed to, but Backman's exit was to no one's surprise as he had been in the Rangers fans' doghouse since his first shift with the team.
The Rangers in that deal not only got the speedy, Czech winger Zherdev, but also cleared up cap space, to sign the veteran winger who would replace Captain Jaromir Jagr.
That replacement was former Canucks' superstar left winger Markus Naslund.
Although his play had been slipping that last two seasons after enjoying three consecutive 40 goal campaigns, he had been on a team with which he wasn't given the best oppurtunities to put up points.
Even on a very meager Canuck offense, he still managed 25 goals, more then any Ranger in 2007/08.He assured the NY Post the day of the trade that he felt rejuvenated at the idea of playing for the Rangers after being captain in Vancouver.
The Rangers' biggest splash of the day was veteran defense man Wade Redden. Although I dislike the signing, I feel it was somewhat necesary because we need a power play quarterback. Hopefully Wade will get the job done and when paired with Rozsival (who will no longer be looking to pass to Jagr everytime he has the puck) will be a very nice combination.
The Rangers the next day re-signed defenseman Paul Mara, something I had been hoping for.
So without Jagr, how is the team suposed to succeed? The answer is simple...Tom Renney.
Although I have bashed the coach in the past, the team Glen Sather has given him is perfect for his style of coaching. No superstars, no one amazing, a offensively sound team with defensive responsibility.
I'm sad to see Jagr leave as are most fans, but it was time to move on. The team no longer has to be the European centered organization that revolves around him. Instead, Renney can just roll his lines without worrying who the opposing coach is matching against him.
Now that free agency is over, here are my line combinations for the upcoming season:
Line 1: Dawes-Gomez-Zherdev
Line 2: Naslund-Drury-Prucha
Line 3: Callahan-Dubinsky-Sjostrom
Line 4: Voros-Betts-Fritsche
Defense 1: Rozsival-Redden
Defense 2: Staal-Mara
Defense 3: Girardi-Kalinin
Scratches: Orr, Hollweg, Rissmiller
Possible Call-Ups: Korpikoski, Anisimov, Sauer, Sanguinetti.
So there you go, my outlook on the future of the New York Rangers. A few weeks ago I boldly predicted that the Rangers would win the Atlantic Division and even with the free agency not going as well as I expected, I like the direction the team is going in, and I am standing firm on that prediction.
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3 months ago
I think Korpikoski has a real shot at making the team. If he doesn't the first guy that doesn't perform (Callahan, Prucha, Dawes) will be the guy going down to make room for him.
from 3 months ago
Prucha's head is on the chopping block and Glen Sather's axe is nearing. He has to keep his head up and try not to get plastered every night, but if that doesn't happen then Korpedo would get the call up...
3 months ago
Yup. Lotsa pressure on him. The last couple of years he's had a hard time getting ice-time and getting above the third or fourth line. He'll get some chances to play this year and he'd better make the most of it or he's done.
3 months ago
good article, but still not winning the atlantic. welcome back greg lol
3 months ago
ha thats the exact first line i predicted.
3 months ago
Zherdev is not Czheck, he is from Ukrain.
3 months ago
Zherdev is actually an ethnic Russian of Ukranian nationality. He hold dual Ukraniand and Russian citizenship.
The only and one time I am aware of that Dolan intervened was sometime after the Brashear-Shanahan fight. The Rangers had been playing like a bunch of wimps, whining about officials not protecting Jagr, and that just whetted the appetite of the other teams to lay on the lumber. Shanahan felt he had to step up. Dolan then sent a memo, play Orr. Orr has been in the lineup every game since during the regular season except when injured and made all the difference in the world. With only Voros (and if he comes back to sit on the bench Strudwick) capable fighters, Orr has got to play. And he doesn't hurt the team. Who the hell is Fritsche anyway? He's going for arbitration and that alone will get him a fast ticket out of New York.
3 months ago
I get the feeling that you're going to be very right or very wrong. I'm going to side with my gut and say you're going to be wrong unfortunately. I looked at your mock line-up and at first I thought you must be out of your mind with Dawes as a first line winger...Scarier is that he's probably where he belongs based on who else you have to choose from. Honestly, as a Ranger fan I don't know where they're going to get the offense from. I hope it comes but I don't know. I will say that Anaheim in their Cup year did rely heavily on youth to bring them there (with the help of some very valuable veterans of course) so it isn't impossible but you'd have to hope for a near perfect mesh to expect to win the Atlantic.
3 months ago
A rejuvanated Naslund could score 40 goals, Dawes and Zherdev are good for 30 each as well with Gomez as the center. Add Drury to the mix and the solid youth they have throughout the lineup, and they could do very well. Especially with Lundqvist as the goaltender and a more experienced defense in front of him.
3 months ago
I'd love Naslund to score 40 goals but to be honest with his recent track record I wouldn't expect it. Rejuvenated or not his best years are behind him in my opinion.
from 3 months ago
The exact same thing was said about Jaromir Jagr in 05/06.
3 months ago
I think that had more to do with losing a year due to the strike more than anything. Jagr had been consistantly scoring in the mid to upper 70's in the years leading to '05-'06. Naslund is just declining. I actually thought more of him before I took a close look at his numbers. He had those three big years but other than that he was really never spectacular. Also 40 goals from a 34 year old when he's only done it 3 times in his 14 year career? I wouldn't bank on it. But hey, I hope so.
3 months ago
rangers did such a good job in the free agents market, i think the winners of the opening of market are detroit, because of that big name,pretty expensive too,marian hossa.also tampa bay did a good job, chicago better(still couldn't believe the caps traded christobal huet to them...whoahhh,i liked christobal at washington better),vancouver did pretty good too...those goalies are like the hotteset...(and that's a good thing), well they are great goalies...wondered where'd the hawks get all that big money...
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