Blue Notes

nice, maybe we can package it with Backman to move down to 23rd spot...

Or better yet, package Prucha and try and move up....

yes, I was kidding. If nobody wants Backman over the summer(and who can blame them?) then do to him what they did to Kasparaitis last season.

I hope we draft a power forward and/or a monster 6'5" defenseman similar to Coburn.

After how bad the defense played against Pit You would hope sather and co would be looking for defensive help with the draft,trades and FA. But all we can do is hope and speculate on what he will do. He has made a couple good moves but more bad than good, so lets hope this time around he makes more good than bad. I know that is alot to ask for but what else can we do but hope! AGAIN and AGAINand AGAIN!

Baranka and Potter and Sauer are upgrade over Backman/Mara/Malik/Strudwick

Commodore or Orpik is an upgrade over Rozsival physically and defensively.

But we also need to upgrade the size and strength of the forwards. Can't win with 8 forwards under 6'0"

They need a mean defenseman and at least 1 winger that can finish. Ironically enough, they can get all of that from Pittsburgh. Orpik, Hossa and Malone.

But they need these guys now. This team has a great foundation to win in the future with some of the young guys they have, but they're not far off from winning now as well. Continue developing Dubinsky (who looks more and more like Adam Graves), Dawes, Tyutin, Girardi and Staal and add guys like Cherapanov, Anisimov and Sanguinetti and this team will be good for a long time. Spend good money this offseason and there could be a serious run to the Cup next season. It's only going to take 2 or 3 good signings.

Bring back Avery and only sign Jagr for about $3M/yr (Max 2 yrs). Straka, Shanny, Malik, Mara and Strudwick can go. Sign Roszival for the right price.

is backman the new Poti/Malik?

ha ha ha. Yes, yes he is.

Sather is always a succker for players that other teams want to get rid of.

Carter, Poti, Dunham, Betts, Hossa, 2 Greens, Mironov, Pisa, Lintner, Kovalev, Gusarov, Hebert, Forbes, Toms, Rucinsky, Fedorov, Smrek, Balej, Ulanov, Murray, Whitfield, Taffe, Backman, Ozolinsh, Rucchin, Lindros, Lyashenko, Sykora, Isbister, Rachunek, Hall, Bure, Mara, Sjostrom, Avery, Jagr (the last 2 turned out ok, although I think we would have been better off without Jagr and his buddies) as well as terrible signings like Malakhov, Malik, Poti, Shanahan, Strudwick, Kasparaitis, Holik, Rucinsky, 3 Wards, Nieminen, Ciger, Van Impe, Karpa, Berard, Tibbets, Donato, Oliwa, Wilson.

Yeah, Sather really screwed up with that Jagr trade, trading Anson Carter and getting the Caps to pay half Jagr's salary.

Probably one of the best trades on NHL history when it all comes down to it.

Jason Ward turned into Sean Avery

Darren Van Impe was a waiver pickup waaaaay back in 2001 that played 17 games.

Bob qualifies this as a "horrible signing".

Damn you Sather! You picked up Darren Van Impe 7 years ago!!!

In early 2002, the Rangers claimed Trent Whitfield off waivers from the Washington capitals.

2 weeks later, The Capitals claimed him back.

Whitfield played 1 game as a Ranger.

Bob would like us all to feel that is very relevant today.

Jason Ward was a throw-in in Avery trade

Who picked Van Impe off waivers? Same bastard that picked Krog. Point is Sather rather take garbage off waivers than bring up someone from Hartford.

Now I am convinced Dude is working or is related to Sather.

Bob really has a thing for players that the team had in 2001-02.

still not sure of the relevance, but here goes a goodie

In 2001, the Rangers traded Gusarov for Petr Smrek.

In 2002 the Rangers traded Smrek for Richard Lintner.

Lintner was eventually in the trade that got us Kovalev back from the Penguins.

Lintner played 10 games as a Ranger

Smrek played 22 games as a Ranger

Gusarov played 26 games as a Ranger.

All of this happened over 6 years ago.

If anyone, ANYONE, can let me know how this matters today, please pass it along.

thanks!!!

hey Bob,

where did Nigel Dawes, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi, Fedor Tyutin all play before they played for the NY Rangers?

Bob, you are living in 2002, come back to us

How it matters now? BACKMAN, your boy Sather still trades for GARBAGE instead of letting someone from Hartford play. If they played Sauer or Potter or Baranka instead of Backman maybe we would be able to beat Penguins and on top of than another young player would have gotten valuable experience.

I really liked Ville Nieminen. He was such a Character!!

bob, I like the list and some of the names on there DID make me shudder. But I'm not sure I'd put Sykora on that list. He played pretty well for us (esp. shootouts) and I thought we could have used him this year over Straka. He's a scorer.

I'd take Mara over Ward anyday and I'd resign him this year for less if he'd take it. I think he could be useful. He worked well with Staal when they played together, not that Mara belongs on the 1st dman pairing.

And to call Shanny a bad signing is not fair. Yes, he has fallen apart and shouldn't be re-signed. But don't tell me you didn't love him last year when he dropped 'em with Brashear or when he was a PP monster. I don't think he should be back but to call his signing a mistake, with all he has done with the young guys, isn't fair.

No Campbell at his price, no Rozsival period. Orpik/Hainsey/Weber.

June 20th? Cr*p! I think Sather has a fishing trip planned for that week.

Bob,

Sauer was scratched for 3 of the Hartford 5 playoff games, I do not know why you think he is ready for NHL action when he had a tough rookie year in the AHL.

Baranka was just coming back from injury and wasn't ready.

A case could be made for Potter.

I mean if people really want to go ahead and convince themselves we would have beaten the Penguins in the second round if Corey Potter had played instead of Christian Backman, I guess to each his own right?

hey Dude, where did Malik, Backman, Strudwick, Betts, Hollweg, and Shanahan play this season?

hey Dude, where should have Baranka, Moore, Potter played this season?

"But I'm not sure I'd put Sykora on that list. He played pretty well for us "

my point is that Ducks wanted to dump him and his salary and he is soft and one dimensional.

"And to call Shanny a bad signing is not fair. "

it was a mediocre signing the first year, and a brutal one the 2nd year.

"I really liked Ville Nieminen. He was such a Character!!"

funny guy, but kept taking bad penalties, and wasn't doing that much agitating.

"Sauer was scratched for 3 of the Hartford 5 playoff games, I do not know why you think he is ready for NHL action when he had a tough rookie year in the AHL."

he tore his ACL in the playoffs, maybe that's why?

"Baranka was just coming back from injury and wasn't ready."

so they could have played Suauer or Potter at the time. Baranka should have made the team out of preseason and so should have Sauer.

actually, I didn't realize Michael Sauer torn his ACL.

How are we possibly penciling him in this fall to make the team if he is coming off a serious injury like that after he had a bad rookie season in the AHL?

are you friggin kidding me?

bob, do you just read names that are in Hartford box scores and decide they should be playing with the big club?

give me a break

this story says that Michael Sauer won't be ready for training camp.

I hope we don't have to read too many posts next september bashing the team for not keeping Sauer on the big club

http://www.courant.com/sports/hockey/hc-ahlcol0425.artapr25,0,5195926.story

Hey everyone
over at nypost.com brooks has an exclusive with avery
hes an excerpt that got me jacked up:

Still, Avery made it clear his priority is to remain in New York.
"I bleed Ranger blue," said No. 16. "It would be very disappointing if I don't get to come back and play here.
"Losing this series is extremely upsetting, not only on a personal level, but because of the passion of the fans here who enhance every experience of being a Ranger.
"The way it ended, it's like we let down the city. I want to come back and win for these people as much as for myself and my teammates."

its an awesome read for anyone whos interested

Jason Doig,

Sather going fishing on draft day. We can only hope.

Then again, with him or without, they'll probably just take a goalie.

"How are we possibly penciling him in this fall to make the team if he is coming off a serious injury like that after he had a bad rookie season in the AHL?"

Nobody is penciling him in yet, he should have made the team this past season.

"bob, do you just read names that are in Hartford box scores and decide they should be playing with the big club? "

no, I watched them play actually several times. Which is probably more than Sather watched Backman prior to trading for him.

Still say 3 year 10 million deal for Avery and throw in free pedicures for life, take it or leave it.

BTW here is a little bit of info about most of our prospects:

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/10276/rangers_top20_prospects_spring2008/

Bob,

how do you figure Sauer should have went straight from Medicine Hat last year to straight to the NHL this year without any AHL experience at 20 years old?

I just do not get how you figure these things.

Just when I think some of your posts are starting to make a little sense, you never fail to do the complete 180 and go back into absurdity.

So, we are picking 20th. Clearly we need big, mean defensemen and big, mean wingers.

Any thoughts on the available prospects near the #20 slot?

"Bob,

how do you figure Sauer should have went straight from Medicine Hat last year to straight to the NHL this year without any AHL experience at 20 years old?

I just do not get how you figure these things.

Just when I think some of your posts are starting to make a little sense, you never fail to do the complete 180 and go back into absurdity. "

How did Jordan Staal go straight to NHL at 18 from OHL? Sauer looked ready to me in preseason, I did not see any flaws in his game. Big, fast, quick, physical, smart. In many ways he looked better than Marc Staal. I didn't realize some fans are still shocked when a player makes NHL as a 20 yearold without any AHL experience.

Also we need to draft another goalie, because the guy we wasted 2nd rounder on last draft looks like a total bust.

I wouldn't mind a big mean center that can score. Drury will be gone in 4 years. Perfect timing, although I think Drury is more of a winger that can take faceoffs.

so the Rangers should have rushed Michael Sauer because YOU, yes bob, YOU, didn't see any flaws in the games YOU saw him play in the pre-season.

Oh, ok, why didn't you say so? that explains it, he didn't need any time for seasoning coming out of the WHL, right to the NHL, bob didn't see any flaws.

you are such a dumbarse

Firstly to compare a young D man to Jordan Staal is just silly. Young D men cannot simply jump into the NHL because they have phusical skills or attributes, it has to do with being able to handle a huge amount of responsibility. For this reason D men are developed and seasoned. Very FEW if any D men prospects jump into the NHL at 18 or 19, just doesn't happen and to compare that position with a forward is simply ignorant. The most difficult position in the sport and maybe all sports is playing defense in the NHL. When will you wake up and understand this?

What was the worst that could happen--Strudwick would be dumped to AHL? Malik traded for a pick? or maybe ACL tear? oops AHL cannot guarantee lack of major injuries...

"Firstly to compare a young D man to Jordan Staal is just silly. Young D men cannot simply jump into the NHL because they have phusical skills or attributes, it has to do with being able to handle a huge amount of responsibility. For this reason D men are developed and seasoned. Very FEW if any D men prospects jump into the NHL at 18 or 19, just doesn't happen and to compare that position with a forward is simply ignorant. The most difficult position in the sport and maybe all sports is playing defense in the NHL. When will you wake up and understand this?"

Well to argue that a 20 year old 6'4" 215 lbs defenseman wasn't ready for NHL just because he never played in AHL is ridiculous, and he never got the chance even after playing 50 games in AHL. Instead we were treated to Backman's special brand of defense.

and oh my were Dude and msg4ever going crazy when they first laid their eyes on Backman in Rangers uniforms they were all "Lord Jesus, praise Sather the king among all GMs for giving us the New Messiah!"

Bob,

Dud is the ultimate ranger fan. He is the greatest. He believes in Sather. I believe in Sather back in 1984 with Messier, Gretz, Coffey, and other talent that Sather got. What has he done since 1990? Nothing. Bringing Ron Low, Ted Greene, Bryan Trots because of his handwriting. Sather is a joke of GM and should be gone. This Ranger team is no better than 3 years ago.

Dude for MVP Ultimate Ranger fan. Loves his Slats.

well, you are right, I am the ultimate Rangers fan

another guy living in 2002

we have 5 rookies score goals in the playoffs this year, naaaah, we aren't better than we were 3 years ago.

yeah, ok

Wally Backman would've provided better defense than the scrub that Sather picked up. What's awesome is Backman has another year on his deal to provide even more penalties and soft D. And that happened in 2008, dude.

But I think I figured it out. Backman's handwriting must've been amazing, like Trottier's. I apologize Slats. Keep fishing in Toronto my friend.

really wish I understood what you were saying, I guess it must make sense in your own head though.

Dude, ask uncle Sather next time you sit on his lap, he will explain it to you.

Dude, since you are such a Sather fan, I thought you'd be able to follow, but I'll enlighten you.

1: Wally Backman played for the New York Mets. It was a joke.

2: A year or two ago, during the draft, Sather didn't think it was important enough to stick around. So he went fishin' in Canada and left Maloney to handle to the draft.

3: And this is from the New York Times:
At the time of Trottier's hiring, however, Sather said he was impressed by Trottier's 90-page handwritten response to his questionnaire. Today, Sather admitted he made a mistake.

"Maybe it wasn't the right fit," Sather said. ''But it was a decision I made. Some are good. Some are bad. I have to live with those mistakes.''

Bob,

Pick another team...the isles need fans badly, go hop on their board. You love to criticize and that organization has enough material for you to criticize for the next 30 years or so. Trottier was hired because of the dedication and passion that was expressed in his hand-written response, not because of his penmanship.

Here's my hopes/ expectations for next season.

1. Sign Jagr to a reduced and incentive laden deal for one year with a one year team option. Give him second line minutes, unless we can't do #2...

2. Sign a 1st line winger like Hossa or trade for a 1st line winger like Cheechoo or any other # of guys.

3. Get Avery signed for a reasonable price (3 to 3.5 per for three years)

4. Sign Orpik

5. Sign Redden

6. Sign Valiquette

7. Let Mara, Malik, Rozi, Straka and even Shanny walk.

8. Tradeable players off the roster would be Prucha, Backman, Hollweg, Betts, Tyutin and any combination of picks or Hartford players.

9. Give serious consideration to guys like Korpikowski and Sauer if they look ready in training camp.

The refs killed any chance we had in the penguins series. The penguins were younger and faster and maybe overall more talented but that does not mean they automatically win. We were playing right with them in most games. But it's too hard to overcome horribly blown calls etc while trying to outplay a "better" team. To assure a better playoff run I think we need a bigger/ meaner defense with a skilled puck moving d-man (thus Orpik and Redden). We need to get a little more grit/ skill up front which would make Malone a great signing but I agree with most who see him going back to the Pens. I think the best way to improve is by addition through subtraction by letting the FA's go that I mentioned above. Let the passion and skill of our youth take over and replace the old tired games of the vets.

joke - re above post
1) can't do incentive deal for 2 yr contract which including team option that's what it is. he won't go for low $ or diminished role
8) most of what you list won't get you a bag of pucks
9) Sauer has ACL injury