Blue Notes

thats almost as much as I get for doing my homework before dinner time. I'm the super duper blue power ranger, yay!

hey Zipay, you might as well stop writing stuff. just me and you here. my fans only care what the other team does. nice seeing you today. take the rest of the night off.

Hey Zipay - stick to your own team. Talk about unprofessional! Isles crazy money??? Thanks for the laugh, fatso! The only crazy thing to see here is that the fatso Rags 'blogger' seems obsessed with everything Islanders!

What's the matter, Steve --slow news day on the Rangers beat?

Check the cap room, my friend. Just hope Lundquist doesn't get signed to an offer sheet.

The amount of cap ignorance is funny. The Rangers have plenty to sign Henrik,Avery,Shanny and Hossa if they so chose. Also dont forget that they can go over the cap by 10% as long as they are back under it by the first game of the season. So that gives them time to make trades IF they need to. People need to read all the facts and the few ignorant Rangers rivals need to stop hoping that Lundqvist is going away, because he isn't. Sorry to burst bubble's he'll be pushing your ice girls around for years to come.

Zipay's goatee tickles my unmentionables ever so gently

Good to have you back Steve. Mike did a nice job filling in for you? Any truth to the Rangers thinking about Souray?

What about Hossa and Prucha to Florida for JAY BOUWMEESTER? He is a big kid who had a plus 23 last year for Florida.

There is always Nigle Dawes, Alex Bourret, RW Dane Byers, LW and others to replace them. I think Alex and Nigel are ready for the NHL after their last seasons in the AHL.

Great to have you back Steve! Losing you was worse than losing Jagr in the '06 playoffs.

Whatever the Rangers do with Prucha, they can't trade him and/or Montoya for a veteran. For any deal to be worthwhile it would need to be for a tough, hard-hitting young defenseman. Otherwise, not sure I would approve losing Prucha. Sure we have other prospects in the wings, but Prucha has put in two solid seasons in his first years in the NHL, so there's a chance he can have a huge upswing in the next year or two. I say we give him more time to play for us.

Steve... yes, the Isles paid crazy money for Guerin (which is the only reason he'd choose to end his career in the Masoleum) but paying Scott Gomez $7M a year for 13 goals last season is nuts.

Remember when Eric Lindros scored 29 goals over 2 seasons and got paid $16M to do so?

Nylander has had more points in the past two seasons than both Drury and Gomez. We should have only gotten one of these players and kept Nylander. Someone (...you...) should address this.

Points in Past Two Seasons
Jagr 219
Nylander 162
Briere 153
Gomez 144
Drury 136

Islanders fans are hilarious...so delusional...Blake, Smyth and Kozlov bolt almost immediately, Comrie, Guerin and Fedotenko are all given more than they're worth to take their spots, and you people still show up to troll on Rangers blogs? The best thing going for you guys is the fact that only Guerin got 2 years.

A mediocre team with a mediocre farm gets worse thru a desperate trade that goes nowhere...then has to watch their #1 rival take an absolute stud 2 picks after theirs would have been...10 days later, 3 teams in their division get stronger while their entire top line departs. Yeah, if I was an Isles fan I'd be all bitter and resentful, too.

Enjoy last place...try to derive some excitement from the race to stay ahead of Boston and out of last place in the conference. Better yet, turn into Flygirls trolls...at least their team is decent.

Hahahaha!!! This guy is talking about how we just signed two players for a total of over 7 mill who scored 50 goals between them last year, when his team just signed ONE guy who last year scored only THIRTEEN goals for almost the same amount of cash!!!

My GOD YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!!

Stick to talking about your own team you moron.

Have fun bringing Shanny back...you'll spend almost as much for him as we did for Guerin. Funny thing is, he's even older than Guerin and had pretty much the same PPG. And that will make you a hypocrit.

Rucchin-

Nylander's contract is almost as crazy in it's own right...the Nylander/Gomez argument is more or less over.

Gomez is better defensively, better in the face off circle, just as good a skater and distributor and he'll be 34 and not 38 at the end of his contract. If the Rangers had given Nylander 4/19.5 mil, everyone would be rightfully screaming bloody murder.
-------------------
"Have fun bringing Shanny back...you'll spend almost as much for him as we did for Guerin. Funny thing is, he's even older than Guerin and had pretty much the same PPG. And that will make you a hypocrit."

Totally wrong...Shanahan scored more points in 10 fewer games...was more productive in the playoffs...and will only get 1 year, with a cap hit split between this year and next (bonuses for a 35+ y/o on a 1 year deal count against the following season's cap)...making him effectively half the price of Guerin.

Plus Shanahan is playing on a better, deeper team whereas Guerin is now NYI's top option and will be the main focus of opposing defenses...and he needs space and a playmaker to be productive.

And no, Mike Comrie is not a real "playmaker" no matter what NYI.com's frontpage says.

wow the craplander fans are out in force tonight. Hey you guys should go back to your own blog. Im not even going to attempt to show you that everything your saying is out of jealousy because i think even you fools understand that to be true also.

Rag Concentration is an ice girl ... thus her legs are open more than a 24/7 convienience store.
P.S do you like having herpes?

This morning the Daily News states that Sheldon Souray WANTS to be a Ranger, that's why he hasn't signed with anyone yet, he is waiting to see if they will make the cap space.

If the Rangers somehow bring Souray into the fold, they must somehow get rid of Malik and Cullen's contracts.

Bottom line.

Jim -

I don't know how good a fit Souray would be for the Rangers - absolutely he would improve the PP but he's not a very good defensive blue liner. I think with Paul Mara, and Mark Staal (and if someone could get Roszival to shoot) the Rangers have enough back line shooters.

That said, if they could clear up some space by dumping Roszival - who is too defferential to Jagr when they're on the ice together - I wouldn't mind Souray taking his spot with Malik.

I think we locked ourself in a few way to high salaries for the next few years. Gomez has proven nothing and Drury had a husstling group of players around him. We should have been more patient and waited for better chances.
These deals are FLOPS. Sorry...

6677 -

All due respect but you're wrong about these deals being flops.

Gomez and Drury are proven regular season and playoff performers - and more than that they are young veterans who play well on both ends of the ice and fill a position that the team was desperate to fill.

Think about last season, the Rangers had one center they could rely on for offense (Nylander) and one they could rely on for draws (Betts) Now the team has three centers who are good in the face off circle - and unlike Betts, Gomez and Drury aren't offensive liabilities. Drury's line is likely going to have Avery on one wing and Shannahan on the other - upgrades over who he was playing with last season so that argument is moot.

And what "Better Chances" would you have wanted the Rangers to wait for? Nylander got 5 mil a year for 4 years - personally I would rather be paying Gomez and Drury 7 mil a year 4 years from now when they'll be 32 and 35 than Nylander 5 at 39 with no Jagr/Straka/or Shanny on the team.

From ESPN.com's EJ Hradek:

The Souray chase
posted: Friday, July 6, 2007 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: NHL

We're five days into free agency and just about every worthwhile player is off the market.

Well, just about every worthwhile player. Of the players left on the market, the guy that I've been getting the most questions about is defenseman Sheldon Souray.

Last season, in Montreal, Souray's heavy shot made him a force on the power play. He established a record for power-play goals scored by a defenseman in a single season, netting 19 PPGs for the Habs. Souray smashed the old mark, held by Denis Potvin (Islanders, 1974-95) and Adrian Aucoin (Canucks, '98-99).

Most figured that Souray would be long off the market by now. But, for some reason, he remains available for all 30 clubs.

After talking with a couple of sources with some knowledge of the situation, I get the sense that Souray could be headed for New York to join the Rangers. That scenario makes sense for five reasons (that I can think of).

First, the Rangers figure to add another experienced defenseman.

Second, the Rangers don't have a dangerous offensive presence on their blue line.

Third, the Rangers could deal a roster player (Matt Cullen?) and/or offer less money to their own UFA Brendan Shanahan to create the cap space for another major addition.

Fourth, Souray might be waiting to sign with the Rangers to allow them to pursue a deal to create cap space. By waiting, Souray would allow his future team to make a deal with full leverage. If a club knew the Rangers had to make a deal for cap purposes, that club might offer less in return.

Fifth, Rangers GM Glen Sather has a good relationship with Souray's agent, Paul Theofanous.

Will this scenario play out? At this point, Souray's future plans remain a bit of a guessing game. And, as the Oilers found out, there are no certainties until a player signs a contract. Until he does sign his autograph on the dotted line, Souray remains a free agent. And, until then, we'll keep trying to figure out where he's going.

"Isles, by the way, will pay $9 million, yep, $9 million mazzonies, over two years to Bill Guerin, a good soul, a born-in-the-USA vet, but let's be honest, he's 36 years old, made $2 mil last year on a one-season pact and vanished in San Jose after being shipped from St. Loo....

I don't blame Guerin. Hey, Ruslan Fedotenko got $2.9 mil....

Together, that's $7.4m in Isles' crazy money next season..."

Zipay, if you want to talk about crazy money, talk about the Rangers Yashinesque contract with Gomez. Talk about how Rangers overpaid for Gomez and Drury.

Rangers paid 2x the money then Isles did on there two FA's (Drury, Gomez) 50G 79A 129P over (Comrie, Fedotenko, Guerin) 68G 65A 133P. Looks like Isles got a bargin. If there is any crazy money, its the money Rangers overspent.

Rangers overspent enough just on Gomez and locked him up for so long of a contract. Its as if the Rangers combined (the vast overpayment of Bobby Holik to the Rangers years ago) to (the too-long of a contract the Isles did with Yashin also years ago). Doesn't Sather ever learn? If he signed them to 5 years contracts, even at such high prices it would have made more sense.

Otherwise Rangers did pick up two players, that if they work out (you better pray they do since both contracts are untradable) they should replace Shanahan and Jagr when they both retire. Currently, Rangers have a better roster, and should be the team to beat in the East.

As an Isles fan, I'm happy for the players we picked up. We should be as competitive a team as we were last year.

Dynasty -

I think Sather has learned from past mistakes.

With the Holik deal the Rangers were paying a checking line center first line money and tried to make him a first line center and offensive force - which is kind of like trying to make Tom Poti into a defensive stopper.

With Gomez the Rangers are taking a guy who is a first line center at a young age (27) and paying him to be a first line center and playing him as a first line center.

For the Isles, you had to make a move to get a veteran leader back into the room - the departures of Smyth and Blake left your team devoid of on-ice leadership. Barring a signing of Peca, Guerin will likely be given the 'C' and be asked to assume an immediate role as team spokesman. As for Comrie, he's young, but has a history of wearing out his welcome. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the pressure of being the number 1 center for the Isles in what should be a very tough division.

Chip,

Like I said before I think it would have been wiser to have signed both Drury and Gomez for 5 years contracts instead of 7-8. Otherwise, no one can knock the fact they are good quality players that can help or enhance any team. Evident in the fact that practically everyteam wanted one or both.

Yeah, after losing out on Smyth, we needed a player like Guerin who can provide leadership. Comrie and Tank are both players trying to show they are better players (who both have 1 year contracts, and are really playing motivated for a big contract next season in the market). I like the players we got.

This year, our division will certainly be tough. Philly I think will be the most interesting to watch to see how there team gels. Rangers and Pens should be a step better then last year. Devils and Isles are a question mark, but both should be competitive at the least and could surprise (although Devils always seem to do just that).

6677,

you are a dope, plain and simple.

How is Scott Gomez "unproven"???

How many other players in the league have had 3 seasons of over 50 assists and 1on 2 Stanley Cups by the time they were 27 years old.

Get the hell of this blog.

Dynasty,

I don't think the two extra years on Gomez's contract are going to matter - he'll be 34 when the contract is in its last year (same age as Nylander now)

As for the division - I always want to say after seeing the players they lose that the Devils are done, but they always find a way. Philly has completely turned over their team, and it will be interesting to see how the new parts fit together. The Isles have filled the holes that were created by the free agent losses, now they have to work on finding players to improve them from where they were last season. And hope that DiPietro can stand on his head again this year.

For the Rangers, we've got good depth down the middle, three solid lines that can score and even if a move isn't made for a defender I like the way it could shake out with the addition of Staal and possibly Baranka. Maybe a veteran back up to Hank (Jussi) would be in order - but if Gomez improves as much playing with Jagr as Nylander did and if Avery provides the same spark he did last season - I think the Rangers could be a scary good team that gives opponents a lot of different looks.

The downside would be if Gomez's style doesn't mesh with the pass and circle style of Jagr and Straka, if Shanny gets old over night and Prucha and Callahan regress.

wow

Oilers signed Thomas Vanek to an offer sheet, 7 years 50 million.

HOLY CRAPOLA!!!!!

Buffalo has right to match of course.

Just to expand on one point, about the different looks the Rangers lines will provide - In the Jagr line opponents will see a unit that skates around and waits for shooting lanes - they'll play with some power and some speed - but mostly they'll pass the puck and try to wait you out.

If the second unit is Avery-Drury-Shanny - you're looking at a unit that will crash the net, dump the puck into corners and fire at the net. The third potential unit of Prucha-Cullen-Callahan is an all out speed attack. They'll create turnovers and blister into odd man rushes with three guys who can all put the puck behind the goalie.

It's tough to game plan against a team that can show you that many different looks.

Jim - I would say Buffalo has to match - they can't lose three of their top players. There's no one left to replace them with and the fan base will turn its back on them.

Yeah, I would say they match too, there are rumors I am reading that the Oilers will target Zach Parise next if Buffalo matches.

Kevin Lowe is under a lot of pressure to bring someone in. It's really sad actually - they have plenty of money, and want to spend it, but players just don't want to go to Edmonton - the city just isn't a draw.

if the rangers get souray...it will be a treat to see how there gonna be able to get back avery, shanahan, and henrik under the cap...praying someone offers henrik an offer sheet

Pray for world peace or no terrorism or something, don't pray for hockey contracts.

Jim, praying isn't going to make a difference, so Mikey, I say pray away.

WOW, TAMPA SIGNS LUNDQUIST TO OFFER SHEET, 6 YEARS, $43M ACCORDING TO HOCKEYBUZZ!!!!!!!

yes, you are an arsehole

If that is true about Henrik...the rangers are going to have to match. No Henry and their signing of Drury and Gomez is for nothing. but that would mean the end to Shanny, and no big four defenceman. Wow, if it is true about Henry...the rangers are screwed. Guess they should not have paid Gomez and Drury all that money.

so I'm guessing that Tampa did not actually sign Henrik to an offer sheet?

Stevey Z, get off the vicatin's bro:

And finally, to quote the movie critic Roger Ebert, a big thumbs WAY down to Rangers beat writer Steve Zipay of Newsday. For some reason, Zip found it necessary to take some embarrassing cheap shots at the Islanders’ signings in the midst of his Rangers Blog update on the Petr Prucha signing. We were once told by a seasoned journalist that sometimes reporters get so close to a team they unwittingly begin drinking the Kool-Aid. This seems to be happening with Zipay. And in this case, the Kool-Aid is spiked with Grey Goose.

the rangers seem to make huge acquisitions every off season and every season they end up being mediocre compared to what people thought on paper, give me a break

Zippy can't afford grey goose. More like Popolov for him.

wow, henrik to tampa and weekes went to nj. Looks like it's time for Montoya to step in.

So wait, the Isles spend $10 million for 3 guys. Two of them 2 yr deals. One a 1 yr deal.
The rangers spend $14 m on 2 guys, to 7 yr deals. One has scored 30 goals once. The other has never topped 70 pts.
Tell me, who overpaid?
Who clogged up their roster?
If Guerin stinks (doubtful btw), he can be traded. Odds are he does as well as Shannahan did last year.
Who's gonna take on Gomez or Drury's contracts if they falter?
We had Yashin's contract. You have two of them.

I hope the Rangers do sign Souray. Because if they go over the cap, they would have to rely on another team to help them get under. I wonder how many teams are going to want to do that?

So many Islander fans in here.

For those worried about the report of Henrik signing an offer sheet with Tampa - don't be - it's not true. Just checked the cap numbers and Tampa can't afford a $7mil a year goaltender. Nor are they in the market for netminders to start with.

Nice, now someone is using my name - I did not post that about Montoya.

To Ed:

Huge difference between Yashin and Drury/Gomez

1. Drury and Gomez fit with the Rangers - and won't have any problems with the stage or anything else

2. Yashin is/was a one dimensional player Gomez and Drury are not.

Tampa Cap - 11 million to spare

Ranger cap - 9.4 million to spare.

Also Ed, only 1 7 year deal (Gomez) Drury was a 5 year deal - and really should fans of a team that signed a goalie to a 15-year contract be talking about the length of any contracts?

Fredo -

Tampa cap also only includes 4 defensemen, 1 left wing and 2 veteran goalies - as said they can't afford a 7mil a year goalie.

geurin can not be traded...he has a no movement clause.

Also, the "rumor" is not on any site - not even the one credited with announcing it Hockeybuzz.com - leads me to think it is someone trying to get their shiggles

Ed,

wow another dumb-arse, place is loaded with them today.

Did you not see that Bill Guerin was given a no - movement clause, which means he can't be traded.

So, email Newsday and ask them to delete your last post.

thanks

http://www.nhlnumbers.com/tbl.html

cap includes a lot more.

http://www.nhlnumbers.com/nyr.html

Hey if the rumor is false...does it really matter.

But I wonder what kind of deal Henry will demand.

I think this Ed guy may be one of the dumber hockey bloggers we have had in awhile.

Fredo -

I think if DiPietro got $4.5 mil per year for 15 then Henrik and the Rangers will probably land on the same per year but for 5 or 6 years.

Buffalo matches contract, wow, that was quick.

just looking at recent goalie prices...Henry should command 5 to 6 easly.

hey...we spent 7.8 million on comrie and guerin who are both quality players while the rags sold their souls for gomez and drury who combined scored less goals than comrie and guerin combined.

Yes bethann, because stats are all that matters.

You got us there.

First... numbers be damned! Vanek has one good year and gets 7 million per!!!
He gets as much as big Joe, Iglna, Jags,Sakic!! how much will Syd and Ovechkin be worth in a couple of years??
second, lets leave Ed alone.
Third...Tampa not in market for Goalie??

The false Tampa Bay claim really lacked any bit of cleverness because they are the last team who would make Henrik an offer.

They have Marc Denis and Johan Holmqvist in net and 2 of the top goalie prospects in the NHL right now.

But, I bet the moron who made the post has never heard of any of those guys.

Marc Denis and Holmqvist equals you want Henrik and...having a top prospect (Montoya) doesn't mean Rangers wouldn't want Henrik would it?

huh?

there is a max in the amount a player can be offered.

"Yes. No player may be eligible to contract for or receive in excess of 20% of the Club's upper limit in total annual compensation (NHL salary plus signing, roster, reporting and all performance bonuses). In 2005-06, no player will be permitted to contract for total compensation in excess of $7.8 million in any year of his contract."

for the 07-08 year that would be 10 Million. I do not see the cap increasing much more over the next few years.

If I had Marc Denis and Holmquist I'd want Henrik over them and if I have prospects ( like we do with Montoya) I'd still want Henrik so why wouldn't Tampa. Even just to drive up Rangers cap #'s

Then you would drive up Tampa's cap number to the brim, they have been trying to get rid of big contracts that are suffocating them like Brad Richards, they are not looking to get larger contracts, patricularly in net where they don't need any help.

Tampa Bay's owner wants to have a team cap of 40 million, he is in no way interested in makign an offer for Lundqvist just to make the Ranegrs life tougher.

It was a very dumb thought.

I think people really aren't thinkign about something.

Henrik Lunqvist loves being a Ranger, he wants to stay a Ranger. He is not going to sign an offer sheet with anyone.

Stop being dumb-arses already.

That would be the same Tampa owner who signed Brad Richards for what 6-7 Million a year. Tampa gets a great goalie they are right up there with anyone in the east...

Wow...Guerin scored 8 goals in 16 games for SJ after the trade deadline. Yep, that is disappearing. Perhaps you should only comment on the Rangers since you don't know jack about the other teams and players in the NHL.

BTW...get Lundy signed before mad Lowe decides to offer him 50 mill over 7 years.

Bobby Lo,

you just don't know what you are talking about

bye bye now

PHIL IN VA,

Yes, because Henrik would rather leave a large contract offer and endorsements in NYC to voluntarily sign in hockey Siberia (Edmonton)

someone with a clue please????

"Then you would drive up Tampa's cap number to the brim, they have been trying to get rid of big contracts that are suffocating them like Brad Richards, they are not looking to get larger contracts, patricularly in net where they don't need any help.

Tampa Bay's owner wants to have a team cap of 40 million, he is in no way interested in makign an offer for Lundqvist just to make the Ranegrs life tougher.

It was a very dumb thought."

Dumb thought but Lowe did it to Buffalo.

And he did it just to prove a point. Trade me a players rights or I will screw you.

I actually like the Bill Guerin signing for the Isles, I applaud it.

However, Phil IN VA, you conveniently didn't mention that Guerin scored 0 goals in 9 playoff games for the Sharks, which is what they acquired him for.

If he "loved" being a Ranger so much he'd be signed by now, Ryan smyth loved being an oiler too.. and bye bye to you ya jerk

"If he "loved" being a Ranger so much he'd be signed by now"

why, is it October and the season started already?

i would like to point out to everyone who keeps saying we signed no bodys or superstars again. Every signing Sather has made post lockout has worked. Jagr, Nylander, Straka, they have not crapped out like lindros, bure, and so on. As for isles fan, go back to your blog, i like the false confidence in giving gurin a 2 million dollar raise but seriously theres no need for you here.

I don't mid these dumb Isles fan here, I am bitch slapping them left and right here, it's fun.

Why would Henry stay in NY. They have Montoya who they claim is their future goal tender and to make things worse they have this future goal tender and decided to draft another one (Antoine Lafleur) in the second round in this years draft. that must send a clear message to Henry that the Rangers really want him for the next 5 or 6 years.

If Edmonton offered Henrik Lundqvist 50 million dollars for 7 years, Henrik would say NO.

He would say I love playing in NYC, I am negotiating my contract with the only team I ever want to play for, now go ahead and sign Zach Parise.

Thanks and have a nice day.

I see someone likes to act like me. If you are going to continue to post as me...can you do me a favor and take my wife to.

Fredo,

oh no man, you are the dumbest yet, wow.

Go ahead, search everywhere for a quote from anyone with the Rangers that says Al Montoya is the Rangers goalie of the future.

They drafted Lafleur because they want goalie depth in case they deal Montoya, you dumb-arse!!!

You sir are a mental midget!!!

Now I understand why all of the Rangers "fans" spend all their time on the Isles blog. Take away the normally nonsensical posts from "Jim from Woodbury" and there'd be about 4 posts left, none of which contain an ounce of insight or hockey knowledge. Newsday was smart to appoint Rangers blog responsibilities to that fat Zipay, you deserve each other.

clearly they are jealous of Lundqvist too Jim ... then again they do have the equivalent to an infant hyped up on PPC in net. Who can blame them i suppose.

Bring it on dude!

Tell me something I don't know about hockey bro!

Love to see it.

Jim,

Dude, I'm sure you would bro. I mean bro, I'll tell you something dude. Here's something you don't know bro. Men who are not well endowed use a lot of exclamation points.

Joe,

I was behind the glass, behind the Islander net one of the last Rangers - Isles games at the Coliseum last March which the Rangers won in overtime.

The moment when Avery stood on Dipietro's head was awesome. In the scrum that followed, I could actually hear Dipietro whining about it and Avery yelled the following at him "go eff yourself ya pu$$y"

it was hysterical!

Cokehead Henrik (it's true),

HUH???????

Hah!this all began with Jim saying tampa isnt in the market for a goaltender... Tampa? a team that, the last time they had a good goalie won THE STANLEY CUP!! If any team needs a goalie its the Lightning. You obviously don't know anything about hockey. secondly I'm a Rangers fan not an Isles fan...Just not a frickin' idiot

And question marks...

I can't believe the lack of intelligence that has completely infested this blog today.

We need an exterminator quickly.

Bobby Lo,

I hereby fire you as a Rangers fan.

Please go root for someone else.

Yes, and still, Tampa Bay is not in the market for a goaltender.

big choices for rangers...

all this discussion about Henry and Shanny. One might want to point out that next year is an option year for Jagr. The caps are not on the line for any of that contract. That means in stead of having a cap hit of 3 and changes the rangers will be on board for the full 8 million. With Drury and Gomez hogging up almost 15 million. If the rangers do decide to pony up for Henry, Souray and/or Shanny to multi year deals, that could spell the end for Jagr after this year.

If the rangers decide to bring back Jagr that would be over 22 million in 3 players just for Gomez, Drury and Jagr.

Now add in the 5 a year for Souray (a d-man they do need) brings them to 27 million.

3 Million for Cullen. Now 30 Million for 5 Players.

That would leave you about 20 Million to sign 15 players.

With that 20 Million you need to pay Henry his lets say 4 Million contract.

Down to 16 Million for 14 Players.

Nope make that 15 Million for 13 Players. I beleive Prucha signed 2 Years at 1 Mill a year.

15 Million to sign 5 D men (none signed past this year).

15 Million to sign wingers and such to play on lines with your three centers Drury, Gomez and Cullen. Well besides Jagr.

With all that said...do the rangers really have the money beyond this year?

You're right, Jim. Sorry. We do need more intelligent posts like the following, posted by you at 12:37PM...

"yes, you are an arsehole"

I promise no more posts until I have something equally intelligent to add.

I apologize to all the hockey bloggers out there. My little boy just won't get off this computer. All he does is constantly refresh his computer and looks for posts that he can start arguments over. Mrs. Jim and I took him to see some specialists but nothing has worked. Hopefully, one of you guys can kick his @$$ and knock some sense into this computer geek.

Tampa doesn't need a goalie because they have Denis and Holmquist???? LOL, that is the funniest thing I have heard all year. Don't you realize that both those players suck. That's like saying, "hey Olaf Kolzig is 42 years old, we don't need a goaltender" If there is one known need in the NHL, it is that Tampa needs a goaltender. Wake up numbnuts. LMAO, you're an idiot

Jim

Montoya has always been the ranger future. The only reason ranger fans know about Swiss Cheese and his coke addict and love of the Ice Girls is because Dunham and weekes were ineffective for the rangers.

Please do not act like Henry has always been the future of the rangers and the direction they wanted to go. You would be an idiot to think that.

Fredo,

Ryan Callahan, Alex Bourret, Nigel Dawes, Alexei Cherepanov, Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky up front.

Marc Staal, Bobby Sanguinetti, Mark Sauer, Daniel Girardi on defense.

What that is is one of the deepest group of prospects in the NHL, we have to sign more free agents for what reason now?

Henry wiill get at least 5.5 - 6 mil a year!

The icelanders have no choice now but to overspend for who they get. There is nobody left!

I don't think the Guerin deal was that bad. He scores, hits, fights and is a good leader.

Henry wiill get at least 5.5 - 6 mil a year!

The icelanders have no choice now but to overspend for who they get. There is nobody left!

I don't think the Guerin deal was that bad. He scores, hits, fights and is a good leader.

"Tampa doesn't need a goalie because they have Denis and Holmquist???? LOL, that is the funniest thing I have heard all year. Don't you realize that both those players suck. That's like saying, "hey Olaf Kolzig is 42 years old, we don't need a goaltender" If there is one known need in the NHL, it is that Tampa needs a goaltender. Wake up numbnuts. LMAO, you're an idiot"

wow, the dumbness is like a plague.

Do me a favor, look up the names Karri Ramo and Riku Helenius.

Tell me what you find.

Most teams do not draft their future goalie in the 7th round, 205th Overall. They draft them 1st round 6th overall.

And they do that 4 years after they drafted the 7th round guy.

Roger Clemens and Scott Gomez made a friendly wager with each other...Clemens salary per win vs. Gomez's salary per goal. Whoever has the higher average has to drag Lundqvist home from the bar after another c*** binge.

*** = oke
*** = ock

Both work.

Jim

If you are ok with putting the next 5 years on the shoulders of all that youth, by all means go ahead. But that usually does not work out well

very clever, ok, your manager at Burger King says your break is over, get back to them fries now.

Jim,

Thanks for the vote of confidence but I am going to suck.

Fredo,

Nah, the next 5 years will be on Gomez, Drury's and Henrik's shoulders.

But I do expect at least two superstars from that group of prospects.

I heard they were betting on when the roof will collapse at that dump the Icelanders play

Jim

Those guys you mentioned...what is there total NHL games played combined?

Just wondering.

Look it up Fredo, apparently you have the internet!

HEY HEY,

YES!!!

No day of morons would be complete without Rag Contraction joining the fray!

Wouldn't miss it!!

I like play hockey in newyork. well play parttime good, parttime bad but never make scratch on boards. alreadt rich thanks to comrade Wang. play half price. repeat no make scratches on boards

Jim,

I am not disputing that Gomez and Dury are good for the Rangers. They are. But they are not that good. They are not good enough to put the weight of the shoulders on. Look at Henry. In 05-06 when Jagr was hurt and he was asked to carry them past the first round of the playoffs. He failed. Misarebly. Do you really want to put that on his shoulders again.

As we continue to go around in the same circle, should I post the list of fabulous prospects we have again?

I vipe vindows when I do not play. Can play with rangers halfprice. agent wait for call.
Danks

I would rather have Mike Comrie, Mike Sillinger and Bill Guerin as my team with an absolutely barren farm system other than Kyle Okposo, yeah, that is what I would want.

Jim

I am impressed.

You want to put the rangers to survive with a team full of youngsters who have played a combined total of 62 NHL games and scored less goals and pts in their career then Trent Hunter does in a half a year. Wow.

I think I am super impressed by the fact that you are a huge ranger fan and dont even realize that his name is MIKE Sauer...not MARC.

Yes, you got me there, blew the whole point out of the water. I typed Mark instead of Michael, yep, got me.

Comrade fredo, comrade Jim please help to call the leader Sather. I play halfprice, score 20 goals, vipe vindows, no scratch boards. Sheldon souray score 20 goal, whole world love him. Alexi score 20 get ridden off island like a mad cow.

Jesus christ, can your shitlander fans please get over the fact that they suck more penis than Rag Concentration. Go back to your own forum and talk about the glory days when you had ryan smyth. And to fredo for the whole Lundqvist couldnt carry the team bullsh*t. He carried us to the playoffs, then through the playoffs. The series against the devils the entire team was outmatched so it was not nearly his fault. Hey talk to me when DP swallows wins a playoff series ok? Thanks. You can also talk when your team wins a series ... since it hasent happened since 1993. I guess its time to party like is 1983 huh?

LOL, RAG CONTRACTION AND COKEHEAD HENRIK ARE HILARIOUS!!!! RAGS MUST GO. RAGS MUST GO.

Jim.

I am not going to even start and lie and say I know anything about the ranger farm system. But I am familiar with the Islander one. And I will say that their system is not barren.

What you may be confused about is that their youngsters are NHL ready and are playing there already.

Like Campoli and Gervais, Tamballini, Bergenheim, Frans Neillson.

I will never have a problem with the Islander farm system and their drafting.

They have always drafted and scouted well. They might not always hold on to them....but they do it smart.

Hey Joe, who is rag concentration? It's Rag Contraction you f'ing idiot. Learn how to read stupid rag fan.

SHOOT HIGH ON QUEEN COKEHEAD LUNDQUIST

Not to put pressue but, a team from croatia just talked to agent. offer is on table. I give you 4 hundred hours to make offer.
Once again, I no make scratch marks on board.
Danke

its about that time now. 3 PM. This is when it usually starts.

Sean Hill to Minny.

dumb dumb dumb move.

Zipay, you're a jerk-off!

my fault holik,
i try not to read too much into what she says because quite frankly only sauce has posted on this blog as an islander fan with some form of intelligence. And yes we did pay holik 9 million, and your paying Guerin 9 million over the next two years. HA! Who is he going to pass to? Better yet, who is going to pass to him so he can score? I guess he can do it all himself. I wonder who else garth snow is going to have Rag Contraction blow to join the team?

i love this idiot pretending to be yashin.

Does he know Yashin is about to sign with Toronto to be a winger on a line with Sundin and Blake.

Poor Blake...can never escape Yashin.

Last I checked Tor was very far and different from Croatia.

Love the idiots.

btw Bobby Holik says hi.

"Campoli and Gervais, Tamballini, Bergenheim, Frans Neillson"

that is one absolutely horrible group

But, if you want to talk about young Rangers players already playing with the team, lets talk Marcel Hossa, Petr Prucha, Fedor Tyutin and Thomas Pock.

-Jim from Woodbury

Agent being liar to me. Now I give real pressure. I lead Mapleleafs to first cup since LBJ unless sather sign me away from them...you have 3 hundred hours to make bargain.....
Alexi

Jim

Thank you for proving my point.

How well did the third and fourth line you just mention do?

the ranger depth is only two lines.

Steve,

Don't you have your hands full covering your own team?

Leave the Islanders to Logan!

Your comments about the Isles signing are less than fair.

If you want to talk about overpaying--lets...

Gomez: 7.35 million per season for 60 points (13 of them goals). You dont think thats bloated?

Drury: 7.05 million for 5 years. This one makes a little more sense, but I think it is probably a little rich.

How about the following over paid players of the past:
Kasperitis and Holik ring a bell?

Talk about signing an aging vet who cant produce the same way he used too...Does the name Wayne Gretzky spark a memory? Even the great Mark Messier in his last years...these are truely great players, but the Rangers seriously overpaid for them at the time and the yield was absolutly nothing.

Stick to your own team.

what would you rather have done:

traded the second overall pick in the draft which turned into Jason Spezza and Zdeno Chara for Alexei Yashin and give Yashin a ridiculous contract, and finnally buy it out when it counted 2.2 million against your cap for the next 8 years.........

or

trade nothing, just give Bobby Holik a ridIculous contract and buy it out during the amnesty period when it didn't count at all against your cap.

I ask you, what situation would you have rather had?

Please not mention being overpaid today. Agent working very hard

Fredo,

your point is quite bad.

next season, the Rangers 3rd line is Petr Prucha, Matt Cullen, and Ryan Callahan.

At this point, I am not even sure where Marcel Hossa and Martin Straka are playing, something that will probably be worked out in trainign camp.

Now let me know if you are talking about beyond next season, or if you are talking about this coming season, because you tend to keep changing whether you are talking about this coming season or the future.

Oh yeah, you know what, Avery may be on the 3rd line, still not sure, this lack of depth thing is very imaginary.

If pretty ridiculous whats going on in this thread. EVERY TEAM IS OVERPAYING !

Any idiot who thinks Drury isnt anything special NEEDS to take a look at the amount of game winning playoff goals he has. This guy is Mr. Clutch. I think he has more playoff winning goals than the entire Islanders team.

Wow, Marcel Hossa had 10 goals last year (1 less than Arron Asham by the way) and has 30 in his career. He sure is amazing. And don't give me that garbage about him being hurt for a part of the year, who's fault is that? RAGS MUST CONTRACT NOW!!

Ok here is resume;

Many times 20 goal scorer..
Play in 3 countries league.
had longest contract until comrade wang bumped head...
learned to be tough on mean streets of woodbury LI ( rabid squirrel chase me on Jericho tpke)
look good in Turtle neck...

Clock is ticking. Mapleleafs serious unless Muckler change fergie's tiny mind

Hey yash, that hairy ugly scary animal that was chasing you in Woodbury was this Rag fan Jim's mom, or sister, I get them confused. HAHAHAHAHA LMAO.

This true comrade jim?
because Sean Hill was chasing animal that was chasing me. he yell "I vill squash you wit bear hands"..
Then he run by both of us onto LIE and made it to city in 12 minute.
very energetic boy...Hey! he sign with Minnysotska

Alexi!
Go away!!!!!!!!!

One of the days I will take words serious and really go.....

"don't give me that garbage about him being hurt for a part of the year, who's fault is that"

Well, as it pertains to Rick Dipietro, it's probably Avery's fault for standing on his head and no Islander on the ice doing anything about it.

That must have sucked seeing that.

Pathetic! Rangers are an average team who just significantly overpaid for two players in Gomez and Drury. Stop drinking the Kool-Aid and look at the signings by the Rangers rationally. Yes everyone in the NHL has overpaid for players but really does Gomez deserve 10 million dollars next year. He scored 13 goals last year. C'mon! Zipay stick to your own team and let everyone else fend for themselves. Wow horrible journalistic skills.

Corey.....

your jealousy is showing through....

it's ok, join the club!

It's not jealousy. I'm content with what the Islanders are doing. I like the signings by our team and I like some of the signings by the Rangers. I think to hail signings like Gomez and then bash signings by the Islanders as a journalist is pathetic.

I'm done with my rant. All i'm trying to say is for Zipay to look at the signings rationally which I don't believe he's doing. It's not a Ranger vs Islander thing which I think he's making this out to be. Had he been a journalist who was writing about the signings that one thing but on one hand he praises the Rangers for spending a boatload of money on two players but then calls what the Islanders due is crazy is just wrong. I'm questioning the journalist and thats it.

Zippy, are you lobbing those stones in that glass house of yours? 4.5 million is too much for Guerin? Do we all remember Bobby Holik, Darius Kasparaitus, Anson Carter, Eric Lindros...the list goes on and on. One good offseason does not a championship team make.

It's a shame both blogs (Isles and Rangers) get ruined by children and the nonsense they spew.
I'm an Islander fan, but I don't see the purpose of trashing the Rangers. They have a VERY solid team, and Henrik Lunqvist is their goalie of the future, as is Rick DiPietro the goalie of the Isles future.
Just enjoy the rivalry, sure have fun with opposing fans but don't act a fool...

Even now, during list of worse signings, everyone forget about Alexi....

Steve how do you keep your job with writing like this.. open your eyes...all i have to say is we got ourselves into a little over priced 2 year deal.. your paying a decent center scott gomez... 7+ million a year for the next 7 years.. that could be the worst contract signing I have ever heard of..and that guerin contract is only half a mill a year less then what you paid shanny last year lol so where do you get off... im not hear to bash ranger fans or the pick ups they made becasue hey they went for it... and i respect that ... but maybe you should think more about what you write cuase if it wasnt for those two big signing shanny would of been getting another 4-5 mill this year... and now your pretty mucha hipocrite

Steve how do you keep your job with writing like this.. open your eyes...all i have to say is we got ourselves into a little over priced 2 year deal.. your paying a decent center scott gomez... 7+ million a year for the next 7 years.. that could be the worst contract signing I have ever heard of..and that guerin contract is only half a mill a year less then what you paid shanny last year lol so where do you get off... im not hear to bash ranger fans or the pick ups they made becasue hey they went for it... and i respect that ... but maybe you should think more about what you write cuase if it wasnt for those two big signing shanny would of been getting another 4-5 mill this year... and now your pretty mucha hipocrite

rag contraction has to be the biggest fool ever to post. he thinks the icelanders get more coverage and are more popular than the Rangers. that will NEVER HAPPEN! it is the Ranger fans who fill the mausoleum, you fool. lucky to find 100 icelander fans at the garden-ever!

Hey Steve,

You, with Larry Brooks of the Post, can now proudly call yourself a member in good standing of the "Hate the Islanders" Journalists Club. Funny, I'll bet when the Rangers re-sign Shanahan you'll call it a "prudent" signing of a "gritty" veteran ... yet you bash the Islanders for what will likely be the same amount of money for a comparable player. Do you see your hypocrisy?

MSG=sold out always. Mausoleum=empty (except when the Rangers are playing there).

"Dump the Icelanders play in":you live there moron. It's not The Islander Coliseum it's the Nassau Coliseum. Last time I looked, Woodbury was in Nassau. Move to Manhattan, will you?

Steve, your blog was right on. You should have seen the icelander fans postings after the Rangers made their signings. They are the hypocrits, not you.

Uniondale is a ghetto

"Last time I looked, Woodbury was in Nassau. Move to Manhattan, will you?"

No, go eff yourself

I love the Rangers!

Guerin is good siging at the right time in his career. He's already done it all and gets to come back to the NY Metor area where his career began.

Guys at Guerin's stage like to leave a legacy behind them. The way to do that is to get on a young team and mentor some of this kids. He's already got his cup ring.

Guerin's contract fits just right from what the Islanders are trying to do. Not to mention for what's going to be asked of him for the veteran leadership he's going to bring.

He's going to teach Bergenheim and Tambellini to use their speed. It's their best assett at this stage of their career. He's also going to have those two cutting right for the slot at every opportunity.

Signing Guerin accelerated the Development of Bergenheim and Tambellini. If you ask Thornton how he got over the hump in his career he'll tell you "Bill Guerin".

I's wager a lot of youngsters he's played with will tell you the same.

Rangers rule!

Ceasar, you are sounding as if Tambellini and Bergenheim are highly regarded. They are not. The Hockey News ranked the Islanders prospects 19th. That was before the Smyth deal. They'd fall even further after that deal.

what a horrible piece of journalism... all i have to say is :

scott gomez 10 mill next year...

and now ranger fans should shut there mouths..

jagr is on steriods hahahaha

Bob,

Guerin will teach them how to skate faster, so they surely will rise in the prospect ranks.

I wish Guerin would have signed with the Rangers so he could teach our young players how to skate faster.

Guerin played last year on a 1 year contract worth less than 2 mill. Leave it to the Isles to triple his contract at 37, LOL. But that's the only way they'll get players, LOL!!

Not that it matters, because the Islanders won't even be sniffing the playoffs this coming season, but Bill Guerin has been a notoriously lousy playoff performer.

Every Islanders fan has brought up the fact that Scott Gomez only scored 13 goals last season.

Well, how about Bill Guerin playing in 105 NHL playoff games and scoring only 28 goals. Including his 0 goals in 9 games for the Sharks in which he completely disappeared
while he and his Sharks teammates fizzled.

Bob;

Bergenheim may not be highly regarded by those ranking prospects. He is highly regarded by many repected vets who have watched him play. He also had a great season playing overseas.

Cam Neely who was doing color for NESN had nothing but glowing complements for the kid. Same with Phil Esposito who strongly feels that this guy is misranked by the scouts. These comments are a sample of two who are highly respected in the game.

Tambellini is a hard working kid who may wind up as a 2nd or 3rd line player. That's not half bad.

Sean Bentivoglio has averaged a point per game on the college and AHL level. He was an absolute steal by the Islanders scouts and comes undrafted.

Bob,

the dumbest thing with the Isles Guerin contract is the fact they gave him a no movement clause.

At least if they could trade him, at the deadline, they may be able to get a bounty for him like the Blues did last year.

I love the Rangers!

Guess Jim from Woodbury ran out of intelligent answers?
What is "eff"???

I guess he found out:
WOODBURY IS IN NASSAU

Guess Jim from Woodbury ran out of intelligent answers?
What is "eff"???

I guess he found out:
WOODBURY IS IN NASSAU

"Sean Bentivoglio has averaged a point per game on the college and AHL level. He was an absolute steal by the Islanders scouts and comes undrafted"

Yes, and don't forget, the Isles will have Guerin to teach him how to skate faster.

Matt,

what was that, a hiccup?

Gomez has 17 goals and 34 assists in 86 playoff games. That's .198 goals per playoff game. Guerin has averaged .267 goals per playoff game.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Gomez is 27

Guerin is 37

just thought I would throw that one out there...

i am an icelander fan who is a loser with nothing else to do

>>Sean Bentivoglio has averaged a point per game on the college and AHL level. He was an absolute steal by the Islanders scouts and comes undrafted.

Yes, those Niagra players usually make it, LOL.

Gomez... 7.4 million per year.

Guerin... 4.5 million per year.

Just thought I'd throw that out there. ;)

I can't wait to kick those icelanders' asses!

gomez better player than guerin. just thought you would like to know. and much younger too.

Guerin is 36. He'll be 37 in Nov.

Gomez will be 28 in Dec.

am I meat or marinara?

ok, so still, by the time Gomez contract is over, he will be younger than Guerin is right now.

And, despite the near decade difference, Bill Guerin has never had a season in which he had more than 50 assists.

Scott Gomez has had 3.

you guys pway too wuff for me

It's kind of like banging your head against the wall with you Islanders fans.

Scott Gomez was going to get over 7 million a year in this market.

If it wasn't the Rangers, it would have been someone else.

what don't you get already?

Jim, get a hobby. You do NOTHING but live on this blog. You are a loser.

anyone sign souray yet?

I love when you win the hockey arguments and then people resort to the personal attacks.

It's awesome.

I love the Rangers!

I know you are here all the time, Jim, because I am too!

So I guess that makes me a loser!

Why would Guerin worry about getting assists?

That's not his job. He's there to score goals.

Even Gomez for all his assists you would hope that he would at least manage more than one season with 20g or more. Especially for that contract.

The Rangers look like they may be moving from a puck posession team to a transition team. I don't know how well that's going to sit with Jagr.

I think for all the money spent on Drury and Gomez the Rangers are hurting in the Defense department. Maybe it's just me but allowing Ortmeyer to walk is really going to hurt them.

He may be one of the best shot blockers in the league. The Ranger D is servicable but a little slow footed. Rosival and Malik (I know you hate him but I think he's become more of a scapgoat for guys who don't backsheck and helop out. He's still had a great +/-) are your best Dmen on the team.

Paul Mara isn't the answer for the Rangers either. I'm not sure Souray is as well should they sign him.

Prucha was good to resign and gives them second line mobility. Still, it looks like Lundqvist will have his work cut out for him this year.

Well, you are talking to yourself now aren't you!

I have no life. Will someone please toss my salad?

I'm a free agent too

Ceasar,

I guess maybe because you guys have so little in the way of legit prospects that the thought of letting Jed Ortmeyer go with the thought of giving that spot to a young player like Nigel Dawes who has far superior offensive potential would be completely out of the question.

Ortmeyer played hard, and was a solid grinder.

Fact is, he was scratched during playoff games before we made our big signings this summer.

I wish him well, make way for better talent.

Ceasar,

You can pretend Marc Staal isn't coming, but it is still going to happen.

Paul Mara scored 2 goals in the playoffs this past season.

Billy Guerin scored 0.

This is a fact.

Rangers have officially decided to take Lundqvist to arbitration.

Basically this means they can still negotiate a long term deal with them, but no team can sign him to an offer sheet.

So, that ends the offer sheet talk, thank you, please drive through.

Jim, where have you heard that? Don't see anything about arbitration for Lundqvist.

I think that's a very bad move by the Rangers. Arbitration turns Henrik into a UFA next summer, which will drive up his cost even further. Also, there was absolutely no way he was ever going to sign an offer sheet.

man, we are trying to buy some wins again---sather is doing a swan song and i pray this doesnt hamstring us like the isles and yashin etc....goota give props to garth Snow---hes patient and smart--playing long term. But, if we kick arse this year, so be it!! Go rangers!

did u eat my donuts , chubs?

Oh to explain this to Rangers fans.

OK

In order to build a winning hockey team you NEEED guys like Ortmeyer. If Renney did in fact bench him during the playoffs that should tell you all you need to know about Renney. Against a team like Buffalo, if you don't have speed, you need guys like Ortmeyer.

In order to build a winning team you need guys who are willing to play defense. Drury and Gomez are not going to do that dirty work. If anything, Rosival and Malik are pretty much on their own in that departmant.

Gomez and Drury are great sigings. Although I'm glad my team is not on the hook for those front ended contracts. Fundamentally the Rangers are going to have to overhaul their systems play. That means accomodating Gomez and Drury while risking alienating the guys who've played well in the older system.

ANd I wouldn't be willing to cast all my hopes for the defense corp on stall and Sanguinetti. Not just yet. You need guys that have more than just OHL experience. Sanguinetti still needs to bulk up a bit before he can consider playing as a defensmen on the NHL level.

Those two are at least a year away. See how they season in the AHL after thirty games. Sign a few defensmen you can get value for in a trade should you commit to those two during the season.

Worst case scenerio is you develop more depth on D with those guys in the wing. Lord know that Rangers are going to need it. I think Rosival and Malik are going to be gassed by february if the Rangers do nothing to address their D.

The forwards they have left aren't known for pitching in on the back check.

Looks like Shanahan is in talks with the Leafs. Toronto is working on McCabe and Peca too..including picking up some of McCabes salary. Stay tuned.

Ceasar,

you have never seen Chris Drury or Scott Gomez play if you think they don't back check.

Marc Staal is READY.

This is not the Rangers rushing him, he is a solid 20 year old defenseman who just won the OHL Playoff MVP honors and the top defenseman award for the OHL for the regular season, an award someone named Denis Potvin won.

His younger brother Jordan Staal was fantastic last year at 18, it's in the genes man it's in the genes!!!

Of course you guys are going to say he isn't ready yet, you desperately don't want him to be.

Will he take his lumps? Sure, all young defenseman do. But he will be a Ranger next season, so you thinking that Malik and Rosizval will be out of gas by February will be hogwash. Fedor Tyutin, hello, ever heard of him? Dan Girardi, Thomas Pock?

Lundqvist going to arbitration does not make him a UFA next season.

If he only gets a 1 year deal through arbitration this eyar, and still doesn't have a long term contract, he will go to arbitration again next season.

Avery went to arbitration last year too, he is going again this year.

But, but offering Henrik arbitration, the Rangers are protecting themselves from someone being able to sendan offer sheet his way. They will still be negotiating a long term deal with him. I would rather Glen not be such a hard a$$ about it though.

let shanahan go---too old

caesar,

i was on ur blog yesterday and was told to leave..so GET THE HELL OUTTA THIS ONE!! u aint wanted...

...as far as orts is concerned, he was a helluva ranger. but he's gone now and were moving on to bigger and better things. his absence will not make or break the rangers. he will be missed, but we and the team will get over it.

hey zipay,

mccabe is already signed to a ridiculous contract u doofus. tell ur lies somewhere else

i got a plan B if we dont get souray. (still doubt we will)

sami salo (career stats)

2006-07 Vancouver NHL 67 14 23 37 +21 26 143 9.79
2005-06 Vancouver NHL 59 10 23 33 +9 38 140 7.1
2003-04 Vancouver NHL 74 7 19 26 +8 22 143 4.90
2002-03 Vancouver NHL 79 9 21 30 +9 10 126 7.14
2001-02 Ottawa NHL 66 4 14 18 +1 14 122 3.28

he has a great shot for PP, he'll be alot cheaper than souray.

I want Shanahan back, but I could live if they let him go. There are just so many young guys chomping at the bit to get a chance.

Cherepanov may even be ready to make this team as an 18 year old.

The Oilers offered an insane offer Sheet to Thomas Vanek today, Sabres matched it, a couple of boo-hoos, and everybody moves on.

Can you imagine had the Rangers offered that offer sheet to Vanek?

It would have been the end of hockey, anti-NY, Rangers are ruining the world, how could they do that, blah, blah, blah.

I find it funny that I read Lowe & company spent the entire night negotiating the deal with Vanek's people to exhaustion, then announce the signing of the offer sheet, then the Sabres match it in like 15 minutes.

I don't know, that is very funny to me. LOL

I don't wanna hear the Oilers complaining about salaries ever again.

Jim;

From an Islanders fan perspective I would love to see you rush Marc Staal. I would also love to see you jump in and get goosed by Souray (I don't want him).

As an objective hockey fan I would preach patience. He's not his brothers. He also plays defense which takes a lot of grooming. So excelled on the OHL level.

Thats not the same as doing it in the AHL or NHL.

As far as Drury is concerned. I've watched his whole career starting out here in BU. I've gone to a few of his games at BU and didn't miss any of them that were televised.

I've also watched him play in Colorado and Buffalo. He's not a good back checking defensive forward. He wasn't at BU or Colorado and Buffalo.

hey Zipay, Guerin only got a 2 yr deal...& he may be 36 yrs old but he had 36 goals last year...take off the ranger rose colored glasses jerkoff

So basically every game you went to or watched Drury play, you've done so with the only intention of scouting Chris Drury to see if he backchecks is that what you are telling me?

He is a solid two way center. Yes TWO WAY center.

That's it, he's scored huge goals, 7.7 seconds remaining goals and I am thrilled to have him.

hey Zipay, Guerin only got a 2 yr deal...& he may be 36 yrs old but he had 36 goals last year...take off the ranger rose colored glasses jerkoff

Ceasar,

Dion Phaneuf excelled at the junior level and then immediately has excelled at the NHL level.

You are condfident that Marc Staal can't do the same?

caesar!!!!!,

leave and stop beein so dam jealous. we got him, u didnt. now go cry me a friggin river!!

I think Ceasar should worry about a defense that exists of Witt, Gervais, Campoli, Martinek, Meyer and Bergeron.

Talk about a group that will be winded by February!

Rick Dipietro will be like the goalie in Slapshot with that defense, if he can stay healthy.

Jim;

With time I think he can. I don't think Rangers fans have patience for Staal to come up and bungle around either. If he's brough up right now that will most likely be the case.

If anything I think he was playing above his level in the OHL. The real challenge is going to come from playing some time at the AHL level peppered in with a game here or there on the NHL level.

Phaneuf plays in a market where the fans are a lot more patient. Calagary and New York are light years apart in terms of immediacy. Lets also not forget that Phaeuf spent two years in the WHL after he was drafted. I think his size may have played a lot into his development at 6-3 213.

I could very well be wrong. I'm just not one to rush a defensemen. Goalies and Dmen are a lot like pitchers in Baseball. Rarely are the capable of taking drastic jumps like that in their development.

I also think being a Staal could just as well be a curse for him. He's not his brothers.

Wow, Steve, that's a heckuva shot to take at the Islanders for their free agent signings...so, you're hiding behind the money on 33rd st. too, now, huh! And Bobby Holik at 9 million per was a smart move by Sather? How about almost 5 million per for Kasparaitis the same year? Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house, Mr. Zipay! If the Rangers had anyone worth losing to free agency this year (sans Jagr or Shanahan, of course, who are bona fide hall of famers long before their Ranger days) then I'm sure they would have suffered the same kind of hardships and losses as the Islanders have. One thingthe Rangers lack, as do their beat writers, obviously, is CHARACTER. Don't forget, you may cover the Rangers, but you write for a LONG ISLAND newspaper. Maybe if you were any good, you'd have a closer connection to the team you are so belovedly for. Until then,Mr Zipay, I'll see you in the playoffs in 2008, and keep your head down in the Coliseum! It's not Chris Simon you'll have to worry about!!!

Ceasar,

Staal has played 2 years in the OHL after the Rangers drafted him.

He has already played 10 games in the AHL as well.

He will be a Ranger next season.

that's it

wow THALL, that sure sounded like a personal threat to Zipay.

Maybe Newsday should look at your IP address?

$8 million for Guerin and Comrie bought the Isles 56 goals. $14 million for Drury and Gomez bought Rangers 50 goals. I mean that pretty makes Zipay look like the biggest moron that ever walked the Earth.

Steve Zippo, you're a moron. Where did you graduate from? New York's school of morons.

Hey Steve Zippo, the moron factory called, they said they're missing their favorite moron.

Zippo you loser.

Aren't you supposed to be professional? Losers don't make moron comments. You worthless sack of garbage.

Way to make yourself and the Rags community look like the biggest bunch of losers.

Zippo. Go play with a noose. Loser.

"LOL, RAG CONTRACTION AND COKEHEAD HENRIK ARE HILARIOUS!!!! RAGS MUST GO. RAGS MUST GO."

Henrik is a cokehead, wow some of you Islander fans are pretty pathetic trying to take shot at the Rangers. All the personal attacks on Zipay and the attempts of justifying the signing of a 36 year old to a 9 MILLION dollar deal. Not to mention the trolling on the Rangers blog, the man writes for the RANGERS, let him have his opinions, if he thinks its a bad signing then so be it, your organization doesnt and that should be enough for you fans of the Isles. WOW it simply amazes me that some of you are more obsessed with the Rangers than your own teams

Ok
Now I get serious. I sign with Toronto if I don't receive offer from Sather by 9:00 Pm tonight.

I was top 10% at New York's School for Morons.

These panicking Islander fans are hilarious...the fact that you people are trying to compare Comrie and Guerin to Gomez and Drury shows just how little you idiots know about hockey. I wonder if you guys realize that your clown-shoes franchise lost its entire top line? While the Rangers and Flyers got considerably stronger and PIT resigned their FA's...?

Enjoy your last place, 80 point season. And Lundqvist>>>>>>DiPo...it's not even close.

Everyone: Your post reeks of latent homosexuality...why do these Isles fans jock Zipay's nuts so hard?

Comrade Sather it is almost 9:00, Mapleleafs have promised that Tucker cannot attack me...

Jimbo
You're counting on defense of...
Rozival - servicable
Mara - on 3 teams in 2 years...wonder why?
Tutin - solid, good hitter
Malik - getting the Tom Poti treatment...gone soon.
Pock - show me something
Staal - welcome to the bigs, it's a lot different for his brother playing with Crosby and Malkin versus stopping Crosby and Malkin

Sorry, i'll take the Isles D over that any day

The forward prospects you named, I'll give Callahan the benefit of the doubt, the rest will have little or no impact.

D;

Out top line was Hunter, Sillinger and Smyth.

We still have Hunter and Sillinger. They are no longer our top line. They will be our second line with Bergenheim, Tambellini or Satan.

It's good to see that the Rangers' beat writer is as classless as the fans he writes for. Thank you for the arrogance Mr. Zipay.

I guess mapleleaf phone broken. And email machine as well

ByBy A hole Ranger fans.
F U
Let Gomez or Drury play goal.
F U
You Suck!!!

I maybe can play goal

Caesar,

"We still have Hunter and Sillinger. They are no longer our top line. They will be our second line with Bergenheim, Tambellini or Satan"

You say that those young players are ready for such a big responsibilty as the Isles second line, but then you also say that it is crazy for us to expect any Rangers young player to step right in and have an impact.

Do you believe the crap you are shoveling or are you just bi-polar?

you Isles fans are amazing - use words like loser and classless. do you remember all the stuff you threw on the ice in the playoffs (more than once I might add). Are you proud of that. Well at least it won't happen next yr in the playoffs for obvious reasons. Are you proud of your team for not winning a playoff series SINCE 1993. You are more obsessed with rooting against the Rangers than rooting for your own team. Well that's good since in 3 years or so your team will be in Canada.

Jim from Woodbury - give me a break re Souray. Some of the fishstick fans are right in hoping that he signs with us as we would truly be in salary cap hell. I would not trade Cullen and Malik (even if it meant getting rid of Malik) for Souray. Dubinsky is not ready to be our 3rd line center.

Ah yeah, and the Rangers have always shown financial restraint. They've bought a cup, and have handed out some pretty insane contracts themselves over the years....Gomez anyone?

jim,

you should not talk about fans throwing crap on the ice...i remember when the rangers sucked a few years ago a fan threw a puck in the opposing net in hopes that somebody would make a mistake and let it count.

Fredo,

How is that possible relevant to anything right now?