Ken Campbell at The Hockey News ranks this year's NHL General Managers...17. Glen Sather, New York Rangers
What to make of Sather? He had a Hall of Fame career followed by a hall of shame career during his tenure with the Edmonton Oilers. When he got the unlimited budget with the Rangers he had been craving, he very nearly ran the team into the ground. Now that he has to work within the confines of a salary cap, Sather has built a good roster largely from within and has still managed to sign big-time players in Gomez and Chris Drury without getting into cap trouble. He has also exhibited the patience and acumen for player development he had in his early days with the Oilers. Getting Christian Backman from the Blues on deadline day was a very underrated deal.
CAREER
1,011-850-276 (.538)
CUPS 5
PLAYOFFS 32-13 series record
...while Stather was horrendous when he first came to the Rangers, and he will never be forgiven for trading Leetch, he has done a great job turning this franchise around since the inception of the salary cap. Our farm system is full of NHL ready talent and the young guys playing for the Rangers have far exceeded all expectations. And as Campbell says his deadline moves the past two years were very underrated at the time of the trade.
4 comments:
Farm system full of NHL ready talent? Which prospects are you referring to? Anisimov still needs at least a year in Hartford, Parenteau reminds me of Alexandre Giroux, puts up very good numbers but is on the older side of 25 years old, Bourret hasn't shown anything yet, Thomas Pock is garbage and will be in Europe next season, Greg Moore is having a great AHL season but looked very out of place in the few games he played in NY, and Korpikoski looks as if he could use one more year too. It remains to be seen if Sanguinetti can help next season, these next few games in Hartford should help us see what he is made of. And Cherepanov will again play in Russia next season.
Truth is, most of our youth is either on the big club already, or at least a year away. I don't see anyone within the system that will make the club next season and have an impact. The team has youth and numerous prospects, but none that will make an impact next year.
Guy, you lost all credibility when you say Pock is garbage. He was more than solid at the end of last year and in the first round of the playoffs. And you say Greg Moore looked out of place in the few games he played for the Rangers this year, why don't you take a look at Dubinsky's first couple of games and see what he looked like. And just because these other guys (Parenteau and Bourret) haven't been given a chance doesn't mean their not NHL ready. Look how long it took for the Rangers to finally give Dawes a legit chance. And he was absolutely NHL ready. And you think Anisimov needs another year in Hartford the guy almost made the team out of camp this year. Why wouldn't he have a chance next year?
Are you satisfied now, Anonymous? Because I can keep busting you up all night if you like.
This is the problem with so many Ranger fans, they think that every kid in the system is a great prospect and will definetly turn into a top NHL player.
If you actually think that Pock will ever amount to anything in the NHL, please share whatever it is you are on. The guy is a converted forward who does not have solid defensive instincts and is having a so-so season in Hartford. If he was 20 or 21, then he would be considered a prospect with a shot to actually make some noise in the NHL, but unfortunately, he is 26 years old and not that good of a hockey player.
Regarding Greg Moore, you have a good point in using Dubinsky as a comparison, but where exactly is Greg Moore going to fit in next season to get a shot like Dubinsky did? We already have so much 3rd/borderline-2nd line youth, unless you want Moore on the 4th line with the likes of Colton Orr, I think he is looking at another season in Hartford. Same with Anisimov. Yes, he looked very good in camp, but he has not had an astonishing season to date that would give the Rangers no choice but to make a spot for him. He isn't even 20 years old yet and there doesn't appear to be a spot for him next year, so why rush him?
I would be all for giving Parenteau a chance, but there has to be a reason for the Rangers getting him for a measly 7th round pick. It's a great story when some guy who has bounced around the AHL finally makes it to the league in his late 20's, but for every one older kid who makes it, there are hundreds of others who don't. In regards to Bourret, the guy hasn't earned any kind of chance.
I am not saying that guys like Moore and Anisimov will not even get a chance to make the big club, I am just being realistic about it. Why rush Anisimov when he has only had 1 year in North America? Where would he or Moore even fit in?
Nice retort. While I still disagree I appreciate all the insight.
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