Archive for October, 2008
On Zherdev, Fritsche and those other guys • 10.24.08
Here’s my story in today’s paper on “Dan Fritsche and Nikolai Zherdev returning to Columbus”:http://www.lohud.com/article/20081024/SPORTS01/810240404/-1/SPORTS, although we can safely say neither return is of the Eddie Giacomin-with-Detroit or Mark Messier-with-Vancouver variety.
Both players spent four seasons with the team, and each held their own appeal—Zherdev twice topping 25 goals, Fritsche being Ohio-born and raised. But both also said they welcomed the trade to New York, if for no other reason than because the Rangers are probably closer to contending for a Stanley Cup while the Blue Jackets have yet to even make the playoffs.
How close are the Rangers to contending for a Stanley Cup? Certainly no closer than they were a week ago, and even then, most of us would put the team’s fast start into the category of an encouraging beginning and nothing more. I believe the Rangers are a better than they’ve been the last four games, particularly when you consider that the likes of Chris Drury, Markus Naslund and even Zherdev are bound to start producing more than they have (or at least you better hope as much).
But even then, there is that underlying concern that each night is going to be a grind to score more than two or three goals. Some of that is a reflection of personnel, and some of that is just the way the team plays, with the constant attention to defensive hockey perhaps coming at the expense of a full-steam attack.
Can you have one without the other? It’s a fair question. As much as the Rangers can point to the Red Wings and say Detroit won its Stanley Cup by minding its own zone first and creating chances in transition, I think some of that is deceptive. A big reason the Red Wings were so proficient at shutting teams down is that they simply wouldn’t let teams have the puck.
So in other words, maybe the key to the Rangers playing well defensively is not to attack less, but to actually attack more. We saw evidence of as much against Tampa Bay in Prague and even last week in Detroit, and on both occasions, the Rangers’ speed seemed to fluster the opponent (or at least temporarily). But when their forecheck is flat, teams seem to pass through the neutral zone with greater ease, and the Rangers are pushed on their heels.
Those are at least one man’s thoughts heading into a critical early-season weekend. It might not make or break the team’s chances over the long haul. But it could be two games that at least crystallize what this team is all about.
Aaron Voros doesn’t forget where he came from • 10.23.08
Just saw “this story in the St. Paul Pioneer Press”:http://www.twincities.com/wild/ci_10789177 about Aaron Voros writing a letter to his former coach Jacques Lemaire to thank him for the lessons learned while he was a member of the Minnesota Wild.
How cool is that? And how cool is it that Voros sent it not via e-mail or IM or text or some other cool way of communcation that is so cool I don’t even know about it yet but by an old-fashioned stamped letter?
Very cool, if you ask me.
“It’s really nice to see that he appreciates what we did, and all the coaching staff,” Lemaire said.
Live chat replay, and events to come • 10.23.08
Thanks again to everyone for joining me for the chat. I continue to enjoy them. For those, who missed it, you can watch the replay below.
As a heads-up, we’re looking into having a chat one night at a bar or a restaurant in the Westchester area, which would allow readers like yourself to participate. We’re still in the early stages of planning, so feel free to chime in with your suggestions.
For the record, I have already insisted such a night include free wings for me. I can’t guarantee the same thing for the rest of you.
Some quick updates before the live chat • 10.23.08
Since I’m pretty sure the details of my own hockey exploits are not what you’re hear for, some quick notes before the live chat:
Here’s what was practicing together today:
Dawes-Gomez-Callahan
Naslund-Drury-Zherdev
Voros-Dubinsky-Fritsche
Sjostrom-Betts-Orr
As I see it, these lines could go a long way toward getting Naslund and Drury going (Drury in particular has shown signs of being visibly frustrated). But the concern might be if it comes at the expense of Brandon Dubinsky and Aaron Voros. Granted, that line has been quiet the last few games, but it obviously showed promise when it was first put together.
It’s important to note that the left wing has not yet been assigned to Hartford, so he could conceivably be put back in the lineup without clearing waivers again. I was admittedly wrong about this, because I thought once you went on waivers, you automatically had to go through re-entry waivers. Instead that only happens when you’re officially assigned.
More important, though, is that in not being assigned, Rissmiller’s $1 million still counts toward the cap, which was initially unclear. Granted, if the Rangers had something brewing where they needed to clear up roster or salary cap space, they could simply assign Rissmiller to Hartford since he’s already cleared.
My head is spinning. See you in a few minutes…
First skate of the year • 10.22.08
So here’s the line of my first skate of the year (otherwise known as “yet another reason why they shouldn’t give guys like me blogs”):
Roughly 25 minutes of ice time.
0 goals.
Maybe an assist (Not sure—I’d ask them to review the tape but there isn’t one).
8 shots directed at the net.
2 shots that actually hit the net.
Minus-2.
No cuts, stitches, or broken bones, but at least one moment when I thought I pulled something hopping over the boards.
Much to my disappointment, no scouts to approach me afterward and say, “We’ve been looking for a 160-pound, thirtysomething center who rarely hits the net. When can you start?”
Man, I love hockey…
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Don’t forget, live video chat tomorrow at 1. Here’s “the link”:http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081007/MOGULUS05/310070015. Everything is fair game except for questions about why I can’t hit the the net.
It’s in my contract that I don’t have to talk about it…
A simple waive or a prelude to something bigger? (Updated) • 10.22.08
The Rangers are off the ice today, so time to catch our breath and offer some thoughts…
But placing a veteran on waivers is hardly the ideal route. As unimpressive as Rissmiller was on Monday, he’s still a forward who could conceivably help the Rangers in a pinch at some point this season. But should the Rangers try to recall him, they risk losing him to waivers on the way back up, and then are on the hook for half his salary.
With that in mind, what Glen Sather has done is taken a $3 million investment and simply buried it in the minors.
Again, not ideal…unless it’s the first step of a more involved process. Because there’s always the chance that Sather has made one move in an effort to now make another. I don’t think it’s Brendan Shanahan, who Michael Obernauer notes today “is still waiting patiently in the wings”:http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/rangers/2008/10/21/2008-10-21_rangers_making_forward_progress-2.html.
But whereas the Rangers had virtually no room to work with a short while ago, they now have at least some. So stay tuned…
Update, 10:13 p.m.: I realize every one of the salary cap sites that I frequent as well has Rissmiller as having a one-year deal. But I’ve been told from a definitive source that it’s three years at a $1 million apiece. Doesn’t make sense, does it? As one astute observer noted about Glen Sather’s stockpiling of so many forwards, “Maybe Glen just lost count.”
But this season Orr has proven to be a far more complete player thanks to the countless hours he put in over the summer skating at the MSG Training Center and working out at a gym in Brewster. Curiously, Orr didn’t start skating or playing hockey until he was 11, so a case can be made he’s still in the formative years of his development.
“It’s been a long haul for him,” Rangers coach Tom Renney said. “He came from Boston, and they saw no value in him. We saw otherwise. The obvious reason was he could fight and fight anybody. But we saw hockey sense. It’s very important. You ask any tough guy in this league if they want to be recognized as a hockey player or a fighter and they’ll tell you they want to be known as a hockey player. And that’s what he is.”
Of course, Orr only has a single assist this year, so it’s not like he’s in the running for the Art Ross. But he’s always been a smarter play than he’s given credit for, and now he’s fit enough to make plays.
MSG Network acknowledges Avery-Giannone spat • 10.21.08
So here’s the latest from an MSG Network spokesman about last night’s altercation between Sean Avery and John Giannone in between the first and second periods:
“There was a verbal exchange between the two last night. It’s over and we won’t have further comment.”
Not exactly riveting stuff, I know, and it doesn’t sound like much more is going to come out of it. According to the NHL, since there wasn’t a physical encounter (although I’m told the two did get in each other’s face), Avery is not likely to be disciplined.
The Stars also had no comment.
More later…
Back to business (Updated) • 10.21.08
Update, 2:42 p.m: Patrick Rissmiller has indeed been placed on waivers by the Rangers.
Update, 1:35 p.m.: TSN is reporting the Rangers have placed Patrick Rissmiller on waivers, something the team hasn’t confirmed yet.
If it’s true, the best case scenario for the Rangers is another team claims Rissmiller on the way down. But if he clears and the Rangers try to recall him, they risk paying half his $1 million salary should another team claim him on the way up.
Translation: I don’t know how much more we’ll be seeing of Rissmiller this year.
Earlier: The Rangers’ reward for their 2-1 loss to Dallas last night? An extended series of sprints in practice today.
Good times, I noted to Marc Staal.
“Always a blast,” the defenseman said while stepping off the ice.
Don’t read too much into it, actually. The Rangers have prided themselves on being one of the fittest teams in the league, and according to Tom Renney, one of the downsides of having such a busy schedule is the team simply hasn’t had enough practices.
Judging by the expressions from doubled-over players, I’m not sure they agree that’s a bad thing.
“We’ve been going at it harder than any team in the NHL,” Renney said. “It might be catching up to us a little.”
But now the team gets a brief respite. After today’s skate, they’ll take tomorrow off, and won’t play again until Friday night in Columbus.
In the meantime, a few notes:
Presumably the four players are Petr Prucha, Patrick Rissmiller, Dan Fritsche, and Lauri Korpikoski. But while Korpikoski was a scratch last night, I would doubt that the team is seriously considering moving Korpikoski, who was back skating on a line with Chris Drury and Markus Naslund today.
“I’d like to get moving on some things. I think we all would,” Renney said. “In fairness to the players, they need to know they’ve been given that opportunity to secure a spot and we still have a gray area. We have three guys who are NHLers who aren’t in our lineup every night. That’s a bit of a dilemma.
“It’s more of what we have in front of us, and who gives us the best chance to win. The other side of the equation is if management were to say, ‘We’ve got something going on for that guy. How does that interest you?’ That’s a different equation and we’re not at that equation. We’re looking at these three guys, really four, and identifying who makes our team stronger.â€
See my previous post about why I think this is important for this team.
When Lundqvist was told about the exchange, the goalie broke into a wide smile, to the point that he was holding back laughter.
Then he walked away, “I have no comment.”
“First I have to still be here,” he said. I’m pretty sure he was joking.
I asked Rozsival if he was going to pull a Ray Bourque, who on the night of Phil Esposito’s jersey retirement night, pulled off his No. 7 sweater to reveal his new number, 77. Rozsival had no idea what I was talking about.
“That’s a great idea,” he said, before referring to Rangers’ PR chief, John Rosasco. “Tell JR.”
Then Rozsival paused. “But I’m not the same player as Bourque,” he said.
Well, now that you mention it…
Morning thoughts • 10.21.08
Some random observations over a lukewarm cup of coffee (if you must know, I’m too lazy to go heat it up)…
Even then, I’m not sure I see a trend. The Buffalo loss was the inevitable letdown game after a 5-0 start; the loss in Detroit can be attributable to a slow start, an unfortunate call, and a handful of defensive lapses; while last night was a case of a team dominating early, and simply not having enough to show for it.
Observers will point to the 14 shots the Rangers took that missed the net last night, as they should. The team’s inability to score from close range particularly in the first period was probably the difference, and when asked about it last night, Tom Renney said he’d much rather see players hit the net and then try to pump in a rebound. As the coach likes to say, the best pass is one off the goaltender.
But let’s also not forget that it’s certain players’ ability to pick corners that has also led to some goals of late. I’m thinking specifically of Nigel Dawes and Ryan Callahan, who both scored caught a sliver of the net in Detroit to get the Rangers back in that game. There’s probably a happy medium in there, but the goalies in this league have become so proficient in covering up the net, that players have almost no room to work with—hence a lot of shots that sail high and wide.
In fairness to the player, Rissmiller has played only part of one game this season and is coming off an ankle injury, so it’s not realistic to think that he can just jump back into the lineup without a hitch.
But this only reinforces the idea that the team has to do something about the glut of forwards, and quick. Not only are you carrying around extra salary, but you’re also letting certain players languish on the sidelines for too long and getting diminishing returns as a result. It doesn’t matter who it is—Â Rissmiller or Dan Fritsche or Petr Prucha—anyone’s going to be sharper if they’re seeing the ice on regularly. And it’s only going to help their prospective linemates since they don’t have to adjust to the tendencies of a different player on a nightly basis.
But what’s his excuse for taking on a broadcaster who has no impact on the game?
Sean Avery’s wrath isn’t reserved for opposing players. He also gets into it with guys holding microphones. • 10.21.08
So maybe Stephen Valiquette wasn’t Sean Avery sole target tonight, after all.
What you may have seen tonight was the former Ranger’s good-natured joshing with MSG’s Stan Fischler in an interview after the game. What you didn’t see was a much uglier incident earlier in the evening that involved one of Fischler’s colleague.
Multiples witnesses have confirmed a heated altercation between Avery and MSG’s John Giannone in between the first and the second periods—one personal and serious enough that the Stars’ Krystofer Barch was forced to intervene. Still unclear is what exactly was said, although not surprisingly, I’m told it was a remark from Avery that helped escalate things.
When I called Giannone tonight to ask about it, he said he couldn’t comment. That alone suggests it was more than an innocent exchange, and one we’ll presumably hear more about in the coming days.
More on this when I have it…
