Yes, it’s sad news – if the club keeps him, given his age, vastly diminished physical soundness, falling offf the cliff production, and salary. “Retiring” him would really jump-start this roster with some young, added production, and free-up a lot of cap room, as you suggest. It has passed Shanahan by, but I doubt the Rangers figure they have a shot at the Cup this year, without him. Well, they surely don’t have much shot at the Cup with him.

Czech – you asked my opinion a while back re some of the youth. I try not to get too pumped up as I think the organization generally makes everyone out to be great when they draft them. I bought into the Lundmark hype and remember the exhibition season he scored goals like crazy. But quickly learned he was weak and could easily be moved off the puck. Plus he had no appetite for the defensive part of the game. So having said that I do think Montoya is our 2nd best goalie (but we can’t afford him due to cap). I like Sauer’s future – he blasted someone and shows strengh and promise. The Russian is going to have culture language issues (saw him in pregame and no one seemed to interact with him). Kaspar can do a world of good down in Hartford helping him. Callahan looked really good as did Dubinsky (but he played a role different than he will if he makes the team since he will not get all that pp time). But he looked really good on the pp. I think only one of Dawes and Dubinsky will make the team. Don’t want to see good players like Prucha moved to 4th line. Since the Rangers came to my side for 2 periods it was harder to focus on Staal so hopefully I’ll see my tape and get a better idea. re some other players – Avery was the most wanted man by the Devils for what happened to Weekes. He is going to really get beaten up this season so he might miss some games but do love what he brings to the team. Always like Straka and hope he stays next yr as well. Re tonight and Dawes vs Hossa – another consideration is how they help defensively as I look at total package- including pk and everything. Like to see guys makes smart plays. Chipping out of d zone and making the other team go 200 ft to beat you. And no neutral zone turnovers. That’s why I appreciate even a guy like Betts as the 4th center (but certainly not the 3rd center).

Re the unis – they look like an apron on the bottom with all the white. They should have left things as is. In that regard and re overexpansion I agree with Bonfire.

Shanny isnt playing tonight. I still dont understand why the staff didnt play Drury last night.

Also Shanny always said in the past that a centerman is really important to him, and chemistry plays an important role.

Thats why he scored 29 goals with Cullen as his centerman, and 40 goals the year before with Draper and Yzerman as his centerman and Datsyuk on the PP.

Like i said you shouldnt worry about Shanny, most NHL fans i talked to were bitching and moaning about a few players from there team. Its only pre season. If you push to hard then maybe you’ll end up like Malkin during last years pre season. Just go down the injury list, massive players just keep getting injured, like Timmonen, he’ll be out tonight with a groin injury, then the Devils have Langenbrunner, White, Weekes, Janssen. Im just hoping Callahan is alright, and nobody gets hurt during these games. Except maybe Malik

Also Betts pretty much does nothing beyond PK, which many players can do, and a slightly worse PK% isn’t going to hurt the team—last season Flyers had a very good PK but were the worst team in NHL. Orr does nothing except fighting he needs to be dumped in favor of Byers or Jessiman.

And of course if Dawes and Hossa don’t produce enough on the top line they should be dumped. Hollweg should be kept as an extra forward at least.

Same old Kaspir last night. Slow to the puck and out of position all the time. He doesn’t get the puck and then move with it, all he knows how to do is hit, which is why he was usable in the old NHL when there was no room on the ice.

I like to think he looked different last night than at other times last year, but he didn’t and will most likely be the last cut.

Sauer, Staal, Toots, Girardi,Pock, Struds, Malik and Rozy would be my defense.

I would deal Hossa, Kaspir (if anyone will take him) and Mara to make cap rooom for Montoya as backup.

But no way Staal goes to Hartford, the kid is ready.