 |
|
How Do The Rangers Match Up In The Atlantic ?
Posted by ≡ - July 23, 2008
Let me start off by saying I am not a fan of Sather. Although he went into the Hall of Fame with Trottier and Lemieux in 1997, that was for his work with the Oilers. He seems to have trouble dealing with people. Just look at the Leetch fiasco--bonus money with Ortmeyer and Holik---and this offseason with Jagr and Shanahan. Avery left for less than 1 million a season as he wanted as much money as he could get, that's on Avery. Since the NHL has come back, Sather has done a gradual job of making the Rangers better each year. Last season, Sather signed Gomez and Drury for a reason, to be the leaders.
I agree with letting Jagr walk, so that the new Rangers core group of Drury, Gomez, Henrik, Staal, Dubinsky, and Rozsival can take this team to the next level. Ranger fans are going to enjoy the speed, skill, and athleticism flying around on the ice this season with the additions of Naslund, Zherdev, and others. Any team that will try to rough up the Ranger skill players on the top 3 lines will have to deal with the Orr, Voros, Betts, and Fritsche rotation. As of now, this version of the Rangers is the 2nd youngest that will be in the NHL this season. In the "NEW NHL", organizational depth is most important, as the Ranger core will stay while some of the others will change on a yearly basis.
Pittsburgh went for it all last year and lost to the dominate Red Wings squad. The Penquins will have the same strength in goal and defensemen, but are weaker up front. They Hossa, Malone, Roberts(leadership), and the strength of Laraque and Ruutu. The players they have added are not close to the players that have moved on to other teams. Satan, Fedetenko, and Godard are a far less talented and tough group than what they lost. I also look for a letdown from being so close with better players last year, but yet so far.
Philadelphia went from worst to a top contender. The Flyers problem last year was a very immobile defense and questionable goaltending. They lost Smith and only added Eminger while they kept the same goalies at this time. Lost from last year at forward are Kapanen, Prospal, and most of all Umberger. Added to this years team is Metropolit which won't be enough to balance out the loses.
It seems that out on the Island they are now doing what the Rangers did coming out of the work stoppage, LETTING THE KIDS PLAY. They have added a good character guy this year in Weight, who is on the same page with Isles captain Guerin. The signing of Streit was a great steal for the Isles and he will head up their powerplay. The above stated veterans along with Witt and Sutton will be the heartbeat of the club while they bring along the kids like Okposo, Comeau, Campoli, Tambellini, and others. Between the pipes the Isles have their franchise goalie in DiPietro. DP gives the Isles a chance to win every time he is between the pipes and this year they have added Danis to supply a solid choice for DP's rest day. The Islanders should look at Mike Haviland to coach the Isles into the future. Haviland has been a winner at all levels of hockey including JR's, ECHL, and AHL and would be perfect for an NHL job at this moment.
The Devils franchise(in it's 4th city--2nd in NJ), has again become a laughable program. The great Gretz once called them a "MICKEY MOUSE TEAM" and they now seem to be headed back to those old ways. It is fitting Gretzky called them a cartoon character because the devils GM looks like Elmer FUDD and has made some comical signings/non signings since the NHL has come back 3 years ago. The arena that was built, in Newark no less, has already been shut down due to endangering the welfare of all attending, a coach has already said to watch your wallets outside the arena on national TV, an assistant coach/head coach has been on a Yo-Yo for years and just stepped down AGAIN, and the list goes on and on.
Players that were the reason for the cups won in the past have gone running within the last 3 years. Gone are Neidermayer, Rafalski, and Gomez(2 already won cups and the 3rd knocked them out of the playoffs last year). Their future hall of fame goalie has shown no character by playing too many regular season games and tiring in the playoffs and marrying what some are reporting as his sister in law. One of their retired numbered players has been arrested more than once for DUI and yet does a between period show from a bar.
The Devils haven't gotten a free agent in the last 3 years that hasn't been a bust,a retread or an AHL level player. Even players that have been devils are making sure they get NTC or NMC because of what their GM Fudd has done to the careers of Marshall, Matvichuk, Luckowich, and others. The organization playerwise is in shambles. The devilz AHL team in Lowell was has been filled with ex-NHL plyers and old AHL players without any chance to make it to the NHL. The ECHL affiliate is getting kicked out of their building in Trenton after this coming year. The devils have become worse than what the Rangers were during the dark years before the strike.
The Division prediction is as follows:
1st-- New York Rangers- the combination of experienced youth, speed, and skill is deadly in the "NEW NHL"
2nd--Pittsburgh- Good core group but lost key players, lost leadership, and watch for a letdown this season.
3rd--Philadelphia- Still in need of a bigtime goalie and quicker reacting defensemen.
4th--Islanders-Year 1 of youth movement under Snow--expect alot of excitement on the Island
5th--NJ- the NHL will pass them and they will refuse to keep up.
|
Additional stories from this Author:
|
| | |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Ͼ UPCOMING SCHEDULE |
|
Thursday Sep 23rd
7:00pm - Home
PRESEASON
|
|
|
Saturday Sep 25th
7:00pm - Road
PRESEASON
|
|
|
Sunday Sep 26th
5:00pm - Road
PRESEASON
|
|
|
Wednesday Sep 29th
7:00pm - Home
PRESEASON
|
|
|
Friday Oct 1st
7:00pm - Home
PRESEASON
|
|
|
Complete Schedule
|
|
| April 11th, 2010 |
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
O |
SO |
T |
| Rangers |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Flyers |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 2nd, 2010
Who has played 100+ games for the Rangers, Devils and Islanders?
Answer...
|
|
|
| ‡ STANDINGS |
| |
Team |
GP |
W |
L |
OT |
Pts |
|
| |
Capitals |
82 |
54 |
15 |
13 |
121 |
|
| |
Devils |
82 |
48 |
27 |
7 |
103 |
|
| |
Sabres |
82 |
45 |
27 |
10 |
100 |
|
| |
Penguins |
82 |
47 |
28 |
7 |
101 |
|
| |
Senators |
82 |
44 |
32 |
6 |
94 |
|
| |
Bruins |
82 |
39 |
30 |
13 |
91 |
|
| |
Flyers |
82 |
41 |
35 |
6 |
88 |
|
| |
Canadiens |
82 |
39 |
33 |
10 |
88 |
|
| |
Rangers |
82 |
38 |
33 |
11 |
87 |
|
| |
Thrashers |
82 |
35 |
34 |
13 |
83 |
|
| |
Hurricanes |
82 |
35 |
37 |
10 |
80 |
|
| |
Lightning |
82 |
34 |
36 |
12 |
80 |
|
| |
Islanders |
82 |
34 |
37 |
11 |
79 |
|
| |
Panthers |
82 |
32 |
37 |
13 |
77 |
|
| |
Maple Leafs |
82 |
30 |
38 |
14 |
74 |
|
| FULL STANDINGS |
|
|
| ? RANDOM RANGER |
|
 |
ROBERT MCDONALD
(1943-1944)
|
| |
Born: |
January 4, 1923 |
|
| |
Position: |
Right Wing |
|
| |
Games: |
1 |
|
| |
Goals: |
0 |
|
| |
Assists: |
0 |
|
| |
Points: |
0 |
|
| |
PIMs: |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
