Dropping the semis to the Sabres 4-2 isn't the best way to end the season, but life goes on, folks.
And so will Blue Notes, which will continue in the offseason with news, rumors, observations and more as the playoffs continue, the draft approaches and the Rangers regroup. Thanks for reading and we hope you stick around as the Rangers get younger and presumably, better.
Breakup day is tomorrow in Westchester and as reported in today's editions, Shanahan and Nylander would like to be back. I'm thinking we may have seen the last of Weekes, Rachunek and Ortmeyer.
Aftonbladet, a Swedish newspaper says the Rangers want to sign Lundqvist to a 7-year contract extension worth $32 million. Not surprising.
As I've written, Rangers will likely make runs at Drury and/or Gomez if they're available on July 1.
Would like to hear your thoughts on what the Rangers need as another page turns on this storied franchise...
More later...
Comments (24)
Steevo~
What a season eh?
Reading some other blogs this morn; the quote from shanny about coach Ruff being "scared" of the R's is surely something.
I honestly thought it would take 7 yrs to get back to competitive hockey (it took seven years for Sather to realize we were in the toilet).
Hopefully we get to see some more really hair-raising (in a good way) hockey at the world's most famous arena.
I think there is something to be said about moving some personnel this summer. Can't wait to see.
Hopefully, they wont go for Gomez. Drury on the other hand is a top notch clutch player. As for who wont be back... Weeks for sure, Rachunek can go hang out with Ozalynch ....but I sure hope they try to brind back Ortmeyer. The guy won the Steven MacDonald Extra effort award twice. Its not like he commands a lot of money.
Steve,
Why wouldn't the Rangers bring back a blue collar guy like Ortmeyer? Dane Byers is down in Hartford and I hope the Rangers look at this kid.
What other kids are ready to play with the Rangers next year? Baranka? Jake Taylor? They need to get 2 physical D-Men to play against the other teams 1st line.
We have plenty of young forwards coming, players that can provide grit as well as scoring.
I love Ortmeyer and Hollweg, but neither one of them can put the puck in the net at all.
Alex Bourret and Nigel Dawes should both get legit shots next year up front.
And they will, their talent will not be denied.
I would love to replace Malik and Rachunek on the blueline with Marc Staal and Sheldon Souray.
Souray is a UFA, has the hardest and best shot in the league from the point. He scored 26 goals this year.
I tink he should be #1 on the Rangers list as a UFA, and I am sure he will be #1 on a lot of teams lists.
I think though that if the negotiations get into Chara type money, which is very likely (7 million a year) that is when they should back away.
Obviousky King Henrik is going to be our goalie for a very very long time.
I think the time has come to use Montoya as trade bait.
Whether he is part of a package to try and get Jokinen from FLA, or Richards from Tampa, or even to move up in the draft and try to get one of the top 4 picks, because there are 4 potential franchise forwards in this draft, I think the time is now to do so.
?
7 Years??!?!?!
Why not 15!!!
ooh, im salivating over souray. man, he is EXACTLY wat they need. PP point man, lil edgy...give 7 mills he'll be worth it. the defense will have a new look for sure.
hows this -
top pr - rosival, staal
2nd pr - souray, tyutin
3rd pr - malik, mara
depth - girardi, pock
malik has to be demoted to the 3rd pair, hes just not good enough. rid rachunek and buy out kasperminus.
fowards
straka-nylander-jagr
avery-DRURY-shanahan
callahan-cullen-bourett
hollweg-betts-ortmyer or
SMYTH-RICHARDS-ortmyer..lol
hossa isnt consistent enough, isbister hits goalies and cant score, orr is useless, prucha gets dealt along with montoya and another prospect or pick for richards...GET ME GLENS NUMBER!!
JIM,
whos signed next year..and who isnt?
Nooooooo Souray. The guy doesn't play defense, take a look at his +/-. Markov is a much better defenseman for a lot cheaper. Ask any Hab fan and they'll tell you that you can have Souray, but we have to keep Markov.
in comparison..islander roster
fowards-
1st line - the devil (satan), overpaid cpt., asham (usually 4th line guy, on isles he is top foward)..lmao
2nd line - a has-been, a never will be, some beer leauge guy..
..u know, never mind, its useless. isles have no real players to mention..sry isle fans :D
ok chris,
u got it man. ill do that in a heart beat :D
but we'll sign Poti to play D and everything will be OK
lol..poti..god he sucked worse for the islanders, than the rangers. if thats even possible
isle fans...any1 on the dragons play hockey?..maybe u can find a goalie on them
First priority, without question, is a top-notch center. That's indisputable.
I love what Sean Avery brings to the table, but i don't think he's a second line player. He had lots of chances agaisnt miller and didnt burry any of them. He wasn't the same factor he was in the thrashers series either. He definitely stays on the team but should probably be on the third line and second power play unit to create some havoc
Leave it to "tj" to make all Ranger fans look like idiots (Poti had a good year for the Isles).
I went through the roster, and if we signed a free agent and brought up a player, we'd have to make space. With Avery, Cullen, Prucha, Jags, Straka, Betts, Hollweg, and Orr returning, Nylander and Shanny a probably, that only leaves 2 spots.
That leaves 2 spots for Hossa, Callahan, Orts, Dawes (doubtful), Isbister (doubtful), a free agent, and a prospect.
Looks like Orty will be gone, and I wouldn't bank on Shanny returning. Just my thoughts.
Hossa and Callahan played regularly in the playoffs, so how could you list Orr and Hollweg over them?
Orr/Hollweg will only play when needed, against the Flyers, and I doubt we'll see both dress often next season. I really don't understand why the rangers resigned Hollweg. There are others in Hartford with a better scoring touch that can also provide a physical element.
rucchin,
i never seen any1 defend poti b4. your right, i assumed he sucked for the isles based on how he played for the rangers. with that said, we both know how happy ranger fans are that he's gone. he is soft and no where even close to beein as good on offense as he should be. so plz, the idiot comment is a lil strong.
Chris - agree with you on Hollweg. Mistake to sign him. He has a pretty low hockey iq in my opinion by running himself out of the play to make a hit. He had to be doing a burn when Dawes played game 6.
I think they were signed so we can trade them..at least Hollweg
for what? he's not a great fighter and costs a team a couple games a year with stupid penalties.