Bleacher Report - Articles by Greg Caggiano

New York Rangers: Chris Drury Silences Critics

Greg Caggiano — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:21:00 -0400

This October, Chris Drury will begin his second season as captain of the New York Rangers and third season overall. His first two years on Broadway have not been impressive—they include two early postseason exits and two average showings in the stat column.

Drury was never a superstar in all his years with Colorado, Calgary, and Buffalo; he never scored more then 37 goals and not once did he crack the 70-point mark. He did win a Stanley Cup with Colorado, however, and has always come through in tight situations making him garner the nickname "Captain Clutch."

When he was signed to a five-year deal worth over $35 million, Ranger fans instantly thought that he would morph into a superstar just because of the paycheck, but how often does that happen? Well, never.

In a conversation with fellow writer Joe Alianello, Drury said something that always seems to hold true with Rangers fans, "People think when a player becomes a Ranger that means he will transform into a superstar, that his career highs will be smashed."

If it were not for his contract, fans may give him a free pass; but when you earn the big bucks in New York and fail to bring playoff success, you will become the center of negative attention. Drury has not been amazing in his first two seasons with the Rangers, but the numbers he has put up are indicative of his career averages.

The next point that always seems to come up in conversations is Drury's position as captain. Ranger fans were spoiled during the years of Mark Messier, when this team had a loud, vocal captain who wasn't afraid to speak his mind in any situation.

We know of this because his personality is such, and what former teammates have told the media. But what do we know of Chris Drury? Fellow players always seem to laud him as an excellent leader, but why do fans always seem to give him a hard time? He has been called quiet and has been bashed by the fan base for being a poor leader.

The reason for this attack is because of Drury's calm and quiet composure. I never had any doubt in his leadership capabilities and after his latest interview with MSG Network's Stan Fischler, my thoughts were sealed.

"I find that from time to time there are misconceptions about the way fans think players behave, or should behave, behind the scenes; as in the dressing room," he said.

"Take the issue of yelling. Some people have this misconception that in this day and age if you're not a loudmouth jerk, that means you're 'quiet.' As far as I'm concerned, in my role as captain, when something needs to be said, I'll say it."

As far as I am concerned, Drury just shut up all of his critics who call him quiet. The captain of the New York Rangers may seem calm, he may not put up the superstar numbers, but he brings the intangibles: the skills in the face off circle, the shot blocking ability—all the little things that don't register on the score sheet. Keep that in mind when this new season begins in October.

Greg Caggiano is a writer on Bleacher Report covering the New York Rangers. He has a New York area sports teams blog called Metro-Sports, where you can read great articles about all professional sports teams that play in the area by a dedicated team of young writers.

How Crazy Would It Be For The Rangers To Give Theo Fleury a Chance?

Greg Caggiano — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:33:47 -0400

Well folks, it's time for that weekly piece of shocking speculation. Darren Dreger of TSN is reporting that Theo Fleury is attempting an NHL comeback.

The former Flame, Avalanche, Ranger, and Blackhawk has reportedly been sober for the last four seasons, and has been skating daily in hopes that a team will invite him to training camp this coming season (Hello Sather reclamation project).

Dreger also goes on to say that, "Those close to him say he didn’t leave the National Hockey League the way he wanted, which is fueling his desire to return."

We all remember how Fleury's career in the NHL ended. He was basically disgraced out of not returning. The veteran winger had an amazing career, perhaps Hall of Fame worthy, were it not for his alcohol addiction and his behavior on the ice during his later years.

Fleury scored 455 goals and 633 assists for 1088 points in 1084 games. That also includes eight seasons with 30 goals or more and even more impressive, 12 seasons of 20 or more goals.

The Oxbow, Saskatchewan native was known for his blazing speed and immense skill even though he was one of the shortest players in the league, measuring in at 5' 6''.

I may be biased on the subject because Fleury was a favorite player of mine during his time with the Rangers. I own everything of his, from his cards and plaques to a bobblehead doll, but I really think the Rangers should and will consider giving him an invite to training camp.

He is 41 years old, and it will be argued that he is too old, most likely by the same people who wanted Shanahan back as a Ranger (even though they know he can't skate, and his career is done).

Fleury was always a good skater. Given his small stature, if he stayed in shape over these last few years, he most likely still has some jump in his step.

If you look back on all he has done in his career, not including the negative aspects, it's fair to say that this addition would be more meaningful than that of Shanahan.

Fleury played on the power play, killed penalties, and even set the Rangers' franchise record for shorthanded goals scored when he netted seven in the 2000/01 season.

He was also the ultimate agitator, one of the first true pain-in-the-asses to play against. Fleury also fights, and always stuck up for his teammates despite his short size. He also had a great personality, always there with a joke, and if he can stay sober, his Stanley Cup winning experience will be more than welcome in the Ranger locker room.

One last thing to ponder; imagine that you're Martin Brodeur of the Devils and you're standing in your crease waiting for the Rangers to rush up ice. Then you see Avery coming down on one wing and Fleury on the other. I can't say what would be going through your mind, but I know it won't be happy thoughts.

New York Rangers Should Get Tougher and Sign Todd Bertuzzi

Greg Caggiano — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:43:32 -0400

Among the Rangers many offseason plans of transformation, one they have successfully accomplished thus far is getting tougher. They added Donald Brashear on July 1, one of the most feared fighters in the entire league, and someone who doesn't take any nonsense.

Brashear, combined with super pest Sean Avery instill a little bit more fear into opponents then Ranger teams of year's past. But how tough are the Rangers?

With the exception of those two players, the Rangers only have one more forward who drops the gloves regularly, and that is Brandon Dubinsky, a player that they cannot afford to have sitting in the penalty box.

The Rangers got tougher, and they also added more scoring by bringing in Marian Gaborik and Ales Kotalik, but they are still missing pieces. The No. 1 center slot for starters is something that Glen Sather has been, and will continue to be working on.

But what about that offensive player that brings both size and toughness along with a scoring touch? That piece has eluded the Rangers for many seasons, but is not out of reach right this second.

Currently sitting on the free agent market without a contract is Todd Bertuzzi, a player who has been full of fan hatred since his incident with Steve Moore in 2004, but can still play the game.

Last season with Calgary, Bertuzzi recorded 15 goals and 29 assists for 44 points, an amount that would have placed him fifth on the Rangers in scoring. His contract last season was $1.95 million and he will most likely be getting a cut in salary this season.

The Rangers need to bring in affordable toughness and can do so by signing Bertuzzi. The Blueshirts' $7.5 million offseason signing Marian Gaborik will be needing some protection and many argue that Brashear was brought in for that same reason, but Brashear will never be skating on the top line with him so the effect is different.

Sean Avery who checks and fights could be that piece on the top line but his small size would make me lean towards the 6'3'', 245 pound Bertuzzi.

A top line of Bertuzzi, Dubinsky, and Gaborik would not be out of the question if they were to sign him and he would have the same role as he did back in his heyday with Vancouver, which was protecting Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison and netting the garbage left behind, something he made the most of.

In 869 career games, Bertuzzi has 255 goals and 369 assists for 624 points, and has recorded three 25 goal seasons, a 36 goal season, and finally his best, which was 46 goals in 2002-03.

The role he will have is so startlingly similar that he could thrive at it, and for a one year, $1.5 million contract, what do the Rangers have to lose?

New York Rangers: Nikolai Zherdev's Arbitration to Be Announced Sunday

Greg Caggiano — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:56:37 -0400

As we eagerly await the fate of the enigmatic Russian winger Nikolai Zherdev, there has been countless speculation on whether or not his career with the New York Rangers will be coming to an end.

The other day, Zherdev, his agent, and the Rangers met with an arbitrator to decide what salary he should be granted for this season. It is believed that Zherdev is asking for a price between $4.5 and 5 million, while the Rangers want him to receive a salary no more then the $3.25 million that he made last season.

Who is in the right, here?

The Rangers are arguing that he is lazy, uncaring, and that he has no fire or will to win; that he is simply skating to collect a paycheck and that he only plays when he wants to.

He got off to a great start at the beginning of the season but managed to slump heavily in the latter stages, even as the Rangers surged from out of contention to a playoff spot. It is believed that he and Tortorella don't get along very well but it is only speculation.

Zherdev did not record a single point in the first round of the seven-game series versus the Washington Capitals, and only recorded one point, an assist, in the entire month of April. It is because of all this that he does not deserve a raise.

On the other hand, despite all the negativity mentioned above, Zherdev still managed to tie for the team lead in points scored (58) and finish one goal shy of the lead for goals scored (23).

When looking at those numbers, they are actually decent for a second line winger, which is what he was most of the season. He managed to sleepwalk through the final months of the season, yet still had good enough numbers to lead the team.

If he can ever get it all together, it is scary to think about the numbers he could put up. The potential for a 40-goal/80-point scorer is there, but it only comes in tiny bursts, never all at once. Zherdev's party will argue that he is due to break out and that his raise in salary will be worth it.

There really is no definitive answer as to who will win the case because it could be argued that both sides are in the wrong. The Rangers for low-balling him, and Zherdev for asking for too much.

Fellow Russian counterpart and former teammate with New York, Nik Antropov scored only one more point than Zherdev did last season and got a contract from Atlanta with an average salary of $4 million a season.

That is a reasonable amount for Zherdev to be awarded, but if that is the case, the Rangers will walk away. Afterwards, the arbitrator decided the parties have 48 hours to decide. If the Rangers choose to retain him, he gets the awarded salary. If they choose to let him walk, he then becomes an unrestricted free agent, and the market for him is very small.

It would be in the Rangers best interest to keep him only if the salary is around $3.5 million, but the numbers show that he deserves a little more. It could also be possible for them to retain him even at a high salary with the aspirations of trading him this offseason; a risky move but one Glen Sather may be willing to take.

2009 NHL Atlantic Division Report Card

Greg Caggiano — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:31:18 -0400

Well it’s about time for a final report card of the Atlantic Division since trades and signings have significantly come to a halt. Let me first start off by saying that this is probably the most boring offseason of my lifetime, but due to the economy it can be expected.

Although some very good names are still on the market I am confident that these will pretty much be your Atlantic Division teams at the start of the 2009-10 season. The report cards are in order according to the team’s respective finish in last season’s standings and are based on what they did this offseason, not how the overall team is assembled.

New Jersey Devils: D-

The Devils were one of only two teams in the Atlantic to not acquire one new player in the skater department. They made two re-signings and that was all. The only new face of importance they brought in was head coach Jacques Lemaire. People will rip this signing from heaven, through purgatory, and all the way to hell but to be honest, this was the right move to make. Lemaire is the defensive wizard, the “Father of the Trap”, and although the days of playing a successful trap are over, he has shown that he can keep a relatively bad team competitive, which is exactly what Lou Lamoriello wants.

In Minnesota he had Brian Rolston and Marian Gaborik (not as often has he would have liked) and in recent years Mikko Koivu and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. It’s safe to say that Zach Parise is just as good as if not better than Gaborik and Travis Zajac and Patrik Elias are more skilled than the other three forwards mentioned so it may not be all that bad for this Devils team. They will be boring to watch no doubt, but weren’t they boring when then won three Stanley Cups in the span of ten seasons in the 90’s and early 2000’s?

Now to the free agent signings; the only new face this team brought in was backup goalie Yann Danis. I only have one comment to make regarding that, which is if Brodeur gets injured again this season, best hope it’s a deep draft next summer.

Management completely screwed themselves over regarding Scott Clemmensen because this team was burnt toast when Brodeur was injured last season and he single handedly kept this team in it and led them to an Atlantic Division title, but when the playoffs rolled around he was sent to the AHL in favor of Kevin Weekes. He saves your season and you reward him by telling him to ride the bus in the minors. That’s just very appealing to an oncoming free agent, Lou.

Regarding the re-signings they made which include Travis Zajac and Johnny Oduya; first to the blue liner, who registered a career high of 29 points but is rewarded with a three year contract at $3.5 million per; not terrible but a slight overpayment.

The real overpayment on this team comes with Zajac’s contract. At four years and a $3.8 million cap hit, how is it that a player who has never eclipsed 20 goals in a season makes more money than Zach Parise who was just shy of 100 points last season?

Pittsburgh Penguins: B-

The defending Stanley Cup Champions did what most teams do after winning it all and that is standing pat. They made no significant moves and that could go both ways. By not bringing in any new forwards, with the exception of Mike Rupp, they will be relying solely on Crosby and Malkin to do the scoring. It has worked so far but they would be much better off had they re-signed Petr Sykora and Miroslav Satan; two players who have the potential to be 20 to 30 goal scorers, especially when playing with a skill level as high as Pittsburgh has.

Bill Guerin was a nice signing after many thought he would retire after getting his name on the Cup one final time. Many people had him going back to Long Island if he did decide to play one more season, but why would he do that? Here in Pittsburgh he provides that veteran voice in the locker room and can provide some grit on the ice. Guerin, along with Chris Kunitz help this team by driving to the net and creating havoc in the crease while Crosby and Malkin go to work.

The Penguins also made one small signing on defense, by bringing in Jay McKee. This is a very underrated signing and it may prove to be more than that. After losing Hal Gill, McKee will step right up and fill the void of a solid, stay at home defenseman. He is also a much better skater.

Finally, we have a transaction in the goaltending department by bringing in the experienced and reliable Brent Johnson. Should Fleury get injured, Johnson will be a welcome sight in the crease as he has successfully backstopped the Washington Capitals for the last four seasons.

Philadelphia Flyers: C+

After seeing what the Flyers have done thus far over this summer, If I were Paul Holmgren I would seriously consider having this team’s name changed to the Broadstreet Bullies, because that is right down the alley they are headed. Already stacked with a team of tough players that include Scott Hartnell, Daniel Carcillo, Arron Asham, and Riley Cote, this team goes ahead and adds one of the better fighters in the league, Ian Lapperierre.

Not only can he fight but he can skate and play the game as well. Other than that, the team made no more moves in the forward department, but they didn’t need to as their crop of six 20 goal scorers is still intact.

This report card was going to be a very positive one until I have to mention Chris Pronger. One of the most feared defenders in the league, it’s not he himself that brings down the overall grade, it’s his contract. I personally love the 34 -year-old Pronger and being that he had only one year on his contract it made sense that Anaheim would trade him.

The Flyers jumped at the opportunity and grossly overpaid by sending top prospect Luca Sbisa, potential 20 goal scorer Joffrey Lupul along with two first round draft picks. When looking at it, in the end I could live with it but then the Flyers went out and gave this 34 year old a seven year extension that carries a cap hit of over $6 million per season .

He will still be making that when he is 41 years old and I think it is safe to say that Pronger committed the biggest steal since the Brink’s Robbery. I want his agent.

Finally, the Flyers cleaned house in goaltending. Martin Biron and Antero Nittymaki were shown the door as rumors of Robert Esche returning died down. Old face Brian Boucher was brought back as well as the head case and former Senator Ray Emery. If he can return to the form he played in when he led Ottawa to the finals three seasons ago, the Flyers are in luck. If he melts down like he did the year after, then all the offense may go to waste in Philly.

New York Rangers: B+

Those that follow my writing regularly know how I felt about this team prior to the off-season. This team was handicapped due to the four major contracts that had this team in a stranglehold. Then the end of June came and I got the phone call of my life; Scott Gomez had been traded. I couldn’t tell you how happy I was and even though I had no idea who was acquired in return, the move in itself made the offseason a success.

The Rangers needed a complete and utter salary dump and they got one, but it isn’t that simple. When a team has a horrible contract they normally have to pair it with a top prospect just to get rid of him, but it was the Rangers who got the top prospect in return from Montreal, Mike McDonough. The Rangers also got back perennial 20 goal scorer and New York native Chris Higgins. New York turned into a normal team again as Montreal turned into Les Smurfs.

Then came July 1 and as all Ranger fans know, Sather usually sleeps in until the late evening but he must have awoke from his nap as he signed Donald Brashear pretty early in the day. The move was alright but the payment was a little high, at two years, $2.8 million. This team lacked an enforcer, a player to instill fear and they got one in Brashear. Fans ripped it apart from the very beginning mainly because of his cheap shop of Blair Betts in the playoffs; but the second he knocks someone out while wearing Broadway Blue, he will be loved.

Now comes the signing that can prove to be the greatest or the worst, and that man is Marian Gaborik. I personally label him as top-5 talent in the league but he can never stay healthy. Although he has never played a full season, he has still put up amazing numbers that include a 42-goal season two years ago while playing in Jacques Lemaire’s defensive trap. Under John Tortorella in an up tempo playing style, it’s scary to think of what numbers he could put up.

Finally, we have a lower tier signing of Ales Kotalik, who has one of the hardest shots in the league. He also had his best numbers while playing with Chris Drury in Buffalo. His acquisition along with Higgins is solely to keep the Captain happy and you can be sure that this trio will be the team’s second line come October.

The one gap this team has is a lack of a number one center and unless a trade is made, I will guarantee that spot will go to Brandon Dubinsky. Lastly, fans are wondering what is happening with Nikolai Zherdev whose arbitration hearing is this week. It is speculated that he will ask for close to $5 million, and when Sather is done laughing he will let him walk.

New York Islanders: C+

Where do I begin with the team who finished dead last a season ago? After constantly complaining that their decrepit arena keeps free agents from signing there, they continually bring negative attention to themselves and that has never been more apparent than this offseason.

They did not make one signing in the forward or defense department and the only new face fans will see this season is their No. 1 draft pick John Tavares. I personally felt that Victor Hedman would have been a better move but this team needed a big name to help lure fans out to the Island.

That and the fact they had a draft party for the sole purpose of taking Tavares; the fans of this organization was revved up and ready to do damage had he not been signed. Two friends of mine who attended the party were scouting out the nearest exits had Garth Snow gone against fans will and took Hedman or Duchene.

For defense, Mark Streit continues to prove himself to be the biggest steal of last summer but other them him, this department sorely lacks. Andy Sutton and Brendan Witt who are both horrible skaters with an edge carry a cap hit of $3 million each. Expect the latter to be dealt at the deadline to a contender.

If there is one thing I must compliment the Islanders on it is how they are handling their goalie situation. They sign Dwayne Roloson who is a veteran starter that can eat up games and also be a valuable backup if Rick DiPietro were to somehow stay healthy and actually play this season.

But then with the signing of Martin Biron (which was a steal) they now show the world that they have no confidence whatsoever that Dipietro can carry the team, let alone even play. The front office likes to show things to be all fine and dandy but sometimes I wonder if they aren’t hiding something. If they announce that DiPietro won’t be returning for another full season, or if he is done altogether, I won’t be surprised.

A Conversation With The Ottawa Senators' Alexei Kovalev

Greg Caggiano — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:41:11 -0400

In the year or so that I have been covering hockey I'm proud to say that I've gotten the chance to interview some big names in the business. Although most were announcers and analysts, very rarely is it possible for me to get a chance to interview a player.

For this next interview, I chatted with the newest member of the Ottawa Senators, Alexei Kovalev. The 36-year-old Russian winger is a veteran of 1151 games and has scored 394 goals and 547 assists for 941 total points.

Kovalev, a former Ranger, Penguin, and captain of the Canadiens became the first Russian in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup, when he was a member of the 1994 New York Rangers.

He recently signed a two year/$10 million contract with the Ottawa Senators. Below is our conversation.

GC: What was one of the main reasons why you signed with the Ottawa Senators?

AK: I had a few offers on the table and the Senators offer stood out from all the rest. I knew that playing in the organization of Ottawa would bring me and the team a lot of success. I think that Ottawa has a good chance at making the playoffs and I am really happy to be here.

GC: If you could say one thing about your playing style to Ottawa fans, what would it be?

AK: I am focused on ice, feeding players with precise passes and taking lots of shots on net.

GC: Dating back to your Stanley Cup win with the Rangers, what did it feel like to be the first Russian to have your name inscribed on the Cup?

AK: I'll never forget that moment. It felt great! Not only being the first Russian to have my name engraved on the Cup, but to have accomplished one of my many dreams is something really special for me.

GC: What was your experience like playing for the Rangers in New York?

AK: Playing for the Rangers was a great experience; playing with great hockey players, having great hockey fans supporting us is something that every hockey player would like to have behind them.

GC: Finally, if you were not a hockey player, what job would you like to have?

AK: If I weren't a hockey player, I would have probably became a pilot, something that I always wanted to be before I became a professional hockey player.

NHL Free Agent Update: Lightning After Petr Sykora, Flyers Pursue Todd Bertuzzi

Greg Caggiano — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:05:40 -0400

Since this brutally boring off-season continues to drag along, I figured I would pass the time with some free agent updates.

Sources are not confirming anything right now and it could be because there is absolutely nothing to confirm. Below are some of the players still available and the teams that are interested in them based on what I'm hearing.

Petr Sykora

It's pretty much a guarantee he will not return to Pittsburgh, but now it seems the Tampa Bay Lightning have entered the picture.

Tampa Bay does have over $7 million in cap space and could use some more scoring depth, so this move does make sense for them.

They are also not shy about dolling out contracts that seem, to put it frankly, stupid to other teams. Sykora is a good player but he may get a multi-year deal for some good money if he signs with Tampa Bay.

If he is not interested and it seems there aren't many places left for him to sign, maybe the Devils will want to bring in another old face to help in the scoring department.

Todd Bertuzzi

Well folks, to be honest, I almost laughed out loud when I heard that the Flyers were pursuing "Big Bert". I don't really know why, since it makes too much sense.

The Flyers have always had a team stocked with big brutes that can do damage. Although they are still a far cry from their 1980's Broadstreet Bullies days, when their sole purpose of playing was to hit you and not the net, they are definitely inching there.

The only problem is the cap space, and if the Flyers can somehow move defenseman Randy Jones, this becomes more than possible.

If this move does happen, expect the Flyers to be the single most feared team in the NHL. They will intimidate, but with their sketchy goaltending situation, will it be enough?

On another note, if the Rangers are so concerned with adding more toughness to the team, why not go after Bertuzzi and give him a one-year deal?

He may have a bad reputation for his on-ice mugging of Steve Moore before the lockout, but he still has a scoring touch and isn't a bad skater. He would be a nice winger on a line with Marian Gaborik.

Miroslav Satan

Rumors have been swirling all around this player, having him going back to Buffalo or even back to Europe, but now the reports are confirming that he is drawing serious interest from the New York Islanders.

This would be the right move for a team starved of scoring and the ability to lure the big name free agents. He is still a potential for 30 goals if playing with the right players and will come at a very affordable rate.

More information to come as I get it.

Rick DiPietro Ready To Call It Quits?

Greg Caggiano — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:55:10 -0400

Rick DiPietro is the owner of the largest contract ever awarded to a single player in NHL history, and to a goalie no-less. An immense 15 year contract he can call his own.

The first two years of that contract he played up to par with what was expected. Although playing no more then 63 games in either season, he kept his team competitive night in and night out and established himself as one of the better goalies of the eastern conference.

Then the "lower body" injuries happened.

DiPietro injured his already weakened knee in training camp causing him to miss the first few weeks of last season. He then came back, played three games and re-injured himself causing him to miss 27 games after having surgery.

What happened next is where the ultra long term injury came in to place. He returned for one game on December 26, defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1. All was well, he had returned and put up a stellar performance.

Unfortunately for the Islanders, he had injured himself yet again during that game, both his knee and his groin. A few weeks later he underwent a second surgery on his knee causing him to miss the remainder of the season, a total of 41 games more.

The Islanders were now left without a goaltender, leaving the duties up to Joey McDonald (who did play well), Yann Danis, and Peter Mannino.

When the off-season came the Islanders went out and signed one of the top free agent goaltenders out there, the veteran Dwayne Roloson to a 2 year/$5 million deal. The signing was called "insurance" in case DiPietro happened to get injured again.

Looking back on it, it may be more then insurance.

Later that night I got a text message from a friend saying that DiPietro was going to retire. It turned out it was a joke, most likely inspired by an alcoholic beverage...or eight or ten.

Even though it was a joke and did not have an ounce of credence, it got me to thinking about their goaltending situation. General Manager Garth Snow still maintains that DiPietro will begin skating in August.

Then came this evening's signing.

Former Flyers number one goalie Martin Biron has inked a 1 year/$1.4 million deal with the Islanders. Two number one goalies now; well, three if you count DiPietro.

It was a steal of a signing at a bargain basement amount of money. But why? Why sign Roloson and Biron if you are sure that DiPietro will be healthy?

Islanders top brass is still maintaining their story, and perhaps they are right, but I want to look at this a little deeper.

You have a potential franchise caliber goalie who you foolishly signed to a gastronomical 15 year contract only to realize that Dipietro may never play a full season due to chronic healthy issues. You also just went out and signed two number one goaltenders and have a solid number three as well.

There is no confirmed source of this but DiPietro may be ready to call it quits, just 2 years into his contract and 7 into his career.

Keep in mind about what his injury is. You can always have corrective surgery on the hip or the groin and almost any upper body injury. With rehab you can almost return to top form, but the knees are one body part that once they become injured, they are never the same. We have all been waiting for the shocking story of the summer. Well folks, this may soon be it.

Are The New York Rangers Looking To Sign Chris Chelios?

Greg Caggiano — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:16:12 -0400

This has been a very boring off-season to say the least. No big trades, no big news; people clamoring over every single bit of information they can get their hands on no matter what the source or how big it is.

This latest information may send you into bewilderment but it's worth reading about. 47-year-old defenseman Chris Chelios may be interested in signing with the New York Rangers.

No, this is not a joke; not a pun on the Rangers operating a retirement home where former stars can play their final years and then ride off into the sunset.

This is true.

In an article from Arizona Central, an interview was conducted with Jeremy Roenick who may be soon announcing his retirement. Later in the story, Roenick went on to talk about his good friend Chelios and had this to say regarding next season:

"Chelly wants to play until he's 50. Chelly wants to play in New York, for the Rangers and Glen Sather. And I'll tell you this: No person had a bigger effect on my career."

Is Jeremy Roenick telling the truth here?

We won't know for sure but what is certain is that Chelios' tenure in Detroit is over and there are not many teams that would be willing to take on the 47-year-old veteran of 1,645 NHL games.

If Chelios would take league minimum salary, he could be the epitome of a seventh defenseman. He would be playing 30-40 games while mentoring the large crop of youth that the Rangers have on defense that will be coming up though training camp that includes Michael Del Zotto, Matt Gilroy, Mike McDonaugh and Bobby Sanguinetti.

At first glance the move doesn't seem like it makes much sense, but for the right price, it couldn't hurt.

San Francisco Giants: Support Your Local Starting Pitcher

Greg Caggiano — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:28:08 -0400

The San Francisco Giants are in the midst of a magical run in the 2009 season. Picked to finish in the middle of the National League West, this was written off as a rebuilding year before the season even began.

Now, 91 games into the season the Giants sit in second place in the division, and an almost miraculous first place in the wild card.

The pitching has been world class as the Giants lead the majors in both E.R.A (3.46) and strikeouts (723). The top two starters, Lincecum and Cain, are both early candidates for the CY Young award, and have combined for an unthinkable 21-4 record.

The hitting however has been a different story.

The Giant's are near the bottom of the majors in pretty much every major category, but this article isn't about that; it's about the one pitcher on this Giants team that has benefited from a league worst run support, the Giants' number four starter, Barry Zito.

People love to bash the former ace every chance they get, starting mainly with his contract.

No one can argue that it is not terrible, but Zito is finally pitching well enough to earn that money, even though it took him until his third season with the team.

Zito is currently on pace to have more wins, more strikeouts, and a better ERA then in either of his first two seasons on the Giants. He might have already eclipsed that though, if his run support wasn't so low.

In 19 appearances this season the Giants have mustered up a total of 32 runs; that's not even two runs a game for him. How is any pitcher expected to thrive on that?

People will argue that is ERA is a little high, even though in a respectable range, and if he pitched even better, he would be more successful.

Well why don't we do a little math. The Giants offense scores an average of 1.68 runs per game in support of Zito.

For argument's sake, that means he would basically have to have an ERA of 1.67 in order to have a record over .500.

Look around the majors. Look at the Lincecum's, the Halladay's, the Beckett's, and Santana's. Do any of them have an ERA even remotely close to the number needed to win on this run support? Absolutely not.

Zito may have a 5-10 record with an ERA of 4.89, but he is pitching like his old self. His fastball is reaching the upper eighties; on the cusp of hitting ninety. His curveball is still 12-to-6 and his slider is darting.

But in the end, when you look at the stat sheet, there isn't a category for run support, and it's just too damn bad.

New York Rangers Need To Add Affordable Snarl to Blueline

Greg Caggiano — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:22:54 -0400

As the New York Rangers put the finishing touches on next season's roster, it is clear that there are a few holes in the line up. First, they are missing a true No. 1 center, but as I have written in previous articles, I believe a trade for one will be happening shortly.

Next they are missing a defenseman to serve as a puck mover and a power play specialist; not someone easily acquired but not the hardest trade to make. The final missing piece is a hard-nosed, checking defenseman.

Out of all those holes, there is only one that can be filled with a player who will make under a million dollars; and that is the hard-hitting defenseman.

When was the last time the Rangers had that intimidating player on the blue line?

The player that instilled fear in opponents as they entered the zone and crashed toward the net. The player that made you have to be aware of your surroundings because if you weren't, he would nail you.

It's been far too long; years actually. Since Jeff Beukeboom retired in 1999, the Rangers have never had that player. You can count Darius Kasparaitis, but he was slowed down by age as was a shell of his former self. I guess the only true hard-hitting defenseman this team has had since the lockout was Erik Reitz from last season.

How sad is that?

It is time that the Rangers added that force to their defensive corps that is stock-piled with youth and offense, but heavily lacks any physicality.

The answer to that problem is Kyle McLaren.

Known as one of the hardest hitting defensemen in the league, McLaren was so badly out of shape last season that he ended up spending it in the San Jose Shark's AHL affiliate before being traded to Philadelphia. After the trade, he failed a physical. So why on earth should the Rangers want him?

McLaren, after failing a physical, will be motivated to get himself back in shape so he can be NHL caliber again. At only 32 years of age, his career in professional hockey is far from over and Glen Sather is never shy about giving players second chances.

He can still lay the big checks and he can still fight with the best of enforcers which makes him the perfect candidate to be the Rangers' seventh defenseman this season. With over 700 games of NHL experience, and 70 games in the playoffs, he would be the perfect player to take that job of playing 30-40 games.

The Rangers do have plenty of young defensemen who fans will want to be the seventh defenseman, but I wouldn't want a player like Corey Potter or Michael Sauer sitting for half a season when they could be playing full-time and continuing their development in Hartford.

The Rangers should seriously think about sending him a training camp invite. People will love to write him off as a has-been, but what is the harm in giving him a try out?

If he comes to camp and is horrific, then he gets cut and doesn't get paid a dime since it was only an invite to begin with. But if he plays like his former self and brings the much needed snarl to the blue line, then he can get a contract of around the league minimum.

After all, the answer can never be yes if you don't ask the question.

New York Rangers Interested in Anton Babchuk; Possible Shanahan Return?

Greg Caggiano — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:06:11 -0400

The New York Rangers are on the cusp of putting together a complete lineup. Once Brandon Dubinsky is signed it would be very easy to call it a day, and plan ahead for the start of a new season.

But let me be the first to tell you that Glen Sather is far from calling it quits this offseason when it comes to adding more new faces. When looking at this current roster you can make the assumption that they will be better then last season, but that doesn't say very much.

The Rangers are still missing two key pieces: a slapshot from the point and a veteran presence in the locker room.

Seems like a tall order to process. How can this team with limited cap space pull of two very key moves to solidify themselves?

The first part of the answer is Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Anton Babchuk, who has one of the hardest slapshots in the entire league.

Babchuk who is a defenseman, scored 16 goals last season of which nine were on the power play. He is currently a restricted free agent who is asking for $1 million more then what Carolina is willing to pay him.

In an interview with Canes Country, Babchuk told a reporter, "I've heard from my agent that seven or eight teams were interested, including the Rangers and Vancouver. I am optimistic with my future."

If the Rangers could somehow deal Michal Rozsival to Carolina then not only does that save an upwards of $2 million but it also opens the door to another signing. Rozsival who is no slouch himself could pair very well with current Hurricanes' power play specialist Joe Corvo, thus giving both teams a great deal.

Now for that other signing, and the absence of a veteran in the locker room. The Rangers parted ways last season with Brendan Shanahan after two very successful season on Broadway; but it wasn't easy.

The two parties waited and waited and Shanahan stayed patient because he was sure that Glen Sather was going to make him an offer, but none came and he ended up joining the New Jersey Devils midway through the season.

His voice in the locker room was missed last season and the team was clearly befuddled when they were locked in high pressure situations. A few weeks ago it was rumored that Shanahan had drawn interest from the Philadelphia Flyers, but it now seems talks have fizzled out.

CSN Philadelphia reported today that "a source close to the negotiations has told CSN’s John Boruk that Shanahan has decided not to sign with the Flyers, choosing instead to join either the Devils or Rangers."

Obviously John Tortorella's style of play is not suited for Shanahan as it is up tempo and nothing compared to how he played under Tom Renney or even Brent Sutter for that matter.

But Shanahan will be signing with this team knowing he doesn't have to be the super star because he will not be counted on to bring the offense. A one-year deal of a million dollars would be a more then fair offer, and enticing one at that.

I expect that we will see more news of this in the next few days. It sure will be interesting to see what Sather has up his sleeve, because he certainly isn't done this summer.

Rangers Rob Coyotes In Deal That Sends Korpikoski Packing

Greg Caggiano — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:02:31 -0400

Glen Sather is a magician at trades, and perhaps if he was as good at free agent signings as he is at swapping players, the Rangers might not have been put in the predicament they were in last season.

Last year's team was one of the more unlikeable ones ever assembled in the last decade, and because of that, it has quickly been dismantled. Thirteen players that wore Broadway Blue last season are now playing for different teams, the most recent departure being Lauri Korpikoski.

Yesterday evening, the Rangers acquired right wing Enver Lisin from Phoenix, in exchange for the above mentioned Korpikoski. Not a real blockbuster but it is a significant acquisition nonetheless.

Lisin, a 22-year-old native of Moscow, will provide plenty for the Rangers, even offering more skill then the player they sent packing for him.

In only forty eight games last season he managed to score 13 goals, while Korpikoski scored only six, while playing exactly twenty more games then Lisin. He never showed any raw offensive potential, even though it was his rookie season.

Never a goal scorer throughout his junior career, Korpikoski was the last remaining player acquired in the 2004 Brian Leetch trade (as a 2nd round draft pick).

Lisin, however, is the exact type of player that John Tortorella wants; someone that tries hard and has skills to match the wheels, because Lisin has sure shown his speed through seventy eight total NHL games.

The Rangers, if they do not make any more trades, may even find themselves placing Lisin on the top line to skate on Brandon Dubinsky's wing, with Marian Gaborik of course skating on the other.

New York Rangers: My Advice to Glen Sather, "Get Souray"

Greg Caggiano — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:18:16 -0400

The New York Rangers are in desperate need of a power play quarterback.

Rumors have heated up that a trade is on the horizon involving a Western Conference team.

The Rangers' beat writer Steve Zipay seems to think that the possible teams involved are either the San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, or Edmonton Oilers.

If this is true, I can only say one thing, "Get Souray".

It's a very simple two words that I have said, but it could mean a lot for the Rangers if they were to somehow pry Sheldon Souray out of Edmonton. It would be difficult, and GM Glen Sather would have to get crafty, but given his success in making trades, I have all the trust in the world that he could get this done.

In fact, Souray would have been a Ranger in 2007, had they not already signed Chris Drury and Scott Gomez. There was no more money left and Souray waited for weeks before realizing that they would be unable to sign him, so he went to Edmonton where he now makes $5.4 million a season for the next three years.

But there is a rumor out there, from Hockeybuzz, so take it with a grain of salt, that the Oilers are interested in the Rangers' unsigned restricted free agent Nikolai Zherdev.

Tom Renney is also the associate coach in Edmonton now and as coach of the Rangers at the start of the 2008-09 season, he was one of the main reasons why Michal Rozsival was signed to a four year contract, even after the departure of Jaromir Jagr.

So my suggestion on how to acquire Souray is as follows: simply trade Rozsival and Zherdev (maybe even throw in a mid level draft pick if necessary) to acquire Souray.

He will not only help the Rangers from a power play standpoint, but from a physical one as well.

The Rangers also lack a hard hitting defenseman, so by acquiring Souray they will essentially be killing two birds with one stone. He also has an amazing personality and would be the perfect fit for a city like New York. Oh and he also can throw down when needed.

So Mr. Sather, I ask that you give it a shot. This is not some far-fetched idea that has no chance of coming to fruition; it's not as crazy as it sounds. If there is one GM in the league that could pull it off, it's you Sather.

So, go get Souray!

In my spare time this morning I have created a web page simply called Get Sheldon. Please visit it as it will only take a few seconds of your time, and sign the guest book to show your support, whether you are a Rangers fan or just a die hard hockey fan in general.

New York Rangers Are the "Center" of Attention

Greg Caggiano — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:48:25 -0400

With the Anaheim Ducks signing Saku Koivu this afternoon, the New York Rangers are fresh out of options when it comes to free agent centers.

After making a three-year offer to Koivu, while being in competition with the Devils and Wild, the Rangers are no longer pursuing any free agent centers.

As I said on June 10, the Rangers need to fix their situation through trades and not free agency and now they must do so by default. That is, unless they decide to just roll with what they have, but the chances of that happening aren't as great.

For weeks it has been known that the Rangers are trying to work out a deal with the Dallas Stars in order to bring Brad Richards to Broadway. Not only that, but they are apparently trying to pry Patrick Marleau from San Jose as well, especially since their GM Doug Wilson said he would be available this offseason.

As exciting as this all is, the creator of Ranger Nation doesn't seem to think that any of it will come to fruition:

"Very interesting, but I do not see this happening," Jonathon Ragus told me in a brief interview this evening.

"Who exactly would the Rangers trade for either of these players that the Sharks or Stars would even want on their team? I see them signing Alex Tanguay over these two."

Not an all too optimistic outlook, but a signing of Alex Tanguay would be welcomed given his excellent passing ability and his chemistry with captain Chris Drury.

The longer he sits on the open market, the cheaper he will come. It was expected he would be looking in the $5 million range, but now that it has been more than a week, he may be only getting between $3.5 and $4 million—a very affordable rate.

If that is the case, then the Rangers must definitely try to get him under contract, and if worst comes to worst, give him a try with Gaborik, who never really has had a good play-maker for his entire career.

There will be more information available in the coming days and I think we can expect to see some more moves very shortly.

Chris Higgins Signs with New York Rangers, Bar Is Set For Callahan and Dubinsky

Greg Caggiano — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:29:23 -0400

Through all the signings and speculation as to what the Rangers will do this offseason, one thing has remained constant; and that is the status of the team's restricted free agents.

Today, the first of those three RFA's, Chris Higgins, was signed by Glen Sather. Higgins was acquired in a June 30 trade that sent Scott Gomez packing to Montreal. He received a one year, $2.25 million deal.

Many people are wondering what kind of deal the other two homegrown restricted free agent Rangers, Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky, will get.

Both are deserving of a raise but not a flagrant one. Callahan has taken the Rangers to arbitration but Brandon Dubinsky cannot because of limitations in the league's collective bargaining agreement.

My personal suggestion was that they each should get close to a $2 million salary this coming season, and Higgins' signing has set the bar for that as there is now no way they can hope to get higher then what the four-time 20 goal scorer received this afternoon.

It is rumored that a deal will be worked out with Callahan before the arbitrator has a chance to hear his case and that he will be getting a deal similar to counterpart Brandon Dubinsky.

It is a tad bit surprising that deals have not been worked out but the two players know they are wanted by the franchise and should not be worrying.

Finally, Nikolai Zherdev is also taking the Rangers to arbitration in hopes of being rewarded with a salary higher then the $3.25 million he earned last season. It is thought that if he is deemed to get a higher pay check that the Rangers will walk away from him and not sign him; that is a decision that I hope they will make very soon.

New York Rangers to Pursue a Number One Center

Greg Caggiano — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:11:07 -0400

For the last two seasons, the New York Rangers lacked one thing more than anything; a top notch, scoring winger. But now with the recent acquisition of Marian Gaborik and departure of Scott Gomez, the scenario has reversed itself as it is now a center the Rangers need.

The captain Chris Drury is better suited as a second line center, something he has been most of his career and it is a sure thing he will be playing alongside, fellow Metropolitan area winger, Chris Higgins this coming season.

Brandon Dubinsky, who saw plenty of time as the team's number one center two years ago when he was playing with Jaromir Jagr, is the leading candidate to fill in the spot next to Marian Gaborik this coming season; but that should not stop the Rangers from going after a true number one center.

Two names keep popping up for the job and they are Brad Richards and Saku Koivu. A third player by the name of Mats Sundin also came up every now and then by hopefully, unlike last season, the saga has ended, at least with the Rangers' involvement that is.

But as for the two players the Rangers are looking at, one is a free agent and the other plays for the Dallas Stars. Both make perfect sense but only one can be acquired, and one comes for a cheaper price.

Let's start off with the most reasonable of the two, Saku Koivu. The former captain of the Montreal Canadiens, has seen himself come out on top of every battle, including one with cancer that caused him to miss almost the entire 2001/2002 season.

Known as one of the better leaders in the game, Koivu has quietly put up no less then fifty points in each of the last seven seasons following his battle with cancer; with 75 points in 2006/07 being his career high.

It is assumed that he will be able to mesh with the Rangers new superstar, scoring winger Gaborik.

Koivu made $4.75 million last season and will most likely see a slight cut in salary. He has been offered a three year deal by both the Rangers and Devils in the past week and has yet to reach a decision. The Rangers may have to offer the 35 year old Finnish winger a fourth year if they want his signature, and also to lessen the cap hit.

Now comes the other player the Rangers are targeting, and that is the former Stanley Cup Champion center with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Brad Richards.

The 29 year old playmaker has remained friends with the Rangers head coach and that is the main reason for the team's interest. He also happens to be best friends with Sean Avery, dating back to his short stint with Dallas last season.

Richards, who missed almost thirty games last season due to injury, still managed to put up 48 points in 56 games and has two years remaining on his contract, that will pay him $7.8 million in each season.

Dallas is rumored to be after Wade Redden or Michal Rozsival, so one of them will be heading south if a trade takes place; from the Rangers standpoint, preferably Redden. But the Rangers cannot just swap bad contract for bad contract; they will have to sweeten the pot just a little bit, even though Dallas owes Sather for taking Avery off their hands after last seasons fiasco.

The Rangers would have to add either Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan or Artem Anisimov to the deal and perhaps that is the reason why a trade has not happened yet.

Both Dubinsky and Callahan are restricted free agents that the Rangers have yet to sign but Sather has noted that they have been "protected". If the Rangers can send Anisimov, you would have to call the trade a win.

The ideal first line would have Dubinsky and Gaborik on the wings with Richards as the center. They would need size and toughness to protect Gaborik and they get that with Dubinsky. Richards also becomes the first true center that the Rangers' newest acquisition has ever had, and to think of the potential this line has is enough to make any Ranger fan happy.

Greg Caggiano is a writer on Bleacher Report covering the New York Rangers. He has a New York area sports teams blog called Metro-Sports.

New York Rangers Trade Scott Gomez To Montreal; Heatley Acquisition Imminent?

Greg Caggiano — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:27:58 -0400

In just a matter of moments, the New York Rangers went from salary cap hell through purgatory to end up in heaven. A report from RDS confirmed that the Rangers have sent center Scott Gomez to the Montreal Canadiens for winger Chris Higgins.

This move comes as a bit of a shock to me personally as I thought his contract would be unmovable. The Rangers are now almost sure to land Dany Heatley because of this move and may swap Higgins out to get him.

I am now also hearing whispers of a move to get Vinny Lecavalier from Tampa Bay, which now makes more sense since the franchise now has the cap room.

Also, in order to get Heatley, Rozsival will be moved. Imagine, two of the worst contracts in the NHL being dealt on the same day. For Ranger fans, this will be one of the happiest days in recent memory.

I am happy that I stuck by Glen Sather and I have said in the past he is a magician at trades and this shows he is a genius. If he can only land a superstar later tonight or tomorrow, it will be confirmed.

Please excuse the briefness of this article, but not all the information is known yet. The Rangers it seems have also acquired Doug Janik in the deal and have dealt Michael Busto along with Tom Pyatt as well. We won't know all the details until later tonight when you can expect my full report.

Greg's 2009 NHL Free Agent Predictions

Greg Caggiano — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:30:26 -0400

In a 90-minute marathon on an episode of "NHL Tonight" yesterday, Joe Alianello and I randomly picked some of the bigger free agent names out there and gave our predictions as to where they would end up (Read Joe's Predictions here).

We also went over a possible trade scenario for the Rangers and who will be the next head coach of the New Jersey Devils. All of that can be found under our predictions below.

Here are some of my predictions for free agent pickups (current team in parentheses):

1. Mike Cammalleri (CGY): Calgary Flames
2. Steve Sullivan (NSH): Nashville Predators
3. Alex Tanguay (MTL): New York Rangers
4. Brian Gionta (NJD): New York Rangers
5. Marian Gaborik (MIN): Los Angeles Kings
6. Nik Antropov (NYR): New York Rangers
7. Marian Hossa (DET): Edmonton Oilers
8. Martin Havlat (CHI): Chicago Blackhawks
9. Bill Guerin (PIT): Pittsburgh Penguins
10. John Madden (NJD): Minnesota Wild
11. Maxim Afinogenov (BUF): Leaves NHL
12. Colton Orr (NYR): Florida Panthers
13. Alex Kovalev (MTL): Montreal Canadiens
14. Saku Koivu (MTL): Minnesota Wild
15. Jay Bouwmeester (CGY): Calgary Flames
16. Mattias Ohlund (VAN): New York Islanders
17. Nikolai Khabibulin (CHI): Leaves NHL
18. Daniel Sedin (VAN): Vancouver Canucks
19. Henrik Sedin (VAN): Vancouver Canucks
20. Manny Fernandez (BOS): St. Louis Blues
21. Martin Biron (PHI): Colorado Avalanche
22. Manny Legace (STL): Atlanta Thrashers
23. Craig Anderson (FLA): New York Islanders
24. Martin Gerber (TOR): Leaves NHL
25. Mike Komisarek (MTL): New York Islanders Islanders
26. Matthieu Schneider (MTL): Los Angeles Kings
27. Jaroslav Spacek (BUF): Buffalo Sabres
28. Derek Morris (NYR): Phoenix Coyotes
29. Paul Mara (NYR): Boston Bruins
30. Dmitri Kalinin (PHO): Leaves NHL
31. Ruslan Fedetenko (PIT): Pittsburgh Penguins
32. Eric Cole (CAR): Carolina Hurricanes
33. Mikael Samuelsson (DET): Florida Panthers
34. Todd Bertuzzi (CGY): Calgary Flames
35. Mike Knuble (PHI): Philadelphia Flyers
36. Ales Kotalik (EDM): Edmonton Oilers
37. Mats Sundin (VAN): Retires
38. Robert Lang (MTL): Leaves NHL
39. Mike Comrie (OTT): Ottawa Senators
40. Scott Clemmensen (NJD): Coloado Avalanche

Now for the trade scenario Joe and I talked about last night.

The Rangers will be actively trying to move one of the "Fab Four" contracts that are handicapping this team. In all likelihood, Scott Gomez and Chris Drury cannot be moved and Michal Rozsival is not doing as much damage to the cap as people think.

That leaves Wade Redden.

Despite the rumor going around saying that the Rangers may want to send him to their AHL affiliate in Hartford before the season starts, that may not be possible. At 31 years of age and five years remaining on his contract, that transaction could likely spell the end of his NHL career, something that the Players' Association would never allow.

So how do the Rangers move Redden's contract?

A complete and total salary dump without making it look like Sather has made a mistake? The answer is trading him to the Dallas Stars.

Last season when Redden hit free agency, the Stars were actively pursuing him before losing out to the Rangers. They struggled last season mainly because of their lack of an offensive defenseman as Sergei Zubov was injured and Phillipe Boucher was traded. They also have over $16 million in cap space and can afford it.

The Rangers could send Redden to Dallas along with either Brandon Dubinsky or Ryan Callahan for defenseman Stephane Robidas, whose cap hit is only $1.5 million. The Rangers would save an upwards of $6 million in the deal and it becomes the salary dump they need, but since they acquire an all-star from last season in Robidas, it doesn't appear that Sather is admitting to a mistake. Dallas may also want to do Sather a favor since he took Sean Avery off their hands last season.

Moving on to the Devils' coaching situation, not only do Joe and I agree but so does Don La Greca and Brian Monzo as well, that Jacques Lemaire should be their next head coach. When looking at New Jersey's roster you will notice that other then Parise and Elias, this team will be losing a lot of their scoring to free agency this off-season.

Look at the defensive corps as well, which is pretty much as no-name as you can get. This Devils' team is perfect for a trap defense, which can be effective with no matter who your players are.

There really aren't many head coaching vacancies and we would expect that the Devils will announce their new head coach within the next two weeks, depending on what free agents they sign or what trades they make. It may also be safe to say that Mike Keenan will be out of a job this season.

Rangers Free Agency: Sather To Antropov: "Snowball's Chance In Hell"

Greg Caggiano — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:49:53 -0400

Putting aside the dilemma of whether to re-sign a slew of their lower-tier free agents such as Blair Betts, Freddy Sjostrom, Paul Mara, and Derek Morris, the Rangers have been focused on what to do with the tandem of Russian scorers that will be hitting free agency this coming Wednesday.

The one restricted free agent of the pair, Nikolai Zherdev, has been made an offer of a one year deal worth $3.25 million, the same exact contract he had last season. Antropov, on the other hand, is looking for a multi-year deal in the range of four or more years for about $5 million a season, an absolutely ludicrous amount.

The Rangers must figure out which one to bring back, as it is not likely that both can be tendered a fair contract that is deemed acceptable. Zherdev was one of the more frustrating Rangers last season; showing flashes of brilliance through certain stretches of the season before disappearing completely later in the year and in the playoffs.

Antropov, though, was acquired by the Rangers in a deadline deal for a second-round pick and provided just what the team needed; size and a scoring touch and added 7 goals and 6 assists in 18 games. For a player who has never scored more then 26 goals in a season, the fact that he is asking for that much money is an insult.

The general manager of the New York Rangers, Glen Sather, who very rarely makes public statements told the Post, "Based on the first volley from agent Mark Gandler, there is a slim chance of Antropov returning." and later, "There's a snowball's chance in hell that's going to happen. It's ridiculous. I hate to criticize an agent, but let's have a little bit of reality here."

So, now, it looks like the better player of the two will not be brought back unless he lowers his asking price. It's hard to believe that any team would pay him that, so expect to see him on the market for a while until his price comes down.

Restricted free agent Zherdev, as mentioned earlier, has been made a qualifying offer of $3.25 million, but Sather has yet to even speak with his agent yet, "I don't know whether he is going to accept it, though; I can't get an answer from his agent."

The Rangers are also having to deal with resigning two more restricted free agents, the homegrown Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan. It is rumored that they will be getting at or slightly under the $2 million range and that both contracts will be similar. The team has kept conversations very hush of late so it's likely that we won't know the exact situation until a couple of days from now.

New York Rangers' Draft a Success and Other News

Greg Caggiano — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:47:48 -0400

As day two of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft continues on, currently beginning the fourth round and airing on the NHL Network, the Rangers can sit back and call this weekend an early success.

Although everyone was expecting the blockbuster trade from the Rangers, in acquiring Dany Heatley of Ottawa, Glen Sather sat tight and did not make any moves. It is rumored that Bryan Murray wanted both Marc Staal and Brandon Dubinsky in exchange for their superstar winger—a price that was too high for the Rangers.

But now for what the draft was all about, the actual selection of players. The Rangers sat holding the 19th overall pick and had even tried to trade up multiple times in order to select the player they ended up getting anyway, Chris Kreider.

Although Jordan Schroeder, who was picked by some analysts to go in the top 10, was still available, the Rangers went with their collective gut instincts and picked someone who brings size and speed, two things more important to John Tortorella's style of play then anything else.

Many Rangers fans became up in arms after they would pass on Schroeder but at only 5'9" and a 190 pounds, he doesn't seem like the type of player that would suit this franchise; "another midget" as one fan remarked.

After doing nothing but complaining about the team's lack of size over the last few seasons, fans should be happy with this pick.

Kreider, who stands at a towering 6'2" and well over 200 pounds, is still only 18 years of age and has plenty of time to grow and mature and harness even more strength.

People may be wondering if that size will affect his skating, but think again; Kreider was the No. 1 ranked skater in the entire draft with his speed grade given by scouts being about a 9.5 out of a possible 10.

It may be a few seasons before we actually get to see Kreider in Ranger Blue, but it may all be worth it as it is very rare that a player of his size has the wheels to match it.

In other news, Glen Sather is still actively pursuing Dany Heatley of Ottawa, even though Murray's asking price is way too high. Heatley is not only due to earn $10 million this season (with only seven counting against the cap), but another $4 million in bonuses as well.

He has expressed a desire to leave, and Murray has expressed a desire to not want to pay him. To think that he will remain a Senator much longer is ludicrous.

Come July 1, Heatley's bonus must be paid by the Senators unless he is traded. I have to think that when Murray sits down to sign that check his asking price will come down. Hats off to Glen Sather for not budging and not trading away Marc Staal because as good as Heatley is, it is not worth the cost of young defense.

New York Rangers Closing In On Dany Heatley?

Greg Caggiano — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:26:12 -0400

Less than two weeks ago it was reported and confirmed that superstar winger Dany Heatley had requested a trade out of Ottawa. Newspapers and blogs alike were soon buzzing, trying to guess where he would end up.

Beat reporter for the New York Rangers at the Post, Larry Brooks, suggested that the Rangers would be pursuing him, or at least they should, and suggested an offer of Michal Rozsival, restricted free agent Nikolai Zherdev (after making him a qualifying offer; sources suggesting around $3.25 million) and perhaps Bobby Sanguinetti and/or a draft pick.

We don't know if that would be the exact deal but now it has been confirmed that the Rangers are going after Heatley and are one of seven teams including the Kings, Sharks, Red Wings, Blackhawks, Canucks and Bruins that have contacted his agents J.P. Barry and Stacey McAlpine.

The above information came from the Toronto Sun while new information is just starting to come in from Sportsnet Canada. Senators General Manager Bryan Murray alluded to the fact that there was one team out there that was closer then the others in terms of the deal they offered.

Heatley is the owner of a no-trade clause, which is the reason why there had to be teams submitted. Before he can be dealt he must approve of the destination.

If the Rangers are going to acquire him, however, there must be a little more to it than simply Michal Rozsival and Nikolai Zherdev; both of whom who are good but no where near the caliber of Heatley, who is second in goal scoring amongst all players since the lockout in the NHL.

For the Rangers to make this work and fit under the cap, perhaps Scott Gomez needs to be dealt in place of Rozsival. Either that or Naslund's retiring really helped this team more then originally thought.

There was also a suggestion that the Rangers would send Heatley, Callahan, Girardi, and a first-round pick Ottawa's way in exchange for not only Heatley but someone else; but that remains to be seen. Perhaps defensive stalwart and shock blocking specialist Anton Volchenkov could be thrown in the deal.

If there is one thing we know about Glen Sather is that he is a master at trades, albeit his free agent signings have taken some of the shine off his luster. You can be sure that talks are heating up on the trade front and the next three days leading up until the draft on Friday are going to be more then just a little interesting.

Greg's Interview Series: Former Ranger Chris Kotsopoulos

Greg Caggiano — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:02:36 -0400

For this latest interview I had the chance to sit down with former NHL player Chris Kotsopoulos, a veteran of 479 games with the New York Rangers, Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.

Kotsopoulos was best known as a tough grinder and fighter who could also put the puck in the net when needed. He currently covers the sport on his own blog, Kotsy's Korner and makes the phrase "Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger" hold true. Below is our conversation.

GC: Do you have one memory that sticks out more then any other from during the one season you spent as a Ranger?

CK: The playoff run we had was amazing (1981). Madison Square Garden was electric and the fans were wild. We played the Kings, Blues and Islanders; three of the top four teams points wise. We beat the Kings and the Blues.....then we ran into the Islanders in the middle of their reign. Boy did that suck!

GC: Is there any chance that the Islanders will trade away the number one pick in the draft? Do you think the Leafs will move up to try and draft Tavares?

CK: Anything is possible with the Islanders. My guess is they will draft Hedman and try a duplicate the Dennis Potvin era. Brian Burke is now in charge of what is the Holy Grail franchise in Canada and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if the Leafs made a move.

GC: Do you see the Rangers trying to trade away at least one of the four major contracts currently handicapping the team and if so, how hard will it be?

CK: That's a difficult one. I believe they will try, but you have to have a taker. The money involved will have to match up cap wise for both teams.

GC: Would you expect to see the Rangers make a push for Marian Gaborik?

CK: Only if the money is right. Gaborik's a risk because of his inability to stay healthy, But for the right price.......?

GC: Finally, with the Olympics coming during this season, what is your opinion on the NHL sending players to participate, especially with the chances of injuries/fatigue?

CK: As a fan it's great to see NHL players in the Olympics. As a Gm, Owner and teammate it is a problem. You invest a lot of money in these players and the last thing you need as a Franchise is one of your key players going down because of the Olympics. That's a Tough call!

Spamming Running Rampant In The Bleacher Report Community

Greg Caggiano — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:46:27 -0400

For many of us, Bleacher Report has helped us to develop into the type of writer we are. This community serves a great purpose, and that is to help out the young, in-experienced writers such as myself become something much more; perhaps the writer that works for our favorite paper or the person that we idolize.

Those who love sports dream about getting involved with their favorite team in some way. Most of the time it is to become a player, but more often than not it is to become an analyst.

Imagine that, getting paid to cover your favorite team. It would be a dream come true for me, to get paid to talk about hockey. It is a long shot, of course, but this site is helping me inch closer. I am sorry that I left this place for a short while but since I have returned, I see a site that is on the rise.

The technology here is improving and Bleacher Report now looks much more streamline and professional. The writers also seem to have gotten smarter and the articles being pumped out are of top notch quality.

Fans are also commenting in more intelligent ways; no longer are they just typing, "You are stupid and have no idea what you're talking about", but they now present an argument to challenge the writer; something that will always be welcomed.

So that was an overly positive first couple of paragraphs, eh? That means it is unfortunately time for the bad news.

Now more then ever are people spamming on this site. Spam has come to be known as annoying advertisement of a personal website or link. You may think that you see none of that, but look again. If you are a veteran writer here just take a glance at your "bulletin board".

I just finished deleting eight of them and I tell you right now that I never read an article that has been linked on my board. I frequent the pages of Bleacher Report and will stumble upon your work on my own, there is no need to shove it in my face like a little kid.

Writers constantly placing links to their articles on other writer's boards. Usually a standard message copied and pasted to twenty or more different places.

This has now become increasingly annoying and making the site look unprofessional. "Hey, I wrote this really great article man! Please read it and tell me what you think..." is what I more than often see.

First of all, "great article" is an opinion, and how conceited of you is it to state how great you are. Perhaps your article really is "great" and deserving of some kudos or maybe even a pick of the day, but I will make that decision myself.

You may think you are harmlessly advertising your link, but the rules of Bleacher Report state that you may not write an article advertising a specific website. Shouldn't that cover bulletin board posts?

I have nothing against you wanting to promote your site or your article, but that is why we have bio pages on your profile; a place to leave information about yourself and a place to advertise. You may also want to include a signature at the bottom of each article, like you will see at the end of this.

Bleacher Report has been on the rise now more then ever, and bulletin boards are a great place for writers to communicate and share ideas. Please keep it that way.

New York Islanders Need To Draft Victor Hedman

Greg Caggiano — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:21:36 -0400

The New York Islanders are coming off their most disastrous season in franchise history; a year that saw them put up a sub-par offense and an even worse defense.

The goaltending situation is as bad as it could ever be. The fan base is also dwindling and general manager Garth Snow desperately needs to find a way to correct the situation.

In almost every single mock draft done by the top websites and analysts, Jonathan Tavares is the first overall pick, and rightly so since he clearly is the best all-around offensive player and someone who has the potential to be a super star.

Because of that, Garth Snow is under tremendous pressure, deciding between what he has to do and what he should do—a considerable difference.

The entire hockey world is expecting the Islanders to draft Tavares since he can single-handedly bring the franchise out of obscurity and back into the spotlight on the New York scene.

Fans at Nassau Coliseum were even heard chanting his name late last season at games. This team needs a big name and that is why Garth Snow has to draft him.

But let us take a look at the prospect that most analysts feel will be taken at number two; the Swedish born defenseman Victor Hedman. He has a powerful stride, superb vision, and excellent skills when it comes to moving the puck. He can also play defense, something that the offensive defenseman has become excused from doing in recent years.

The Islanders offense last season was pretty bad, but with budding young players such as Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey, they will develop into steady players. Add to that Trent Hunter and Doug Weight and all they need are a few more additions via free agency and the Islanders offense can shape itself up.

Now take a look at the defensive corps.

Mark Streit had an all-star caliber season and for a very affordable price, he is proving to be one of the best free agent signings of all of last season. Other then him, however, there is nothing to write home about.

Brendan Witt is a far cry from what he used to be; that nasty, hard hitting, no-nonsense defenseman is nothing more then a slow shell of his former self. He can provide leadership, but nothing else.

Tomas Pock has decent offensive potential but is a disaster defensively. The Islanders would be better off moving him to left wing, a position he played on the Rangers for a short time.

The rest of the names include Bruno Gervais, Jack Hillen, Radek Martinek, and the slowest skater of them all, Andy Sutton. Even if Rick Dipietro were to come back and in Vezina form, this defense in front of him would make it all moot.

Add Jonathan Tavares to this motley crew and the offense may improve, but the defense will still be the same. If the Islanders want to succeed in the Atlantic Division, and furthermore make the playoffs, they will have to solidify defense.

Free agents aren't likely to run to the team, so they will have to build themselves. They can do that with Victor Hedman. If you thought Mark Streit was something special last season, just wait until he has this incredible prospect on the blue line with him.

Hedman will not only help quarterback the power play, but will help to lift this franchise out of the dark ages in helping them get back to winning hockey.

New York Rangers Should Pursue Ian Laperriere

Greg Caggiano — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 15:53:06 -0400

Less then two days ago it was reported by TSN that Ian Laperriere of the Colorado Avalanche rejected their offer of a one year deal.

It has been said that the offer was less money than the contract he currently has, which is approximately $1.15 million. Because of this, Laperriere may be heading towards unrestricted free agency this July first.

With all the talk that the Rangers need to acquire a superstar, the team must also fill some holes amongst the bottom six forwards. With the strong possibilites that Freddy Sjostrom and Colton Orr will not return, the Rangers will need to acquire a role player who brings a certain set of skills to the table.

The perfect man for the job would be sixteen year veteran Ian Laperriere, who actually spent a quarter of the 1995-'96 season with the Rangers, before being traded to Los Angeles for Jarri Kurri.

In his short time on Broadway he became popular with the fans because of his hard work and grinding, but most of all because of his fighting. He may be too old to be an enforcer now, but he can still paw-off with some of the toughest fighters in the league, even at thirty five years old.

Not only can he fight, but he can score some goals as well. On a Rangers team that will be desperate for both offense and leadership, Laperriere brings a little bit of both.

He has averaged more then twenty points a season, which is a lot, considering his main role is to grind and stick up for his teammates.

He has also worn the alternate captain's "A" in both Los Angeles and Colorado, giving him a voice in the dressing room. If there was one thing questionable on the Rangers this past season, it was leadership.

He fits into John Tortorella's style of play, which employs big bodies that can crash the net. Although not the biggest player in size, he sure doesn't play that way.

He can always been seen going to the net and wreaking havoc. One can tell just by looking at his nose, which used to be straight.

Fans will be questioning this move since his age is not that of a spring chicken, but he can still skate and bring energy while bridging the gap for another season until a player like Evgeny Grachev or Dane Byers is ready to fill the void at the wing position.

Also, can you imagine a third line of Sean Avery, Brandon Dubinsky, and Ian Laperriere? The line would be damaging to the opponents from the size and hitting, and also be a threat to score some goals.

Of course, given the Rangers salary cap position, they will be hesitant to spend money on a winger that is not of superstar caliber, but this move will not break the bank. He was getting paid $1.15 million in Colorado and turned down an offer that was less then that.

It is reasonable to say that a fair contract offer would a one year deal for $1.2-1.5 million. That is an offer that he would accept, especially one that brings him back to a team that never should have parted with him.

What's Next for Marian Hossa After Ending Up on the Wrong Side of the Cup Again?

Greg Caggiano — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:47:28 -0400

You are a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins and your team just lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Detroit Red Wings.

All your life, you have dreamed of getting your name inscribed on one of the most valuable trophies in sports. You are also a free agent and when you sign your next contract, winning the Cup is all that is on your mind.

So the team that you came within two games of winning the Cup offers you a deal; a contract for eight years and an upwards of $56 million.

You play the waiting game, pondering all your options, but then decide to take a one-year deal of only $7 million to play for the team that just defeated yours.

You are now a member of the Red Wings, knowing your team has a great chance at winning the Cup, and you are right.

You have cruised all season long, enjoying great success and have now made it to the Finals for the second year in a row. But then your former team gets there as well.

That's right, the very same team that you ditched is the one you will be facing. No worries though, because you are a year older and a year wiser and will now for the first time in your life come through in the clutch; in the Finals, when your team needs you the most.

But then the nightmare of nightmares strikes and you find yourself not scoring a single goal in the finals and embarrassing yourself like you never thought possible.

The team you ran to has just lost, and you have now become a loser for two straight years on two different teams.

Sounds like a script out of Hollywood, doesn't it? Well, think again. For the Red Wings' Marian Hossa, he has felt heartache for two straight seasons now. His misery must be overwhelming.

Following last season's defeat of the Penguins, the entire hockey world expected Hossa to sign with Pittsburgh, with an eight-year deal reported to have been offered. He only played twelve regular season games but proved to be a major deadline acquisition on Ray Shero's part.

The team came so close to a Cup victory so it was almost a guarantee that Hossa would stay, especially after what Pittsburgh gave up in return.

But Hossa does not stay; he does the unthinkable and turns down all that money for one reason and one reason only, and that is to win the Stanley Cup.

I cannot even imagine what is going through his head right now, which leads me to ask, should he just retire from the NHL?

Obviously he won't, because there will be some team out there (if not the Red Wings) that will lock him up long term for an egregious amount of money.

For the first time in a while, a player wanted winning more than money. For the first time in a while, that choice has come up empty. When he first signed with Detroit, I thought, "Wow, there is finally a player not in this for the money."

How ethical a thought. But maybe, in this world it's better not to have ethics, but to just take the money, because you never know what the reward will be.

This picture here, perfectly captures the moment of the final buzzer sounding, and the Penguins jumping in celebration while Hossa skates away in disgust.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but if you are Marian Hossa right now, it may be worth a thousand tears.

But there are two sides to this; do we feel sorry for Hossa because he has now experienced shortcomings for two straight seasons in unbelievable circumstances?

Or do we laugh in his face for being a traitor to his team and jumping ship faster then passengers on the Titanic?

I will leave that up to you to decide. I was rooting hard for the Red Wings, but I will look at this particular situation impartially because I still don't know what think. Truly, this was one for the ages.

Photo credit to the graphic design genius; the enigmatic and egregious Phil Kocher. View the whole picture here.

New York Ranger Lineup I Would Like to See

Greg Caggiano — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:38:39 -0400

I try not to write many articles in the first person, but I think it is time to change it up a little bit. We all have our speculation and our wants for this coming season and with an overhaul almost guaranteed to take place, I figured I would list the Ranger lineup that I would like to see on opening night. The players' salaries are noted in the parentheses next to their names.

Line 1: Tanguay ($5 m)-Drury ($7 m)-Antropov ($3 m)
Line 2: Avery ($2 mil)-Marleau ($6.3 m)-Callahan ($2 m)
Line 3: Korpikoski ($1 m)-Anisimov ($.850)-Dubinsky ($2 m)
Line 4: Sjostrom ($.850)-Betts ($.900)-Orr ($.600)

Defense 1: Redden ($6.5 m)-Del Zotto ($.600 m)
Defense 2: Staal ($.765 m)-Girardi ($1.5 m)
Defense 3: Rozsival ($ 5 m)-Potter ($.535 m)

Goaltender 1: Lundqvist ($6.87 m)
Goaltender 2: Valiquette ($.725 m)

Transactions:
1. Scott Gomez traded to San Jose for Patrick Marleau
2. Alex Tanguay signed to a 2-year/$10-million deal
3. Nik Antropov re-signed to a 4-year/$12-million deal
4. Ryan Callahan re-signed to a 3-year/$6-million deal after restricted free agency
5. Brandon Dubinsky re-signed to a 3-year/$6-million deal after restricted free agency
6. Freddy Sjostrom re-signed to a 1-year/$.850 deal
7. Blair Betts re-signed to a 2-year/$1.8-million deal
8. Colton Orr re-signed to a 1-year/$.600 deal
9. Artem Anisimov, Michael Del Zotto, and Corey Potter recalled from Hartford

Total Cap Hit: $53.995 million

Rangers Must Look to Trades, Not Free Agency This Summer

Greg Caggiano — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:38:50 -0400

This coming offseason the New York Rangers will be looking at a massive overhaul. Their wants will be to get bigger, stronger, and faster, along with adding more of a scoring touch.

It has been suggested the answer to the Rangers' problems will be adding one of the two superstar wingers on the market in Marian Gaborik and Marian Hossa. Signing one of the aforementioned is possible, but not likely.

The Rangers' salary cap situation is still pretty bad, although not as terrible as people want to think it is. The recent retirement of Markus Naslund will do wonders for the Blueshirts this offseason.

I have also said in previous articles the Rangers should sign multiple lower-tier free agents instead of throwing the checkbook and giving a longer term deal to one superstar free agent. This is also very possible, but if you expect to see the Rangers bring in a high priced star, you can be sure that it will come by trade.

Expect the Rangers to make a push for Vincent Lecavalier, a player who excelled and came into his own under John Tortorella in Tampa Bay. To make the trade they would have to give up the coveted Marc Staal.

But he would not be the only player in the deal—to afford it, the Rangers would have to include one of their higher priced players, but which would Tampa Bay want, if any? From a Rangers' standpoint choosing between any in the "Fab Four" as they have been nicknamed by fans, is like deciding between shooting yourself in the right foot or the left. But maybe the Lightning see something in Michal Rozsival.

The next trade scenario involves the Los Angeles Kings. It recently came out that defense man Jack Johnson is unhappy with his situation and may be requesting a trade out. The Rangers should be looking to make a move for him, especially if they plan to deal Marc Staal.

Johnson could be had for, along with a draft pick, the Rangers first round pick, Bobby Sanguinetti, and the rights to restricted free agent Nikolai Zherdev. The Kings have also come out and said that they will be in the market for a center. How would Scott Gomez look in black and silver?

The next two players the Rangers will make a push for are Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley. San Jose's lack of playoff success makes them willing to part with Marleau. They would be wanting a center in return, someone who has playoff success and can come through in the clutch. Just throwing this out there but, Chris Drury's second choice before signing with the Rangers was San Jose.

Getting to Heatley, yesterday ESPN's E.J Hradek reported that Heatley wants out of Ottawa. His agent has now said he has no preference as to where he is dealt, but has a no trade clause in his contract so he would have to give the final say before any deal is completed. It is unlikely that Ottawa will deal him to a team in the Eastern Conference, but anything is possible. Technically speaking, the Rangers could afford Heatley by sending Brandon Dubinsky, Bobby Sanguinetti, and Dan Girardi. Not that those would be the exact players, but look for a deal along those lines if something does happen.

Now with every trade mentioned, the Rangers are giving up a young defense man. This notion will send fans into nightmarish flashbacks of the dark ages in the franchise's history where they traded youth for experience and ended up giving the team a seven year playoff drought. But the situation has changed—if the Rangers are blessed with one thing, it is defensive depth. If they decide to part with Sanguinetti, who has not yet played an NHL game, Michael Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy can fill the void.

The coming weeks heading into the draft and early July are sure to be very interesting and intriguing to say the least.

Coyotes To Relocate to Oklahoma City (Humor)

Greg Caggiano — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:45:23 -0400

After several attempts to buy and relocate the Phoenix Coyotes to South Ontario, Commissioner Gary Bettman has finally approved the sale of the franchise to Research in Motion CEO Jim Balsillie.

The team will be opening up the 2009-2010 season as the Oklahoma City Bombers.

"I am thrilled that the league has allowed my purchase," Balsillie told the Ottawa Sun. "Once certain parameters were reached, Bettman was more then happy with the relocation."

The new owners plan on designing a jersey and building an arena shortly, but when asked about what those certain parameters were, Balsillie told the press, "Mr. Bettman was concerned about moving the team to an area that actually cared about hockey. His concerns also spread to what kind of an arena the new team would be playing in and once we worked out the kinks and settled upon Oklahoma City, he was quite gleeful."

That said, an arena has not yet been built so the first season will be played on an outdoor rink. When asked if he was concerned about the weather, Balsillie said, "It is merely a dry heat that we have here, so I don't feel that there will be any problems, other then the occasional tumbleweed blowing across the ice."

Coyotes fans, however, are outraged over the sale and that they were not even given a chance to see a farewell game.

"We are pretty ticked," a distraught fan told The Sourc3 440 in Phoenix. "When the final buzzer sounded I never thought that would be the final inning of Coyotes hockey that I would ever see. And they won't even give us our money back."

Balsillie also had some comments regarding the Coyotes' fanbase.

"I don't feel sorry for them, not at all. Those people thought that the blue line was patriotic colored cocaine and that the red line was something you hung laundry from. Now, the people of Oklahoma City may have never seen the sport or even not know what a hockey puck is, but I wanted to own an NHL franchise and this was the only way possible. Mr. Bettman wholeheartedly agrees with the plan."

Immediately following the announcement of a purchase, an exhibition game was held at the new team's home, Kingsford BBQ Park, where fans got a chance to see the foreign sport.

I was sent down to investigate by the New York Minute to cover the event.

"Why are they playing around with drink coasters?" I was asked by a fan, only for it to be followed up with an exclamation of, "They have knives on their feet!"

Season ticket subscriptions are now on sale. You can call to order by phone or by going to the box office, located in a trailer in the parking lot.

Please watch out for roaming cattle.

Greg Caggiano is a writer here on Bleacher Report covering the New York Rangers. He has a New York area sports teams blog called Metro-Sports, where you can read great articles about all professional sports teams that play in the area by a dedicated team of young writers.