HLOG Q&A Update with Christina

Today's Q&A update is with Christina, aka Lucky 13, one of HLOG's two NY Rangers bloggers.  You can read her original Q&A here.

1. What are you up to these days? Still blogging? Why or why not?
I’ve been in the workforce for a while, so here I still sit. Moved offices a couple of times, and now I’m nice and close to home. I’m still blogging, but it’s more like co-blogging. Originally, the blog (NYR Devotion - Some Like It Blue) started out with Kerri (the other HLOGger for the NYR), and over the last year or so two more women have joined us.

2. Have you changed team allegiances, or are you still in love with the team you represented on HLOG?
The Rangers are still my guys – true blue all the way. That’s not to say I haven’t followed other teams – see #4 below.

3. How do you feel about your team this year?
The jury is still out on this one. I mean I will always love them, but my feelings about how far they will go this year fluctuate. They are not consistent enough either way: they either have flashes of brilliance, or they don’t bother showing up for the game. As a long-time Ranger fan, I know it’s best to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

4. Who is your favorite player now?
I still love Jed Ortmeyer – hence my following other teams. I kept tabs on Nashville for 2 years, and San Jose last year, but for a while for this season, it was looking grim for my Orts. Luckily, thanks to Don Maloney (my other all-time favorite Ranger), Jed is playing for the Coyotes AHL affiliate, along with Petr Prucha and Ryan Hollweg. I’m still hopeful that he will make a return to New York (please oh please oh please).

5. Are we too old to use the term SQUEE?
Ack…it wasn’t really in my vocabulary anyway (in fact, never heard of it until I joined HLOG!), but I get the idea. I don’t think you ever get too old to use a term for that…situation. We just get less cryptic with the terms as we get older.

6. Do you feel that the role of the female fan in keeping the game alive or picking heroes in the community has changed any since you were on HLOG?
For me personally, it has. I see a lot more women’s hockey teams forming, more women latching onto the sport. But I don’t think we’re doing women’s advancement in sports any favors by continuing to have ice girls and cheerleaders (ugghh…so 1950s). That’s not my idea of building a female fan base. I love shocking guys by talking hockey bench trash with them. They never see it coming (cuz I'm just a girl!).

7. Hockey just isn’t the same without That stupid trapezoid!!! Dammit if the goalie’s going to leave the crease, he’s FAIR GAME!!! Man they are such divas: “You can’t touch me ‘cause I’m in my TRAPEZOID!” They have more padding than anyone else out there - let them get hit!

8. Favorite HLOG memory?
The online summit in July 2008.

9. How do you feel the blog community has changed since our HLOG days?
I think many people have switched to Facebook, Twitter and the like. But I’m old school and don’t care much for “social networks”. Hopefully, those will simply be an alternative to blogs, and not replacements for them.

10. Have you reached any milestones in the last few years, personally, that you’re willing to share with us all? Do you have any upcoming milestones in the foreseeable future? (ahem, wedding? baby? book deal? etc?)
Already married with kids, but I did finish my first ( and likely my last ) triathlon over the summer. Got three new kittens this summer, too. Didn’t lose my job (yet) – that’s an accomplishment these days.

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If I Had A Million Dollars...

We all know it would take a helluva lot more than a million bucks, but salary caps aside, my dream team of (U)FAs would include the following:

Sean Avery - He has worked wonders for the NYR, and yes, he is annoying and obnoxious, but he gets the job done on the ice (despite his excessive gum-flapping).

J. Jagr - When his game is on, he seems to ignite synergy with his teammates.

Marty Straka - A workhorse, and yes, a current NYR. So I'm biased...

Nigel Dawes - so much potential

Michal Rozsival - This is the last current NYR I'm choosing. The rest have either not impressed me, scored on their own goalie, or both.

Marian Hossa - who wouldn't want this playmaker on their team (remember - this is a dream team - no salary cap issues here)?

Valtteri Filppula, Mats Sundin, and let's throw in Martin Gelinas for s&g.

This beats the draft anyday.

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Meet the Rangers (Part I)

Hey Kids! It’s “Meet the Rangers,” brought to you by Christina and Kerri! Throughout the season, we’re going to introduce you to some of our big guys. The first Ranger we’d like to introduce, however, needs no introduction.

Jaromir Jagr:

Background: Jagr was the fifth overall draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1992. Following Mario Lemieux’s (first) retirement, Jagr became the captain of the Penguins. During the 00-01 season, Jagr had trouble producing and rumors flew that he couldn't get along with the Pens coach. Despite Lemieux’s return and to Pittsburgh’s dismay, he held on to the captaincy. In July of 2001 the Penguins traded Jagr and Frantisek Kucera to the Washington Capitals for Kris Beech, Michal Sivek, and Ross Lupaschuk. Things did not go according to plan with the Caps, either. Despite the Capitals signing Jagr to a 77 million dollar contract over 7 years, Jagr did not produce the way he did with the Penguins (although the Capitals in general did not produce the way they were expected to). Rumor spread that Jagr was a locker room cancer, who sulked more often than scored. Jagr continues to dispute the allegations that he did not make his best effort during his stay with the Capitals. By 2003 Capitals management had had enough and started shopping Jagr around the market. In the midst of trade negotiations, tax and gambling troubles surfaced. Finally, the Capitals were able to trade Jagr for Anson Carter with the New York Rangers, who were in the midst of dumping their team of overpriced veterans in January of 2003.

New York Rangers: Ranger fans collectively groaned when it was announced that Jaromir Jagr would be coming to the Big Apple. They had a while to stew on it however; the 2004-2005 season was locked out due to a labor dispute. In 05-06, the Rangers remained captain-less while retiring Mark Messier’s number 11, but Jagr proved he was the man for the job. Jagr finished with 123 points, 54 goals, and 24 power-play goals. Although swept in the first round, the Rangers had made the playoffs for the first time since 1997. Jagr took the captaincy in the 2006-2007 season, and again led the Rangers in goals, including notching his 600^th career goal and 1500^th career point.

Current: The Rangers captain is currently posting 3 goals, a team-high 12 assists, 8 penalty minutes and a neutral +/-.

Accomplishments: I had originally listed them all, but this post is turning into a novel. Hey, there’s a lot to say about Jags. Anyway, here’s a bit of it; Two Time Stanley Cup Winner, Hart Trophy Winner, Art Ross Trophy Winner, Lester B. Pearson Award Winner, constant All Star Team Invitee, and several NHL records, including fun things like most consecutive 70 or more point seasons (including the 94-95 lockout season!), and most regular season points by a non-Canadian player. He also holds some Rangers records, such as most regular season goals and points by a Rangers player.

Our Thoughts:
Kerri: Jaromir Jagr is one of my favorite current Rangers. Despite his attitude, Jagr brings so much to the table. Although he doesn’t dominate the game like he used to, he still can make a team’s defense look like they are standing still. He has a great sense of humor but takes losing personally; when he wants to win he does everything in his power to do so. His biggest drawbacks are his occasional attitude problem, and his unwillingness to play North-South style hockey, which is currently hurting the Rangers (as we lost Nylander for Gomez and Drury). But Jagr leads his team by example, which is (usually) a positive one. Despite what the so-called “experts” on Versus think, this is Jagr’s team, not Shanahan’s, something Shanahan has never contested, and in fact, has defended. While Shanahan is probably the guy giving the speech in the locker room, Jagr leads by being the last to leave the ice during practice and by setting up those huge goals. Plus, no one cracks a joke like Jagr. Except for maybe Sean Avery. (More on him, later.) There are a lot of people to thank for the Rangers no longer being the biggest joke in the league, but I give the majority of the credit to JJ.

Christina: Like with any trade to the NYR, I am skeptical of new members who have established themselves on other teams, and it takes a while and many good plays for me to start liking them. JJ is no exception. One of the reasons I like the NYR is the relatively low number of divas on the team, but if there had to be one, it would be JJ. He is moody, he refuses to participate in shootouts, he pouts, and he lets it affect his game, which is taboo when you are the captian. But...just when I think I can stand no more from him, he makes the clutch play that turns the game around, jacks up all his teammates, and becomes the true leader. He is my Cap'n Clutch (as opposed to Drury - more on him later, too), and as with any man, I love one with a sense of humor. Makes him human (in addition to the mood swings). My overall feeling on him runs hot and cold, but if he keeps good on his intentions to excel in the playoffs, it will lean more toward the former.

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