Tonight, as I watch the Bruins/Jets game on my large LED TV and the Devils/Ducks game on my outdated laptop, I wonder what I did with myself two years ago when I didn’t know anymore about hockey then that it involved a black puck on cold ice. I figure if anyone is still following this blog, they probably don’t want to read about my reflection on hockey, but nothing has been posted on this blog in quite a while, so I guess beggars can’t be choosers at this point.
Before hockey, my sports world consisted of baseball with a side of football. Discussions were about steroids and century old rivalries. An injury was milked by the prima-donnas and kept them on the bench for at least two or three games. There was usually about 15 minutes of excitement during a game that would last 3 to 4 hours. Sure they were sports, but compared to hockey, they were the lazy man’s game. Maybe that’s why both are considered the red-blooded American sport…
Hockey is something fierce. Most of the time there are blood and guts left on the ice. An injury is a torn ACL that needs surgery to be repaired, not a bruise or even a broken bone. Hockey gives you everything a sport promises and leaves nothing out. I love the sound of a puck pinging off the net, that’s something you don’t get from a dropped pass or a foul ball. You can hear the game happen every second, the slice of a blade racing across ice, a stick slapping the puck through the rink, bodies crashing into each other like steam engines. It almost makes me want to compose an orchestral piece so the sport can really be recognized as an art.
I also love how there is no place for politics in hockey. Most recently, the ridiculousness of the media hounding Tim Thomas for facebook comments and an absence at the White House has been shut down by players and fans alike. There is no room for the personal life on the ice, they don’t use excuses. While it’s quite rough, it’s still a gentleman’s game. The players put themselves and their hockey skills out on the ice, nothing else. You can’t get called off sides on an audible, because hockey players use their actions to prove their glory, not their voice.
While I definitely don’t know as much about the games as some of the boys that contribute to this blog, I like to believe that I know enough. I might not understand the rules or know the regulations, but I’ve grown to respect the sport of it all, the talent and the toughness of the players. Two years ago if you asked me about a hockey player, I probably would have assumed they were all toothless Canadians that were probably poorly educated just because they probably started skipping school at the age of 4 to play hockey and if any of them went to school, they probably got slammed against the boards so often that what brains they had were knocked out. But now I watch the games, I check the stats, and I read the articles. While it gets much less attention than it deserves, hockey is by far the best sport in America, and as the playoffs inch closer and closer, I know it is only going to get better.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
John's Musings-Rangers at the Deadline (Part I)
So John has decided to take a look at what the various options are for the Rangers as the trade deadline looms. The following is part one:
So, out of boredom, the damn Xbox continuously freezing, and reading some potential trade targets on Blueshirt Banter I've decided to give you my insight into what I believe the Rangers should do coming up to the trade deadline. Based on the Rangers' style of play there aren't a lot of players who can fit into the system well. But first, a look at the team's weaknesses I've seen (and read about.)
The biggest weakness of this team is the power play. Going 1-for-a lot in the past couple of games is horrendous for the first place team. Especially 0-for-6 against Ottawa leading to a 3-0 loss. One or two PP goals in that game could have greatly changed to momentum and outcome. While, yes, the Rangers can still win without a PP, imagine how good they could be WITH a PP.
The second big weakness is secondary scoring. Sure, they've gotten it when needed (i.e. Winter Classic) but it's been fairly unreliable. Brian Boyle was a 20-goal man last year but has only 3 this year. Dubinsky, too, was in a huge scoring slump the first half of the season. Wolski and Christensen have been nothing short of useless this season. Fedotenko has been sub-par points-wise. Anisimov has been streaky. Basically, the team needs it's bottom 12 to be more reliable and to produce more.
The team on a whole is below the points total they should be at. Leading scorer, Gaborik, has 41 points in 49 games. Richards is 33 points in 49 games. Both should be point-per-game players or pretty close to it. Stepan, Del Zotto, and Callahan all seem to be producing above average (in my opinion) but the team on a whole needs to be at or above average. Not just a few players.
So, given some of the major, glaring weaknesses, a look at what the Rangers need: a hard-hitting, grinding, scoring, consistent center or winger. In no way does this team need a D-man other than for the PP. However, considering the potential in the farm system right now, any player the Ranger's look at should only be a rental. If they look at core players they need to be PERFECT should a trade be considered. They should not be looking at mid-aged players with 2 or 3 years left on the contract, or anyone who will cost a lot to get who won't be a Ranger for the next 4 or more years.
These are the names that keep coming up who I agree could be good matches for the Rangers (of the many I've seen). They all can play a grinding game and don't shy from being physical - something necessary to be a Ranger - and they can put up points. Unless Sather believes the Rangers have a legitimate shot at the Cup, which we really can't tell yet (we're good but we're definitely an upstart at this point) then I think the Rangers should make absolutely NO moves at the trade deadline. This team should not be touched at all at the deadline or during the off-season. Anyway...
Tuomo Ruutu
Shane Doan
Vinny Prospal
Ruutu is going to cost a lot, I think. His name is out there for many teams which will make his value increase above what he is worth.
Doan would be a perfect fit, but will never leave Phoenix.
We've had Prospal before, we know he's good on the Rangers. He's prone to injuries and older, but as a rental he could work. Nothing more than a 5th round pick, though, would I give. Like last year, we would not be interested in resigning him.
Looking through the bottom 5 teams in each conference right now:
Columbus
Anaheim
Edmonton
Calgary
Phoenix
Tampa
NYI
Carolina
Montreal
Buffalo
NYI won't trade with the Rangers. Simple as that. Edmonton is unlikely due to their having mostly youth they want to hold onto. Tampa has a solid team that is only a few parts short of a winner and isn't likely to trade (except for a goalie). Buffalo also has the parts, but would seem more likely to be making deals in the off-season, although a few players could go (Boyes) at the deadline. Honestly, Calgary and Columbus have nothing of value (except for Prospal on CBJ.) Phoenix, Montreal, Anaheim, and Carolina are the best options for trade partners at the deadline.
Phoenix:
Doan, Whitney, Langkow
All three are on the last year of their contract. Doan, as stated earlier is an amazing fit for the Rangers but the chances of him leaving Phoenix are nill. Whitney could be for sale, and, while he's not a hard-hitter, he can score, he's reliable, and he never quits. Langkow has experience and a fairly good history, but doesn't seem to be on his game anymore. Potential fit if sold for very little. Whitney and Doan are the only two I would take.
Montreal:
Cole, Pacioretty, Kaberle, Gill
Erik Cole, love him. He's a player who would fit well on the Rangers but his cost would be too high for what the Rangers would be willing to give. He's also got 3 years left on his contract so he'll probably retire in Montreal. Pacioretty's cost would also be high. He's young, he's starting to put up the points, and he's a good core player. While I think he'll probably turn out to be Dubinsky-like, he won't be a Ranger any time soon (ever.) Kaberle - no. Gill is a big defensive D-man, wouldn't cost a lot, and has Cup experience, but we just don't need him. Overall, while Montreal seems like a good trade partner they have nothing we want.
Anaheim:
Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan, Visnovsky
Those are the only worthwhile players who aren't Teemu Selanne. The cost for all four would be way too high for the Rangers. Visnovsky would be good for the PP, but I'd rather see our current defensive squad grow. Of the other three Ryan would be the best fit, but again, the cost would be way too high.
Carolina:
Jokinen, Ruutu, LaRose, Ponikarovsky, Gleason, Pitkanen
We don't need D-men so Gleason and Pitkanen are out. Ponikarovsky has been a bust since he left Toronto and we don't need another one of those. LaRose has experience, and seemingly fair stats but I really don't know much about him. Jokinen, if memory serves, is inconsistent. Ruutu would be a fair fit due to his play style, but his cost would be high. Expect Carolina to be an auction - the Rangers will bid, but have a limit.
Of the remaining teams in the league, it all depends on how they view themselves come February 29. Don't expect the Rangers to be trading with Boston, Philly, New Jersey, Washington, Florida, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Vancouver, St. Louis, Detroit, San Jose, or Los Angeles.
Hopefully, Sather will be wise and conservative at the deadline. Slats has had a great record in the past few years.
I leave you with this:
~John
So, out of boredom, the damn Xbox continuously freezing, and reading some potential trade targets on Blueshirt Banter I've decided to give you my insight into what I believe the Rangers should do coming up to the trade deadline. Based on the Rangers' style of play there aren't a lot of players who can fit into the system well. But first, a look at the team's weaknesses I've seen (and read about.)
The biggest weakness of this team is the power play. Going 1-for-a lot in the past couple of games is horrendous for the first place team. Especially 0-for-6 against Ottawa leading to a 3-0 loss. One or two PP goals in that game could have greatly changed to momentum and outcome. While, yes, the Rangers can still win without a PP, imagine how good they could be WITH a PP.
The second big weakness is secondary scoring. Sure, they've gotten it when needed (i.e. Winter Classic) but it's been fairly unreliable. Brian Boyle was a 20-goal man last year but has only 3 this year. Dubinsky, too, was in a huge scoring slump the first half of the season. Wolski and Christensen have been nothing short of useless this season. Fedotenko has been sub-par points-wise. Anisimov has been streaky. Basically, the team needs it's bottom 12 to be more reliable and to produce more.
The team on a whole is below the points total they should be at. Leading scorer, Gaborik, has 41 points in 49 games. Richards is 33 points in 49 games. Both should be point-per-game players or pretty close to it. Stepan, Del Zotto, and Callahan all seem to be producing above average (in my opinion) but the team on a whole needs to be at or above average. Not just a few players.
So, given some of the major, glaring weaknesses, a look at what the Rangers need: a hard-hitting, grinding, scoring, consistent center or winger. In no way does this team need a D-man other than for the PP. However, considering the potential in the farm system right now, any player the Ranger's look at should only be a rental. If they look at core players they need to be PERFECT should a trade be considered. They should not be looking at mid-aged players with 2 or 3 years left on the contract, or anyone who will cost a lot to get who won't be a Ranger for the next 4 or more years.
These are the names that keep coming up who I agree could be good matches for the Rangers (of the many I've seen). They all can play a grinding game and don't shy from being physical - something necessary to be a Ranger - and they can put up points. Unless Sather believes the Rangers have a legitimate shot at the Cup, which we really can't tell yet (we're good but we're definitely an upstart at this point) then I think the Rangers should make absolutely NO moves at the trade deadline. This team should not be touched at all at the deadline or during the off-season. Anyway...
Tuomo Ruutu
Shane Doan
Vinny Prospal
Ruutu is going to cost a lot, I think. His name is out there for many teams which will make his value increase above what he is worth.
Doan would be a perfect fit, but will never leave Phoenix.
We've had Prospal before, we know he's good on the Rangers. He's prone to injuries and older, but as a rental he could work. Nothing more than a 5th round pick, though, would I give. Like last year, we would not be interested in resigning him.
Looking through the bottom 5 teams in each conference right now:
Columbus
Anaheim
Edmonton
Calgary
Phoenix
Tampa
NYI
Carolina
Montreal
Buffalo
NYI won't trade with the Rangers. Simple as that. Edmonton is unlikely due to their having mostly youth they want to hold onto. Tampa has a solid team that is only a few parts short of a winner and isn't likely to trade (except for a goalie). Buffalo also has the parts, but would seem more likely to be making deals in the off-season, although a few players could go (Boyes) at the deadline. Honestly, Calgary and Columbus have nothing of value (except for Prospal on CBJ.) Phoenix, Montreal, Anaheim, and Carolina are the best options for trade partners at the deadline.
Phoenix:
Doan, Whitney, Langkow
All three are on the last year of their contract. Doan, as stated earlier is an amazing fit for the Rangers but the chances of him leaving Phoenix are nill. Whitney could be for sale, and, while he's not a hard-hitter, he can score, he's reliable, and he never quits. Langkow has experience and a fairly good history, but doesn't seem to be on his game anymore. Potential fit if sold for very little. Whitney and Doan are the only two I would take.
Montreal:
Cole, Pacioretty, Kaberle, Gill
Erik Cole, love him. He's a player who would fit well on the Rangers but his cost would be too high for what the Rangers would be willing to give. He's also got 3 years left on his contract so he'll probably retire in Montreal. Pacioretty's cost would also be high. He's young, he's starting to put up the points, and he's a good core player. While I think he'll probably turn out to be Dubinsky-like, he won't be a Ranger any time soon (ever.) Kaberle - no. Gill is a big defensive D-man, wouldn't cost a lot, and has Cup experience, but we just don't need him. Overall, while Montreal seems like a good trade partner they have nothing we want.
Anaheim:
Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan, Visnovsky
Those are the only worthwhile players who aren't Teemu Selanne. The cost for all four would be way too high for the Rangers. Visnovsky would be good for the PP, but I'd rather see our current defensive squad grow. Of the other three Ryan would be the best fit, but again, the cost would be way too high.
Carolina:
Jokinen, Ruutu, LaRose, Ponikarovsky, Gleason, Pitkanen
We don't need D-men so Gleason and Pitkanen are out. Ponikarovsky has been a bust since he left Toronto and we don't need another one of those. LaRose has experience, and seemingly fair stats but I really don't know much about him. Jokinen, if memory serves, is inconsistent. Ruutu would be a fair fit due to his play style, but his cost would be high. Expect Carolina to be an auction - the Rangers will bid, but have a limit.
Of the remaining teams in the league, it all depends on how they view themselves come February 29. Don't expect the Rangers to be trading with Boston, Philly, New Jersey, Washington, Florida, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Vancouver, St. Louis, Detroit, San Jose, or Los Angeles.
Hopefully, Sather will be wise and conservative at the deadline. Slats has had a great record in the past few years.
I leave you with this:
~John
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