Bleacher Report - Articles by PJ Edelman

Page 3: New York isn't Detriot, Yet

PJ Edelman — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:25:27 -0400

I knew it was going to happen.

Sitting at my computer, listening to the Rangers-Red Wings game, I just knew it was coming. I felt it in my bones. With six minutes left in the game, and the Rangers staked to a 4-3 lead, I almost said out loud that I would be happy with an overtime point.

And I was right.

After Aaron Voros put up the Rangers 4-3 early in the third period after scoring his fourth and fifth goals, Detroit took the game back into their hands and tied it up on Jiri Hurdler's first goal of the season. They would score shortly after, only 23 seconds into OT, on Marian Hossa's' first of the season.

It was a tough loss for the Rangers, whose play in the third period definitely warrants a word more powerful than dominating. Osgood faced constant pressure, often turning away barrages of shots behind a shaky defense.

Yet despite their gritty play, I couldn't help but worry that the Wings would come back and serve up victory. And they did.

I was worried because the Wings are just too good. They have top-notch offense, brilliant defense, above average goaltending, a tireless and gritty style of play—and most importantly, a never-die attitude that is nearly palpable. I could hear the confidence oozing from the Detroit crowd through my computer.

I can only imagine the what the Wings' players were feeling. Probably very little—they've conquered greater adversity before.

Attitude is a large part of the Rangers' inability to pull out a win. I think that as a team, the Blueshirts are actually a confident team. But they lack the experience and winning attitude that comes with a Detroit sweater.

Against the best teams, late in a game, the Rangers may be thinking, we can hold on for a win. But if the Wings were up in a game, the general sentiments floating around the bench would be, let's put these guys away and add two more. It's just a difference of philosophy, an alternate mind-set that comes with getting deep into the playoffs frequently.

It isn't the Rangers' fault that they don't quite yet have this way of thinking. They haven't gotten deep enough into the playoffs to be rewarded with this type of mental toughness.

But as a fan, the lack of that "it-ness" can be frustrating. Very few teams can boast nerves as cold as the icy floor below their skates. But with that attitude, championships are won. And until the Rangers figure out a way to smuggle some of it out of Detroit, they will be at a disadvantage, just a few minutes short of potentially being the Stanley Cup team that they can be.

Page 3: I Miss My Teams

PJ Edelman — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:19:32 -0400

I'm home, and I'm on my bed. My blanket is green, my sheets are gray, and I'm facing my door. Outside, I can hear cars making their way down Delmar Loop, one of the great St. Louis streets and perhaps one of the best in the United States.

It has recently dropped about 20 degrees in the past three days, which, after getting used to this kind of weather for the last four years, is pretty normal.

Behind me, against the wall, lays my Rangers throw blanket under some khakis and a green button-down shirt. My Mets pillow is wedged between the wall and my bed, next to my other, real pillows.

I turned on the Rangers' live radio broadcast on my computer, but it's intermission, so I'm caught between periods, aimlessly trolling the Internet in hopes of some tidbit or sound bite that might pique my interest, even if just for a moment.

There is no new news on any N.Y. sports team of any consequence. I am alone in my St. Louis thoughts.

I've tried to embrace the sporting city around me. St. Louis itself is a fine city, with plenty to see downtown and a serious variety of people from every imaginable "walk of life" just two blocks south of my apartment.

The Cardinals are a decent team to watch, and having Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick on my fantasy team (I actually traded Ludwick and another OF for Pujols in the steal of the century) provided increased incentive to watch a few innings here and there.

But while I was watching the Cards, my beloved Mets were in New York, spiraling out of control and out of the playoff picture.

I was in St. Louis, helpless to prevent their fall.

The New York Giants were on TV last Monday, and, although their undefeated season and string of away wins were snapped, I couldn't be budged from the game. The loss was tough to digest, but I'd take the occasional rough loss in place of missing the game 10-12 times a season.

And I can't watch the Rams. They're just awful. There's talk, even in this St. Louis-friendly place, of demoting them to Division III.

And my Rangers; what is an out-of-college kid supposed to do? A game on Versus is a straight up blessing—which just is just a sickening thought, considering their coverage.

I can't really watch the Blues. They're OK, and John Davidson, their GM, was just classic as a Rangers' TV announcer. I try to attend four or five games a season (tickets are cheap). But I just can't get my fill.

What's a fan to do? I don't buy that a die-hard fan only qualifies as one who watches every game, regardless of the situation. Some of us just can't get to every game, or even most games.

But we want to love our teams. We need to have them in our lives.

I guess, no matter where I go—even if I end up living in St. Louis for the next five decades—my home will always be where my teams are.

Rangers' Redden, Zherdev, Naslund Give Critics the Proverbial Middle Finger

PJ Edelman — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:30:52 -0400

Reading New York Rangers predictions this past summer has been bittersweet.

On the plus side, Ranger hopefuls wrote in-depth analyses of the outlook for the Rangers' top new players, namely Nikolai Zherdev, Markus Naslund, and Wade Redden.

It was rare, however, to see a posted comment reflect this positive aura. Instead, critics lambasted Zherdev's moody ways, Naslund's reluctance to play tough in the middle, and Redden's rapidly declining skill.

If these three players had read the critiques on them this summer, I'm sure they would have a response ready.

Although it has only been four games, the Rangers' best players have come from this top crop. Zherdev and Naslund lead the Rangers with four points each, with Zherdev's plus-three rating leading the team. Redden has three points, tied for second most on the Rangers. He has two goals on three shots, and a plus-one rating.

Just about 1/20 of the season is gone, which is barely a drop in the bucket. But don't sell their effort short. Look for the "Big Three" to continue adding cups of ice if they keep up their strong play. Zherdev shows a knack for creativity and awareness, as well as some new-found hustle. Redden possesses a quiet leadership and experience. And Naslund exhibits his excellent vision, along with clean passing and smooth skating.

It's almost as if they heard all the negative commentary this preseason and decided to band together, putting their hands in the air and exclaiming that they were No. 1.

They just might be using a finger other than their index to illustrate the number.

Chris Drury As Captain: Will Destiny Stay on His Side?

PJ Edelman — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:23:52 -0400

Chris Drury of the New York Rangers has been a winner all of his life. Since the age of 13, Drury has followed a seemingly paved path to victory. Destiny has never seemed more pronounced than in the footsteps that Drury so carefully and quietly places behind him.

Some hockey fans know that Chirs won a Little League World Series, giving up 5 hits and driving in 2 to help his team to the trophy. This tale is often regaled by announcers or analysts that want to show knowledge of Drury's "clutch" abilities. A fact that is often overshadowed, however (at least I'd never known), is that earlier in that year, 1989, Chris helped his pee-wee hockey team to a first-place finish as well.

Chris later attended Fairfield College Prepatory School, and just happened to help guide the hockey to team to a championship as well. His superior play and leadership lead the school to retire his number (along with brother Ted) and hang it from the rafters.

If the story ended here, it would be happy one. Chris Drury would have gone down in the record books, relatively unnoticed, but definitely secure in his childhood greatness. Very few people had or will have the kind of winning success that Drury has had in the early years of his life.

But the tale doesn't end here. It continues. It is continuing, as I write this article.

In 1994 (a hallowed year for Ranger fans!) Chris Drury was selected with the 72nd overall pick in the draft by the Quebec Nordiques. Drury began getting into NHL form with the Boston University Terriers.

He kicked off his freshman year with, you guessed it, a national championship. Although the Terriers wouldn't win another one during his tenure, Drury would go on to win the Hobey Baker Award for best NCAA ice hockey players his senior year.

1998 saw Drury's entrance onto a Colorado Avalanche team that had enough fire power to rival the esteemed Red Wings. With help from Captain Joe Sakic, Drury garnered enough attention and points to win yet another award, the Calder, designated to the NHL best rookie. Drury finished the season with 44 points.

As the Avalanche continued to dominate, Drury continued to pour in big plays. In four postseasons with Colorado, Drury scored 11 game winning goals. He was later traded to Calgary, where he had a rough stint, but was then moved to Buffalo, where he once again stymied the hopes of other teams, this time setting his fated playoff killing goals on two New York teams.

After putting away the Islander with two game winning goals, he decimated the Rangers' hopes with a heart-attack inducing game winning goal with 7.7 seconds left in the game, and swung momentum in favor of the soon to be victorious Sabres. I, for one, will never forget that game.

Last season the Rangers realized that they might want to follow the old adage, and indeed got Drury to join them, rather than continue have him to beat them. He signed for just over $35 million over 5 years, along with newly acquired Scott Gomez.

After a nice 58 point season, and the departure of Rangers vets Jagr, Shanahan, and Straka, coach Tom Renney decided to name Drury captain of the 2008-2009 NY Rangers.

Drury has been the epitome of winning. He has succeeded in every single phase of his life, including a Stanley Cup in 2001.

And for some reason, I still cannot hop on the bandwagon.

I can appreciate Drury's quiet demeanor. He is rarely interviewed, and never finds himself in the news or even the tabloids. He can lead by example, and keeps an even keel, no matter the circumstances.

And for some reason, I miss the bandwagon.

I think it may be a lack of spark. Where is the fight that a captain should possess? Where is the passion that inspires others to claw back from a 3-0 deficit? Where are the physical drives to the net, warding off players with one hand and sticking with the other?

I guess, what I'm trying to ask is, Where is the Mark Messier in Drury? Is The Captain inside the captain?

This season, we find out how long destiny is willing to go.

Four Musts For The NY Mets This Offseason (No K-Rod, Please)

PJ Edelman — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 08:32:01 -0400

The Mets need to make a few moves in order to contend for the postseason next year. These are four major moves that will aid greatly in that endeavor:

1. Trade Daniel Murphy

I know—Mets fans are all high on the kid who can hit for average and demonstrates patience at the plate. Unfortunately, there is no room for a slow-footed, subpar fielding outfielder or second-baseman in the National League.

If the Mets trade him to the American League, he could thrive as a DH, and the Mets should get something decent in return. The kid had a .313 average and an on-base percentage near .400 in his rookie season. Those are solid numbers.

A potential trade could bring in a decent draft pick (which could be then used for leverage in another trade), or a solid utility player, which, with the slow but inevitable decline of Damion Easley, is a necessary move.

2. Wave goodbye to Pedro, Castillo, El Duque, and Alou

Two of these players will be thanked as they are let go by the organization. The other two (Luis Castillo and Orlando Hernandez) will be shoved out the door. Although losing Moises Alou and Pedro Martinez will be a somber experience, neither will be sorely missed.

Pedro has been hurt or ineffective during his tenure as a Mets pitcher, and Alou's body will not allow him to be more than a role player.

The Mets will presumably have to eat Castillo's contract, unless another team is willing to depart with some cash and baseball cards to add an aging second baseman whose greatest strength, defense, is now barely evident.

3. Sign a younger, defensive-minded second baseman

If Orlando Hudson comes over to the Mets, I will be pissed off. He has nice offensive skills, but is very injury prone, which is the last thing the Mets need from an everyday second baseman.

If they can find one, the Mets should find a lighter hitting, but above average fielder who has nice range. I'll take a .260 hitter who can cover the field between an older Carlos Delgado and second base. Nick Punto, or even Jamey Carroll could be signed for cheap, and both have above average fielding percentages. There aren't any dazzling second basemen in the free agent market this year, so signing a player to a two-year contract would be ideal.

4. Bullpen (like you didn't know)

If the Mets want to go after K-Rod, fine, but I wouldn't be too sure with a guy who had seven blown saves and a WHIP of 1.29.

I understand the guy just crushed the all time saves record, but check this stat out: Of the next 16 closers ranked by the number of saves, only three had a higher WHIP than Francisco Rodriguez.

WHIP can be a nice indicator of what I like to call the "Benitez" factor, which is essentially how worried you get when watching your closer in the final inning of the game. How many men does the closer put on base before getting the final out? How often do you watch the inning between your fingers? If it's too often, than that pitcher has a high Benitez factor.

Both Brian Fuentes and Kerry Wood, free agents this year, have significantly lower WHIP than K-Rod, and will cost much, much less. Even Dan Wheeler, who closed with 13 saves for the Rays and has closer stuff, had a WHIP of .99, about 30 points lower than K-Rod.

And with the extra cash not used on K-Rod, the Mets can go out and revamp their middle relief and spend money on an outfielder like Carl Crawford or Raul Ibanez, or a starting pitcher like AJ Burnett, Ryan Dempster, John Lackey, or Braden Looper...the list is lengthy.

Before you start calling for K-Rod and my head, let this information swirl around a bit...

OK, now you can call for my head.

Thank You, New York Mets

PJ Edelman — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:56:28 -0400

This is it, folks.

The Mets have been beaten by the pesky Florida Marlins to put them out of playoff contention (and their misery) for the second straight year.

Oliver Perez pitched very well for the Mets, yielding only two earned runs. Scott Olsen matched Perez's effort with his own two-run outing, giving up a two-run shot to Carlos Beltran in the bottom of the sixth. The Mets' pen came in, gave up two solo shots, and that was it.

Florida's Matt Lindstrom, a former bullpen prospect for the Mets, closed out the game, giving up only Damion Easley's walk and Ryan Church's deep fly-out.

It is unfair to use the bullpen as the scapegoat of the game, as the Mets only managed a few base hits and could only knock in two runs. Nevertheless, the bullpen continued to undermine the starters. There will be a major overhaul in the offseason.

But I really want to concentrate on the positives of this sad season.

Our Cy Young

Fans saw dominant performances from one of the best pitchers they will ever have on their roster in Johan Santana. Although many of his starts were marred by shoddy bullpen work, fans were treated to spectacular control, terrific athleticism, and clutch performances.

For that, Mets fans should thank Johan Santana for his grit, craftiness, and heart. He will be a major player for years to come.

Rookie Contributions

Daniel Murphy, Nick Evans, and, well, even Robinson Cancel came from nowhere, and they made the Mets a better team when there were no other options available.

They were thrown directly into a pennant race with no experience (unless you are Cancel, who, although technically not rookie, hadn't played in nearly a decade) and provided sparks for a spiraling Mets team.

Murphy showed especial patience at the plate and hammered out a .315 average, 17 RBI, and an OBP of an even .400. He played left field—away from his normal second base—because the Mets asked him to.

Nick Evans related to Murphy, as Evans himself is a natural first baseman. He platooned with his teammate Murphy in left field for a third of the season. Evans finished with a .262 average, has promise for major power, and, most notably, hit three doubles in his first four at bats as a Met.

The Wright Stuff and a Post-All-Star Break MVP

David Wright finished another dazzling year and will accumulate close to a .300 average. He also set new career highs with 33 home runs and 124 RBI, one short of Mike Piazza's team record.

Although Wright struggled a little down the stretch, he played consistent, hard-nosed ball all season and has proved he is one of the best third basemen in baseball. Many gritty years will follow Wright's bat.

Speaking of gritty, Carlos Delgado took apart everything he knew about baseball and ground his way back to his All-Star self.

Delgado had 14 home runs and 45 RBI and was hitting a paltry .228 going into July. He took a breath and slowly started exhaling thunder and lightning, putting together one of the best second halves of baseball the Mets have ever seen.

Delgado finished with an average near .270, 38 bombs, and 115 RBI. No one carried the team offensively more than Delgado after the All-Star break. Countless clutch hits, balls to the opposite field, and monster home runs highlighted a second half return for the D-man.

NL Comeback Player of the Year is in his sights, as well as a few MVP votes.

The Lone Light in a Place of Darkness

Although he did blow three saves this year, Joe Smith had an otherwise excellent season.

When failure was imminent as the seventh inning approached, the Mets could almost always count on Smith to postpone their misery for at least a few outs. Smith pitched in nearly 30 more games this year than last and gave up only three more hits.

He finished the season 6-3, with an ERA under 3.60.

A Leader and a Goodbye

Jose Reyes finished his year just shy of the .300 mark, with 16 HR, 68 RBI, 56 stolen bases, and 113 runs out of the leadoff spot. Although 2008 was not his best year, it was certainly an excellent one.

Reyes' performance reminded the Mets that their chances of competing usually depend on his success—and that he is willing to be that type of player come 2009, in Citi Field.

Ah, Citi Field. You have big shoes to fill. We know that your predecessor has only two World Series championships to its name, but it has contained the extremes of utter ecstasy and pure agony for 48 years.

Citi Field, you will have to imitate the sacrifice, the bleeding of blue and orange, if you want to be an adequate replacement for the Mets' hallowed ground.

It won't be easy, but with a little luck and a bunch of new players, you too can be the home that generations of Mets and their fans have called Shea Stadium.

Goodbye, Shea. Good luck, Citi Field.

Petr Nedved Cut; New York Rangers Make Right Decision

PJ Edelman — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:55:32 -0400

Ooooh, this burns.

Not only was Petr Nedved cut from the Rangers' roster, it is likely that he will be flying back home to his native Czech Republic—and the Rangers will be following. It's kind of like a "lead the way, Nedved" except the Rangers have no intention of following him full circle.

Nedved performed well in limited time with the Blueshirts this preseason, scoring three points in just three games, but his age and position (if he was a defenseman, the scenario may have been a little different) did not fit in with the plans of a more youthful club.

With players like Patrick Rissmiller, Dan Fritsche, and Aaron Voros vying for a spot on the third and fourth lines, Nedved seemed like the odd man out—and he was.

At 36-years-old, it is unlikely that the former Ranger, once a part of the short-lived but somewhat successful "Czech Line" along with fellow Czech natives Jan Hlavac and Radek Dvorak, will return to the NHL.

Rangers' community leader Greg Caggiano, amidst strong debate, has recently argued in defense of Nedved believing that the Rangers should given him a decent chance to compete. However, it was not to be.

In defense of Nedved, the Rangers should not have brought him into camp if they were not seriously considering adding him to the roster. Nedved's production should have at least warranted a few more games in preseason, but it was clear that the Rangers had other plans.

On another note, and coming full circle in relation to "burning," in Googling Nedved's name, only half of the images that came up were of Nedved. The others were of his smoking hot wife.

Who knew?

Carlos Beltran Helps This Writer Change His Tune, Wins It for Mets in Ninth

PJ Edelman — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:54:50 -0400

I really can't make up my mind about Beltran.

Just a few weeks ago, I wrote an article detailing the frustration that Mets fans have with this underachieving outfielder with sky-high potential. It just seems, despite good numbers, that Beltran should be a top 10 player in the MLB, while he's more like a top 50.

He is truly one of the few five-tool players who is gifted both offensively and defensively. However, his quiet attitude and streaky offensive (in terms of offense, not rudeness!) ways can lead to headaches for hopeful Met faithfuls.

Not tonight.

With the game tied 6-6 against the dominant Cubs, Beltran ripped a shot down the rightfield line to bring home an impatient Jose Reyes, to give the Mets a huge W in the bottom of the ninth.

Reyes had gotten aboard after a hard-fought at-bat when he singled. Next up was Daniel Murphy, who either missed a sign or his bunting lessons, and fouled off three pitches attempting to move Reyes over to second. Shades of last night's inability to score began creeping back into the forefront.

David Wright then did his best bottom of the ninth impression of, well, himself, and struck out. Luckily for him, Reyes took second on his last swing. Delgado was intentionally walked to bring up the less scary Carlos.

Beltran stepped to the plate, and the false hopes of every Mets fans were raised. They were pretending that he would indeed win the game when in reality he just seemed destined to fail.

Beltran took two balls, and lashed the ball and just a glint of October down the right field line, off the firstbaseman's glove and onto a victorious Shea Stadium grass.

This is an excellent sign, almost a miracle, for the Mets after last night's 9-6 losing shocker. I thought that was it for the season, that the Mets should pack up their sorry baseball bags and burn them in orange and blue flames.

But an unexpected shot off of an unexpected bat boosted the Mets to a new chance, a new life, and just a whiff of chilly October air.

Scott Schoeneweis, Pen, Doom Mets Again: Spotlight on Middle Relief, Not Closers

PJ Edelman — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:44:00 -0400

Mets fans hate Scott Schoenweis, but the reason isn't exactly clear, although today's implosion against the satanic Braves may have something to do with it.

Schoenweis, who has been pretty solid all year with a 2.95 ERA up until today's game, has been unable to elude Mets fans' growing ire. I mean, he's only given up 20 earned runs all season.

Therein may lie the problem. The runs that Schoenweis tends to give up are not his own. They are charged to the possession of other Mets pitchers. Not including today's 7-6 loss to the Braves, Schoenweis has given up 53 hits and 22 walks in 51 innings of work.

Those numbers led to a 1.47 WHIP (walks+hits/innings pitched)—numbers not too gaudy for a guy who only pitches about once every three days. All those hits, although they may not cost Schoenweis a solid ERA, do cost the Mets wins.

These types of antics have caused Mets fans to take heed earlier on. Now mainstream sportswriters and organizations like ESPN, whose teaser today reads "Mets lose ground as bullpen blows another lead," have begun to take notice.

Names like Stokes and Rincon are barely household names, and with Pedro Feliciano sporting a 4.10 ERA and blackhole Aaron Heilman lowering his ERA to 5.33, the Mets' bullpen is finally getting the attention it deserves.

Johan Santana has long been aware of the Mets' faulty bullpen. He had a string of June and July games where he left the Mets a chance to win, but his arch-nemesis of a bullpen had other plans. It can be argued that the pen has actually cost Santana, who is currently rockin' a 2.65 ERA Cy Young candidacy.

The biggest issue for the Mets right now is their middle relief, and not their closer. Luis Ayala has been very good in his brief stint with the Amazins. While it is likely that the Mets will chase either K-Rod, Fuentes, or Wood next year, their main focus should actually be finding pitchers who can keep a game close in the sixth, seventh, and eighth inning.

Such a task is no easy matter. Pitchers don't come up from the minors or arrive in trades as middle relief. They are pitchers who have decent stuff, but don't have the endurance to make it as a starter or the guts to step in as a closer. In a way, they are the offensive linemen of baseball. They do a lot of the dirty work, but rarely get any credit.

The Phillies have a very good bullpen. Pitchers like Ryan Madson, Chad Durbin, and J.C. Romero, along with others, keep games close until the eighth or ninth. Although their starting pitching doesn't compare well with the Mets, their middle relievers' ability to stay close in games contributes to a Phillies team that ranks top five in come-from- behind victories.

Look for the Mets to search out some of these hidden gems in the offseason, but don't expect a major influx of new arms through signings or trades. Instead, the Mets will rely on their farm system to provide them with young arms to fill in the middle relief role.

Names like Kunz and even Neise come to mind. Such a strategy, however, may in fact be a critical mistake. It may be wiser to go out and spend $15 million on two relievers who are proven run-stoppers.

There are very few elite closers in the game, but there are plenty of serviceable ones. The question is, can the Mets go out and get a diamond in the rough, a reliever who is hitting his stride, can keep games close, and is virtually unnoticed?

I bet they can, and without sacrificing the money they need for a closer that they want. Because without a decent middle reliever, a closer is worthless.

Just ask Johan Santana.

Damion Easley May Shut It Down: Mets' Second Baseman Unsure of Return

PJ Edelman — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:36:53 -0400

How the somewhat mighty are falling.

With closer Billy Wagner and outfielder Fernando Tatis out for the season, it only makes sense that another important role player should follow.

Damion Easley, who has played more games at second base than any other Met this year, is unsure of whether he will return, at least for the rest of the regular season. Easley injured himself trying to beat out a grounder, indicative of the 38-year-old's play all season.

Easley has been a surprise, to say the least, for the New York Mets. A terffic June and July helped Easley amass a .295 average at the high point of his season. He batted .340 in June and .313 in July, way above expectations for this supersub. Some may argue that without his significant contributions in the middle months, the Mets would not be battling for playoff contention right now.

According to ESPN.com, Easley is having difficulty standing up, walking, and sitting. A consummate professional, as commentator Keith Hernandez calls him, Easley would love to rejoin the Mets as soon as possible, but is under no illusions of the necessity to recover before he even considers pinch-hitting.

Easley has never been to the playoffs in 17 years of playing in Major League Baseball.

Happy Birthday, Petr Prucha: A New Year, and Maybe a New Beginning

PJ Edelman — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:19:52 -0400

Happy birthday, Pru!

You turned 26 yesterday, which means that you are looking at a new year of life, and, very soon, a blank slate of a hockey season. You also escaped my pent-up frustration that would have undoubtedly been unleashed in my "25 and Under" series, which is probably a good thing. In fact, I knew your big day was coming up, and I didn't want to ruin it for you, so I let it slide.

Slide. That seems to be a good word—the perfect word—to describe your quality of play.

You scored 30, that's right, 30 goals your rookie season! Can you believe that? And you demonstrated serious ability in clutch situations—most notably on the power play, where you scored 16 goals to break the Rangers rookie record, set by Camille Henry over 50 years ago. That's over five decades—just about double your age.

Imagine what your numbers would have been like if you had played the whole 2005-06 season, instead of just 68 games. Was 35 goals in your rookie season a possibility? I can't even think about it—it makes me shiver with excitement.

On came the 2006-07 season—and boy, did you fly! Rangers' fans knew that no one in the league could stop you, especially with your countrymen Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka there to pick you up and show you the ropes.

You exhibited great skating, streaky speed, and nice on-ice vision. So maybe you didn't match 30 goals. It was still a successful season. Forty points ain't bad for a sophomore follow-up.

So please, Petr, help us understand. Explain what happened. We want to know. We want to care. But it doesn't make sense. Seventeen points in 62 games? Did you forget? We've seen you score before. You take the stick, put it next to the puck, and push it toward the net.

Yeah, it must have been that you forgot. Don't worry, it happens. Sure, it was a little strange seeing you record only three points in your last 20 games of the season. Don't worry, we know that your playing time pretty much disappeared after January. We can forgive. But we won't forget.

Jagr and Straka are gone, and the Czech movement is slowly starting to share roles with the Swedish and Russian newcomers.

Pru, you're now 26 years old. A new year, a glorious beginning for serious promise! You will have to find your way past the new faces, and past the empty lockers of Czech mentors. You will have to push past a terrible season and past rookie expectations.

But, most of all, you'll have to push the puck past those big defenders and swift goalies who want nothing more than to prove that a shrimp like you doesn't belong in the NHL. It will be real tough.

Which means, Pru, that you may have to push yourself past—yourself.

Happy birthday. We're rootin' for you.

Thinking Big: Five NHL Defensemen Coming Into Their Own

PJ Edelman — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:55:36 -0400

We all know the big-name defensemen—Nicklas Lidstrom, Dion Phaneuf, Chris Pronger, Sergei Gonchar, etc. But last season featured a crop of young NHL blue-liners that had breakout seasons.

You may know these names now, and perhaps last year, but this year will be the season that these young stars add their names to the top of the list.

1. Mike Green, Washington Capitals

Man, is this guy good. After posting just 15 points in parts of two seasons, Green exploded, scoring 18 goals and 38 assists in all 82 games. Twenty-three of those points came on the power play, illustrating Green's knack for big goals and crisp passing.

He ended last season with nine points in his last seven games, including a five-game point streak.

Clearly, with the game or season on the line, Green was there to fire pucks home. Total points in the last five minutes of the game? Twenty.

Prediction: 21 goals, 45 assists.

2. Mark Streit, New York Islanders

This year will be quite the transition for Streit, who has made the move from NHL powerhouse Montreal to the lowly Islanders. He will have to learn a new system, work with new players, and study under the tutelage of new coach Scott Gordon.

Where Streit will fit in is not exactly clear. Perhaps he will be paired with puck-moving Radek Martinek (if he stays healthy). But regardless where he plays, he will quickly realize that the top scorer on the Isles' last season had 49 points—a far cry from Montreal's Kovalev and his 84.

Streit's job will be to push a teammate to 70 points, to add punch to the power play—he scored 34 points with the man advantage last season—and to unload his heavy slapshot whenever and where ever he can.

With his days in Montreal behind him, his career-high 62 points may be fading fast. But consistency is Streit's strength—he had 31 points pre- and post-All-Star break.

Hopefully, this talented blue-liner won't get lost in the Coliseum.

Prediction: 15 goals, 35 assists.

3. Brent Burns, Minnesota Wild

A solid 25 points in 77 games in the 2006-2007 season had Wild fans excited for his next year—but 43 points in 82 games in '07-08? I never saw it coming.

Don't be fooled by the gaudy scoring totals. Burns is more than a smooth shooter and solid passer. And sure, he may have totaled more points than forwards Mikko Koivu and Mark Parrish.

But his most important asset may be his ability in his own zone. Burns posted a solid plus-12 rating, ranking third on the Wild—as opposed to Streit's minus-six in Montreal.

And when the going got tough, the tough got going—as exemplified by Burns' throwdown (wait until 43 seconds in) with scary Dion Phaneuf.

This year will be a big one for Burns. A good skater, a tough defender, and a true teammate, Burns will be a favorite with the Minnesota fans—at least throughout 2011-12.

Prediction: 12 goals, 37 assists.

4. Ryan Whitney, Pittsburgh Penguins

After a stellar 59-point performance in '06-07, Whitney fell partway back to earth, registering a nice yet unremarkable 12-goal, 40-point season with the Pens.

A foot injury was likely responsible for the dip in Whitney's production. It will also be the cause of Whitney missing the first few months of the oncoming season. However, if he heals well, Whitney will be a major addition to the defense, hopefully in November.

And if he feels comfortable, Whitney may be able to approach last season's totals—in fewer games.

Prediction: 10 goals, 27 assists.

5. Tobias Enstrom, Atlanta Thrashers

Enstrom played on an Atlanta team last season that was...well, poop. Despite the wasted effort, Enstrom, a rookie, totaled 38 points in a full 82-game season.

Most impressive was Enstrom's proclivity to contribute on the power play, where he added a whopping 22 assists and 26 points. Essentially, if Enstrom wasn't in on the power play, chances for a point were pretty low.

And to top it off, Enstrom finished the season with a respectable minus-five—not bad for a rookie whose team leader sat at a measly plus-four.

Although Enstrom's potential may not be fully exhibited for another two or three years, here's hoping that another rough year on a slumping team won't dull the luster of this young star.

Prediction: 8 goals, 38 assists

There you have it—the newer crop of young defenders. Watch out Lidstrom, and beware Pronger! A new age is being ushered in.

Delgado's MVP Summer may not be enough: Texeira or Blalock to take over?

PJ Edelman — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:30:49 -0400

This is going to be tricky.

After a stellar second half of MVP-like baseball, Carlos Delgado's future will remain in the fog after the 2008 season ends. Delgado had an extremely slow start to the baseball season, and looked confused and foolish at the plate, often imitating the skills of my little sister. And at least she could run out double plays.

Carlos forgot how to go to the opposite field, and every swing against a right-handed pitcher resulted in a grounder to second base. Every swing off a lefty resulted in, well, nothing. And then suddenly, he remembered. Delgado's metamorphosis from goat to god began in July, when he returned to his near Hall of Fame self and batted .357 with a smoking .445 OBP, 9 homeruns, and 24 RBI.

He cooled off a bit in August, but in 10 games in September, he has hit for a .379 avg, 5 homeruns, and 11 RBI. The Mets have been keeping a fire extinguisher handy, half expecting that Delgado may spontaneously combust at any moment. His turn-around has been vital to the Mets' determination to disallow the type of debacle that befell them last season.

But Delgado's resurrection may not be enough to save him from the free agency doldrums. His contract is a bit confusing: It runs through this season, and then the Mets have the option of picking up his contract for an additional year, at a cost of $16 million (depending on how he ranks in MVP voting).

Four million of that salary would be paid by the Florida Marlins, based on the terms of the trade that brought Delgado to the Mets in 2005. However, the Mets can opt to buy out Delgado, for a price of $4 million dollars. They lose the $4 million that Florida would pay if they go that route.

If the Amazins wish to buy him out and then sign him, it would only make sense that they do so for less than $12 million year (because that is how much they would be paying if the decided to sign him, along with the Marlins' money). Perhaps in the range of $8 million, or $12-16 million over two years. Follow?

This off-season will be extra difficult for Mets' management, as well as their fans, who have fallen in love with Delgado all over again (that is, unless he has a paltry postseason). Delgado turned 36 this past June, meaning that he probably has less than three productive years left.

So, what are the options? The Mets can pick up the option, and pay Delgado $12 mil, plus $4 mil from the Marlins, for one more year. They can buy out his contract, and then try to sign him for less than $12 mil for one year, or less than $20 mil for two. Or, they can buy out his contract, and sign another, younger first basemen.

The biggest name in the 2009 first-basemen class is definitely Mark Texeira, who bats near .290, 30 HR, and 100 RBI every season. He is also, at 28-years-old, a two-time Gold Glove winner. He will be, by far, the most sought-out infielder this coming off-season.

Perhaps less skilled but still intriguing is the quiet Texas hitter, Hank Blalock.The two-time all-star is only 27, and has hit close to Texeira in terms of RBI and homeruns. The past two seasons have been short ones, but a healthy Blalock will bring a very solid bat and most importantly, a cheaper price tag than Texeira (of course there is the defensive abilities difference between the two, but what can you do?).

Phew! Quite the numbers crunch. Only time will tell if the Mets' front office can juggle all the decimal points and stats and come up with the right player for the future. Let's just hope that in the least, they DON'T sign Richie Sexson, who will also be a free agent in 2009.

Nikolai Zherdev: 25 and Under

PJ Edelman — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:01:52 -0400

This is the sixth article in a short series of in-depth looks at the top New York Rangers players who are 25 years of age or younger.

The Rangers' 23-year-old winger is such an enigma that even their website has nothing to say in his Bio/News section.

What kind of year will Nikolai Zherdev have with the New York Rangers? Will he perform up to potential? Can he be motivated by the Rangers' coaching staff? Will he fit in at the clubhouse or will he be a trouble-maker?

The Rangers are trying not to focus on the maelstrom of what-ifs about Zherdev. Instead, they are zoning in on the excellent qualities that Zherdev exhibits when he puts on skates.

According to TSN, general manager Glen Sather had this to say about the Rangers' newest acquisition: "Zherdev is a player we've tried to acquire for a while. He's a talented, shifty winger with lots of upside."

Talk about an understatement.

Zherdev's wealth of talent was put on prominent display over the past NHL season, when he posted 26 goals and 35 assists in 82 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets. With excellent skating and standout stick-handling, Zherdev can even do his best Bobby Orr impression, showing a knack for coast-to-coast creativity.

The former fourth overall pick in 2003, Zherdev did not join the Blue Jackets baggage-free. The Columbus Dispatch reported the following in July 2008:

"Zherdev has been a lightning rod in Columbus since the Blue Jackets made him the No. 4 overall pick in the 2003 entry draft. The magnificent individual plays, maddening turnovers and an icy relationship with players, coaches, and management that seemed to finally warm last season—it all was part of Z's aura."

Zherdev was born in Kiev, Ukraine, but has citizenship in Russia as well. Perhaps his multiple identities have helped add to Zherdev's atmosphere of mystery. He certainly became a question mark for the Columbus front office.

And his loyalty to the NHL may come into question. Since making his debut for the Blue Jackets in the 2003-04 season, Zherdev has played in the Russian Super League (RSL) twice, perhaps foreshadowing a desire to return to more familiar grounds, like former Rangers' player Martin Straka (he returned to his native Czech Republic).

However, at 6'2", 205 pounds Zherdev has the tools to be the type of physical force in the NHL that Jagr was—perhaps not in checking or fighting, but in shielding the puck from defensive players with one hand and sticking with the rubber with the other.

Zherdev is only 23 years old, and the young winger has much to learn. Being a young player in a completely new city, a new world, really, must be difficult. At least in moving to New York, Zherdev cuts the distance to his native Kiev to just shy of 4,700 miles.

He will certainly need some guidance this coming season. Maybe newly brought-in defenseman Dimitri Kalinin will be a calming influence and mentor to Zherdev. Kalinin, a former first round pick himself, was born in Chelyabinsk, in the former Soviet Union.

The Rangers hope that three seasons with the Jackets have helped mold Zherdev into a more pliant teammate in the clubhouse and a defiant competitor on the ice.

The Rangers are looking forward to a warmer Zherdev blazing hot streaks down the cold ice come October.

Sources:

Wikipedia.com

Rangers.Nhl.com

Dispatch.com

TSN.ca

For more "25 and Under," checkout:

Happy reading!

Dan Girardi: 25 and Under

PJ Edelman — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:39:00 -0400

This is the fifth article in a short series of in-depth looks at the top New York Rangers players who are 25 years of age or younger.

On a team that features defensemen Wade Redden, Michal Rozsival, and Marc Staal, Dan Girardi is almost certainly a forgotten man.

Lucky for the Rangers, Girardi's presence plays the opposite role in the minds of his opponents.

The 24-year-old's proclivity for heads-up defensive plays, ability to play the body, and keen ice vision have helped him become one of the Rangers' top young defensive stars.

Although Girardi is not known as a goal-scorer, he managed 10 goals and added 18 assists in his first full season with the New York Rangers. And by full, I mean just that. Girardi didn't miss a game.

He has shown some scoring touch, posting 39 points in 66 games with the Hartford Wolfpack in 2005-06, and 24 points in 45 games the next season. Those two excellent years prompted the Rangers to sign the Welland, Ontario native in 2006. He finished off that season with the Rangers with a plus-seven rating, ninth among NHL rookies.

Despite his feisty play, Girardi has shown himself to be very accessible and honest, most notably in regard to his friendship with teammate Ryan Callahan, whom he had befriended a few years earlier in their years together on the Guelph Storm of the OHL.

The solid defenseman signed a $3.1 million, two-year deal with the NY Rangers earlier this year—not bad for an undrafted free agent.

Girardi played a lot with now-departed Ranger Fedor Tyutin, so it will be interesting to see where Renney puts him, perhaps with a scorer like Rozsival or a soon-to-be-scorer like Marc Staal.

Either way, fans have plenty to be pumped about with the emergence of one of the Rangers' bright young players.

Sources

rangers.nhl.com

wikipedia.com

brightcove.tv

For more "25 and Under," check out:

Marc Staal: 25 and Under

PJ Edelman — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:10:37 -0400

This is the fourth article in a short series—an in-depth look at the top NY Rangers players who are 25 years of age and younger.

There are three Molinas in baseball, and they all play catcher.

Yadier Molina plays for the St. Louis Cardinals, and is enjoying his breakout season, hitting at a nice .317. Jose Molina plays (backup) for the pinstripes, holding down the position that Yogi Berra once occupied. Bengie Molina has the most MLB experience and is the most talented offensively, totaling over 1000 hits in almost 11 seasons.

They are brothers, they all play the same position, and they all have made the big time. Now move over!

There are four Staals in the NHL, and they are quickly becoming everyone's favorite hockey family.

The oldest Staal, Eric, has the longest NHL tenure, and is the most talented. He is a forward for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Jordan is quickly coming into this own, and plays center for the 2007-2008 Eastern Conference champions Pittsburgh Penguins.

The newest addition, Jared, scored 49 points in 60 games last year in the OHL, and is expected to make an impact on the Phoenix Coyotes.

But for Rangers' fans, the most exciting Staal has to be second eldest, Marc. The departure of Brian Leetch has yet to be filled, and although the club hopes that Wade Redden will carry some of the offensive burden on his defensive shoulders, the highest hopes are stuck to the stick of 21-year-old Marc Staal.

The Ontario native was picked 12th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2005 draft.

Fans have plenty of reasons to be psyched. For starters, Staal, as mentioned, comes from a family that has frost in their veins. Four brothers in the NHL? It seems that their skills are at least partly genetic.

And Marc himself has demonstrated his abilities. Staal played an instrumental role for Team Canada in both the 2006 and 2007 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, winning gold both times and Best Tournament Defenseman once (2006).

That's right. Marc is the only defenseman in the Staal family, fearlessly going against the grain.

The young Ranger made his debut on Oct. 4, 2007, and finished the season with a solid 10 points and plus-two rating in 80 games. He was also named to his first NHL YoungStars team and played along with budding Rangers star Brandon Dubinsky.

Rangers' fans hope that Staal will play to the high expectations, and repeat a performance similar to his 2005-2006 OHL season's 49 points in 57 games.

Good news, fans—those days are getting closer with every passing second.

Sources:

Wikipedia.com

Rangers.nhl.com

For More "Twenty-Five and Under" check out:

Ryan Callahan

Brandon Dubinsky

Nigel Dawes

Happy reading!

Ryan Callahan: 25 and Under

PJ Edelman — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:34:39 -0400

This is the third article in a short series: An in-depth look at the top NY Rangers players who are under twenty-five years of age

The 127th overall pick in the 2004 NHL draft has been waiting to show that he has what it takes to be a solid hockey player with the New York Rangers. Last season, Ryan Callahan finally began to come into his own.

The Rochester, New York native played hard in the minor leagues with the Hartford Wolfpack, earning All-Rookie honors in 2006-2007. His fine play helped facilitate his move to the New York Rangers, when he made his debut on December 1, 2006. He was quickly sent down, but recalled again on December 19.

Callahan kept playing hard and scoring goals, and was called up by the Rangers a third time on March 15, 2007, and remained with the club through the remainder of the season and postseason. Callahan picked up six points in fourteen games, but more importantly, fired forty shots on net.

The Rangers or their fans would not forget his hard-nosed, shoot-first attitude. The start of the 2007-2008 season was rocky for the feisty forward, and he was once again sent back to the Wolfpack to play and rest a sore knee. But when Brendan Shanahan went down in February, Callahan came up for a fourth time and refused to relinquish his position.

Callahan, playing mostly on the bottom two lines, managed a hefty 92 shots in 52 games. His tough play, hustle, and especially, relentlessness, endeared him to Rangers' fans who cheered at the rink or at home. He may not have flashed talent comparable to fellow sub-25 year-olds Nigel Dawes and Brandon Dubinsky, but Callahan will be waiting patiently for his first shot at a full season.

Hopefully his hard-nosed play will result in big turnovers and hard-fought goals.

For More "Twenty-Five and Under" check out:

Brandon Dubinsky

Nigel Dawes

Happy Reading!

Jeremy Wariner, Sideline Reporter Bob Newmeyer Clash

PJ Edelman — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:50:12 -0400

Jeremy Wariner came to Beijing with very high expectations. The 400 meter machine arrived in China, setting off the airport metal detectors in style—with his two gold medals from the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Okay, his medals didn't actually set off detectors. Maybe it was the sunglasses, without which Wariner seemed merely human. Or the big chain, which seemed to act as a temporary place-holder for Wariner's third gold.

Alright, Wariner didn't actually set off the detectors (at least not to this writer's knowledge). In fact, the only thing Wariner had in mind to set was a new world record.

Instead, the aloof sprinter found himself draped with the American flag, honored with representing second place, a silver, in the 400 meter dash. He placed between fellow Americans LaShawn Merritt (gold) and David Neville.

Neville. Kind of like the '60s R&B singer Aaron Neville, famed for hit singles like "Everybody Plays the Fool" (sooo smooth!). It would have been the perfect song for Bob Newmeyer, who interviewed Wariner on the track after the race.

See, Wariner had trained with coach Clyde Hart, who himself possessed two golds in the 400 meter event. So when Wariner changed coaches, electing to go with Michael Ford in 2008, many questioned the necessity and the reasons behind the move.

Enter NBC' s sideline interviewer, Bob Newmeyer. The "fool" drew the unlucky right to interview the already short-tempered Wariner. Wariner answered Newmeyer's first question amicably enough, explaining that he was disappointed with his finish, but was ready to try to win his next race, a relay.

Newmeyer then asked the obligatory question about the coaching change. Wariner replied quickly, and without edge, that he was sorry but he would not be answering questions related to that subject matter.

Of course, Newmeyer couldn't accept that, and had to push the now sunglasses-less Wariner. He began to speculate on the coaching change.

Wariner, visibly upset, left before Newmeyer could finish. The reporter just managed to make a face into the camera as if he was totally unaware of his superfluous question, and that it had cost viewers any more information about the race that Wariner could have provided.

Mr. Newmeyer, please respect the athletes. They respect you. They come over to you after their second place finishes and heart-breaking losses (see: Lolo Jones). They don't curse. They don't cry. They answer brainless questions with a smile or a kind of softness.

Treat them the way they treat you.

Hey Ho, What About Joe? Is Sakic a Better Option than Mats Sundin?

PJ Edelman — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:14:32 -0400

With so much talk about the possibility of Swedish great Mats Sundin mulling a transition to the Rangers, 13-time All-Star Joe Sakic has quietly been keeping under the radar.

Sakic played the fewest amount of games so far in his career last year, when he managed 40 points in only 44 games played. He missed the rest of the season because of a sports hernia.

It is unsure if Sakic will play in his 20th NHL season.

He has already compiled a Hall of Fame resumé, with 623 goals and 1006 assists. The former 15th-overall pick has numerous awards to his name as well—including two Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe, and a Hart Memorial Trophy, among others.

Sakic began his career with the Quebec Nordiques, and when they moved to Colorado, he moved with them. He has never been with another franchise.

In 1997, the Rangers attempted to sign the then-free agent to a three-year, $21-million offer.

Colorado matched the Rangers' offer, and Sakic remained with the Avalanche.

There are a few big reasons why Sakic may not sign with an NHL team. His shortened season last year may point an arrow towards retirement.

If he does call it quits, he will be among the few sports figures that have played their entire career with one franchise—an honorable feat. And would any club even consider signing an aging, 39-year-old center?

The question remains: If Sakic chooses not to retire, will the Rangers go out and try to sign him?

After an injury-plagued season last year, he may come at a cheaper price than Sundin. It seems that signing Sundin would cost popular mobile defenseman Michal Rozsival. If Sundin 'falls through,' would the Rangers pursue Sakic?

Sakic's 2006-2007 season consisted of an even 100 points.

He is a natural center, and the Rangers are very solid through the middle, with Drury, Gomez, and Dubinsky. Who would move to the wing? And would Sakic even entertain an offer from the Rangers, as he did over a decade ago?

Only time will tell.

Brandon Dubinsky: 25 and Under

PJ Edelman — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:59:45 -0400

This is the second article in a short series: An in-depth look at the top NY Rangers players who are under twenty-five years of age

Rangers' fans were unimpressed with Brandon Dubinsky's 2006-07 short season. He played only six games, and registered two penalty minutes and nine shots on goal. Not a particularly exciting start.

But fter Dubinsky's 2007-08 official rookie season, fans can characterize Dubinsky's play as—well, as freaking sweet.

Dubinsky has fans blabbering about his first full season, in which he played all 82 games with the Rangers, centering a line with two of their best players, Jaromir Jagr and Sean Avery. Dubinsky was instrumental in picking up Jagr, who improved his play dramatically.

Dubinsky finished his season with 14 goals and 40 points, and added a healthy 79 penalty minutes to the mix. Dubinsky had an equally-impressive playoff run, contributing eight points in only 10 games.

Rangers fans were particularly impressed with Dubinsky's stick-to-it-iveness, as he is rarely bumped off the puck, reminiscent of a younger Jagr. Dubinsky can also wow the crowd with his solid skating, deceptively good hands, and fierce wrist shot. He is also quite the big load, and is unafraid to park his 6'1", 210-lb. frame in front of the net.

These talents were put on display at the YoungStars event at the 2007-08 All-Star game. Dubinsky netted two goals an assist in limited playing time in a three-on-three scoring fest. His pretty goals and solid play earned him YoungStars MVP honors.

The Rangers picked up the 22-year-old Dubinsky in the 2004 NHL draft.

Dubinksy's hopes all began in the Western Hockey League, along with another Rangers prospect, Nigel Dawes. Though they did not play on the same team, their fates were united on November 8, 2007, as Dawes fed Dubinsky for a goal, and each of their first points in the NHL and as Rangers.

Dubinsky's solid play throughout the season prompted soon-to-be Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan to say, "He's developing, I guess, as you would wish every player you draft develops. He's really trying to become all things needed in a hockey game."

Brandon Dubinsky was voted Rookie of the Year by his teammates, and also was honored with the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award.

Rangers' fans will be keeping their eyes on No. 17 this coming season—and for seasons to come.

Sources:
Wikipedia.com
Nydailynews.com
Rangers.nhl.com

Nigel Dawes: 25 and Under

PJ Edelman — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:55:59 -0400

This is the first article in a short series: An in-depth look at the top NY Rangers players who are under twenty-five years of age

Nigel Dawes is one of the Rangers bright young stars. The shifty forward is of Canadian and Jamaican descent, the only player currently with half-Jamaican genes in the NHL, to this writer's knowledge. Graeme Townshend is the only NHL player to be born in Jamaica.

Dawes had a nice year in 2007-2008 season, scoring 14 goals and 29 points with an 11 plus/minus rating in 61 games. He was particularly effective in the shootout, scoring clutch goals in big wins, often with the help of a nifty backhand. Dawes' spot on the Rangers hasn't always been as solid as it is now.

In the 2006-2007 season he only managed one goal in eight games with the Blueshirts, and after sitting for seven of the next eight, was sent down to play the remainder of the season with the Rangers' minor league team, the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Although Dawes' skill was evident, he was named to his first Western Hockey League all-star game in 2003 where his short stature put him on the short side of many GMs' lists. He is listed at 5'8", but is seems like he reaches that height only on skates. Dawes refused to let his height, or rather lack of it, deter him, and played well enough for the Rangers to notice.

The Rangers were willing to take a chance on the talented forward, and in 2003 drafted him in the fifth round and signed him to a contract in September of 2004 when he was only 19. Rangers' fans have high hope for Dawes, now 23 years old, as he enters his third year with the club and his first as a starter.

His excellent skating, solid vision, and tricky shot should help the Rangers' young forward to a productive and exciting year.

NY Rangers Top Five Goals: 1994-Present

PJ Edelman — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:11:15 -0400

The New York Rangers have released their Fans Most Wanted lists, including best Rangers goalies, moments, rivalries, and more.

One of the most exciting and memorable categories has to be top Rangers goals.

Hockey fans revel in the big wins, the spectacular saves, the bone-head trades, and the big checks, but nothing ignites the fire of nostalgia like the sight of the puck rippling the mesh.

Madison Square Garden explores nine of the top Rangers goals in a photo gallery, but there are only five that truly make the heart race for that memorable night at the game or in front of the TV.

Nights like those sear the soul of New York Rangers fans, forever providing a space of glory to nestle comfortably until the next big goal comes along.

Here are the top most exciting and important goals since the Rangers last Stanley Cup in 1994:

5. Adam Graves' wraparound, 1997

This would be the last time the Rangers made the playoffs for eight years— almost a decade.

My whole childhood disappeared without a playoff appearance.

These were the days when MSG was on channel 33 on Long Island.

Adam Graves' goal was the last big goal I actually remember seeing.

A little past fourteen minutes into overtime, Graves shrugged his way past hated rival Scott Stevens and beat Brodeur for the clincher, beating the Devils and giving the Rangers a 4-1 series win.

The goal of course was reminiscent of Stephane Matteau's wraparound goal in the 1994 playoffs, so certain hopes were carried on the stick of Graves as the Rangers entered the third round.

They lost to the Flyers four games to one.

4. Esa Tikkanen's blast, 1997

Tikkannen scored three game winning goals against the rival Florida Panthers and ex-Ranger great John Vanbiesbrouck.

I remember watching Vanbiesbrouck and Richter embrace after the series, and thinking what other sport has this type of powerful tradition?

I also remember thinking that the Rangers had just missed taking game three from the Panthers when Esa hit the crossbar in overtime.

That is, until the puck was shuttled into a players' bench, and the Rangers' players started pleading their case.

Tikkannen's rocket had been slapped so hard that it hit the goal cam and bounced straight back into play.

The referees made the right call, the Rangers left the ice, and the Panthers remained, bewildered.

3. Marek Malik's Miracle, 2005

There are a lot of Malik haters out there, but check out his shootout goal against the Washington Capitals.

Not only was the shot a "circus shot," but also it came from the stick of Malik, 15 rounds into the longest shootout in NHL history.

Usually a stay-at-home defensman, Malik must have figured, what the hell, and put the puck and his stick between his legs and roofed one over the shoulder of Olaf Kolzig, putting it to the opposite side from where he skated.

Besides the difficulty, creativity, and sheer surprise, this goal meant more to Rangers' fans than a big goal: The team was finally a true competitor.

They wanted to be a playoff team.

They fought through 15 rounds, and even tied it up when role player Jason Strudwick banged one home the round before.

Fans may hate Malik now, but they will love his goal forever.

2. Mark Messier's winners, 1994

This one is actually a combination of four goals.

The first three manifest themselves in Messier's natural hat trick in the third period against the New Jersey Devils to clinch game six, 4-2.

That game combined with the fourth big Messier goal— the Stanley Cup winner—makes Messier's 1994 playoff goals stand at number two.

"Now I can Die in Peace."

1. Stephane Matteau's namesake, 1994

Don't forget that he scored the game winner in overtime number two in game three. Without that goal.

All Rangers' fans know that Matteau, Matteau, Matteau, scored the game-winning goal in the decisive game seven against the Devs on a wraparound to beat Broduer and pave the way to their first cup in 54-years.

Four minutes and twenty-four seconds into the second overtime, Matteau swooped in to get the puck in the right corner of the offensive zone, skated behind the net and shoveled one in.

Thanks for the memories.

Is Wade Redden a Heart-Breaker or Playmaker?

PJ Edelman — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:18:52 -0400

The Hockey News' Adam Proteau has declared that Wade Redden is the second-worst off-season signing, behind Ron Hainsey's $22.5 million deal in Atlanta.

Ron Hainsey! I barely know who the guy is, and he's getting a boat-load of money.

This does not bode well for Wade Redden, who is set to receive $6.5 million from the Rangers for each of the next six years. The two-time All-Star saw his goals total drop to the lowest it's been since his arrival in the NHL. He's too old, he's lost a step, and he will be a huge bust for the Rangers.

Or not. True, Redden's goals dropped to six this past year, but his career high is only 17. He has never had more than ten in any other season. As far as helpers go, he had 32 last year. Only three times in his eleven years with the Senators has Redden eclipsed that mark.

His point total is essentially right on par with the rest of his career. And Redden has landed on the positive side of the plus/minus rating every year but one, quite the accomplishment on the offense-oriented Senators. Only three years ago he tied the Rangers' very own Michal Rozsival for the league lead in that category.

Statistics however, are far from the point.

In his time as a pro hockey player, Redden has missed the playoffs only once. In the ten years he has played, he has made serious contributions on the big stage. He will be a play-by-example leader for the Rangers blossoming defensemen, and will add experience and knowledge to a team that is pushing for a deep drive into the playoffs.

The Rangers knew that they would not be getting the great scorer that they truly coveted on defense. But instead, they are getting a seasoned veteran who has a knack for maintaing a high level of consistency and making breakout passes.

Imagine Dan Girardi checking a player in the defensive zone. Redden grabs the puck and rifles a laser onto the stick of a streaking Gomez or Zherdev.

That pretty picture is worth $6.5 million a year. Maybe not for six years, but the Rangers will take four or five without a problem.

Dara Torres, Olympian at 41. Why You Should Pay Attention.

PJ Edelman — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:00:13 -0400

If you looked at this picture from the abs to the waist, there is small chance that you could guess the sex of the swimmer. But Dara Torres is a woman, and she is for real.

In case you have never heard of Torres, let me break her stats down for you. She has nine Olympic medals, four of them gold. She recently broke the 50m freestyle American record, touching up at 25.24 seconds. She has participated in the Olympics in L.A. Seoul, Barcelona, and Sydney.

And now, at the age of 41, she is taking on her fifth Summer Olympics this August in Beijing. Most of the competitors Torres will be facing will either be about half, or less than half, her age. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, Torres means business.

A terrific New York Times Magazine article presents Torres' life―both past and present―to a wide audience. It describes Torres' athletic accomplishments, her current life with her young daughter, and her amazing ambition to succeed in all facets of her life. It is this desire, this unequalled yearning that is the most intriguing factor in Torres' personality.

As a participant in the 50m freestyle, Torres will be the first American swimmer ever to compete in five Olympics. In order to become the paragon of fitness, Torres sacrifices time, money, and comfort.

The price of all of her trainers (a cornucopia of stretchers, weight trainers, masseuses, and doctors) totals near $100,000. She trains constantly, but at 41, is wise enough to realize that her body requires more warming-up and cooling-down.

A special feature of the Torres' workout is resistance training. She focuses on her core, legs, and any muscles that can help her gain speed in the water. Big muscles are undesirable because they inhibit range of motion. Instead, she works for lean muscles that require endurance.

Rooting for Torres this summer is a no-brainer. Not only does she represent the United States, but persistence, determination, and greatness as well. But perhaps most importantly, she represents age. Almost all people, especially Americans, see their activity levels drop once the teenage years pass. Getting out of shape is not only accepted, it's expected.

But Torres' techniques prove that proper training can propel the human body into a strong, healthy machine. Hopefully, as more information is discovered, ideas about how to stay in excellent shape into our 50s, 60s, and even 70s―can become widespread, and put into practice.

Now with the Opening Ceremony only days away, Torres must deal with her coach's recent diagnosis of aplastic anemia, another obstacle to the 41-year-old sprinter. Our prayers are with Torres and Coach Michael Lohberg. Maybe a fifth gold medal at Torres' fifth Olympics in the 50 freestyle will help uplift her coach's spirits. And a nation's.

Scroll down about a quarter of the page to see Torres workout regimen

Scotty Does Know: Bowman to Join The Chicago Blackhawks

PJ Edelman — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:45:00 -0400

Scotty Bowman, best known for his Stanley Cup triumphs with the Canadiens, Penguins, and Red Wings, will be joining the Chicago front office as Senior Adviser.

This is a great pick-up for the 'Hawks. Bowman has had his name inscribed in the Cup nine times, and was an asset to all of his championship teams. His signing makes big news not only because of his reputation, but because of the team with which he signed.

Bowman joins the Chicago Blackhawks, arch-rivals of the Detroit Red Wings. Bowman, in the mind of younger hockey fans, is directly associated with the dominating Wings of the 1990s.

Although Chicago has only been a playoff team twice since the 1996-1997 season, many analysts and hockey fans are quick to admit the major steps that the team took last year. This includes the emergence of soon-to-be all-stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.

Hopefully Bowman can get this once proud franchise some wins, and help bring back a formerly exciting rivalry between two Original Six teams.

Check out ESPN's article to learn more.

Let's Go Team! Err...Which One?

PJ Edelman — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:11:41 -0400

What is the most team-oriented sport? Which sport requires heavy contribution from all its members in order to make it deep into the playoffs? Does the No. 1 team-oriented sport mean that it is the "most pure" sport (whatever that means)? Let's take a look.

6. Golf—Alright, this is kind of a joke, but it takes a lot of balls (literally) and loyalty to caddy for a big time golfer. There is essentially no limelight, glory, or fame. There is, however, a decent paycheck perhaps. It requires someone deeply introspective to realize that they don't have what it takes to play, but loves golf so much that they will walk or ride 18 holes just to be near the action. The greatest tandem ever? Happy Gilmore and his caddy.

5. Baseball—Baseball lands here simply because of the fact that a number of players may not touch the ball all game. Say a Red Sox pitcher throws three-hit game, all of which are infield hits. And for argument's sake, say the three Red Sox outfielders don't get a hit throughout the course of the game.

I know scenarios like this are unusual, but they do happen. It's known that championships are hinged on solid pitching. It's clear that a solid playoff team must be solid all the way through, from their starting pitching to their pinch hitters. Nevertheless, several games can be decided by few players.

4. Football—This one is a tough sport to place, but football doesn't make the top half of the rankings because most players go one way. Offense tries to score. Defense prevents opponents from scoring, and special teams do special teams things.

There are some individuals who play on multiple "teams," such as Chicago Bears Devin Hester, but for the most part, players stick to their unit's roles. This does not mean that it doesn't take a whole team to win the Super Bowl. A team has to be all-around talented to get deep into the playoffs (see: the NY football Giants). But it remains that every player is specialized to their unit.

3. Basketball—It pains me to place basketball this far up on the list, because football and baseball both rank more highly in entertainment value in my esteem. And it seems to hold true that a good team only requires one or two star players to make the playoffs.

Players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and a younger Shaquille O'Neal dominated opposing teams with their talent and hustle. The best teams generally have the best players. But teams like the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs make a good case for team effort. The Spurs have several all-stars—most notably Tim Duncan—but play a tough team defense and receive contributions from several players, such as Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, even Bruce Bowen.

The Pistons make even a stronger case, as six or seven of their players can have an impact on the game at any time. However, most of the roster receives little or no playing time, and serve to fill in for injured players or act as punching bags for the starters. Does basketball belong ahead of football?

2. Soccer—Soccer is kind of like beer—it takes some time to get used to then it is amazing. I'm sure this placing will catch a lot of flack, but it is deservedly No. 2.

Every player on the field touches the ball. No single player can truly dominate a game the way a star NBA player can, although they can score big goals or make clutch saves.

Soccer is a player-heavy sport—22 on the field at any given time (barring red cards). Almost everyone plays some form of offense and defense, regardless of their position on the field. The only knock against soccer is that about half of the players don't play. A roster can hold over 20 players, and perhaps only 11-15 will actually play.

1. Hockey—This ranking might catch hell, but no worries. An NHL team carries about 25 players, and almost all of them see some ice time every game. Like soccer, an NHL star can score big goals, but not on demand (however Alex Ovechkin seems to be close). Every player has major roles on offense and defense.

When the puck is in the defensive zone, the forwards on that team become defensive players (and vice-versa). Star offensive forwards are asked to play on the penalty kill. Talented defensemen are big reasons for power-play success. Even the goalie―who clearly is more defense-oriented―can be a big factor on an offensive play if he crisply passes the puck to a rushing player (see Martin Brodeur).

What do you think? Hockey seems to be the No. 1. Anyone disagree?

Honorable mentions that could be top three: Lacrosse, water-polo, rugby, curling, ultimate frisbee.

Dishonorable mentions: NASCAR, singles tennis (for obvious reasons), bowling.

The NHL Should Limit Fighting

PJ Edelman — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:28:18 -0400

Hockey fights. A long-standing tradition that has been said to 'get the crowd into the game' and 'cut out chippy-play.’ Goons like Dale Hunter, Peter Worrell, Stu Grimson, and many more oafs have broken up the smooth play of "The Greatest Game on Ice' since the inception of hockey in America.

Fist-fighters like Darcy Tucker or Tie Domi have shown occasional inclinations of scoring touch, but generally, goons are used to scare opposing meat-heads off the ice. Each toothless player than sits in the penalty box for five or ten minutes, unless they have been penalized with a game misconduct and thus are shown the way off the ice for the remainder of the game.

In a May 2008 article, Sporting News Magazine interviewed 2007-2008 season penalty minutes leader Daniel Carcillo of the Phoenix Coyotes. The magazine dubbed Carcillo an NHL "enforcer," and asked questions relevant to Carcillo's 'job.'

Carcillo described beating up "rat" Alex Burrows of the Vancouver Canucks, saying, "It was kind of like a caveman beating; he was on his knees and I was whaling away.” Me Daniel Carcillo. Me strong, punch man in face. The NHL does not need this type of PR. There is no place for slow-footed players on the ice.

Fights break up the natural swing of play, create injuries, and contribute nothing to one of the most team-oriented sports. Fighting does not prove toughness. Taking a puck to the face at 95 miles per hour and missing one shift while being stitched up does.

There are very few wimpy players in the NHL, but there are too many low-skilled players who make up for it with their fists. Players like Carcillo provide frustrating examples. He spent just shy of six hours in the penalty box last season, when instead he could have been out on the ice contributing. In addition, unlike some goons, Carcillo has some upside.

Carcillo admits in the same article that, "Wayne [Gretzky] and Shane [Doan, captain] both think I can be a 30-goal scorer, and I'd love to prove them right.” We would too, Daniel. Score some goals. Check someone into the boards. Stay out of the box. The NHL would do well to limit fighting. The TV ratings argument is a faulty one.

No casual hockey fan will watch a full game in hopes of seeing the occasional fight break out. It is not worth the wait, and the chance that a decent fight breaks out will not win over a viewer who is weighing the value of watching a hockey game. What might pull in that same fan is the increased excitement level of the game as a whole.

The NHL must step up. Make the nets a few inches wider and taller. Put a 3 on 3 OT on for show (see: 2008 young stars at the all-star game) and then resort to a shootout. Encourage ESPN to treat the NHL more fairly--that means a little more TV time, a little less wise-cracking ("No one watches hockey except Canadians, ha ha!").

In an era of cheating, point-shaving, fan-player fighting, and back-talking, the NHL is by far the cleanest of the big four (NHL, NBA, MLB, and NFL). Unfortunately for the NHL, no news is...no news. Instead, the NHL must convey the heart it takes to play winning hockey.

Highlight the skills that it takes to skate through three men. Glorify the goalie that makes a toe-save on a 99 MPH slap-shot. Cheer the big checks. Support the skilled players. Wave those playoff towels. End the fighting. Embrace the beauty of the game.

Brendan Shanahan Should Be Re-Signed by the New York Rangers

PJ Edelman — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:02:31 -0400

The New York Rangers have yet to sign forward Brendan Shanahan, owner of 650 goals and 690 assists. With many Rangers vets headed out of the country (Jagr, Straka) or to other teams (Tyutin, Avery), the Rangers would do well to sign the 21-season pro.

In his first season with the Rangers, Shanahan showed the Garden faithful that he could still play, scoring two goals in his first home game with the team, and 62 points overall in 67 games.

Although his 2007-08 campaign was less successful (46 points). he contributed in other ways—perhaps most importantly through his leadership on and off the ice.

Shanahan was the vocal leader of the team. Jagr may have been the captain, but was at times a reluctant one, apprehensive of using his English with the media, or preferring to maintain his quiet disposition in the locker room.

Shanahan used his experience and know-how to help propel the Rangers into the playoffs, even when he was off the ice. He is one of the few veterans on the Rangers to have won the Stanley Cup multiple times.

The Rangers have done well to bring in new talent this offseason—notably, Wade Redden, Markus Naslund, and Nikolai Zherdev—but Shanahan could be the face of the New York Rangers, and an ambassador to the fans and the media.

True, Shanahan is in the latter half his career, and this year may be his last stand.

But the former King Clancy Trophy winner knows that at 40 years old, he can still help a contending Rangers team over the edge with his grit and knack for the net.

Let's hope the Rangers' front office knows the same.