Comments on: See what happens when that Jagr guy’s no longer holding him back?

By: LEETCH2

LEETCH2 — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:51:12 +0000

Sweden vs. Canada, Russia vs. Finland, tommorrow IIHF Men’s Ice Hockey World Championship.
Lundqvist starting goaltender for the Swedes & Tyutin I believe is in the lineup for Russia.
Here is the link:
http://web.wcsn.com/index.jsp
Also, for $4.95 you can watch the games live on the net.

By: Beer Me!

Beer Me! — Thu, 15 May 2008 11:39:24 +0000

Maybe this is a job for the crack statititions at the Journal News, but if the Pens win tonight, will this be the fastest a team has ever advanced to the Finals from the East? 13 games?

That’s friggin sick right there.

By: GoaliePG

GoaliePG — Thu, 15 May 2008 01:28:04 +0000

Are the Rangers are stuck in mediocrity because they’ve often been able to buy a decent team but that doesn’t make a team great?

Penguins terrible years led to Crosby, Malkin, Fleury and another big name draftee to trade for Hossa, plus they’ve drafted several other decent players. Red Wings had the Dead Wings era. Devils had terrible years in NJ and as the Rockies. Avalanche had losing years in Quebec. Plus you got two fairly recent expansion teams (Ducks and Lightning) with Cups. Hurricanes had bad years in Hartford. Even the Stars had some bad years before moving. That alone covers every cup since the Rangers won in ‘94. Red Wings are the only original six team to win since Rangers and 93 Canadiens. More or less every other cup winner since the early 70s emerged after losing history and/or expansion.

Side note: 94 Rangers benefitted from legendary performances from draft picks Leetch (9th overall selection) and Richter (28th). Plus during the season they picked up how many players that—probably—cost the team long-term in a big way. How often do those types of trades pay off in a Stanley Cup?

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:12:54 +0000

The King and Sweden into the semi finals with a 3-2 ot win over the Czech Republic, and now will face Canada. United States to play Finland tonight in a game that could have lots of fighting with what happened in their last game.

By: Jonny D

Jonny D — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:24:33 +0000

Also there is a rumor going around the Messier is open to coaching for any of the NHL teams looking for a coach. If its true, I’ll try hard not to laugh. Mark, start in junior or something then work your way up. I can’t wait to see what happens if this is true and when he tries to tell an NHL player what to do and they don’t do it, how he’ll handle that. haha.

By: Jonny D

Jonny D — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:58:13 +0000

See the thing is Jagr can’t play hard for 82 games and be healthy/ready for the playoffs. At 36 going on 37, he’s past his prime. Maybe a couple years ago you could get both, but not anymore. I know some may say thats BS, but none of us really know since we haven’t done what hes done for 17 years. None of us have been a top 2 target on a team where guys are always going after your trying to shut you down for 17 years. I’m going to assume no matter how good you are/were, it takes a physical toll on your body to the point where you just can’t do what you did before for an extended period of time. Thats why I agree we need to move on from the Jagr era and just build around what we have now or else we’ll look back and maybe Gomez and Drury will be past their primes. Nothing against Jagr, I love his heart and determination, just I don’t think his body can take the punishment for a full season + playoffs and we need to move away from that being our centerpiece.

By: Speed Ranger

Speed Ranger — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:57:58 +0000

Salty—VERY interesting take, makes me rethink what I had assumed was just, you know, Americans on ice.

JonnyD—agreed. Thing is, no coach gets the exact and complete team he wants. None of us get the exact and complete job we want either. It’s up to Renney and each of us to do the best he can with that. But I hear what you’re saying and I agree with you.

And I don’t want Jags to go but Salty you are helping me prepare for it if he doesn’t return, so thanks for that too.

By: Doodie Machetto

Doodie Machetto — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:42:16 +0000

Kaspar, sounds like jealousy to me.

Clearing his salary from the books won’t bring you back to the team, but take solace in the fact that you never left my heart.

By: reginald dunlop

reginald dunlop — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:31:24 +0000

so Sam’s not impressed with Dubi’s hat trick against Norway????? exactly how many career goals does Sam have in international competition???? ha ha ha….......and dont forget GUERIN from your 98 list

By: Kaspar

Kaspar — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:30:02 +0000

I celebrated Rangers 94 cup fully knowing it was the Oilers 6th cup, I’d have no problem celbrating a Jags led cup but I agree this deferring to him all the time holds Rangers back…not just young guys (look at Rozival afraid to shoot all the time)....someone was at this earlier in week and i said its nothing against Jagr, in fact I respect him a lot more than I did during 90’s, he is a lot tougher than I ever thought, but this deferrence is very bad for team unless he’s playing like he did in last 20 games-nobody cares if Caps defer to AO because he’s banging it in every 5 minutes….but here I think its time to let him go…with much thanks for past three years