Even still
The eagle has to land
Out past the fountain
Pluck up the courage
And snap, it's gone again
I start humming "When Doves Cry"...
Tori Amos
"Wednesday"
On this particular Wednesday, I was humming some Gomez melody from "How We Operate" while walking from the MSG Training Center across the parking lot.
After speaking with Russian center Evgeny Grachev (his English was surprisingly good), I interviewed the guy who resembles actor Owen Wilson: Winnipeg's Dale Weise, a fourth-round pick (111) on Saturday in Ottawa.
He's a 6-2, 202 right wing with some snarl who has improved offensively every year of the three he has skated for the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL.
Weise was 29-21-50 in 53 games last season, one in which he broke his right thumb blocking a shot. "Still clicks," he demonstrated today.
My guess is that he'll have to click here to be assigned to Hartford, where he hopes to play.
"I'm just excited to be here for four days, and if I have to go back to Swift Current, I have one more year of eligibility, I don't have an issue with that. I knew I had to get faster and stronger, I had a real good season, led the team in goals, finished well (7-6-13 in 12 playoff games)."
Weise said he tries to emulate the play of Keith Tkachuk "when he was with the Jets (now the Coyotes)...I still have a Jets hat and jersey, that stuff still sells well back home."
Earlier this summer, Weise trained with Nigel Dawes (another Winnipeg native) and Colton Orr is friends with the Weise family. Connections only go so far, though. We'll see. Perhaps the Rangers will need that toughness in Hartford, especially if Dane Byers makes the jump to New York.
Heard Around...
With the trade of Olli Jokinen, a person close to Jay Bouwmeester told Newsday that the defenseman wants out of Florida. Unsure whether---or when---the Rangers can get him here, but boy, if the deal was right, JayBo would be a high-quality get... Like C Evgeny Grachev, who wore No. 76, the team's other third-round pick (90th overall), defenseman Tomas Kundratek from the Czech Extraliga, will be playing in North America next season. The 90th pick was acquired in the Alex Bourret trade...The Rangers and backup goaltender Steve Valiquette continue to work on a contract...Orr has been in the training center working out.
Today's Scrimmage
Blue (with Antoine LaFleur in goal) pummeled Red, 6-1...Missed a couple goals while in conversation or outside the rink, but among the scorers were Artem Anisimov and David Kveton (who were linemates with Grachev), Max Campbell, Tomas Zaborsky and David Skokan (the lone Red tally)...Skokan skated with Meidl (who seemed to bring a more physical game) and Dupont....Campbell skated with Soryal and Doyle...Two of the Blue d-pairs were Del Zotto/Sanguinetti and Ryan/Urquhart...When the refs called certain penalties, a player was awarded a shot from the slot, similar to a foul shot in hoops, where the players lined up in lanes on either side of the net and kinda boxed out. On one, Doyle's slapper flew past the upper right corner...
Cheers, off for a Thai dinner, back tomorrah---unless news breaks...
Comments (19)
Thanks Steve for keeping us informed...You are the only beat writer, who is giving us updates...thanks again.
Any word on Cherepanov? Hope the Rangers didn't waste a pick there.
I hope the Rangers dont trade Dubinsky in a deal for Bouwmeester. Im sure most would say Im crazy, but whatever. If the Rangers cant get him, I hope he goes out west.
I just watched all the videos on Rangers website. Grachev is very impressive I am a lot more excited about him than Cherepanov. Grachev looked like he could play in AHL this season without too many problems and his English is pretty good, unlike Cherepanov.
Kveton looked good and should play for the Wolfpack along with Zaborsky. Dale Weise looks like a scary combination of Rucchin, Betts and Girard Depardieu. Not sure if it would be best for him to play in AHL or go back to WHL this season.
Hillier should go ahead and do the surgery, I don't know what he is waiting for.
If Grachev was supposed to go top 30, but falls because of transfer agreements (that hold no water in this case), does that mean we really ended up with 2 first round picks this year?
Last year we ended up with a top 3 draft pick in the first round, only we picked at 17.
Are the Rangers taking too big a risk in drafting this young crop of Russians?
I'd think that Drury(NTC?) or Gomez (not both) could be traded for a Bouwmester (plus prospects). Florida is hurting very bad. They'll be looking for big named talent to help fill seats. Poor fans, it's not even about winning for them anymore. It's about staying alive. A similiar story to what's happening on the island, sad.
Good for Jay, I hope he gets out of Maimi. And I hope Glen makes every attempt to land this bird, he's worth the money.
Gomez and 2009 2nd round pick
for
JayBo - Olesz - Kreps
sound fair Glen?
Drury and Gomez
no movement clauses
I'd be willing to trade pretty much anything except Staal or Dubinsky in a deal to get Bouwmeester
It's going to take lots of the kids, maybe a package that looks like Sanguinetti, Anismnov and Callahan or Dawes
Steve -- Thanks for the updates, it is very much appreciated.
Would love to acquire JayBo but I also fear it'd cost Dubinsky.
No way does Florida dump their #1 center for 2 dmen only to acquire another older center, they'd want youth.
I fear the Sundin rumors even more now... I could see Sather going all Neil Smith on us and trading Dubinsky + who knows what for JayBo, then signing Sundin
Maybe I'm drinking the Kool-aid here, but there are very few players in the league that I'd trade Dubinsky for. I'm not sure that Jay Bo is one of them considering he's a RFA and other good D-men are FA's.
yeah, if the Panthers insist on Dubinsky as part of the deal to get Jay-Bo, that is where the conversation should end.
Hey, I usually post on Weinman's blog but that isn't working for me. Some interesting news via Spector's Trade Rumors, maybe you can find out more:
Report: Straka Returning To Czech League
Thursday, 26 June 2008 09:04
HOKEJ.CZ reports the speculations about Martin Straka returning to HC Lasselsberger Plzen of the Czech Extra League have been officially confirmed. Straka will definitely play in Plzen in 2008-09 and also work in Lasselsberger's organization in a yet unspecified position.
SPECTOR'S NOTE: Hat tip to Alexander Wirdzek and Martin Schuster. No word yet from the Rangers but I suspect it'll be forthcoming.
Are you guys serious? Gettin JayB would give the NYRs the best young defensive core in the NHL. If the package includes Dubinsky who cares... our Top 2 centers are set plus you have Anisimov to take the 3rd line role.
I would prefer a package starting with Tyutin, Prucha and Callahan/Dawes but if you give Dubinsky you get to keep more players in the system.
You dont get a young stud defensemen for nothing. Be realistic!
JayB
Staal
Girardi
Sanguenitti
Would be the best defensive combo of top 4 in the NHL in 2-3 yrs.
And please dont tell me you would trade Drury or Gomez now....you people are all about kids thinking they will turn into something. Dubinsky would be on the first plane to Fla!
Gomez and Drury have no movement clauses
they are out of the equation
I'd really not like to watch Brandon Dubinsky become an all star with another organization.
I think they can make a deal with Florida and not have to include Dubie
straka is gone, and drury is overrated. better sign hossa
Straka heads home, his better days were behind him. But he was a player I felt always gave I felt every thing he had on the rink. Two memories I will remember of him most was his standing ovation on a penalty kill this season after blocking numerous shots and the goal he scored late in game 5 against the buffalo sabres which would have made him hero had drury not scored with 7.7 left.
Guys, any trade for Bouwmeester would have to include Staal or Dubinsky. Those are the first 2 players Florida would ask for. It's not getting done for Callahan, Dawes, or Prucha and prospects.
What happened on Wineman's blog Doodie? Don't see any problems with it.
Don't know why everyone is talking about trading for Bouwmeester. He's an RFA, so if he isn't locked up by Florida by 7/1, the Rangers can make an offer. Florida, being the worst team in the history of the league, might let him go.
And since Florida is so poor of a team, you can offer Colton Orr and a 6th round pick and get the rights to him pre- July 1.
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