Blue Notes

That's not great news when you consider that Moore, Potter, Parenteau, Anisimov and Rissmiller are down there and looking up.

Zip...it is time to give Anisimov a chance as well as moving Dubinsky to wing in order to take some pressure off of him

Dubi to the wing. It's about that time.

Sanguinetti got picked because he's a highly-touted prospect and has nice offensive numbers. It certainly wasn't a result of his on-ice play. Anisimov got screwed, plain and simple. Even Parenteau would have been a more-deserving representative.

Where is all the anti-Voros vibe originate from? From Renney? What did he do to get all the hate lately? Is it because he stopped scoring? Took a few bad penalties? Is he just Renney's and his supporters' scapegoat?

1 point in 15 games skating with Zherdev, Dubinsky, etc..., perhaps? He's been invisible and there's no way Korpi should be sitting with Voros taking his spot and you can't bench Prucha anymore. Who's left to sit? Sjo? He's a key penalty killer and so is Betts. Orr? He's the only tough guy in the lineup. Voros should be moved.

How does moving DUbi to wing take pressure off? Fairweather fans are still going to get on him if he doesn't score...

Anyone think it is somewhat ironic that NOW Renney is bitching about the refs? He didn't say squat after the most poorly officiated, unprofessional, downright criminally inept garbage sauce that was last years series against the Pens! Methinks he is grasping for excuses! He has lost this team, and there is no denying it anymore... Could you imagine Torts with Mess as his ast.? Something has to give. If we can drop every game on this trip (PLEASE,PLEASE!!!), maybe something productive can happen... Don't get me wrong, I Bleed Ranger Blue! That's the point. I know that until Renney is gone, we will not be competitive. I want us to compete. I NEED us to compete!!

Joekuh: Dubinsky playing on the wing would eliminate his faceoff responsibilities, which he struggles with. As a wing, he would also have less defensive responsibility, allowing him to crash the net more, and get his opportunities... Thanx fer listening...

Sjostrom, Betts, and Orr are all pretty much useless. They are all so one-dimentional it is not even funny. They don't hit much, they don't score, they don't agitate, their defense and PK ability are grossly overrated.

Our offense suffers by having such a pathetic 4th line.

Voros can score, hit, screen goalies, and agitate. Is it Voros's fault that the team around him can't score, and the idiot coach has a disasterous system that chokes any offense, creativity, and confidence?

bob: Ummmm... Are we watching the same Aaron "human punching bag" Voros? I completely disagree that he can score, hit, OR agitate. He can screen goalies, if he gets his slow ass there by the time the play has develpoed. I do agree about our 4th line, somewhat. They are defensively responsible(for the most part), but don't hit or agitate. Remember when they called the 4th line the "checking line"? Not anymore. Anyways, back to Voros: bob, I have a fair amount of respect for your optimist-by-way-of-pessimist persona. I have been reading this spot for over a year. You usually make valid points, but I cannot imagine that you are actually enamoured with Voros' play! The guy is a complete hack! Can't skate. Can't hit. CAN'T FIGHT!!

dubi gets some heat now because he was forced down our throats as some future star and future capt. so far nowhere near. i mean even above someone wants dubi with z and naslund effectively making it a 1st line. the guy has 5 goals for heavens sakes. I'm not from missouri but show me.

Maybe Voros just lost his confidence as most players under Renney do?

And why are Drury and Gomez are never held responsible for thair lack of scoring or physical play?

In this system even 4th liners like Sjostrom and Betts don't hit much and the coach has absolutely no problem.

I bet Voros did or say something to Renney or someone. I admit he could use more speed and more muscle, but he is still an effective player especially with the lack of size of our forwards.

Renney just doesn't treat players fairly. And I never really expected Voros to be anything more than a 4th liner, even when not producing I think he brings more intangibles than Sjostrom or Orr or Betts.

Bob

You are kidding with Sjostrom Betts and Orr right? They are relentless on the fore check. They are usually on the ice when the opposing team has their best line out. I would even go on the record to say we have one of the best 4th lines in the league. Voros brings nothing to this team. He hurts Zherdev and Dubinsky. That is the one line where we are missing a top 6 forward. Korpikoski has to be in instead of Voros.

if dubi was ruined by 1 short benching that does not say a lot about him. he is far from a future star in this league unless we're now including b minus players in that definition. still think we should keep him as i like him as 3rd line center

by the way drury is on pace for a 25 goals season in an off season for him. too many want to throw him under the bus

Interesting idea Zip. I don't agree with it though- for now.

The problem is not Dubinsky. Zherdev is very limited as a down low, forechecking forward.

His damage is mainly done off the rush. If somebody like Korpikoski (who is quick and intense) would play left wing with those 2, you'd see a lot more 'offensive zone time.'

Voros has no leg drive, and seems 2 steps behind the play. I'm not sure why he keeps getting chances.

If you did decide to play Anisimov with Zherdev, the best solution would be to trade a Center....Any takers for Drury or Gomez?

Question: Does Anyone here think Renney is doing a good job? He just called out Gomez last week. Then Gomez called himself out, and admitted he has been a clunker on a nightly basis. "I am going to step up!" Ok. He didn't step up. Sit him down, Renney. Oh, that;s right... You are all talk. For a long time i have understood that we have no top line center. Gomez is a 2, Drury a 3. We pay them both like 1's. Therefore we cannot afford a Real Top-line Center... As far as Drury goes... Weak Captain! Ok player.Ok. But, WEAK, HEARTLESS, UNINSPIRED CAPT. !!! Anyone disagree with that? Hey, when your coach won't coach and holds no one accountable, Isn't that when your Capt. should start kickin asses?

...that is, if your captain is not a midget with a 4th grader's haircut...

appelhans - weren't you going to stop watching this team. i disagree with you about drury both from talent persepective (25 goals pace), and good leader. look at dawes and prucha's play with him all going hard to the net. is he messier type leader no. but of all the players on this team he is the best leader on this roster.

Joe: Yeah, bro. I actually have not watched a game in a while. I have been following them for over 20 years, and that won't stop. However, I will continue to boycott games as long as Renney is here... Could be a while. Point taken on Drury. It is sad that he is the best leader available, though... His comments after the pre-christmas beatdown we Ranger fans received were lame, and IMO, unacceptable. Jagr wasn't the leader type either, but he Did lead by example, and more often than not played passionate hockey. Boy, I miss the big guy...sniff... AND Jagr was actually fun to watch! This team is so boring and mediocre it hurts...

Drury is on pace for 25 hits.

Give Dubinsky Drury's linemates, defensemen, and icetime and he too would be on pace for 25 goals.

I do not understand why Ranger fans (and a certain reporter) seem intent to convert Dubinsky to a winger. He is a play-making center who only seems lost because of the context of those matched with him. Centers are not typically goal scoring machines; Good ones are responsible two-way players who quarterback the puck into the offensive zone and feed the snipers. Dubinsky more than achieves this and those he has been paired with this year do not. Note Voros is now riding the pines and Zherdev has been shifted around more than gears on a 12-wheeler.

Dubinsky is one of the few who plays the Ranger's system, whether you agree with that system or not, every game. He gets the puck in the zone on almost every shift, he has very few turn-overs and plays a smart, gritty, game. Yes, he is young and there are elements to his game that he can improve upon such as face-offs. Dubinsky has a ton of "upside" and is currently one of the Rangers' most solid players. Moving him to wing will only hamper his continued development.

I agree, Dubinsky is a center, we just need a new coach.

Amen, bob!

I am all up for having Anisimov up here and moving Dubi to the wing. we add a new goal scoring threat, and give Dubi to have more freedom to be creative and crash the net more. Look at it this way, what the heck do we have to lose..."nothing ventured nothing gained".

Eric, come onn, get with the program ....you call yourself a blue blooded Ranger Fan but choose not to watch the games until Renny is fired...are you 'eff'n kidding me? That has to be the funniest statement I have heard on this blog ever...LMAO True BLUE Rangers fans watch every game even if they record it tevo it or whatever. I want Renny gone too buddie, but to protest is ridiculous!

I'm on board with replacing the coach, but you all seem to think that's
the magical answer. Maybe they would play a little better but the talent
is not great at all. Yeah, a new coach will make them play a little harder
but how does that help them from being pushed off the puck so easily?
They are a small team and can get pushed around. Everyone talks about
the "system." What is it exactly? This team needs to pressure the puck,
go to the net, and play good defense. That's the system for this group of
players. If they don't hustle and the King doesn't stand on his head then
it doesn't work. Simple as that.

Anisimov can take useless Betts' spot. Or Drury can play wing or Gomez can get traded.

Betts’s faceoff specialist and shot blocking specialist days are long over. Now he is Renney’s anotomy specialist.

Respectfully disagree Bob. For what he does, or is supposed to do, Betts
has been one of the best players this year. Blaming the 4th line for this team's
failures is not accurate.

PIP: You don't have to believe me. I'm sure you don't care. Whatever. What program am i supposed to "get with"? The program I had been tuning into finally made me so disgusted, that I AM boycotting. Not like I expect Sather to take notice or anything... I am just sick of settling in to the couch, cracking a beer, and being bombarded with suckiness. Even the crap teams Sather assembled previously were more entertaining. Also, then we had no realistic expectations. Now that we have been a real franchise for a couple of years, I expect more. More than an early playoff exit. Again. Tony: I agree, Canning Renney is only part of the solution. We are a fatally flawed team. However, SOMEONE needs coerce these guys to earn their money!

Eric, agree 100%, but if you recall, whenever we get players that "get
the money" from us, this always happens. LI Joe has been saying it.
Forget the free agents. Build from within and the players will play harder
and earn whatever they're making. The "dark years" taught us that as
Sather paraded a long list of fat cats giving us atrocious hockey for
7 long years.

Unfortunately, Betts is one of Renney's favorites, and there's little chance of him dressing a rookie in front of him.

Betts has had a better year, but he seems to lose more faceoffs. In fact, this team as a whole seems to be losing more faceoffs.

Lightning replaced their coach and they still suck. just some food for thought for all you fans out there calling for Renneys head....

Lightning replaced their coach and they still suck. just some food for thought for all you fans out there calling for Renneys head....

No, actually Lightning did not replace, they just fired their coach and promoted a guy that never was a headcoach anywhere.

If we get rid of Renney, Gomez, Betts, Sjostrom, and Redden we have a very good team.

Why is it that EVERY year, the Rangers must go out and sign a bunch of free agents ?

Cullen, Ward, Shannahan
Gomez, Drury
Naslund, Redden, Kalinin

I understand trying to fill a hole in your roster, but it's obviously not worked.
I'd be scared who they're going to throw money at next year.

appelhans - i see you keep boycotting. when i boycott i don't go on the blogs either i wouldn't see the point in coming on here just to say i'm not watching

Forsberg?

Eric, I have been watching NYR Hockey since the days of Harry Howell, so don't tell ME about disgust and disappointment. But I never, ever boycotted or stopped watching our Rangers, never took off a day or whatever. I'm not happy the least bit. As soon as this organization can mirror the Detroit Red Wings attitude and talent, the quicker we can all be happy. I also never said that firing Renny and replacing him w/Torts was the only answer, but ya have to start somewhere and since Renny has lost this team, that is the 1st place to logically start. At least Torts will get this team playing to it's potential, even if we don't have all the right soldiers in place right now.....as far as Betts goes, he's been nothing but solid all year...him, Staal, Girardi, Valle (when called upon), Hendrik, Mara and as of late, Callahan.....these are the guys who have been steady all year for us. BTW, was it YOU of Effigy who said they would eat a puck if Betts scored 1 goal this season....eat up whomever- he has 4 goals now [][]\_ _

they can't throw money at anyone. the cap will come down a bit and they have some of their wn to worry about cap wise

There are rules to boycotting? Hmm. For the record, I am not just here saying " Uhhhh, I'm still not watching!" I am trying to have a semi-intelligent discourse with fellow Ranger fans. I Do Love The Rangers! LOVE. I lay in bed at night pondering... Why? If you don't agree with my boycott style, so be it.

PIP... Yeah, it probably is a bush-league fan move on my part. I agree w/ you on Tortarella. BTW, that wasn't me regarding the Betts puck-eating issue...

PIP...I disagree about Henrik being one of the more consistant Rangers. He has been the definition of inconsistancy, if you ask me.

Bob, you think this is a very good team? Here's a list for you:
No PP QB.
No clear the crease, tough defenseman.
No sniper for the other team to concentrate on.
3 out of 6 good defensemen.
No "team" offense to make up for the lack of a sniper.
Very small team in general.
Isn't that enough flaws?

Wow PIP. You're older than me. :). PIP, was the officiating as bad as
everyone is saying for last night's game? You do see a lot more going on
when you're at the games, don't you?

"No PP QB.
No clear the crease, tough defenseman."

under Pearn's PP and Renney's coaching we could have Pronger, Orpik, Boyle, and Phaneuf and you would say the same thing

"No sniper for the other team to concentrate on."

that could be a good thing.

"3 out of 6 good defensemen."

but only 1 really bad one -- Redden, replace him with Potter and it is a lot better, especially with a new coach.

"Very small team in general."

yes, but a good coach they will make them finish their checks, and then they won't seem so small.

Bob, don't get me wrong, they are not playing to their potential and that's
on Renney. But making the playoffs and winning a round or 2 is not the
objective. I'll date myself like my pal PIP did and tell you that I've seen
one cup in just over 40 years of being a fan. I would like to see another.
Trust me Bob, I wish they were better. 4 wins in regulation over approx
25 games doesn't cut it, I don't care what their record is.

Eric, you can do what makes you happy, honestly. Just to me, you never give up on your teams, regardless how bad they might be....perhaps it's that competitive spirit that's been instilled in me since I was 6, I dunno, I just refuse to give up. There is answer for everything in life, and as far as our Rangers go, we have all mentioned them.....this has not been the most painful season I have watched, believe me, not even close Eric. I also know it wasen't you who mentioned eating a puck if Betts scores this year!....For the most part, Hendrik has been consistent, just as of late he's slipped, and wouldn't you if your D didn't support you?????????
____________/##\___________
Tony, do I have ya beat?...LOL. Yes, I feel in all honesty, the officiating was not consistent last night. hey, officials in all sports have off nights, no ones perfect. But let us not forget, this is Montreal's 100th Anniversary, and who knows what Bettmans office has said to the officiating crews....I don't trust a lot of things in life, and officiating in sports is one of them, sad to say. 'Ya see a lot while at the game Tony, and 'ya miss a lot too...still, nothing like being at MSG_X_

so what we stop trying to fix things just because this team is not going to win a Cup?

I say get new coaching staff and then go from there: make trades, buyouts, demotions, promotions, new captain, etc. but first get a proven coach in here, there are at least 3 available.

Renney is a good coach for a bad team, like the Ranger's after the lock out. He's a bad coach for a better team. That's why he got fired in Vancouver. The Ranger's need someone who can put a face on this team. They're too predictable, boring to watch and easy to play against. The personnel are not great but they're not this bad. Without Jagr in 2005, Renney would have been gone already.

Hey Zip,
Thanks for the Hartford update. When the Rangers are losing or
going through insconsistent times, it is good to get an update on
our young guys down with the Pack. I think Anisimov is NHL ready
and if there was not a glut up in the big club at the center position,
he would probably already be with the Rangers. Remember two
seasons ago when the Rangers were experiencing a similar
wane at this time of year? What did they do? They reached down
to Hartford and called up Callahan and Girardi. They provided
youth, a spark and offense. They stayed up the rest of the season
I believe and have become regulars and steady contributors to this today.
Why doesn't Sather call up Anisimov and Potter. It would put some
pressure on the current failing players on the big club such as Redden
and Voros among others. I agree with Zip that moving Dubi to the
wing and putting Anisimov in the middle would be a good thing
to try!