Day One of free agency started off with a bang for the Rangers, as they inked a backup goalie in Martin Biron to a two year deal worth $875,000 per year, and re-signed center Erik Christen to a two-year deal worth $975,000 per year. In Biron, the Rangers get a capable backup goaltender that can potentially start 20 games next season. If the Rangers manage to get capable backup goaltending from Biron for the two years, consider this to be a bargain. This, of course, is a huge IF. In Christensen, the Rangers get a top-12 forward who, if he plays well enough to earn first line time, is an extreme bargain. If not, he’s just a cheap second or third line guy. There is nothing wrong with that.
It was later in the day, around 4pm, when things in Rangerland got intense. After letting Jody Shelley go to the Flyers at $1.1 million over three years (which is almost double his salary), the Rangers signed tough-guy and monster Derek Boogaard to a ridiculous contract of 4 years at $1.65 million per year. On the surface, this deal looks absurd. But, if you dive deeper, Boogaard made $1.2 million last year, so this is a modest raise. The dollar amount per year really shouldn’t irk anyone. That length though is, well, horrible. I’m not in love with this signing, but it’s not the end of the world that Rangers fans are making it out to be. It’s not the worst signing in Rangers history, and I think that as long as people realize that it’s not his fault that Sather offered him four years, we will be OK with what he brings to the table.
In one of the last moves of the day, the Rangers re-signed Vinny Prospal to a 1 year deal worth $1 million base, with potential for $1.1 million in bonuses. These bonuses will be easily attained, and applied to next year’s salary cap. This was a fantastic deal by Sather, and kind of makes up for the questionable signing of Boogaard. The Rangers know what they get with Prospal. He’s this year’s version of Brendan Shanahan, except more tan.
Up next in Scouting The Market: Our old friend Vinny Prospal. Read the other Scouting The Markets here.
Vinny Prospal was the Rangers alternate captain last year, and had a great year, putting up a line of 20-38-58. The 35 year old foward play wing and center, and meshed well with Marian Gaborik.
Prospal isn’t the best defensive player, but he plays hard, and scores goals. The Rangers need that. He proved to be a great presence in the locker room, and was well-respected.
Prospal was a bargain last year. He only made $1.1 million. Still, with his age, I wouldn’t expect that to go much higher.
The problem with re-signing Prospal is that you’re bringing back essentially the same team as last year. Which, if you take away the middle 40 games, wasn’t a bad team. But, you can’t take away those games. They underachieved, and if you bring back Prospal, you’re not sending a great message to your fans.
If they re-sign Vinny, here’s what the lines could look like:
Prospal-Dubinsky-Gaborik
Avery-Christensen-Callahan
Prust-Anisimov-Shelley
Weise-Drury-Boyle
It’s a lot like last year’s team. Hell, it is last year’s team. What do you think? Bring back Vinny? Let us know in the comments.
Vinny Prospal has exceed expectations this season. Prospal has put up a 17-35-52, all while playing solid defensive hockey and earning an “A” on his sweater. He’s been a bargain.
His one year deal will be up at the end of the season, and he’ll be 36. Is he worth re-signing? Will he duplicate this performance next year?
I think the Rangers should re-sign him. He’s been a great mentor for the young players, and if he does half of what he did this year, it will be worth it. Sign him for one year.
What do you think? Should the Rangers re-sign Prospal?
As per Arthur Staple of Newsday, Rangers forward Vinny Prospal has made it public that he does not want to be traded by Wednesday’s trade deadline:
“I’m very happy with the way things are going here,” he said, noting that his agent and Sather have had no discussions on a contract extension. “The most important thing is I have family here, the kids are in school and I don’t like the thought of being away from them for who knows how long.
The way this quote is phrased, it sounds like Prospal wants to stay a Ranger in the future as well. If he wants to play for under $2 million, then I’m all for it. After all, he is getting $1.16 million a year from TB through 2014-2015.
After the Rangers went down 2-0 in last night’s game against Montreal, coach John Tortorella decided to “shake up” the lines. And by shake up, I clearly mean reuniting Brandon Dubinsky with Vinny Prospal and Marian Gaborik. With all due respect to Erik Christensen, who played admirably, Dubinsky belongs up front with those two, and is the most productive when he is with them.
Before Dubinsky shattered his hand, this trio contributed for roughly half of the Rangers goals from the forward position. Dubinsky is exactly what this line needs. A tough center who will go to the dirty areas, get the puck to the skilled players, and then plant himself in front of the net, as he did on that brilliant Prospal feed.
It is time to let that line be. No more impulsive line changes, where you insert Sean Avery, or Artem Anisimov, to try and get some new blood flowing. Just leave them alone. Those three are made to play with each other. They just click. It’s not always about putting the best players on a line together, it’s about putting the players that work the best together on a line. Prospal-Dubinsky-Gaborik just works.
The injured Vinny Prospal will be back in the lineup tomorrow night against the Devils, which is nothing but great news for the Rangers. As per Jim Cerny’s twitter, Prospal will be back on the top line with Marian Gaborik. A bit of a surprise here is that Erik Christensen will be the pivot on that line. Brandon Dubinsky has been dropped to wing on a different line with Chris Drury and Ryan Callahan.
Christensen has earned his spot on the top line with Prospal and Gaborik. He may not be the most talented player, but he gets the job done. It isn’t always about putting the best center on the line, but about putting the center that works the best with Gaborik and Prospal on the line. Good for Christensen, I hope he can keep it up.
As per Larry Brooks’ twitter, Rangers forward Vinny Prospal will be out anywhere from ten days to three weeks to have his knee ‘scoped. This is something the Rangers can ill afford to happen right now, but it has happened, so they will need to deal.
How they deal will be a tough task. Who lines up with Marian Gaborik now? Will it be Brandon Dubinsky and Sean Avery? Artem Anisimov and Chris Higgins? No one knows for now.
The Rangers team on Gaborik’s back just got heavier.
With the Olympics around the corner, and the announcement of rosters just days away, it’s time to break down which Rangers will be heading to Vancouver.
MORTAL LOCKS:
Henrik Lundqvist, Sweden
Marian Gaborik, Slovakia
What, you thought these guys would be staying home?
ON THE BUBBLE:
Chris Drury, USA
Ryan Callahan, USA
Vinny Prospal, Czech Republic
Marc Staal, Canada
I think Drury’s recent hot streak helps him. He’s an unbelievable penalty killer. And a great leader. But, he may not score enough to make it. Same with Callahan. Will he provide enough offense for USA to take him? He’d be a hell of a 3rd liner, though. Prospal is interesting. He probably wasn’t on the radar at the beginning of the year. But, he’s had a such a good year, and he can really set up some of the big stars. Staal is probably a long-shot. He hasn’t had a great year, offensively, but he can be a shut down defenseman. I think 2014 is more likely for him.
Anyone I’m missing?
According to Jim Cerny, Vinny Prospal has been named alternate captain, joining Ryan Callahan and Chris Drury as the designated leaders of the team. Prospal has most definitely earned it. He has been productive, and by all accounts, an incredible leader. Good for Vinny.
When the Rangers signed Vaclav “Vinny” Prospal, it was thought of as an afterthought by some (although credit to Dave, who called it a steal). I was in the “afterthought” category. Yeah, he’s a good player, but he’s getting old, and there has to be a reason he was bought out by the Lighting. Well, I was wrong. Vinny has been an absolute steal. He’s the first line winger, who has brought a lot to the power play as well.
So far, he has 10 points in 7 games. 3 goals, 7 assists. Not bad for an afterthought singing. I don’t think Prospal will repeat his 2005-06 season, when he tallied 80 points. But, he might come close. Playing with Gaborik, playing with an improved power play unit, he has the chance to put up monster numbers. Think 25-35-60. If the Rangers continue this roll, you can count Vinny as one of the reasons why. We hate on Glen Sather a lot. Some of it is deserved. Some of it is not. This was one of his BEST signings, and it came cheap. Way to go, Slats.
Signings | Dave, 1 Jul 10 | 
Comments (8) 
Loading ...
