*Maybe that is why they aren't having a draft party on Friday. Perhaps they don't want too many of us together to commiserate over how miserable we are, form some kind of boycott or something.
*I've dogged MSG quite a bit here on the blog and it is only fair that I highlight when they do something well. Well, they did something great. If you haven't seen the new MSG Vault, you have to tune in - if only to see the new set: MSG itself. They got rid of the cluttered attic look with the fossil in it (Stan Fischler) , they taped the new editions of Al Trautwig's show on the concrete floor of the Garden with the scoreboard and some banners lowered as backdrop. Add some dramatic lighting and good camerawork and you have one good looking show. The Raucous Rangers edition is mediocre (missing some great fights) but the Brian Leetch episode is must-see tv for the True Blue. You get to see the U.S. National team take on the Rangers in a exhibition game that the Blueshirts actually stepped up and played hard. You get to see Leetchie's first ever game against the Blues - and hear the Potvin Sucks whistle ... some fantastic stuff. Al even manages to get some personality out of the humble, quiet Leetch as they set up and react to the archival footage.
*Speaking of Leetch, today he should get his ticket punched for the Hall of Fame. It is well deserved, just as his banner raising was. Leetch will join 10 other Ranger defensemen in the Hall: Art Coulter, Bill Gadsby, Doug Harvey, Tim Horton, Harry Howell, Ching Johnson, Brad Park, Babe Pratt, Earl Seibert and Allan Stanley.
*Several of those names are from the early era of Ranger hockey and for more info on that, I highly recommend folks find a copy of Frank Boucher's "When The Rangers Were Young." I just finished reading it and it was fantastic. Boucher was one of the original (and best) Rangers and went on to become coach and, later, GM. He spent nearly 30 years with the team and the book is his recollection of those years. Stellar stuff that gives a window into the birth of our franchise.
*Jess from Prospect Park will be over at Blueshirt Banter tonight at 8 edt to talk about the draft and the state of Future Blue. Perhaps he will explain why everyone is so high on Mike Del Zotto even though he can't crack Canada's lineup for the WJC. Maybe its that shirtless pic I found. *Would you sacrifice Sanguinetti on the promise of DZ for a shot at Dany Heatley? Bobby's World may end up being north of the boarder as he is just the type of prospect the Sens need and we certainly need a player like Heater. Rozy and Z are not enough to pry him away so a blue chipper might be the answer. It would suck to see Bobby turn into a NHLer for someone else but at the very least, think of the black humour of watching Heatley skate on the Garden ice with all of the Geico advertising around ...
11 comments:
I am still curious why you hate del zotto, I mean i love your blog, but sometimes i feel like you hate the rangers with your negativity. We have not seen him in training camp, or play a nhl game! how can you write him off, i mean how? Let him play the season, i mean lets face it, he cant be worse than hugh jessiman, Let him play first before you hate him
I do hate the Rangers - the present version of them. The owner and general manager are despicable, the head coach is a hypocrite and the top three paid players on the team are the three most overpaid players in professional sports. But I love the Rangers; I'm just a fool for a one way romance.
As for DZ, I don't hate him, but for everyone to rant and rave when he isn't one of the best eight defensemen in his age group from his country is just annoying.
The Rangers are seemingly against rebuilding so if we can get a proven player for an unproven one, why not? If we were the Islanders, I would be all for some fresh-faced kid who put up pretty numbers against 17 and 18 year olds, because there is nothing to lose.
Tavares helped make DZ look good this season so while his stock is high, let's use him to get a 50 goal scorer or, hell, anyone who can contribute while I can still afford tickets in the Garden...
How exactly does Tavares a forward make DZ a defenseman look good? When DZ was with the Generals he was just as important to their team as Tavares was. Politics, that's why he was left off the Canada Team. Writing him off already is absurd.
Daniel is right though, your the most negative Rangers blog I've ever seen. Your so negative that at times your opinions are BS and your analysis is garbage.
I'd rather lose DZ than Sang. Bobby's supposed to have a better all around game, from what I've read.
And I'd rather drop some picks than Z. If we lose him, we're not much better of than where we are now. We'll be like the New York Jagrs all over again—totally one dimensional on offense. At least if Z is here, it takes heat off of Heater and vice versa.
I've really not seen Heatly even play enough to know, but isn't he more of a finesse guy than a goal scorer who is aggressive on the forecheck? Would we be dumping everything for a guy who might not even fit with Torts and his style of play?
Drew - Thanks for reading. First off, it is you're not your. Secondly watch a hockey game: A forward could make a defenseman look good by scoring off of his passes. DZ isn't known for his defense, he is known for his puck skills and he got the puck to Tavares in good spots that Tavares scored from - thus the inflated stats. And I've heard that politics excuse for DZ multiple times now; no matter the politics, if he was as good as everyone says he is, he would play. You don't leave a superstar off of the roster, no matter the bias.
j0e - DZ might work instead of Bobby, especially since DZ played OHL down the road in Oshawa beofre going to London so that might be a lure for the Sens - not a big one as it is three hours away but something.
And while a lot of Heater's goals were scored with skill, he always seemed willing to get his nose dirty (and teeth knocked out) to make plays. I think he would be a good fit for Torts - a bigger Marty St. Louis.
The thing about DZ and inflated stats is a valid concern (though I've never seen him play).
Having a stud forward like that is going to let you rack up assists, or, at the very least, polish up that +/- (Malik when Jagr was here)
It opens up a lot more options for the rest of the team. Think football for a second—how much does the whole offense benefit when you have a stud WR, RB or QB? Coverage shifts his way and opens up stuff for others.
Plus, everything I read says that the OHL is a scorer's league. Going back to football, it's like drafting a shotgun or spread QB early. They play a system tailored to their skills. A different style pro game might kill them.
I've really yet to see DZ play, and I do think Scotty can make me look like the most optimistic fan in the world at times, but he's certainly got valid concerns.
Thanks teach. I appreciate the correction.
Secondly, thank you but I've played hockey once or twice in my life. Spent a few seasons in the USHL. It's one thing to be able to feed a player like Tavares, but it's another thing to be the player who initiates the offense in transition. Del Zotto excelled at that. T
Lastly, if you have ever played hockey in your life, politics are VERY REAL at ever level. It's not an excuse, but it is definitely a viable reason for not being selected to team. There have been plenty of great players who have suffered because of them.
This kind of talk about Sanguinetti for Heatly drives me up a wall. It's that kind of talk that got us saddled with dozens of over the hill underachievers (you know who you are). I would take another 5 losing seasons to get a chance at youth with players like Sang, DZ, Cally, Dubi, etc. The last thing this team needs to do is hang its hopes on another aging veteran who is past his prime. Sure Heatly has a few good years left in him, but at what cost? Let's build a team up with youth like Chicago or Pitt., kids who are hungry and fast and eager to get their first taste of the Cup. Otherwise you end up with Heatly scoring only 20 goals and NYR stuck with another overpriced player they can't get rid of.
OMG. If they trade Cally for anyone other than Ovechkin I will be furious...
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/205055-new-york-rangers-closing-in-on-dany-heatley
Anon 1 - we can't build up the talent like Pittsburgh and Chicago has because we don't suck enough. They were both terrible and got top prospects draft after draft after draft.
Anon 2 - I would be shocked if we dealt Cally, especially as the Sens have a good version of him already in Ryan Shannon. Now Girardi ... =(
If the Rangers DO grab Heatly, there's a certain fan in my section who goign to have to stop doign his "Drive a porche, Heatly, drive a porche" chant, and that would just be a sad day all around.
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