The New York Rangers have undergone a bit of a facelift, mostly as a result of a heaping dose of free-agency: Captain Jaromir Jagr left for his homeland along with Martin Straka, and Fedor Tyutin and Ryan Hollweg were traded. Sean Avery accepted an offer from Dallas, and Brendan Shanahan waits patiently for an offer from the Rangers (what the hell, Shanny? You'd rather wait around than play somewhere else?). Essentially, the Rangers lost their core, except for the rookie contingent, and a few key players (Petr Prucha, Henrik Lundqvist, Scott Gomez, Chris Drury, et al).
As for the noobs: NYR obtained veterans Wade Redden, Aaron Voros, Nikolai Zherdev, and Markus Naslund. There seem to be two different schools of thought on these acquisitions. The negative side regards them as has-beens on the downswing of their careers, while the positive sees them as getting the fresh start they’ve been needing and waiting for.
After a successful series of games on the other side of the globe for the Rangers, things look both shaky and promising at the same time. Coach Tom Renney is really mixing up the lines trying just about every combination he can, even when one seems to work. I think the best one may be the first line of Drury, Gomez, and Naslund. Last season, and historically, Drury and Gomez centered separate lines. Together they seem to synergize.
The second and third line players have become interchangeable parts, with Renney tossing players like Nigel Dawes, Ryan Callahan, and Brandon Dubinsky back and forth between them. The fourth line is the old standby of Freddie Sjostrom, Blair Betts, and Colton Orr.
The NYR defense is much the same as last year, with a couple o' new faces. There are four returning defensemen, including Marc Staal and Dan Girardi (who both had stellar rookie seasons), and Redden should help reinforce the wall.
Goaltending: King Henry is in. I just hope he doesn’t burn out what with being slated to start the majority of the games. Not that Stephen Valiquette can’t hold his own between the pipes – we need to have both goalies ready to rock. I’d like to see the games split more between the two goalies. I’ve always been a supporter of going with who’s hot, and if it’s Vally – then put him in.
The Rangers’ strength going into this season is their goaltending. It’s proven and effective. Defense overall has been decent, but with holes occasionally surfacing. They are definitely in need of a goal-scoring sniper, and hopefully that new first line combo will produce one (or two). Their biggest weakness is definitely their power play, which goes along with their need for the sniper. They have got to start scoring on their short-handed opponents, or else their post-season will be short if existent at all. They have the potential to excel in the East if all the cylinders are firing, however, they are a team in flux, and probably need a season or two to hit their stride.
Friday, October 10, 2008
New York Rangers - 08-09 Season Preview
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Team Preview: San Jose Sharks
There seem to be some Sharks circling! That's right, ladies and germs, the NHL Regular Season has begun for us fans of the finned and I'm ready to dive back in!Well, at least put my feet in the shallow end.
A lot has changed over the summer for the NoCal team - A new coach and lots of different faces in the dressing room.
08-09 Season... My quick thoughts as I'm watching the game:
New Coach - I wasn't down on RW, but shaking things up behind the bench might be what gets them past the second round of the playoffs - but they need to make the playoffs first. He's been described as a good bench-coach, I can roll with that, hopefully the players can, too.
Revamped D - Gone are Campbell (no surprise), Carle, Rivet and Brown. Shiny and new are Blake (Will take a while to get used to that one), Boyle and Lukowich. If the D meshes well together, they'll make things even easier for Nabby, who we all know I have a love/hate relationship with. If they can put up a few points, I'll be a very happy fishie fan (Plus, who wouldn't love a kid with a nickname like Pickles?!). Also, would like to send my best wishes to Kyle McLaren in the AHL - I've always been a big fan of his.
Forwards - Familiar faces Thornton, Marleau and Cheechoo need to put up consistant points. I have every faith in each of them that they can - and every hope that they will. Please? Pretty please? Setoguchi looks good - like he spent the summer waiting trying to impress a girl at the gym - and it worked! Pavelski, Plihal, Michalek, Clowe and Goc are sure to do their fair share and Jeremy Roenick is going into his 21st season - how stinkin' impressive is that!?!?! Ok, ok, I know not everyone is a JR fan, but I have been for as long as I can remember - and the fact that he's spent the last two years of his career (for real this time?) with my team pretty much thrills me to no end. He looks good, too and is super hungry for the cup... will that be enough? ...my pretty please just worked, 0-1 Cheechoo from Boyle (Welcome!) and Michalek... PS. Get well soon, Mitchell!
My prediction: I know it sounds cliche, but if this team gels in a speedy fashion, it's hard to imagine they wouldn't be back in the race for the Pacific Division title, but it wont be easy. The Ducks and the Stars are a perpetual poachers looking for some shark fin soup. 0-2 PP Goal - Cheechoo from Thornton and Blake - ok, it's getting easier to read that name in teal. Sorry, Finny! As for playoffs, ever the optimist, I'm dreaming of being able to watch the 3rd ground without a scowl on my face, wondering who to cheer for while the hostess calls for "Bitter, Party of One?"
If the first two periods of this game are any indication of how the rest of the season is going to go, this could be the season we've all been dreaming of.... I'm not saying, I'm just saying...
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Victoria, but no Stanley
The first ever Victoria Cup winners are set to have an interesting season. Firstly, they open the season this upcoming Saturday (FINALLY!) against the Tampa Bay Lightening in Prague, Czech Republic. They also have a number retirement ceremony, when Adam Graves #9 will hang from Madison Square Garden’s rafters. But there’s no sitting pretty this year; this Rangers team will need to buckle down and fight for every single point they earn.
Let’s break it down, shall we?
MAJOR LOSSES:
Jaromir Jagr- All I can say is thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Because without you, Rangers hockey would still be irrelevant. That said, we’ll also miss Jagr’s point production. Badly. Although the Powerplay will be happy to see him and the Rangers' east-west mentality go. What a shame, though, for the NHL to lose a player like Jagr. Love him or hate him, his talent isn't replaceable.
Brendan Shanahan- Is he a Ranger, will he not be a Ranger, who knows? Shanahan is much too old for this in my opinion, but the old man still has a great shot. In the right, limited role, I’d want him back. He’s up in the air at this moment, but still practicing at the NYR Facilities. Whatever that means.
Martin Straka- Injury-prone towards the end of his career, but Straka still put up big points and his production and leadership will be missed on the ice.
Sean Avery- Oh, Avery. I wish he was still a Ranger. But realistically, Dallas is CRAZY to sign that man to a four year, limited trade clause deal. I love what he brings, but he’s scary on a long term basis. There is a reason he’s seen so many teams in a short time period.
MAJOR ACQUISITIONS:
Markus Naslund- This thirty five year old winger scored 25 goals last season on Vancouver, and was a pick up during free agency for the Rangers. Naslund has had sliding numbers over the pass few seasons, and came to the Rangers to play “a more open system.” I’m not sure if there is something in the Vancouver water, but the Rangers are surely not an open, offense first team. Whereas age is a concern, Naslund should score some key goals for the Rangers.
Wade Redden- Part of the collapsing Ottawa team last year, there is concern that Redden won’t be able to work well in New York, where public pressure rivals all but Montreal and Toronto. Redden was signed for too much money and too long, and his preseason as been less than stellar. New York will give him a break… for a game or so. Then he needs to pick this up. In other news, he got married over the summer. Look for “Danica and Wade.” Just wow.
Nikolai Zherdev- This winger has had some coaching trouble, but he did score 26 goals last season and have 35 assists. He’s quite the talent; I have already enjoyed watching his stick handling ability. But Nik, if you don’t shoot, and if you have an attitude problem, expect booing. Ranger fans have no mercy.
The problem is that these acquisitions to not even begin to make up for what we lost.
OFFENSE:
The Rangers need help. Scotty Gomez and Chris Drury have been working well together as Chris has moved to wing, but neither put up huge numbers last year nor usually have. Worth 7 million dollars? No, but both are good teammates. If Shanahan doesn’t sign, Drury will probably be named Captain. Naslund and Zherdev help in the goals department, but the Rangers need a lot of goals to come from elsewhere, meaning their last two lines. If Tom Renney was a smarter coach, he would make the fourth line more offensive then it is currently designed as. More likely, however, we will see a very defensive, checking and fighting fourth line. Typical line formation in hockey, but considering these men are so offensive inept they probably won’t score 5 goals all together this season. The Rangers need to rely more on young players like Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Nigel Dawes and Petr Prucha, all whom are talented but probably will not put up the numbers the Rangers need. Hopefully those four will pick up some icetime, in particular Petr Prucha. If the kid gets some confidence back, his 25 goals of the past maybe become the future. Ryan Callahan will need to take over some of the grit lost by Sean Avery. Can he do it? No. But Cally's a tough kid, and I want to see more of him.
Any Bright Spot? Although Zherdev might have some difficulty in New York, he should shine. Lauri Korpikoski is the rookie in town, and he has had a brillant preseason. And Brandon Dubinsky is a star. He will take the NHL by storm in the next year or so, and I can’t wait.
DEFENSE:
Wade Redden and Dmitri Kalinin… well, there could have been worse pick ups, but they both don’t address the Rangers serious need for a true number one defensemen. They're a bit scary with the puck. Dan Girardi will hopefully continue to improve, and Paul Mara might get some more icetime to show off that impressive shot of his. Michal Rosival should have a good season as long as he shoots the puck and stays healthy. Make no doubt about it though; this team may have a shaky defensive core, but because of the defensive system the Rangers (unfortunately) play, it will be hard to score on New York.
Bright Spot? Marc Staal. He may not be the best Staal right now, but it could be argued Eric might have something to worry about. Staal has a great shot, and is near perfect positionally. I can’t wait to see him grow into that number one defenseman that the Rangers haven’t had since Brian Leetch.
GOALTENDING:
I can’t tell if the Rangers have the best goalie in the league or the most frustrating, inconsistent one. Henrik Lundqvist led the league in shutouts last year with 10, and had a good save percentage of .912. Although he was nominated for the Vezina for his third time in his third season, Lundqvist remains awfully inconsistent and has difficulty handling the puck. If Lundqvist plays well, the Rangers will make the playoffs despite their problems scoring. If Lundqvist has his headache problems again this year, though, Lundqvist might become MY headache.
PREDICTIONS:
Rangers just squeak into playoffs, in 7th or 8th seed. Out first round. Sorry, boys. Not enough offensive firepower even more limited by a coach who thinks defense first way too often, and an inconsistent goalie could spell trouble.
But let’s go Rangers, anyway.
