2008-09 NY Rangers Outlook

2008-09 NY Rangers Outlook
By Joe DeAngelis

The New York Rangers have just concluded pre-season training camp at their state-of-the-art MSG Training Center facility in Tarrytown, NY preparing to embark on another grueling NHL campaign.

The Blueshirts will feature several prominent changes in personal, most notably in the leadership department. Gone are Jaromir Jagr, Sean Avery, Martin Straka and Fedor Tyutin, and enter Markus Naslund, Nikolai Zherdev, Patrick Rissmiller, and Wade Redden.

Wade Redden, if not the Rangers most attractive acquisition is clearly the front offices’ most responsible addition. Redden gives the team a much needed offensive presence on the blueline and veteran stability in the defensive zone, something the Rangers seriously lacked since the departure of Brain Leetch.

Team general manager Glen Sather apparently felt the time is right for the Rangers to part ways with their most expensive scoring talent in the aging Jaromir Jagr. Sather offset this significant loss with the signing of upbeat free agents LW Markus Naslund, from Vancouver and RW Nikolai Zherdev from Columbus, both been known to light the lamp regularly.

Perhaps the largest loss the Rangers suffered this off-season was losing LW Sean Avery to Dallas. His feistyness, and uncanny ability to take an opponent off his game, will surely be missed, just ask Martin Brodeur. Despite losing the antagonistic flair of Avery, the Rangers retain plenty of muscle that includes forwards Blair Betts, Coulton Orr and the newly acqured Aaron Voros.

The 2008-09 Rangers will only be as good as their goaltender Henrik Lunqvist. “Hank” is the backbone of his team, and although he is not the perfect goalie, he is more than capable of getting the job done. With apologies to Guy Hebert, it’s safe to say that Lundqvist is the Rangers finest goaltender since Mike Richter. The Swedish puck-stopper is close to becoming the standard of excellence at his position.

PRUCHA ? PRUCHA ? HAS ANYBODY SEEN PETR PRUCHA ? Will somebody please put in an order of one bounce-back year for Petr Prucha.

I anxiously await to see if the corps of youth the Rangers farmed will finally pay major dividends. Will sophomore Brandon Dubinsky continue to grow into the goal scorer the team believes he could become ? Can 6’ 05” Marc Staal make fans forget that the Rangers need a big defenseman ? Will Ryan Callahan find that fire that once propelled him in the 2006 playoffs ? I know I’m really reaching here but will 6’ 04” RW Huge Jessiman ever make varsity ?

In the years prior to the NHL salary cap era, the Rangers were heavily mocked by the hockey community for “buying” talent with their fat wallets hoping to forge success on the laurels of legendary players past. The names of Dionne, Lafleur, Gretzky and Lindros remind us all too well that buying one’s glorified history does not translate into immediate success, which brings us to Brendan Shanahan. Perhaps it’s best for Shanahan to say home this year.

I like the direction the current Rangers are going. Losing a primadonna like Jagr and an aging Brendan Shanahan along with their hefty salaries, will allow the team to acquire more gritty players who aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and go to work, for it’s this type of player (see Adam Graves) that champions are made of.

Today I launch my campaign to bring back Bobby Granger commercials, and can somebody properly explain icing to my wife , I just don’t have the words.

This is Joe DeAngelis' first piece for the TDD. An unabashed Ranger fan, Joe lives in New Jersey with his wife and two children.