Free Agents Still Available...

Hope everyone had a good weekend celebrating America's birthday. And what's more American than hockey?! Okay, a lot, but what's more American than getting paid a ton of money to play a game?!

Don't forget that I made a list of still-available free agents the other day (before Day 2 of Free Agency). Keep it on hand - it comes completely with my impressive HTML knowledge, which consists mainly of only strike-throughs).

Names still available that could help the Islanders or Rangers...
... Alex Tanguay; Saku Koivu; Paul Mara; Derek Morris; Ales Kotalik; Blair Betts; Brendan Shanahan; Chris Chelios; Corey Murphy; Mike Comrie; Brendan Morrison; and if Glen Sather wants another 4th line player, Travis Moen is indeed still out there, unsigned and waiting.

A Guide to Day 2...

Sorry for the influx of posts, but here is a list of the free agents still available who can help a team. Or, in the case of Ryan Hollweg, Marek Malik, Yann Denis, and Thomas Pock, a list of ex-Islanders and Rangers of whom it will be interesting to see if they sign anywhere.

Ales Kotalik, Alex Tanguay, Alexandre Giroux (AHL MVP), Andy Hilbert, Antero Niittymaki
Blair Betts, Brendan Morrison, Brendan Shanahan
Chris Chelios, Cory Murphy
Dan Fritsche, Dean McAmmond, Dennis Seidenberg, Derek Armstrong, Derek Morris, Dmitri Kalinin, Dominic Moore
Eric Perrin, Eric Reitz
Jed Ortmeyer
Ken Klee, Kevin Weekes, Kurtis Forster, Kyle Calder
Manny Legace, Manny Malhotra, Marc-Andre Bergeron, Martin Biron, Mats Sundin, Maxin Afinogenov, Mike Peca, Michel Ouellet, Mike Comrie, Mike Grier, Mike Sillinger, Mike York, Miro Satan
Olaf Kolzig
Paul Mara, Petr Sykora, Philippe Boucher
Richard Zednik, Robert Lang, Ryan Hollweg
Thomas Pock, Todd Bertuzzi, Travis Moen
Yann Denis

Quick Thoughts on Free Agency...

Well, I'm a lot happier today than on July 1, 2008, when the Rangers signed Wade Redden and I started ripping apart my girlfriend's house in anger. By the way, she was mad.

Let's put it this way. If I had told you 3 days ago that the Rangers were going to trade Scott Gomez and his $7.357M Cap hit over the next 5 years for Marian Gaborik and his $7.5M Cap hit over 5 years, would you? And as an added bonus, Long Island-native Chris Higgins would be on board, adding grit, passion, energy, and a few goals. Sounds like a good deal, right?

Indeed it is. Glen Sather got it right - get Gaborik and his frail body for just money, and ignore Dany Heatley and his mind games when it would have cost money AND a few players.

Donald Brashear... whatever. It's going to be very hard to root for him, but he'll protect Gaborik, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, and whatever Russian named Nik ends up on the team.

I would like to wish a fond farewell to Freddy Sjostrom, though, who is off to Calgary, where he will no doubt be beneficial to their defense-first movement and can also play first-line winger with Jarome Iginla, if need be. Better him than Jamie Lundmark with Iginla, no?

And while I'm upset that Mike Cammellari signed in Montreal, he did get a very high deal from them. $6M for him is too much I think. If he signed in New York for $5M, okay, but not that much.

I also think Gomez and Cammellari, if teamed up, should do very well. If nothing else, a power play with Gomez dishing to Cammellari and his old buddy Brian Gionta will be spectacular. With Andrei Markov and possibly Alexei Kovalev on the ice then also, that could be killer.

Oh, and about the Hossa deal. It's not 12 years. It's 8 years. Well, it's 12 years, but it's a fake 4 years at the end. He'll be making the league-minimum for a player over 35 then, and he might not even play. Either him or Chicago probably said, "Ok, 8 years for 7 million each year." "No, better idea, higher amount, 4 longer years, $5.2 million Cap hit. Detroit did it, why can't we!"

* * *

So this is how the Rangers roster shapes up, as of now. Don't pay any attention to lines or positions, and keep in mind trades can still happen. Last year, if you remember, Ryan Hollweg was traded to Toronto on like July 14th.

Avery - Dubinsky - Gaborik
Higgins - Drury - Callahan
Voros - Anisimov - Boyle
Korpikoski - Brashear - Zherdev

That's 12 forwards, but we don't know about Zherdev. Brashear and Voros won't be everyday players, and who knows about Boyle. We also don't know about Hartford and who might make the team (P.A. Parenteau? Mark Bell? Jordan Owens? Dale Weise?) So we have 8 forwards to play everyday, possibly 10, but there still is a need.

Expect atleast one or two more forwards, hopefully a puck-carrying, first-line center, if there are any available. Not everything happens on July 1, remember. Markus Naslund was signed July 3 last year. Uh, so was Dmitri Kalinin.

On D...

Redden - Rozsival
Staal - Girardi
Potter - Gilroy - Sanguenetti - Del Zotto

No room for a big D really, especially since the money should be spent on offense instead. Mike Komisarek would've been excellent, but maybe Rob Scuderi can be signed on the cheap.

* * *

Should make for an interesting Day 2. I would definitely expect 2 forwards to be signed, and maybe a veteran 7th D so that there aren't too many rookies on the backline. Hey, maybe Paul Mara will take another discount to play here.

The Latest Signings

Earlier in the day, we had a thread that we'd update anytime something big happened. Well, since then, we've seen quite a bit of activity. So let's pick up where we left off...

- Marian Gaborik to NY Rangers, 5 years, $37.5m ($7.5m/year)

This is the big one for Rangers fans. This is the reason they traded Scott Gomez. Was it worth it? Only time will tell. On one hand, Gaborik is the scorer the Rangers need desperately. On the other, Gaborik is extremely injury-prone and might not be able to handle the New York pressure cooker. I can easily see Gaborik being the latest target for the Garden faithful's boos. Many will point to his track record of injuries and his 17 games played last year. Optimists will note that Gaborik scored 13 goals in those 17 games. Either way, Gaborik fits a hole on this team that Scott Gomez never came close to filling - that role, of course, being a pure goal scorer.

- Mike Komisarek to Toronto, 5 years, $22m ($4.5m/year)

A lot of Islanders fans were hopeful their hometown boy would come home, but it was never going to happen. That's life. I guess it's appropriate that Komisarek ended up in Toronto, though. He gets his big pay day, but with that salary comes a ton of pressure. When the Leafs struggle, fans are going to point to Komisarek's meager point totals and criticize his play, fair or not. Honestly, I don't see him playing the full five years in Toronto. But the truth is, someone was going to overpay for Komisarek's services today, and I'm glad it's someone outside of the Atlantic Division.

- Mike Cammalleri to Montreal, 5 years, $30m ($6m/year)

After a 39-goal season in Calgary, Cammalleri cashes in and heads to the greener pastures of Montreal. The Habs essentially fell apart last year, but they hope Cammalleri can provide the offensive ability to return them to their 2007-08 levels. The money is about right, but the years are a bit much. Then again, the same can be said about pretty much everyone. I can't even remember how many times I've said/typed/texted "(x) years is a lot for a player who (some sort of comment about a player's one-dimensional style)" Earlier today, Botta called to mind the putrid 2007 free agent class. Hopefully, this one isn't as bad. But there have been a lot of lengthy deals today, and more than a few are destined to backfire.

- Scott Clemmensen to Florida, Mike Rupp to Pittsburgh, Brian Gionta to Montreal, John Madden to Chicago.

These deals are all wonderful for the teams who are receiving these players. Each one of them fills a need. But the Devils are letting a ton of "their" guys go. Rupp and Madden are the defense-first forwards the Devils have built the last fifteen year of success upon. Gionta was one of their only dependable scorers before an off-year in 2008-09. And Clemmensen kept the Devils in the playoff race last year while Martin Brodeur was injured. What's going on with the Devils? They suddenly have a ton of cap room and can make a serious splash in any number of ways. My gut tells me they have a trade in the works. Lou Lamoriello does not let loyal players go for just any reason. There's got to be more to this story.

- Nikolai Khabibulin to Edmonton, 4 years, $15m ($3.75m/year)

So let me get this straight. The Oilers wouldn't give Dwayne Roloson a second year, but they're willing to give four years to Khabibulin? Let's count the ways in which this is a horrible move. First, Khabibulin will be forty years old when this deal is over. He was drafted by Winnipeg, for Christ's sake. Second, he has a history of not playing very well when his financial security is guaranteed. Look at his numbers. His three best years were the three years he was playing for a new contract (1998-99, 2003-04, 2008-09). Third, he hasn't exactly been stellar since the lockout. His number of games played has dwindled over the past three years, going from 60 in 2006-07 to 50 in 2007-08 all the way down to 42 in 2008-09. Yes his GAA and save percentage have gotten better in those years, but so have the Blackhawks. How will he do on a team with far less talent and where he has to be the number one guy? This deal isn't one I would have made, let's put it that way.

- Brian Boucher to Philadelphia, 2 years, $1.85m ($925k/year)

This is the move that will solve all of Philadelphia's goaltending problems. Oh wait, this is 2009, not 1999. Never mind.

- Dany Heatley to... Edmonton?

Dany Heatley deserves a special spot on in the Primadonna Hall of Fame, along with the likes of Eric Lindros, Terrell Owens, and Chad Johnson. For those of you who don't recall the whole Heatley saga, here's a refresher. After Heatley's car accident in Atlanta which killed teammate Dan Snyder, Heatley requested a trade. He was sent to Ottawa for Marian Hossa. After two straight 50-goal seasons, Heatley signed a six-year, $45 million extension to his then-current contract, which had one year left. The deal had a no-trade clause. After the 2008-09 season ended - the first season under his lucrative extension - Heatley requested a trade. Ottawa moved to make a deal before July 1 in order to avoid paying him a $4 million roster bonus.

That takes us up to last night, when Ottawa made a deal with Edmonton for Heatley. So what happened? Heatley invoked his no-trade clause and killed the deal. Rumors state that Heatley is just trying to screw the Senators out of $4 million and will approve the trade after Ottawa is officially on the hook for this money. If you believe what you hear, the Rangers were so turned off by this display that they removed themselves from the Heatley sweepstakes.

To me, it doesn't work both ways. You can't request a trade, then conveniently cite your no-trade clause as a reason for nixing a potential deal. If Heatley refuses to go to Edmonton, if I were Bryan Murray, I'd take Heatley off the block and force him to play for Ottawa. After all, Heatley did sign a no-trade clause.

Free Agent Frenzy

We're past 12 PM on July 1, which can only mean one thing - deals are being made by the second. We'll try to give our thoughts on some of the big moves of the day as they pop up.

1:10 PM: Mattias Ohlund to Tampa Bay, 7 years, $24.5m ($3.5m/year)
- Bryan: Um... interesting? On one hand, Ohlund is the first casualty of the long-term deals given to the Sedin twins and the rumored long-term deal the Canucks are working on with Roberto Luongo. On the other, seven years is a lot of years, particularly for a 32-year-old defenseman. Hey, you know who would have been a great fit for Tampa Bay? Dan Boyle! Oh, wait, nevermind...

1:18 PM: Colton Orr to Toronto, 4 years, $4M ($1M/year)
- Bryan: This one comes from Darren Dreger's Twitter and a text from Zach. Leafs fans will expect the world from Orr with a 4-year contract, then will promptly turn on him when they realize he isn't a superstar. Four years is a ton for an enforcer. But God forbid Brian Burke doesn't make a splash on July 1.
- Zach: Wouldn't call him a "splash" but he is a big loss to the Rangers. Not points wise (1G, 4A, and an awful -15 last year), but they should try to pick up a big-name medical staff for their players with all the cheap shots Chris Pronger is going to take on them next year. Who's going to protect them? Aaron Voros? Wade Redden? Get real.

1:58 PM: Craig Anderson to Colorado, 2 years, $3.6M ($1.8M/year)
- Zach: Not huge news, but I think the Islanders probably wanted him, and he would've been good there if Rick DiPietro can't play this year.
- Bryan: Anderson would have been great for the Islanders to nab, but this is actually a good signing. It sets a fairly low price for whoever they end up signing. Besides, if Anderson actually plays well for a depleted Colorado team, he'll be in line for a big payday in two years.

2:07 PM: Marian Hossa to Chicago, 12 years, $62M ($5.2M/year)
- Bryan: Chicago is aware that they have to sign Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to long-term deals, right? The Hawks are starting to make the Rangers look like a fiscally responsible team. That said, Hossa should fit in great with the high-flying Blackhawks. And the price isn't bad at all.
- Zach: Contract is probably front-loaded like Zetterberg's so that in 8 years if they have to buy him out or trade him, it's a lot easier. Still, 12 years for someone who hasn't been a point-per-game player in 2 years is crazy. Some might also argue he is a loser, being on the losing end of the Finals twice.

- Bryan: As per Darren Dreger's Twitter (ugh), the first eight years of the deal will pay $59.3 million, while the final four will pay $3.5. Smart move by the Hawks.

2:18 PM: Ty Conklin to St. Louis, 2 years, $2.6M ($1.3M/year)
- Bryan: Obviously, this is a temporary move, as Conklin will be moved to one of the Winter Classic participants before long. Conklin might have found himself a home in St. Louis as the team grows, but he probably deserves more money after having a fine season in Detroit.

2:21 PM: Dwayne Roloson to NY Islanders, 2 years, $5M ($2.5M/year)
- Bryan: I can get on board with this. The money is a bit steep, but you're getting a guy who will play at least 25 games each of the next two years. Roloson can also provide some veteran leadership, as he was part of the 2006 Oilers as well as some Minnesota teams who have made deep playoff runs. As per Darren Dreger, Roloson wanted a second year, which the Islanders were willing to do and the Oilers were not.

2:58 PM: Donald Brashear to NY Rangers, 2 years, $2.8M ($1.4M/year)
- Bryan: Great recovery from losing Orr. Brashear wore an A in Washington and could provide the Rangers with some good leadership as well as some toughness. Not exactly the big splash Rangers fans were looking for (or dreading, as the case may be), but there's still time.
- Zach: In the past 3 years, Brashear has been suspended twice for actions he has done AGAINST the Rangers! He sucker-punched Aaron Ward (something we all wanted to do) and then tried to decapitate Blair Betts. One, I assume Betts won't be back. Two, it's a decent move from a hockey sense (he is more talented of a player than Orr) but I'm not sure I'll be able to root for Brashear, especially when he fights Orr in Toronto. Of course, I'll always root for the Rangers, but rooting for him will be very hard.

3:48 PM: NHL Network needs new commercials
- Zach: If I see the "new" NHL.com commercial with Eddie O or a 2-minute commercial for debt reduction starring a Barack Obama speech, I might give Donald Brashear $1.4M to attack Bob McKenzie.

And I love that commercial of everyone lifting the Stanley Cup, but I've seen in 9 times today alone.

By the way, it's so awkward watching McKenzie, Pierre McGuire, and Darren Pang banted while no news trickles down.

Jaroslav Spacek just signed in Montreal and they said, "Finally, we have news to report."

Islanders Free Agent Predictions

Zach has already made his predictions for what we might see on July 1. The trade of Scott Gomez for Chris Higgins gives the Rangers plenty of room to make yet another July 1 blunder. That much we can all agree on. But the Islanders? It's a little tougher.

For the Islanders, money isn't going to be an issue insofar as the salary cap. By the time the Islanders sign John Tavares and sign their restricted free agents (Blake Comeau, Jack Hillen, etc.) to qualifying offers, the Isles will be at the salary floor. I can't see them having a payroll higher than $45 million for the upcoming year.

The Islanders will have two pressing needs this year - a backup goalie and an enforcer.

Backup Goalie

Joey MacDonald and Yann Danis are both unrestricted free agents; both will test the market. Their respective stocks will likely never be higher, as both hit career highs in games played last season. You've got to figure both of them are out of the picture.

The Islanders need a goalie who can carry the load if Rick DiPietro can't play, but won't mind being second fiddle to DP and his enormous contract. A one-year deal to a guy like Olaf Kolzig wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Kolzig will want to prove he's still got it after losing his starting job in Tampa Bay, he's got a two-syllable name the fans can chant ("D-P", "Jo-ey", "Da-nis", "Du-bie"), and he's more than capable of playing for a stretch when/if DiPietro is on the shelf. There's also the possibility of a Wade Dubielewicz return to Long Island. Other options, who will probably want more money or a better chance to win, include Dwayne Roloson and Ty Conklin. In Conklin's case, though, look for him to sign with whoever gets the Winter Classic this year.

Enforcer

Last year, just about every Islanders regular saw at least ten minutes of ice time per game. That's all four lines and all three pairs of defensemen. The only two players who didn't make the ten-minute mark were Mitch Fritz and Joel Rechlicz. While every single other Islander saw valuable minutes in the third period, but Fritz and Rechlicz were chained to the bench in important situations. If the Isles are to carry an enforcer - and with guys like John Tavares and Josh Bailey, they're pretty much going to have to - they need someone who can actually play hockey as well.

The two players that come to mind for the Islanders are Chris Neil and Colton Orr. Neil is a guy who can play as well as fight; he scored 16 goals for Ottawa in 2005-06, when he saw regular power play time. He's been injury-prone, but saw plenty of ice time even when Ottawa was stacked. Orr didn't score a whole lot on the Rangers, which only makes him like every one of his teammates, but he's got more talent than your average enforcer and would come cheaper than Neil. I honestly can't see Neil coming to Long Island when he'll get plenty of offers from top teams, but Orr could be had. He knows the Atlantic Division opponents well and could stand up to the heavyweights on rival teams.

The Unknown

There are a ton of guys that are going to be looking for new teams. The Sedin twins, Marian Gaborik, Martin Havlat, Mike Cammalleri should be on the move. In the comments section of his July 1 post, Zach suggested that landing the Sedins could put the Islanders on the map immediately. That said, I wouldn't count on any of these guys. The Islanders have to build toward the future, and part of the future in the "new NHL" is being able to sign the players you've drafted to long-term contracts. The Islanders would do well to avoid any long-term commitments unless they're sure these players are part of the future. They already made one mistake with Rick DiPietro. Let's not see another one.

In the end, I'd look for them to pick up a goalie, but maybe not right away. Same with some offensive muscle. I could see them re-signing Andy Hilbert, but Hilbert might want to test the UFA waters. I see the Islanders being quiet, but making solid moves that will pay off over the course of 2009-10.

In 13 Hours...

In less than 13 hours, free agency will start. Last year, on June 30, 2008, this web site probably had 10-15 posts.

In fact, I remember one that I wrote about the 4 big free agents for the Rangers: Sean Avery, Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, and Martin Straka. I presumed Straka would leave if Jagr stayed, that Shanahan would not be back, and Avery wouldn't either. What I didn't predict was that Avery would sign elsewhere, get banished from the NHL, and return half-priced in February. But, really, I doubt many people guessed that. I remember I also put a good word in for Mark Streit in hopes he would be a Ranger. And I said that Wade Redden was awful and no team, especially the Rangers, should overpay for him. Well.

Anyway, this year, not as many posts. The Rangers, up until about 6 hours ago, were up near the Cap, and the Islanders appear to be growing from the inside, or at least attempting to. Besides some fillers and 4th line players, the big news would be which players wouldn't be returning.

Well, with Scott Gomez gone, $5M is freed up. The 3 players I would love to see don Rangers blue next season are, in order...

Mike Cammalleri, Mike Komisarek, Rob Scuderi

Cammalleri adds instant offense at a reasonable price. He scored 39 last year and had his 2nd 80+ point season (out of 4 career seasons). Plus, he's only 27, so a 5-year deal for $24-25M wouldn't be insane.

Remember how well Komisarek would shut down Jagr? He isn't going to give you many points, but he will crush opponents, clear the crease, kill penalties, and he would go a lot way to shutting down Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin 6 times a year. Ah, but would he and Avery get along?

Scuderi will probably come cheap, maybe $1.5-2M. I think he grew up an Islanders fan, but even so, he can be enticed to playing in Manhattan. He did great in the Stanley Cup Finals, and gives his best every single shift. He would make a great 4th defenseman.

The only problem with signing D is there are so many of them. Redden, Girardi, Staal, Gilroy (according to reports, he is looking good), and Rozsival will all be on the team next season. That leaves just one or two spots and not much money to spend, since most of the Cap space should be used for scoring help (with some saved for emergencies and the trade deadline).

Should be an interesting day. Even though nothing happens until about 1:30, I'll be tuning in at noon to see how awkward it gets when nothing happens. Can't wait to see Bob McKenzie text messaging people on-air to see what's going on.

(I was happy that Dany Heatley was being sent to Edmonton, not because I want him in the West, but because I don't want the Rangers to trade a lot for him. The Rangers don't need a different $7+M deal for 5 years, especially one who requests trades from everywhere he has played. If they wanted a headcase with talent that he sometimes uses, hey, Alex Kovalev is a free agent tomorrow, too.)

Gomez Traded...

There are 2 big things in the Scott Gomez trade (to Montreal, for Smithtown's Chris Higgins, as you all know by now).

1) As we know, cap space. Higgins is making $1.9M against the Cap, and I'm trying to find out how long he has left on his deal. However, they save $5M by doing this move. If they don't get Dany Heatley, Mike Cammallari would be a good fit for that $5M. I would much rather have Cammallari and Higgins as opposed to just Gomez, wouldn't you?

2) The other big thing is Ryan McDonagh. He was drafted 12th overall in 2007 (5 picks before Alexei Cherepanov, 8 before Angelo Esposito). According to a Montreal Canadiens fan I am friends with, this was one of the big pieces and he was very sorry to see him go. He was their highest-rated prospect at any position, and he is incredibly fast. He is also big, a very physical player, and very offensively talented.

So, a good trade for the Rangers. How Bob Gainey was roped into this, I'll never know. Maybe Glen Sather let him take credit for catching a shark on a fishing trip one day. Beats me.

Anyway, look for McDonagh next year. He could be another young D-man on the blueline, probably not next season but the year after.

Bryan's Take: I have no idea how this trade went through. The Rangers got the two best guys in the deal and shed some serious salary in the process. Of course, you know this means the Rangers will sign another underachiever to an absurd contract tomorrow, but still. Sather is absolved of one of his biggest blunders and actually looks good in the process. And I guess we can put the "Lecavalier to Montreal" rumors to bed once and for all. Just think, for just about the same money as they'll pay Gomez, they could have a perennial All-Star. Aside from Montreal fans, probably the most upset person is Stan Fischler, who can't be all homoerotic with Gomez during their intermission interviews anymore.

What I Expect on July 1...

This is what I expect to happen on July 1 at noon, the start of free agency...

- TSN/Versus to have awkward coverage from noon until 2:00, when the signings start to happen. People like Ed Olczyk and Pierre McGuire (whose real name, by the way, no joke, is Regis) will sit talking about what might happen and periodically write text messages to other people, fishing for a story, while on the air.

- Colton Orr will not be offered a contract with the Rangers. On a related note, expect a lot more mangames missed in 2009-10 to injury without an enforcer in the lineup (remember the awful decision to sit him in Game 6 and what Donald Brashear did to Blair Betts?).

- The Islanders will sign an enforcer to protect John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, and Josh Bailey, much like the Capitals did when they signed Brashear to protect Alex Ovechkin. By the way, Orr and Brashear are both unrestricted free agents.

- Marian Hossa will sign on in Pittsburgh, citing "I think the Penguins give me the best chance to win a Cup, and I'm just happy to be here... again."

- The Rangers will not make a big splash in the free agent pool for once, mostly because they'll have no Cap-space due to 4 big splashes in the past 2 Julys.

- Noticing that they only have Aaron Voros, Mark Bell, and Brian Boyle under contract, the Rangers will go and sign another "gritty" 3rd/4th line winger who can't fight and won't score. Oh, what? Ryan Hollweg is a free agent? Quick, give him a million dollars!

- Glen Sather will once again laugh at Nik Antropov wanting $5M for his 59 points last year, while basking in the fact that he gave Chris Drury over $7M for comparable numbers.

- Bill Guerin will stay in the Atlantic division, either re-signing in Pittsburgh, or heading to Philadelphia or back to New Jersey.

- No free agents will want to play on Long Island again, regardless of who they drafted 1st overall.

- Both the Islanders and Rangers will want Mike Cammallari and his 40-goal season, but won't be able to sign him. The Rangers won't because they have no money, and the Islanders won't because, well, see above.

- The Sedin twins will not get their 12-year contracts because no GM in their right mind would give away two contracts to people who will be 40 when they expire. And no GM would be willing to pay $6M against the Cap to two different players when they are 37, 38, 39, or 40. Except, of course, Glen Sather, but luckily, the Rangers have no Cap room.

- Blair Betts and Freddy Sjostrom will not re-sign in New York. On a related note, the #1 PK will fall to around #15 or so, and Drury, Brandon Dubinsky, Michal Rozsival, etc., will be too tired to do anything on offense from playing so much PK-time.

- Journeyman Mike Sillinger will retire.

- Sather will forfeit 4 1st round draft picks by sending a $6.5M offer sheet to Vancouver for horrendously out-of-shape Kyle Wellwood.

- Instead of big, mean, passionate Antropov, Sather will opt for gutless, fancy, non-scoring Nik Zherdev.

- Instead of going for a good defenseman like Rob Scuderi, Mike Komisarek, Mattias Ohlund, or Francois Beauchemin, they'll probably take a salary-eater like Hal Gill or Marc-Andre Bergeron.

- Scuderi... Islander? He's in line a for big raise and they have the Cap-space, and he's from Syosset.

A Vacation...

As the Rangers disappear, so do I.

Been watching a little of the NHL Playoffs (mainly Anaheim/Detroit). I'm rooting for Vancouver, even though I wouldn't be angry if Boston won.

Read about Markus Naslund retiring also. Some outlets (New York Times, for one) claim that if he didn't retire, he would've been bought out. The outcome of a buyout or a retirement would've been the same - him not on the ice - but now he saves the Rangers cap space (if my calculations are correct, about $1.3M per year is saved in cap space). Class act from a good guy. He could've done the scumbag think and taken the buyout like most people in NY would have done (Stephon Marbury, Alex Rodriguez, etc.), but he chose to go out on his own terms. It's just sad that the news of an upcoming (and unconfirmed) buyout had to leak.

Naslund had the will, but he didn't have the legs anymore. He tried every game, but his skills declined severely, from a career-high 104 in 2002-03, to 84, 79, 60, 55, and now 46. He did have a decent showing in 7 postseason games this year, going 1-2-3.

* * *

So what can the Rangers, saddled with 4 cumbersome contracts, do next season?

Of the pending UFAs, Blair Betts and Colton Orr should be invited back. Betts is the best penalty killer in the league and is good on faceoffs (49.3% this year, not great, but serviceable). Orr is needed so goons like Donald Brashear don't take liberties with Betts or Sean Avery. Nik Antropov should be back, I think. I know other fans don't agree, but I think he plays with a passion in NY and likes being a Ranger.

On D, Derek Morris and Paul Mara are UFAs. I like both of them, but there won't be room unless Wade Redden or Michal Rozsival get traded. Redden is nearly immovable, but Rozsival might be moved if the Rangers lose picks in the process.

Of the restricted free agents, a lot of people are torn on Nik Zherdev. I think he has all the talent in the world, but can he mine it? I wouldn't mind him coming back on a one-year deal, maybe to play with Artem Anisimov and Antropov, but if they let him go, fine. A friend of mine said it would be good if another team offers him a contract and the Rangers take the draft pick compensation.

Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky will obviously be re-signed. Corey Potter probably will, the be a 6th defenseman this year, or just to serve as a backup incase injuries occur.

Now, Fred Sjostrom and Lauri Korpikoski.

I vote in favor of Sjostrom. He is one of the fastest on the team, and he gives it his all every single shift, much like Petr Prucha did. Plus, him and Betts are a great tandem on the PK, and Sjostrom is so versatile, he can play 2nd line or 4th line.

Korpikoski? Dump him! I know the Rangers didn't have dynamic offensive skills this year, but he didn't help. I know he is a first-round pick a few years ago (in 2004), but who cares. Let him go. Either trade his rights on Draft Day for a pick or prospect, package him with someone, or let him walk.

That's all for tonight. I have in-depth thoughts on this, but they're still muddled right now.

For now, let's just enjoy the playoffs.

Requiem for a Team...

Superstitious as I am, to prepare for tonight's Game 7, I did what I did for their last Game 7: Went to my fourth-grade class, headed to the Sunrise Mall, changed the lyrics to a song on the radio in my mom's Volvo to words about the Rangers winning the Stanley Cup, and sat down in my den to watch the game.

What can I say about the game itself? Not much. You watched it, I watched it, we know what happened. A great defensive play by Ryan Callahan turned into a double-deflection. Henrik Lundqvist was in position to stop a shot, but he couldn't get over to stop the freak deflection. Not his fault, not Callahan's, not Dan Girardi's.

I am pretty positive that when the players were gathering around Lundqvist at the end of the game, they were saying, "Sorry. We know you're the best in the game. Wish we could help you out. You don't deserve this." And I'm pretty sure he regretted signing a multi-year deal to be here.

I didn’t want to say anything earlier just in case the Rangers pulled out a Game 7 victory in Washington, but since that dream bubble has burst, I will say it: I had the same feeling going into Game 7 tonight that I did going into Game 6 in Buffalo in May 2007: defeat.

I did not, however, have this feeling for Game 5 in Pittsburgh, when I thought the Rangers could win. My theory was, win Game 5, Game 6 would be a guarantee, and Game 7 a 50/50 chance.

However, after Buffalo won Game 5 in overtime, you knew what would happen. Beaten, the Rangers would return to MSG and put up a half-hearted effort, and the Sabres would pounce upon them. And that did happen, with the Rangers going down 4-2 in the 2nd before a futile third period brought the score to a respectable 5-4.

The difference in Game 5 in Buffalo and Game 6 at MSG this past Sunday? Chris Drury scored in Buffalo.

I won’t blame this series or this season on Chris Drury. He is given 1st line money because of a great opportunity he was given: He beat the Rangers when he tied the game with 7.7 seconds left, then became one of the 3 best free agent forwards available less than 2 months later. Fact is, he is a 2nd line player. It’s not his fault that Glen Sather thought his career-high 69 points (37 G, 32 A) in 2006-07 was worthy of Jaromir Jagr/Joe Thornton money.

However, it again might be dark times ahead for the Rangers. As I’ve mentioned before, this team is handcuffed with Scott Gomez, Wade Redden, and Michal Rozsival. I’m actually getting sick of writing it, but here goes one more time:

This team has these insane salaries on the books for 5 more years (Gomez, Redden) and 3 more years (Rozsival). Once again, it isn’t their faults they’re getting paid this much money. Gomez got lucky also - him, Drury, and Daniel Briere were the top free agent forwards that summer, and he capitalized. The only this Redden is at fault for is accepting NY’s offer when another team offered him the same exact contract, but he wanted to play in NY (I can only guess that team was Toronto, though it is unconfirmed). Rozsival liked the Rangers for giving him a chance to comeback after the lockout, and Sather apparently thought his lax defensive play and his over-passing on the power play was worthy of Rob Blake/Sergei Zubov money.

No GM in their right mind would accept a trade for these underachievers (or I guess they are just “achieving” to their potential, which isn’t very high). In a salary cap world, who would take a $7M center until 2014 with a 5.9 shooting percentage (including empty netters) and who can’t crack 45 assists? Who would want a $6.5M defenseman with 3 goals and limited defensive skills? Is a $5M player who is responsible for more shorthanded goals against than power play goals for going to be high on anyone’s summer trading list?

Be sure, the darkest days are coming if these salaries are still on the books. No good free agents can be signed when the team teeters so close to the edge of the salary cap. That is $18.5M that can’t be alloted to re-signing Paul Mara or Derek Morris instead, or can’t be used to make a move at a real first line player, either via free agency or a trade.

Think Atlanta would accept Scott Gomez for Ilya Kovalchuk? Get real.

I had said numerous times that $39M can't buy you heart in this Emerald City. Tonight, Redden proved that. He actually did have one good play - I told my girlfriend to write down that after 8 pre-season games, 81 regular season games for him, and 7 playoff games, he finally had a good play. He then went and ruined everything by standing in front of Sergei Federov and refusing to drop down to block a shot. Apparently, Drury isn't the one with the broken hand, Redden is, as he also couldn't throw his stick out fast enough to try to block the shot once he decided he was too precious to drop down.

Five more years of Gomez. Five more years of Redden.

Something's gotta give.

Matt Gilroy...

I won't dwell much on a player who won't be in a Ranger uniform for another 5 months, but I will add a few notes on Matt Gilroy.

This year, the Rangers have 6 defensemen (regardless of whether or not you think some of them are really "7th d-men").

Next year, the following 4 will still be under contract: Wade Redden (5 more years); Michal Rozsival (3 more years); Dan Girardi (1 more year then UFA); and Marc Staal (1 more year then RFA, will be extended long-term next year).

That leaves Paul Mara and Derek Morris.

So we have 4 under contract, and Corey Potter and Matt Gilroy, both NHL-ready (or will be by the time training camp rolls around). I say Gilroy will be NHL-ready for two reasons: 1) He could have signed in the NHL last year but wanted to play one more year at Boston University so he could win the title and play with his brother and graduate. 2) You don't give a minor-leaguer a $2.5M deal for 2 years.

That leaves 6 defensemen. I'm assuming Potter will be on the big club next year. He's cheap ($542,000 against the cap) and still has a year left on his deal.

But what about Bobby Sanguinetti? He's making $855,000 to stay in the minors. Wouldn't they want him on the team? By all accounts, he will be ready to play in the NHL next year too. There's also a guy named Vladimir Denisov in the AHL who is having a good year and could be a 7th defenseman (will probably serve as an injury call-up though).

And don't count out Paul Mara. He could have signed elsewhere for $3M last offseason, but chose to stay a Ranger for $1.95M. “There was interest from other teams but I wanted to win in New York" is what he said in July when he re-signed. He has also played very well this year, better than he did last year, and you can't deny that someone plays better when he wants to be here as opposed to just collecting a $6.5M paycheck.

So what am I getting at? I'm saying that something will have to give. The four under contract, Gilroy, Potter, Sanguinetti, maybe even Mara, that's a lot of D-men. A trade will have to happen to accomodate everything, and of course, we'll all hope it will be Redden or Rozsival. I think it would have to be Rozsival, because it's hard to move a $30M+ contract when the player has no desire to be good.

Of course, this is Glen Sather we're talking about, the man who got the same player 3 times in a week last July when he signed Aaron Voros and Pat Rissmiller and traded for Dan Fritsche. What he probably will do is trade for another defenseman, sign someone on July 1, and start the season with 9 on the blueline.

Montreal Canadiens...

From the All-Star break until the start of Free Agency on July 1, the Montreal Canadiens have a big task ahead of them. The following players become unrestricted free agents at midnight on July 1...

Forwards: Alex Tanguay, Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev, Robert Lang, Tom Kostopoulos, Steve Begin

Defensemen: Mike Komisarek, Francois Bouillion, Patrice Brisebois, Mathieu Dandenault

That doesn't include restricted free agents Tomas Plekanec, Chris Higgins, and Guillaume Latrendresse.

That's 10 UFAs and 3 big-time RFAs. 

How does this affect the Rangers and Islanders?

Notice on that list the two Long Island-born players, Komisarek and Higgins. I can't speculate on what the Habs will do, but there won't be room or money for all of these players. 

Higgins had 52 points last year and was on pace for around 40 this season, but he has been out of the lineup since early December with a shoulder injury. He isn't a great player and probably never will be first-line material, but he is a real solid third-line player who can float through the lineup (he can be a banger on the 4th line or a scorer on the 2nd). He's technically a left wing, but he played center at times last year. A comparison to Higgins would be Ryan Malone.

Komisarek is the type of defender you build your team around, the type of player that every team covets. You know the type of d-man the Rangers are missing? The kind they overpaid for and hoped Wade Redden would be? This is him. He is the real deal. He doesn't play the power play a lot, but he kills penalties and he shuts down the opponents' top lines, night after night. He crushed Jaromir Jagr every time they met last year, which at the time made me angry because a) I didn't want him to injure Jagr and b) the Rangers were sorely missing a player like him.

If the Canadiens don't re-sign Komisarek, they would be making a huge mistake. Obviously, they won't deal him at the trade deadline because they'll need a warrior like him in the playoffs, so they one way to get him would be through the checkbook in the summer. Whenever you hear someone say they need a "top 2 defenseman" who can "log minutes" and "play shut-down hockey," they are talking about him. 

Now, let's just hope he grew up a Rangers fan.

Mats Sundin

With the regular season just a month away, one big name remains unsigned. That, of course, would be Mats Sundin, who just can't seem to decide what he wants to do. Many are comparing him with Brett Favre, who could stake a serious claim to being the biggest drama queen in the history of professional sports. However, there's a more apt comparison for Sundin's current state; it's just not a popular one.

Roger Clemens.

People forget that Clemens was the first player to do the whole "I'm going to wait till the season starts, then name my team and my price" thing that's so popular these days. Michael Strahan got to skip training camp last year for doing this. Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermayer got heroes' welcomes when they returned to Anaheim last winter. Hell, Clemens himself did it three years in a row, culminating in last year's $28 million debacle. But hey, he got his money, right?

And that's what Sundin is banking on. He knows that if he waits long enough, someone's going to get hurt and that team is going to need a big-time replacement. Sundin, then, would essentially have the team by the balls. He could command that widely-reported $10 million figure and end up on a Cup contender, and all he'd have to do is be patient.

It looks like he's already got that part down; he's already stated he's not going to decide anything before the start of the season. And why should he? He's so much better served taking his time and seeing how things develop. There are plenty of teams with plenty of cap room - and plenty of holes to fill. Those holes will only get bigger as the season progresses. Why commit now when you can commit later, get paid (and treated) like a king, and still have a shot at winning a Cup?

In other words, we can stop with the "Sundin to the Islanders" rumors; they were comical at best to begin with. But could Sundin end up with the Rangers if they feel they still miss Jaromir Jagr? Absolutely. And if it happens, I just hope he shows up in James Dolan's press box at MSG to announce his comeback. "Well, they came and got me out of Stockholm..."

Now that would be an unforgettable moment.

But Isn't Nikolai Zherdev Going to Wear Number 13...

Reports, false or otherwise, have the Rangers still interested in Mats Sundin, even with all the forwards and high priced players already on their roster. 

While I do doubt that he will play on Broadway, there is a chance, and we do know that he spoke to the Rangers' organization even before Toronto gave Montreal permission to talk to him. So, there is an outside chance.

Of course, the Rangers would have to move salary to get him there. And he would have to agree to a discount. Vancouver's $10M per year for 2 years deal is still on the table. Would he give that up to play for a chance at the Cup in Manhattan, even if it means taking less money than 2002 All-Star Wade Redden's $6.5M? Would Sundin also accept a one-year deal?

Part of me thinks the Rangers should give this up and continue with the rebuilding that has renewed the organization since the lockout. They have homegrown talent named Dawes, Callahan, Dubinsky, Korpikoski, Anisimov, Byers, Moore and Prucha who can put the puck in the net (yes, I realize they all will not be on the team come October). Those people have rejuvenated the franchise, and another big-name veteran would again delay their development.

Also, with 5 centers on the roster (Gomez, Drury, Dubinsky, Fritsche, Betts), another 3rd first-line center would be overkill.

However, there is no denying his skill, even at 37. He was drafted in 1989, a year before Jaromir Jagr, two years after Brendan Shanahan, and one pick before the Islanders drafted Dave Chyzowski (nice cheap shot).

His stats have never wavered. Most superstars tail off towards the end of their careers. Mark Messier had a great season in 1996-97, then never again reach point-per-game status, scoring 60, 48, 54, 67, 23, 40, and 43 points until he retired. Mike Modano, drafted the year before Sundin went 1st overall, had good seasons in 2002-03 and 05-06, but has been a damper on the team in other years. In Eric Lindros' last 2 seasons, he played a total of 82 games and scored 48 points, a far cry from his pre-concussion 70 points in 41 games in 94-95 and his 115 points in 73 games in 95-96.

Sundin has had a couple of off-years, but ever since his rookie year (58 points, 82 games) he has gotten atleast 72 points (47 in 47 in the strike-shortened 1994-95 year). He has averaged over a point per game every year since the lockout, an accomplished feat on a team that has been just under mediocre and missed the playoffs in each of those 3 seasons.

I guess I wrote this post to maybe convince myself that if I log onto the computer tomorrow and read "Rangers Trade Prucha, Sign Sundin", or I get a text while I'm Vegas saying "sundin a ranger, sweet", I won't be upset.

After all, he is a leader who stands up and takes responsibility. He's a Brendan Shanahan type player who will always face the media and take the heat when needed, except he can still play unlike the older and more-injured Shanahan.

I still think they should take the team they have now, but if they do sign him for one-year, it automatically makes them favorites in the non-improved East. 

Think about it: Pittsburgh replaced Marian Hossa with two former Islander journeymen. Montreal's biggest signing was Georges Laraque. Philadelphia didn't do much. Boston signed an unproven kid (Blake Wheeler) and bought out a veteran who will end up in Hollywood (Glen Murray). Atlanta is horrible. Washington didn't do much either besides locking up their own players and getting worse in goal. The Devils signed two back-up goalies and one past-his-prime center (Bobby Holik) and one solid winger (Brian Rolston). But besides Tampa Bay, who has really improved? Nobody. Whoever lands Sundin automatically becomes a favorite... unless it's Toronto, who might never be good again.

It's Not The Arena

If I hear one more person complain about how the Islanders need a new arena to attract free agents, I'm going to puke.

As I write this, I'm watching a Vintage Game on the NHL Network from 1983. The Islanders are playing the Bruins in Game 6 of the Wales Conference Finals. The Islanders are winning by a score of 7-3 and the crowd is boisterious. As we all know, the Isles go on to win the game, the series, and their fourth straight Stanley Cup. But that's not the point.

This is the point. The Coliseum is every bit of a dump now as it was in 1983. Yet, people have packed the place at any point when the team has been good. It was full in the 80s. It was full in 1993 and it was full in 2002. It's obvious that if there's a product worth watching, fans will turn out in great numbers to watch it. Look at the Mets. Shea Stadium is the most awful stadium in all of professional sports, but they've set attendance records in each of the past two years. They've also attracted premier free agents, and these players would have signed even if CitiField wasn't on the horizon.

So, getting back to the Islanders, what's the problem? If it's not the arena, it's got to be something else. In this case, that "something else" is the quality of the team. Sorry to say it, but it's true. The proverbial elephant in the room for the Islanders is the fact that their "youth movement" is a misnomer. Their organizational depth is average; worse, there's nobody on the team that can really help bring this talent along for the long haul. There are a lot of teams with a lot more depth and a better plan to develop their prospects. That's just the way it is.

I'm not trying to be critical of the Islanders. That said, I'm sick of the excuses that always seem to pop up when things go wrong. When things went awry last year, it was because there were too many injuries. Never mind the fact that the Islanders were in ninth place or worse for the final six weeks of the season. It's not that they were screwed; they just weren't good enough. The same goes for the prior season's playoff against Buffalo. Maybe it's not what fans want to hear, but the truth is the Islanders are nowhere near the league's elite.

You don't need excuses when you win. And when you're winning, the good players want to play for you. Two years ago, Pittsburgh was a last-place team in a crappy arena on the verge of being shipped off to Kansas City. Now, they're one of the best teams and, as a result, a top destination for free agents. The Devils used to play in a half-empty dump, but still drew free agents because they're always competitive. Now that they play in a half-empty palace, players have the exact same level of interest. If the Islanders had just won the Stanley Cup, do you really think players would spurn the Isles because they play in subpar facilities? I highly doubt it.

Again, it's not the arena. It's the team. If the Islanders want to get the best players, they need to build slowly and wisely. This year, if they're in 10th place again at the trading deadline and they still have Mike Comrie, Mike Sillinger, Bill Guerin, and Doug Weight in the final year of their contracts, then they should suck it up and get what they can get for these players. As much as I love Garth Snow for going for it with the Ryan Smyth deal, the Islanders need to be smart. Within a year or two, they could be a very good young organization. They just need to know who to build around. That would be Kyle Okposo and Rick DiPietro, not The Lighthouse.

On NHL Salaries

Note: This post has nothing to do with the Islanders or Rangers individually, but is certainly relevant to the plight the NHL finds itself in; therefore, it is quite relevant.

In the latest edition of their ridiculous feud, Anaheim GM Brian Burke called out Oilers GM Kevin Lowe and claimed that Lowe was responsible for the inflated salaries we're seeing this year. Apparently, because Lowe signed Buffalo's Thomas Vanek and Anaheim's Dustin Penner to offer sheets last year (Buffalo matched; Anaheim didn't), that's why $300 million in contracts were doled out on July 1 alone. Now, I don't mind Brian Burke, if only because his name is markedly similar to mine, but he's wrong on this one.

Burke's argument is as follows. Generally, a player gets an entry-level contract when he comes into the league. When he starts out-earning that one, he's supposed to be given a mid-level contract, which is eventually topped by the big-money deal he gets when he hits free agency. According to Burke, Lowe's moves have eliminated that middle deal entirely, meaning that a guy goes from his entry-level deal to the big bucks right away.

There are two problems with this statement.

First off, every other sports league has done away with the mid-level deal as well. Look at the NBA. Just a few years ago, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, and Dwayne Wade each went straight from their rookie deals, which paid them roughly $1.5 million a year each, into deals that paid them $20 million a year until they become eligible for free agency. The NFL is no stranger to this phenomenom, either; with non-guaranteed deals, players are always holding out for more money and receiving extensions for years and dollars they'll never see. In Major League Baseball, the trend has turned toward young stars signing with their teams at sliding rates that take them through their arbitration years and, potentially, their first years of free agency. This is as close to what Burke considered a mid-level deal as we will ever see in sports again.

The second issue I have with Burke's blaming of Lowe is that the CBA has pretty much gotten rid of the need for mid-level contracts. Players don't hit free agency until they're 31 years old, by which time they've proven their worth. Very rarely is the case where a team doesn't know what it's getting. As for younger players who would normally be receiving these mid-level deals, that's a different issue entirely. If the player wants to continually prove his worth, thereby driving up his salary, and the team doesn't want to commit to a long-term deal worth big bucks, they can go to arbitration each year. While a player can only request arbitration after his fourth year, it occasionally takes that long for a player to develop; any player who is dominant right away is locked up as soon as possible.

So, to recap...
- Every other sport has done away with mid-level deals.
- Restricted free agents with four years service time can go to arbitration each year if they choose.
- Teams who have excellent restricted free agents are wise to sign them to long-term deals at market value.

Let's look at how Burke himself handled the case of Corey Perry. Perry is a former first-round draft pick, turned 23 in May, and scored 29 goals and had 108 penalty minutes in just his second full NHL season. Surely, someone was going to give him an offer sheet if the Ducks didn't do something. So what happened? Burke signed him to a five-year deal worth $5.25 million per season. That's less than what many of the big-name free agents received; it's half of what Vancouver reportedly offered Mats Sundin. In other words, Burke should thank his lucky stars that he gets to keep Perry for what may be five years of elite production. Sure, he'd rather pay less for that production, but that's the way the NHL is these days.

And the reason for that, of course, is the ridiculous deals given to unrestricted free agents.

We haven't discussed unrestricted free agents yet, and that's because they're the catalyst behind this whole entire thing. The trickle-down effect is unmistakable. Every time a Cliff Fletcher pays $3.5 million a year for Jeff Finger, every other defenseman of his ilk is going to want the same money. That's what drives salaries up, and as much as the GMs complain, they are the ones to blame.

A common cry in the lead-up to July 1st has been, "What was the lockout for?". Personally, I'm at a loss for words on this one. Coming off the lockout in 2005, the salary cap for each team was $39 million. The upcoming season's salary floor will be $40 million. Now, the NHL was smart to link the salary cap to league revenues, but it's not working. Too many teams are forced to put money into bad players just to hit the floor. Also, too many teams find themselves with too much cap room and make the wrong choices. This doesn't even begin to mention the nature of competitive bidding, which is presumably how Wade Redden is making $6.5 million a year to play for the Rangers.

And this is where it gets ugly. Let's use Redden as an example of how a big deal can ultimately ruin a player's career. It's fairly certain that Wade Redden did not request $6.5 million a year from the New York Rangers. However, given the cap room they had and the needs they had, they felt it was necessary to overpay in order to get their player. So, now, Redden has this huge deal, and with that huge deal comes pressure. The fans and media are going to be all over this guy if he doesn't perform at a superhuman level for the next six years. Same with Jeff Finger in Toronto. Nobody's going to turn down the money these guys were offered, but at the same time, their lives are going to get a whole lot complicated as a result of receiving it.

Getting back to mid-level contracts, they're not given because they simply don't exist anymore. Instead, they've been replaced by inflated salaries that aren't earned, just given out because GMs aren't being rescued from themselves. As much as I want to see the NHL succeed, I'm looking forward to the year when the cap doesn't increase; in fact, I'd love to see it decrease, just to see some accountability for all this spending. The GMs in the NHL have taken the most perfect salary system in sports and destroyed it. Instead of blaming each other for it, they need to look in the mirror and realize what they've done - preferably before we need another work stoppage to correct it.

Need To Laugh?

While this news broke yesterday (we here at The Rivalry were out at the NHL Store and a number of city bars), it still remains baffling today.

The Penguins, reeling after losing out on Marian Hossa, picked up the pieces by signing Ruslan Fedotenko and Miroslav Satan to one-year deals. Fedotenko will be getting $2.5 million next year; Satan will receive $3.5 million. So, to recap, that's a lot of mediocre play for $6 million.

Will these two players benefit from playing with superior talent? Absolutely. Will they be worth the money? Hell no! Satan fell off dramatically on Long Island (a development that shocks absolutely no one who follows the Islanders) and Fedotenko never seemed to stand out among the random grinders the Islanders brought in last year. I guess Pittsburgh was right to take the chance, but $6 million is a lot of money for two guys who combined for 74 points last year.

My question is this. If the defending Eastern Conference champions saw it appropriate to pay Fedotenko $2.5 million and Satan $3.5 million, how on Earth could Garth Snow fail to get anything in return for these guys at the trade deadline? Makes you wonder.

A Sad Week...

Not only is today a sad day to be a Ranger fan, but it is a sad week, or at least a bittersweet week.

Sean Avery - the reason the Rangers made the playoffs the past 2 seasons - is gone. Jaromir Jagr - the reason the Rangers are no longer a joke - is gone. 

Wade Redden is here. Markus Naslund is here. Are there any other members of the 2002 All-Star Team that want to sign here, while the checkbook is out? Are Ziggy Palffy, Mike York, or Alexei Zhamnov available?

Michal Rozsival got a huge paycheck. $5M per year for 4 years translates to about $6.50 for every time he opts to pass the puck into traffic instead of shooting the puck on net.

There have been upsides this week. Nik Zherdev is a good pick-up. Brendan Shanahan might be back. Like I predicted on June 27, Dmitri Kalinin is a Ranger.

Truth be told, I am not against signing Naslund. It's a relatively short deal, 2 years, at $8M total. Decent money if he scores a lot. What I like it that he wants to be a Ranger. He told his agent that the top team on his list was the Rangers. 

I like that. Pre-lockout, the Rangers enticed players with money. I like that post-lockout, the Rangers sign players who want to be here (Scott Gomez, Chris Drury, Paul Mara when he re-signs, Shanny, Jagr, even Bobby Sanguenetti and Brandon Dubinsky and Petr Prucha grew up Ranger fans). If Naslund wants to play in NY, he won't phone it in like players used to from 1998-2004.

What I most dislike about Naslund signing here is that it spells the end for Jagr. When the super-Free Agency period started on July 1, 2005, I was hoping Ray Whitney, Naslund, and/or Peter Forsberg would come here. Naslund and Jagr on the same line? Incredible. Now, he is replacing Jagr.

Jagr declined last year, yes, but he was incredible in the playoffs, even with hip problems nagging him since 2005. It won't be the same team next year, that's for sure.

* * * 

For those counting, the Rangers now have 15 forwards (not including about 4 people from Hartford who can make the roster or Shanahan) and 5 defensemen. If you believe the rumor of Paul Mara returning, that's 6 defenders. Fifteen is a glut of forwards. Expect only one or two minor signings (defensemen) and a trade or two to make some room both on the roster and in the salary cap.

Four More Years...

While the Rangers now have four more years of a pass-first, clear-the-crease-last blueline, we also have four less years of Sean Avery.

Wait, did that make sense?

You get the gist of it. You know my view. The Rangers needed Avery just as much as he needed the Rangers. Once an outcast in LA, he came to NY for relatively nothing (Jay Ward, a pick, and a swap of prospects who will never skate in the NHL) and revived a franchise... twice. They made the playoffs the past two seasons because of him and Henrik Lundqvist.

You know how angry I am about him being in Dallas. However, I was on the golf course while this all happened (hey, let's be honest, Glen Sather probably was too). Luckily, I had a stream of texts coming in announcing it. 

I told my golf partner two things. 1) I'm not re-upping my subscription package this year. I was on the edge, and it hindered on Avery's re-signing. I have no problem paying his salary. I will not pay Wade Redden's salary. 2) I'm going to buy a Dallas Stars fallopian tube jersey with "AVERY 16" on the back.

Now, the trade. Nik Zherdev (#13, above) came alive last season for the Blue Jackets, especially at the end. His 61 points and -9 were career bests (hey, give him a break, he played in Ohio). Should be a good trade. Dan Fritsche (#49, above) is a decent player, definitely the throw in to make it an even 2-for-2 trade. To be honest, I thought he was a defenseman until just now. The Rangers don't need another 3rd line center, although he isn't a bad player at all.

The Rangers' biggest problem was defense. 

Now, they have 4 defensemen - Michal Rozsival (overpaid), Redden (grossly overpaid), Dan Girardi, and Marc Staal. Now, they have about 15 or 16 forwards, including one first line winger (Zherdev), and two first line centers (Scott Gomez, Chris Drury). Everyone else is a depth player, or an "energy" player. 

Who's going to score? Who's going to stand in front of Henrik? 

Zherdev is a $2.5M cap hit; Fritsche is well under a million. If memory serves me correct, Fedor Tyutin is making $2.75M against the Cap, and Christian Backman's hit is around $3.3M. While this does give the Rangers a scoring threat, it also opened up a lot of cap room.

Too bad Sean Avery won't see any of that money

* * * 

Do you think Doug Weight will fetch the Islanders a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd round draft pick at the 2009 trade deadline?