Bleacher Report - Articles by Joe Alianello

New York Rangers Moving Forward

Joe Alianello — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:02:09 -0500

With 18 games remaining in the season, I can sincerely praise Glen Sather for a job well done at the deadline.

We Lost: Prucha,Dawes,Kalinin, Reitz
We Got: Antropov, Morris, Avery

How can one say with a straight face that we did not improve at the deadline? Ranger fans have a strange relationship with former winger Petr Prucha. Granted this guy scored 30 goals his rookie year and showed heart night and night out on the ice. I do understand it, as I to was not thrilled about seeing him go.

Petr was always a nice guy to me when I have met him in person, but from a standpoint of improving the team he was expendable. Many say that Prucha will net 30 again in Phoenix, I disagree. Phoenix is place where you bury players, Prucha will never again reach the 30-goal plateau.

My prediction is he will go back to Europe next season, because he will never receive a $1.6 million contract offer as a RFA by the Coyotes. Prove me wrong Petr, because I am rooting for you.

On Nigel Dawes this is a guy who was easily expendable. Tom Renney ruined his development and Dawes will probably never develop into nothing more than a 15-20 goal scorer his entire career.

When you are a small guy like Dawes you must make up for it in other areas. Dawes lacked many components in his game and this is why he was expendable. Last season and this season, Renney toyed with him in the the lineup and for some players that just kills them mentally.

Again I never saw Dawes as a 30-goal scorer in this league, but the potential was certainly there. Hopefully for his sake he will not be invisible on the ice with a plethora of young talent in Phoenix.

Dimitiri Kalinin was not as bad as most Ranger fans made him out to be. Watching games around the league on a nightly basis there are many NHL defenseman who make careless mistakes often. Kalinin on occasion fell victim to the Garden boobirds, but was never given credit for his solid play in his own end.

Kalinin was just like all the other Ranger d-man and not one part of his game ever stood out. He was the poster boy of a Renney D-man, and we all know what that is.

Under Tortorella he was becoming to be utilized on the PP. Maybe there was something there, maybe there was not. We will never know, enjoy Phoenix for the next 20 or so games, because I am sure you won't re-sign there.

Nik Antropov brings this Rangers team with size that is most certainly lacks. Granted he did not show up on numerous nights in Toronto, but maybe we have something in Antropov.

If this team and coaching staff can motivate him on a nightly basis here is a guy who can put up 25-30 goals yearly. Antropov drives to the net on the Power Play something we lack and will love when Antropov utilizes his 6'6" frame.

He is not known to be physical, but hopefully his play if he shows up will overshadow that. Many think we will never be able to sign him in the off season. If he plays well down the stretch, realistically he is worth around $3-3.5 million a season based off his point production. Anything more than that and you show him the door July 1.

Derek Morris is the physical grinding d-man we lack. His offensive production has lacked over the past few seasons, but the potential to regain that remains. I hope Ranger fans do not hope we are getting a true anchor for our power play some 60 games into the season.

I do not think Morris will bring that aspect to his game now, but his physicality is something that we should watch out for. Morris is not huge, but he lines opponents up and finishes his checks.

He will most likely not be retained in the offseason, unless he takes a discount on his current $4 million salary. Morris is coming off a mediocre season in Phoenix, so wishful thinking here. I suppose in NY a few mediocre seasons with a different team will warrant you a six year, $39 million contract.

Sean Avery, hate him or love him, we all know what he brings to the table. I am not an Avery fan, but I am being optimistic and hoping he positively attributes to this team on the ice as well in the locker room.

With that said: Let's Go Rangers!

New York Rangers Fire Coaches In Hopes of Saving Season

Joe Alianello — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:55:13 -0500

The New York Rangers now have to play 21 games in overload mode in order to save their season.

They currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with numerous teams knocking at their doorstep in order to be included in the top eight playoff spots. After a dreary slide that saw the Rangers go 2-7-1, the move was made to remove coaches Tom Renney and Perry Pearn on Monday.

Former assistant coach Mike Pelino will remain on the staff as a scout, but was stripped of his duty as assistant coach. New head coach and Stanley Cup winner John Tortorella will take over; he decided to keep Benoit Allaire as goaltending coach because Tortorella proclaimed goalie Henrik Lundqvist to be the best in the NHL.

Tortorella brings a completely different approach to a Ranger team that lacks confidence and, at times, heart. But Renney is not entirely to blame for the Rangers' recent struggles.

Renney is fifth in career wins in NY Ranger coach history, but it took a while to get there because, under his tenure, the team has had problems getting the puck into the net. The power play under Pearn also was subpar, to say the least.

Imagine what this team would have looked like post-lockout if Jaromir Jagr did not light the lamp 54 times? Maybe Renney should thank Jagr for allowing him to stay behind the Rangers bench for five seasons.

This season brought constant juggling of lines, the underperformance of key players, and a team that looked disinterested in playing on a nightly basis, which inevitably led to Renney's termination. Yes, it fair to point the blame at the team president and general manager, the Teflon-coated Glenn Sather—and some in the New York media said he should have been fired instead—but instead the coaches took the fall.

Still, Renney failed to hold players accountable for their poor play, did not attempt to adjust his defensive-minded style, and continued his lax approach while the team struggled. Renney's stubbornness led to his demise. And, for the first time in a long time, Sather hired the best coach on the market.

It is evident that there is much room for improvement. With almost $1 million in remaining cap space and a plethora of untradable contracts, Sather will have to be creative closing in on the March 4 trade deadline.

And with Sather lapdog Sean Avery barking at the opportunity to return to Broadway, we shall see if he will be welcomed by new coaches Tortorella and Jim Schoenfeld. If Avery returns, they will need to keep him on a short leash and be sure to put a muzzle on him when he is off the ice.

The Avery experiment Round Two seems to be inevitable, though, after he is placed on re-entry waiver within the next week. Teflon Sather, we presume, will be the only one crazy enough to take a chance on Avery, despite it being obvious his impending teammates do not take a liking to his selfish antics. Only in New York folks, will the "selfish ass" get a second chance.

But who knows? Maybe that, along with the coaching staff, will be the spark the Rangers need to build momentum heading to the playoffs.

New York Rangers: Trades They MUST Make

Joe Alianello — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:02:45 -0500

Despite being atop the Atlantic Division, the New York Rangers lack true scoring threat, responsible defense, and an overall grit to the game. Instead of going into an in depth analysis, these are some trades I would love to see the Rangers make.

Not saying these are a "true" possibility, but I hope to be in the realm of reality when making potential proposals.

TO NYR: Jason Spezza
TO OTT: Scott Gomez, Third round pick

Now when one looks at this deal, you may wonder why either team would want to do this. You would imagine Spezza would generate a greater return, but he and Gomez are similar players.

I just think each player is on the wrong team. Spezza could potentially work wonders with Zherdev and Naslund. It is no secret that Spezza has worn out his welcome in Ottawa and that they have struggled tremendously this season.

Adding Gomez could change the scenery, and he could be the "right" player for the Senators. The salaries are almost identical and this could very well work for the best in the eyes of each team.

TO NYR: Garnet Excelby
TO ATL: Paul Mara, Sixth round pick

The Rangers lack true grit on the defensive side. By adding a player like Excelby, if available, they could potentially fill that void without breaking the bank.

Atlanta would not give him up for nothing, and by adding Paul Mara, they add a decent stay at home D-man who has a shot from the point.

Most Ranger fans would love to drop Kalinin, but no one else wants him, trust me. Mara has been decent this year, but you must give to get. I also know that Atlanta was very interested in him this off-season.

TO OTT: Michael Rozsival, Petr Prucha, Prospect/pick
TO NYR: Antoine Vermette, Anton Volechenkov, Third round pick

It is no shock that Vermette has struggled tremendously this season and can be deemed a possible bust. It is also no shock that Ottawa could use a puck moving defenseman. It is also no shock the Rangers salivate at the opportunity of moving Rozsival's four-year $20 million contract.

The Rangers could be the change of scenery and spark that Vermette needs to get going, and the Rangers could use a second line wing. Volechnkov is not great defensively, but does throw the body, something the Rangers could use, and he would replace Rozsival.

TO NYR: Jay Bouwmeester
TO FLO: Kalinin, (Fritsche, Dawes), Sanguenetti, First?/Second? round pick

The Rangers would love to add Bouwmeester to bolster their defense. The Panthers may be willing to take Kalinin as he comes off the cap at year's end. They would also acquire Sanguenetti, an OFD prospect, and a first round pick.

Florida may be willing to take RFA at year's end, Nigel Dawes who shows potential, or Dan Fritsche, who has not been given a fair shot in New York. The Rangers may have to be creative even to fit Bouwmeester's 4.8 million dollar salary under the cap.

If the Rangers' lineup looked someting like this, I would not be complaining.

Offense

Naslund-Spezza-Zherdev

Vermette-Drury-Callahan

Voros-Dubinsky-Korpikoski

Sjostrom-Betts-Orr

Defense

Redden-Girardi

Bouwmeester-Volechenkov

Staal-Excelby

New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks Rumors Swirl Again

Joe Alianello — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:21:22 -0400

Rangers GM Glen Sather is looking to make a move in way of a trade.

Sather is not looking to—nor will he—waive any of the players on his roster, as it will not look well around the NHL, considering three of those players were signed either as UFAs or RFAs this offseason. One may shake their head over the offseason signing of Pat Rissmiller, but I can assure you that his job is safe with the Rangers and he is not going anywhere.

That leaves the jobs of Prucha, Sjostrom, and Fritsche in question. The thought of carrying 15 NHL-caliber forwards and 6 D-man is not sensible, and the Rangers front office is aware of this.

The Rangers are not ready to make a move if it means simply giving away players. If this was the case, they would just be cutting salary for little to no reason. Their interest in Sundin has faded away, and I still do not buy that they have interest in Shanahan despite reports to the contrary.

Let me make it clear ,folks—Tom Renney does not want Shanahan back, even if the GM may think differently.

This leads me to believe that if a deal is worked out, the Rangers will be looking to move two extra forwards in a deal. The most likely candidates will be Dan Fritsche and Petr Prucha.

Sjostrom and Prucha are similar players, and I do not think teams will be willing to take both, nor will the Rangers want to part with both. If the Rangers make a deal involving these two players, they would be looking to receive a North American-style player in return who can net in the area of 20 to 30 goals. This, my friends, will be a winger for Brandon Dubinsky, because the Rangers front office feels Nigel Dawes lacks the size to play on that line.

So who do the Rangers eye covetously? None other than Vancouver Canuck Ryan Kesler. The Rangers are also willing to part with a pick, Anisimov, or Sanguenetti if it means getting the deal done. This could then possibly yield another prospect or pick coming back from Vancouver as well.

Let me add that Anisimov and Sanguenetti have not impressed to the level that they were touted to be. Can we smell another Al Montoya?

(Speaking of Al Montoya, that deal was the worst trade ever made by Sather. Did Sather get a fair return? Yes. Did Sather wait too long, when he could have gotten a greater return a year earlier? Of course. If the Rangers part with Anisimov or Sanguenetti, be happy—because in two years when they amount to nothing, you will be wonder why we kept them.)

Let's see what happens—but look for sometime before Thursday to be the magical day. I do not guarantee anything, but there was truth behind those Vancouver rumors back in August—they just had zip to do with Scott Gomez.

Seeing the deal Vancouver made yesterday with Tampa, Gillis is not done make moves to tinker with his roster up in the great Northwest.

Mats Sundin, Broadway Bound? What the New York Rangers Would Have to Do

Joe Alianello — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 03:13:23 -0400

Reminiscing over the summer of 2008 while August dwindles away, we wait for the big fish of NHL Free Agency to finally be caught.

Despite being offered a two-year, $12-million dollar contract by the Vancouver Canucks', Mats Sundin still remains on the open market.

The possibility of playing for the NHL’s most storied franchise, the Montreal Canadiens, in their Centennial season is not worth taking a nibble at, in the eyes of Sundin.

But it is speculated that he lurks in the murky waters of the Hudson, awaiting his shot to take the bait and play under the bright lights of Broadway.

When taking a look at the New York Rangers' salary cap situation, one might laugh at the suggestion that the Rangers could fit Sundin under the $56.7-million salary cap. But I can assure you, Rangers' General Manager Glen Sather has been working the phone for weeks in order to find a possible suitor to take on salary.

I am sure Glen has thought out multiple scenarios. The easiest route would be to trade recently re-signed defenceman Michael Rozsival. But the more you put it into perspective, this scenario does not make sense. Trading the $5 million salary of Rozsival is difficult even though he was sought after when he hit the open market in July.

If Sather did not want Rozsival, he would have simply passed on giving him a four-year contract. This suggests the job of Michael Rozsival is safe going into training camp.

So who can the Rangers trade in order to acquire Mats Sundin? Anchorage, Alaska native Scott Gomez.

Blasphemy when one first considers the scenario—but think again. The New York Rangers have a plethora of young players at center who could one day be a number-one caliber guy—Dubinsky, Fritsche, Anisimov, and Moore—and are still a bit thin on the wings when it comes to first- and second-line talent.

Trading Gomez could potentially net the Rangers a young scoring winger who makes a minimal amount of money. Shedding the $7.35 million annual salary of Gomez over the next six years opens the door for future possibilities.

Sundin would most likely be a Ranger for two seasons. Are the Rangers worse off with Sundin in the lineup than Gomez? With Gomez as a Ranger, the they will never be able to acquire a big time scoring winger in order to compliment him, due to salary cap constraints.

So is it worth keeping two centers—Drury and Gomez—who make a combined $14.4 million when a good percentage of the Rangers' wingers only hold third- and fourth-line talent?

Could Sundin help recently acquired winger Nikolai Zherdev like he assisted Nik Antropov in Toronto? This, folks, is the million-dollar question.

The line has been cast. It's just a matter of time before it drifts and catches this Swedish fish.

Note: This article has nothing to do with the Eklund nonsense. I thought of this scenario before his article. I am just speculating on a possible scenario if in fact the Rangers feel they need Sundin. I do feel, with the roster the Rangers have now, they are a playoff team. Who knows what management is thinking?