Sean Avery (separated shoulder) has been cleared for contact, and briefly skated with Jaromir Jagr and Scott Gomez this morning in what was not an optional practice. All healthy players were on the ice.
Rangers coach Tom Renney said Avery "probably has Thursday's game circled on his calendar," but that Saturday---four weeks since the injury---was more likely.
Martin Straka (broken finger) still hasn't been cleared to skate, and Ryan Callahan (knee sprain) said he is improving...slowly.
The Rangers have not offered Dave Scatchard a contract. The veteran center was brought in earlier this month for a tryout here and then sent to Hartford, but a groin pull put him on the shelf. Renney suggested that the lack of training camp conditioning contributed to the injury.
Comments (38)
Honestly, I am not Averys biggest fan. He's got a history of going overboard when crashing the net (read: Brodour, DiPietro), especially with what happened with Kevin Weekes recently.
That said, I hope Avery can spark the team the same way he did last season when he arrived. The Rags need signs of life, this situation is getting worrisome... hopefully Averys return will get things back in order.
Steve, although we certainly know what Avery can do for the team, and Lord knows, we certainly need it, I would strongly advocate caution on returning too soon.
Shoulders are funny things (see Jagr, circa spring 2006 and the following fall), and the way Avery gives and takes hits, he's a prime candidate for a reinjury if he comes back not FULLY recovered.
I'd rather risk a few more losses (or maybe the rest of the team will surprise us) and have him come back later in much better condition so that he lasts the rest of the season.
What is Avery going to do for us? He cannot score. He is to busy doing commercials!
I sure am not enjoying the DEMISE !!!
I hate to say this but it might be time to trade Jagr. The dynamic of the team has changed and it was built around him. Eklund says that Edmonton is the leader for this lottery. Torres would be a nice pick up.
Sad.
I rather trade Gomez than Jagr, Jagr is playing better than Gomez and will be gone next summer or the summer after that. Gomez is pathetic, he can't do anything except skate.
BTW, Renney has very short memory and quickly forgets what worked and what doesn't.
Straka with Jagr has worked for years, why did he split them?
And what happened to his setting of small attainable goals like getting at least 6 points every 5 games?
Prucha and Callahan never had any chemistry. Gomez and Jagr have no chemistry.
Do you really think that the Rangers would trade Gomez 10 games after signing him to a 7 year contract?
think before you answer!
The future of the Rangers is Scott Gomez.
If Jagr can't figure out a way to play with him, then Jagr is the one who needs to go.
Jagr is not the future of this team.
Prucha - Cullen - Callahan was a very effective line at the end of last year.
To say Prucha and Callahan never had any chemistry is nonsense.
Prucha, Cullen, Callahan line scored about 6 goals in 20 games together. There was no chemistry, they were all playing well, but no production whatsoever.
If Gomez is our future, then we are in big trouble. That is why we need to trade him.
You think 10 games is enough time to make that assessment?
what do we have to lose? We didn't give up any assets for Gomez. If we are wrong, no big deal, there will be more everrated overpaid players to tempt Sather.
The organization made a committment to Gomez for 7 years.
They are not going to trade him after 10 games.
Whether or not you feel they have nothing to lose is irrelevant.
There is no way they will trade him after 10 bad games.
They wouldn't even trade him if he has 1 lousy year.
It's just not going to happen.
You are only wasting your time by suggesting it.
Who are you to say what an insane egomaniac like Sather will or won't do?
I am somebody with common sense.
And, who do you suggest would want to take Gomez contract back in a deal?
you just contradict yourself. First you say Gomez is the future, then you say nobody would want him.
Fred - Jagr for Torres? Crazy pills? Jagr has 9 points in 10 games, and considering the Rangers have scored 16 goals, that's pretty good. Torres has 6 points in 12 games and had a grand total of 34 points last year and 41 the year before. Jagr has had more than Torres' combined total in both his full seasons as a Ranger.
I guess they were both drafted 5th overall and that's why you want the trade? Don't quit your day job.
And Mike G - Avery didn't bump into Weekes on purpose. He was bumped after the play and knocked into him.
At this point (and even before the season) Id have to say that signing Gomez for so much was a terrible mistake. Yes, its 10 games in and Im saying it; I dont care. I've seen the guy play for years with the Devils, and really, hes no where near worth the amount of $$$ we gave him. Hes not really a first line center either. Drury, at least can be considered a 1st line center (and has more playoff winning goals that the entire Isles team).
I am saying Gomez is the future, like it or not.
He has been signed to a 7 year contract.
He isn't going anywhere, so yeah, guess what, he is the present and future.
Get used to it.
Avery totally ran into weeks, Ruccin.
Oh, and if Jean S. Giguere is worth $6 million after winning the stanley cup..... how in the world can anyone figure paying Gomez (or Briere) huge contracts.
didnt the Rangers learn from their mistake when they signed Holik to that $9million, 5 year contract ? Long contracts like that rarely work out. Look at the Isles and Yashin.
I really don't understand just the continued debate as to whether Gomez is overpaid or not.
It doesn't matter.
He is here for 7 years no matter whether it was a mistake or not.
The only thing that makes sense is building the team around him that helps gets the most out of his game.
This franchise cannot continue to worry about getting players to play around Jagr's stengths.
Considering how long Gomez and Drury are signed for, the only thing that matters is building a team around them.
I don't want to get used to Gomez and other overpaid and overrated players.
As for who would want Gomez, maybe teams that have their own big contracts that they want to move likes Jovanovski, Parrish, Kim Johnsson, Hartnell, Penner, etc.
Paul,
you just don't get it
bye bye now
And remember one way of getting rid of garbage like Gomez is do to him what they did to Kasparaitis. That should wipe the smug grin off his face.
Jimbo, I am glad I am not on the same medication as you. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. I hate people that think everything is static and can't change no matter how it doesn't make sense.
Paul,
you have an intelligence level that surpasses Forrest Gump, but he'd be the only one.
paul - i am laughing as i read your comments ... Gomez is adjusting. I think the problem is management ... they need to stop messing around with the lines.
The next person in here to mention an Eklund rumor should go kill themselves.
Carry on.
Bob--does nothing but make ridiculous posts.
Raffi Torres is making 1.6 million this year, in what universe would that be overpaid?
It's just as doubtful that the Oilers are willing to give up on Dustin Penner after 12 games as the Rangers are willing to give up on Scott Gomez after 10 games.
Schremp, Nilsson or Omarra would all be way down our fantastic depth chart of prospects if they were part of the Rangers organization.
No thank you to all three of them.
BLACKHAWKS VETERANS STRUGGLING.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE/CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: both recently reported several Chicago Blackhawks veterans have been struggling of late, notably Sergei Samsonov, Yanic Perreault and Rene Bourque. The three have been healthy scratches of late.
Spector's Note: At least Perreault has been strong in the faceoff circle. The other two haven't played well at all thus far and must step up their performances. If they continue to struggle they might be shopped, although at this point the only one of the three with any value would be Perreault because of his faceoff skills.
Thank the Lord our coach doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to scratch us.
How about Shanahan, Straka and Betts for those 3?
"How about Shanahan, Straka and Betts for those 3?"
why on earth would you want to do that?
It is times like these I thank the lord that Sather is GM and not you crazy people.
nah, not really...
actually they put up very similar numbers, Torres has been around a bit longer
Honestly I don't really want Samsonov and the gang, but I really want to get rid of some of our junk actually a lotof junk: Shanahan, Gomez, Betts, Straka, Malik, Orr, Strudwick and Valliquette.
Jagr is ok for now even though he is very lazy and slow.
Hossa is a very good 4th liner.
Drury haven't made up my mind yet
Hollweg can stay as the extra forward to play against rivals or physical teams
Mara I am ok either way wouldn't mind too much if he goes or stays.
wow, good, you haven't made your mind up yet on Chris Drury after a whole 10 games.
At least you are a slight step up from some of the other Einsteins around here.
I can't wait till things start to pick up, the team starts to gel and then everyone who is against Jagr, Gomez, Drury, etc are all singing their praises. Bunch of lame nay-sayers who are all too quick to jump all over things when the going gets rough.. ten games into the season non-the-less. Weak Sauce!
PAUL and JIMBO-
Get a room already, the courtship is long over done.
Trade Jagr for Barry Beck and the girl who played in the migthy ducks kids movie.