Au Revoir Gomez! (One Last Good-Bye)

Just to say bye to another player that never was who he intended to be on Broadway. Gomez was brought here to be a leader, a playmaker, and a game changer. Well, he really never flourished in any of those areas of the game, and was payed to be above average in all of those areas. Scott was a great personality in the locker room, but the same could not be said about hos game, and that is not accepted by the New York fans.

Gomez will be hit hard by Montreal Media when he does not play up to expectations, and I think he sort of knows it. But this trade must have crushed Gomer, because he came to sign here to become a New York Legend, he really wanted to perform in front of the Garden crowd, but it just didn't work out that way. So another page in Ranger History turns, as the Scott Gomez era has come to an end after just two seasons.

Here was Scott's reaction on going to Montreal: "I'm happy to be going to the Mecca of hockey." I wish him luck because he will need it while playing for the hockey-obsessed Habs fans in Montreal. Au Revoir Gomer!
(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)
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ALSO, IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY, PLEASE READ POST BELOW REGARDING FREE AGENT COVERAGE ON THE RANGERS TRIBUNE TOMORROW.

Rangers Tribune Free Agency Coverage

I will be with readers ALL day long tomorrow for the free agent frenzy. There will be constant updates regarding rumors, signings, and trades concerning the Rangers and other teams as well. The 2009 NHL Free Agency Period officially kicks off at 12pm tomorrow, but my coverage here will begin bright and early in the morning, when the rumors begin to swirl around. It will surely be an exciting day tomorrow, as it always is on July 1, but it will be a bit more exciting for the Rangers this year, considering what took place today.

By this time tomorrow, I feel that the Rangers will have a big-name scorer on the roster, but that is all up to Glen Sather, who is setting himself to be liked by some fans once again.

TSN and NHL Network will be broadcasting a "Free Agent Frenzy" show which will be covering all the moves made in the league on July 1 as well. Make sure you will frequently check the Rangers Tribune as it will have all of the up-to-the-minute news and information on the biggest day of the NHL Off-Season.

A Little More on Higgins

Chris Higgins, Left Wing, is a New York Native, as he was born and raised in Smithtown on Long Island. Higgins was drafted 14th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. In 2005-06, Chris's rookie season, the young winger scored 23 goals and 15 assists for a total 28 points in 80 games played. After the rookie season, Hab fans had high hopes for this kid. Chris kept those high hopes among fans as he was consistent 20 goal-scorer for the next three seasons, but his game fell last year, as he netted just 12 goals and 11 assists.

Many say that Chris wasn't really in the position to flourish in Montreal, especially during last season, and that he has more to offer than what he did. So hopefully a new system, new faces, but a familiar home will present the 26 year-old with the opportunity to become a legitimate goal-scorer in this league, meaning that he would be able to put up 30 goals a season, and maybe around 50-60 points total.

You must remember, however, that Chris is not a Ranger just yet, just Ranger property. This is because Higgins will become a RFA tomorrow, but the Rangers can give him an offer, and hopefully he accepts. I would say he would be offered around $2.25-$2.5 million, but we will see.

More in a bit....

Chris Higgins Traded to Rangers For Scott Gomez (Update)

It is in fact true, Scott Gomez has been shipped off to the Montreal Canadians for the rights to Chris Higgins, who will become an RFA tomorrow. This is HUGE for the Rangers, as many knowledgeable hockey sources are saying that Sather "owned" the Montreal Canadians. We dump more than $7,000,000 and an under-achieving player in Gomez, and in return get a rights to a great young winger, who we don't even have to take. The main focal point in this deal is that Gomez is leaving, and taking his salary with him.

Now many believe that this is a move to set-up what will happen tomorrow, or in coming days. This clears a good chunk of cap room, and presents Sather with an opportunity to sign a big free agent such as Marian Gaborik, Marian Hossa, Mats Sundin, or maybe even set-up a trade for Heatley. This was an opportunity that Slats was presented with and he jumped all over over it, and has made a great deal. But do not expect this to be the last, as it seems Sather is not done.

It has just come to my attention that there is more to the deal. Quote from TSN:

"The Canadiens acquired centre Scott Gomez, winger Tom Pyatt and defenceman Mike Busto from the New York Rangers in exchange for winger Chris Higgins and defencemen Dpug Janik, Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko."

Wow, so it seems we got their best prospect as well. I cannot stress how good of a move this was by General Manager Glen Sather. Rangers went from a team in cap trouble, to a team that could potentialy set up to be one of the most threatening in the division. But I will not get ahead of myself here, we still need to make another move to acquire a big player. I am quite sure it will happen though.

UPDATE: I am being told that the prospect, Ryan McDonagh acquired in the trade is a very good pick-up! Scouting Report: http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/ryan_mcdonagh

Callahan, Drury, Gomez Invited to US Camp

Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, and Scott Gomez have all been invited to the United States Hockey team Camp in Chicago. Dru and Gomer have obviously been invited before, but this is a first for Cally.

More Later....
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John Tortorella's Expectations for 2009-10

If you have not viewed John Tortorella's discussion about his expectations with the media yet, I strongly suggest that you do so at the Rangers Official Website. Simply click on the title labeled "Tortorella on Opening of Prospect Camp".

Tortorella sent many messages in this interview. The first and most stressed one was concerning conditioning. He felt that the team was out of shape last season, and deemed it "unacceptable" to be tired after the first round of the playoffs. Torts continued to say that the first few days of the "Big Camp" will test to see who did their work over the summer, and who did not. Based on that, it will stand out which players want to play for the New York Rangers in 2009-10.

With that said, it leads to the next message Tortorella sent, and that was about earning your position on the team. Several times he mentioned that the roster is "wide open" and almost anyone could make the team if he sees what he likes. Now obviously he can't tell Scott Gomez or Wade Redden that they did not make the team, because of contract reasons, but he can enable younger players like Dubinsky, Callahan, Grachev, Del Zotto, Sanguinetti to play ahead of these veterans in the line-up, simply because they want it more. It is all based on "merit". Here is a quote taken from the interview expanding on this message:

"As far as the lines are concerned, as far as the makeup of our team, from Scott Gomez right on down, the only guy I know is gonna be there is Hank. He’s gonna be our starting goalie. But other than that, it’s wide open. And I’m not afraid of youth. It’s going to be done on merit,."

Tortorella then went on about the team's overall toughness, both mentally and physically. Torts felt that the Rangers of 2008-09 were "Soft Thinkers" and in order to be tough physically, a degree of mental stability and toughness must be present. Here is Tortorella further explaining that:

"Last season's team were soft thinkers. We need to grow in what we do in preparation, our practice habits, and that leads us to the game. That’s a huge part of winning, something we’re going to improve on. And if it’s not there, someone else is going to get an opportunity."

Some other topics Tortorella also touched upon within the meeting consisted of his unhappiness of how player's just live an "I want" lifestyle, instead of being aggressive, reaching out, and getting things themselves, which has a lot to do with character and personality. He also said that he cannot stress enough how important it is that they fit youngsters into the lineup next season, as that is what makes a team good long term. And he mentioned that the organization held a meeting to get everyone caught up with the overall "organizational philosophy", which made me thrilled, because it means that Glen Sather and Co. have a plan.

In totality, this was a spectacular interview, as it got all of us fans on the same page as to where Tortorella wants this team next season, and what his expectations are. So I strongly suggest that you watch the video that is made available to fans on the Rangers Official Website.

(Photo courtesy of Rangers Official Website)

Dubinsky, Callahan, Korpikoski Receive Offers (UPDATE)

Dubinsky, Callahan, and Korpikoski all received qualifying offers as per Steve Zipay at Blue Notes. I just received confirmation as well, as I have just gotten in. Here are all the details courtesy of Zipay:

"Brandon Dubinsky ($633,333), Ryan Callahan ($575,000) and Potter ($535,000) all earned less than $660,000, so the minimum raise they were due to receive was 10 percent. Boyle, obtained Saturday from Los Angeles, earned $750,000 and is due a five percent hike. Lauri Korpikoski, at $1.017 million, had to be matched. "

Just to clarify, those are not the offer values, just their current earnings. If a player chooses to reject the qualifying offer, they become free agents and other teams have the right to offer that specific player. The Rangers are then presented with the opportunity to match.
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UPDATE: Newly acquired Brian Boyle and d-man Corey Potter also received qualifying offers yesterday.

RFA Qualifying Offer Deadline...

was today at 3pm. Still no news if Callahan, Dubinsky, Korpikoski, or any other restricted free agents received any qualifying offers yet. We were told that forward Nikolai Zherdev was pitched an offer of $3.25 million from Sather, but Nik and his agent are yet to respond. Anyway, I cannot stress enough how vital it is to re-sign Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan. They are both key components in the team's future, and will flourish under Tortorella's system.

I am expecting to be hearing word of some offers either tonight or tomorrow, as there several RFA's that Glen Sather would like to bring back. I will be unavailable from 7:15 to around 9:45, so if anything happens between then, I will be unaware, but will report right when I get word. But for now, there has not been any news of offers. So we will have to hold our breath and wait for now.
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Torts to be Assistant on US Team

USA hockey announced the full coaching staff for the men's United States Hockey team in the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Here is the quote from the official olympic website:

"John Tortorella and Scott Gordon will be assistant coaches to Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson for the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, USA Hockey has announced."

Congrats to Torts, Wilson, and Gordon.

More Later.....
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Prospect Camp Starts Monday

Beginning on Monday, the Rangers will be holding their annual prospect camp for the week. This camp will determine which prospects will be tried out in the preseason and given a shot at an NHL roster spot. As per Zipay at Blue Notes, there are 26 players showing up to camp. Here is the list of prospects:

Thirteen forwards---Ryan Bourque, Max Campbell, Chris Chappell, Paul Crowder, Craig Cunningham, Trent Daavettila, Evgeny Grachev, Chris Kreider, Matt Maccarone, Luke Pither, Justin Soryal, Derek Stepan, Ethan Werek.

Nine defensemen---Luke Curadi, Mike Del Zotto, Tysen Dowzak, Mitch Gaulton, Matt Gilroy, Ilkka Heikkinen, Sammy Klassen, Tomas Kundratek, Daniel Maggio

Four goalies---Keith Kinkaid, Ben Scrivens, Scott Stajcer, Travis Yonkman

The Rangers Official Website will most likely have footage from the camp up on the site, as they did last year.

Scheduled Interview with Andrew Gross

A new feature that I am introducing on here for the coming season will be interviews with Ranger insiders. I will hope to have a new interview posted up every one to two months. To kick this new feature off, I will be interviewing Andrew Gross, author of Ranger Rants, and also writes for The Record. Andrew has kindly agreed to allow me to interview him after the free agent frenzy which is on Wednesday.

I decided to go with Andrew for the first interview on The Rangers Tribune because he is one of the most knowledgeable beat writers for the Blueshirts on the net. I will be asking his opinion on Sather's moves during the draft and free agency, his thoughts on next season's team, and what we should expect to see in 2009-10. We look forward to having a lot of fun with this new interview feature, and as always, we are thrilled to bring new features to our readers.

My target is Saturday, July 4th to have this interview posted up on the blog. I will keep updating readers on the status, but it will most likely be up by the weekend.

Zherdev Offered, Antropov Not Likely to Return

The New York Post reported today that the Glen Sather and the New York Rangers have pitched forward Nikolai Zherdev (RFA), a qualifying offer of $3.25 million. Sather went on to say that Nik's agent has not given a clear answer just yet. Now we all know how Zherdev's game faded to almost nothing down the stretch of the regular season, and was even worse in the playoffs. But those first few months where Zherdev was giving it a full effort and putting up team-leading statistics is where I believe Sather feels Nik's game can be on a consistent basis, convincing him to make a qualifying offer. On the downside, Zherdev did not play well at all under coach Tortorella's system, and was not giving it his all, and he rode the pine for 2/3 of a game because of it. Torts will obviously be coaching for this entire season, Will Zherdev find his game under the system? and will Nik make it through Totorella's well known gruesome training camps? So a lot of things remain up in the air with Zherdev right now, but we do know that there is an offer on the table to play in New York next season.

In my opinion, the offer sounds about right. Not too high where the young winger would be overpaid, and not too low where he wouldn't even consider it. If he was to accept and re-sign with the Rangers, the management and coaching staff need to have a sit down with this kid and have a talk behind closed doors, discussing what is expected of him. If you set the standards and stay on top of a kid like Zherdev, you will most likely find success in him. Nik is still very young with lots of potential, and he needs somebody to remind him once in a while about what the expectations are of him. If you ride him too much, he will not perform well, and that is what might have happened down the stretch last season.

Meanwhile, when the topic of free-agent Nik Antropov was brought up in a meeting with the press, General Manager, Glen Sather was quick to respond and say that Antropov and his agent's asking price is "ridiculous". The original rumor going around was that Antropov was looking for $3.5 -4 million, but it is now said that it is $5 million (possibly more) and long term. Sather also said that the veteran winger's agent needs be more realistic.

Getting away from Antropov himself for a moment, I am very proud of Sather for saying this and acting this way towards that offer. He is showing some stubbornness that every General Manager should, but in the past, Sather was vulnerable to signing big contracts to mediocre players, and he might have finally learned his lesson. He is showing resiliency in that he will not even consider Antropov at that price, and realizes that he would be overpaying. About time, eh?

Anyway, I agree with Slats, those demands are "ridiculous". Antropov is a good player with size and goal-scoring abillities, but he is too old and not so fast, and should not have the thought that he is worth $5 million plus, that is simply outrageous. Good luck to him to trying to find a team that will buy him at that token.

Sather Speaks Out

Courtesy of Steve Zipay at Blue Notes, here are some quotes from Glen Sather regarding free agent Nikolai Zherdev and some of the future defencemen that we can expect to see in Ranger Blue in coming seasons.

On Defensive Prospects: "who are knocking on the door: Gilroy, Sanguinetti, Del Zotto, Sauer and Potter...and we have to start making room for our young guys."

On Nikolai Zherdev: "He might not take the (qualifying) offer. His agent's kind of tough to get a straight answer from...It depends. he's still a young guy. He's got to be a little more determined."

Sather also continued to say that Blair Betts will probably be approached by the Edmonton Oilers, and some teams will be approaching Sjostrom as well. If neither are re-signed, it will hurt our penalty kill for sure, but it will make roster space for youngsters ready for the NHL level.
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Rangers Trade 2010 3rd Rounder for Brian Boyle

During the draft today, Glen Sather and the Rangers traded their third round draft pick in 2010 to the Los Angeles Kings for 6-7, 250-pound forward Brian Boyle. Boyle, 24, was picked 26th in the 2003 draft. Brian was 10-11-21 for the Manchester Monarchs last season.

Rangers Second through Seventh Rounders

Follow this post for all of the Rangers' second through seventh round picks.

47th Overall- Ethan Werek: From what I hear, he is a pretty good center. PROFILE

80th Overall- Ryan Bourque: Son of NHL Legend Ray. PROFILE

127th Overall- Roman Horak: PROFILE

140th Overall- Scott Stajcer: PROFILE

170th Overall- Daniel Maggio: PROFILE

200th Overall- Mikhail Pashnin: PROFILE

Slats to Take Another Run at Heatley?

Darren Dreger of TSN is reporting that the Rangers will attempt to take another run at acquiring forward Dany Heatley from the Ottawa Senators today. Sather was spotted last night talking to Senators General Manager, Bryan Murray, on the draft floor. It didn't seem like it went anywhere as Murray returned to his draft table and just shook his head at his front office who were seated at the table.

From what I am hearing, Ottawa wants three position players, and the Rangers don't want to give that much up. When asked if his high price would be lowered for Heatley to get rid of him, Murray responded by saying that he will not lower the standards, and will expect Heatley to be playing for his club next season if he cannot trade him.

So we will see how it plays out, but I still think there is a possibility that Murray lowers the price, because it has been dead, and he has not been receiving many offers. Murray isn't ready to admit it yet because he probably thinks he can still get three positional players. Maybe he will consider some picks, and the Rangers have seven more of those to offer.
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Rangers Go for Speed in First Round

The TSN Broadcasters mentioned several times that Chris Kreider was the best skating prospect in the 2009 Entry Draft, and that could very well be the main reason why Sather and Company chose to draft Chris in the first round (19th overall) in Montreal last night. There is a complete scouting report for Kreider in my Draft Thread (below), but Kreider's best weapon in his arsenal is his skating. Scouts say it takes just one to two strides for Chris to hit full speed. Kreider has a fairly big frame and uses that to his advantage in the corners and in front of the net. Chris has decent dangling abilities as well.

The Entry Draft will continue today with rounds 2-7 being completed. At the day's end, I will be posting all of the Rangers' picks with a scouting report. Also, check out my draft thread in the post below, recapping all of the events from an exciting first round in Montreal last night.
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2009 NHL Entry Draft Thread

***Rangers Pick Chris Kreider, Read about Kreider Below***
During the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft tonight, I will be updating this thread frequently with all of the picks, trade rumors, and other news from Montreal. This coverage will begin at 7pm, the same time the draft kicks off. As far as previews go, NHL Network is holding one at 6pm on their network, and I believe TSN has some stuff up as well. It will be a very exciting night, especially with the hockey-obsessed Montreal crowd on hand. Let's keep our fingers crossed the Rangers can get a good prospect. When it comes to the Rangers picking, I will immediately post a scouting report with links in this thread, describing the newly drafted Blueshirt. See you at 7 sharp, and feel free to leave comments!

Draft is being televised on all three of TSN, Versus(TSN Feed), and the NHL Network.

Draft Selections
First Overall (NYI)- John Tavares
Second Overall (TBL)- Victor Hedman
Third Overall (COL)- Matt Duchene
Fourth Overall (ATL)- Evander Kane
Fifth Overall (LAK)- Brayden Schenn
Sixth Overall(PHO)- Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Seventh Overall(TOR)- Nazem Kadri
Eighth Overall(DAL)- Scott Glennie
Ninth Overall(OTT)- Jared Cowen
Tenth Overall(EDM)- Magnus Paarvi-Svensson
Eleventh Overall(NSH)- Ryan Ellis
Twelvth Overall(NYI)- Calvin DeHaan
Thirteenth Overall(BUF)- Zack Kassian
Fourteenth Overall(FLA)- Dmitri Kulikov
Fifteenth Overall(ANA)- Peter Holland
Sixteenth Overall(MIN)- Nick Leddy
Seventeenth Overall(STL)- David Rundblad
Eighteenth Overall(MTL)- Louis Leblanc
Nineteenth Overall(NYR)- Chris Kreider: Great pick for the Rangers, probably the best skater in the whole draft. Welcome to New York Chris. My scouting report on Kreider: http://www.rangerstribune.com/2009/06/prospect-profile-chris-kreider.html
Twentieth Overall(NJD)- Jacob Josefson
Twenty-first Overall(CBJ)- John Moore
Twenty-second Overall(VAN)- Jordan Schroeder
Twenty-third Overall(CGY)- Tim Erixon
Twenty-fourth Overall(WSH)- Marcus Johansson
Twenty-fifth Overall(BOS)- Jordan Caron
Twenty-sixth Overall(ANA)- Kyle Palmieri
Twenty-seventh Overall(CAR)- Philippe Paradis
Twenty-eighth Overall(CHI)- Dylan Olsen
Twenty-ninth Overall(TBL)- Carter Ashton
Thirtieth Overall(PIT)- Simon Despres


Trades
**Trade Alert** Chris Pronger traded to Philadelphia Flyers for Lupul, Sbisa, and 2 first rounders, a third.. (Philly overpaid in my opinion, but Philly's defence gets that much better)

**Trade Alert** Isles trade picks 26, third and fourth rounders to Blue Jackets in order to get 16th and 77th picks.

**Trade Alert** Minny trades pick 12 to Isles for 26, 181, and one more.

**Trade Alert** Devils get 20th pick for some later picks from Calgary.

**Trade Alert** Anaheim trades 21st pick for a 26th and and a second rounder.

**Trade Alert** Red Wings trade 29th pick to Tampa Bay Lightning for 32nd and 75th picks.


UPDATES
7:32pm- Things are going as planned so far, Tavares and Hedman going first and second. Expecting Duchene to go third to Colorado here.

7:39pm- Tavares, Hedman, and Duchene go one, two, and three, just as planned.

7:53pm- Continues to go as planned, expecting Schenn to go next.

7:58pm- Top 5 go as planned.

8:12pm- Burke doing a lot of trade talk on the floor. Suprised he mic'd up.

8:25pm- Now that Glennie has been picked early, that means that someone that was ranked in top 10 will slide a bit. Possible trade up for Slats and the Rangers??

9:05pm- Kassian has been picked, so he is off the list for the Blueshirts. I guess the Rangers will not be trading up.

9:16pm- Sather spotted talking with OTT GM, Bryan Murray. Heatley talk?

9:17pm- Rangers up in two, Jordan Schroeder still available, that would be a steal!

9:49pm- Great pick in Chris Kreider, best skater in the draft!

10:09pm- Schroeder picked by Luongo.

10:40pm- Here is our boy, courtesy of the Rangers Official Website:

2009 Draft Coverage/ Prospect Profiles

The awaited 2009 NHL Entry Draft has finally approached us, as it will kick off around 6pm tonight in Montreal. Round 1 will be completed tonight, and rounds 2-7 will finalize the draft on Saturday. The Rangers Tribune will be updating throughout the first round of the draft, and then coverage will just consist of posts informing readers about picks that the Blueshirts make, and a brief scouting report. Then tomorrow morning, I will make a post analyzing the Rangers moves through Round One, and the same will be posted sometime Saturday Night analyzing rounds 2-7.

As many of you are already aware, I have been posting Prospect Profiles over the last week, scouting possible Ranger Picks in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The Prospects/Links are listed below.

- Zack Kassian

- Chris Kreider

- Carter Ashton

- Jacob Josefson

- Drew Shore

- Landon Ferraro

- Louis Leblanc

- Peter Holland

Around the NHL: Kaberle Traded?

As per the Toronto Sun, Maple Leafs defencemen, Tomas Kaberle has been traded, but no further details have been released at this time. There were earlier reports that several teams put offers on the table for the all-star d-man, apparently one of them was taken by Toronto General Manager, Brian Burke.

Hopefully more details will be released in the morning...
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NHLPA Votes for Escalator

It was announced today that the NHLPA has voted for the escalator on the salary cap for next year. This is good news (especially for the Rangers), as it means that the 2009-10 cap will only have a difference of a few hundred-thousand dollars from last year's cap. This from Larry Brooks:

"The NHL players union has voted to trigger the 5-percent escalator on the 2009-10 salary cap, The Post has learned.

This means that the 2009-10 cap will remain within a couple of hundred thousand dollars of last season’s figure of $56.7 million."

More Later, Heatley rumor continues to heat up....

"Huge Deal" In the Works?

Many sources other than just Eklund (Hockeybuzz) are reporting that the Rangers are in the process of closing a "huge deal". None have said specifically who this deal is for, but it could be Heatley, maybe even Lecavalier. I will be sure to keep you posted....

BTW, it is up on Hockeybuzz now, just follow the link above. And this is supposedly not coming directly from Eklund, it is coming from people "in" with the Rangers.

More Heatley Talk (UPDATE: Dreger Confirms Rangers in Hunt)

As the days dwindle down to Bryan Murray's "deadline" to trade Dany Heatley upon request, the rumors have been heating up, and many have included the New York Rangers. Bryan Murray, Ottawa Senators General Manager, would like to have Heatley traded by the beginning of free agency period, which is obviously July 1, because that is when the Senators will owe Heatley $4m up front for the $8m that is due to Dany for last season. Now according to several sources, the Rangers are on the list of Heatley's teams that he would prefer to be traded here. Whether this s true or not has yet to be mentioned by the star winger, but most fans here would love to Heatley in Ranger Blue, as he could be the desperately needed sniper/goal-scorer.

According to the Ottawa Sun, other teams that were submitted to Murray by agent J.P. Barry (Jagr's former agent) were the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins. So that leaves a lot of options for the Senators front office. If Heatley was to be traded, which many speculate, sources are saying we would involve Rozsival, Zherdev, and a first or second round draft pick. In my opinion, this would be a great deal. You get rid of five million in Rozsival, yes it hurts losing a first rounder, but not as much Zherdev (some may disagree) and you get an eight million dollar player who will be well worth every cent of it.

Heatley is a pure goal-scorer, and everyone knows it. At one point, the skilled winger had two back-to-back 50 goal seasons for the Senators, which would put him in the top ten in the league in scoring every season if he was consistent here. Also, a lot of people talk about the risk of bringing Marian Gaborik here because he is so injury prone, well, Heatley has missed under 20 games in the last three seasons, which makes him a very durable player, and that is also due to his size.

In totality, I am all for bringing all-star Dany Heatley to New York if it only means losing Rozsival, Zherdev, and a pick. Heatley is consistent, and you know exactly what you are going to get out of him, and that is a quality that many players on the current Ranger team lack. It is also said that Murray will be talking trade during this weekend, so hopefully progress will be made there.

(Photo courtesy of nhlsnipers.com)

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UPDATE: Darren Dreger (TSN) confirmed that the Rangers are in the hunt for Heatley, along with the Sharks and Oilers. He made the announcement via radio on Wednesday.

TOR Claims Redden Rumor False (UPDATE)

The rumor claiming that Toronto was interested in Rangers defenceman, Wade Redden was pronounced false by Darren Dreger of TSN, who spoke with Toronto representatives. Dreger asked about the rumor and the Maple Leafs immediately claimed it false and that it was not true. So evidently the rumor that all of us Ranger fans were happy to see this morning has no significance and it doesn't look like Wade Redden and his 6.5 million are going anywhere.

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that Dreger reported this on NHL Live during a phone conference, earlier this afternoon.

More Later....

Redden to be Traded to Toronto?

A Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, had a story today regarding the Toronto Maple Leafs and what moves their General Manager, Brian Burke is looking to make. Well, besides mentioning moving up in the draft to acquire Tavares, Burke said that trade talk has been going very well for him too. The newspaper followed that up by saying that there are two players believed to be on Burke's wanted list when considering trading, and one of those players was our very own Wade Redden. Here is a section taken from the article:

"There is belief the Maple Leafs have been zeroing in on New York Rangers defenceman Wade Redden and forward Peter Schaefer of the Boston Bruins.

But if the Leafs have interest in Redden, it means Burke must be serious about trading away either Tomas Kaberle or Pavel Kubina. The two veteran defenceman have no-trade contracts, but a window in which they can be traded opens when the draft commences on Friday."

This is very good news for Ranger fans if it actually happens. First off, the article is saying that the Leafs are approaching the Rangers about Redden, the circumstance is not the Rangers approaching Toronto about getting rid of Redden. So that means Burke is going to have to give us a return, and hopefully we can keep a package involving our youngsters out of this. It is possible that Burke believes that Redden has more value than both Kaberle and Kubina, but it is not probable. Kaberle, in my opinion, is the better player, but maybe Burke is just looking to get rid of him, and thinks Redden would be a good exchange.

Overall, I know as much as any of you know, and you can't predict what is going through a General Manager's mind. What I can tell you is that there is a good chance this trade could come closer to happening at the Draft this weekend, that is if Burke decides to meet with Ranger representatives, or even Glen Sather himself. But this is just another indication that the Rangers front office realizes that Wade and his contract need to go.

(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

Prospect Profile: Peter Holland

Name: Peter Holland

Position: Center

Height: 6-1

Weight: 188 lbs

Age: 18

Playing In: CHL

Scouting Report: Many scouts say if a team misses out on Zack Kassian, and still want a power forward, Peter Holland is the way to go. Holland is more than willing to play right in front the net, and is great on the forecheck. Peter has great hands around the net and uses his size to make space on the ice. There is much more room for Peter to develop his body and his all-around game.

For more information on Holland, visit: http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/peter_holland
(Photo courtesy of guelphstorm.com)

Confirmed: Leetch to be Inducted into Hall of Fame (UPDATE)

As we expected this morning, it was made official on a conference call today that eleven-time All-Star, Brian Leetch will be inducted into the Hall of Fame with the next class. I will say it again, Brian Leetch was one of the best American-born defencmen to ever play the game, and he was well rewarded for it. Leetch has a Calder Trophy(Rookie of the year), two Norris Trophies(League's Best D-man), a Conn Smythe(Playoff MVP), a Stanley Cup, and now a Hall of Fame Induction. Here is what Leetch had to say:

"It's a pretty overwhelming day, to say the least," Leetch said. "I'm certainly humbled, excited and proud. Congratulations to the rest of the guys being inducted today. It's just an amazing thing."

So another Ranger Great will enter the Hockey Hall of Fame, and be remembered by many for such an illustrious career. Congratulations Brian, it is well deserved!
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UPDATE: The class that Leetch will be inducted with will contain Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Luc Robataille, and Devils General Manager, Lou Lamoriello. It will surely be a special night in Toronto when the official ceremony is held.
(Photo: Newsday.com)

Today's Schedule

Due to all the news surrounding Leetch and his possible induction, the schedule on here will be a bit different than it has been in previous days. At some time between 3:30 and 4:00 today, we should get word if Leetch will be inducted into the Hall of Fame with the next class or not. So I will be posting the news once I get word.

Due to this, the daily "Prospect Profile" Post will be pushed to later tonight. Hopefully I will be reporting good news after 3:30pm. Until then, keep your fingers crossed for Brian.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Leetch to Enter H.O.F.?

Many of you are probably well aware, but today is the day that the Hockey Hall of Fame announces its inductees for the year. There is a pretty good idea of the players that will be inducted, and among those players is Rangers All-Star defencemen, Brian Leetch. Leetch was a fan favorite here in New York, and played a big part in the Blueshirts run to the Cup in '94, in which he won the Conn Smythe as Playoff MVP. He was one of, if not, the best American born defencemen to ever play the game, and the NHL is looking to recognize that by placing him into the Hall.

The conference call in which announces the inductees is not until 3:30pm today, so that is when we will know for sure. So keep your fingers crossed for our boy Leetchy.

(Photo courtesy of Newsday.com)

A Look Ahead

As you all know, the next two weeks are among the busiest in the entire NHL off-season. You have the draft in Montreal on Friday and Saturday of this week, and then you have the beginning of the free agent frenzy the following week on Wednesday, July 1st. At the conclusion of these next two weeks, fans will most likely know the looks of the Ranger Roster for the 2009-10 season.

Starting with the draft. The 2009 NHL Entry Draft will be held in Montreal on this coming Friday and Saturday. Friday will contain the first round only, and then Saturday will pick up in the second round and go all the way to the seventh. From a Rangers standpoint, there are several good, skilled players that will be of availability to them at the 19th selection in the draft. I personally am expecting someone like Ashton, Kreider, Shore, or maybe even Kassian if the front office decides to trade up, all of which I have profiled in the past week. Our best option would be Kassian, as he is a well rounded forward that can become a big part of the future of this organization, but in order to acquire him, some trading up will most likely have to take place.

Now to the free agent craziness. July 1st will have Glen Sather's BlackBerry ringing more than it has the whole year so far.....hopefully. Ranger Fans are looking at Free Agency as the team's Saving Grace. The team's inability to score was apparent in the past season, and a big-time scorer is desperately needed on this team. There is no better time to acquire one than now. There are names like Hossa, Gaborik, Cammalleri, Sundin, and many others among the players that will become un-restricted free agents in July. Acquiring one of these highly skilled snipers will not automatically make the team a Cup Contender, but it will surely improve the team offensively.

And then there is the restricted aspect of free agency. The Rangers have numerous RFA's this off-season, but the most important to me are Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan. Slats needs to get these kids locked up before other teams start to send them offers, as they are a big part of the franchise's future.

So basically us fans will know the template for the 2009-10 roster by July 4th-5th. These two weeks promise to be very emotional, especially for the Blueshirt Faithful, as it will help better determine if we will have a better or worse season in 2009-10. But through experience, we are well prepared to endure the worst. Let's hope and pray we don't have to, though.

Prospect Profile: Louis Leblanc

Name: Louis Leblanc

Position: Center

Height: 6-0

Weight: 178 lbs

Age: 18

Playing In: Juniors

Scouting Report: Louis Leblanc is a talented 2-way forward with a great set of hands, and good speed. Enjoys physical play and likes to work in the corners. Louis also has a great ability to protect the puck and create space for himself and teammates. Scouts say that he needs to learn the North-South game a bit better, and they have questioned his overall work ethic and effort.

For more information on Leblanc, visit: http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/5710

(Photo courtesy of westislandgazette)

Rangers to Move Up In Draft?

As of now, the Rangers have the 19th pick in the upcoming draft on Friday in Montreal. Well, after reading a quote from Rangers director of player personnel, Gordie Clark, I was lead to believe that there may be a chance the Blueshirts move up in the draft line-up. In the following quote, Gordie is basically saying that they have list of prospects they have their eyes on, and if the one they want seems like they are going to go before the Rangers nineteenth pick, they will attempt to make a move to get an earlier pick. Here is the quote:

"It's a good draft, one of the better ones in the last few years," Rangers director of player personnel Gordie Clark said. "It's not going to be as deep as '03, maybe more like 2005 . . . My philosophy as far as the first round hasn't changed. It's always the one chance you have to get a special player. If one of those special guys are moving out of the first group, that's when we'll have to make our move - unless the price is just too steep."

So it seems that the front office has a pretty in-depth plan going into Montreal, and that they have certain prospects targeted for certain picks. I am sure some of these targeted prospects are the same ones that I have been profiling on here for the last week. They could possibly be looking at a guy like Kassian, who is talented, but can go anywhere from 12-20. If the Rangers see that he will possibly go earlier than 19, they will look to make a move up. This will surely play out to be a very interesting event in Montreal at the week's end.

Prospect Profile: Landon Ferraro

Name: Landon Ferraro

Position: RW

Height: 5-11

Weight: 169 lbs

Age: 17 (18 in August)

Playing In: CHL

Scouting Report: As the son of Ray Ferraro, you would expect Landon's expectations to be quite high. Well, he might not be the goal-scorer that his father once was, but instead, Landon's biggest weapon is his skating abilities. Scouts say that this kid is so fast, that he would always be ahead of the play, because his teammates could not keep up with him. Ferraro is a very intelligent player, and always finds himself in the correct position. He has good offensive capabilities, but the system he is being developed in does not seem to compliment that offense, and that could potentially have an impact on Ferraro in the NHL, but it will not slow him down. His coaches have worked with him a lot on being stronger on the puck because of his smaller size. Despite only being 5-11, 169 pounds, Landon is not afraid to work the corners and dig for loose pucks. Landon will most likely land on the second line of an NHL team, as he has the ability to score and skate, and is superior while on the special teams.

For more information on Ferraro, visit http://www.mynhldraft.com/2009/NHL-Draft-Profiles/Landon-Ferraro

(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

Around the NHL: Habs Sold to Molson Family

Several sources have reported that the Montreal Canadians have been sold to the Molson Family, the same family that owns Molson Export. The Current Owner, George Gillet, has sold the team for over 500 million dollars, and the sale includes the Bell Centre, the Canadians home arena.

The Molson Family previously owned the Habs in 1993, their Cup year, but then they sold the team to Gillet. So the Molson's will own the team for the second time in history.

Prospect Profile: Drew Shore

Name: Drew Shore

Position: Center

Height: 6-2

Weight: 190 lbs

Age: 18

Playing In: Juniors

Scouting Report: Drew Shore, one of the American prospects in this year's draft, is a true power forward that can find the open lanes with ease, and is also known for his precision passing. Shore is not one of the best skaters, but he has excellent work ethic and is always hustling. His 6-2, 190 pound build allows him to get in and work the corners to retrieve loose pucks, and get involved in the physical game. Shore led his junior team in assists last season, and that backs up the fact that he has great passing in his arsenal. Shore is most dangerous on the powerplay, mainly because of his ability to find the open lane, and because of his quick release. Shore is also reliable in his own end and is pretty good on faceoffs.

For more information on Shore, visit: http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/25350-Drew-Shore-scouts-the-world-under18s-for-THN.html

(Photo courtesy of The Hockey News)

Prospect Profile: Jacob Josefson

Name: Jacob Josefson

Position: Center

Height: 6-0

Weight: 187 lbs

Age: 18

Playing In: Europe

Scouting Report: Jacob Josefson is a solid two-way forward that has a great amount of hockey knowledge. Josefson, center, is a talented playmaker and a decent goal-scorer. In addition to his offensive abilities, Jacob is a spectacular back-checker, and is very responsible in his own zone. The 18 year-old exhibits much creativity in his game, and is also not afraid to get involved in the rough stuff. You are not gonna get 3o goals a season out of Josefson, but instead you will get a talented playmaker who comes back and helps out the defense, and is willing to get his hands dirty when necessary.

For more information on Josefson, visit http://www.mynhldraft.com/2009/NHL-Draft-Profiles/Jacob-Josefson

(Photo courtesy Hockey's Future)

2009 NHL Awards Ceremony in Vegas

Just a little while away from the biggest award ceremony in NHL History. These awards recognize the top performers from this last season in the National Hockey League. I will be covering the ceremony right here all night long, posting the winners of each award and a little background on the player and a summary on how their season went in 08-09. It should be a fun night in Vegas, and we plan on bringing the excitement right here on the Rangers Tribune. Enjoy the Show!

Calder Memorial Trophy: Steve Mason wins rookie of the year. Well deserving as Steve was on the top of the list in most goaltending statistics and really put on a show as such a young player. Definitely my choice for the award.

Lester B. Pearson Award: Alex Ovechkin was most outstanding in the regular season as voted on by players. Well OV is for sure a leader, but there were some tough runner-ups in Malkin and Datsyuk.

Frank Selke Trophy: Pavel Datsyuk, a great season for the skilled russian, but also bad english for the skilled russian. :)

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Steve Sullivan of the Nashville Pedators wins the most sportsman like trophy. Steve is a big leader for Nashville and is highly respected by his teammates.

William Jennings Award: Timmy Thomas and Manny Fernandez voted as the best goaltending tandem in the league. What do you expect playing for Boston?

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Datsyuk wins his second of the night, just goes to show how much of an all-around player Pavel is. Good for him.

King Clancy Memorial Trophy: Ethan Moreau of the Oilers wins award recognizing leadership shown on and off the ice. Great guy in the community and on the ice, but a scary moment when he had his eye cut on a stick earlier this season. But well deserved award.

Fan Fav Award: Roberto Luongo, one of the elite goalies in this league, and fans feel the same way voting him for the Scotiabank Fan Fav Award.

Vezina Trophy: The un-orthodox Tim Thomas wins the award as the league's best goaltender and it is well earned by this guy, backstopping the Bruins to first place in the East and to the playoffs.

Jack Adams Award: Claude Julien wins coach of the year. Claude had his best year of coaching this year by far, coaching the B's the whole season in first place in the East.

Mark Messier Leadership Award: Jarome Iginla, the only player in this league that will ever compare to Messier leadership-wise.

James Norris Memorial Trophy: Zdeno Chara wins d-man of the year (Bruins really racking up the hardware). But Z is obviously an elite blueliner in this league, both offensively and defensively. Not many compare to big Z.

Art Ross Trophy: Malkin among the top three players in this league, and that is why he has the most points, nothing more to it.

Rocket Richard: OV with most goals in the league for the second consecutive year, another great season for Alexander.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Jean Beliveau, former hab being honored for leadership qualities.

Hart Memorial Trophy: Alexander Ovechkin is once again the Most Valuable Player of the National Hockey League. Alex is arguably the best hockey player on Earth, and winning two straight MVP awards justifies that argument well.

(Photo courtesy NHL.com)

2009 NHL Awards Ceremony

As you probably know, the NHL will be holding their yearly awards ceremony tonight in Las Vegas for the first time. They are promising a grand show, so I suggest you check it out. For all American viewers, the ceremony will be televised on Versus at 7:30pm, and 8:30pm on CBC for Canadian viewers. Also, stop by here as I will be posting some input throughout the show.

(Photo courtesy of NHL.com)

Prospect Profile: Carter Ashton

Name: Carter Ashton

Position: RW

Height: 6-3

Weight: 205 lbs

Age: 18

Playing In: WHL

Scouting Report: Carter Ashton is a very hard working forward, who last season found his scoring touch, as he scored 30 goals in 70 games played with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The fairly large 18 year-old is not afraid to use his size in the corners and in front of the net. Carter's skating has improved greatly and has become a major strength in his game. Many scouts say that Ashton is destined to be a top six forward in the NHL for sure.

For more information on Ashton, visit: http://www.mynhldraft.com/2009/NHL-Draft-Profiles/Carter-Ashton

(Photo courtesy of Hurricanes Official Site)

Prospect Profile: Chris Kreider

Name: Chris Kreider

Position: LW

Height: 6-2

Weight: 201 lbs

Age: 18

Playing In: Juniors

Scouting Report: The Massachusetts’ Phillips Andover Academy forward is arguably one of the best skaters in this year's draft, and adds to his skating skills with superior dangling abilities. Chris is another player that uses his size to cut to the net and get to loose pucks. It is said that it takes Kreider about one to two strides to get to top speed, meaning he is a really explosive player and is hard to stop once he gets through the neutral zone. And when needed, Chris can be a very intimidating and physical player as well.

For more information on Kreider, visit: http://www.mynhldraft.com/2009/NHL-Draft-Profiles/Chris-Kreider

(Photo courtesy of the Boston Globe)

Fischler's Thoughts on 09-10 Rangers

Here is Stan Fiscler's take on next year's Rangers team, and he also inputs his opinion on players he thinks will stay on the Blueshirts and players that will not. This was posted on his MSG Blog, so obviously it is a little sugar-coated, but he does make some interesting points that are worth reading.

SCOTT GOMEZ: Unlike others in the media, I remain one of the foremost fans of The Gomer. His forays up the ice are uniquely artistic. We know his limitations, but I contend that his assets overweigh his debits. Plus, I disagree with those who say he is not a first-line player. Just get him a winger who can convert his passes and you'll see what a first-liner he can be. My advice to Scott: Listen up hard to John Tortorella and all will be well between center and coach.

WADE REDDEN: No, he's not Nick Lidstrom nor Zdeno Chara. But Redden's play improved under Tortorella, and there's potential for him to re-up another notch nextseason. I expect him back and I anticipate Wade being among the top four defensemen.

CHRIS DRURY: It will be interesting to see whether the coach keeps him as captain (Remember how Brent Sutter removed the "C" from Patrik Elias). It appears that Chris is in the coach's good graces, and he might be even better in 2009-2010. Don't expect him to be traded.

NIK ZHERDEV: The gifted-but-not-always-productive-Russian faded badly in the
homestretch under Tortorella. Even though Zherdev wants to return as a Ranger, I suspect that Torts leans heavily towards keeping Nik Antropov.

PAUL MARA: I liked his gritty play in 2008-2009, and I love his attitude toward New York. If it comes down to a choice between Mara and Derek Morris, I'd keep Mara. However, knowing Tortorella's past tepid attitude toward Paul, I can see Mara going bye-bye.

COLTON ORR: This is a tough one — in more ways than one. Every club needs an enforcer, and CO is the master of the KO. But, he lost significant ice time under Tortorella and, as one writer recently noted, Brodie Dupont could be a better replacement. Me? I'd keep the slugger.

BLAIR BETTS AND FRED SJOSTROM: How do you lose two of the best penalty-killers in the NHL? And where does Lauri Korpikoski slide back on to the roster? This is a vexing question for Sather.

MICHAL ROSZIVAL: He's trade bait, and does more things well than a lot of fans would like to believe. There could be a general manager out there who covets the veteran defenseman.

NO BRAINERS: There should be little to no discussion about retaining the following, all in the young and not-so-old category: Marc Staal, Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, and Dan Girardi

HARTFORD: A lot will depend on training camp, but my two favorites at the moment are Artem Anisimov and Corey Potter. We shall see!

Some engaging points made by the Maven here. Again, I am sure his opinion is a little stronger on players like Redden, Gomez, and Drury, but he is not going to make Sather look like a jerk on an MSG blog. Still a good read, though.

Prospect Profile: Zack Kassian

With the NHL Draft only about 10 days away, I will be posting breif profiles on prospects that the Rangers will have a chance at drafting in Montreal next week. These posts will be made everyday leading up to the draft.

Name: Zack Kassian

Position: RW

Height: 6-2

Weight: 212 lbs

Age: 18

Playing In: CHL

Scouting Report: The main scouting report on the 6-2, 212 pounder is that he is a power forward in which uses his size to his advantage to win battles for lose pucks. Kassian's offensive game is on the rise, and has been improving each and every season. Zack has a great will to compete and shows heart in his game, sort of like Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan. There is much to like about young Zack Kassian.

Find more information on Kassian at: http://www.mynhldraft.com/2009/NHL-Draft-Profiles/Zack-Kassian

(Photo courtesy of Hockey's Future)

Should We Expect the Worst?

Obviously most of the talk amongst Rangers fans has been about adding a sniper or a big-time scorer to the roster in the off-season. Well, after putting much thought into it over the last month or so, I wondered "What if Sather couldn't pull any of this off?". I think too many fans are taking it as a given that we will be adding a sniper to the team, and it will suddenly fix our scoring. There are so many possible dilemmas that would prevent Sather from signing these forwards.

For instance, Hossa and Gaborik have been the two most talked about players on Rangers forums and blogs. Well both players will have a pretty good idea of what the situation is of any teams that are considering signing with during the free agency period. With that said, a guy like Gaborik would most likely sign with a team that does not have cap difficulties that would prevent them from signing for long-term and for a lot of money. The Rangers situation, however, puts a restraint on how much money could be offered to a player and for how long they would sign for. Put yourself in a player's shoes, would you sign on the team that has cap room and future promise, or the team that is limited and is unsure of its future as of now? It is a tough decision but you can see where one might lean to.

By fans just "assuming" that we are going to get this thing fixed with some big scorers this summer, you are potentially setting yourself up for disappointment. Look at what Sather has done in prior off-seasons. In the last two, he has signed players that have been somewhat fading where they currently were, and he is offering them large contracts in hopes that new scenery and new faces will turn their game around. Well, each one of these players just turns out to be average, or below, but they are still getting the big bucks. So what is stopping Sather from making similar mistakes this year. I mean, we have enough cap room where he could take an average player and offer him more than he is worth.

So the thought of "expecting the worse" kind of makes some sense, and will save you from a dramatic let-down if Sather was to screw up, or do not much at all. And then if Slats did make some decent moves, it would catch you by surprise and impress you, and you would be looking on the bright side when it comes to our situation. This could go on and on, but it is an interesting way of looking at things and I wanted to throw it out there.

Rangers Tribune Summer Coverage

Just to get a head start, I have decided to address the blog's readers about the coverage of the main upcoming events in the NHL Off-Season that will take place here.

NHL Draft(June 26-27): Coverage will consist of updates during most of the first round, and then in rounds after that, I will just be updating on the picks made by the Rangers. At the end of the day on both Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27, I will make another post analyzing the Rangers moves throughout that day in the draft, and will include a background on each draft pick.

Free Agency(July 1): This day will most likely be the most important for the Rangers and for their fans. Being so, I will have up to the minute coverage on this day. This coverage will consist of any rumors, signings, and trades that take place in the league during this day. And just as the draft, I will make a post at the day's end analyzing the moves made by Sather and the front office.

Obviously the coverage here on the Rangers Tribune does not stop at anytime, but on these specific dates the updates will be a bit more frequent because of their importance. Also stop by on June 18(This Thursday) during the 2008/09 NHL Awards Ceremony as I will be posting some input here throughout. And as always, the Rangers Tribune appreciates the dedication of its readers, so thanks again.

15 Year Anniversary

As most of you know, 15 years ago today was the sacred day in history for Blueshirt fans, as their beloved Rangers won their first Stanley Cup since 1940(fourth in history). To celebrate the Anniversary, MSG Network is re-playing the Rangers' four wins against the Canucks in the 1994 Stanley Cup Final. I am quite sure most of us have seen this about 100 times in our lifetime, but the feeling that comes along with it never gets old.

Owners of Top 3 Worst Contracts

The Globe and Mail Sports crew recently wrote up an article rating the top 10 worst contracts in the NHL. Well, unfortunately, the Rangers occur on that list not only three times, but the first three times. Yes, they rated Wade Redden, Scott Gomez, and Chris Drury as the owners of the top three worst contracts that are currently in the NHL. Here is the quote:

1. Wade Redden, Rangers: His six-year, $39-million contract would not have been unreasonable compensation for an in-his-prime Redden who - for a five-year period between 2001 and 2006 - was a cumulative plus-123, while playing 25 minutes or so per night. But Reddens play fell off dramatically in his final two years with the Senators and everyone imagined he'd be looking at a hefty pay cut, until Rangers' GM Glen Sather came along. Don't these guys scout anymore?

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2. Scott Gomez, Rangers: Gomez's annual salary-cap charge of $7.357-million is ninth-highest in the NHL - he will earn $8-million in each of the next two seasons, before the numbers drop off to $7.5-million, $5.5-million and $4.5-million in the final three years of the contract. The Rangers signed Gomez, who led the league in assists in '04, to act as a set-up man for Jaromir Jagr, but the two never found any chemistry - and there isn't a pure sniper on either the current roster or in the system that would help maximize what Gomez brings to the table.

3. Chris Drury, Rangers: About the only saving grace with Drury's contract is its term - five years, which means there are only three years remaining. A cap charge of $7.05-million, any team interested in Drury would pay him $8-million in each of the next two years and then $5-million in the final year, a lot to pay for a player that has never scored 70 points in the NHL and conveniently managed his one-and-only season above 30 goals in his contract year with the '07 Sabres.

Obviously this is nothing to be proud of, but it really makes you think of Sather's mistakes in the last few off-seasons, and quite frankly, we cannot afford similar mistakes in this off-season. We really need the right moves made here, otherwise we will not be seeing even the first round of the playoffs anymore. Us fans hope for the best in this off-season, but do not know what to expect.

(Image courtesy of AP Photo)

Congrats to Penguins on Winning Cup

Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins on becoming the 2008-09 Stanley Cup Champions!!! The NHL's dream is finally complete, seeing the face of the league, Sidney Crosby hoist the cup as the youngest Captain to ever do so.

It was a long and hard-fought season for the Pens in 08/09, as they were fighting for a playoff spot in April, and were on long stretches where they couldn't win in the month of March. It all turned around when the Pittsburgh organization made the decision to fire head coach Michele Terrion, and hire the current head man, Dan Bylsma. The players responded and led them all the way to where they are now, League Champions!

Two goals by an unexpected hero, Maxime Talbot gave the Pens the lead for the whole game, and they were able to hold the lead because of the stellar goaltending of Marc-Andre Fleury. (Unbelievable save at the end of the game!) And a Con Smythe well deserved went to star Russian, Evgeni Malkin, good for him. So even though I wanted(and predicted) the Red Wings to defend their championship successfully, Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins!

Now let the eventful off-season(officially) begin.....

(Image courtesy of AP Photo)

Around the NHL: Johnson Traded to ANA for Pronger

This is not confirmed just yet, and probably won't be until after the Cup finals are over. But it is said that the Anaheim Ducks have traded Chris Pronger to the Los Angeles Kings for Jack Johnson and the fifth overall pick in this year's draft. I true, I say Anaheim wins this one as they get a talented young defenceman in Johnson and will get another highly skilled youngster in the draft with that fifth pick.

More Later.....

Dubinsky Update

Rumor has it that Brandon Dubinsky and his agent, Kurt Overhardt, have been in contact with the Rangers front office and are in the process of negotiating an offer. This is good to hear as we now know that they aren't waiting until the last minute to get this thing done. Dubi is a big part of this team's future, and re-signing him should be a top priority for Sather. Once this is done, one would hope Slats would do the same with Ryan Callahan.

More Later.....
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The 3 Step(Trifecta) Off-Season Approach

There has been much talk as to how the Rangers should go about acquiring the much needed sniper for next season, and how to develop this team into a true contender in 2009-10. Well there are three ways to develop a team; 1) Free-agent acquisitions, 2) Trading, or 3) Bring up players through the system and the draft. Well I have developed a plan that would incorporate all three of these approaches into one. It would require a lot of thought process and pre-planning on the part of General Manager, Glen Sather, but it is definitely possible. I call this the three step approach, or the trifecta approach.

Step 1(Trade)- The first step I believe Sather should take in this off-season is one that would free up some desired cap space. If Slats was to just go out and sign a big-time free agent, we would be unable to sign(or resign) good players to surround him, because the contract would most-likely occupy a good amount of the little cap room the Rangers have. So considering that, Sather needs to trade away one of our big four prior to signing any big contracts. So basically one of Redden, Drury, Gomez, and Rozsival need to be shown the door. The most probable of those four to be traded, or I should say wanted, would be Michal Rozsival. The difference between Rozsival and the other three is the skill to salary ration. Rozsival may not be all that deserving of 5 million per season but he still is more worth his money than Redden(6.5m), Drury(7mil), and Gomez(7.3m). As to who/what to trade for, that is totally up to Sather but maybe you can get a somewhat decent forward or a good draft pick in return. In brief, this move would free up at least around 5 million in cap space(depending on what is given to Rangers in return) and set up for the second step in the approach.

Step 2(Free Agency)- Now that one of the four big contracts is traded and at least around 5 million dollars in cap has been cleared up, it is time to go after the big signing. Now there are several options out there for the Rangers to sign for the pure scorer that the team lacked the last season. Some of these include; Marian Gaborik, Marian Hossa, Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Mike Cammalleri, Mats Sundin, and many others. First off, I would eliminate the Sedins because they are asking 7 million each and they only come in a package, will not play apart, and quite frankly, they are not as good apart. My top three would have to be Gaborik, Hossa, and Sundin. Gaborik is the most probable to sign with the Rangers as there is a rumor he would like to play here, he has been injury prone so the Blueshirts can likely get him at a discount, and when healthy, Gabby is a powerhouse(point-a-game) player. Once the big contract is signed then Sather should go out and make re-signings and signings of other good, but not too expensive free agents. Now that there is still extra cap space, there is room to sign some 25-goal scorers like Knuble or Gionta to provide some secondary scoring.

Step 3(Young Guns)- After the first two steps are complete, there will most likely be a gap in each of the forward and defencemen position. To fill those, I would suggest bringing up prospect forward, Artem Anisimov, and either of prospect defencemen Bobby Sanguinetti or Michael Del Zotto. These players, In my opinion, are ready for the NHL, and will be even more prepared after training camp with John Tortorella this off-season. They are young, inexpensive, and are probable to be productive. What more can you ask?

**Now there is one exception to this plan. That exception is prior to Step One, I believe Sather's first priority should be to re-sign both Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan. Both have heart, determination, and skill at a very young age and they will be a big part if this team's future.

All things considered, this 3-step plan would be very effective in improving the team greatly for the 2009-10 season, but as we know, it is easier said then done, and unfortunately the team's future lies in the hands of Glen Sather. This is beyond our control, but this is the approach that I would take in the up-coming off-season.

Around the NHL: Philly Finds Their Goalie

Obviously the Flyers have been a very solid team the past two seasons even though they they have been without a consistent goaltender. They have flipped between Martin Biron and Antero Niittymaki, but have not really found consistency in either. Knowing that, and seeing the Flyers make an early exit in the playoffs once again, many rumors have came about that Philadelphia was going to go after Ray Emery, who had taken some years off to play in the KHL. So they finally made the move and signed Ray to a one-year contract, hoping that he will provide the stability in net that Philly has been seeking. This was a smart move by the Flyers to only sign him for one year, as you don't know if Emery will be the same goalie he was before going to the KHL.

(Image courtesy of AP Photo)

MSG Vault: Raucous Rangers

If you recall, MSG Network ran a program last summer called MSG Vault, a show that takes fans back in time and plays memorable games and such. Well they have decided to bring the show back this summer and it airs for the first time tonight at 10pm. Tonight's show is titled "Raucous Rangers", as it will remember some of the toughest players/goons to put on a Rangers jersey, and replay some of the best fights that they took part in.

Some of the shows they played last summer were attention grabbers while others were lack-luster and boring, so I am not sure what this will be like, but supposedly the whole show has been re-done and the overall production of the program has been improved so we will see. Hopefully it will be a decent show so we will have something to do this summer, other than follow the usual unrealistic off-season rumors.

(Photo courtesy of MSG.com)

Game 7 We Go

So the Pens held on to force a Game Seven despite the Wings attempt to tie it with under a minute to go. First, Fleury made the great save on Cleary on the breakaway and then got some help from Rob Scuderi, who made two saves during a scramble at the end of the game.

This intense series will go back to Detroit for a Game Seven on Friday Night. Detroit has been tough to play against in this series at home, and have been 3-0 at Joe Louis Arena. This will be a game to remember.

More Wednesday.....
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Pens 1 Wings 0 After Second

Jordan Staal capitalized on his own rebound early in the second to make the game 1-0 in favor of Pittsburgh. It has stayed that way through the rest of the period but it is surprising the score isn't more one-sided, because the officiating sure is. The Pens are getting all of the calls, and are taking advantage of the non-calls on themselves by playing dirty. It really is disgusting.

Although the officiating may be bad, the Red Wings still needs to get more pressure. The are being out-shot 24-12 and have been creating zero. Fleury has not been pressured much, and the best chance the Wings had, Zetterberg hit the post. Osgood has been outstanding and has kept Detroit in the game so far.

So expect both teams to come out looking for more in the third. Obviously the Wings wan to end it tonight, and the Pens want to force a game seven. I think the Wings will tie it, it is only one goal and Detroit is super dangerous.

0-0 After First

Some points from the first:

-Very Quick pace, back and forth action
-Great back-checking
-Prime scoring opportunities for both teams, especially Detroit
-Zetterberg looks fantastic
-Penalties seem one sided
-Great PK for the Wings

If it wasn't for all of the penalties, the Wings probably would be up by now as they had some of the better opportunities.

More after Second.....

Game Six Coverage

Moments away from the puck drop to start game six at Mellon Arena. I will be covering and analyzing the game between periods and after the game's conclusion, so tune in at the intermissions.

Penguins have been 8-2 on home ice in these playoffs, but my prediction is that the Wings will pull it off and clinch the Cup tonight, probably in overtime.

More after first.....

Around the NHL: Sutter Walks Out/ Heatley Wants Out

Two big stories in the NHL today besides Game Six of the Stanley Cup Final. First, TSN reports that the New Jersey Devils head coach, Brent Sutter has stepped down as the head man of the team due to personal and family reasons. Sutter was quoted on saying that him being so far away from his family has hurt his life in more important areas than the game of hockey.

So does this mean Sutter is done coaching, or just with the Devils? Well, from what he said in the quote, it seems like New Jersey is too far from his family, so maybe if he was presented with the opportunity to coach a team that is closer to his family (i.e. Calgary), maybe he would do so. The only thing is that he still has one year remaining on his contract with the Devils, so other teams would have to get permission from Devils GM, Lou Lamoriello to talk to Brent, and Lou would have to be willing to let the final year on the contract go to waste.

Now onto the other headline of today, Dany Heatley. TSN reports that Ottawa All-Star Dany Heatley has requested a trade from the Senators, and does not want to play for Ottawa any longer. Heatley signed a six year 45 million dollar extension with the Senators last season, and it included a no-trade clause. Well after considering his future in the off-season, he has come to Ottawa GM, Bryan Murray and said he is willing to waive the clause as he just wants out. Dany said he was unhappy with his role on the team in the last season and it showed, as he went from two straight 50 goal seasons to scoring only 39 this season, his lowest as a Senator. Murray will need to find a team that has the cap room for Heatley, and it is speculated that Dany wants to be traded to a West Coast team.

(Photos courtesy of Getty Images)

Don't Touch Sidney

A quiet day from a Rangers standpoint, so I am posting this link(below) to a game that was sent to me by a friend the other day. All of you Crosby/Penguin haters, and fans that feel the refs favor Sidney, I recommend you check this out, as you will enjoy it!http://freep.com/article/20090602/BLOG2401/90602068

Gomez Available to League for Trade

There was an article today on ESPN regarding the Los Angeles Kings standpoint on a deal for Lecavalier, and in it, it said that the Kings could possibly be looking at Scott Gomez as he has been "put available around the league". Here is the quote from ESPN:

"...One Eastern Conference source told us Saturday the New York Rangers have made Scott Gomez available around the league, but we're not sure how interested the Kings are in him. It's a heck of a big contract."

So if this is true, I would assume the Rangers would be looking for a pick in return, specifically a first rounder, placing the Rangers in a position to get someone like Brayden Schenn. That would be a great deal, but what if LA does not want Gomez? Well he is available to the league, so that is all 29 other teams besides the Blueshirts, so it is possible another team would be looking to get their hands on the veteran winger. We could get something decent in return for Gomez, but will teams be willing to take his large contract?

(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

Rumor: Redden to be Waived?

The Ottawa Sun has spread a rumor that is reaching many Blueshirt beat writers, basically saying that Glen Sather and the Rangers have been trying to deal defenseman Wade Redden to other team, but have come up empty. Due to this, the Rangers are looking into possibly waiving Redden at the beginning of next season. Here is the quote from the Ottawa Sun:

"There is talk the Rangers might waive D Wade Redden at the start of next season and send him to the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack to get his $6.5-million salary off the books. New York has tried to deal Redden, but nobody is willing to bite. He still has $32.5 million and five years left on his contract."

In my opinion, I doubt that this would happen as it would be an embarrassment for both Sather and Dolan.Sather made a mistake with this guy, and now he has to undo the mess, but in another way than this. I mean, don't get me wrong, I would love for Dreaden to be waived, but I just don't see it happening.

(Image courtesy of AP Photo)