Comments on: Slow, snowy day (updated … again)

By: tomg

tomg — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:37:53 +0000

“Is it me or has this been one of the slowest approaches to the trading deadline in a long time?”

Primarily because of the salary cap!!!. The rangers aren’t going to make any big deals because they are strapped with the cap. There is no way the rangers are going to get rid of any of there big contracts because they are bad contracts thanks to that idiot sather.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:37:46 +0000

Someone mentioned it above and its one scenario I could see playing out – clearing some cap room by moving Naslund and Prucha to teams that are looking for rentals (Naslund has 1 year left at $4 million) clears out $5.6 million in cap space. While I seriously doubt any of this will happen, one thing the Rangers could do would be to move those two guys to someone looking for some more scoring depth up front, then try to use the space to bring in Lecavelier. Forget St. Louis, he’s 33, if we’re making a big ticket investment let’s go for a truly elite player. The you could talk about moving Roszival plus a prospect and a pick to Florida for Jay Bo but he still would need to be re-signed after this year. But getting both of those guys would likely involve parting with Dubinsky or Staal. Still, you’d be left with an elite #1 center, a true #1 defender and long-term partner for Staal, and Henrik in goal.

If I’m Sather and I’m trying to make good moves, that’s what I do. Try to unload Prucha and Naslund, try to land Vinnie and JayBo, unload Roszival (nobody will take Redden) and then consider turning around and, if I’ve managed to keep Dubinsky though all this, flip Gomez or Drury to clear space. Then we’d be talking.

By: Kaspar

Kaspar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:37:26 +0000

True…if we are building for the future…you might want to stay away from Avery or anyone else who is available today…but; if you are playing for today he would not only help but make games fun to watch again…before sat’day nites game I can’t remember more than 3-4 Rangers games I could actually call exciting games to watch ( the last two Caps games, The Chicago-crooked ref game, the 8-5 loss to Devs…???)

By: Agravaine

Agravaine — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:36:25 +0000

new post

By: jeffluke

jeffluke — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:35:58 +0000

new post

By: New Newman

New Newman — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:35:29 +0000

With that being said (no blockbuster) I alluded to Sather stupidity but in reality it may very well come down to $. By that I mean, if doing some deal now costs them, say, $2mm but they can get into the playoffs and the 2 home games (max…let’s be honest and realistic) might net them more than $2mm, then Sather and dopey Dolan might want to do the deal. Sad but true I think.

By: New Newman

New Newman — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:33:12 +0000

And btw, my 2c on the Avery situation is this….the NYR needed a new look, a new feel, a new attitude under Renney and Avery might have been that spark. Now with Torts, it’s not as impearative, IMHO. I just think they need him less now that they have this new energy via Torts. I still think they will take Avery if they can get him, but it is less of a slam dunk in terms of a big impact.

Also, will be hard to tell how Avery helps versus how Torts new system helps.

BTW if Tkachuk becomes a Ranger I will be livid.

Last, I am less convinced that the Rangers make a blockbuster deal. It’s not like this team is only one player from the Cup. With Torts now at the helm, he is still figuring out what he has. I don’t think they do anything too drastic. I sure as hell hope they don’t mortgage the future just to try and make the playoffs. That would be stupid. That would also be classic Sather.

By: Agravaine

Agravaine — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:32:19 +0000

that is skill wise, but there is still the big target and blocking of young players that I don’t think is worth it

By: Agravaine

Agravaine — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:31:41 +0000

Newman its driving me crazy…

don’t get me wrong… skill wise I pick Avery over Dawes as well… and if Dawes is gone then Avery’s contract probably doesn’t hurt signing future kids as much, but I would rather see some players from Hartford getting into the lineup next year than having them blocked…

By: Agravaine

Agravaine — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:29:13 +0000

CJP

also remember a guy who if he loved the Rangers could have been here for the whole season (the Rangers offered three years 12 mil Stars 4 yrs 15.5 mil). A guy who has a target on his back from the league. A guy who can and has been a huge jerk to fans. A guy who got called for penalties unfairly and who would be harassed by other players with no call in his favor. The Rangers are right at the cap, they offered what they could.

I would love to be wrong, maybe Avery will somehow be a positive catalyst, but if we lose one of our young players because we are tied up by his salary then frankly it isn’t worth it…

And he didn’t give an edge, the only team he helped against was the Devils… because for some reason he upset Marty… I’d rather see Cally’s skill and Orr’s toughness be more of the direction we go in than Avery’s perceived toughness… the team supported hi when he was here, that is having you mates back… he would piss someone off and put a target on everyone else’s jerseys… that is a hindrance…

I didn’t like it when he was here, I took a lot of garbage for that fact… but I still haven’t seen anything to change my mind. He should never have been suspended, there should be no Avery rule. I would love to be wrong, and if I am I won’t disappear… we’ll find out at noon what happens.