Argggh. Had laptop problems yesterday after filing a breakup-day story for the paper and newsday.com and had some appointments today, but we're back up and running, so....
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As I first wrote in a sidebar after Game 6, free-agent Michael Nylander wants to stay here and play with Jagr. Who wouldn't? There was an offer on the table near the end of the season, but it was put on hold. Nylander wanted to wait. In an ideal world, the Rangers offer him a one-year deal, like Straka, with an option, but Nylander would fetch more dough elsewhere.
Here's where it's tricky: Nylander will be 35 at the start of next season. But unless the Rangers are absolutely sure they'll land a No. 1 free-agent center, they can't let Nylander walk. That would require signing two top centers, and that's not going to be possible financially. Throw in the Jagr factor: He endorses Mikey.
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Fact: Everybody loves Marc Staal. I noticed one poster mentioned the Toronto Star piece.
Fact: The Rangers are trying to keep expectations under control. When I asked Tom Renney about what the 19-year-old needs to do to make the team in camp, he said:
"It's the adult game, he has to show the ability to cope with that. Strength is a big issue, when Marc plays in the NHL, he's going to have to play against bigger, stronger forwards. He's a very good passer; we're just making sure he's mentally and physically ready. We won't force-feed Marc the NHL."
Renney cautioned not to compare the rapid adaptation of brothers Eric and Jordan to the NHL because they are forwards. A defenseman, he said (which we realize) needs to make quicker decisions and is more exposed on mistakes.
Wouldn't be shocked if Staal begins next season in Hartford or wherever the AHL team is and is brought up before mid-season.
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The Coyotes have a new owner, a perennial losing record and a top draft pick next month in Columbus. There have been rumblings that the Rangers might consider packaging Al Montoya, Petr Prucha and a pick/prospect for the Yotes' spot, which could turn into Kyle Turris or Pat Kane. Neither will be Sidney Crosby, but the talent thins out after No. 7, supposedly. Makes some sense.
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Sean Avery's vision for next-season's Rangers:
"We should be blue-collar guys and not take any s--- from anybody and just play hard and be determined from October on."
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Fedor Tyutin could join the unbeaten Russians in the World Championships...Jagr will hang in New York for a few weeks before heading to the Czech Republic...I'm predicting the Senators and the Ducks will emerge from the conference finals...
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Catchy tune of the week, from The Format's "Interventions and Lullabies"
Strike up the band, deprive my sleep
Cause there's no love like apathy
The bell that tolls rings loud enough
That it should have woke us up...
I'm a cash machine
I'm the color green
And you should have seen
The looks I just received
I need a reason to let go.....
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Till next time, ladies and gentlemen....
Comments (35)
good news, bad new article...staal point is good 1...love the trade rumor!!...it nylander or drury it looks like, not both :(
Yes!
Would absolutely love to trade for the Coyotes spot at #3 and draft Turris.
I think Montoya, Prucha, and the #17 pick is definitely enough.
GET GLENS NUMBER!!
I think get Don Maloney's number actually, I think Don is in charge.
Glen is fishing in Banff.
lamo @ avery..u gotta love him!!...he's such a new yorker already!!
ima go to banfff..where is it?
http://www.banff.com/
That is actually Sather skiing down the slope.
http://www.digitalbanff.com/banff/news/2004/01/16086.html
I don't think Steve was saying we can't sign Nylander AND another top center - just that if we let Nylander walk, we then have to sign TWO top centers, which may be a non-starter.
I wouldn't trade Prucha. That package looks a little rich for me for a high first-rounder, but I haven't done enough research on this year's draft class.
tito!!..u gotta do that..trade montoya now, while we can. he'll languish in the minors (w/ hank around) and it'll be to late. prucha is good, but we have guys like him in the system already..and 17 is wat it is..its a no-brainer.
Montoya, Prucha, and our #1 (17th overall) is too much for the #3 pick. I'd do it for Montoya and Prucha. That should be enough. Montoya was a top 10 pick himself, and Prucha has what, 60 goals in his first 2 years? It's not like we're talking about drafting Crosby!
not enough mike, unfortunatly..maybe sanguenetti instead of pick
Sanguinetti is more valuable than the 17th pick.
I'd do it, to move up to #3.
If we were talking about getting a Crosby, it would be a whole lot more.
We are still talking about drafting a future franchise centerman, which the franchise does not have.
I think we make the move if it is out there.
good stuff, steve... hope to see some ranger articles in the paper every now and then until training camp
there is no way the rangers trade Prucha, montoya and their first for a prospect.
Agreed. None of the top prospects really scream out at me - maybe Angelo Esposito - but certainly not at that price. I'm sure we're all in favor of getting younger, but this is not the way to do it.
I wouldn'ttrade anything for a 1st round pick.
1st round picks don't mean too much to the Rangers. Where are all of the 1st round picks since 2000 when Sather took over? Yes we have Staal and Bobby S. but that is it. Montoya is never going to see a Ranger jersey with Henrik here, Jessiman is somewhere in Hartford.
Trade those pieces for a young socoring winger or go get Marleau from San Jose to play 2nd line center. I rather get a player who is in the league and has proved himself then a 1st round pick.
I agree that we should get someone experienced if we have to make a trade - especially with that package - but Marleau? In 10 playoff games he had 4 points (3 goals, 1 assist) and was a -6. He had no points and was -5 in the second round loss to Detroit. If San Jose is trying to move him (as rumored), we should think about why.
Why Angelo Esposito??
Last year he was touted as the #1 overall pick for this year and had an awful year and his stock has dropped so far he may fall out of the top 10.
Yes, Jessiman looks like he could be a bust, but it's not over for him just yet, sometimes big power forwards take time to develop.
I don't see any interest that San Jose would in trading for Montoya, considering that they have Nabakov and Toskala.
I like Patrick Marleau, but he is making over 5 million next year and then is a UFA.
I am not trading anything substantial for him, perennial underachiever.
I think the key is the new NHL with the salary cap is to get the best players at their youngest when they make the least.
The Rangers have never really been bad enough where they got one of the top players in any draft (Besides trading up for Brendl: boooooooooo).
If there is a can't miss prospect at the top of the draft, especially a franchise centerman, which we absolutely do not have, I think you gotta make the move and do it.
We have a franchise goalie (Lundqvist), some very good young defensemen (Tyutin, Staal, Girardi and Snguinetti) and some very good young wingers (Dawes, Callahan, Bourret, Prucha, Korpikoski)
I think this franchise is screaming for a young franchise centerman, 8 years before he is able to make really big money.
I think they need to use the Montoya trade chip ASAP.
You guys wanting to make trades for veterans, sign free agents need to look at the bigger picture.
Everything done in the new NHL with the salary cap, and I mean everything done, needs to be thought about in terms of money.
The Rangers need to get superstars when they are young and are able to make the least amount of money, not like always, once they've made it and the Rangers are the team paying them for the great years they had when they were younger.
How about a sign and trade for Nathan Horton on FLA. He's a young center who wants out. He scores and is tough. I agree with section 414, I'm not comfortable trading for draft picks, especially in hockey. So many turn out to be busts.
Horton is a proven 21-22 year old. I would imagine a package of Montoya (FLA needs a goalie, Belfour is 42), Prucha and a pick would get it done. Yes or no?
I would love acquiring Nathan Horton, absolutely, if that's what that use the Montoya trade chip on, I would be thrilled.
What is this rumor about us trading NHL ready talent for a number one pick? I don't understand it honestly unless we are counting on immediate help from the farm on the wings. I don't think Prucha will be a Ranger next year but I was hoping to package him and Montoya in a deal for a #1 defenseman ready to play next year, not an 18 year old player who won't contribute until the 2009-10 season!
I'd keep Prucha and Montoya. This draft is weak.
the main goal here is trading montoya b4 its too late. he will languish in the minors with hank around, FOREVER!!(i can HEAR his value decreasing). it has to happen b4 next season. i love prucha, dont get me wrong. but we have 3 of him (small, speedy wingers) in the system already. he is so trade-able and easily replaceable. these 2 donot get u a top tier defenseman, these 2 will not knock teams socks off. wether its an NHL player or top 5 pick, its a no-brainer.
not real familiar with horton, wat about a guy like barrett jackman (stl)..JD loves prucha and montoya would be a need for them, throw in malik too..lol
i just looked up the panthers situation, on TSN. dosent look like they have any intrest in traded horton watsoever. seeing wat he did (66 pts, plus 20's). i love him!!..lol..but, i think we can cross him off the list. he is RFA so u never know, but he seems like a keeper for them. however, they REALLY need a goalie, baaaaaaaad.
STL needs fowards and have d-men to deal..they have a young goalie tho :(
wat about prucha, hossa and 17 overall..for jackman and 24 overall?...too much?..too little?..your thoughts...
I wouldn't trade Prucha, but much of that is personal because I like the way he plays and am the proud owner of a #25 jersey. I think he'll regain his scoring touch and that being on a line with Cullen and Callahan is good for him.
I _definitely_ would not trade Marcel Hossa. Did you notice how much he improved over the course of the year? He will not cost a lot, and has big upside potential.
i seen hossa this year he had his moments, he can be lazy at times too. i was just throwing a player out there..i love jackman, so i'll trade hossa.
ppl gotta realize to get something, u gotta give up something. we are on the cust of contending, do watever possible to get there.
I would try and trade Jessiman as he is never going to play in New York. Rangers have offered him straight up for Robbie Schremp who is a former first rounder of the Oilers and also languising in the minors. Schremp is a pure center and Sather almost made that deal last trade deadline according to Larry "The Loser" Brooks
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