Roster’s taking shape.
Take this post with a pinch of salt because obviously a lot can (and probably will) happen in Camp however more props need to go to Glen Sather.
Aside from the length of Derek Boogaard’s deal Sather has had a very solid off season. To summarise; Physical defenceman? Mcilrath – check. Avoid over priced UFA’s? (Kovy pending) check. Add a depth defencemen? (Eminger) check. Sign restricted free agents? Almost a complete check (hurry up Staal). Get rid of dead wood? (Voros et al) check. Ryan McDonagh? Check…
Looking back at the weekend I have mainly positive thoughts. I dont feel Girardi earnt $3.325m a year based on his performance last season but anytime you can lock up a guy whose a solid component about to enter this prime years its not a bad deal. Girardi does have some untapped potential and even if he’s already topped out, 3.325/year isnt bad. It’s certainly not as bad as alot of deals out there.
Steve Eminger. I have always been enticed by Eminger. He seems to bounce around the league alot which is a concern but whenever you can turn a piece worth zero (Voros) into a player with upside who comes with a manageable cap figure its a good move. Eminger has averaged a shade under 16 points per season over the past 5 years so has some offensive upside and comes with size, relative youth and as a high first round pick some pedigree. This could a be low risk (rock bottom – given the cost) high reward scenario – so kudos Sather. At worst Eminger can be the depth defenceman everyone acknowledged the Rangers needed. Eminger also appears to play the two way game Tortorella wants in his rear guards. If the Rangers enter the season with a top 7 of Staal – Girardi; Roszival – Del Zotto; Gilroy – McDonagh and Eminger I think most Rangers fans will be very satisfied. With Redden removed, many will join me and rejoice.
What happens next this summer could be very interesting. Kovalchuck to the Rangers wont go away until he signs somewhere whether it be in LA Russia (or here) and Sathers comments of “We’re still moving forward, we’re not finished,” to Andrew Gross sound like he’s intent on adding more to the roster. Under the right conditions thats not a bad thing either. Moving forward there could be alot of potential and youth on the roster come October and that has alot of Rangers supporters psyched. Finally, this Sather comment to Gross must have all Rangers fans thrilled:
“Well, certainly, our philosophy is if any young guy comes in and makes the team, we’ll move the older guys out if necessary,”
Has Sather finally read the memo?! So far (this off season), so good…….
By Gary, July 12, 2010 @ 8:17 am
Very nice post, valid points
jurgenno88 Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Thanks Gary.
I have some genuine hope for Eminger. Why? He has a carrot dangling in front of him whereby there’s a genuine chance for decent minutes if he takes his opportunity. I also think its arguably his last chance at a regular spot in an NHL line up. If he can’t make a positive impact in NY then he’s gonna be a depth guy like a Sheldon Brookbank was or Andy Delmore. Delmore had talent but couldnt find consistency or play both ends well. If he fails he may end up riding the bus for the rest of his career.
By Dave, July 12, 2010 @ 10:18 am
I think Eminger/Gilroy battle for the sixth spot, which is good to hear. The problem with the team is that there was never anyone pushing the starters to play better. Now there will be.
As for young guys pushing the veterans out, I’ll believe it when I see it. The litmus test for this is going to be the combination of Stepan / Grachev / MZA. What happens if all three play well enough to make the team? Who goes?
jurgenno88 Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 10:47 am
agreed – finally what seems a legitimate battle for spots. It should have been that way last year but will be that way this year – bodes well.
And its a very good point ref MZA/Stepan/Grachev. Will Sather be willing to throw an axe out? When you consider those at risk, by performance alone you’d think it’d be people like Drury, Boyle, EC, Avery even perhaps Dubinsky for all his inconsistencies (despite the potential and occasional production).
I’d say the only guys that SHOULD have positions safe at forward are Gaborik, Callahan (though i expect to see more here too), Anisimov and Prospal.
By Dave, July 12, 2010 @ 11:00 am
The first man out is going to be Boyle, followed very quickly by Boogaard if the youngsters contribute. Byers can replace Boogaard, and Drury can be dropped to the fourth line to replace Boyle.
jurgenno88 Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 11:12 am
agreed but i think Boogaard will dress the first half of the season regardless of performance. While i think Sather is ready to admit the Redden ‘era’ was an epic fail i still think he’ll stand by new signings a little too much. Until he proves otherwise and acts decisively, consistently, we may get a little too much of certain players.
I’d like to think that Boogaard will only dress when truly required; i.e. EVERY Philly game. Every Isles game and so on…..
By jerry, July 12, 2010 @ 12:11 pm
the move id like to see sather make is savard. in my opinion its a low risk high reward move in terms of his salary is not bad on a cap hit and if we need to move him people will take that contract and it solves our first line center problem.
jurgenno88 Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
i dont think, given his increasing injury issues (concussions dont go away and he’s a ‘finesse player’) that i’d target him.
I like Savard as a player but our GM has shown (so far) an unwillingness to waiver or demote bad contracts and even at 4m Savard at the end of his deal will be a bad contract.
If i were GM i’d take him but i’d also have no qualms burying cap in the minors (if Dolan allowed it!)…..
jerry Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
he can be traded very easily and you can recover from concussions ive had one myself.and 4 million is not bad for a first line center its worth the risk to me.
By Brian, July 12, 2010 @ 12:46 pm
Great post Jurgenno, it’s refreshing to see some optimistic viewpoints. It seems as if management is finally committed to build from within and focus on the underlying aspects of a team that contribute to winning such as team chemistry and character. If they can continue to integrate youth to augment the current roster then we won’t have to be reliant on the overpaid FA to plug holes.
No doubt that our immediate needs of a no. 1 center and punishing defensemen still have not been met, but at least we have viable solutions in our prospect pool to address this in the future.
jurgenno88 Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
thanks Brian. Im cautiously optimistic though optimistic. I dont like people who are negative for the sake of it. Negative for the sake of getting a reaction. I try and see both sides. Like Girardi. Solid player; bad season.
and yeah, every facet seems to be addressed in the system, this season up coming may however be ‘tough’.
By Fotiu is God, July 12, 2010 @ 6:34 pm
All salient points. Besides Wade becoming Leader of The Pack, I believe Gilroy starts 10-11 in Hartford, if he’s not part of a trade package with a Western Conference club.
I also line up with you on Marc Savard, despite being the perception of damaged goods.
An ex-Blueshirt–who gave up on him, Don Maloney or Neil Smith?–Savard not only plays with heart, he’s responsible. I also relish Savard tossing his game-winning twig in the stands this last playoff.
If Jason Spezza wasn’t so infuriatingly disinterested–most of the time–he’d be the playmaking pivot with size we could pursue, though not at the expense of Dubi or Callahan. No effin’ way.
Now let’s get Marc Staal re-upped. Eminger’s acquisition is a sound one, probably Slats’ second best (Biron takes it). Nonetheless it should’ve been James Wisniewski: American-born and much more bite. (I live on the Left Coast and see The Ducks-Kings all too regularly).
jerry Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
on savard hes worth the risk you can recover from a concussion i have had one.and at four million hes a bargain for a first line center.
jurgenno88 Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 4:55 am
for me its not about the cap hit. its a great value for a 90pt centre. If Sather (this may change with redden…) had shown me a willingness to remove dead woood in an efficient way i’d be for it but Savards deal is too long and by the end of it he’ll not be the same player.
For the record, i’d have liked Wisniewski too but i think he was far more expensive (2.5?) so Eminger is a low risk 7th D in terms of cap.
By Section 121, July 13, 2010 @ 1:40 pm
Mark my words: Dubinsky will put up more points than gomez this year and he deserves the “A”
Then give him the “C” after Drury’s contract is up next yr
He centered Jagr as a rookie – This should be his team
Dave Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
He’s also very young, so there’s no need to rush him into the leadership role. Let him earn it and grow into it.