The Odd Joys of Even

It’s amazing how much we as fans rejoice when we see that players are on the plus side of the +/-stat. Nick Lidstrom has been hovering around +182,000 for his career, and he’s going down as one of top defensemen of all time.

The Rangers as a team are -75. This, unlike Nick Lidstrom’s +182,000 above, is not an exaggeration. The Rangers are really -75 this season, with four, count em (Staal, Zherdev, Dawes, Betts), four players on the positive side. Let that sink in for a while….

Ok. Now that you have at least spent some time, probably about one second, thinking about that, let’s break it down further. Who’s the worst culprit?

Do I really need to answer that?

Dmitri Kalinin, whipping boy around these parts, is an astonishing -16 (see: Kalinin Count) with no goals and six assists all season. I have a higher tolerance for an abysmal +/- if the player is at least producing or has been injured (see: Rozsival, Michael).

So what can you do with Kalinin? Trade him? Fat chance. No one wants to pay $2.1 million for the 766th best +/- in the NHL (out of 769). Waiving him is the best option. Send him to Hartford, maybe he can remember how to play defense again. Let Potter replace him permanetly. It will save cap room, and provide a more stable defensive corps. I like to call that two birds, one stone.

It actually makes you wonder why Sather signed and overpaid for the Sabres reject.

Kalinin isn’t the sole offender in atrocious +/-, the other negative double digit offenders are Rozsival (-11) and Gomez (-10). In Gomer’s case, he was -7 for two games in a row. Eliminate those games, he’s a -3, which is what you expect from Gomez. As for Rozsival, refer to two paragraphs above.

Back to Kalinin, I understand that Renney wants to show confidence in his players. But enough is enough. Let Kalinin go. Please. We will do anything for a replacement that is just even.

Game 36: Rangers vs. Sharks

The Rangers take on the best team in the NHL tonight. It looks like there won’t be any lineup changes. This is a game that will show the Rangers where they truly lie in the NHL. This should be a good game, the Sharks are really fun to watch, as are the Rangers when they decide to show up.

The NHL is in the middle of its roster freeze, so there won’t be any rumors, call ups or send downs until 12/29. This current lineup is what you will see for the next week.

It’s Not Just About the Money

As predicted here, Sundin went to the Canucks for more money. I couldn’t be happier. The last thing this team needed was an aging veteran who isn’t a fast skater. I mean no disrespect to Mats, who is a great player and will probably make the Hall, but that’s the disadvatage of being 37 in the “new NHL”.

The Rangers probably won out in this deal too. They didn’t have to make any absurd roster movements, they keep the core of the team together, and they get to build on two wins against good teams on the west coast.

But I digress. There are a lot of people out there who believe that Sundin went straight for the pay day. And yes, it looks like that. But Sundin didn’t sign that 2 year/$20 million whopper that Vancouver offered. He signed for one year, at the prorated $10 million (roughly $6 million). As per Pierre LeBrun, Sundin phoned fellow countryman Mattias Ohlund and asked if his presence would have an effect on the Canucks locker room. LeBrun continues to add that Sundin was unnerved by the fact that multiple bodies (Prucha and Fritsche to start, maybe going further to Korpikoski and Kalinin depending on the salary) would have to be moved to clear room on the Rangers roster. Those kinds of move mess with a teams chemistry, no matter how many times they change lines during the season.

I respect Sundin, but as for him signing with the Rangers, we say good riddance.

Yet Another Sundin Post (Updated)

It’s been a whole 12 hours without another Sundin post, so it’s about time we get one out there. Today is his decision day. Just so everyone is aware of the situation, Sundin will have to pass a physical before he actually signs.

What does that mean to the Rangers? Simple, with the roster freeze coming, the Rangers simply will not be able to clear the cap space to sign him until after Christmas. Throw in that Sundin isn’t just going to step out on the ice against the Islanders on December 29 (he does need to practice a few times with the team first), and you are looking at a first possible Sundin game in 2009.

But how are they going to clear the space? They have $1.3 million in available cap room right now. Rozsival and Redden are essentially unmoveable. So that leaves waiving players. Korpikoski can still be optioned to Hartford without passing through waivers, so him and his $1.1 million (total $2.4 million) will probably go back to Hartford. As much as we like him, it’s better for him to get first line time in Hartford than less than 10 minutes a game for the Rangers. Hopefully Kalinin and his $2.1 million will get waived ($4.5 million – $675,000 for Potter as a replacement = roughly $4.0 million). Maybe they waive Fritsche to get the cap space available to $4.5 million.

Let’s assume Sundin signs for $4 million, which is what Naslund is getting. That leaves $500,000 for a 7th defenseman. Fahey has to pass through waivers to get called up, so it’s unlikely it will be him, maybe Denisov? The roster will look something like this:

Naslund-Gomez-Zherdev
Dubinsky-Sundin-Dawes
Callahan-Drury-Sjostrom
Voros-Betts-Orr

Staal-Potter
Girardi-Redden
Mara-Rozsival

Scratches: Prucha, Denisov

Update: It looks like Sundin wants $6 million from the Rangers. With Redden and Rozsival as untradeable as Sean Avery, the Rangers would have to do some serious work, as in, trading someone we don’t want to see traded.

My opinion? Have fun in Vancouver Mats.

Update: Sundin signs with the Canucks. I’m glad this saga is over, and they didn’t have to trade people away to sign him.

In-Game Thoughts: NYR v. LA- 12/17-18/2008

I love West Coast hockey games almost as much as I love getting shoes thrown at me.  Anyways, I’ll be putting down my thoughts on tonight’s game for as long as I can stay up…

Agree 100% with my cohort that starting Vally tonight is the right move.  Personally, I don’t think they get him enough starts.  I know, crazy talk

Update 10:42 PM – Excellent scoring chance by Naslund.  The alternate captain doesn’t make a lot of noise, but he has quietly been very steady in his production.  Also doesn’t hurt having a player with Zherdev’s creativity alongside him.

Update 10:52 PM – Handzus???  It’s amazing how three years of absurd NHL scheduling causes players to fall out of your universe.

Update 11:02 PM – Kings 1, Rangers 0.  Rangers give up a rare power-play goal.  They are getting tremendously outshot in this opening period

Update 11:10 PM – Rangers 1, Kings 1.  Chris Drury puts one through with under a minute to play.  Chalk one up to Nigel Dawes who won’t get an assist on the goal but forced the issue and caused the turnover, opening the door for the captain to get his 2nd goal in two nights.

Update 11:15 PM – End of 1st period.  The Blueshirts were outplayed most of the period and can thank Vally for a tremendous start.  The Rangers have a rare commodity with Vally in a backup goalie that actually relishes, accepts, and ultimately excels in the role.  He understands his role on the team better than perhaps any other player.

Update 11:49 PM – So like me, I’m sure many of you were scratching your head as to why Michael Roszival was taking that penalty shot, but a dazzling array of moves by the embattled defenseman.  An interesting call awarding the Rangers a penalty shot.  Maybe it was penance for not calling one on Callahan.  Rangers 2, Kings 1.  Rangers have a great opportunity to go up two goals here.  Or perhaps they should just decline whatever is left of the remaining penalty.

Update 12:04 AM – End of the Second Period: Rangers 2, Kings 1.  The Blueshirts played much better in the middle frame than they did in the first, and are pretty fortunate to go into the final period with the lead.  Steve Valliquette has been outstanding in goal, and Jason LaBarbera has been Jason LaBarbera.  The difference has been just that, seeing that the goal Drury scored should have been stopped.  The Rangers have taken advantage of the sparse amount of chances provided.  Expect strong, defensive hockey in the third period.

Update 12:20 AM – Nigel Dawes gets credited with the primary assist on Chris Drury’s goal.  His extra effort now isn’t nearly as noble compared to what it was just a few hours ago.  Accusations of him being a sellout have already begun….

Update 12:24 AM – Kings 2, Rangers 2.  So much for strong, defensive hockey.  Dmitri Kalinan gets caught quasi-napping in front while Dustin Brown pops one in.  The ex-Buffalo Sabre defenseman has had little to hang his hat on this season, and has become a major liability in the defensive-zone (see Kalinan Count in right column).  Thats a pretty major issue when you are a defensemen.

Update 12:41 AM – Joe Micheletti brings up a very valid point in that Roszival’s penalty shot goal was a power play goal.  A interesting point, considering now that the Rangers hottest power-play options are penalty shots taken by the team’s defensemen.

Update 1:00 AM – Final/OT: Rangers 3, Kings 2.  Michael Roszvial blasts one from the right point to beat Jason LaBarbera and give the Blueshirts the OT win.  Hats off to Rosie, who came up big offensively in two spots tonight.  On a team of forwards whose production waxes and wanes, contributions from the blue line are as important as ever.  One can only hope this can jump-start the rest of the Rangers.  Good Night all

So what’s it gonna be Mats?

As we sit on the eve of Mats Sundin’s big decision, one has to wonder…is this a move the Rangers have to make?  Or are they simply reverting back to their old ways, going after the the biggest available name out there, and not necessarily for the right reasons? 

One would have to think that given Sundin’s track record that this is not just a move of desperation.  Let’s face it….the Rangers offensive attack has all the symptoms of the worst types of anemia, and a big, able-bodied scorer (not named Aaron Voros or Colton Orr…sorry boys) will do wonders for an eye-gouging power play.  The presence of another fellow countryman will also help in the progress of Markus Naslund, who will be a critical cog in the machine down the line, not to mention making your franchise goalie feel a little more at home.

But at what cost do the Rangers bring Sundin in?  It will take a great deal of player movement and sacrifice to get him signed to the roster at the current asking price.  The Rangers have taken great pride in the post-lockout era in holding on to their products, whether it be players they have drafted, or exports that have grown exponentially in their system.  A commitment to Sundin will certainly mean the end of Petr Prucha (whom I believe the Rangers organization completely ruined, but thats another story for another time) and surely Michael Roszival, whose combined salary lands at $6.6 million/year.  Besides, as a Rangers fan, you can’t help but cringe every time Slats goes after that big name (see Lindros, Eric; Bure, Pavel; Holik, Bobby, etc etc etc etc etc).

We can sit here all night and argue pros and cons over the decision, but it all comes down to which situation one future Hall of Fame center feels better about.  In the end, the bright lights of New York, the prospect of playing with his notable natives, and remaining in the Eastern Conference will be enough to sway Sundin to the Big Apple. Then Rangers fans have to ask themselves two questions: how many line combinations  will Tom Renney experiment with before he gets it right, and how much will Mats donate to Big Z for #13?

Game 35: Rangers vs. Kings

According to Steve Zipay, Vally may get the nod tonight against the Kings. I agree with this. Let Hank rest up and be fresh for the game against my pick to win the Cup this year (before they set a record of 25 wins in the first 30 games). Considering the strong effort by everyone last night (even Kalinin, who finished +1 and only had one really bad play when he let Perry just blow right by him in the first), I would expect the same scratches of Prucha, Fritsche and Potter.

Sundin has a soft deadline of tomorrow/Friday for making his decision. The Rangers offer was probably in the $2-$3 million range for the rest of the season. It could possibly go higher, depending on the moves management is willing to make.

I have a holiday party for work to attend tonight, so I probably won’t be updating this during the game. Who knows, I may get back in time for the third.

Update 4:00pm: It’s confirmed (as per Zip), Vally will get the start tonight.

Dawes: 1, Pronger: 0

Let’s all bask in the great move put on by Dawes last night on one of the top defensemen in the league to win the game.

Game 34: Rangers vs. Anaheim

This is the first of a three game west coast swing, and the first of back-to-back games in the LA area. If I were a betting man, I would put money on Prucha, Fritsche and Potter being the scratches. As much as I criticize Renney for switching up his lines every shift, it really is a double edged sword. I’ve been calling for Prucha to get more playing time (which should be at the cost of Korpo, who needs first line time in Hartford to develop more) and for Kalinin to sit, but that means more line juggling, and thus more criticism from everyone about inconsistency.

But I digress. It looks like it will be the same lineup tonight vs. Anaheim. I will try and stay awake for the entire game, but I will probably pass out after the 2nd period.

Update 10:30pm: The more I watch Marc Staal the more I begin to think he is going to be, or is already, the best defenseman on the team, and possibly one of the best in the league. He is just that good. They need to lock him up long term.

New Poll (First Poll?)

Congratulations, if you’re reading this, you get to take part in the very first poll on Blue Seat Blogs. The poll is below on the right, and it’s based off the post below. Do you think Tom Renney should be replaced? Feel free to discuss here as well.

Update: There seems to be a problem with the poll displaying properly in Internet Explorer. I’m unsure if this is true with all other browsers. I’m trying to fix it.