In his Atlantic Division preview Wes Goldstein at CBS Sports says the Rangers aren't keeping up with the rest of the division...
New York Rangers: Maybe they deserved a better fate than missing the playoffs on a shootout, but maybe they were lucky just to have that chance. The Rangers weren't really a very good team last season, staying around the playoff bubble only because Marian Gaborik was a one-man offense and Henrik Lundqvist a star in goal. New York will ease Lundqvist's burden next year by bringing in Martin Biron, but other than re-signing Vaclav Prospal, the only other move of note by the Rangers was signing bouncer Derek Boogaard. Getting young defenseman Marc Staal under contract is a priority now that Dan Girardi is back in the fold, and college kids Ryan McDonough and Derek Stepan might be ready for the NHL. But right now the Rangers are not keeping up with the pack. Heading: Down
...while I agree with Goldstein assessment that the Rangers are heading down this season and maybe even next, after that, if Sather sticks with his current plan of staying young (which is a big if), I see then heading up big time. Too many young talented players in the system for the team not to.
...Goldstein also disses Christensen and Prust by stating Prospal and Boogaard were only two moves of note this off-season.
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25 comments:
I would even go so far as to say that the Christensen and Prust signings were more important will have a bigger impact.
I, for one, have no problem waiting a year or two for what the Rangers have never been able to do... Wait!
Since 1972, it seems like the Rangers dealt away more talent than almost all the other teams combined in a vain effort to break the "1940" ceiling.
Hopefully, it's finally dawned on management to let a really robust farm system bring us another Cup. Given the prospects, the base talent, and expiring (or bought out) contracts, 2012 looks like a good season to start a REAL run!
Let's hope so!
Player development is such a crapshoot to predict so saying that the Rangers are heading down is premature. Although I am not overly optimistic about this year,it would only take a couple of things to improve the team. Suppose this is the year that Dubi or Cally makes the big leap and becomes a 30 goal scorer. It coould happen and just suppose they both do - what a differet team it would be to defend. Now I am n ot predicting this but stanger things have happened.
Also, on D, suppose Redden is sent down and both MDZ and Gilroy take major steps forward - again not a prediction but a possibility. If some of these things occur, the Rangers would be a playoff team. Of course, none of them may happen and it could be a worse year than last. We'll just have to wait and see.
I love how we are so blindly relying on our youth when we have had such terrible prospects the last ten years. Its a proven fact that some players can never make the jump to the NHL no matter how good they did in college or major juniors. Grachev is already a bust. I just dont see any of our prospects being elite players capable of putting up 80-100 points in the NHL. Stepan is 20 years old and some say he is not NHL ready.
Hmm I don't know. Two cheap third or fourth line players in Christensen and Prust are probably not a big deal. The bloated enforcer contract and getting the Rangers second best forward re-signed are much more notable. EC and Prust, while nice to have compared to some other Ranger options, are fairly interchangeable for most of the league. Don't forget neither Prust nor EC have earned themselves full seasons with any NHL team yet and they've each been deemed replaceable by several teams.
i really don't see dubi or cally anywhere near 30 goals. if both get 20 we should thank our lucky stars
@LI Joe,
Agreed. Dubinksy profiles to somewhere around a mid 20's goal scorer at his peak. Callahan a couple notches below that. Hopefully, we trade Callahan for some prospects of value or picks during the season to some chump GM who values Olympic experience as a measure of NHL talent.
Trade Callahan? Why develop a prospect like Callahan into an integral part of your team, and then trade him for more prospects? Any GM would jump at the chance to have a player like Callahan; All heart, tireless penalty killer, good hands and speed, incredible forechecker who is always among the league leaders and hits. Callahan made the Olympic team BECAUSE of his NHL experience and talent. You don't trade a player like that for prospects. You trade a player like that for proven commodities.
The King-
Can you officially stop being a Rangers fan now!!!
How do you figure that Grachev is a bust already? The kid is 20 years old and is just learning how to be a 2 way player....does the guy even get a chance to play before he becomes a bust?
Do you know how many player in the NHL put up 80-100 pts in the nhl last season??? the answer is 17...
Please get your head out of your ass and give guys more than 1 game to prove they belong in the nhl...
How many guys on the Devils put up 80-100 pts in the last 10-15 years...and they have been pretty successful!!!
I am not saying this is the team to win it all, but with are stuck with some shitty contracts, but also, according to most NHL sources have a rich farm system, that in 2 years when matured and given a chance, while also adding some responsible free agents that arent past there prime, this team will be ready to contest for a cup!!!!
LI Joe- what is wrong with having 2 young fast tough wingers, who go all out on every shift put in 20 goals every year...Callahan has played 2 NHL season and has scored 19 and 20 goals...I dont think its a strecth for him to to hit 25- 30 ....
everyones solution is to continue to get rid of any young talent we have for veterens who are over paid, past their prime and dont fit with our team....we have been doing that forever....lets accept building from within and maybe sustain some long term success, instead of 1 or 2 good years!!!!
You All Suck!!!
fleisch14 with the post of the year!!!
I hope no one is going to let him get away with the "You All Suck!!!" at the end.
The Blackhawks had ONE player with more than 69 points, and their leading goal scorer had only 30 goals. Granted Hossa only played 50-something games, but the point is they won with home-grown, 20-goal scoring talent.
@fleisch14
You are talking like a fan that cant accept facts and not like someone that has any experience or knowledge of the game. Grachev played a whole season in the AHL and did terrible, embarrassing. What is so hard to understand? You are just one of those fans that cling on to hope. He is learning how to be a 2 way player??? First he should work on getting some points in the AHL because thats why the Rangers drafted him, then he should worry about his defensive game. I think youre a clown need to get your head out of the Rangers ass and see reality. Grachev 28 points in 80 AHL games. Lets see that would translate to about 10 points in the NHL, good job buddy. Cally and Dubi had a lot better AHL seasons and they are only 2nd to 3rd line players. Grachev needs a complete turn around after his awful AHL season. I dont see that happening. Like I said he peaked in Juniors because he had size over some many other players who were still filling out and growing. Learn hockey then speak fanboy.
The king-
So one season in the ahl makes a player a bust? I believe that is why they have the AHL, so these kids can learn the game, develop, so they can have success at the NHL level..
I am not saying put him on the roster today...But according to you he has no hope and should be labeled a bust!!!
I dont have a problem with Cally and Dubi being 2nd and 3rd line players who score 20-25 goals a season....Its called balanced scoring jackass...not ever player on the team has to score 50 goals...
Lets look at the stanley cup champs...
1 guy on the black hawks scored 30 goals (kane) 1 guy on the black hawks had over 80 pts (kane-88)...5 guys with 20-28 goals....
apparently if you are not Ovechkin coming out of the draft you are a bust and have no place on the Rangers..
Those are the facts....do everyone on this blog a favor and go follow the Islanders!!!
Ok boys, while I love the back and forth (great stuff!!!) please stop with the personal attacks. No need for it.
Got to go with fleisch14 on this, no way you can call Grachev a bust after just one AHL season.
If he's still down in the AHL struggling in two years, sure lable him a bust, but one season? King you're better than that.
Definitely too early to call Grachev a bust. He's only 20, give the guy a break. Also I believe he was drafted in the 3rd round, usually 3rd rounders that don't pan out aren't considered busts.
Yes me calling him a bust is an aggressive call. I just don't see how you guys think he will be a 20 goal scorer in the NHL. 1 more dismal year in the AHL you will all see. For our sake I hope I am proven wrong.
@fleisch14
Can you debate with out calling someone a jack ass?? I really never emphasized goal scoring. But if you look at the top teams in the NHL they have at least 2 players putting 80 points or more a season. We have one player that barely broke 80 points. Hossa had 51 points and 57 games if he was healthy he would have broken 80 points. Got ya again. I just think it is funny that the one young guy we had that had around 60 points and actually had true potential to BE ELITE was Zherdev and somehow he is now playing with the Flyers. Why did we give up on him??? He had talent you cant teach that, he just needed an attitude adjustment. I believe a young core wins the cup but I just don't see it for the Rangers yet except for our defense is outstanding.
@Kevin
This is the most action your blog has had lately. Let it roll!!
@Annyoing Joe,
"All heart, tireless penalty killer, good hands and speed, incredible forechecker who is always among the league leaders and hits." That's a great definition for a third string forward. I'd love to have several of those guys on a team. However, I think Callahan is vastly overrated for whatever reason [probably those empty hit stats] and I'm worried that Sather will overpay him or not try as hard to sign Dubinsky. I like Callahan's moxy, his spirit, his fire, etc. but I try not to let that cloud my perception of his value to the team on the ice.
P.S. Hit stats are usually garbage. They are awarded subjectively and standards vary widely from biased arena to biased arena. Plus how much does it really matter when a 175lb Callahan "hits" a 220lb defender? [Very little as those undeterred targets would attest]
The King-
check you stats....officially only one team out of the east that made the playoffs had more that 1 player with 80 pts and that was the Caps....I will also give you the Pens, since Malkin was out for while....but buffalo, ottawa, boston,philly and montreal had none...devils only 1, im not including kolvlchk, since they devils were playoff bound without him....
While Zherdev had talent, the guy had no heart, wanted big money, and was invisible in the playoffs!!! I dont think your going to find many fans who wanted him back at the money her was looking for!!!!
Kev- try and add something to the debate not play school teacher
Have to give Grachev more time in the AHL to adjust. Not only was he playing against guys several years his senior, but he also was mis-cast by the organization to a new position.
One more comment like that fleisch and I'm sending you to the principal's office.
Love the back and forth tho. Great job you two.
- fleischster
Still a lot of teams with guys hitting 80 points. Maybe a better number would be 60-70 points and up. We still had only one(Gaborik) break 60 points.
Zherdev was 23 and it was his first playoff experience. You have to be kidding bringing that up. I can understand the lack of heart and effort but his playoffs?? Come on. Remember how Henrik did his first playoff series? It wasn't great. I still would have loved to see Z playing for the Rangers especially with Gaborik. They had similar styles. Gaborik was very bad on defense. I will never forget the game he just let Cammalleri skate right by him in over time last season and he ripped that shot past Henrik for his 4th goal I think it was. It was embarrassing to watch in the replays how Gaborik made no effort to stop him. So don't be to harsh on Zherdev for lack of effort. Another point is how we low balled him offering him just as much as Kotalik!!!
Hits by Callahan- I could care less if the hits are jarring hits by a 175lb light weight. The objective is to limit time and space on the player with the puck.To me that is being a responsible defender-too bad the rest of the forwards on the NYR's play like women, at least Callahan has the balls to play that way @ 175lbs.
Considering 1/3 of the league scores 20+ goals a year and 2/3 do not, please explain why 20+ goals is such a bad thing?This should be good, especially when they are playing on the 2nd and 3rd lines. LMAO. To me, puke and moan that there was only 3 players on this team that had the skill set to produce 20+goals.
Where the F was Dru? Did Avery even lace up the skates last year? Great players in Boyle and Lisin. EC had 26 pts and played with Gabby-WOW. Project that to the whole season and we hav a whopping 36pt player.
Seems to me that the only players that did show up offensively was Gaborik Prospal Dubinsky and Callahan.
@ dog eat chow world.
Granted stats can be misleading, but anyone who watches this team play would realize what Callahan brings to the forecheck. And, as Rick said, It's not about leveling people, its about limiting and eliminating time and space. Callahan does it better than most. In his 2nd and 3rd season, he scored 22 and 19 goals playing with marginal offensive linemates and with significant ice time on the PK. To call him "vastly overrated" is vastly overstated.
LI Joe; agree that Callahan or Dubi are not 30 goal scorers- that would place them in the top 25 goal scorers in the league for last year.
To me both players bring their game most nights and have steadily increased their skills from yr to yr. Dubi has a natural leadership ability to him and sticks up for his teammates. Torts wants team toughness and both bring that to the table. For players being in the league for only a short period of time I thought that they did very well. Sure the holdout hurt Dubi but this is his livelyhood and for players, they are only a few concussions away from their careers ending prematurely.
rick -
again i disagree asbout dubi as a leader. he is very very immature and would have to mature greatly in next few yrs to really be considered a leader on this team
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