Well, it is official, the Rangers have signed Alexander "Sasha" Frolov. The terms appear to be one year, $3 million. I want to make it clear - as it perhaps was not yesterday - I don't hate Frolov. I hate what he stands for. He is the latest mercenary that Sather has signed to maintain this mediocre team's meager reputation. As I tweeted yesterday, I want the franchise to "Either go 4 the Cup or build a team that can win 1. Don't set the bar at 8th place." By bringing in another hired gun, that is all that they are doing.
Tortorella and Sather said all the right things last month to get season ticket holders to re-up: 'youth will be served' and 'the kids will get every chance to make the lineup this fall.' Now that is certainly not the case. Adding a top six winger ensures that any of the skill kids will be on the outside looking in. For all of the hype about Mats Zuccarello-Aasen, his spot on the roster has now been filled. As we saw last season with Corey Locke and PA Parenteau, you can't put a small skill guy on the third or fourth line and have them be effective. Now, unless an injury bug hits the Blueshirts hard, the only open spot on offense will be the time-share with the Boogeyman on the fourth line.
Having Frolov come in one a one-year deal is good in that he will be motivated. He should - emphasize should - be playing with a chip on a shoulder. He needs to prove that he is the 35 goal guy of four years ago who deserves a big money contract rather than the one who lost his top-six slot last season and managed just 19 before being unceremoniously dumped by his team. He could be a high-octane sniper who can come in and give Arty Anisimov some confidence. Replacing Arty's boyfriend Enver with a mentor who speaks his language hopefully will be quite the boon.
And that is all we can hope for. Youth will never be properly served in New York, no matter how much we may want it to be. The big brass feels that they have to ease it in one or two guys a season. It is incredibly frustrating because that isn't the way to build a Stanley Cup contender in today's league. I saw the Stanley Cup raised just feet away from me in Philadelphia last month so forgive me if I want to see it raised in New York sometime soon.
28 comments:
I tend to agree here - this is the Dolans actually having to pay attention to the organization for the first time in a while thanks to the Knicks' long term plan dashed. Such things will often lead the Sathers of the world to have to revert to old (read: terrible) habits.
Shame on those who thought the "youth" movement would last more than a month this offseason.
Scotty, I know what you're saying but what was lacking last year more than anything was veteran leadership. There is still tons of "youth" getting the start next year (Callahan, Dubi, Anisimov, Gilroy, DZ) and when I look at the Wolfpack I don't really see a ton of offensive players that are going to put up 20+ goals in the NHL.
If Sather signed Frolov for more than a year I'd be negative on the deal too, but I'm more okay on this deal than I am the Boogeyman deal. And 3 million is an okay amount for Frolov. I'd rather it was 2 million, but it could have been worse.
What you have to do Scotty is compare Frolov's salary and production last year to that of say Cap'n Drury. Not looking too bad now, is it????
You're a negative Nancy.
All pro athletes are hired guns dude, get real. Save the "go big or go home" position for a bumper-sticker. In reality you can't build a team that WILL finish first or just outright play horribly for last place, just so you can MAYBE get a future superstar. That doesn't serve the purpose of winning, which is why you play sports...and why you pay people to play them.
Dennis: I'm sorry, but I don't see Frolov as veteran leadership. The guy has immense talent, and yet his numbers have gone down every single year because his effort has gone down as well. He is lazy and doesn't play defense, and he increasingly doesn't play offense either.
Of course, any deal looks good next to Drury. Saying we should compare a deal to Drury and be happy it's better...Well, that's like saying that if you have to poop and can't find a bathroom, it's at least better than having diarrhea.
"He is lazy and doesn't play defense," Not true. He killed penalties and was on a shutdown line with the Kings. Just because he's Russian doesn't mean he's lazy. Dude controls the puck along the boards and ALWAYS comes out of the corners with the puck—if you play hockey you know how much energy that takes.
You should stay up past your bedtime and watch more West Coast games so you don't make blanket/untrue statements you read from other commenters/bloggers.
Can you follow a different team already? We all hate you.
No, there are plenty of Russians that give incredible effort night in and night out. You assume that I have stereotyped Frolov simply because I don't agree with your assessment of him, and you are wrong in that evaluation (that I stereotyped him...I'm not going to say you're completely wrong about Frolov, because clearly it's a difference of opinion).
Ovechkin gives as much effort as anybody on a nightly basis. Gonchar. Zubrus. I don't have to keep going. My point is that the "lazy Russian" is an unfortunate stereotype, and I don't buy into it.
When Frolov gives it his all, he's great. Unfortunately, like Kovalev, Havlat, and some other gifted players, the number of "full effort" games he plays are usually equaled by the number of nights he seems to take off.
Sorry, I forgot Zubrus is Lithuanian. Lithuania was part of the Soviet Union, and I remembered that he was born in the SU, so I wrote him down as a Russian without thinking. But there are plenty of other great examples of hard-working Russian players.
Wade Redden is a goner now because of this move, and that is addition by subtraction. Call it the "Frolov Effect" or something, because it will have a very positive impact on this team (not to mention on the fans) to get rid of Redden. The whole defense will automatically be better next year without that lazy, complacent, floating douchebag of a d-man back there.
Frolov could get hurt and miss 75 games in training camp, and he's already been worth the money and the roster spot simply because Wade Redden will be gone. If you look at the Ranger D without the piece of garbage back there, they are a young and talented group even with Rozi back there. If they manage to get rid of Rozi somehow, then that's great too, and we'll have a young, proud, and hungry defense to cheer for.
Lastly, Corey Locke and PA Parenteau weren't effective NHL players because they aren't that good. To pin their failings on Torts' use of each player is utterly ridiculous....the fact is that Locke is too small and Parenteau is too slow to consistently produce at the NHL level. Both guys were overmatched.
Jack, 1- look at the last few Cup winners: mercenaries played secondary roles. On the Rangers, they are expected to carry the load. 2- That is a valid blanket statement as I watched about 15, 20 Kings games and at least half of them I had no idea Frolov was even playing. That he stepped into the kill and did alright is secondary; Brian Boyle can kill penalties.
Anon "Can you follow a different team already? We all hate you." If all of you hate me, STOP READING. I don't have ads here, I don't care about losing one idiot's hits. And yes, you said we, which I am guessing are the various voices in your head.
Scotty Hockey:
I just want to note that the anonymous who told you to follow another team is not me. I'm the one who was posting about Frolov and his suckitude. I wish there was a way to type in a name instead of just using "anonymous."
Anyway, you're absolutely right. You simply can't build a team where mercenaries make up a significant portion of your core. You can have a couple, but you need a CORE of guys who have played together, have a relationship with each other, etc. Frolov is just another overpaid Ranger who will come in, do nothing, and leave.
BUT, at least they didn't give him a $25 mill/5 year contract! I guess Sather is learning...
Scotty,
just how is Tortorella and Sather saying 'youth will be served' and 'the kids will get every chance to make the lineup this fall.' the right thing and getting season ticket holders to reup?
why would a season ticket holder pay top dollar to watch rebuilding?
and you say that the mercenaries played secondary roles on the cup teams, but on the Rangers, they are expected to carry the load. the only reason is, because the Non-mercenaries like callahan and dubinsky were given every chance to carry the load but could not.
The Rangers just picked up arugably the second best forward on the team, and you cant complain about that.
scotty you have never said one positive thing about this team - ever. get over it and get over yourself, you dont like the rangers. Now please jump in the river and swim across and be a devils fan already.
Anon - "just how is Tortorella and Sather saying 'youth will be served' and 'the kids will get every chance to make the lineup this fall.' the right thing and getting season ticket holders to reup?" Because myself and the 40 or so other season ticket holders that I know and speak to all want a rebuild. We pay because we want to see Stanley in New York and we've been calling for a rebuild for a decade. I would pay to watch a rebuilding team with the knowledge that they will be better down the road and have a chance to win. Watching this team simply tread water is infuriating.
Last Anon, I've admitted for a few years that I don't like these Rangers. I don't like the management and I don't like a chunk of the personnel. But do you call for a divorce because your wife gets a haircut you think is ugly?
a lot of ranger fans who are die hards, including this one have a love/hate relationship with the, that seems utterly normal and fair considering the current iteration of the rangers. it also occurs to me that if you don't like the blog so much, why do you keep reading it?
and on frolov, he's simply ok. i'm feeling slightly irritated at sather instead of the usual wanting to gag
I think it's absolutely fascinating when people say that Scotty hates the Rangers and should find another team, simply because he is very, very critical. You know what? If the Rangers were a contender every year, or even every other year, then we would have things to praise. People who really, truly care about their teams DO want to watch them rebuild instead of hiring mercenaries. Oh, I'm sorry, you want to see Frolov play? Well, the real fans would like to see us get in prospects, develop talent, make trades for the long run, etc. etc. YES, the biggest fans would rather watch the Rangers rebuild this year, so that perhaps in two or three from now, they can be legitimate contenders.
I'm sorry some of you want to see them continue to do THE SAME EXACT THINGS they've been doing for years, and the things that have resulted in absolutely no success.
People who are criticizing here are like people the people who said anyone who criticized GW Bush were "unpatriotic." No, we criticize this team because we love it, and we want to see it stop with all the things that deserve our criticism.
"I wish there was a way to type in a name instead of just using "anonymous.""
dude, under the leave your comment box choose "Name/URL" and just type your name....unless you were joking??
i agree with craig. u can leave a name easily. i always skip over anon posts because no matter how well written i cant respond to them as there are so many anons. im not gonna look up the time they posted either.
Scotty, I tend to agree with you on the organization. But is Hossa a mercenary? The one aspect which could be beneficial is if Frolov plays with Arty.
I agree that the Rangers have ruined some young talent by putting 1st and 2nd line talent on the 3rd & 4th lines over and over again. I also agree that Frolov is going to be a man on a mission this year to get the big contract he wants. I think he puts up 27 - 32 goals this year. But........
I wouldn't call him a hired gun as he is not the 32-35 yr old player that is CLEARLY on the downside that Sather usually goes for. Frolov is clearly an offensive talent that hopefully in the right environment can flourish again. A guy like Enver Lisin for all his alleged talent is still very young and immature and has never had a good year (as Frolov has) and may never get what it takes or maybe he just can't handle the smaller rinks in the NHL. I think that this is one of the things that gets lost in adapting to the North American game. If Frolov meshes with his linemates, at 28 yrs old he is in his prime and would be worth taking the spot of another player. This doesn't have to be the highly touted prospects and shouldn't be but the Rangers have a myriad the 3rd and fourth line talent on this team and I personally have no problem with them giving up their spots.
The Rangers also have in the past, rushed some prospects up and ruining them or not being patient and trading them where they then go on and flourish elsewhere (Savard, Norstrom, Zubov, etc). If the prospects stay in the AHL for a few months or an extra year it won't hurt them.
I'm willing to give Frolov the shot, especially since it's a one year deal.
-Sather Die in a Fire
Personally I like the signing. I hope Frolov can score 30 goals this season and if he did I wouldn't be shocked. The signing helps the Rangers, again this is my opinion. I read some of the comments and to think Scotty hates the Rangers is comical. He is very hard and critical of all there moves and there play but that is because is cares a great deal. Much more then the average fan. One thing I'm not understand is how this deal seals the fate of Wade Redden. I pray and hope that is true but I don't get it.
When Staal is signed, the Rangers will be over the cap unless Redden is waived. That's what Frolov's signing means right now.
It won't be Drury or Rozi who gets waived either. Just Wade Redden. Finally.
I read somewhere that the Rangers only had 2.2 mil in cap space before signing Frolov, and not considering the 4+ million that Staal is likely to get. So...wouldn't they have had to demote Redden anyway?
Wow. You're so right. Wish I'd thought of that.
at least its only one year,if it was a few years, yeah i would be mad but its just like prospals contract, if it doesnt work out then we wont re sign him
See the whole point is... what if it does work out and he gets 32 or more goals? We can't afford to sign him the follow season and his 30 or so goals are not going to put us over the top and make us contenders for the cup this year. So in the end really what does this do for the Rangers franchise long term? Absolutely nothing !!! It hurts the NYR's because they get less time to evaluate the younger talent because their spot on the team is taken up by a 1 year guy. Basically the same deal with Vinny P. and the other older guys. Look the NYR's are shooting for just making the playoffs as a team concept. They are just like the Mets compared to the Yankees.
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