When springtime comes in the NHL, there are three types of hockey clubs. The club that is trying to make the Stanley Cup Finals, the club that is aiming to win the Stanley Cup Finals, and the club with rebuilding in its immediate future.
The Rangers are beginning to look like a club with an outside chance of winning the Stanley Cup Finals. For the last month, they have quietly been putting together the quietest streak in hockey. The Rangers have taken points from their last 13 matches, winning 6 of those outright, and another 3 in shootouts. The streak has seen the Rangers into 6th place in the Eastern Conference on 83 points and vaulted them into direct contention with the best teams in the east trailing conference leaders New Jersey Devils by
The big knocks against this Rangers team have been a lack of consistency, and a lack of production from its star players. It would seem that these deficiencies have been addressed. The streak itself is a testament to the improved quality of the Rangers' play as a club. Chris Drury, a high-priced free agent signing from Buffalo, had been having a difficult year. He is now tied for the club lead in goals with Brendan Shanahan with 22. Steady contributions from star players Scott Gomez, Jaromir Jagr, Martin Straka, Shanahan, defenseman Michael Rozsival, goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and Drury are providing a steady base for consistent results.
In addition, a number of the Rangers' recently promoted young players, such as Brandon Dubinsky, Nigel Dawes, Ryan Callahan, Marc Staal, and Dan Girardi, are stepping up with meaningful contributions in goal production and defensive play.
Sean Avery is 8th in scoring in team with 13 goals and 28 points. He is not simply around to dust it up with the leagues menacing agitators. Similarly, Colton Orr provides the same sort of police work for his teams' star players in addition to a supremely high work rate featuring tireless effort and two-way hockey. Blair Betts is a faceoff specialist and is also a top rate penalty killer for the Rangers.
The pieces are starting to fit together more closely and efficiently. The players believe in the system implemented by coach Tom Renney, and assistants Perry Pearn, Benoit Allaire, and Mike Pelino. The plans drawn on the training room white board are starting to become concrete reality.
The quietest streak in hockey, may end up yielding some Stanley Cup results that are anything but quiet.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Metro: Pay No Attention to the Man Behind The Curtain
(The club I refer to as Metro was formerly known as MetroStars. I will not call the club that I've so closely followed since 1996 by the name of a soft drink. Nor will I buy any of the current merchandise that has the logo of said soft drink company on it.)
Life at Metro seems like the same thing every year. The coach changes, some players change, Metro crash out of US Open Cup, fail to make MLS Cup playoffs, or more recently make the MLS Cup playoffs and crash out in round one. There are promises made in the preseason, and most of these are not kept. Players are waived, players are signed or promoted. Result: Same old nothing.
The club has two of the best strikers playing domestic football in America - Juan Pablo Angel, and Josmer Altidore. It is likely some goals will come. The question is how many goals will Metro score, and can the defense post clean sheets. These are excellent questions, and time will show the results.
The current coach Juan Carlos Osorio, has promised upgrades to the team at attacking midfield, left wing, and center back. Mr. Osorio comes to the club with a wealth of experience gained in England, South America, and was coach of the Chicago Fire last year in MLS.
The last three coaches the club dismissed were: Bruce Arena - former USA coach, Mo Johnston - Scottish football legend, and Bob Bradley - the current USA coach.
Currently there are two players from last years squad who retired from football, Ronald Waterreus, and Markus Schopp. There are twelve players who have been released or traded. Clint Mathis (To L.A. Galaxy for a 3rd round draft pick, Clint soon left the Galaxy and signed with Greek club Ergotelis.), Dema Kovalenko (To Real Salt Lake for an undisclosed draft pick), Francis Doe (The 20 year-old forward was re-signed by the club and then waived), Santino Quaranta, Joe Vide (Expansion Draft), Elie Ikangu, Chris Karcz, Randi Patterson, Sal Caccavale, and Blake Camp. So twelve players out, who will replace them?
Metro added three players in the MLS SuperDraft, and four in the Supplemental Draft. Respectively: Eric Brunner, Luke Sassano, David Roth, Danliegh Borman, Michael Palacio, John Gilkerson, and Laurent Manuel. Manuel was released, Roth has been injured and has had surgery, he will be out 3-4 months.
The club signed free agent goalkeeper Zach Thornton (A former MetroStar) from Colorado. Mike Magee, a long time member of the squad had surgery at the end of January and is expected to be out six weeks.
So far my tally has twelve players gone (I don't think Manuel was ever signed.), two players injured, no draft picks signed, and one free agent signing in.
The response to this is that Mr. Osorio wants to sign Luis Carlos Cabezas. He is 21 years-old and has been developed by Columbian club Deportivo Cali. He has played for Columbia at youth level and was loaned last season to Cordoba FC of the Columbian second division. Since Mr. Osorio's interest in Cabezas, nothing else has been heard regarding the player moving to Metro.
Mr. Osorio has also considered signing Oscar Echeverry. The 30 year-old Columbian forward has joined this years training camp. He has played at Millionarios, Deportivo Cali, Deportivo Pasto, Once Caldas, ,Deportivo Pereira, and Caracas FC (Venezuela). There has been no official announcement of Echeverry's signing. It seems he has only signed a trial agreement with Metro.
Also being considered is Jesus Mendoza, a 28 year-old Mexican striker, who is viewed as a potential left wing.
At this point the facts say eighteen players currently under contract, thirteen gone from the squad, One Supplemental Draft pick released, six unsigned draft picks and one injured contracted player, and one injured player out of contract.
In terms of incoming players we have one free agent goalkeeper, some trialists, and lots of rumors. The season is quickly approaching. Salary cap room has been cleared.
At present it would seem the current squad is likely to do perhaps as well as or maybe not quite as good as last season.
Time will show if Mr. Osorio is worth the first round draft pick he cost to sign as manager, and if help in the form of new signings is on the way.
The supporters of Metro have seen 12 years of disappointment. They are hungry for hope, but highly skeptical of club announcements that proclaim better days ahead.
Mr. Osorio's managerial pedigree is impressive, and he produced dramatic improvement at Chicago Fire last year. Will he and the club come through with the new signings? Is Juan Carlos Osorio merely the man behind the soft drink company's curtain, or is he the great and powerful Wizard of East Rutherford? Stay tuned.
Life at Metro seems like the same thing every year. The coach changes, some players change, Metro crash out of US Open Cup, fail to make MLS Cup playoffs, or more recently make the MLS Cup playoffs and crash out in round one. There are promises made in the preseason, and most of these are not kept. Players are waived, players are signed or promoted. Result: Same old nothing.
The club has two of the best strikers playing domestic football in America - Juan Pablo Angel, and Josmer Altidore. It is likely some goals will come. The question is how many goals will Metro score, and can the defense post clean sheets. These are excellent questions, and time will show the results.
The current coach Juan Carlos Osorio, has promised upgrades to the team at attacking midfield, left wing, and center back. Mr. Osorio comes to the club with a wealth of experience gained in England, South America, and was coach of the Chicago Fire last year in MLS.
The last three coaches the club dismissed were: Bruce Arena - former USA coach, Mo Johnston - Scottish football legend, and Bob Bradley - the current USA coach.
Currently there are two players from last years squad who retired from football, Ronald Waterreus, and Markus Schopp. There are twelve players who have been released or traded. Clint Mathis (To L.A. Galaxy for a 3rd round draft pick, Clint soon left the Galaxy and signed with Greek club Ergotelis.), Dema Kovalenko (To Real Salt Lake for an undisclosed draft pick), Francis Doe (The 20 year-old forward was re-signed by the club and then waived), Santino Quaranta, Joe Vide (Expansion Draft), Elie Ikangu, Chris Karcz, Randi Patterson, Sal Caccavale, and Blake Camp. So twelve players out, who will replace them?
Metro added three players in the MLS SuperDraft, and four in the Supplemental Draft. Respectively: Eric Brunner, Luke Sassano, David Roth, Danliegh Borman, Michael Palacio, John Gilkerson, and Laurent Manuel. Manuel was released, Roth has been injured and has had surgery, he will be out 3-4 months.
The club signed free agent goalkeeper Zach Thornton (A former MetroStar) from Colorado. Mike Magee, a long time member of the squad had surgery at the end of January and is expected to be out six weeks.
So far my tally has twelve players gone (I don't think Manuel was ever signed.), two players injured, no draft picks signed, and one free agent signing in.
The response to this is that Mr. Osorio wants to sign Luis Carlos Cabezas. He is 21 years-old and has been developed by Columbian club Deportivo Cali. He has played for Columbia at youth level and was loaned last season to Cordoba FC of the Columbian second division. Since Mr. Osorio's interest in Cabezas, nothing else has been heard regarding the player moving to Metro.
Mr. Osorio has also considered signing Oscar Echeverry. The 30 year-old Columbian forward has joined this years training camp. He has played at Millionarios, Deportivo Cali, Deportivo Pasto, Once Caldas, ,Deportivo Pereira, and Caracas FC (Venezuela). There has been no official announcement of Echeverry's signing. It seems he has only signed a trial agreement with Metro.
Also being considered is Jesus Mendoza, a 28 year-old Mexican striker, who is viewed as a potential left wing.
At this point the facts say eighteen players currently under contract, thirteen gone from the squad, One Supplemental Draft pick released, six unsigned draft picks and one injured contracted player, and one injured player out of contract.
In terms of incoming players we have one free agent goalkeeper, some trialists, and lots of rumors. The season is quickly approaching. Salary cap room has been cleared.
At present it would seem the current squad is likely to do perhaps as well as or maybe not quite as good as last season.
Time will show if Mr. Osorio is worth the first round draft pick he cost to sign as manager, and if help in the form of new signings is on the way.
The supporters of Metro have seen 12 years of disappointment. They are hungry for hope, but highly skeptical of club announcements that proclaim better days ahead.
Mr. Osorio's managerial pedigree is impressive, and he produced dramatic improvement at Chicago Fire last year. Will he and the club come through with the new signings? Is Juan Carlos Osorio merely the man behind the soft drink company's curtain, or is he the great and powerful Wizard of East Rutherford? Stay tuned.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
NY Rangers Hockey Club: Deadline Day 2008
With less than an hour left in the 2008 NHL Trade Deadline, it would appear that the New York Rangers had no interest of making a deal for former Buffalo defenseman Brian Campbell. Campbell was traded to San Jose this morning, so either Rangers General Manager Glen Sather wasn't even pursuing Campbell, or the asking price was too high. Certainly Campbell could've helped the Rangers' defensemen get younger and better.
As well as right wing Jaromir Jagr has been playing of late, I wonder if he could even have been moved in a trade today. I doubt most clubs would be interested in touching his $8 million in salary, with salary cap strictures being so severe. Even considering the salary matter with Jagr, at the age of 36 he wouldn't have been enough to command a good young player, and/or a teams first round draft pick. This creates a considerable problem for the Rangers as it's likely that Jagr will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He will be out of contract, and there is no guarantee that he will re-sign with the Rangers. The Rangers may lose his services and get nothing in return. If the club does re-sign him, I believe that they would be foolish to do so unless it is at a substantial salary reduction. $8 million players score fifty goals or better and are leaders on and off the ice. Jagr has not produced either the fifty goals, or the on/off ice leadership. In fairness to Jagr he is second on the Rangers in scoring with 17 goals and 55 points. With Scott Gomez and Chris Drury producing at about the same level and at similar salaries, it would seem to be wise to offload one of these superstar salaries, and Jagr being the oldest, would be the logical choice to go. Also Henrik Lundquist has been re-signed at nearly $7 million per. Jagr, Lundqvist, Drury, and Gomez account for roughly $28 million in salary cap space out of approximately $54 million for the Rangers. That's nearly 52% of the cap space for four players. This is a situation that doesn't necessarily have to be addressed at the trade deadline, but it will certainly have to be addressed soon. Mr. Sather is a savvy veteran of the boardroom, and is no doubt acutely aware of this.
Mr. Sather may feel the club is in a position to not have to make trades, as over the past few years he has loaded up on prospects, some (Brandon Dubinski, Ryan Callahan, Nigel Dawes, Dan Girardi, Marc Staal) Who have begun to show their great promise already. There are more talented youngsters where they came from at Hartford, and also at college, junior and european clubs.
Roughly ten minutes before the deadline, the Rangers dealt a fourth round draft pick to St. Louis for 27 year-old defenseman Christian Backman. He has 228 NHL games under his belt, and averaged about nineteen minutes a game for the Blues. This will help the Rangers in both the short and long term, as regular defenseman Paul Mara will be out two weeks due to an injury requiring facial surgery.
In a deadline deal the Rangers traded goaltender Al Montoya, and forward Marcel Hossa to Phoenix for forwards Fredrik Sjostrom, Josh Gratton, and goaltender David Leneveu. Montoya, 23, played in 119 matches for the Hartford Wolf Pack winning 66. He played in 12 Calder Cup matches for the Wolf Pack winning 5. Marcel Hossa, 26, played in 223 NHL matches scoring 31 goals. Sjostrom, 24, has played in 231 NHL matches scoring 32 goals. Gratton, 25, has played in 67 NHL matches scoring 2 goals and totaling 237 minutes in penalties. Leneveu, 24, has played in 21 NHL matches winning 5. Leneveu's AHL career includes 172 matches winning 59.
This year, Mr. Sather's shrewdness has gained the Rangers a five-year NHL veteran defender who makes steady contributions for a draft pick that might not even produce an NHL player. The Blueshirts have also gained 3 promising young players from Phoenix Coyotes, for the price of 2. Well played Mr. Sather, well played. The impact of these acquisitions may be felt this season. For certain another girder has been fastened in the architecture of the monster team the Rangers are slowly becoming.
As well as right wing Jaromir Jagr has been playing of late, I wonder if he could even have been moved in a trade today. I doubt most clubs would be interested in touching his $8 million in salary, with salary cap strictures being so severe. Even considering the salary matter with Jagr, at the age of 36 he wouldn't have been enough to command a good young player, and/or a teams first round draft pick. This creates a considerable problem for the Rangers as it's likely that Jagr will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He will be out of contract, and there is no guarantee that he will re-sign with the Rangers. The Rangers may lose his services and get nothing in return. If the club does re-sign him, I believe that they would be foolish to do so unless it is at a substantial salary reduction. $8 million players score fifty goals or better and are leaders on and off the ice. Jagr has not produced either the fifty goals, or the on/off ice leadership. In fairness to Jagr he is second on the Rangers in scoring with 17 goals and 55 points. With Scott Gomez and Chris Drury producing at about the same level and at similar salaries, it would seem to be wise to offload one of these superstar salaries, and Jagr being the oldest, would be the logical choice to go. Also Henrik Lundquist has been re-signed at nearly $7 million per. Jagr, Lundqvist, Drury, and Gomez account for roughly $28 million in salary cap space out of approximately $54 million for the Rangers. That's nearly 52% of the cap space for four players. This is a situation that doesn't necessarily have to be addressed at the trade deadline, but it will certainly have to be addressed soon. Mr. Sather is a savvy veteran of the boardroom, and is no doubt acutely aware of this.
Mr. Sather may feel the club is in a position to not have to make trades, as over the past few years he has loaded up on prospects, some (Brandon Dubinski, Ryan Callahan, Nigel Dawes, Dan Girardi, Marc Staal) Who have begun to show their great promise already. There are more talented youngsters where they came from at Hartford, and also at college, junior and european clubs.
Roughly ten minutes before the deadline, the Rangers dealt a fourth round draft pick to St. Louis for 27 year-old defenseman Christian Backman. He has 228 NHL games under his belt, and averaged about nineteen minutes a game for the Blues. This will help the Rangers in both the short and long term, as regular defenseman Paul Mara will be out two weeks due to an injury requiring facial surgery.
In a deadline deal the Rangers traded goaltender Al Montoya, and forward Marcel Hossa to Phoenix for forwards Fredrik Sjostrom, Josh Gratton, and goaltender David Leneveu. Montoya, 23, played in 119 matches for the Hartford Wolf Pack winning 66. He played in 12 Calder Cup matches for the Wolf Pack winning 5. Marcel Hossa, 26, played in 223 NHL matches scoring 31 goals. Sjostrom, 24, has played in 231 NHL matches scoring 32 goals. Gratton, 25, has played in 67 NHL matches scoring 2 goals and totaling 237 minutes in penalties. Leneveu, 24, has played in 21 NHL matches winning 5. Leneveu's AHL career includes 172 matches winning 59.
This year, Mr. Sather's shrewdness has gained the Rangers a five-year NHL veteran defender who makes steady contributions for a draft pick that might not even produce an NHL player. The Blueshirts have also gained 3 promising young players from Phoenix Coyotes, for the price of 2. Well played Mr. Sather, well played. The impact of these acquisitions may be felt this season. For certain another girder has been fastened in the architecture of the monster team the Rangers are slowly becoming.
First Verse
What I like to do is write about games. Whether it's team games, video games, or political games, I can be expected to offer reasonably intelligent commentary. Hopefully those of you with twitchy typing fingers, a handy internet connection, and the burning desire to read about these things will enjoy reading what I have to write.
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