Fritsche Traded for Erik Reitz

In an unexpected move, Dan Fritsche has been traded to the Minnesota Wild for Erik Reitz. Reitz, a 26 year old defensemen, will probably serve as the 7th defensemen for the Rangers, as this is clearly a depth move. Reitz plays a very physical game, compensating for his lack of speed. This partially addresses the Rangers needs at the deadline, as they got a physical, bruising defensemen (he has racked up 100 PIMS in 4 of 6 AHL seasons, and at least 90 in the other two) in exchange for a spare part. Let’s hope he gets some playing time to see what he can do.

I say this move is unexpected because the Wild traded for Fritsche just one day after he cleared waivers. Why not pick him up on the waiver wire? They certainly have the cap room.

Reitz, like Fritsche, is in the last year of his current deal and will become an RFA at the end of the season.

Good luck to Fritsche in his new home, and I wish him all the best.

Update 4:30pm: The Depth Chart has been updated to reflect this trade.

Odds and Ends

• The Islanders just can’t get lucky.  Mike Sillinger is now out for the year. They lost another tradeable asset to help rebuild. It’s unknown what Sillinger could have gone for, considering he played an entire 7 games all year, but something is better than nothing. This just creates more time for us to laugh at the Islanders for their ridiculous team right now. They remind me of the Kansas City Royals.

• Henrik Zetterberg re-upped with the Wings, which shouldn’t really shock anyone. His deal is 12 years, $72 million, which is just a $6 million cap hit (still less than Wade Redden). That deal is great for the Wings. With Michael Cammalleri poised to make Jarome Iginla money ($7 million/year), Zetterberg would surely have received more money from any other team. This does pose an issue for the Wings though, bringing their cap number to roughly $48 million for next year, with Marian Hossa and Johan Franzen set to become UFAs. My guess is that Hossa goes for greener pastures and Franzen stays in Detroit. If Franzen winds up as a free agent, how much will Sather be kicking himself for signing Markus Naslund to two years (or Redden to 6, but I digress)?

• The Vinny Lecavalier to Montreal rumors have all but died for this season. That’s pretty good news for all Ranger fans. The Blueshirts can’t even beat the Habs now, without Lecavalier, can you imagine what it would be like with Vinny in Montreal?

• As for Dan Fritsche, he has cleared waivers. I’m guessing he will go to Hartford, and Potter will be called up for the game in Boston on Saturday.

The Return of Potter?

With Dan Fritsche officially waived and probably on his way to Hartford in a few hours, you have to wonder what Sather and company have planned for the extra cap room. Are they going to use it to potentially make a trade for a missing piece? Possibly. I would certainly hope that Sather is at least kicking the tires on Keith Tkachuk, Nik Antropov, Denis Gauthier, and others mentioned here in previous posts. Sather’s most recent trade history has been pretty decent (Zherdev, Avery, Sykora), so let’s hope he can pull a rabbit out of his hat again.

We could also, finally, see a seventh defenseman called up. That defenseman would in all likelihood be Corey Potter. We have long wanted a seventh defenseman here, it will at least light a fire under the under achieving defense. But if Potter gets called up, who sits? There’s the obvious person, Dmitri Kalinin, who forgot how to take the body. The seventh defensemen creates some competition. And competition breeds improvement.

Or maybe both? Would that be too much to ask?

Korpo/Vally In, Fritsche Out, Prucha Sits Again

As per Sam Weinman, the revolving door that is the Rangers lineup is getting tweaked again. The Korpedo is back in tonight in lieu of Dan Fritsche, who was invisible last game. Valliquette is also in tonight, with Hank expected to get the start tomorrow at The Igloo.

As for Prucha, he’s sitting again. I guess Voros’ presence in front of the net is worth 3 minor penalties a game. I don’t know how Prucha can keep his positive attitude while getting benched for no apparent reason. More power to him.

So tonight the Rangers again will have two forwards sitting in the press box, and the same six defensemen playing. Seriously, just waive Fritsche. What does he bring to this lineup?

Update 3:00pm: I guess the Rangers management reads this blog. Fritsche has indeed been waived (Note, this is in French):

Fritsche au ballottage

Les Rangers de New York ont placé le nom de Dan Fritsche au ballottage mardi.

Translation:
New York Rangers have placed? the name of Dan Fritsche to the ballot Tuesday. (Translation coming via Google Translate). Obviously “to the ballot” means “waived”. That should free up some cap room.

Let the Juggling Continue

As per Sam Weinman, Voros and Fritsche are in, while the Korpedo and of course, Prucha, get to sit this one out against the Ducks.

Voros, who has been pretty ineffective since, well, October 18th (3 G, 2 A since then, no goals in the last 14, no points in the last 9), serves no purpose in a lineup that is already featuring Colton Orr. You can say all you want about toughness and grit, but the fact of the matter here is that Voros is painfully slow. His best use is in front of the net screening the goalie, which he rarely does.

Fritsche, on the other hand, hasn’t played since November 30th, and has as many games played as Chris Drury has goals on the season. Other than what I read, I don’t know much about Fritsche. His career highs are 12/15/27 in 59 GP. That’s not half bad for a 3rd liner.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about switching it up every now and then to give the team a little jolt. But I think this is a little bit of over coaching by the revered Tom Renney. Sure, they were weak in Pittsburgh, but considering the circumstances of their previous game, and the road trip, don’t you think there’s a chance that they were just a bit tired? I mean, they did just go 3-1-1 on a 5 game road swing.

The Korpedo was playing very well, and had 3 points in the last 4 games. Prucha, who gets a ton of attention here, was held without a point for the previous 3 games (OH NO! LET’S PANIC!), but had 5 points in his last 9 games. He was clicking on the line with Drury and Dawes, and he was probably one of the more energetic, and less inept, Rangers out there the past few games.

I just don’t see a point in this lineup change. Please, feel free to point out something I may have missed.

Game 42: Rangers vs. Canadiens

Tonight, the Rangers look to get some revenge on the Candiens, who utterly embarassed the Rangers last time they met. It’s a tall order, as the Canadiens are red hot, going 6-1-1 in their last 8 games. This is a team that has been known to exploit the Rangers biggest weakness (that they have no idea what to do in the defensive zone under pressure), lighting up the Rangers for 12 goals in their last two meetings. Jaroslav Halak, who has been struggling lately, gets the start in net for the Habs. Beware the struggling goaltender. The Rangers tend to make them into Patrick Roy.

The Blueshirts, fresh off a big 4-0 win over a struggling Penguins team, need to play like they did in the third period on Monday. They also need to stay out of the box. If they take 8 penalties again, or play that lazy, inconsistent hockey we saw in the second period on Monday, then this will be another raping.

No line changes this game, Fritsche and the Korpedo are scratches again. You kind of have to feel bad for Fritsche, who’s played in 15 games all year, and hasn’t seen the ice since November, a span of 14 games (tonight makes 15).

I’ll be doing another in-game thread. Don’t forget, the game is at 7:30 tonight.

Update 7:44pm: Dear Hank, Stop handling the puck. Love, every single Ranger fan in existence. 1-0 Habs on a terrible giveaway by everyone’s favorite Swede.

Update 7:49pm: You know, Prucha looks a lot faster and stronger. The Prucha of old would have been knocked down on that hit.

Update 7:57pm: What a pass by Prucha. And a very nice save by Halak. Robbed Drury. Yea, this sounds like another Prucha love-fest, but seriously, he’s had a good first few shifts.

Update 8:02pm: Dawes got sandwiched by two guys twice his size and he STILL came out with the puck. He was invisible for for the first three months of the season, but he has seriously picked up his game lately.

Update 8:10pm: That’s what happen when you crash the net. Nice second effort by Drury, and Prucha gets an assist. It didn’t look like Redden got a piece of that. Wade Redden got credit, but I really dont think he got it. Redden from Drury and Dawes for now. That should be changed.

Update 8:12pm: And that was a terrible play by Lundqvist, he has to put that into the corner, and then the flutter shot beats him on the rebound. 2-1 Canadiens.

Update 8:34pm: The Rangers seem to have taken the Montreal style of play to heart. They are beating the Habs at their own game right now. That game, of course, is forcing turnovers in the offensive zone, and not the hockey game being played.

Update 8:38pm: How did Ruutu only get two games for biting Peters? Seriously? That’s it? Ruutu is such a bitch.

Update 8:42pm: I like this new Ranger style of crashing the net. It’s about time they started looking for rebounds.

Update 8:45pm: I think Colton Orr cloned himself in the offseason, because he has been really good this year. And as I write this, Cally blasts one by Halak, and it started with great defensive play and great passing by Gomez, Mara, and Kalinin. Tie game.

Update 8:48pm: The Rangers have absolutely dominated the first half of this game. If they could bury rebounds this game would be a blowout.

Update 8:56pm: You know, Dan Girardi really disappeared from the scoring sheet after his torrid start. He had 3G, 13A through early November, and he has had 3A since then.

Update 9:00pm: This has been an incredibly fast paced game, and really fun to watch. The refs are letting them play and I like it.

Update 9:21pm: And a questionable call leads to a goal. Figures. I understand that if the stick is parallel to the ice its a hooking call, but you’re telling me the Canadiens haven’t done that at all this game? I don’t like the call.

It’s the rules, and it’s 3-2 Habs now.

Update 9:24pm: And another penalty, this time in the offensive zone. It’s a high stick, no complaints on that call.

Update 9:25pm: That’s a bad play by Gomez, you can’t hold the stick like that, it’s an obvious call. And it leads to a goal off the carom. 4-2.

Update 9:32pm: That was a hell of a play. Nice pass by Z, good job by Rosie to get open.

Update 9:38pm: That look on Dubinsky’s face just says it all. The kid can’t buy a goal.

Update 9:40pm: What a play by Dawes and Prucha, and what a save. This line of Drury/Dawes/Prucha has been really good.

Update 9:48pm: Wow. Lang just faked Staal right out of his skates. That was a hell of a move. If the Rangers want to come back, they need to bury some rebounds. 5-3 Habs.

Update 9:50pm: That was a weak call to give the Rangers a PP, i guess they are trying to make up for the weak call on Voros.

Update 9:55pm: And Hank is pulled giving the Rangers a 6 on 4. I like this move by Renney. It shows guts.

Update 9:56pm: And Lang puts it in the empty net, sealing it. The Rangers played well tonight, except for that 2:21 where they took 3 penalties and gave up 2 goals. It’s amazing what can happen in two minutes.

Game 37: Rangers vs. Caps

After a surprisingly successful west coast trip, the Rangers are taking on the Washington Alexanders Capitals tonight. They will look to build on what has to be a confidence boost from last week: two wins in the LA area, and a dominant third period against the Sharks where they were one break away from tying the game.

Corey Potter was returned to Hartford, which points out that I clearly made a mistake when I said that players cannot be reassigned to minor league affiliates during the roster freeze. Apparently they can. With Potter in Hartford, I still won’t get my wish for Kalinin to get the Prucha treatment.

It also looks like Fritsche and Prucha will be the scratches, again. Fritsche hasn’t played since Nov. 30, and Prucha since Dec. 7. Combined they have played in 26 games this year. But considering the road trip, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I have no qualms with the forwards playing tonight.

This has to be the slowest day of the year in the business world. I’m the only one on my floor (that’s right, floor) at the office today. I should be out early and home in time to do in game updates.

Update 7:08pm: Same lines as the last few games. No surprises there.

Update 7:12pm: You know, I was looking at that injury report, and I forgot that Tom Poti was on the Caps. I have to admit, as much as I didn’t like him, he got a raw deal in NY. He was touted as the next Leetch, and the Rangers gave up Mike York (fresh off a 30 goal rookie season) for him. In retrospect, that deal wasn’t so bad.

Update 7:13pm: Wow, what a pass by Zherdev. What a trade that is. I loved it from the beginning, and this kid is going to be a superstar. 1-0 Rangers, Naslund from Zherdev and Gomez.

Update 7:18pm: Hank looks strong tonight, nice save on that mini 2 on 0.

Update 7:22pm: You know, I have a bottle of Jean Paul Gaultier cologne, but after that commercial I don’t think I’m going to use it anymore. And Kalinin was on the ice for that goal. +1 for him! He’s now -15 on the season.

Update 7:25pm: Wow. What a shot by Rozsival. His play is picking up. He needs to shoot more. And as I write this, they score again! Theodore is not a good goalie anymore. The second goal was Rozsival from Drury and the third Callahan from Drury and Dawes. This is just a raping right now. But remember, the Rangers were up 4-0 on Philly earlier in the year and barely won that game. Goalie change. Johnson in net.

Update 7:36pm: The Rangers are just beating the Caps to every single loose puck. They look real hungry today. I like it. It looks like someone lit a fire under their ass.

Update 7:38pm: If not for a bad hop, that would have been 4-0. The Rangers are just all over the Caps so far. But let’s see if they can keep this up for the entire 60 minutes, which seems to be a problem for them. 3-0 Rangers, end of the first.

Update 7:57pm: Theodore back in net, apparently Johnson is sick. Just put pucks on net.

Update 8:02pm: Nice series by Hank. And on that Dubie shot, it looks like Johnson got his stick on it. If he did, that’s a real nice save.

Update 8:04pm: What great passing by the Rangers, and what a move by Callahan, that makes it two on the night for him. Callahan from Dawes and Drury again. That’s three assists for Drury.

Update 8:08pm: The Caps have now been outscored 11-1 in the past four periods. That can’t be good for morale on that young team.

Update 8:11pm: I agree with Micheletti, the PP does look so much better when Rozsival shoots. He has a cannon.

Update 8:18pm: That one deflects off Rozsival. Nothing he can really do about that. 4-1 Rangers. Ovechkin gets the goal, assisted by Backstrom.

Update 8:22pm: They needed that stoppage, they got outplayed for a long time. Let’s hope that was just a blip and not the usual 2nd period let down.

Update 8:28pm: Good kill by the Rangers. That was needed.

Update 8:30pm: 4-1 Rangers after two. Good period, they had a little blip in the middle, but recovered nicely with a good kill and then drawing a penalty at the end of the period. The PP carries over for about a minute.

Update 8:50pm: 4-2 Rangers, what a deflection by Fleishman. Fleishman gets the goal from Backstrom and Laich.

Update 8:53pm: Wow. Theodore just stood on his head. He just kept them in the game.

Update 8:57pm: Zherdev is playing a hell of a game. He is far and away the best Ranger skater tonight.

Update 9:02pm: So much for consistency. They look flat in this period. 4-3. This game shouldn’t be this close.

Update 9:05pm: Wow. What a save by Theodore. He looks like a different goalie this period. What did he eat in the intermission?

Update 9:07pm: This is real sloppy. That penalty was a good penalty to take by Girardi. And what a terrible pass to send Kozlov on the break.

Update 9:09pm: Huge kill by the Rangers there. They really needed that.

Update 9:12pm: Why am I not surprised that they blew this lead? Too many miscues. Bad pass by Dawes. 4-4, Ovechkin unassisted.

Update 9:24pm: The Rangers just gave a point to the Caps, that might loom large in April. What a terrible third period. To OT we go. Or should I just say shootout by now?

Update 9:27pm: I thought the Rangers were playing the Caps, not the Habs. Rangers give up 5 straight goals, and snatch defeat from hands of victory. That’s all for tonight folks.

Thanks to Mike A. from River Ave. Blues for the shout out tonight.

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.