I think he’s done a good job turning a chaotic rudderless franchise around, developed a system to grow the depth etc.. I think he’s a good man and I have disagreed with his critics, until now. The Rangers were out hit and outshot in a do or die road playoff game, and were generally less physical than either of the teams they faced. It may already be moot with the likely personnel changes, but we need a better in game tactician, who can charge up the troops, and perhaps that opportunity has passed as we are likely to lose one or both 600 goal scorers and will have to reload around Gomer and Drury.
AS the league slips back to a clutchngrab style, we’ll need personnel to fit ie less Euro, but a coach who will fire em up. Renney should be developing the young players & running the draft IMHO.
I don’t think Jagr will want to come back to a ‘defense first’ team. and Shanny looked like Gordie Howe at 50. I don’t think I saw him finish a check the entire playoffs.

“we need to be responsible defensively while playing appropriately in the neutral zone”

The opposition dictated the play all year…playoffs included…add all the free agents you want…re-sign everyone you want…let any one you want leave….unless Professor Renney changes his philosophy or Rangers change coaches it will be another half-throttled year of qualifying barely for playoffs and watching aggressive teams move further in post season

I’ve read throughout the year that Jagr took part in extra sessions after practice and was always at the optional skates. That does not sound like a bad work ethic to me.

Remember Jagr was readjusting to new linemates this year – that takes a lot of extra work. Jagr’s also mainly responsible for Dubinsky’s successful rookie campaign. While not an eloquent speaker, he still makes this team better IMO.

After 7 years of futility, I’m not ready to throw a big part of the team’s turnaround away. Give him a reasonable offer and see if he accepts.

If only we had gotten rid of Nedved for good with that trade…....

What about the fact that Kovalchuk doesn’t back check?

2006 #2PIT JORDAN STAAL
2005 #1 PIT SIDNEY CROSBY
2004 #2 PIT EVGENI MALKIN
2003 #1 PIT (from FLA) MARC-ANDRE FLEURY
2002 #5 PIT RYAN WHITNEY

If possible re-sign Jagr for a year until Kovalchuk is available next year. Rozsival reminds me of a worse Rachunek, who people disliked for some reason but he was better with the puck, faster, checked more, and never passed up an open shot. Not to mention he was cheaper. Shanny, straka, and malik can go.

Now Liles is an FA we should heavily target. I said Campbell until I saw his performance in the layoffs against the West when he couldn’t move the puck when people were pressuring him hard on the forecheck. A guy like Orpik or Jason Smith (who is cheaper) should be looked at as the physical presence needed. Someone said Commodore before but he’s not that good and was exploited in Ottawa.. Other dmen who could make this team are Pock and Baranka. Only forwards I’d consider signing are Rolston (for Shanny) or Malone. Both are solid power forwards that we need on this club.

Avery should only be signed for the right price because despite our record with him, we have a great record with Malik in too. Also he came here when we didnt have guys who had a spine and provided the spark we lost when we dealt Nieminen two years ago. These young kids play with grit and I don’t think Avery is as needed in the future as he is/was now.

Pretty much I’m saving a season where we can further develop young guys and persue Kovalchuk heavily the next season. He’s an elite talent that can take over a game and just face it, we don’t have any amazing players in our system that you can see filling in the hole Jagr leaves, which is controlling the game/being a true first line winger. We have the cap room for that since its going up to 56 million next year and who knows what after that.